Opiorphin-dependent upregulation of CD73 (a key enzyme in the adenosine signaling pathway) in corporal smooth muscle cells exposed to hypoxic conditions and in corporal tissue in pre-priapic sickle cell mice.

ABSTRACT: The precise molecular mechanisms underlying priapism associated with sickle cell disease remain to be defined. However, there is increasing evidence that upregulated activity of the opiorphin and adenosine pathways in corporal tissue, resulting in heighted relaxation of smooth muscle, have an important role in development of priapism. A key enzyme in the adenosine pathway is CD73, an ecto-5'-nucleotidase (5'-ribonucleotide phosphohydrolase; EC 3.1.3.5) which catalyzes the conversion of adenosine mononucleotides to adenosine. In the present study we investigated how sickle cell disease and hypoxia regulate the interplay between opiorphin and CD73. In the corpora of sickle cell mice we observed significantly elevated expression of both the mouse opiorphin homolog mSmr3a (14-fold) and CD73 (2

SUBMITTER: Fu S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4504813 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature