Modulation of Ras/Raf/extracellular signal-regulated kinase pathway by reactive oxygen species is involved in cyclic strain-induced early growth response-1 gene expression in endothelial cells. (41/4923)

Endothelial cells (ECs) exposed to cyclic strain induce gene expression. To elucidate the signaling mechanisms involved, we studied the effects of cyclic strain on ECs by using early growth response-1 (Egr-1) as a target gene. Cyclic strain induced a transient increase of Egr-1 mRNA levels that resulted in an increase of binding of nuclear proteins to the Egr-1 binding sequences in the platelet-derived growth factor-A promoter region. ECs subjected to strain enhanced Egr-1 transcription as revealed by promoter activities. Catalase pretreatment inhibited this induction. ECs, transfected with a dominant positive mutant of Ras (RasL61), increased Egr-1 promoter activities. In contrast, transfection with a dominant negative mutant of Ras (RasN17) attenuated this strain inducibility. ECs transfected with a dominant negative mutant of Raf-1 (Raf301) or the catalytically inactive mutant of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)-2 (mERK2) diminished strain-induced promoter activities. However, little effect on strain inducibility was observed in ECs transfected with a dominant negative mutant of Rac (RacN17) or a catalytically inactive mutant of JNK (JNK[K-R]). Consistently, strain-induced Egr-1 expression was inhibited after ECs were treated with a specific inhibitor (PD98059) to mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase. Moreover, strain to ECs induced mitogen-activated protein kinase/ERK activity. The activation of the ERK pathway was further substantiated by an increase of strain-induced transcriptional activity of Elk1, an ERK substrate. This strain-induced ERK activity was attenuated after ECs were treated with N-acetylcysteine or catalase. Consequently, this Egr-1 gene induction was abolished after ECs were treated with N-acetylcysteine or catalase. Deletion analyses of the promoter region (-698 bp) indicated that cyclic strain and H2O2 shared a common serum response element. Our data clearly indicate that cyclic strain-induced Egr-1 expression is mediated mainly via the Ras/Raf-1/ERK pathway and that strain-induced reactive oxygen species can modulate Egr-1 expression at least partially via this signaling pathway.  (+info)

Quantification of extracellular and intracellular adenosine production: understanding the transmembranous concentration gradient. (42/4923)

BACKGROUND: Inhibitors of adenosine membrane transport cause vasodilation and enhance the plasma adenosine concentration. However, it is unclear why the plasma adenosine concentration rises rather than falls when membrane transport is inhibited. We tested the hypothesis that the cytosolic adenosine concentration exceeds the interstitial concentration under well-oxygenated conditions. METHODS AND RESULTS: In isolated, isovolumically working guinea pig hearts (n=50), the release rate of adenosine and accumulation of S-adenosylhomocysteine (after 20 minutes of 200 micromol/L homocysteine), a measure of the free cytosolic adenosine concentration, were determined in the absence and presence of specific and powerful blockers of adenosine membrane transport (nitrobenzylthioinosine 1 micromol/L), adenosine deaminase (erythro-9-hydroxy-nonyl-adenine 5 micromol/L), and adenosine kinase (iodotubericidine 10 micromol/L). Data analysis with a distributed multicompartment model revealed a total cardiac adenosine production rate of 2294 pmol. min-1. g-1, of which 8% was produced in the extracellular region. Because of a high rate of intracellular metabolism, however, 70.3% of extracellularly produced adenosine was taken up into cellular regions, an effect that was effectively eliminated by membrane transport block. The resulting approximately 2.8-fold increase of the interstitial adenosine concentration evoked near-maximal coronary dilation. CONCLUSIONS: We rejected the hypothesis that the cytosolic adenosine concentration exceeds the interstitial. Rather, there is significant extracellular production, and the parenchymal cell represents a sink, not a source, for adenosine under well-oxygenated conditions.  (+info)

Extracellular glutamate diffusion determines the occupancy of glutamate receptors at CA1 synapses in the hippocampus. (43/4923)

Following exocytosis at excitatory synapses in the brain, glutamate binds to several subtypes of postsynaptic receptors. The degree of occupancy of AMPA and NMDA receptors at hippocampal synapses is, however, not known. One approach to estimate receptor occupancy is to examine quantal amplitude fluctuations of postsynaptic signals in hippocampal neurons studied in vitro. The results of such experiments suggest that NMDA receptors at CA1 synapses are activated not only by glutamate released from the immediately apposed presynaptic terminals, but also by glutamate spillover from neighbouring terminals. Numerical simulations point to the extracellular diffusion coefficient as a critical parameter that determines the extent of activation of receptors positioned at different distances from the release site. We have shown that raising the viscosity of the extracellular medium can modulate the diffusion coefficient, providing an experimental tool to investigate the role of diffusion in activation of synaptic and extrasynaptic receptors. Whether intersynaptic cross-talk mediated by NMDA receptors occurs in vivo remains to be determined. The theoretical and experimental approaches described here also promise to shed light on the roles of metabotropic and kainate receptors, which often occur in an extrasynaptic distribution, and are therefore positioned to sense glutamate escaping from the synaptic cleft.  (+info)

Temporal differences in actions of calcium channel blockers on K+ accumulation, cardiac function, and high-energy phosphate levels in ischemic guinea pig hearts. (44/4923)

We investigated temporal differences in the protective action of three types of Ca2+ channel blockers in myocardial ischemia, focusing particularly on the blocking ability under depolarizing conditions. The effects of diltiazem, verapamil, and nifedipine on extracellular potassium concentration ([K+]e), acidosis, and level of metabolic markers were examined during 30-min global ischemia and postischemic left ventricular (LV) function in isolated guinea pig hearts. Diltiazem and verapamil, but not nifedipine, inhibited the late phase (15-30 min) of [K+]e elevation, whereas all three blockers delayed the onset of the early phase (0-8 min) of [K+]e elevation. Diltiazem and verapamil inhibited ischemic contracture and improved postischemic LV function to a greater extent. These differences appeared to be linked to preservation of ATP and creatine phosphate and delay of cessation of anaerobic glycolytic activity. Maneuvers to preserve energy sources during ischemia (decrease in external Ca2+ concentration or pacing at a lower frequency) attenuated the late phase of [K+]e elevation. Inhibition of LV pressure was potentiated 12- and 8.2-fold by diltiazem and verapamil, respectively, at 8.9 mM K+ as compared with 2.9 mM K+, whereas that by nifedipine was unchanged. These results indicate that the differential cardioprotection of Ca2+ channel blockers in the late period of ischemia correlates with preservation of high-energy phosphates as a result of different Ca2+ channel blocking abilities under high [K+]e conditions.  (+info)

First-pass midazolam metabolism catalyzed by 1alpha,25-dihydroxy vitamin D3-modified Caco-2 cell monolayers. (45/4923)

Cytochrome P-450 (CYP) 3A4 accounts for approximately 50% of all P-450s found in the small intestine (Paine et al., 1997) and contributes to the extensive and variable first-pass extraction of drugs such as cyclosporine and saquinavir. We recently demonstrated that CYP3A4 expression in a differentiated Caco-2 subclone is increased when cell monolayers are treated with 1alpha,25-dihydroxy-vitamin-D3 (Schmiedlin-Ren et al., 1997). This improved metabolic capacity permits the in vitro modeling of first-pass intestinal metabolic kinetics. Midazolam (MDZ) 1'-hydroxylation was used as a specific probe for CYP3A-mediated metabolism in modified Caco-2 monolayers. Caco-2 cells were grown to confluence on laminin-coated culture inserts, and then for two additional weeks in the presence of 1alpha,25-dihydroxy vitamin-D3. Cell monolayers were subsequently exposed to MDZ for varying lengths of time and concentrations. The amount of MDZ in the monolayer increased rapidly after apical drug administration, reaching a pseudo steady state within 6 min. The cellular uptake rate was considerably slower after a basolateral dose. By either route of administration, the rate of 1'-hydroxymidazolam formation was stable and linear for 2 h. Under basolateral sink conditions and low apical MDZ dosing concentration (1-8 microM), the first-pass extraction ratio was found to be approximately 15%. Higher dosing concentrations led to saturation of the hydroxylation reaction and reduction in the extraction ratio. The modified Caco-2 cell monolayer is an excellent model for studying drug absorption and first-pass intestinal metabolic kinetic processes. In this system, the selective CYP3A probe MDZ was rapidly absorbed, yet extensively metabolized, as is observed in vivo.  (+info)

Midazolam metabolism by modified Caco-2 monolayers: effects of extracellular protein binding. (46/4923)

It has been suggested that the binding of a drug to plasma proteins will influence the intestinal extraction efficiency when drug is delivered to the mucosal epithelium via either the gut lumen or vasculature. We evaluated this hypothesis using cytochrome P-450 (CYP)3A4-expressing Caco-2 monolayers as a model for the intestinal epithelial barrier and midazolam as a CYP3A-specific enzyme probe. The rate of 1'-hydroxylation was measured following apical or basolateral midazolam administration to monolayers incubated in the presence or absence of 4 g/dl of human serum albumin (HSA) in the basolateral compartment medium. The midazolam-free fraction in culture medium containing HSA was 3.3%. Inclusion of HSA in the basolateral medium decreased peak intracellular midazolam accumulation after an apical midazolam dose (3 microM) by 35% and reduced the 1'-hydroxymidazolam formation rate by approximately 20%. Because of the accelerated diffusion of midazolam through the cell monolayer and into the basolateral compartment, there was a 61% reduction in the first-pass metabolic extraction ratio: 13.3 +/- 0. 12% for control versus 5.2 +/- 1% with HSA. Compared with control, addition of HSA resulted in a 91% decrease in the peak intracellular midazolam level and a 86% decrease in the rate of 1'-hydroxylation after the administration of midazolam into basolateral medium. These findings suggest that, in vivo, binding of a drug to plasma proteins will impact both first-pass and systemic intestinal midazolam extraction efficiency. Furthermore, the effect will be more pronounced for a drug that is delivered to mucosal enterocytes by way of arterial blood, compared with oral drug delivery.  (+info)

Cell water balance of white button mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus) during its post-harvest lifetime studied by quantitative magnetic resonance imaging. (47/4923)

A combination of quantitative water density and T2 MRI and changes therein observed after infiltration with 'invisible' Gd-DTPA solution was used to study cell water balances, cell water potentials and cell integrity. This method was applied to reveal the evolution and mechanism of redistribution of water in harvested mushrooms. Even when mushrooms did not lose water during the storage period, a redistribution of water was observed from stipe to cap and gills. When the storage condition resulted in a net loss of water, the stipe lost more water than the cap. The water density in the gill increased, probably due to development of spores. Deterioration effects (i.e. leakage of cells, decrease in osmotic water potential) were found in the outer stipe. They were not found in the cap, even at prolonged storage at 293 K and R.H.=70%. The changes in osmotic potential were partly accounted for by changes in the mannitol concentration. Changes in membrane permeability were also indicated. Cells in the cap had a constant low membrane (water) permeability. They developed a decreasing osmotic potential (more negative), whereas the osmotic potential in the outer stipe increased, together with the permeability of cells.  (+info)

Effect of alpha-trinositol on interstitial fluid pressure, oedema generation and albumin extravasation in experimental frostbite in the rat. (48/4923)

1. The anti-inflammatory effect of alpha-trinositol (D-myo-inositol-1,2,6-trisphosphate) on oedema formation, microvascular protein leakage and interstitial fluid pressure (Pif) in rat skin after frostbite injury, was investigated. Alpha-trinositol (40 mg kg body weight(-1)) was administered intravenously as a bolus both before and/or in the interval between freezing and thawing of the tissue. 2. Pif was measured in rat paw skin with micropipettes connected to a servo-controlled counterpressure system. Oedema formation was estimated by measuring the increase in total tissue water content (wet weight minus dry weight divided by dry weight). Albumin extravasation (i.e., the difference between the plasma equivalent space for 125I- and 131I-human serum albumin (HSA) circulating for different time intervals) was used to estimate the microvascular leakage. 3. Compared to untreated animals, alpha-trinositol given pre- and/or post-freeze reduced total tissue water and albumin extravasation as well as the fall in Pif in injured tissue significantly (P<0.05). Alpha-trinositol given only post-freeze reduced total tissue water and albumin extravasation from 4.46+/-0.93 and 2.37+/-1.12 to 2.51+/-0.29 and 0.36+/-0.18 ml g dry weight(-1), respectively (P<0.05). 4. Pif fell from -0.8+/-0.2 mmHg pre-freeze to -3.4+/-1.0 mmHg (P<0.05) at 20 min after tissue injury (circulatory arrest) and was attenuated by treatment with alpha-trinositol. 5. We conclude that alpha-trinositol exerts its anti-oedematous effect by acting on the extracellular matrix, attenuating the lowering of Pif as well as on the microvascular wall, thereby decreasing the protein extravasation.  (+info)