Cytosolic calcium in T lymphocytes from the spontaneously hypertensive rat

Moringa oleifera-rich diet and T cell calcium signaling in spontaneously hypertensive rats

Moringa oleifera is a plant whose fruits, roots and leaves have been advocated for traditional medicinal uses. The physicochemical analysis shows that Moringa oleifera contains more dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) than saturated fatty acids (SFA). The consumption of an experimental diet enriched with Moringa oleifera extracts lowered blood pressure in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), but not in normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats as compared to rats fed an unsupplemented control diet. Anti-CD3-stimulated T cell proliferation was diminished in both strains of rats fed the Moringa oleifera. The experimental diet lowered secretion of interleukin-2 in SHR, but not in WKY rats compared with rats fed the control diet. Studies of platelets from patients with primary hypertension and from SHR support the notion that the concentration of intracellular free calcium [Ca(2+)](i) is modified in both clinical and experimental hypertension. We observed that the basal, [Ca(2+)](i) was lower in T cells of SHR than in those of WKY rats fed the control diet. Feeding the diet with Moringa oleifera extracts to WKY rats did not alter basal [Ca(2+)](i) in T cells but increased basal [Ca(2+)](i) in SHR. Our study clearly demonstrated that Moringa oleifera exerts antihypertensive effects by inhibiting the secretion of IL-2 and modulates T cell calcium signaling in hypertensive rats.

Dietary (n-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids exert antihypertensive effects by modulating calcium signaling in T cells of rats

After 10 wk of feeding an experimental diet enriched with (n-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), i.e., eicosapentaenoic acid [EPA, 20:5(n-3)] and [DHA, 22:6(n-3)] (EPAX), blood pressure in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), but not in normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats was reduced relative to rats fed an unsupplemented control diet. Concanavalin A-stimulated T-cell proliferation was diminished in both strains of rats fed the PUFA/EPAX diet. The experimental diet lowered secretion of interleukin-2 in SHR, but not in WKY rats compared with rats fed the control diet. To determine whether there was a defect in calcium homeostasis in T cells during hypertension, we employed the following agents: caffeine, which recruits calcium from the cytosolic Ca(2+)-induced Ca(2+)-release pool; ionomycin, which at low concentrations opens calcium channels; and thapsigargin (TG), which mobilizes [Ca(2+)]i from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) pool. Caffeine-induced increases in [Ca(2+)]i were not modified by the PUFA/EPAX diet. The ionomycin-induced increases in [Ca(2+)]i in T cells from SHR were greater than in those from WKY rats; consumption of the PUFA/EPAX diet did not modify Ca(2+) influx in cells of either strain. The TG-induced increases in [Ca(2+)]i in T cells from SHR were greater than those in cells from WKY rats. Interestingly, consumption of the experimental diet reduced TG-evoked increases in [Ca(2+)]i in T cells from SHR and increased those in T cells from WKY rats, indicating that the PUFA/EPAX diet could reverse the calcium mobilization from the ER pool in T cells. These results suggest that (n-3) PUFA exert antihypertensive effects and modulate T-cell calcium signaling during hypertension in rats.

Lymphocyte intracellular free calcium concentration is increased in preeclampsia

OBJECTIVES

We tested 2 hypotheses: (1) Preeclampsia is characterized by an increase in intracellular free calcium concentration in lymphocytes. (2) Levels of intracellular free calcium are influenced by the calcium concentration in the extracellular milieu or by parathyroid hormone.

STUDY DESIGN

Intracellular free calcium concentrations were measured in 4 groups of women: nonpregnant women (n = 25), normotensive pregnant women (n = 30), pregnant women with chronic hypertension (n = 15), and women with preeclampsia (n = 15). Intracellular free calcium concentration was measured in the basal state, at varying extracellular calcium ion concentrations, and in the presence of exogenous parathyroid hormone.

RESULTS

Women with preeclampsia had the highest basal lymphocyte intracellular free calcium concentration (121 +/- 7 nmol/L, mean +/- SEM) compared with normotensive pregnant women during the third trimester (94 +/- 3 nmol/L, P <.001) and pregnant women in the third trimester with chronic hypertension (100 +/- 3 nmol/L, P <.01). During the third trimester normotensive women and women with chronic hypertension had significantly higher basal intracellular free calcium concentrations than were found in women during the first trimester. Exposure of lymphocytes to an extracellular milieu of low calcium concentration resulted in an increase in intracellular free calcium concentration. Incubation with parathyroid hormone had no effect on intracellular free calcium concentration.

CONCLUSIONS

Lymphocyte intracellular free calcium concentration is increased in preeclampsia and not in chronic hypertensive pregnancy and is greater during the third trimester than during the first trimester. Extracellular calcium depletion increases lymphocyte intracellular free calcium concentration. These data support the idea that a calcium deficit leading to an increased intracellular free calcium concentration during late pregnancy contributes to the pathogenesis of preeclampsia.

Cytosolic calcium changes induced by angiotensin II in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells are mediated via angiotensin II subtype 1 receptors

OBJECTIVE

To determine the effects of angiotensin II (AII) (1-8) on cytosolic free calcium concentrations in the absence and in the presence of the selective angiotensin subtype 1 (AT1) receptor antagonist losartan and of the selective angiotensin subtype 2-receptor antagonist P-186 in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). We also assessed the effect of the AII analogues AII (2-8), AII (3-8) and AII (4-8) on the cytosolic free-calcium concentration in human PBMC.

METHODS

The cytosolic free-calcium concentration was assayed in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells by measuring the fluorescence of fura-2 entrapped by these cells.

RESULTS

Administration of AII caused a concentration-dependent increase in the cytosolic free-calcium concentration in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells with a half-maximal increase at 5 x 10(-8) mol/l. Also administration of the heptapeptide AII (2-8) increased the intracellular free-calcium concentration in human PBMC, whereas AII (3-8) and AII (4-8) had no effect. The AII (1-8)-induced rise in cytosolic free-calcium concentration was blocked completely by losartan but not by P-186.

CONCLUSION

Our data demonstrate that the effects of AII on the cytosolic free-calcium concentration in human PBMC are AT1 receptor-mediated since they were abolished by the specific AII AT1 receptor antagonist losartan but not by the specific angiotensin subtype 2 receptor antagonist P-186.

Elevated lymphocyte cytosolic calcium in a subgroup of essential hypertensive subjects

Abnormalities of intracellular calcium homeostasis and sodium-proton exchange have been implicated in the pathophysiology of essential hypertension. To further define the nature of cytosolic calcium abnormalities and whether they relate to increased sodium-proton exchange in hypertension, we have studied peripheral lymphocytes from normotensive and hypertensive subjects. Lymphocyte cytosolic calcium was significantly increased (P < .01) in hypertensive compared with normotensive subjects while consuming a high salt diet. Using maximum likelihood analysis, we found that cytosolic calcium levels in our study population were not normally distributed and observed three modes (P < .02). The means of the first mode and the two upper modes were separated (+/-2 SD) at a cytosolic calcium level of 120 nmol/L. We conducted further analysis in the subgroups with cytosolic calcium levels > 120 nmol/L or < 120 nmol/L. The majority of the normotensive subjects (86%) and half of the hypertensive subjects (52%) had levels < 120 nmol/L. Clinical characteristics of the two subgroups did not differ. Subjects with levels < 120 nmol/L had a rise in cytosolic calcium when changed to a low salt diet; those with levels > 120 nmol/L did not show a change in cytosolic calcium but their blood pressure fell significantly with salt restriction. Hypertensive subjects also had increased sodium-proton exchange activity compared with normotensive subjects when both groups were studied in a high salt balance. A positive correlation between sodium-proton exchange and cytosolic calcium was observed in subjects with levels < 120 nmol/L. There was insufficient power to draw conclusions on this relationship in subjects with levels > 120 nmol/L. Thus, many hypertensive subjects have increased cytosolic calcium, but this abnormality is not associated with sodium-proton exchange activity in all individuals. The salt-induced change in cytosolic calcium in subjects with levels < 120 nmol/L and its link to sodium-proton exchange suggest regulation by factors involved in salt-volume homeostasis. Individuals with cytosolic calcium > 120 nmol/L, most of whom were hypertensive, may have abnormalities in this regulation, contributing to hypertension.

Erythrocyte Ca2+ handling in the spontaneously hypertensive rat, effect of vanadate ions

Cytosolic Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) and 45Ca2+ influx were investigated in erythrocytes from conscious spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and their normotensive controls Wistar-Kyoto (WKY). [Ca2+]i was evaluated with fura-2 and intra- and extra-cellular calibration parameters were compared. Irrespective of the calibration parameters used, erythrocyte [Ca2+]i was always significantly higher in SHR than in WKY and Wistar rats (by 25 and 40%, p < 0.01 and 0.001). A rise of the external Ca2+ concentration from 1 to 2 mmol/l increased less [Ca2+]i in SHR than in WKY erythrocytes (17 vs 37%, p < 0.01). SHR erythrocytes incorporated more 45Ca2+ than those from WKY, with an initial rate of 45Ca2+ uptake higher by 57% than that of WKY erythrocytes (p < 0.05). Vanadate ions, after corrections of their quenching effect on red cell and fura-2 fluorescence signals, increased [Ca2+]i by 19% in WKY erythrocytes (p = 0.05), but did not modify the SHR values. They also increased 45Ca2+ accumulation and the initial rate of 45Ca2+ influx in WKY erythrocytes only (p < 0.01). This study indicates that, when compared to WKY rats, erythrocytes from SHR are characterized by higher [Ca2+]i values, higher initial rate of Ca2+ influx and low sensitivity to vanadate ions.

Intralymphocytic free calcium and magnesium in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats and effects of blood pressure and various antihypertensive agents

1. Free Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) and Mg2+ ([Mg2+]i) were measured in peripheral lymphocytes from stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP) and normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY) at the age of 5, 7 and 17 weeks, from various antihypertensive agents-treated SHRSP, and from secondary hypertensive WKY. 2. At the age of 5 weeks, no difference was observed in systolic blood pressure (SBP), or lymphocyte [Ca2+]i and [Mg2+]i between SHRSP and WKY. At the age of 7 or 17 weeks, SBP and [Ca2+]i of SHRSP were significantly higher than in WKY, and at the age of 17 weeks, [Mg2+]i of SHRSP was significantly lower than in WKY. Further, [Ca2+]i or [Mg2+]i was positively or negatively correlated to SBP, and [Mg2+]i was negatively correlated to [Ca2+]i. 3. SBP of SHRSP fell significantly after antihypertensive treatment with calcium antagonist, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor or hydralazine for 40 days. [Ca2+]i was significantly lower in calcium antagonist and hydralazine groups, and tended to be low in ACE inhibitor group. These four groups showed no difference in [Mg2+]i. 4. After 40-day administration of NG-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA), WKY developed severe hypertension, but there were no significant differences in lymphocyte [Ca2+]i and [Mg2+]i between the L-NNA treated and non-treated groups. 5. These results suggested that increased lymphocyte [Ca2+]i and decreased [Mg2+]i observed in SHRSP are not only secondary to hypertension but possibly related to a basic genetic abnormality of divalent cation handling.

Renal acid excretion and intracellular pH in salt-sensitive genetic hypertension

Acid-base status and renal acid excretion were studied in the Dahl/Rapp salt-sensitive (S) rat and its genetically salt-resistant counterpart (R). S rats developed hypertension while on a very high salt diet (8%) and while on a more physiological salt diet (1%) and remained normotensive while on a very low salt diet (0.08%). Under the high salt diet, intracellular pH measured in freshly isolated thymic lymphocytes using 2',7'-bis (carboxyethyl)-5 (6)-carboxyfluorescein acetomethyl ester, a pH-sensitive dye, was lower in S than in R rats both when measured in the presence of HCO3/CO2 (7.32 +/- 0.02 vs. 7.38 +/- 0.02, respectively, P < 0.05) and in its absence (7.18 +/- 0.04 vs. 7.27 +/- 0.02, respectively, P < 0.05). Under the high salt diet, net acid excretion was higher in S than R rats (1,777 +/- 111 vs. 1,017 +/- 73 muEq/24 h per 100 g body wt, respectively, P < 0.001), and this difference was due to higher rates of both titratable acid and ammonium excretion. Directionally similar differences in intracellular pH and net acid excretion between S and R rats were also observed in salt-restricted animals. In S and R rats placed on a normal salt intake (1%) and strictly pair-fed to control food intake as a determinant of dietary acid, net acid excretion was also higher in S than in R rats (562 +/- 27 vs. 329 +/- 21 muEq/24 h per 100 g, respectively, P < 0.01). No significant difference in either blood pH or bicarbonate levels were found between S and R rats on either the 0.08%, 1%, or 8% salt diets. We conclude that renal acid excretion is augmented in the salt-sensitive Dahl/Rapp rat. Enhanced renal acid excretion may be a marker of increased acid production by cells from subjects with salt-sensitive hypertension.

Rise and fall of agonist-evoked platelet Ca2+ in hypertensive rats

We previously reported an enhanced peak response of intracellular free Ca2+ to thrombin in platelets of spontaneously hypertensive rats in comparison with normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats. In the present study, we compared the platelet intracellular Ca2+ response to the receptor-linked agonist thrombin with the response to the Ca2+ ionophore ionomycin. Basal intracellular Ca2+ was higher in hypertensive platelets as was leakage of fura-2. We confirmed the previous finding that the thrombin-induced intracellular Ca2+ peak is greater in platelets of hypertensive rats and noted that the rate of recovery from peak intracellular Ca2+ is significantly greater in this model. In contrast, the peak platelet intracellular Ca2+ response to ionomycin (50 nM and 5 microM) was not different between the two strains, and the rate of recovery from the peak response was only slightly depressed in hypertensive rats after the low dose of ionomycin. Internal Ca2+ discharge capacity, assessed by the intracellular Ca2+ response to a maximal dose of ionomycin in Ca(2+)-free medium, was not different between platelets of the two strains. Thus, activated platelet intracellular Ca2+ is not altered in the hypertensive rat when the nonphysiological ionophore ionomycin is used as agonist. However, a heightened intracellular Ca2+ response is observed when the receptor-mediated agonist thrombin is used. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that differences in receptor-linked second messenger pathways underlie the altered intracellular Ca2+ response in platelets of genetically hypertensive rats and may contribute to differences both in the mobilization of Ca2+ and in its fall.

Abnormal platelet and lymphocyte calcium handling in prehypertensive rats

We have reported that the basal and stimulated cytosolic free calcium concentrations [( Ca2+]i) are elevated in platelets isolated from 12-14-week-old spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) as compared with normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats. To determine whether altered cell calcium metabolism precedes the development of overt hypertension, we measured [Ca2+]i under resting and stimulated conditions in blood platelets and thymic lymphocytes isolated from 4-week-old prehypertensive SHR and WKY rats. Blood pressure was similar in both groups (SHR 95 +/- 8 versus WKY rats 92 +/- 7 mm Hg). Basal [Ca2+]i in platelets was higher in SHR than WKY rats (63.4 +/- 3.9 versus 54.8 +/- 3.1 nM, p less than 0.003). Also the [Ca2+]i response to thrombin was greater in SHR than WKY rats in both the presence and absence of extracellular calcium. For lymphocytes, although no difference was detected in basal [Ca2+]i, the concanavalin A-induced peak [Ca2+]i was higher for SHR than WKY rats in both calcium-containing and calcium-free media. These results suggest that agonist-stimulated calcium influx and calcium discharge from intracellular stores are enhanced in both platelets and lymphocytes of 4-week-old SHR. We conclude that abnormalities in calcium metabolism in two different cell types precede the development of overt hypertension in the SHR.