Differences in activities of thromboxane A2 receptor antagonists in smooth muscle cells

Thromboxane A2 contributes to the enhanced tubuloglomerular feedback activity in young SHR

We performed micropuncture studies to determine the role of thromboxane A2 in the exaggerated tubuloglomerular feedback (TGF) activity in young spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Glomerular function was assessed by changes in proximal tubular stop-flow pressure (SFP) produced by different rates of orthograde perfusion through Henle's loop. Seven-week-old SHR exhibited an exaggerated TGF activity compared with Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY) during euvolemia, confirming earlier studies. During control periods, the feedback-induced maximal SFP response (DeltaSFP) was greater in SHR (18-19 vs. 12-13 mmHg in WKY), whereas basal SFP and proximal tubular free-flow pressure were similar in both strains. In one series, the thromboxane A2 agonist U-46619 was added to the tubular perfusate for a final concentration of 10(-6) M. In WKY, DeltaSFP was increased by 100% to 26 mmHg. In contrast, DeltaSFP in young SHR was unaffected by the thromboxane A2 agonist. In other animals, the thromboxane synthase inhibitor pirmagrel (50 mg/kg) was injected intravenously to inhibit thromboxane production. In SHR, pirmagrel decreased DeltaSFP by 8.5 mmHg and reduced reactivity. Less attenuation was observed in WKY; DeltaSFP was reduced by 3 mmHg, whereas reactivity was unchanged. In other studies, tubular perfusion with the thromboxane receptor inhibitor SQ-29548 (10(-6) M) reduced DeltaSFP more in SHR (7 vs. 3 mmHg in WKY) and also decreased reactivity more in SHR (2.3 vs. 0.5 mmHg. nl-1. min-1). Coperfusion of SQ-29548 and U-46619 resulted in an 85% block of the effect of U-46619 on DeltaSFP. Tubular perfusion with the agonist U-46619 during thromboxane synthase inhibition markedly enhanced DeltaSFP in both strains, with a greater effect in WKY. These results suggest that elevated levels of thromboxane A2 in young SHR contribute to the exaggerated TGF control of glomerular function in SHR during the developmental phase of hypertension.

Rat kidney thromboxane receptor: molecular cloning, signal transduction, and intrarenal expression localization

Thromboxane (TX) plays important roles in control of renal hemodynamics and water and electrolyte metabolism, and is involved in the pathophysiology of many renal diseases. The aim of the present study is to isolate a rat kidney cDNA encoding functional TX receptor, and to reveal its intrarenal expression localization. A clone (rTXR2) was isolated from a rat kidney cDNA library by a homology screening approach. rTXR2 was shown to encode the amino acid sequence containing seven transmembrane spanning domains representing rat (r) TX receptor. The membrane from COS-7 cells transiently transfected with rTXR2 cDNA was shown to be specifically bound by a thromboxane receptor antagonist, SQ29548. Either in Xenopus oocyte expression or in transfected COS-7 cells, rTX receptor was shown to be linked with Ca2+ messenger system. TX receptor-mediated increase in cytosolic Ca2+ was also observed in cultured glomerular mesangial cells. In situ hybridization showed that rTX receptor mRNA was detected in renal glomeruli, smooth muscle cells in renal arterioles, and transitional cell epithelium of renal pelvis. Reverse transcription linked to PCR applied to microdissected nephron segments indicated the presence of rTX receptor mRNA exclusively in the glomerulus. In conclusion, we have cloned a functional rat kidney TX receptor, which is expressed specifically in renal glomerulus, arterial smooth muscle cells, and transitional cell epithelium of renal pelvis. The present study will provide important insights into the etiology and pathophysiology of renal diseases with relation to TX metabolism.

Intrinsic activity of the non-prostanoid thromboxane A2 receptor antagonist, daltroban (BM 13,505), in human platelets in vitro and in the rat vasculature in vivo

1. We evaluated the effects of daltroban on (i) human platelet shape change and aggregation in vitro, and (ii) mean systemic and pulmonary arterial pressures (MAP and MPAP, respectively) as well as haematocrit, in anaesthetized, open-chest Sprague-Dawley rats, compared with those of a chemically distinct prostanoid thromboxane A2 (TxA2) receptor antagonist, SQ 29,548, and agonist, U-46619. 2. In human platelets in vitro, daltroban (10 nM-100 microM; n = 6 per group) concentration-dependently induced shape change, attaining at 50 microM, a maximum amplitude of 0.83 +/- 0.09 mV representing 46.4 +/- 4.8% of that evoked by U-46619 (1.78 +/- 0.20 mV at 0.2 microM; n = 9); and inhibited U-46619-induced platelet aggregation with an IC50 of 77 (41-161)nM. SQ 29,548 (10 nM-100 microM; n = 6 per group) failed to evoke any platelet shape change, but potently inhibited U-46619-induced platelet aggregation with an IC50 < 10 nM. 3. In anaesthetized rats in vivo, daltroban (10-2500 micrograms kg-1, i.v. infused over 2 min; n = 4-8 per group) produced a bell-shaped dose-response curve for MPAP and haematocrit, and evoked maximal increases of 12.7 +/- 2.1 mmHg and 5.8 +/- 1.5% at 80 micrograms kg-1 (n = 6) and 630 micrograms kg-1 (n = 8), respectively (both P < 0.05) with ED50s of 20 (16-29) and 217 (129-331) micrograms kg-1, respectively. By comparison, U-46619(0.16-20 microg kg-1, i.v.), induced dose-dependent increases in MPAP and haematocrit (25.4 +/- 1.0 mmHg and 16.1 +/- 2.9% at the highest dose; n = 12, both P<0.01), with ED50s of 1.8 (1.3-2.5) and 3.9(3.5- 5.4) microg kg- 1, respectively. Daltroban dose-dependently increased MAP with a maximum amplitude of 42.2 +/- 4.4 mmHg at a dose of 80 microg kg-1 [ED50 = 94 (64-125) microg kg-1], similar to that induced by U-46619 (41.3 +/- 9.6 mmHg) at a dose of 0.63 microg kg-1 [ED50= 0.22 (0.13-0.24) microg kg-1]. SQ 29,548(10-2500 microg kg-1, i.v.; n =4 per group) failed to modify significantly any of these parameters.4. Our results clearly demonstrate that daltroban, in a similar manner to the TxA2 analogue, U-46619,but unlike the TxA2 receptor antagonist, SQ 29,548, exhibits significant intrinsic activity in human platelets in vitro and in the rat vasculature in vivo, possibly through TxA2 receptor activation.

Biphasic increase in cytosolic free calcium induced by bradykinin and histamine in cultured tracheal smooth muscle cells: is the sustained phase artifactual?

The effects of bradykinin (BK) and histamine on intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) were studied in fura-2-loaded guinea-pig tracheal smooth muscle cells in culture. BK, at 10 nM, and histamine, at 100 microM, induced a rise in [Ca2+]i which was inhibited by the B2 antagonist Hoe 140 and by the H1 antagonist triprolidine, respectively. This rise in [Ca2+]i is biphasic, consisting of a rapid transient phase followed by a sustained phase. The transient phase, induced by either BK or histamine, was strongly inhibited by thapsigargin, a microsomal Ca(2+)-ATPase inhibitor, usually used to deplete certain intracellular Ca(2+)-stores. Ni2+ (4 mM) did not affect the transient phase but abolished the sustained phase when cells were stimulated by BK, further supporting the fact that the transient phase was only dependent on intracellular Ca2+ pools. The sustained phase was partially (for BK) and completely (for histamine) inhibited by 30 microM Mn2+. This effect could be completely reversed by the addition of DTPA, a cell-impermeant chelator of Mn2+, indicating that the Mn2+ exerted its effect extracellularly. The presence of 1 mM probenecid (an inhibitor of a membrane organic anion transporter that extrudes fura-2) drastically inhibited the sustained phase by more than 77% for BK and 88% for histamine. Our results suggest that the effects of BK and histamine on airway smooth muscle cells are mediated via bradykinin B2 receptors and histamine H1 receptors, respectively whose activation allows the rapid transient rise in [Ca2+]i from thapsigargin-sensitive intracellular Ca2+ pools. The sustained phase is proposed to be drastically influenced by an acceleration of fura-2 extrusion during the increase of [Ca2+]i via a probenecid-sensitive mechanism.