Endogenous "ouabain-like" activity in bovine plasma

A 75-kDa Na+,K+-ATPase competitive inhibitor protein isolated from rat brain cytosol binds to a site different from the ouabain-binding site

A Na+,K+-ATPase inhibitor protein has been purified to homogeneity from rat brain cytosol by ammonium sulphate precipitation, DEAE anion-exchange chromatography and hydroxyapatite adsorption column chromatography. The purified protein migrates as a single polypeptide band of 75 kDa on 7.5% SDS/PAGE. Amino acid composition data shows the presence of a high number of acidic amino acids in the molecule in relation to the pI value of 4.6. The inhibitor binds Na+,K+-ATPase reversibly and blocks ATP binding sites at micromolar concentrations with an I50 of approximately 700 nm. As a result, formation of the phosphorylated intermediate of Na+,K+-ATPase is hindered in the presence of the inhibitor. It does not affect p-nitrophenylphosphatase activity. Tryptophan fluorescence studies and CD analysis suggest conformational changes of Na+,K+-ATPase on binding to the inhibitor.

Purification and functional characterization of a low-molecular-mass Na+, K+-ATPase inhibitor protein from rat brain cytosol

A number of low-molecular mass (12-13 kDa) Na+, K+-ATPase inhibitor proteins have been purified from rat brain cytosol by gel filtration followed by FPLC fractionation on a Mono Q anion-exchange column. Eight peaks were obtained using 0.1 M NaCl eluent of which one peak was found to be the most potent inhibitor of Na+, K+-ATPase. The molcular mass of the inhibitor was about 13 kDa on 16.5% SDS/PAGE. The concentration at which 50% inhibition (I50) was found was in the nanomolar range. The inhibitor seems to bind to Na+, K+-ATPase at a site distal from the ATP-binding site. The binding to the ATPase is non-competitive. The CD analysis suggests an unordered secondary structural element. It also inhibits p-nitrophenyl phosphatase activity from rat brain with comparable I50 value to that for Na+, K+-ATPase. The protein does not contain any Trp as evident from Trp fluorescence and amino acid analysis. Amino acid analysis shows that glycine and serine, derivatives of tyrosine and phenylalanine are the predominant amino acids. The data suggests that it is a negatively charged protein in which the contribution of the hydrophobic part is 27%.

Bufalin radioimmunoassays: in search of the endogenous digitalis-like substance

The existence of a mammalian natriuretic substance similar to plant digitalis, which inhibits Na,K-ATPase, has been speculated about, but as yet no definite substance has been found. Digoxin-like immunoreactive substance (DLIS) has been reported in various clinical states including new born infants. Using bufalin (a cardioactive substance of animal origin) as antigen, four polyclonal antisera have been produced from 2 separate rabbits and characterised for cross-reactivity with 32 compounds. One antiserum showed a marked change in its cross-reactivity after resting the animal for a year. Of the endogenous substances tested, progesterone was found to be the most cross-reactive. Radioimmunoassay of foetal cord sera with different antisera, gave different levels of bufalin-like immunoactivity. However, after a novel "affinity-immunoassay" procedure, this apparent bufalin-like immunoactivity disappeared. It is concluded that bufalin-like immunoactivity in the cord blood is caused by the cross-reaction of endogenous steroids with bufalin antiserum, and the same may be true for DLIS.

An Na+/K(+)-ATPase inhibitor protein from rat brain cytosol

A protein isolated from rat brain cytosol is found to inhibit Na+/K(+)-ATPase in rat brain and kidney and H+/K(+)-ATPase from toad gastric mucosa, but has no effect on Ca2+,Mg(2+)-ATPase and Ca(2+)-ATPase isolated either from rat testis or goat spermatozoa. The inhibitor has been partially purified by ammonium sulphate precipitation followed by gel-filtration through Sephadex G-100. The inhibitor seems to bind at or close to the ATP binding site of Na+/K(+)-ATPase, such that the binding of the inhibitor to ATPase is reversible and competitive in nature with respect to the substrate. Optimum inhibition is observed at around the phase transition temperature of brain Na+/K(+)-ATPase and the inhibitory activity is only partially dependent on -SH or -NH2 group(s) of the inhibitor protein.

In search of synaptosomal Na+, K+-ATPase regulators

The arrival of the nerve impulse to the nerve endings leads to a series of events involving the entry of sodium and the exit of potassium. Restoration of ionic equilibria of sodium and potassium through the membrane is carried out by the sodium/potassium pump, that is the enzyme Na+,K(+)-ATPase. This is a particle-bound enzyme that concentrates in the nerve ending or synaptosomal membranes. The activity of Na+,K(+)-ATPase is essential for the maintenance of numerous reactions, as demonstrated in the isolated synaptosomes. This lends interest to the knowledge of the possible regulatory mechanisms of Na+,K(+)-ATPase activity in the synaptic region. The aim of this review is to summarize the results obtained in the author's laboratory, that refer to the effect of neurotransmitters and endogenous substances on Na+,K(+)-ATPase activity. Mention is also made of results in the field obtained in other laboratories. Evidence showing that brain Na+,K(+)-ATPase activity may be modified by certain neurotransmitters and insulin have been presented. The type of change produced by noradrenaline, dopamine, and serotonin on synaptosomal membrane Na+,K(+)-ATPase was found to depend on the presence or absence of a soluble brain fraction. The soluble brain fraction itself was able to stimulate or inhibit the enzyme, an effect that was dependent in turn on the time elapsed between preparation and use of the fraction. The filtration of soluble brain fraction through Sephadex G-50 allowed the separation of two active subfractions: peaks I and II. Peak I increased Na+,K(+)- and Mg(2+)-ATPases, and peak II inhibited Na+,K(+)-ATPase. Other membrane enzymes such as acetylcholinesterase and 5'-nucleotidase were unchanged by peaks I or II. In normotensive anesthetized rats, water and sodium excretion were not modified by peak I but were increased by peak II, thus resembling ouabain effects. 3H-ouabain binding was unchanged by peak I but decreased by peak II in some areas of the CNS assayed by quantitative autoradiography and in synaptosomal membranes assayed by a filtration technique. The effects of peak I and II on Na+,K(+)-ATPase were reversed by catecholamines. The extent of Na+,K(+)-ATPase inhibition by peak II was dependent on K+ concentration, thus suggesting an interference with the K+ site of the enzyme. Peak II was able to induce the release of neurotransmitter stored in the synaptic vesicles in a way similar to ouabain. Taking into account that peak II inhibits only Na+,N(+)-ATPase, increases diuresis and natriuresis, blocks high affinity 3H-ouabain binding, and induces neurotransmitter release, it is suggested that it contains an ouabain-like substance.

Purification of a Na+/K+ ATPase inhibitor from borderline hypertensives' plasma

Increasing experimental evidences suggest an involvement of an endogenous Na+/K+ ATPase inhibitor in regulating water and electrolytes balance as well as in the pathogenesis of hypertension. However, conflicting results on the nature and the chemical structure of this substance still make it difficult to understand exactly its physiological mechanism of action. In the present study an attempt was made to purify a Na+/K+ ATPase inhibitor from hypertensives' plasma by solid phase extraction followed by 2 HPLC steps using reverse and normal phase columns. The fractions, from both columns, were able to inhibit Na+/K+ ATPase, 3H-ouabain binding to enzyme, ouabain sensitive 86Rb uptake and pNPPase activity in a manner not affected by boiling. Ultrafiltration experiments demonstrate that inhibitory activity is largely due to a low-molecular weight substance. These findings seem to confirm the presence in hypertensives plasma of a Na+/K+ ATPase inhibitor with some similarities with ouabain.

Digitalislike circulating factor in hypertension: potential messenger between salt balance and intracellular sodium

Sodium chloride has no clearly established local direct action on blood vessels to produce constriction; on the contrary, it has an immediate local indirect action via osmolality, which produces vasodilation. Thus in order to explain salt-induced hypertension, a delayed remote indirect vasoconstrictor action must be postulated. This indirect vasoconstrictor action is apparently the result of volume expansion. Acute volume expansion imparts three physiologic properties to the plasma; these are the ability to inhibit Na,K-ATPase and the Na-K pump, to cause natriuresis, and to sensitize blood vessels to vasoconstrictor agents. Similarly, low-renin, volume-expanded hypertension endows the plasma with the capacity to inhibit the Na,K-ATPase pump, to sensitize blood vessels to vasoconstrictor agents, and to raise blood pressure. These properties apparently result from a circulating digitalislike substance(s), perhaps derived from the hypothalamus and/or adrenals. We here review the considerable effort expended in identifying the agent or agents, and conclude that both steroidal and peptidic structure must be considered. Regardless of its structure, we hypothesize that when sodium excretion does not keep pace with sodium intake, its release leads to increased contractile activity of cardiac and vascular smooth muscle and hence hypertension. Inhibition of the Na-K pump increases the intracellular sodium concentration, particularly when superimposed on genetic- or aldosterone-induced increased sodium permeability, resulting in depolarization and increased calcium influx (vascular smooth muscle) or altered Na(+)-Ca2+ exchange and decreased calcium efflux (heart muscle). The increased intracellular calcium concentration then accounts for the increased contractile activity. Depolarization may also increase the sensitivity of vascular smooth muscle to vasoconstrictor agents such as norepinephrine.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Effect of tissue specificity of brain soluble fractions on Na+, K(+)-ATPase activity

Previous evidence from this laboratory indicated that catecholamines and brain endogenous factors modulate Na+,K(+)-ATPase activity of the synaptosomal membranes. The filtration of a brain total soluble fraction through Sephadex G-50 permitted the separation of two fractions -peaks I and II-which stimulated and inhibited Na+,K(+)-ATPase, respectively (Rodríguez de Lores Arnaiz and Antonelli de Gomez de Lima, Neurochem. Res. 11, 1986, 933). In order to study tissue specificity a rat kidney total soluble was fractionated in Sephadex G-50 and kidney peak I and II fractions were separated; as control, a total soluble fraction prepared from rat cerebral cortex was also processed. The UV absorbance profile of the kidney total soluble showed two zones and was similar to the profile of the brain total soluble. Synaptosomal membranes Na+,K(+)- and Mg2(+)-ATPases were stimulated 60-100% in the presence of kidney and cerebral cortex peak I; Na+,K(+)-ATPase was inhibited 35-65% by kidney peak II and 60-80% by brain peak II. Mg2(+)-ATPase activity was not modified by peak II fractions. ATPases activity of a kidney crude microsomal fraction was not modified by kidney peak I or brain peak II, and was slightly increased by kidney peak II or brain peak I. Kidney purified Na+,K(+)-ATPase was increased 16-20% by brain peak I and II fractions. These findings indicate that modulatory factors of ATPase activity are not exclusive to the brain. On the contrary, there might be tissue specificity with respect to the enzyme source.

Modulatory effect of some steroid hormones, their glucuronides and ouabain-like compounds on Cavia cobaya kidney Na+,K(+)-ATPase activity

1. Ouabain-like compounds (approx. mol. wt 700, 2,000 and 4,000 Da) were purified from plasma of essential hypertensive patients. 2. Dose-response experiments performed with (a) steroid hormones, (b) their glucuronides and (c) ouabain-like compounds, emphasize a modulatory effect [activation of the Na,K-ATPase at very low concentrations of ligand, inhibition at higher levels; apparent Ki: (a) between 1 and 0.5 mM; (b) between 1 and 0.5 microM; and (c) between 10 and 1 nM; maximum enhancement of the enzymatic activity: (a) +20%; (b) +45%; and (c) +100%]. 3. Displacement experiments of [3H]ouabain evidence a high competition of the ligands towards the cardioglycoside. The relative I50s are: (a) between 1 and 0.5 mM; (b) between 10 and 1 microM; and (c) between 10 and 0.01 nM.

Identification of Na+/K+-ATPase inhibitors in bovine plasma as fatty acids and hydrocarbons

A preparative purification of endogenous inhibitors of the Na+/K+-ATPase has been carried out from bovine blood. Dried plasma was deproteinized, hexane-extracted and desalted, followed by further purification through a series of reverse-phase HPLC fractionations. Fractions active in inhibiting Na+/K+-ATPase activity and displacing ouabain were collected and purified further. By comparison with ouabain, the final extract was found to have a steeper concentration-effect curve in the inhibition of Na+/K+-ATPase. In displacement of [3H]ouabain, the extract had again a steeper concentration-effect curve than does ouabain, and in addition it enhanced ouabain binding at high dilutions. These properties are indicative of nonspecific interactions with the Na+/K+-ATPase. The active fraction was identified by TLC, HPLC, NMR, GLC and GC-MS, to be a mixture of three unesterified fatty acids, mainly oleic acid (72% of the total) and three saturated hydrocarbons. The assignment of structures was corroborated by comparison with authentic samples.

Hemodynamic effects of bufalin in the anesthetized dog

Studies in Lichstein's laboratory suggest that the endogenous digitalislike substance implicated in low renin hypertension might be a steroidal dienolide derivative. If this is true, the bufadienolides should block potassium vasodilation and enhance norepinephrine vasoconstriction, constrict blood vessels, raise blood pressure, and produce natriuresis and diuresis. We have therefore examined these parameters while infusing bufalin (aglycone), a bufadienolide, intrabrachially and intravenously in the anesthetized dog. Intrabrachial infusion of 5-25 micrograms/min with brachial arterial blood flow held constant at 100 ml/min produced a dose-dependent increase in perfusion pressure with rapid onset and offset, a progressive decrease in the vasodilator response to intrabrachial injection of 1 ml iso-osmotic potassium chloride solution (but not to acetylcholine), and an increase in the vasoconstrictor response to intrabrachial injection of 0.1 microgram norepinephrine. Intravenous infusion at 5-50 micrograms/min produced a dose-dependent increase in systemic arterial blood pressure, rate of change of ventricular pressure (dP/dt), and after the highest dose, cardiac irregularities. Natriuresis and diuresis were not observed. Thus, bufalin does in fact have some of the physiological properties required to be considered a candidate for the digitalislike substance found in low renin hypertension.

Structural basis of steroid compounds interaction with "digitalis"-receptor sites of Na,K-dependent ATPase

Twenty-two Steroid molecules have been tested for the inhibition Na,K-dependent ATPase at 10(-7)-10(-4) M concentrations. At the 10(-5) M concentration of the investigated molecules, inhibition ranged from 8 to 36%. To explain the structure-inhibition % relationship, we determined the value of heteropolarity or biphilicity moment of these molecules. This value would appear to be dependent on the space location and hydrophilicity of the molecule elementary fragments, and to the degree of their water accessibility; however, it is independent of the hydrophilicity of the molecules as a whole. On the basis of the obtained data, details of Na,K-ATPase digitalis-receptor structure and the mechanism of the glycoside-receptor interaction are discussed.

Purification and characterization of specific endogenous ouabainlike substance from bovine adrenal

Endogenous inhibitors of Na, K-ATPase have been implicated in the pathogenesis of salt-induced hypertension. Despite an intensive search, the inhibitor(s) have long remained elusive. We have been able to purify such an inhibitor from methanol extracts of bovine adrenal glands by multiple steps of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). This compound showed striking similarity to the cardiac glycoside ouabain in its dose dependency in the inhibition of Na, K-ATPase and Na-pump activity, competitive binding to the ouabain-binding site, and dependence of these effects on K+ concentration. These results indicate that vertebrate animals contain a regulator of Na, K-ATPase.

Different properties of two brain extracts separated in Sephadex G-50 that modify synaptosomal ATPase activities

We have previously reported that Na+,K+-ATPase of nerve ending membranes is stimulated by catecholamines only in the presence of a brain soluble fraction. The filtration of this soluble fraction through Sephadex G-50 permitted the separation of two extracts of maximal UV absorbance (peaks I and II) which showed different effects on ATPases. Peak I stimulated both Na+, K+-ATPase and Mg2+-ATPase activities and peak II inhibited Na+, K+-ATPase activity. We have now studied the activity of ATPases in the presence of the whole eluate obtained from the Sephadex G-50 column. It was observed that maximal effects on ATPases were obtained with peaks I and II. Peak I and peak II fractions were unable to modify the activity of acetylcholinesterase or 5'-nucleotidase present in the synaptosomal membranes. The stimulatory effect of peak I on ATPases was concentration dependent (up to 1:100), it was stable at different pHs and it was reverted by catecholamines. The inhibitory effect of peak II on Na+,K+-ATPase was concentration dependent (up to 1:50,000), it was stable only at acid pH, and it was partially reverted by catecholamines. These findings indicate that the factors responsible for the effects of peaks I and II have different properties and that their actions on ATPases show enzyme specificity.

Partial purification of a sodium pump inhibitor from bovine adenohypophysis. Its comparison with the natriuretic factor isolated from hypothalamus

Adenohypophysis and hypothalamic bovine tissues were homogenized, lipid extracted, salt removed and loaded onto 2 successive mu Bondapak HPLC columns, semipreparative and analytic, respectively. In vitro sodium-pump inhibitory activity, recovered from each tissue, showed similar chromatographic patterns, but hypothalamus seems to contain a major hydrophobic material which appears at the end of the run, when acetonitrile gradient raised 40% approximately. Digitalis-like activity disappears along the purification procedure, and this fact suggests a clear dissociation between (Na/K)ATPase inhibition and digoxin-like activity, measured as crossing with digoxin antibodies.

Specific endogenous Na, K-ATPase inhibitor purified from bovine adrenal

The endogenous inhibitor of Na, K-ATPase has been implicated in the pathogenesis of salt-induced hypertension. In spite of an intensive search the inhibitor has long remained elusive. We have been able to purify such an inhibitor from methanol extract of bovine adrenal glands by multiple steps of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). This compound with a molecular mass of 336 showed striking similarity to the cardiac glycoside ouabain in its dose dependency in the inhibition of Na, K-ATPase and Na-pump activity, competitive binding to the ouabain-binding site, and dependence of these effects on K+ concentration. These inhibitory activities were potentiated with reduced K+ concentration in parallel with ouabain. These results indicates that vertebrate animals possess a regulator of Na, K-ATPase and suggests the possibility that it may be the mediator of salt-induced high blood pressure.

Endogenous cardiac glycosidelike compounds

The possibility that endogenous inhibitors of the sodium pump exist and bind to the cardiac glycoside binding site on Na+,K+-adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) has been a source of much controversy. Although numerous hormones and inorganic ions that modulate Na+,K+-ATPase activity have been described, most of these affect the sodium pump indirectly by varying the intracellular sodium concentration or by increasing the number of enzyme units. None of these endogenous compounds has been shown conclusively to modulate sodium pump activity by binding to the cardiac glycoside binding site on Na+,K+-ATPase. However, the near-universal presence of three high-affinity binding sites on the alpha-subunit of the enzyme has engendered much speculation that endogenous ligands for these receptors must exist. In addition, none of the hormones known to indirectly affect sodium pump activity in vivo has been shown to modulate Na+,K+-ATPase activity in response to extracellular volume expansion or to play a role in the pathogenesis of hypertension or chronic renal failure, conditions in which a circulating inhibitor of Na+,K+-ATPase has been implicated. This report presents a condensed history of the search for endogenous inhibitors of Na+,K+-ATPase and describes recent advances in the field. Despite progress in identifying and characterizing compounds that could affect Na+,K+-ATPase activity in vivo, definitive proof for the existence of endogenous ligands for the cardiac glycoside binding site remains elusive.

The search for a hypothalamic Na+,K+-ATPase inhibitor

Accumulating experimental evidence suggests that natriuresis in response to intravascular volume expansion is promoted by an endogenous regulator of Na+,K+-adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase). Efforts to purify this substance by a number of laboratories have as yet been unsuccessful. The properties of partially purified inhibitors from plasma, urine, and tissue often fail to possess the characteristics thought to be consistent with those of a physiological regulator. These include potency (Ki of approximately 1 nM), reversibility of inhibition, specificity for Na+,K+-ATPase, and responsiveness to relevant physiological stimuli. Two rather different candidate substances, extracted from urine and hypothalamus, have been purified to a high degree. Neither is a peptide, and both are of low molecular weight and resistant to acid hydrolysis. The substance from urine is rather nonpolar and interacts with digoxin-specific antibodies, while that from hypothalamus is polar and does not appear to share epitopes with the cardiac glycosides. On the serosal surface of the toad urinary bladder, the hypothalamic substance causes a reversible inhibition of Na+ transport, inhibits rubidium uptake in red blood cells by acting on the membrane's exterior surface, inhibits binding of ouabain to purified Na+,K+-ATPase, and reversibly inhibits hydrolysis of adenosine 5'-triphosphate by the enzyme with a Ki of 1.4 nM. The hypothalamic inhibitor may be differentiated from ouabain by their respective ionic requirements for optimal inhibition of enzymatic activity, and although both ouabain and the hypothalamic inhibitor fix Na+,K+-ATPase in its E2 conformation, the hypothalamic inhibitor does not promote phosphorylation of the enzyme by inorganic phosphate in the presence of Mg2+. Ionic requirements for inhibition also differentiate the hypothalamic inhibitor from vanadate ion, as does the inhibitor's activity in the presence of norepinephrine. Further enzymological and physiological studies will be facilitated by structural characterizations of the inhibitory substances and by the availability of a method to measure their concentrations in physiological fluids.

A quantitative receptor assay for "digitalis-like" compounds in serum. Demonstration of raised concentrations in essential hypertension and correlation with arterial blood pressure

The influence of serum from patients with essential hypertension on [3H]ouabain binding to isolated (Na+ +K+)-ATPase and on the reactivity with digoxin-specific antibodies was investigated. [3H]Ouabain binding to (Na+ +K+)-ATPase was significantly decreased (P less than 0.001) by sera of 18 hypertensive patients (34.9 +/- 1.5 pmol/U) as compared with 22 normotensive controls (43.8 +/- 1.2 pmol/U). The factor, whose concentration is increased in the serum of patients with essential hypertension, competed with [3H]ouabain at isolated (Na+ +K+)-ATPase. Therefore, it was possible to quantify this "digitalis-like" factor with a receptor assay in ouabain equivalents. Three times higher mean serum levels were found in hypertensive patients (234.8 +/- 48.7 nM) than in normotensive controls (76.3 +/- 9.3 nM). Deproteinization of the sera by ultrafiltration through steroid-adsorbing membranes and by boiling of acidified sera for 10 min led to a significant reduction of the inhibitory activity and to the complete loss of a difference between the sera of normotensives and hypertensives. After deproteinization by boiling for 15 min, sera of normotensives showed levels of "digitalis-like" compounds of 16.53 +/- 2.15 nM and hypertensives of 41.65 +/- 8.41 nM (P less than 0.05). Though significantly elevated concentrations of "digitalis-like" factor were measured with the receptor assay, no significant increase of digoxin-like activity could be detected with digoxin-specific antibodies in untreated serum.