Abstract
Diabetic hyperglycemia induces dysfunctions of arterial smooth muscle, leading to diabetic vascular complications. The Ca(V)1.2 calcium channel is one primary pathway for Ca(2+) influx, which initiates vasoconstriction. However, the long-term regulation mechanism(s) for vascular Ca(V)1.2 functions under hyperglycemic condition remains unknown. Here, Sprague-Dawley rats fed with high-fat diet in combination with low dose streptozotocin and Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rats were used as diabetic models. Isolated mesenteric arteries (MAs) and vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) from rat models were used to assess K(+)-induced arterial constriction and Ca(V)1.2 channel functions using vascular myograph and whole-cell patch clamp, respectively. K(+)-induced vasoconstriction is persistently enhanced in the MAs from diabetic rats, and Ca(V)1.2 alternative spliced exon 9* is increased, while exon 33 is decreased in rat diabetic arteries. Furthermore, Ca(V)1.2 channels exhibit hyperpolarized current-voltage and activation curve in VSMCs from diabetic rats, which facilitates the channel function. Unexpectedly, the application of glycated serum (GS), mimicking advanced glycation end-products (AGEs), but not glucose, downregulates the expression of the splicing factor Rbfox1 in VSMCs. Moreover, GS application or Rbfox1 knockdown dynamically regulates alternative exons 9* and 33, leading to facilitated functions of Ca(V)1.2 channels in VSMCs and MAs. Notably, GS increases K(+)-induced intracellular calcium concentration of VSMCs and the vasoconstriction of MAs. These results reveal that AGEs, not glucose, long-termly regulates Ca(V)1.2 alternative splicing events by decreasing Rbfox1 expression, thereby enhancing channel functions and increasing vasoconstriction under diabetic hyperglycemia. This study identifies the specific molecular mechanism for enhanced vasoconstriction under hyperglycemia, providing a potential target for managing diabetic vascular complications.