Subtype-specific roles of cAMP phosphodiesterases in regulation of atrial natriuretic peptide release

Re-expansion pulmonary edema after resection of cerebellar lesion in a patient with bronchial occupying lesion: A case report

RATIONALE

Re-expansion pulmonary edema (RPE) is a non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema, and is secondary to pulmonary collapse caused due to various reasons. However, RPE is rarely encountered during non-thoracic surgeries and is associated with much higher risk than that occurring in thoracic surgeries.

PATIENT CONCERNS

Herein we have reported a case report of a 55-years-old male patient. Preoperative examination indicated occupying lesions in the bronchus and cerebellar hemisphere. Under general anesthesia, the patient received resection of cerebellar lesion and developed acute atelectasis, and RPE occurred when cannulation was withdrawn after re-expansion. Supportive and symptomatic treatment was given to the patient for recovery well.

DIAGNOSIS

RPE.

INTERVENTIONS

The trachea was cannulated and connected to a ventilator for assisted ventilation. The patient was also given symptomatic treatment including nebulization, diuresis, and anti-inflammation.

OUTCOMES

The patient recovered well and was discharged on day 8 after surgery.

LESSONS

Patients with occupying lesions of the airway should undergo bronchoscopy to determine the location, size, and distance of the lesion from the incisors. The anesthesiologists should determine appropriate anesthetic regimens according to the examination results to avoid acute atelectasis and postoperative pulmonary edema.

Modification of levosimendan-induced suppression of atrial natriuretic peptide secretion in hypertrophied rat atria

This study aimed to determine the effects of levosimendan, a calcium sensitizer, on atrial contractility and atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) secretion and its modification in hypertrophied atria. Isolated perfused beating rat atria were used from control and isoproterenol-treated rats. Levosimendan and its metabolite OR-1896 caused a positive inotropic effect and suppressed ANP secretion in rat atria. Similar to levosimendan, the selective phosphodiesterase 3 (PDE3) or PDE4 inhibitor also suppressed ANP secretion. Suppression of ANP secretion by 1 µM levosimendan was abolished by PDE3 inhibitor, but reversed by PDE4 inhibitor. Levosimendan-induced suppression of ANP secretion was potentiated by K_ATP channel blocker, but blocked by K_ATP channel opener. Levosimendan alone did not significantly change cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) efflux in the perfusate; however, levosimendan combined with PDE4 inhibitor markedly increased this efflux. The stimulation of ANP secretion induced by levosimendan combined with PDE4 inhibitor was blocked by the protein kinase A (PKA) inhibitor. In isoproterenol-treated atria, levosimendan augmented the positive inotropic effect and ANP secretion in response to an increased extracellular calcium concentration ([Ca⁺]_o). These results suggests that levosimendan suppresses ANP secretion by both inhibiting PDE3 and opening K_ATP channels and that levosimendan combined with PDE4 inhibitor stimulates ANP secretion by activating the cAMP-PKA pathway. Modification of the effects of levosimendan on [Ca⁺]_o-induced positive inotropic effects and ANP secretion in isoproterenol-treated rat atria might be related to a disturbance in calcium metabolism.

cAMP induction by ouabain promotes endothelin-1 secretion via MAPK/ERK signaling in beating rabbit atria

Adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) participates in the regulation of numerous cellular functions, including the Na⁺-K⁺-ATPase (sodium pump). Ouabain, used in the treatment of several heart diseases, is known to increase cAMP levels but its effects on the atrium are not understood. The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of ouabain on the regulation of atrial cAMP production and its roles in atrial endothelin-1 (ET-1) secretion in isolated perfused beating rabbit atria. Our results showed that ouabain (3.0 µmol/L) significantly increased atrial dynamics and cAMP levels during recovery period. The ouabain-increased atrial dynamics was blocked by KB-R7943 (3.0 µmol/L), an inhibitor for reverse mode of Na⁺-Ca²⁺ exchangers (NCX), but did not by L-type Ca²⁺ channel blocker nifedipine (1.0 µmol/L) or protein kinase A (PKA) selective inhibitor H-89 (3.0 µmol/L). Ouabain also enhanced atrial intracellular cAMP production in response to forskolin and theophyline (100.0 µmol/L), an inhibitor of phosphodiesterase, potentiated the ouabain-induced increase in cAMP. Ouabain and 8-Bromo-cAMP (0.5 µmol/L) markedly increased atrial ET-1 secretion, which was blocked by H-89 and by PD98059 (30 µmol/L), an inhibitor of extracellular-signal-regulated kinase (ERK) without changing ouabain-induced atrial dynamics. Our results demonstrated that ouabain increases atrial cAMP levels and promotes atrial ET-1 secretion via the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/ERK signaling pathway. These findings may explain the development of cardiac hypertrophy in response to digitalis-like compounds.

Phosphodiesterase 4 inhibition attenuates plasma volume loss and transvascular exchange in volume-expanded mice

We tested the hypothesis that inhibition of phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) with rolipram to increase vascular endothelial cAMP and stabilize the endothelial barrier would attenuate the action of endogenous atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) to increase vascular permeability to the plasma protein albumin after an acute plasma volume expansion. After rolipram pretreatment (8 mg (kg body wt)(-1), intraperitoneal, 30 min) more than 95% of the peak increase in plasma volume after volume expansion (4.5% bovine serum albumin, 114 μl (g body wt)(-1) h(-1), 15 min) remained in the vascular space 75 min after the end of infusion, whereas only 67% of the fluid was retained in volume-expanded animals with no rolipram pretreatment. Rolipram significantly decreased 30 min fluorescently labelled albumin clearance (μl (g dry wt)(-1)) relative to untreated volume-expanded controls in skin (e.g. back, 10.4 ± 1.6 vs. 19.5 ± 3.6, P = 0.04), muscle (e.g. hamstring, 15.0 ± 1.9 vs. 20.8 ± 1.4, P = 0.04) and in colon, caecum, and rectum (average reduction close to 50%). The mass of muscle and skin tissue accounted for 70% of volume-expansion-dependent albumin shifts from plasma to interstitium. The results are consistent with observations that the PDE4 inhibitor rolipram attenuates ANP-induced increases in vascular permeability after infusion of exogenous ANP and observations of elevated central venous pressure after a similar volume expansion in mice with selective deletion of the endothelial ANP receptor. These observations may form the basis for new strategies to retain intravenous fluid containing macromolecules.

Mechanisms of cyclic-di-GMP signaling in bacteria

Cyclic-di-GMP is a ubiquitous second messenger in bacteria. The recent discovery that c-di-GMP antagonistically controls motility and virulence of single, planktonic cells on one hand and cell adhesion and persistence of multicellular communities on the other has spurred interest in this regulatory compound. Cellular levels of c-di-GMP are controlled through the opposing activities of diguanylate cyclases and phosphodiesterases, which represent two large families of output domains found in bacterial one- and two-component systems. This review concentrates on structural and functional aspects of diguanylate cyclases and phosphodiesterases, and on their role in transmitting environmental stimuli into a range of different cellular functions. In addition, we examine several well-established model systems for c-di-GMP signaling, including Pseudomonas, Vibrio, Caulobacter, and Salmonella.

Altered role of C-type natriuretic peptide-activated pGC-cGMP-PDE3-cAMP signaling in hyperthyroid beating rabbit atria

The role of C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) in the pathophysiology of atrial function in hyperthyroidism has not been defined. This study was to define the role of CNP-activated particulate (p) guanylyl cyclase (GC)-cGMP-phosphodiesterase (PDE)3 signaling in the regulation of cAMP levels and contractile and secretory functions in the atria from hyperthyroid rabbits. Experiments were performed in perfused beating rabbit atria. CNP was used to activate pGC. In euthyroid atria from sham-treated rabbits, CNP (100 nM) increased cGMP and cAMP efflux by 176.7+/-17.7 and 55.3+/-10.0%, respectively. CNP decreased stroke volume and pulse pressure and ANP release by 51+/-7 and 41+/-2 and 60.4+/-3.2%, respectively. Pretreatment with milrinone blocked the CNP-induced increase of cAMP but without significant changes in decrease of atrial dynamics and ANP release. In hyperthyroid atria, CNP-induced increase of cGMP levels was accentuated, while CNP-induced increase of cAMP was attenuated. The gain of cAMP, i.e., change in cAMP efflux concentration in terms of cGMP was attenuated in the hyperthyroid compared to euthyroid atria. CNP rather increased atrial dynamics in hyperthyroid atria instead of decrease. CNP-induced decrease in atrial ANP release was attenuated. Pretreatment with milrinone blocked the CNP-induced increase of cAMP levels concomitantly with a decrease of atrial dynamics. The present study demonstrates that altered role of CNP-activated pGC-cGMP-PDE3-cAMP signaling is involved in the pathophysiology of hyperthyroid heart.

The positive inotropic effect of the aqueous extract of Convallaria keiskei in beating rabbit atria

The positive inotropic effect of the aqueous extract of Convallaria keiskei (ACK) and the possible mechanisms responsible for this effect were investigated in beating rabbit atria. ACK significantly increased atrial stroke volume, pulse pressure, and cAMP efflux in beating rabbit atria. The effects were not altered by pre-treatment with staurosporine and diltiazem, a non-selective protein kinase inhibitor and an L-type Ca2+ channel blocker, respectively. In addition, ACK markedly increased the K+ concentration in the beating atria-derived perfusate. Convallatoxin, a well-known digitalis-like cardiac glycosidic constituent of ACK, also increased atrial stroke volume and pulse pressure but did not alter the cAMP efflux level. The increases in atrial stroke volume and pulse pressure induced by convallatoxin were not also altered by pre-treatment with diltiazem. These results suggest that the ACK-induced positive inotropic effect in beating rabbit atria may, at least in part, be due to the digitalis-like activity of convallatoxin.

Bacterial small-molecule signaling pathways

Bacteria use diverse small molecules for extra- and intracellular signaling. They scan small-molecule mixtures to access information about both their extracellular environment and their intracellular physiological status, and based on this information, they continuously interpret their circumstances and react rapidly to changes. Bacteria must integrate extra- and intracellular signaling information to mount appropriate responses to changes in their environment. We review recent research into two fundamental bacterial small-molecule signaling pathways: extracellular quorum-sensing signaling and intracellular cyclic dinucleotide signaling. We suggest how these two pathways may converge to control complex processes including multicellularity, biofilm formation, and virulence. We also outline new questions that have arisen from recent studies in these fields.

Phosphodiesterase 4D Forms a cAMP Diffusion Barrier at the Apical Membrane of the Airway Epithelium

We demonstrated previously that Calu-3 airway epithelial cells sense adenosine on their luminal surface through adenosine A2B receptors coupled to adenylyl cyclase. Occupancy of these receptors leads to activation of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) chloride channel through protein kinase A (PKA) anchored at the apical membrane. Because luminal A2B receptor activation does not raise total cellular cAMP levels, we hypothesized that activation of phosphodiesterases (PDEs) confines cAMP generated by apical A2B receptors to a microdomain that includes the CFTR channel. Using reverse transcription-PCR, Western blotting, and activity measurements, PDE4D was identified as the major PDE species in airway epithelia. Consistent with these results, inhibitors of PDE4, but not PDE3, selectively abolished the lateral confinement of cAMP signaling in apical membrane patches during cell-attached recordings. Furthermore, stimulation of the CFTR in excised apical patches by rolipram and RS25344 indicated that PDE4 is localized in close proximity to the CFTR channel. Indeed, immunohistochemistry of human airway sections revealed that PDE4D is localized in the apical domain of the cell. PDE4 was activated after luminal adenosine exposure in a PKA-dependent manner. Because PDE4 activity is positively regulated by PKA, our results support a model whereby the PDE diffusion barrier is proportional to the degree of receptor stimulation. These findings underscore the concept that subcellular localization of individual PDE isozymes is an important mechanism for confining cAMP signaling to functional domains within cells.

High and low gain switches for regulation of cAMP efflux concentration: distinct roles for particulate GC- and soluble GC-cGMP-PDE3 signaling in rabbit atria

This study tests the hypothesis that particulate (p) guanylyl cyclase (GC) and soluble (s) GC are involved in the distinct roles for the regulation of cGMP-PDE-cAMP signaling and of mechanical and secretory functions in the heart. Experiments were performed in perfused beating rabbit atria. C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) and SIN-1, an NO donor, or BAY 41-2272 (BAY), a direct activator for sGC, were used to activate pGC and sGC, respectively. CNP and SIN-1 increased cGMP and cAMP efflux in a concentration-dependent manner. Increase in cAMP was a function of cGMP. The changes in cAMP efflux concentration in terms of cGMP were much more prominent in the atria treated with CNP than in the atria treated with SIN-1. Increase in cAMP efflux concentration was blocked by milrinone but not changed by EHNA. BAY increased cGMP but not cAMP in a concentration-dependent manner. CNP and SIN-1 decreased atrial stroke volume and myocytic ANP release. The decreases in terms of cGMP efflux concentration were much more prominent in the atria treated with CNP than in the atria treated with SIN-1 or BAY. Milrinone accentuated GC agonist-induced decreases in atrial stroke volume and ANP release. In the presence of ODQ, SIN-1 or BAY induced effects were not observed. These data suggest that pGC and sGC activations have distinct roles via cGMP-PDE3-cAMP signaling in the cardiac atrium: high and low gain switches, respectively, for the regulation of cAMP levels and contractile and secretory functions.