Vasoactive agonists exert dynamic and coordinated effects on vascular smooth muscle cell elasticity, cytoskeletal remodelling and adhesion

Key points This study demonstrates rapid and dynamic changes in adhesion and cell elasticity following agonist stimulation that culminate in a remodelled cytoskeleton in vascular smooth muscle. Evidence is presented that the changes in adhesion and elasticity are coordinated and that these variables demonstrate temporal oscillation consisting of three major oscillation components. Eigen-decomposition spectrum analysis revealed that these components of oscillation in cell elasticity and adhesion may be linked by shared signalling pathways. Evidence is provided that the agonists angiotensin II and adenosine produce remodelling of actin cytoskeleton that may alter the properties of the observed oscillations in elasticity and adhesion. It is concluded that angiotensin II and adenosine may regulate extracellular matrix adhesion and elasticity in vascular smooth muscle cells as a form of adaptation to more efficiently support contractile behaviour. Abstract In this study, we examined the ability of vasoactive agonists to induce dynamic changes in vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) elasticity and adhesion, and tested the hypothesis that these events are coordinated with rapid remodelling of the cortical cytoskeleton. Real-time measurement of cell elasticity was performed with atomic force microscopy (AFM) and adhesion was assessed with AFM probes coated with fibronectin (FN). Temporal data were analysed using an Eigen-decomposition method. Elasticity in VSMCs displayed temporal oscillations with three components at approximately 0.001, 0.004 and 0.07 Hz, respectively. Similarly, adhesion displayed a similar oscillatory pattern. Angiotensin II (ANG II, 10−6 m) increased (+100%) the amplitude of the oscillations, whereas the vasodilator adenosine (ADO, 10−4 m) reduced oscillation amplitude (–30%). To test whether the oscillatory changes were related to the architectural alterations in cortical cytoskeleton, the topography of the submembranous actin cytoskeleton (100–300 nm depth) was acquired with AFM. These data were analysed to compare cortical actin fibre distribution and orientation before and after treatment with vasoactive agonists. The results showed that ANG II increased the density of stress fibres by 23%, while ADO decreased the density of the stress fibres by 45%. AFM data were supported by Western blot and confocal microscopy. Collectively, these observations indicate that VSMC cytoskeletal structure and adhesion to the extracellular matrix are dynamically altered in response to agonist stimulation. Thus, vasoactive agonists probably invoke unique mechanisms that dynamically alter the behaviour and structure of both the VSMC cytoskeleton and focal adhesions to efficiently support the normal contractile behaviour of VSMCs.