Contribution of agonist-induced hyperpolarization to Ca2+ influx and formation of EDRF in vascular endothelial cells

Further investigation of endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor (EDHF) in rat hepatic artery: studies using 1-EBIO and ouabain

1. The characteristics of endothelium-dependent hyperpolarization in rat hepatic artery have been further investigated in the presence of inhibitors of cyclo-oxygenase and nitric oxide synthase. 2. Using sharp micro-electrodes, the smooth muscle hyperpolarization induced by acetylcholine, KCl or 1-ethyl-2-benzimidazolinone (1-EBIO) in intact hepatic arteries was abolished by 30 micronM barium plus 500 nM ouabain. 3. In vessels without endothelium, the smooth muscle hyperpolarization induced by KCl was not reduced by 30 micronM barium alone. However, in the presence of barium the effects of KCl were partially inhibited by 100 nM ouabain and essentially abolished by 500 nM ouabain. 4. Using sharp micro-electrodes, the hyperpolarization of both the smooth muscle and the endothelium induced by 1-EBIO or by acetylcholine was unaffected by 100 nM iberiotoxin. However, in the presence of 100 nM charybdotoxin, the effects of 1-EBIO were abolished whereas those of acetylcholine were only partially reduced. The hyperpolarization induced by levcromakalim was unaffected by either charybdotoxin or iberiotoxin. 5 Under whole-cell patch-clamp recording conditions, 1-EBIO induced a voltage-insensitive, charybdotoxin-sensitive K+ current in cultured endothelial cells but was without effect on K+ currents in smooth muscle cells isolated from hepatic arteries. 6 It is concluded that the endothelium-dependent hyperpolarization of smooth muscle induced by either acetylcholine or by 1-EBIO in rat hepatic artery is initially associated with the opening of endothelial calcium-sensitive K+-channels insensitive to iberiotoxin. The resulting accumulation of K+ in the myoendothelial space activates an isoform of Na+/K+-ATPase which is sensitive to low concentrations of ouabain.

Endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor--a critical appraisal

Endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor is defined as that substance which produces vascular smooth muscle hyperpolarization which cannot be explained by nitric oxide or by a cyclo-oxygenase product such as prostacyclin. The possibility that the factor is an epoxyeicosatrienoic acid or a cannabinoid agonist such as anandamide continues to be investigated, but definitive evidence in favour of either is lacking. The sensitivity of EDHF-mediated responses to charybdotoxin, to apamin or to mixtures of these two toxins may indicate the opening of more than one smooth muscle K-channel, but the possibility that these are located on the vascular endothelium is discussed.

Hyperpolarizing factors

There is now overwhelming evidence for factors, other than nitric oxide (NO), that mediate endothelium-dependent vasodilation by hyperpolarizing the underlying smooth muscle via activation of Ca2+-activated K+ channels. Although the identity of endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor (EDHF) remains to be established, cytochrome P450 (CYP)-dependent metabolites of arachidonic acid (AA), namely, the epoxides, fulfill several of the criteria required for consideration as putative mediators of endothelium-dependent hyperpolarization. They are produced by the endothelium, released in response to vasoactive hormones, and elicit vasorelaxation via stimulation of Ca2+-activated K+ channels. Our studies in the rat indicate that, of the epoxides, 5,6-epoxyeicosatrienoic acid (5,6-EET) is the most likely mediator of NO-independent, but CYP-dependent coronary vasodilation in response to bradykinin. Studies in the rat kidney, however, support the existence of additional EDHFs as acetylcholine also exhibits NO-independent vasodilation that is unaffected by CYP inhibitors in concentrations that attenuate responses to bradykinin. In some blood vessels, NO may tonically suppress the expression of CYP-dependent EDHF. In the event of impaired NO synthesis, therefore, a CYP-dependent vasodilator mechanism may serve as a backup to a primary NO-dependent mechanism, although they may act in concert. In other vessels, particularly microvessels, an EDHF may constitute the major vasodilator mechanism for hormones and other physiological stimuli. EDHFs appear to be important regulators of vascular tone; alterations in this system can be demonstrated in hypertension and diabetes, conditions associated with altered endothelium-dependent vasodilator responsiveness.

Hormone-regulated Ca2+ channel in rat hepatocytes revealed by whole cell patch clamp

An inward current responsible for hormone regulated Ca2+ entry has been identified in cultured rat hepatocytes using whole cell patch clamp. Addition of 20 nM vasopressin or of 100 microM ATP induced the inward current, which could be observed more clearly after blocking an outward K+ current. This large outward K+ current, which appeared after addition of vasopressin or ATP, could be blocked either by replacing K+ with Cs+ in the external medium and in the pipette solution, or by simply including 0.5 microM apamin in the K(+)-containing external medium. The outward current appears to be carried by a Ca2+ activated K+ channel. In the presence of apamin, hepatocytes pretreated with vasopressin in a Ca(2+)-free media reveal an inward current on addition of external Ca2+ (5 mM). The current could also be elicited by addition of vasopressin when cells are preincubated in the presence of 5 mM external Ca2+. No current is seen on addition of Ca2+ in the absence of vasopressin. Initially, the inward current was ca 200-300 pA at -60 mV, but it declined rapidly over 3 min to ca 20 pA. The current approached zero, as an asymptote at positive potential, and appeared to be somewhat inwardly rectifying. Additions of 5 mM Mn2+ or 5 mM Ba2+ in place of Ca2+ produced little or no current. An inhibitor of ER Ca(2+)-ATPase, thapsigargin, could also trigger the cascade of events leading to plasma membrane conductance of Ca2+. The data suggest that hormone-stimulated Ca2+ entry into hepatocytes is mediated by a Ca(2+)-release activated channel highly specific for Ca2+. This is the first demonstration of such a channel in hepatocytes, though similar ones have been described in mast cells, in vascular endothelial cells and T-lymphocytes.

Role of phosphodiesterases III and IV in the modulation of vascular cyclic AMP content by the NO/cyclic GMP pathway

1. The effect on cyclic nucleotide contents of selective inhibitors of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase (PDE) isoforms III and IV (respectively SK&F 94120 and rolipram) and their interactions with endothelium and NO have been studied in rat aorta in the presence of indomethacin (10 microM). The participation of NO was assessed by using either NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) (NO synthase inhibitor: 30 microM) or 3-morpholinosydnonimine (SIN-1, NO donor: 10 microM with SOD 100 units ml-1). 2. The presence of endothelium significantly increased both adenosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate (cyclic AMP, 1.7 fold) and guanosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate (cyclic GMP, 2.2 fold) contents. Cyclic GMP was largely affected by L-NAME or SIN-1 treatment, this was not the case for cyclic AMP suggesting that the presence of endothelium modified cyclic AMP content in aorta independently of the NO production. 3. In the presence or absence of endothelium, neither SK&F 94120 nor rolipram, alone or combined, significantly modified cyclic GMP content. 4. The PDE III inhibitor significantly affected cyclic AMP content only in non treated aorta without endothelium. In contrast, the PDE IV inhibitor increased cyclic AMP in all conditions. These increases were generally about 2 fold but markedly higher in aorta treated with SIN-1 and superoxide dismutase (SOD, 6 fold). Association of a low concentration of the PDE III inhibitor (5 microM) with the PDE IV inhibitor (30 microM) potentiated the effect of the PDE IV inhibitor on cyclic AMP content, except for aorta without endothelium treated with SIN-1 plus SOD. 5. These data indicate that the presence of the endothelium could increase cyclic AMP content independently of NO and prostacyclin (PGI2) production. Furthermore, an increase in cyclic GMP content (modulated by NO production) could enhance the cyclic AMP accumulation induced by the PDE IV inhibitor. This result supports the hypothesis that PDE III inhibition by endogenous cyclic GMP may potentiate the effect of PDE IV inhibition on cyclic AMP content. Taken together with our previous studies on relaxation, these results suggest that the NO/cyclic GMP pathway could induce PDE IV-dependent regulation of cyclic AMP via PDE III inhibition.

LP-805, a releaser of endothelium-derived nitric oxide, activates an endothelial calcium permeable non-specific cation channel

The actions of LP-805, a releaser of endothelium-derived nitric oxide, on Ca2+ permeable non-specific cation channel in cultured bovine pulmonary artery endothelial cells (BPAECs) were investigated using patch-clamp technique. In Ca2+ saline bath solution, 10 microM LP-805 increased inward and outward currents. LP-805 evoked currents were reversibly blocked by 50 microM La3+, an inorganic Ca2+ influx blocker. In Ca2+ and Na+ free saline bath solution, 10 microM LP-805 did not evoke these currents, when 2 mM Ca2+ was then added to the bath the inward current increased. Furthermore, in the Na+ saline bath solution (Ca2+ free), 10 microM LP-805 increased similar inward and outward currents, which were blocked by 50 microM La3+. LP-805 evoked currents were carried by either Ca2+ or Na+. With the pipette solution containing 11 mM EGTA, 10 microM LP-805 activated the inward and outward currents. The increase of inward and outward currents by 10 microM LP-805 was inhibited by 1 mM Ni2+ but not by 1 microM nicardipine or 50 microM SKF 96365. In conclusion, LP-805 increases Ca2+ influx into vascular endothelial cells through Ca2+ permeable non-specific cation channels. This may explain the release of endothelium-derived nitric oxide in endothelial cells by LP-805.