Independent mechanisms of adenosine activation and inhibition of the turkey erythrocyte adenylate cyclase system

Second pathways in the pathophysiology of ischemic priapism and treatment alternatives

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the early therapeutic alternatives such as bosentan, an endothelin receptor blocker, theophylline, an adenosin receptor blocker, and a nonselective phosphodiesterase enzyme inhibitor, zinc protoporphyrin (ZnPP), a heme oxygenase 1 inhibitor, for the therapy of ischemic priapism in the rat models.

METHODS

Twenty-four Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 4 equal groups: control group, ZnPP group, bosentan group, and theophylline group. Erection was provided by vacuum constriction method and maintained for 4 hours for achieving the priapism in all groups. The rats in the control group were administered 1 mL/kg saline intraperitoneally (ip). The rats in group 2 were administered 25 mg/kg ZnPP ip. The rats in group 3 were administered 0.25 mg/kg bosentan ip. The rats in group 4 were administered 100 mg/kg theophylline ip. Six rats from each group were decapitated after 6 hours of drug administration. Then endothelin 1, adenosine deaminase, heme oxygenase 1 enzymatic activity, and apoptosis index in the cavernous tissues were estimated.

RESULTS

Cavernous tissue endothelin 1, adenosine deaminase, heme oxygenase 1 enzymatic activity levels, and apoptosis index were significantly decreased in bosentan, theophylline, and ZnPP-treated rats compared with the controls.

CONCLUSION

Inhibition of priapism induced apoptosis with bosentan, theophylline, and ZnPP seems promising on preserving erectile function.

Adenosine signaling: good or bad in erectile function?

The erectile status of penile tissue is governed largely by the tone of cavernosal smooth muscle cells, which is determined by the balance of vascular relaxants and constrictors. Vascular relaxants play a key role in regulating the tone of cavernosal smooth muscle and thus the initiation and maintenance of penile erection. Early studies drew attention to the potential role of adenosine signaling in this process. However, the serendipitous discovery of the effect of sildenafil on erectile physiology drew more attention toward nitric oxide (NO) as a vasodilator in the process of penile erection, and a recently discovered, unexpected erectile phenotype of adenosine deaminase-deficient mice reemphasizes the importance of adenosine as a key regulatory of erectile status. Adenosine, like NO, is a potent and short-lived vasorelaxant that functions via cyclic nucleotide second messenger signaling to promote smooth muscle relaxation. Recent studies reviewed here show that adenosine functions to relax the corpus cavernosum and promote penile erection. Excess adenosine in penile tissue contributes to the disorder called priapism, and impaired adenosine signaling is associated with erectile dysfunction. More recent research summarized in this review reveals that adenosine functions as a key endogenous vasodilator in the initiation and maintenance of normal penile erection. This new insight highlights adenosine signaling pathways operating in penile tissue as significant therapeutic targets for the treatment of erectile disorders.

Adenosine receptors of human leukocytes--II. Characterization of an inhibitory P-site

We have investigated the effects of 2',5'-dideoxyadenosine (DDA), 9'-beta-D-arabinofuranosyladenine (ARA), and 9-beta-D-xylofuranosyladenine (XFA), which have been classified as P-site adenosine agonists, on the cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP) metabolism of human lymphocytes and polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs). DDA (10(-5)-2 x 10(-4) M), ARA and XFA caused a dose-dependent decrease in cAMP content of human lymphocytes. In addition to decreasing lymphocyte cAMP levels, DDA, ARA, and XFA markedly inhibited the effects of many adenylate cyclase-stimulating agents including beta-adrenergic stimuli, prostaglandin E1 (PGE1), histamine, adenosine, forskolin and cholera toxin. Theophylline and 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine, which are known antagonists of adenosine A1/Ri and A2/Ra receptors, did not modify the inhibiting effects of DDA. Mn2+ (1 mM) increased the sensitivity to inhibition of adenylate cyclase agonists by DDA. We also search for the presence of adenosine P-sites in human PMNs. DDA caused a significant decrease of PMN cAMP levels only at the highest concentrations used (2 x 10(-4) M). In contrast, even low concentrations of DDA (10(-6)-10(-4) M) concentration-dependently blocked the stimulatory effect of PGE1 and forskolin on PMN cAMP accumulation. The results support the existence of a purine P-site that regulates cAMP metabolism of human lymphocytes and PMNs.

Effects of purines and forskolin on haemolysis

Effects of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), adenosine diphosphate (ADP), adenosine monophosphate (AMP), and adenosine on the antihaemolytic action of procaine, and the effect of ATP on the antihaemolytic actions of lidocaine, dibucaine, tetracaine, pentobarbitone, and chlorpromazine were investigated in rat erythrocytes. The effects of adenosine and its analogues D-N6-phenylisopropyladenosine (D-PIA), L-N6-phenylisopropyladenosine (L-PIA), N6-cyclohexyladenosine (CHA), 2-chloroadenosine, and N6-methyladenosine, as well as the effects of cyclic-AMP (cAMP), dibutyryl cAMP, and forskolin on haemolysis were also investigated in rat erythrocytes. ATP, ADP, and AMP, but not adenosine, antagonized in a concentration-dependent manner the antihaemolytic action of procaine, and ATP was ineffective against the antihaemolytic actions of lidocaine, dibucaine, tetracaine, pentobarbitone, and chlorpromazine. Adenosine and its analogues, but not N6-methyladenosine, protected erythrocytes against hypotonic haemolysis in a concentration-dependent manner. The order of potencies was: D-PIA greater than CHA greater than L-PIA greater than adenosine greater than 2-chloroadenosine. The effect of adenosine on haemolysis was not prevented by theophylline, 8-phenyltheophylline, or 8-sulfophenyltheophylline. Dibutyryl cAMP, a stable analogue of cAMP, and forskolin, a specific activator of adenylate cyclase, mimicked the antihaemolytic action of adenosine. cAMP was less efficient than adenosine. Adenine nucleotides antagonized the antihaemolytic action of procaine, probably due to calcium-chelating properties. In contrast, adenine nucleosides have antihaemolytic properties. The possibility that the antihaemolytic effects of these substances relate to cAMP and/or to lipophilicity is discussed.

A1 and A2 adenosine receptors regulate adenylate cyclase in cultured human lung fibroblasts

Adenosine stimulates and inhibits adenylate cyclase activity and cAMP levels in WI-38 and VA13 fibroblasts. The inhibitory effects appear to be mediated by both A1 receptors and the P-site. Results supporting these conclusions are as follows: Adenosine by itself increased cAMP accumulation in these cells. PGE1-stimulated cAMP accumulation was inhibited by adenosine in a concentration-dependent fashion. IAP treatment blocked adenosine inhibition of cAMP accumulation and adenylate cyclase activity and enhanced adenosine stimulation of cAMP accumulation in VA13 cells. Theophylline and MIX attenuated adenosine inhibition of cAMP accumulation. Adenosine analogs with substitutions in the purine ring inhibited PGE1-stimulated cAMP accumulation and adenylate cyclase activity. PGE1-stimulated cAMP accumulation was inhibited by the P-site agonist 2'5'-dideoxyadenosine, but this inhibition was not attenuated by MIX or IAP treatment. These data support the idea that adenosine may inhibit cAMP accumulation in VA13 or WI-38 cells by acting at an A1 receptor of the P-site. The decrease in cAMP accumulation mediated by the A1 receptor appeared to be due at least in part to an Ni-mediated inhibition of adenylate cyclase.

Adenosine stimulates sodium transport in kidney A6 epithelia in culture

The effects of adenosine receptor agonists and antagonists were examined in epithelia formed in culture by A6 cells, a continuous cell line derived from Xenopus laevis kidney. A6 epithelia have a high electrical resistance and a short-circuit current that is equal to net sodium flux from mucosal to serosal surface. Adenosine, 2-chloroadenosine, 5'-(N-ethyl)carboxamidoadenosine, and N6-(L-2-phenylisopropyl) adenosine produced concentration-dependent increases in short-circuit current. Stimulation of short-circuit current by 2-chloroadenosine occurred at concentrations of 0.05 microM and above, with half-maximal stimulation occurring at 0.3 microM. 5'-(N-ethyl)carboxamidoadenosine was more potent than N6-(L-2-phenylisopropyl)adenosine, the usual order of potency for activation of stimulatory adenosine receptors. Theophylline (100 microM), an adenosine receptor antagonist, reduced the short-circuit current response to adenosine and 2-chloroadenosine by 85-90%. Amiloride, an agent that inhibits both basal and adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP)-stimulated short-circuit current in A6 epithelia, completely and reversibly inhibited short-circuit current stimulated by 2-chloroadenosine. Adenosine and 2-chloroadenosine stimulated adenylate cyclase activity in a crude membrane preparation from A6 cells. Stimulation by adenosine was blocked by adenosine deaminase. 2-Chloroadenosine increased cell cAMP accumulation in intact epithelia. The results provide evidence that adenosine and adenosine receptor agonists stimulate adenylate cyclase and active sodium transport in an epithelial cell line of renal origin.

Regulation by adenosine of the vasopressin-sensitive adenylate cyclase in pig-kidney cells (LLC-PK1L) grown in defined media

LLC-PK1L cells, a kidney-derived cell line, had sustained growth in a defined medium. When compared to the parent cell line growing with 10% fetal bovine serum, LLC-PK1L cells had about 100-times fewer vasopressin receptors. Upon modifications of the cell culture medium, the vasopressin response of the adenylate cyclase could be increased by more than 10-fold with a parallel increase in vasopressin receptor number. Using cells with high or low receptor densities, the stimulatory and inhibitory effects of N6-L-2-phenylisopropyl-adenosine on the modulation of the adenylate cyclase responsiveness to vasopressin were investigated. When high concentrations of GTP were added, low concentrations of phenylisopropyladenosine inhibited the enzyme, while higher concentrations were found to be stimulatory. The adenylate cyclase activity stimulated by vasopressin could only be inhibited by phenylisopropyladenosine under these conditions in membranes with high receptor density; only the increase in enzyme activity due to high GTP concentration was inhibitable. The analysis of the dependency of the adenylate cyclase activity as a function of the vasopressin concentration showed that, besides reducing the maximum velocity of the system for vasopressin, the addition of phenylisopropyladenosine generated an heterogeneity in the adenylate cyclase response to vasopressin (as judged by a curvilinear Eadie plot). A high-affinity component in the adenylate cyclase response appeared when phenylisopropyladenosine was added. The growth of the cells in a medium containing adenosine deaminase gave results identical to those obtained for control cells. However, growing the cells with both phenylisopropyladenosine and adenosine deaminase abolished the inhibitory effects of the former on the adenylate cyclase and greatly reduced its stimulatory action. Under these conditions, the vasopressin response of the adenylate cyclase was not further regulated by phenylisopropyladenosine. These results indicate a role of adenosine on vasopressin response, especially at low physiological concentrations of the hormone where a high-affinity component of the hormonal response could be demonstrated.

Functional identification of adenylate cyclase-coupled adenosine receptors in rat brain microvessels

It was investigated whether adenosine affects the adenylate cyclase system of microvessels, isolated from the rat cerebral cortex, via an external receptor recently classified as R-site receptor. Several adenosine analogs caused GTP-dependent stimulation of adenylate cyclase. The rank order of potency: NECA (5'-(N-ethylcarboxamido)-adenosine, EC50 0.2 microM) greater than adenosine (0.71 microM) = 2-chloroadenosine (0.72 microM) greater than L-PIA (N6-(L-phenylisopropyl)-adenosine, 1.03 microM) greater than D-PIA (N6-(D-phenylisopropyl)-adenosine, 5.27 microM) is consistent with that for agonism at activatory (Ra-site) adenosine receptors in other tissues. Adenylate cyclase stimulation by PIA displayed stereoselectivity. The action of NECA was competitively antagonized by 8-phenyltheophylline. These findings provide functional evidence for Ra-site adenosine receptors in rat brain microvessels. However, direct identification of these receptors by binding studies was not possible. Binding of [3H]NECA to rat brain microvessels displayed rapid on-off kinetics and saturability, but equivocal specificity.