Angiotensin II is the effector molecule of the reninangiotensin system. Virtually all of its biochemical actions are mediated through a single class of cell-surface receptors called AT 1 . These receptors contain the structural features of the seven-transmembrane, G-proteincoupled receptor superfamily. Angiotensin II, acting through the AT 1 receptor, also stimulates the Jak/STAT pathway by inducing ligand-dependent Jak2 tyrosine phosphorylation and activation. Here, we show that a glutathione S-transferase fusion protein containing the carboxyl-terminal 54 amino acids of the rat AT 1A receptor physically binds to Jak2 in an angiotensin II-dependent manner. Deletional analysis, using both in vitro protocols and cell transfection analysis, showed that this association is dependent on the AT 1A receptor motif YIPP (amino acids 319 -322). The wild-type AT 1A receptor can induce Jak2 tyrosine phosphorylation. In contrast, an AT 1A receptor lacking the YIPP motif is unable to induce ligand-dependent phosphorylation of Jak2. Competition experiments with synthetic peptides suggest that each of the YIPP amino acids, including tyrosine 319, is important in Jak2 binding to the AT 1A receptor. The binding of the AT 1A receptor to the intracellular tyrosine kinase Jak2 supports the concept that the seven-transmembrane superfamily of receptors can physically associate with enzymatically active intracellular proteins, creating a signaling complex mechanistically similar to that observed with growth factor and cytokine receptors.The analysis of cytokines and their receptors has implicated the intracellular Jak family of kinases as critically important for the intracellular signaling initiated in response to ligand (1-3). Cytokines induce receptor dimerization and the activation, via tyrosine phosphorylation, of the associated Jak kinases. The Jak kinases phosphorylate the cytokine receptors, leading to the binding and eventual activation of intermediate signaling molecules referred to as STAT (signal transducers and activators of transcription). The STAT proteins are a family of transcription factors that migrate to the nucleus and induce gene transcription (4). The Jak/STAT pathway was first elucidated through the study of interferon signaling, but it is now known that this pathway participates in the signaling initiated by a wide variety of cytokines and growth factors. Recently, the vasoactive peptide angiotensin II was also found to activate the Jak/STAT pathway (5).Angiotensin II is the effector molecule of the renin-angiotensin system. It is an 8-amino acid peptide that induces several physiologic responses that act to raise blood pressure. Virtually all of its biochemical actions are mediated through a single class of cell-surface receptors called AT 1 (6). Whereas humans have a single AT 1 receptor gene, rodents possess two genes encoding highly homologous receptor isoforms termed AT 1A and AT 1B . These proteins are 95% identical and appear to bind ligand and to signal in an identical fashion (7,8). All AT 1 receptors...

Transforming growth factor-alpha (TGFalpha) gene transcription can be increased when arterial smooth muscle cells are exposed to supraphysiological concentrations of glucose, and this effect of glucose can be mimicked by glucosamine. To determine whether the metabolism of glucose to glucosamine is required for this glucose effect, the rate-limiting step in glucose metabolism to glucosamine through the enzyme glutamine:fructose-6-phosphate amidotransferase (GFAT) was blocked using pharmacological and antisense strategies. We found that blockage of GFAT activity or expression significantly blunted the glucose-induced increase of TGFalpha expression. Blockage of GFAT also resulted in a decreased RL2 signal on intracellular proteins as detected by Western blotting and indirect immunofluorescence. The RL2 monoclonal antibody recognizes an epitope on proteins that contain N-acetylglucosamine and thus is a measure of protein glycosylation. Conversely, treatment of the cells with glucose and glucosamine resulted in an increase in the RL2 epitope on intracellular proteins. These results indicate that the metabolism of glucose to glucosamine is necessary for the transcriptional stimulation of TGFalpha expression in vascular smooth muscle cells by glucose. Furthermore, the level of glycosylation of some intracellular proteins can be modulated in response to physiological changes in the extracellular glucose concentration and the net activity of GFAT.

Hepatic JAK2/ARHGEF1/ROCK expression is associated with portal hypertension and decompensation in human cirrhosis. The deletion of Jak2 in myofibroblasts attenuated experimental fibrosis and acute inhibition of JAK2 decreased PP. Thus, JAK2 inhibitors, already in clinical use for other indications, might be a new approach to treat cirrhosis with portal hypertension.

The commercially available Jak2 inhibitor, alpha-cyano-3,4-dihydroxy-N-benzylcinnamide (AG490), has been used extensively to study Jak2 kinase function. While alpha-cyano-3,4-dihydroxy-N-benzylcinnamide is a potent Jak2 inhibitor, it can inhibit a number of other kinase signaling pathways as well. To circumvent this problem, we sought to identify novel small molecule inhibitors of Jak2 tyrosine kinase activity. For this, we constructed a homology model of the Jak2 kinase domain and identified solvent accessible pockets on the surface of the structure. Using the DOCK program, we tested 6451 compounds of known chemical structure in silico for their ability to interact with a pocket positioned adjacent to the activation loop. We attained the top seven scoring compounds from the National Cancer Institute and tested their ability to inhibit Jak2 autophosphorylation in vitro. Using Western blot analysis, we found that one of the compounds, 1,2,3,4,5,6-hexabromocyclohexane, was able to potently, and directly, inhibit Jak2 autophosphorylation. Characterization of this compound revealed that it inhibits Jak2 tyrosine autophosphorylation in both a time- and concentration-dependent manner. It greatly reduced growth hormone-mediated Jak2 autophosphorylation but did not block autophosphorylation of the epidermal growth factor receptor. Furthermore, doses as high as 100 muM were not toxic to cells as measured by their ability to exclude propidium iodide. As such, we believe that this compound could serve as a lead compound for a new generation of Jak2 inhibitors and, perhaps, be useful in elucidating the mechanisms of Jak2 kinase function.