Oxygen free radicals and calcium homeostasis in the heart

Central GABAA receptor mediates taurine-induced hypothermia and possibly reduces food intake in thermo-neutral chicks and regulates plasma metabolites in heat-exposed chicks

The aim of this study was to examine the central action of taurine on body temperature and food intake in neonatal chicks under control thermoneutral temperature (CT) and high ambient temperature (HT). Intracerebroventricular injection of taurine caused dose-dependent hypothermia and reduced food intake under CT. The mRNA expression of the GABA_A receptors, GABA_AR-α1 and GABA_AR-γ, but not that of GABA_BR, significantly decreased in the diencephalon after central injection of taurine. Subsequently, we found that picrotoxin, a GABA_AR antagonist, attenuated taurine-induced hypothermia. Central taurine significantly decreased the brain concentrations of 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol, a major metabolite of norepinephrine; however, the concentrations of serotonin, dopamine, and the epinephrine metabolites, 3,4-hydroxyindoleacetic acid and homovanillic acid, were unchanged. Although hypothermia was not observed under HT after central injection of taurine, plasma glucose and uric acid levels were higher, and plasma sodium and calcium levels were lower, than those in chicks under CT. In conclusion, brain taurine may play a role in regulating body temperature and food intake in chicks through GABA_AR. The changes in plasma metabolites under heat stress suggest that brain taurine may play an important role in maintaining homeostasis in chicks.

Epigallocatechin-3-gallate has dual, independent effects on the cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ ATPase

We determined the effects of epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) and epicatechin (EC), on pump turnover and Ca2+ transport by the cardiac form of the sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase (SERCA). Fluorescence spectroscopy was used to directly measure SERCA ATPase activity and to measure Ca2+ uptake into cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) vesicles and microsomes derived from human embryonic kidney (HEK) cells expressing human cardiac SERCA2a. We found that EGCG reduces the maximum velocity of Ca2+ uptake into cardiac SR vesicles and increases the Ca2+-sensitivity of uptake in a concentration-dependent manner. EC is less potent than EGCG in increasing the Ca2+-sensitivity of uptake and does not affect maximum uptake velocity. The EGCG-dependent reduction in Ca2+ uptake velocity is well correlated with direct inhibition of SERCA. The effect of EGCG on the Ca2+-sensitivity of Ca2+ uptake into cardiac SR vesicles is affected by the phosphorylation status of phospholamban (PLB). When cardiac SERCA2a is expressed in HEK cells without PLB, EGCG reduces the maximum velocity of Ca2+ uptake but does not affect the Ca2+-sensitivity of uptake into microsomes derived from these cells indicating that the effect of EGCG on Ca2+-sensitivity requires the presence of PLB. Our results show that EGCG has dual effects on SERCA function in cardiac SR vesicles: it directly affects SERCA by reducing maximum uptake velocity; it increases the Ca2+-sensitivity of Ca2+ uptake in a manner that appears to depend on the interaction between SERCA and PLB.

EFFECTS OF PRENYLATED ISOFLAVONES OSAJIN AND POMIFERIN IN PREMEDICATION ON HEART ISCHEMIA-REPERFUSION

The present 15 days study was undertaken to evaluate the cardioprotective potential of the prenylated isoflavones osajin and pomiferin isolated from the infructences of Maclura pomifera, Moraceae, against ischemia-reperfusion induced injury in rat hearts as a model of antioxidant-based composite therapy. The study was performed on isolated, modified Langendorff-perfused rat hearts and the ischemia of heart was induced by stopping coronary flow for 30 min followed by 60 min of reperfusion (14 ml min(-1)). The Wistar rats were divided into four groups. The first treatment group received osajin (5 mg/kg/day in 0.5% Avicel); the second treatment group received pomiferin (5 mg/kg/day in 0.5% Avicel); the placebo group received only 0.5 Avicel; the last was an untreated control group. Biochemical indicator of oxidative damage-lipid peroxidation product malondialdehyde, antioxidant enzymes - superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, total antioxidant activity in serum and myocardium were evaluated. The effect of osajin and pomiferin on cardiac function, left ventricular end-diastolic pressure, left ventricular pressure and peak positive +dP/dt ischemia and reperfusion, also was examined. The results demonstrate that osajin and pomiferin attenuates the myocardial dysfunction provoked by ischemiareperfusion. This was confirmed by an increase in both antioxidant enzyme values and total antioxidant activity. The cardioprotection provided by osajin and pomiferin treatment results from the suppression of oxidative stress and this correlates with improved ventricular function.

Calcium and oxidative stress: from cell signaling to cell death

Reactive oxygen and nitrogen species can be used as a messengers in normal cell functions. However, at oxidative stress levels they can disrupt normal physiological pathways and cause cell death. Such a switch is largely mediated through Ca(2+) signaling. Oxidative stress causes Ca(2+) influx into the cytoplasm from the extracellular environment and from the endoplasmic reticulum or sarcoplasmic reticulum (ER/SR) through the cell membrane and the ER/SR channels, respectively. Rising Ca(2+) concentration in the cytoplasm causes Ca(2+) influx into mitochondria and nuclei. In mitochondria Ca(2+) accelerates and disrupts normal metabolism leading to cell death. In nuclei Ca(2+) modulates gene transcription and nucleases that control cell apoptosis. Both in nuclei and cytoplasm Ca(2+) can regulate phosphorylation/dephosphorylation of proteins and can modulate signal transduction pathways as a result. Since oxidative stress is associated with many diseases and the aging process, understanding how oxidants alter Ca(2+) signaling can help to understand process of aging and disease, and may lead to new strategies for their prevention.

Oxidative injury of isolated cardiomyocytes: dependence on free radical species

The contribution of lipid peroxidation to myocardial injury by free radicals (FR) is still unclear. Consequently, we examined the functional damages inflicted on cultured rat cardiomyocytes (CM) during FR stress provoked by the xanthine/xanthine oxidase system (X/XO) or by a hydroperoxidized fatty acid ((9 Z, 11 E, 13 (S), 15 Z)-13-hydroperoxyocta-decatrienoic acid; 13-HpOTrE), in order to simulate in vitro the initial phase and the propagation phase of the FR attack, respectively. Transmembrane potentials were recorded with glass microelectrodes and contractions were monitored photometrically. The EPR spectroscopy showed that X/XO produced superoxide and hydroxyl radicals during 10 min. The X/XO system altered sharply and irreversibly the spontaneous electrical and mechanical activities of the CM. However, the gas chromatographic analysis showed that these drastic functional damages were associated with comparatively moderate membrane PUFA degradation. Moreover, the EPR analysis did not reveal the production of lipid-derived FR. 13-HpOTrE induced a moderate and reversible decrease in electrical parameters, with no change in CM contractions. These results indicate that the functional consequences of FR attack are dependent on the radical species present and do not support the idea that the membrane lipid breakdown is a major factor of myocardial oxidant dysfunction.

Hydrogen peroxide induces intracellular calcium overload by activation of a non-selective cation channel in an insulin-secreting cell line

Fura-2 fluorescence was used to investigate the effects of H2O2 on [Ca2+]i in the insulin-secreting cell line CRI-G1. H2O2 (1-10 mM) caused a biphasic increase in free [Ca2+]i, an initial rise observed within 3 min and a second, much larger rise following a 30-min exposure. Extracellular calcium removal blocked the late, but not the initial, rise in [Ca2+]i. Thapsigargin did not affect either response to H2O2, but activated capacitive calcium entry, an action abolished by 10 microM La3+. Simultaneous recordings of membrane potential and [Ca2+]i demonstrated the same biphasic [Ca2+]i response to H2O2 and showed that the late increase in [Ca2+]i coincided temporally with cell membrane potential collapse. Buffering Ca2+i to low nanomolar levels prevented both phases of increased [Ca2+]i and the H2O2-induced depolarization. The H2O2-induced late rise in [Ca2+]i was prevented by extracellular application of 100 microM La3+. La3+ (100 microM) inhibited the H2O2-induced cation current and NAD-activated cation (NSNAD) channel activity in these cells. H2O2 increased the NAD/NADH ratio in intact CRI-G1 cells, consistent with increased cellular [NAD]. These data suggest that H2O2 increases [NAD], which, coupled with increased [Ca2+]i, activates NSNAD channels, causing unregulated Ca2+ entry and consequent cell death.