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Moccia F, Brunetti V, Soda T, Berra-Romani R, Scarpellino G. Cracking the Endothelial Calcium (Ca 2+) Code: A Matter of Timing and Spacing. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:16765. [PMID: 38069089 PMCID: PMC10706333 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242316765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2023] [Revised: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
A monolayer of endothelial cells lines the innermost surface of all blood vessels, thereby coming into close contact with every region of the body and perceiving signals deriving from both the bloodstream and parenchymal tissues. An increase in intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) is the main mechanism whereby vascular endothelial cells integrate the information conveyed by local and circulating cues. Herein, we describe the dynamics and spatial distribution of endothelial Ca2+ signals to understand how an array of spatially restricted (at both the subcellular and cellular levels) Ca2+ signals is exploited by the vascular intima to fulfill this complex task. We then illustrate how local endothelial Ca2+ signals affect the most appropriate vascular function and are integrated to transmit this information to more distant sites to maintain cardiovascular homeostasis. Vasorelaxation and sprouting angiogenesis were selected as an example of functions that are finely tuned by the variable spatio-temporal profile endothelial Ca2+ signals. We further highlighted how distinct Ca2+ signatures regulate the different phases of vasculogenesis, i.e., proliferation and migration, in circulating endothelial precursors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Moccia
- Laboratory of General Physiology, Department of Biology and Biotechnology “L. Spallanzani”, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy; (V.B.); (G.S.)
| | - Valentina Brunetti
- Laboratory of General Physiology, Department of Biology and Biotechnology “L. Spallanzani”, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy; (V.B.); (G.S.)
| | - Teresa Soda
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Magna Graecia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy;
| | - Roberto Berra-Romani
- Department of Biomedicine, School of Medicine, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Puebla 72410, Mexico;
| | - Giorgia Scarpellino
- Laboratory of General Physiology, Department of Biology and Biotechnology “L. Spallanzani”, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy; (V.B.); (G.S.)
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2
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Lee MD, Buckley C, Zhang X, Louhivuori L, Uhlén P, Wilson C, McCarron JG. Small-world connectivity dictates collective endothelial cell signaling. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2118927119. [PMID: 35482920 PMCID: PMC9170162 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2118927119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Every blood vessel is lined by a single layer of highly specialized, yet adaptable and multifunctional endothelial cells. These cells, the endothelium, control vascular contractility, hemostasis, and inflammation and regulate the exchange of oxygen, nutrients, and waste products between circulating blood and tissue. To control each function, the endothelium processes endlessly arriving requests from multiple sources using separate clusters of cells specialized to detect specific stimuli. A well-developed but poorly understood communication system operates between cells to integrate multiple lines of information and coordinate endothelial responses. Here, the nature of the communication network has been addressed using single-cell Ca2+ imaging across thousands of endothelial cells in intact blood vessels. Cell activities were cross-correlated and compared to a stochastic model to determine network connections. Highly correlated Ca2+ activities occurred in scattered cell clusters, and network communication links between them exhibited unexpectedly short path lengths. The number of connections between cells (degree distribution) followed a power-law relationship revealing a scale-free network topology. The path length and degree distribution revealed an endothelial network with a “small-world” configuration. The small-world configuration confers particularly dynamic endothelial properties including high signal-propagation speed, stability, and a high degree of synchronizability. Local activation of small clusters of cells revealed that the short path lengths and rapid signal transmission were achieved by shortcuts via connecting extensions to nonlocal cells. These findings reveal that the endothelial network design is effective for local and global efficiency in the interaction of the cells and rapid and robust communication between endothelial cells in order to efficiently control cardiovascular activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew D. Lee
- Vascular Imaging Group, Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G4 0RE, United Kingdom
| | - Charlotte Buckley
- Vascular Imaging Group, Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G4 0RE, United Kingdom
| | - Xun Zhang
- Vascular Imaging Group, Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G4 0RE, United Kingdom
| | - Lauri Louhivuori
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Per Uhlén
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Calum Wilson
- Vascular Imaging Group, Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G4 0RE, United Kingdom
| | - John G. McCarron
- Vascular Imaging Group, Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G4 0RE, United Kingdom
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3
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Wilson C, Zhang X, Lee MD, MacDonald M, Heathcote HR, Alorfi NMN, Buckley C, Dolan S, McCarron JG. Disrupted endothelial cell heterogeneity and network organization impair vascular function in prediabetic obesity. Metabolism 2020; 111:154340. [PMID: 32791171 PMCID: PMC7538703 DOI: 10.1016/j.metabol.2020.154340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2020] [Revised: 07/29/2020] [Accepted: 08/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Obesity is a major risk factor for diabetes and cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension, heart failure, and stroke. Impaired endothelial function occurs in the earliest stages of obesity and underlies vascular alterations that give rise to cardiovascular disease. However, the mechanisms that link weight gain to endothelial dysfunction are ill-defined. Increasing evidence suggests that endothelial cells are not a population of uniform cells but are highly heterogeneous and are organized as a communicating multicellular network that controls vascular function. PURPOSE To investigate the hypothesis that disrupted endothelial heterogeneity and network-level organization contribute to impaired vascular reactivity in obesity. METHODS AND RESULTS To study obesity-related vascular function without complications associated with diabetes, a state of prediabetic obesity was induced in rats. Small artery diameter recordings confirmed nitric-oxide mediated vasodilator responses were dependent on increases in endothelial calcium levels and were impaired in obese animals. Single-photon imaging revealed a linear relationship between blood vessel relaxation and population-wide calcium responses. Obesity did not alter the slope of this relationship, but impaired calcium responses in the endothelial cell network. The network comprised structural and functional components. The structural architecture, a hexagonal lattice network of connected cells, was unchanged in obesity. The functional network contained sub-populations of clustered specialized agonist-sensing cells from which signals were communicated through the network. In obesity there were fewer but larger clusters of sensory cells and communication path lengths between clusters increased. Communication between neighboring cells was unaltered in obesity. Altered network organization resulted in impaired, population-level calcium signaling and deficient endothelial control of vascular tone. CONCLUSIONS The distribution of cells in the endothelial network is critical in determining overall vascular response. Altered cell heterogeneity and arrangement in obesity decreases endothelial function and provides a novel framework for understanding compromised endothelial function in cardiovascular disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Calum Wilson
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, 161 Cathedral Street, Glasgow G4 0RE, UK.
| | - Xun Zhang
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, 161 Cathedral Street, Glasgow G4 0RE, UK
| | - Matthew D Lee
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, 161 Cathedral Street, Glasgow G4 0RE, UK
| | - Margaret MacDonald
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, 161 Cathedral Street, Glasgow G4 0RE, UK
| | - Helen R Heathcote
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, 161 Cathedral Street, Glasgow G4 0RE, UK
| | - Nasser M N Alorfi
- Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow G4 0BA, UK
| | - Charlotte Buckley
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, 161 Cathedral Street, Glasgow G4 0RE, UK
| | - Sharron Dolan
- Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow G4 0BA, UK
| | - John G McCarron
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, 161 Cathedral Street, Glasgow G4 0RE, UK.
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Zhang X, Lee MD, Wilson C, McCarron JG. Hydrogen peroxide depolarizes mitochondria and inhibits IP 3-evoked Ca 2+ release in the endothelium of intact arteries. Cell Calcium 2019; 84:102108. [PMID: 31715384 PMCID: PMC6891240 DOI: 10.1016/j.ceca.2019.102108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2019] [Revised: 08/30/2019] [Accepted: 10/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
H2O2 is produced by several cell processes including mitochondria and may act as an intracellular messenger and cell-cell signalling molecule. Spontaneous local Ca2+ signals and IP3-evoked Ca2+ increases were inhibited by H2O2. H2O2 suppression of IP3-evoked Ca2+ signalling may be mediated by mitochondria via a decrease in the mitochondrial membrane potential. H2O2-induced mitochondrial depolarization and inhibition of IP3-evoked Ca2+ release, may protect mitochondria from Ca2+ overload during IP3-linked Ca2+ signals.
Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is a mitochondrial-derived reactive oxygen species (ROS) that regulates vascular signalling transduction, vasocontraction and vasodilation. Although the physiological role of ROS in endothelial cells is acknowledged, the mechanisms underlying H2O2 regulation of signalling in native, fully-differentiated endothelial cells is unresolved. In the present study, the effects of H2O2 on Ca2+ signalling were investigated in the endothelium of intact rat mesenteric arteries. Spontaneous local Ca2+ signals and acetylcholine evoked Ca2+ increases were inhibited by H2O2. H2O2 inhibition of acetylcholine-evoked Ca2+ signals was reversed by catalase. H2O2 exerts its inhibition on the IP3 receptor as Ca2+ release evoked by photolysis of caged IP3 was supressed by H2O2. H2O2 suppression of IP3-evoked Ca2+ signalling may be mediated by mitochondria. H2O2 depolarized mitochondria membrane potential. Acetylcholine-evoked Ca2+ release was inhibited by depolarisation of the mitochondrial membrane potential by the uncoupler carbonyl cyanide 3-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP) or complex 1 inhibitor, rotenone. We propose that the suppression of IP3-evoked Ca2+ release by H2O2 arises from the decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential. These results suggest that mitochondria may protect themselves against Ca2+ overload during IP3-linked Ca2+ signals by a H2O2 mediated negative feedback depolarization of the organelle and inhibition of IP3-evoked Ca2+ release.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xun Zhang
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, 161 Cathedral Street, Glasgow G4 0RE, UK
| | - Matthew D Lee
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, 161 Cathedral Street, Glasgow G4 0RE, UK
| | - Calum Wilson
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, 161 Cathedral Street, Glasgow G4 0RE, UK
| | - John G McCarron
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, 161 Cathedral Street, Glasgow G4 0RE, UK.
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Heathcote HR, Lee MD, Zhang X, Saunter CD, Wilson C, McCarron JG. Endothelial TRPV4 channels modulate vascular tone by Ca 2+ -induced Ca 2+ release at inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors. Br J Pharmacol 2019; 176:3297-3317. [PMID: 31177523 PMCID: PMC6692577 DOI: 10.1111/bph.14762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2019] [Revised: 05/14/2019] [Accepted: 05/20/2019] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The TRPV4 ion channels are Ca2+ permeable, non-selective cation channels that mediate large, but highly localized, Ca2+ signals in the endothelium. The mechanisms that permit highly localized Ca2+ changes to evoke cell-wide activity are incompletely understood. Here, we tested the hypothesis that TRPV4-mediated Ca2+ influx activates Ca2+ release from internal Ca2+ stores to generate widespread effects. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH Ca2+ signals in large numbers (~100) of endothelial cells in intact arteries were imaged and analysed separately. KEY RESULTS Responses to the TRPV4 channel agonist GSK1016790A were heterogeneous across the endothelium. In activated cells, Ca2+ responses comprised localized Ca2+ changes leading to slow, persistent, global increases in Ca2+ followed by large propagating Ca2+ waves that moved within and between cells. To examine the mechanisms underlying each component, we developed methods to separate slow persistent Ca2+ rise from the propagating Ca2+ waves in each cell. TRPV4-mediated Ca2+ entry was required for the slow persistent global rise and propagating Ca2+ signals. The propagating waves were inhibited by depleting internal Ca2+ stores, inhibiting PLC or blocking IP3 receptors. Ca2+ release from stores was tightly controlled by TRPV4-mediated Ca2+ influx and ceased when influx was terminated. Furthermore, Ca2+ release from internal stores was essential for TRPV4-mediated control of vascular tone. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS Ca2+ influx via TRPV4 channels is amplified by Ca2+ -induced Ca2+ release acting at IP3 receptors to generate propagating Ca2+ waves and provide a large-scale endothelial communication system. TRPV4-mediated control of vascular tone requires Ca2+ release from the internal store.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helen R Heathcote
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Science, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK
| | - Matthew D Lee
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Science, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK
| | - Xun Zhang
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Science, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK
| | - Christopher D Saunter
- Centre for Advanced Instrumentation, Biophysical Sciences Institute, Department of Physics, Durham University, Durham, UK
| | - Calum Wilson
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Science, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK
| | - John G McCarron
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Science, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK
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6
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McCarron JG, Wilson C, Heathcote HR, Zhang X, Buckley C, Lee MD. Heterogeneity and emergent behaviour in the vascular endothelium. Curr Opin Pharmacol 2019; 45:23-32. [PMID: 31005824 PMCID: PMC6700393 DOI: 10.1016/j.coph.2019.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2018] [Accepted: 03/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The endothelium is the single layer of cells lining all blood vessels, and it is a remarkable cardiovascular control centre. Each endothelial cell has only a small number (on average six) of interconnected neighbours. Yet this arrangement produces a large repertoire of behaviours, capable of controlling numerous cardiovascular functions in a flexible and dynamic way. The endothelium regulates the delivery of nutrients and removal of waste by regulating blood flow and vascular permeability. The endothelium regulates blood clotting, responses to infection and inflammation, the formation of new blood vessels, and remodelling of the blood vessel wall. To carry out these roles, the endothelium autonomously interprets a complex environment crammed with signals from hormones, neurotransmitters, pericytes, smooth muscle cells, various blood cells, viral or bacterial infection and proinflammatory cytokines. It is generally assumed that the endothelium responds to these instructions with coordinated responses in a homogeneous population of endothelial cells. Here, we highlight evidence that shows that neighbouring endothelial cells are highly heterogeneous and display different sensitivities to various activators. Cells with various sensitivities process different extracellular signals into distinct streams of information in parallel, like a vast switchboard. Communication occurs among cells and new ‘emergent’ signals are generated that are non-linear composites of the inputs. Emergent signals cannot be predicted or deduced from the properties of individual cells. Heterogeneity and emergent behaviour bestow capabilities on the endothelial collective that far exceed those of individual cells. The implications of heterogeneity and emergent behaviour for understanding vascular disease and drug discovery are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- John G McCarron
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, 161 Cathedral Street, Glasgow G4 0RE, UK.
| | - Calum Wilson
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, 161 Cathedral Street, Glasgow G4 0RE, UK
| | - Helen R Heathcote
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, 161 Cathedral Street, Glasgow G4 0RE, UK
| | - Xun Zhang
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, 161 Cathedral Street, Glasgow G4 0RE, UK
| | - Charlotte Buckley
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, 161 Cathedral Street, Glasgow G4 0RE, UK
| | - Matthew D Lee
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, 161 Cathedral Street, Glasgow G4 0RE, UK
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Denis JF, Diagbouga MR, Molica F, Hautefort A, Linnerz T, Watanabe M, Lemeille S, Bertrand JY, Kwak BR. KLF4-Induced Connexin40 Expression Contributes to Arterial Endothelial Quiescence. Front Physiol 2019; 10:80. [PMID: 30809154 PMCID: PMC6379456 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2019.00080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2018] [Accepted: 01/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Shear stress, a blood flow-induced frictional force, is essential in the control of endothelial cell (EC) homeostasis. High laminar shear stress (HLSS), as observed in straight parts of arteries, assures a quiescent non-activated endothelium through the induction of Krüppel-like transcription factors (KLFs). Connexin40 (Cx40)-mediated gap junctional communication is known to contribute to a healthy endothelium by propagating anti-inflammatory signals between ECs, however, the molecular basis of the transcriptional regulation of Cx40 as well as its downstream effectors remain poorly understood. Here, we show that flow-induced KLF4 regulated Cx40 expression in a mouse EC line. Chromatin immunoprecipitation in ECs revealed that KLF4 bound to three predicted KLF consensus binding sites in the Cx40 promoter. HLSS-dependent induction of Cx40 expression was confirmed in primary human ECs. The downstream effects of Cx40 modulation in ECs exposed to HLSS were elucidated by an unbiased transcriptomics approach. Cell cycle progression was identified as an important downstream target of Cx40 under HLSS. In agreement, an increase in the proportion of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA)-positive ECs and a decrease in the proportion of ECs in the G0/G1 phase were observed under HLSS after Cx40 silencing. Transfection of communication-incompetent HeLa cells with Cx40 demonstrated that the regulation of proliferation by Cx40 was not limited to ECs. Using a zebrafish model, we finally showed faster intersegmental vessel growth and branching into the dorsal longitudinal anastomotic vessel in embryos knock-out for the Cx40 orthologs Cx41.8 and Cx45.6. Most significant effects were observed in embryos with a mutant Cx41.8 encoding for a channel with reduced gap junctional function. Faster intersegmental vessel growth in Cx41.8 mutant embryos was associated with increased EC proliferation as assessed by PH3 immunostaining. Our data shows a novel evolutionary-conserved role of flow-driven KLF4-dependent Cx40 expression in endothelial quiescence that may be relevant for the control of atherosclerosis and diseases involving sprouting angiogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean-François Denis
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | | | - Filippo Molica
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Aurélie Hautefort
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Tanja Linnerz
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | | | - Sylvain Lemeille
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Julien Y Bertrand
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Brenda R Kwak
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.,Department of Medical Specializations - Cardiology, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
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Lee MD, Wilson C, Saunter CD, Kennedy C, Girkin JM, McCarron JG. Spatially structured cell populations process multiple sensory signals in parallel in intact vascular endothelium. Sci Signal 2018; 11:11/561/eaar4411. [PMID: 30563865 DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.aar4411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Blood flow, blood clotting, angiogenesis, vascular permeability, and vascular remodeling are each controlled by a large number of variable, noisy, and interacting chemical inputs to the vascular endothelium. The endothelium processes the entirety of the chemical composition to which the cardiovascular system is exposed, carrying out sophisticated computations that determine physiological output. Processing this enormous quantity of information is a major challenge facing the endothelium. We analyzed the responses of hundreds of endothelial cells to carbachol (CCh) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and found that the endothelium segregates the responses to these two distinct components of the chemical environment into separate streams of complementary information that are processed in parallel. Sensitivities to CCh and ATP mapped to different clusters of cells, and each agonist generated distinct signal patterns. The distinct signals were features of agonist activation rather than properties of the cells themselves. When there was more than one stimulus present, the cells communicated and combined inputs to generate new distinct signals that were nonlinear combinations of the inputs. Our results demonstrate that the endothelium is a structured, collaborative sensory network that simplifies the complex environment using separate cell clusters that are sensitive to distinct aspects of the overall biochemical environment and interactively compute signals from diverse but interrelated chemical inputs. These features enable the endothelium to selectively process separate signals and perform multiple computations in an environment that is noisy and variable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew D Lee
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, 161 Cathedral Street, Glasgow G4 0RE, UK
| | - Calum Wilson
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, 161 Cathedral Street, Glasgow G4 0RE, UK
| | - Christopher D Saunter
- Centre for Advanced Instrumentation, Biophysical Sciences Institute, Department of Physics, Durham University, South Road, Durham DH1 3LE, UK
| | - Charles Kennedy
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, 161 Cathedral Street, Glasgow G4 0RE, UK
| | - John M Girkin
- Centre for Advanced Instrumentation, Biophysical Sciences Institute, Department of Physics, Durham University, South Road, Durham DH1 3LE, UK
| | - John G McCarron
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, 161 Cathedral Street, Glasgow G4 0RE, UK.
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9
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Automated Intracellular Calcium Profiles Extraction from Endothelial Cells Using Digital Fluorescence Images. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:ijms19113440. [PMID: 30400174 PMCID: PMC6274978 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19113440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2018] [Revised: 10/22/2018] [Accepted: 10/24/2018] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Endothelial cells perform a wide variety of fundamental functions for the cardiovascular system, their proliferation and migration being strongly regulated by their intracellular calcium concentration. Hence it is extremely important to carefully measure endothelial calcium signals under different stimuli. A proposal to automate the intracellular calcium profiles extraction from fluorescence image sequences is presented. Digital image processing techniques were combined with a multi-target tracking approach supported by Kalman estimation. The system was tested with image sequences from two different stimuli. The first one was a chemical stimulus, that is, ATP, which caused small movements in the cells trajectories, thereby suggesting that the bath application of the agonist does not generate significant artifacts. The second one was a mechanical stimulus delivered by a glass microelectrode, which caused major changes in cell trajectories. The importance of the tracking block is evidenced since more accurate profiles were extracted, mainly for cells closest to the stimulated area. Two important contributions of this work are the automatic relocation of the region of interest assigned to the cells and the possibility of data extraction from big image sets in efficient and expedite way. The system may adapt to different kind of cell images and may allow the extraction of other useful features.
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10
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Zuccolo E, Laforenza U, Negri S, Botta L, Berra-Romani R, Faris P, Scarpellino G, Forcaia G, Pellavio G, Sancini G, Moccia F. Muscarinic M5 receptors trigger acetylcholine-induced Ca 2+ signals and nitric oxide release in human brain microvascular endothelial cells. J Cell Physiol 2018; 234:4540-4562. [PMID: 30191989 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.27234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2018] [Accepted: 07/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Basal forebrain neurons control cerebral blood flow (CBF) by releasing acetylcholine (Ach), which binds to endothelial muscarinic receptors to induce nitric (NO) release and vasodilation in intraparenchymal arterioles. Nevertheless, the mechanism whereby Ach stimulates human brain microvascular endothelial cells to produce NO is still unknown. Herein, we sought to assess whether Ach stimulates NO production in a Ca2+ -dependent manner in hCMEC/D3 cells, a widespread model of human brain microvascular endothelial cells. Ach induced a dose-dependent increase in intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+ ]i ) that was prevented by the genetic blockade of M5 muscarinic receptors (M5-mAchRs), which was the only mAchR isoform coupled to phospholipase Cβ (PLCβ) present in hCMEC/D3 cells. A comprehensive real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed the expression of the transcripts encoding for type 3 inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors (InsP3 R3), two-pore channels 1 and 2 (TPC1-2), Stim2, Orai1-3. Pharmacological manipulation showed that the Ca2+ response to Ach was mediated by InsP3 R3, TPC1-2, and store-operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE). Ach-induced NO release, in turn, was inhibited in cells deficient of M5-mAchRs. Likewise, Ach failed to increase NO levels in the presence of l-NAME, a selective NOS inhibitor, or BAPTA, a membrane-permeant intracellular Ca2+ buffer. Moreover, the pharmacological blockade of the Ca2+ response to Ach also inhibited the accompanying NO production. These data demonstrate for the first time that synaptically released Ach may trigger NO release in human brain microvascular endothelial cells by stimulating a Ca2+ signal via M5-mAchRs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Estella Zuccolo
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, "Lazzaro Spallanzani," Laboratory of General Physiology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Umberto Laforenza
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Human Physiology Unit, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Sharon Negri
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, "Lazzaro Spallanzani," Laboratory of General Physiology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Laura Botta
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, "Lazzaro Spallanzani," Laboratory of General Physiology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Roberto Berra-Romani
- Department of Biomedicine, School of Medicine, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Puebla, Mexico
| | - Pawan Faris
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, "Lazzaro Spallanzani," Laboratory of General Physiology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.,Department of Biology, College of Science, Salahaddin University, Erbil, Iraq
| | - Giorgia Scarpellino
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, "Lazzaro Spallanzani," Laboratory of General Physiology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Greta Forcaia
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Giorgia Pellavio
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Human Physiology Unit, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Giulio Sancini
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Francesco Moccia
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, "Lazzaro Spallanzani," Laboratory of General Physiology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
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Endothelial Ca 2+ Signaling and the Resistance to Anticancer Treatments: Partners in Crime. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:ijms19010217. [PMID: 29324706 PMCID: PMC5796166 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19010217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2017] [Revised: 01/08/2018] [Accepted: 01/10/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Intracellular Ca2+ signaling drives angiogenesis and vasculogenesis by stimulating proliferation, migration, and tube formation in both vascular endothelial cells and endothelial colony forming cells (ECFCs), which represent the only endothelial precursor truly belonging to the endothelial phenotype. In addition, local Ca2+ signals at the endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-mitochondria interface regulate endothelial cell fate by stimulating survival or apoptosis depending on the extent of the mitochondrial Ca2+ increase. The present article aims at describing how remodeling of the endothelial Ca2+ toolkit contributes to establish intrinsic or acquired resistance to standard anti-cancer therapies. The endothelial Ca2+ toolkit undergoes a major alteration in tumor endothelial cells and tumor-associated ECFCs. These include changes in TRPV4 expression and increase in the expression of P2X7 receptors, Piezo2, Stim1, Orai1, TRPC1, TRPC5, Connexin 40 and dysregulation of the ER Ca2+ handling machinery. Additionally, remodeling of the endothelial Ca2+ toolkit could involve nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, gasotransmitters-gated channels, two-pore channels and Na⁺/H⁺ exchanger. Targeting the endothelial Ca2+ toolkit could represent an alternative adjuvant therapy to circumvent patients' resistance to current anti-cancer treatments.
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Kristiansen SB, Sheykhzade M, Edvinsson L, Haanes KA. Changes in vasodilation following myocardial ischemia/reperfusion in rats. Nitric Oxide 2017; 70:68-75. [PMID: 28919322 DOI: 10.1016/j.niox.2017.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2017] [Revised: 08/01/2017] [Accepted: 09/12/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Blockage of a coronary artery, usually caused by arteriosclerosis, can lead to life threatening acute myocardial infarction. Opening with PCI (percutaneous coronary intervention), may be lifesaving, but reperfusion might exacerbate the cellular damage, and changes in the endothelium are believed to be involved in this worsened outcome. AIM The aim of the present study was to compare endothelial dependent and independent vasodilatory effect after experimental myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R). METHODS A well-established rat model of myocardial ischemia with 24 h of reperfusion was applied, followed by a study in a wire myograph. RESULTS Endothelial NO dependent relaxation in response to carbachol, was sensitive to arterial depolarization, and was unaffected by I/R. In contrast, endothelial NO dependent ADPβS signalling, which was not sensitive to arterial depolarization, was significantly reduced after I/R. Following I/R, an H2O2 dependent EDH induced dilation appears in response to both of the above agonists. In addition, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) induced vasodilation was reduced. CONCLUSION These data show that NO dependent ADPβS induced dilation is reduced after I/R. However, there is some compensation by released H2O2 causing an EDH. Combined with a loss of maximal dilation in response to CGRP, the reduced vasodilation could be an important factor in understanding the exacerbated damage after I/R.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Brøgger Kristiansen
- Department of Clinical Experimental Research, Glostrup Research Institute, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet-Glostrup, Denmark; Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Majid Sheykhzade
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Lars Edvinsson
- Department of Clinical Experimental Research, Glostrup Research Institute, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet-Glostrup, Denmark
| | - Kristian Agmund Haanes
- Department of Clinical Experimental Research, Glostrup Research Institute, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet-Glostrup, Denmark.
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13
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Zuccolo E, Lim D, Kheder DA, Perna A, Catarsi P, Botta L, Rosti V, Riboni L, Sancini G, Tanzi F, D'Angelo E, Guerra G, Moccia F. Acetylcholine induces intracellular Ca 2+ oscillations and nitric oxide release in mouse brain endothelial cells. Cell Calcium 2017; 66:33-47. [PMID: 28807148 DOI: 10.1016/j.ceca.2017.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2017] [Revised: 06/05/2017] [Accepted: 06/10/2017] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Basal forebrain neurons increase cortical blood flow by releasing acetylcholine (Ach), which stimulates endothelial cells (ECs) to produce the vasodilating gasotransmitter, nitric oxide (NO). Surprisingly, the mechanism whereby Ach induces NO synthesis in brain microvascular ECs is unknown. An increase in intracellular Ca2+ concentration recruits a multitude of endothelial Ca2+-dependent pathways, such as Ca2+/calmodulin endothelial NO synthase (eNOS). The present investigation sought to investigate the role of intracellular Ca2+ signaling in Ach-induced NO production in bEND5 cells, an established model of mouse brain microvascular ECs, by conventional imaging of cells loaded with the Ca2+-sensitive dye, Fura-2/AM, and the NO-sensitive fluorophore, DAF-DM diacetate. Ach induced dose-dependent Ca2+ oscillations in bEND5 cells, 300 μM being the most effective dose to generate a prolonged Ca2+ burst. Pharmacological manipulation revealed that Ach-evoked Ca2+ oscillations required metabotropic muscarinic receptor (mAchR) activation and were patterned by a complex interplay between repetitive ER Ca2+ release via inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors (InsP3Rs) and store-operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE). A comprehensive real time-polymerase chain reaction analysis demonstrated the expression of the transcripts encoding for M3-mAChRs, InsP3R1 and InsP3R3, Stim1-2 and Orai2. Next, we found that Ach-induced NO production was hindered by L-NAME, a selective NOS inhibitor, and BAPTA, a membrane permeable intracellular Ca2+ buffer. Moreover, Ach-elicited NO synthesis was blocked by the pharmacological abrogation of the accompanying Ca2+ spikes. Overall, these data shed novel light on the molecular mechanisms whereby neuronally-released Ach controls neurovascular coupling in blood microvessels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Estella Zuccolo
- Laboratory of General Physiology, Department of Biology and Biotechnology "Lazzaro Spallanzani", University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Dmitry Lim
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Eastern Piedment "Amedeo Avogadro", Novara, Italy
| | - Dlzar Ali Kheder
- Laboratory of General Physiology, Department of Biology and Biotechnology "Lazzaro Spallanzani", University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy; Department of Biology, University of Zakho, Kurdistan-Region of Iraq, Iraq
| | - Angelica Perna
- Department of Medicine and Health Sciences "Vincenzo Tiberio", University of Molise, Via F. De Santis, 86100 Campobasso, Italy
| | - Paolo Catarsi
- Center for the Study of Myelofibrosis, Research Laboratory of Biotechnology, Foundation IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
| | - Laura Botta
- Laboratory of General Physiology, Department of Biology and Biotechnology "Lazzaro Spallanzani", University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Vittorio Rosti
- Center for the Study of Myelofibrosis, Research Laboratory of Biotechnology, Foundation IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
| | - Laura Riboni
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, LITA-Segrate, University of Milan, Segrate, 20090 Milan, Italy
| | - Giulio Sancini
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20900 Monza, Italy
| | - Franco Tanzi
- Laboratory of General Physiology, Department of Biology and Biotechnology "Lazzaro Spallanzani", University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Egidio D'Angelo
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy; Brain Connectivity Center, C. Mondino National Neurological Institute, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Germano Guerra
- Department of Medicine and Health Sciences "Vincenzo Tiberio", University of Molise, Via F. De Santis, 86100 Campobasso, Italy.
| | - Francesco Moccia
- Laboratory of General Physiology, Department of Biology and Biotechnology "Lazzaro Spallanzani", University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
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14
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McCarron JG, Lee MD, Wilson C. The Endothelium Solves Problems That Endothelial Cells Do Not Know Exist. Trends Pharmacol Sci 2017; 38:322-338. [PMID: 28214012 PMCID: PMC5381697 DOI: 10.1016/j.tips.2017.01.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2016] [Revised: 01/19/2017] [Accepted: 01/23/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
The endothelium is the single layer of cells that lines the entire cardiovascular system and regulates vascular tone and blood-tissue exchange, recruits blood cells, modulates blood clotting, and determines the formation of new blood vessels. To control each function, the endothelium uses a remarkable sensory capability to continuously monitor vanishingly small changes in the concentrations of many simultaneously arriving extracellular activators that each provides cues to the physiological state. Here we suggest that the extraordinary sensory capabilities of the endothelium do not come from single cells but from the combined activity of a large number of endothelial cells. Each cell has a limited, but distinctive, sensory capacity and shares information with neighbours so that sensing is distributed among cells. Communication of information among connected cells provides system-level sensing substantially greater than the capabilities of any single cell and, as a collective, the endothelium solves sensory problems too complex for any single cell.
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Affiliation(s)
- John G McCarron
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, SIPBS Building, 161 Cathedral Street, Glasgow G4 0RE, UK.
| | - Matthew D Lee
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, SIPBS Building, 161 Cathedral Street, Glasgow G4 0RE, UK
| | - Calum Wilson
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, SIPBS Building, 161 Cathedral Street, Glasgow G4 0RE, UK
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15
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Wilson C, Saunter CD, Girkin JM, McCarron JG. Clusters of specialized detector cells provide sensitive and high fidelity receptor signaling in the intact endothelium. FASEB J 2016; 30:2000-13. [PMID: 26873937 PMCID: PMC4836367 DOI: 10.1096/fj.201500090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2015] [Accepted: 01/27/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Agonist-mediated signaling by the endothelium controls virtually all vascular functions. Because of the large diversity of agonists, each with varying concentrations, background noise often obscures individual cellular signals. How the endothelium distinguishes low-level fluctuations from noise and decodes and integrates physiologically relevant information remains unclear. Here, we recorded changes in intracellular Ca(2+) concentrations in response to acetylcholine in areas encompassing hundreds of endothelial cells from inside intact pressurized arteries. Individual cells responded to acetylcholine with a concentration-dependent increase in Ca(2+) signals spanning a single order of magnitude. Interestingly, however, intercellular response variation extended over 3 orders of magnitude of agonist concentration, thus crucially enhancing the collective bandwidth of endothelial responses to agonists. We also show the accuracy of this collective mode of detection is facilitated by spatially restricted clusters of comparably sensitive cells arising from heterogeneous receptor expression. Simultaneous stimulation of clusters triggered Ca(2+) signals that were transmitted to neighboring cells in a manner that scaled with agonist concentration. Thus, the endothelium detects agonists by acting as a distributed sensing system. Specialized clusters of detector cells, analogous to relay nodes in modern communication networks, integrate populationwide inputs, and enable robust noise filtering for efficient high-fidelity signaling.-Wilson, C., Saunter, C. D., Girkin, J. M., McCarron, J. G. Clusters of specialized detector cells provide sensitive and high fidelity receptor signaling in the intact endothelium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Calum Wilson
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, United Kingdom; and
| | - Christopher D Saunter
- Centre for Advanced Instrumentation, Biophysical Sciences Institute, Department of Physics, Durham University, Durham, United Kingdom
| | - John M Girkin
- Centre for Advanced Instrumentation, Biophysical Sciences Institute, Department of Physics, Durham University, Durham, United Kingdom
| | - John G McCarron
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, United Kingdom; and
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16
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Wilson C, Saunter CD, Girkin JM, McCarron JG. Pressure-dependent regulation of Ca2+ signalling in the vascular endothelium. J Physiol 2015; 593:5231-53. [PMID: 26507455 PMCID: PMC4704526 DOI: 10.1113/jp271157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2015] [Accepted: 10/19/2015] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Key points Increased pressure suppresses endothelial control of vascular tone but it remains uncertain (1) how pressure is sensed by the endothelium and (2) how the vascular response is inhibited. This study used a novel imaging method to study large numbers of endothelial cells in arteries that were in a physiological configuration and held at normal blood pressures. Increased pressure suppressed endothelial IP3‐mediated Ca2+ signals. Pressure modulated endothelial cell shape. The changes in cell shape may alter endothelial Ca2+ signals by modulating the diffusive environment for Ca2+ near IP3 receptors. Endothelial pressure‐dependent mechanosensing may occur without a requirement for a conventional molecular mechanoreceptor.
Abstract The endothelium is an interconnected network upon which haemodynamic mechanical forces act to control vascular tone and remodelling in disease. Ca2+ signalling is central to the endothelium's mechanotransduction and networked activity. However, challenges in imaging Ca2+ in large numbers of endothelial cells under conditions that preserve the intact physical configuration of pressurized arteries have limited progress in understanding how pressure‐dependent mechanical forces alter networked Ca2+ signalling. We developed a miniature wide‐field, gradient‐index (GRIN) optical probe designed to fit inside an intact pressurized artery that permitted Ca2+ signals to be imaged with subcellular resolution in a large number (∼200) of naturally connected endothelial cells at various pressures. Chemical (acetylcholine) activation triggered spatiotemporally complex, propagating inositol trisphosphate (IP3)‐mediated Ca2+ waves that originated in clusters of cells and progressed from there across the endothelium. Mechanical stimulation of the artery, by increased intraluminal pressure, flattened the endothelial cells and suppressed IP3‐mediated Ca2+ signals in all activated cells. By computationally modelling Ca2+ release, endothelial shape changes were shown to alter the geometry of the Ca2+ diffusive environment near IP3 receptor microdomains to limit IP3‐mediated Ca2+ signals as pressure increased. Changes in cell shape produce a geometric microdomain regulation of IP3‐mediated Ca2+ signalling to explain macroscopic pressure‐dependent, endothelial mechanosensing without the need for a conventional mechanoreceptor. The suppression of IP3‐mediated Ca2+ signalling may explain the decrease in endothelial activity as pressure increases. GRIN imaging provides a convenient method that gives access to hundreds of endothelial cells in intact arteries in physiological configuration. Increased pressure suppresses endothelial control of vascular tone but it remains uncertain (1) how pressure is sensed by the endothelium and (2) how the vascular response is inhibited. This study used a novel imaging method to study large numbers of endothelial cells in arteries that were in a physiological configuration and held at normal blood pressures. Increased pressure suppressed endothelial IP3‐mediated Ca2+ signals. Pressure modulated endothelial cell shape. The changes in cell shape may alter endothelial Ca2+ signals by modulating the diffusive environment for Ca2+ near IP3 receptors. Endothelial pressure‐dependent mechanosensing may occur without a requirement for a conventional molecular mechanoreceptor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Calum Wilson
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, SIPBS Building, 161 Cathedral Street, Glasgow, G4 0RE, UK
| | - Christopher D Saunter
- Centre for Advanced Instrumentation, Biophysical Sciences Institute, Department of Physics, Durham University, South Road, Durham, DH1 3LE, UK
| | - John M Girkin
- Centre for Advanced Instrumentation, Biophysical Sciences Institute, Department of Physics, Durham University, South Road, Durham, DH1 3LE, UK
| | - John G McCarron
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, SIPBS Building, 161 Cathedral Street, Glasgow, G4 0RE, UK
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17
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Pfenniger A, Wong C, Sutter E, Cuhlmann S, Dunoyer-Geindre S, Mach F, Horrevoets AJ, Evans PC, Krams R, Kwak BR. Shear stress modulates the expression of the atheroprotective protein Cx37 in endothelial cells. J Mol Cell Cardiol 2012; 53:299-309. [PMID: 22659288 DOI: 10.1016/j.yjmcc.2012.05.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2012] [Accepted: 05/19/2012] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
High laminar shear stress (HLSS) is vasculoprotective partly through induction of Kruppel-like factor 2 (KLF2). Connexin37 (Cx37) is highly expressed in endothelial cells (ECs) of healthy arteries, but not in ECs overlying atherosclerotic lesions. Moreover, Cx37 deletion in apolipoprotein E-deficient (ApoE(-/-)) mice increases susceptibility to atherosclerosis. We hypothesized that shear stress, through KLF2 modulation, may affect Cx37 expression in ECs. Cx37 expression and gap-junctional intercellular (GJIC) dye transfer are prominent in the straight portion of carotid arteries of ApoE(-/-) mice, but are reduced at the carotid bifurcation, a region subjected to oscillatory flow. Shear stress-modifying vascular casts were placed around the common carotid artery of ApoE(-/-) mice. Whereas Cx37 expression was conserved in HLSS regions, it was downregulated to ~50% in low laminar or oscillatory flow regions. To study the mechanisms involved, HUVECs or bEnd.3 cells were exposed to flow in vitro. Cx37 and KLF2 expression were increased after 24h of HLSS. Interestingly, shear-dependent Cx37 expression was significantly reduced after silencing of KLF2. Moreover after exposure to simvastatin, a well-known KLF2 inducer, KLF2 binds to the Cx37 promoter region as shown by ChIP. Finally, GJIC dye transfer was highly reduced after KLF2 silencing and was increased after exposure to simvastatin. HLSS upregulates the expression of Cx37 in ECs by inducing its transcription factor KLF2, which increases intercellular communication. Therefore, this effect of shear stress on Cx37 expression may contribute to the synchronization of ECs and participate in the protective effect of HLSS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Pfenniger
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
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18
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Connexins in atherosclerosis. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES 2012; 1828:157-66. [PMID: 22609170 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2012.05.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2012] [Revised: 04/26/2012] [Accepted: 05/04/2012] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Atherosclerosis, a chronic inflammatory disease of the vessel wall, involves multiple cell types of different origins, and complex interactions and signaling pathways between them. Autocrine and paracrine communication pathways provided by cytokines, chemokines, growth factors and lipid mediators are central to atherogenesis. However, it is becoming increasingly recognized that a more direct communication through both hemichannels and gap junction channels formed by connexins also plays an important role in atherosclerosis development. Three main connexins are expressed in cells involved in atherosclerosis: Cx37, Cx40 and Cx43. Cx37 is found in endothelial cells, monocytes/macrophages and platelets, Cx40 is predominantly an endothelial connexin, and Cx43 is found in a large variety of cells such as smooth muscle cells, resident and circulating leukocytes (neutrophils, dendritic cells, lymphocytes, activated macrophages, mast cells) and some endothelial cells. Here, we will systematically review the expression and function of connexins in cells and processes underlying atherosclerosis. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: The Communicating junctions, roles and dysfunctions.
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19
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Berra-Romani R, Raqeeb A, Torres-Jácome J, Guzman-Silva A, Guerra G, Tanzi F, Moccia F. The mechanism of injury-induced intracellular calcium concentration oscillations in the endothelium of excised rat aorta. J Vasc Res 2011; 49:65-76. [PMID: 21997119 DOI: 10.1159/000329618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2011] [Accepted: 05/20/2011] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Endothelial injury is the primary event that leads to a variety of severe vascular disorders. Mechanical injury elicits a Ca(2+) response in the endothelium of excised rat aorta, which comprises an initial Ca(2+) release from inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate (InsP(3))-sensitive stores followed by a long-lasting decay phase due to Ca(2+) entry through uncoupled connexons. The Ca(2+) signal may also adopt an oscillatory pattern, the molecular underpinnings of which are unclear. In the light of the role played by Ca(2+) spiking in tissue regeneration, this study aimed to unveil the mechanisms underlying injury-induced Ca(2+) oscillations. The latter reversibly ceased upon removal of extracellular Ca(2+) or addition of the gap junction blockers heptanol, 18 α,β-glycyrrhetinic acid, La(3+) and Ni(2+), but were insensitive to BTP-2 and SKF 96365. The spiking response was abolished by inhibiting the Ca(2+) entry mode of the Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchanger (NCX). The InsP(3)-producing agonist ATP resumed Ca(2+) oscillations in silent cells, while the phospholipase C inhibitor U73122 suppressed them. Injury-induced Ca(2+) transients were prevented by the sarcoplasmic-endoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPase (SERCA) blockers thapsigargin and cyclopiazonic acid, while they were unaffected by suramin and genistein. These data show for the first time that the coordinated interplay between NCX-mediated Ca(2+) entry and InsP(3)-dependent Ca(2+) release contributes to injury-induced intracellular Ca(2+) concentration oscillations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Berra-Romani
- Department of Biomedicine, School of Medicine, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Puebla, México.
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20
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Werner M, Merenda F, Piguet J, Salathé RP, Vogel H. Microfluidic array cytometer based on refractive optical tweezers for parallel trapping, imaging and sorting of individual cells. LAB ON A CHIP 2011; 11:2432-9. [PMID: 21655617 DOI: 10.1039/c1lc20181f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Analysis of genetic and functional variability in populations of living cells requires experimental techniques capable of monitoring cellular processes such as cell signaling of many single cells in parallel while offering the possibility to sort interesting cell phenotypes for further investigations. Although flow cytometry is able to sequentially probe and sort thousands of cells per second, dynamic processes cannot be experimentally accessed on single cells due to the sub-second sampling time. Cellular dynamics can be measured by image cytometry of surface-immobilized cells, however, cell sorting is complicated under these conditions due to cell attachment. We here developed a cytometric tool based on refractive multiple optical tweezers combined with microfluidics and optical microscopy. We demonstrate contact-free immobilization of more than 200 yeast cells into a high-density array of optical traps in a microfluidic chip. The cell array could be moved to specific locations of the chip enabling us to expose in a controlled manner the cells to reagents and to analyze the responses of individual cells in a highly parallel format using fluorescence microscopy. We further established a method to sort single cells within the microfluidic device using an additional steerable optical trap. Ratiometric fluorescence imaging of intracellular pH of trapped yeast cells allowed us on the one hand to measure the effect of the trapping laser on the cells' viability and on the other hand to probe the dynamic response of the cells upon glucose sensing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Werner
- Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Polymers and Membranes, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
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21
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Cho SH, Godin JM, Chen CH, Qiao W, Lee H, Lo YH. Review Article: Recent advancements in optofluidic flow cytometer. BIOMICROFLUIDICS 2010; 4:43001. [PMID: 21267434 PMCID: PMC3026024 DOI: 10.1063/1.3511706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2010] [Accepted: 10/14/2010] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
There is an increasing need to develop optofluidic flow cytometers. Optofluidics, where optics and microfluidics work together to create novel functionalities on a small chip, holds great promise for lab-on-a-chip flow cytometry. The development of a low-cost, compact, handheld flow cytometer and microfluorescence-activated cell sorter system could have a significant impact on the field of point-of-care diagnostics, improving health care in, for example, underserved areas of Africa and Asia, that struggle with epidemics such as HIV∕AIDS. In this paper, we review recent advancements in microfluidics, on-chip optics, novel detection architectures, and integrated sorting mechanisms.
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22
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Mumtaz S, Burdyga G, Borisova L, Wray S, Burdyga T. The mechanism of agonist induced Ca2+ signalling in intact endothelial cells studied confocally in in situ arteries. Cell Calcium 2010; 49:66-77. [PMID: 21176847 PMCID: PMC3098389 DOI: 10.1016/j.ceca.2010.11.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2010] [Revised: 11/24/2010] [Accepted: 11/25/2010] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
In endothelial cells there remain uncertainties in the details of how Ca2+ signals are generated and maintained, especially in intact preparations. In particular the role of the sarco-endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase (SERCA), in contributing to the components of agonist-induced signals is unclear. The aim of this work was to increase understanding of the detailed mechanism of Ca2+ signalling in endothelial cells using real time confocal imaging of Fluo-4 loaded intact rat tail arteries in response to muscarinic stimulation. In particular we have focused on the role of SERCA, and its interplay with capacitative Ca2+ entry (CCE) and ER Ca2+ release and uptake. We have determined its contribution to the Ca2+ signal and how it varies with different physiological stimuli, including single and repeated carbachol applications and brief and prolonged exposures. In agreement with previous work, carbachol stimulated a rise in intracellular Ca2+ in the endothelial cells, consisting of a rapid initial phase, then a plateau upon which oscillations of Ca2+ were superimposed, followed by a decline to basal Ca2+ levels upon carbachol removal. Our data support the following conclusions: (i) the size (amplitude and duration) of the Ca2+ spike and early oscillations are limited by SERCA activity, thus both are increased if SERCA is inhibited. (ii) SERCA activity is such that brief applications of carbachol do not trigger CCE, presumably because the fall in luminal Ca2+ is not sufficient to trigger it. However, longer applications sufficient to deplete the ER or even partial SERCA inhibition stimulate CCE. (iii) Ca2+ entry occurs via STIM-mediated CCE and SERCA contributes to the cessation of CCE. In conclusion our data show how SERCA function is crucial to shaping endothelial cell Ca signals and its dynamic interplay with both CCE and ER Ca releases.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Mumtaz
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Liverpool, UK
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23
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Lanigan PMP, Ninkovic T, Chan K, de Mello AJ, Willison KR, Klug DR, Templer RH, Neil MAA, Ces O. A microfluidic platform for probing single cell plasma membranes using optically trapped Smart Droplet Microtools (SDMs). LAB ON A CHIP 2009; 9:1096-1101. [PMID: 19350091 DOI: 10.1039/b816857a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
We recently introduced a novel platform based upon optically trapped lipid coated oil droplets (Smart Droplet Microtools-SDMs) that were able to form membrane tethers upon fusion with the plasma membrane of single cells. Material transfer from the plasma membrane to the droplet via the tether was seen to occur. Here we present a customised version of the SDM approach based upon detergent coated droplets deployed within a microfluidic format. These droplets are able to differentially solubilise the plasma membrane of single cells with spatial selectivity and without forming membrane tethers. The microfluidic format facilitates separation of the target cells from the bulk SDM population and from downstream analysis modules. Material transfer from the cell to the SDM was monitored by tracking membrane localized EGFP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter M P Lanigan
- The Single Cell Proteomics Group, Chemical Biology Centre (CBC), Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, London, UK SW7 2AZ
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Chen HI, Kao SL, Tsai MH, Shiao MS, Jen CJ. Exercise training modulates the effects of lipoproteins on acetylcholine-induced endothelial calcium signaling in rat aortas. Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2009; 234:323-31. [PMID: 19144864 DOI: 10.3181/0805-rm-180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Exercise training improves vascular endothelial functions, while oxidized low-density lipoproteins (oxLDLs) impede them. We proposed that exercise training might influence the endothelial sensitivity to lipoprotein-induced vascular changes. Male Wistar rats either exercised on a leveled treadmill for 8 weeks or remained sedentary as the control. The endothelial intracellular calcium level (EC [Ca(2+)](i)) in vitro was examined using dissected aortic segments treated with different lipoproteins, including native low-density lipoprotein (nLDL), various oxLDLs, and high-density lipoprotein (HDL). Our results indicated that i) none of the various lipoproteins directly evoked EC [Ca(2+)](i) elevation; ii) the acetylcholine-evoked EC [Ca(2+)](i) elevation in the control group was increased by nLDL and progressively suppressed by oxLDLs with increasing degrees of oxidation; iii) exercise training ameliorated the oxLDL-induced suppressive effects on acetylcholine-evoked EC [Ca(2+)](i) elevation; iv) HDL potentiated the acetylcholine-evoked EC [Ca(2+)](i) elevation in vessel segments from exercised rats but not those from control rats; and v) when HDL was present, the suppressive effects of extensively modified oxLDLs were reduced. Furthermore, comparing with the effects of various lipoproteins on EC calcium signaling, the lipoprotein effects on endothelium-dependent vasorelaxing response appeared to be similar but less pronounced. Taken together, one of the beneficial effects of exercise training on vascular functions might be to make blood vessels more resistant to oxLDLs and more sensitive to HDL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hsiun-Ing Chen
- Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, #1, Tahsue Rd., Tainan 701, Tawain
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25
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Abstract
For this special issue of J. R. Soc. Interface we present an overview of the driving forces behind technological advances in the field of single-cell analysis. These range from increasing our understanding of cellular heterogeneity through to the study of rare cells, areas of research that cannot be tackled effectively using current high-throughput population-based averaging techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard H Templer
- The Single Cell Proteomics Group, Chemical Biology Centre (CBC), Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, London SW7 2AZ, UK.
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26
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Lanigan PMP, Chan K, Ninkovic T, Templer RH, French PMW, de Mello AJ, Willison KR, Parker PJ, Neil MAA, Ces O, Klug DR. Spatially selective sampling of single cells using optically trapped fusogenic emulsion droplets: a new single-cell proteomic tool. J R Soc Interface 2008; 5 Suppl 2:S161-8. [PMID: 18664432 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2008.0249.focus] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
We present a platform for the spatially selective sampling of the plasma membrane of single cells. Optically trapped lipid-coated oil droplets (smart droplet microtools, SDMs), typically 0.5-5 microm in size, composed of a hexadecane hydrocarbon core and fusogenic lipid outer coating (mixture of 1,2-dioleoyl-phosphatidylethanolamine and 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylcholine) were brought into controlled contact with target colon cancer cells leading to the formation of connecting membrane tethers. Material transfer from the cell to the SDM across the membrane tether was monitored by tracking membrane-localized enhanced green fluorescent protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter M P Lanigan
- The Single Cell Proteomics Group, Chemical Biology Centre (CBC), Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, London SW7 2AZ, UK
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27
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Cheng KT, Leung YK, Shen B, Kwok YC, Wong CO, Kwan HY, Man YB, Ma X, Huang Y, Yao X. CNGA2 channels mediate adenosine-induced Ca2+ influx in vascular endothelial cells. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2008; 28:913-8. [PMID: 18292397 DOI: 10.1161/atvbaha.107.148338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Adenosine is a cAMP-elevating vasodilator that induces both endothelium-dependent and -independent vasorelaxation. An increase in cytosolic Ca(2+) ([Ca(2+)](i)) is a crucial early signal in the endothelium-dependent relaxation elicited by adenosine. This study explored the molecular identity of channels that mediate adenosine-induced Ca(2+) influx in vascular endothelial cells. METHODS AND RESULTS Adenosine-induced Ca(2+) influx was markedly reduced by L-cis-diltiazem and LY-83583, two selective inhibitors for cyclic nucleotide-gated (CNG) channels, in H5V endothelial cells and primary cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAECs). The Ca(2+) influx was also inhibited by 2 adenylyl cyclase inhibitors MDL-12330A and SQ-22536, and by 2 A(2B) receptor inhibitors MRS-1754 and 8-SPT, but not by an A(2A) receptor inhibitor SCH-58261 or a guanylyl cyclase inhibitor ODQ. Patch clamp experiments recorded an adenosine-induced current that could be inhibited by L-cis-diltiazem and LY-83583. A CNGA2-specific siRNA markedly decreased the Ca(2+) influx and the cation current in H5V cells. Furthermore, L-cis-diltiazem inhibited the endothelial Ca(2+) influx in mouse aortic strips, and it also reduced 5-N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine (NECA, an A(2) adenosine receptor agonist)-induced vasorelaxation. CONCLUSIONS CNGA2 channels play a key role in adenosine-induced endothelial Ca(2+) influx and vasorelaxation. It is likely that adenosine acts through A(2B) receptors and adenylyl cyclases to stimulate CNGA2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kwong-Tai Cheng
- Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences and Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, China
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28
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Su WH, Chen HI, Jen CJ. Polymorphonuclear leukocyte transverse migration induces rapid alterations in endothelial focal contacts. J Leukoc Biol 2007; 82:542-50. [PMID: 17554015 DOI: 10.1189/jlb.0207080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Transmigrated polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) usually undergo subendothelial transverse migration before penetrating into inner tissue layers. Whether or how endothelial cells (ECs) respond to the PMN migrating underneath them is unknown. A tissue flow chamber was used to establish a fMLP gradient and to observe PMN transverse migration along with its associated endothelial responses in culture (on a collagen gel) or in vascular tissues. Our results indicated that transversely migrating PMNs were in direct contact with the basal side of ECs. Contrasting to focal adhesion kinase (FAK) or proteins with phosphorylated tyrosine, paxillin disappeared rapidly (<1 min) from endothelial focal contacts after encountering the leukocyte's leading edge and soon rejoined them after the PMN had left. In addition, FAK moved away or became dephosphorylated when PMNs remained at the same subendothelial location for longer than 10 min, leaving actin filaments apparently unaltered. Unlike PMN transendothelial migration, PMN transverse migration did not induce any detectable endothelial calcium signaling. Taken together, our findings indicated that PMN transverse migration interrupted endothelial-matrix interactions and induced rapid alterations in endothelial focal contact composition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Hong Su
- Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, 701 Taiwan, ROC
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29
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Kubota Y, Isotani E, Mizuno Y, Ohno K, Azuma H. Alterations of intracellular calcium concentration and nitric oxide generation in pulmonary artery endothelium after subarachnoid hemorrhage of the rabbit. Vascul Pharmacol 2007; 47:90-8. [PMID: 17524957 DOI: 10.1016/j.vph.2007.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2006] [Accepted: 04/12/2007] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The present study was designed to investigate whether endothelial intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)), endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) activity and nitric oxide (NO) generation altered in association with impaired endothelium-dependent relaxation (EDR) in pulmonary artery (PA) specimens from experimental subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) rabbits. Injecting non-heparinized autologous arterial blood into cisterna magna induced the SAH. Simultaneous measurements of endothelial [Ca(2+)](i) and isometric tension of PA specimens were performed using fura 2. The subjects included normal control rabbits (group N), SAH rabbits with normal EDR (group A) and with impaired EDR (group B). When treated with 10(-7) M acetylcholine (ACh), endothelial [Ca(2+)](i) was significantly lower in group B (74.1+/-8.5 nM) than that in groups A (153.0+/-28.0 nM, p<0.05) and N (184.8+/-27.8 nM, p<0.01). Basal and ACh-stimulated cyclic GMP productions as a marker of NO generation were also significantly (p<0.005) decreased in group B as compared to those in the other two groups. Meanwhile, there were no differences in eNOS activity per se among the three groups. These results suggest that the attenuated endothelial [Ca(2+)](i) elevation leads to the impaired NO generation in PA endothelium, which in turn impairs the EDR and possibly increases the vascular resistance of PA following SAH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshihiro Kubota
- Department of Neurosurgery, Graduate School, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8510, Japan
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30
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Abstract
A goal of modern biology is to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying cellular function. The ability to manipulate and analyze single cells is crucial for this task. The advent of microengineering is providing biologists with unprecedented opportunities for cell handling and investigation on a cell-by-cell basis. For this reason, lab-on-a-chip (LOC) technologies are emerging as the next revolution in tools for biological discovery. In the current discussion, we seek to summarize the state of the art for conventional technologies in use by biologists for the analysis of single, mammalian cells, and then compare LOC devices engineered for these same single-cell studies. While a review of the technical progress is included, a major goal is to present the view point of the practicing biologist and the advances that might increase adoption by these individuals. The LOC field is expanding rapidly, and we have focused on areas of broad interest to the biology community where the technology is sufficiently far advanced to contemplate near-term application in biological experimentation. Focus areas to be covered include flow cytometry, electrophoretic analysis of cell contents, fluorescent-indicator-based analyses, cells as small volume reactors, control of the cellular microenvironment, and single-cell PCR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher E Sims
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of California, Irvine, California 92697, USA
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31
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Leung HS, Yao X, Leung FP, Ko WH, Chen ZY, Gollasch M, Huang Y. Cilnidipine, a slow-acting Ca2+ channel blocker, induces relaxation in porcine coronary artery: role of endothelial nitric oxide and [Ca2+]i. Br J Pharmacol 2006; 147:55-63. [PMID: 16299554 PMCID: PMC1615842 DOI: 10.1038/sj.bjp.0706450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Cilnidipine is a dual blocker of L-type voltage-gated Ca(2+) channels in vascular smooth muscle and N-type Ca(2+) channels in sympathetic nerve terminals that supply blood vessels. However, the clinical benefits of cilnidipine and underlying mechanisms are incompletely understood. This study was designed to compare the time course of relaxant responses to cilnidipine and nifedipine, and to examine the role of endothelial NO and [Ca(2+)](i) in the vasorelaxation. Porcine left circumflex coronary arteries were isolated and isometric tension was measured with Grass force transducers. Endothelial [Ca(2+)](i) in intact arteries was determined by a calcium fluorescence imaging technique. The free radical scavenging capacity was also assayed. Cilnidipine and nifedipine induced concentration-dependent relaxations in high KCl-precontracted artery rings, while the former-induced relaxation was slower as compared to the latter. Treatment with L-NAME or ODQ reduced relaxations to cilnidipine or nifedipine to the same extent as in rings without endothelium. Indomethacin or omega-conotoxin had no effects. L-Arginine antagonized the effect of L-NAME on cilnidipine-induced relaxations. Cilnidipine did not affect sodium nitroprusside-induced relaxation in rings with and without endothelium. Cilnidipine and nifedipine caused extracellular Ca(2+)-dependent increases in endothelial [Ca(2+)](i) in intact arteries and cilnidipine's action had a slower onset, similar to that of cilnidipine-induced relaxation. Neither cilnidipine nor nifedipine exhibited a free radical scavenging property. The present results demonstrate that cilnidipine can produce endothelium-dependent relaxation in porcine coronary arteries in vitro in addition to blocking Ca(2+) channels. Like short-acting nifedipine, cilnidipine-dependent relaxation, albeit to a slower onset, is partly mediated by endothelial NO but not by prostacyclin. The increased release or bioavailability of NO may causally result from elevated endothelial [Ca(2+)](i) in arteries. The Ca(2+) channel-independent effect suggests the usefulness of cilnidipine in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases associated with diminished NO release, such as atherosclerosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hok Sum Leung
- Department of Physiology, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong, PR China
| | - Xiaoqiang Yao
- Department of Physiology, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong, PR China
| | - Fung Ping Leung
- Department of Physiology, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong, PR China
| | - Wing Hung Ko
- Department of Physiology, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong, PR China
| | - Zhen-Yu Chen
- Department of Biochemistry, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, PR China
| | - Maik Gollasch
- Medical Clinic of Nephrology and Internal Intensive Care, Charité University Medicine, Berlin, Germany
| | - Yu Huang
- Department of Physiology, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong, PR China
- Author for correspondence:
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32
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Chen HI, Huang YC, Su WH, Jen CJ. Endothelial calcium signaling in rabbit arteries and its local alterations in early-stage atherosclerosis. J Biomed Sci 2006; 14:145-53. [PMID: 17086486 DOI: 10.1007/s11373-006-9125-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2006] [Accepted: 09/26/2006] [Indexed: 10/23/2022] Open
Abstract
This study is to examine whether endothelial calcium signaling is different between atherosclerosis-prone thoracic aortas (TA) and atherosclerosis-resistant carotid arteries (CA) in normal rabbits and how it changes in early-stage atherosclerosis. Local endothelial calcium signaling was examined in arterial segments obtained from rabbits fed with normal or high-cholesterol diet for 1-4 weeks. Contrasting to normal CA, normal TA showed lower endothelial calcium signaling with more concentrated NF-kappaB in the endothelial nuclei. In the same hypercholesterolemic animal, fatty streak formation was much more prominent in TA than in CA. TA endothelial calcium signaling became augmented in the second week of hypercholesterolemia, being most pronounced in smooth regions adjacent to miniature fatty streaks. It was sporadically elevated even in regions away from any detectable TA fatty streak. When the entire TA was covered with fatty streaks in the fourth week of hypercholesteremia, endothelial calcium signaling returned to the original level. In comparison, CA endothelial calcium signaling was reduced around scattered fatty streaks. Reduced calcium signaling happened where CA fatty streaks were 150 microm long (covering 15-30 cells); and it extended to areas adjacent to larger fatty streaks. Moreover, NF-kappaB remained in the cytosol of endothelial cells covering CA fatty streaks. Our results indicate that inter-vascular differences in endothelial calcium signaling may provide partial explanation in their differential susceptibility in atherosclerosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hsiun-Ing Chen
- Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan, ROC
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33
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Godin LM, Suzuki S, Jacobs CR, Donahue HJ, Donahue SW. Mechanically induced intracellular calcium waves in osteoblasts demonstrate calcium fingerprints in bone cell mechanotransduction. Biomech Model Mechanobiol 2006; 6:391-8. [PMID: 17082961 PMCID: PMC2874246 DOI: 10.1007/s10237-006-0059-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2006] [Accepted: 09/27/2006] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
An early response to mechanical stimulation of bone cells in vitro is an increase in intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca (2+)](i)). This study analyzed the [Ca (2+)](i) wave area, magnitude, duration, rise time, fall time, and time to onset in individual osteoblasts for two identical bouts of mechanical stimulation separated by a 30-min rest period. The area under the [Ca (2+)](i) wave increased in the second loading bout compared to the first. This suggests that rest periods may potentiate mechanically induced intracellular calcium signals. Furthermore, many of the [Ca (2+)](i) wave parameters were strongly, positively correlated between the two bouts of mechanical stimulation. For example, in individual primary osteoblasts, if a cell had a large [Ca (2+)](i) wave area in the first bout it was likely to have a large [Ca (2+)](i) wave area in the second bout (r (2) = 0.933). These findings support the idea that individual bone cells have "calcium fingerprints" (i.e., a unique [Ca (2+)](i) wave profile that is reproducible for repeated exposure to a given stimulus).
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsay M Godin
- Department of Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI 49931, USA
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Schneider C, Volk T. Endothelial Ca2+ signal transduction is altered by postoperative serum from patients undergoing coronary surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. Anesth Analg 2006; 102:1630-7. [PMID: 16717299 DOI: 10.1213/01.ane.0000216297.58781.8d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Endothelial dysfunction after surgery may be caused by alterations in the intracellular signaling properties of endothelial cells. Functional alterations are believed to be systemic and dependent on the amount of invasiveness. This led us to assume that there would be a mediator in the blood. Therefore, we investigated the influence of perioperative serum obtained from patients undergoing highly invasive surgical interventions (cardiac surgery [CS] with cardiopulmonary bypass) and less invasiveness (total joint arthroplasty [TJA]) on endothelial single cell Ca2+ responses. Aortic endothelial cells were incubated with preoperative and postoperative serum samples from 26 patients undergoing CS and from 15 patients undergoing TJA. Adenosine triphosphate (100 microM)-induced alterations in FURA-2 fluorescence was used to measure intracellular Ca2+ in single cells. In CS samples the induced [Ca2+]i signals were enhanced by postoperative serum (peak levels: 96 +/- 41 FU versus 116 +/- 45 FU; P < 0.05). These postoperative enhancements were absent in TJA patients serum. Preincubation of CS samples with nifedipine to block voltage gated Ca2+ channels did not alter this effect, but the absence of extracellular Ca2+ abolished the increased response from postoperative CS serum exposure. Ca2+ entry probed with Mn2+ quenching was increased in endothelial cells exposed with postoperative CS serum and Ca2+ entry correlated with postoperative circulating interleukin-6 levels (P < 0.007). Endothelial functional alterations after CS with cardiopulmonary bypass are attributable, in part, to systemic factors present in serum that lead to specific endothelial enhanced Ca2+-signaling. This enhancement can be separated in vitro as an increased Ca2+ entry not present in serum from patients recovering from TJA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Crispin Schneider
- Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Charitè-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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35
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Leung FP, Yao X, Lau CW, Ko WH, Lu L, Huang Y. Raloxifene relaxes rat intrarenal arteries by inhibiting Ca2+ influx. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 2005; 289:F137-44. [PMID: 15713909 DOI: 10.1152/ajprenal.00353.2004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Raloxifene may confer vascular benefits without causing estrogen-related side effects. However, its action on renal vascular circulation is unknown. This study aimed to examine the sex difference and roles of the endothelium and Ca2+ channels in rat renovascular relaxation to raloxifene. On isolated intralobar renal artery rings mounted in a myograph and contracted by U-46619, concentration-relaxation curves were constructed for raloxifene and contractions to CaCl2 were studied. Changes in intracellular Ca2+ concentration levels ([Ca2+]i) of vascular smooth muscle (VSM) were measured by fura 2 fluorescence. Raloxifene or 17β-estradiol was equally effective in relaxing renal arteries from both sexes, with raloxifene being more potent than 17β-estradiol. Endothelial denudation did not affect raloxifene- or 17β-estradiol-induced relaxation. NG-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester, charybdotoxin plus apamin, indomethacin, or ICI-182, 780 did not modify the effect of raloxifene. Raloxifene caused similar relaxations in rings contracted by U-46619 and high K+. Nifedipine attenuated the potency of raloxifene. Raloxifene reduced CaCl2-induced contractions. K+ (80 mM) stimulated an increase in VSM [Ca2+]i, and raloxifene attenuated this effect. Raloxifene-induced reduction of contraction and increase in VSM [Ca2+]i were insensitive to ICI-182, 780. In summary, raloxifene causes relaxation in rat renal arteries; this effect is independent of a functional endothelium and is not mediated by ICI 182, 780-sensitive estrogen receptors. Raloxifene inhibited both contractions and VSM [Ca2+]i in response to CaCl2, indicating that raloxifene relaxes rat renal arteries primarily through inhibiting Ca2+ influx via Ca2+ channels. There is little sex difference in raloxifene-induced relaxation.
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MESH Headings
- 15-Hydroxy-11 alpha,9 alpha-(epoxymethano)prosta-5,13-dienoic Acid/pharmacology
- Animals
- Calcium/antagonists & inhibitors
- Calcium/metabolism
- Calcium/pharmacology
- Calcium Channel Blockers/pharmacology
- Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
- Estradiol/pharmacology
- Female
- In Vitro Techniques
- Male
- Muscle, Smooth, Vascular/drug effects
- Muscle, Smooth, Vascular/metabolism
- Muscle, Smooth, Vascular/physiology
- Nifedipine/pharmacology
- Raloxifene Hydrochloride/pharmacology
- Rats
- Rats, Sprague-Dawley
- Renal Artery/drug effects
- Renal Artery/metabolism
- Renal Artery/physiology
- Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators/pharmacology
- Vasoconstrictor Agents/pharmacology
- Vasodilation/drug effects
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36
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Aalkjaer C, Nilsson H. Vasomotion: cellular background for the oscillator and for the synchronization of smooth muscle cells. Br J Pharmacol 2005; 144:605-16. [PMID: 15678091 PMCID: PMC1576043 DOI: 10.1038/sj.bjp.0706084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 142] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2004] [Revised: 10/25/2004] [Accepted: 11/04/2004] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
1. Vasomotion is the oscillation of vascular tone with frequencies in the range from 1 to 20 min(-1) seen in most vascular beds. The oscillation originates in the vessel wall and is seen both in vivo and in vitro. 2. Recently, our ideas on the cellular mechanisms responsible for vasomotion have improved. Three different types of cellular oscillations have been suggested. One model has suggested that oscillatory release of Ca2+ from intracellular stores is important (the oscillation is based on a cytosolic oscillator). A second proposed mechanism is an oscillation originating in the sarcolemma (a membrane oscillator). A third mechanism is based on an oscillation of glycolysis (metabolic oscillator). For the two latter mechanisms, only limited experimental evidence is available. 3. To understand vasomotion, it is important to understand how the cells synchronize. For the cytosolic oscillators synchronization may occur via activation of Ca2+-sensitive ion channels by oscillatory Ca2+ release. The ensuing membrane potential oscillation feeds back on the intracellular Ca2+ stores and causes synchronization of the Ca2+ release. While membrane oscillators in adjacent smooth muscle cells could be synchronized through the same mechanism that sets up the oscillation in the individual cells, a mechanism to synchronize the metabolic-based oscillators has not been suggested. 4. The interpretation of the experimental observations is supported by theoretical modelling of smooth muscle cells behaviour, and the new insight into the mechanisms of vasomotion has the potential to provide tools to investigate the physiological role of vasomotion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Aalkjaer
- Institute of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Aarhus, The Water and Salt Research Center, Universitetsparken Bldg. 160, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.
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37
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Chan YC, Leung FP, Yao X, Lau CW, Vanhoutte PM, Huang Y. Raloxifene Relaxes Rat Pulmonary Arteries and Veins: Roles of Gender, Endothelium, and Antagonism of Ca2+ Influx. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2004; 312:1266-71. [PMID: 15550571 DOI: 10.1124/jpet.104.077990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Effects of raloxifene have been documented in the systemic circulation. However, its impact on the pulmonary circulation is unclear. The present study investigated the role of gender, endothelial modulation, and Ca(2+) channel in relaxations evoked by raloxifene in rat pulmonary arteries and veins. Vascular responses were studied on isolated pulmonary blood vessels mounted in a myograph and constricted by U46619 (9,11-dideoxy-11alpha,9alpha-epoxymethanoprostaglandin F(2alpha)). Constrictions to CaCl(2) were studied in Ca(2+)-free, 60 mM K(+) solution. Changes in the intracellular calcium ion concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)) in vascular smooth muscle were measured using a calcium fluorescence imaging method. Raloxifene was more effective in relaxing U46619-constricted pulmonary arteries from male than female rats. Raloxifene-induced relaxation was unaffected by ICI 182,780 [7alpha-[9-[(4,4,5,5,5,-pentafluoropentyl)-sulfinyl]nonyl]-estra-1,3,5(10)-triene-3,17beta-diol], inhibition of the nitric oxide (NO) pathway, or removal of the endothelium. In arteries without endothelium, raloxifene attenuated CaCl(2)-induced constriction and CaCl(2)-stimulated increase in [Ca(2+)](i) with similar potencies. Raloxifene caused endothelium-independent relaxations in pulmonary veins, albeit to a lesser degree than in pulmonary arteries. The venous responses showed a gender difference because raloxifene was more potent in male veins. In summary, raloxifene relaxed rat pulmonary arteries, and this effect did not involve the endothelium/NO or ICI 182,780-sensitive estrogen receptors. Raloxifene, like nifedipine, reduced constriction and [Ca(2+)](i) increase in response to CaCl(2) in high K(+) solution. Raloxifene also relaxed high K(+)-constricted pulmonary veins. Our data indicate that raloxifene acutely relaxes rat pulmonary blood vessels primarily via inhibition of Ca(2+) influx through voltage-sensitive Ca(2+) channels. Finally, raloxifene induced more relaxation in blood vessels isolated from male than female rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yau-Chi Chan
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong
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38
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Bondarenko A. Sodium-calcium exchanger contributes to membrane hyperpolarization of intact endothelial cells from rat aorta during acetylcholine stimulation. Br J Pharmacol 2004; 143:9-18. [PMID: 15289290 PMCID: PMC1575260 DOI: 10.1038/sj.bjp.0705866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
1. The role of sodium-calcium exchanger in acetylcholine (Ach)-induced hyperpolarization of intact endothelial cells was studied in excised rat aorta. The membrane potential was recorded using perforated patch-clamp technique. 2. The mean resting potential of endothelial cells was -44.1+/-1.4 mV. A selective inhibitor of sodium-calcium exchanger benzamil (100 microm) had no significant effect on resting membrane potential, but reversibly decreased the amplitude of sustained Ach-induced endothelial hyperpolarization from 20.9+/-1.4 to 5.7+/-1.1 mV when applied during the plateau phase. 3. The blocker of reversed mode of the exchanger KB-R7943 (2-[2-[4-(4-nitrobenzyloxy)phenyl]ethyl]isothiourea methanesulfonate, 20 microm) reversibly decreased the amplitude of sustained Ach-induced hyperpolarization from 20.5+/-2.9 to 7.5+/-1.8 mV. 4. Introduction of tetraethylammonium (10 mm) in the continuous presence of Ach decreased the sustained phase of hyperpolarization from 17.9+/-1.5 by 12.9+/-0.9 mV. Subsequent addition of 20 microm KB-R7943 further depolarized endothelial cells by 4.8+/-1.1 mV. 5. Substituting external sodium with N-methyl d-glucamine during the plateau phase of Ach-evoked hyperpolarization reversibly decreased the hyperpolarization from -61.8+/-2.7 to -54.2+/-1.9 mV. In the majority of preparations, the initial response to removal of external sodium was a transient further rise in the membrane potential of several mV. Sodium ionophore monensin hyperpolarized endothelium by 10.3+/-0.7 mV. 6. The inhibitory effect of benzamil on Ach-induced endothelial sustained hyperpolarization was observed in endothelium mechanically isolated from smooth muscle. 7. These results suggest that the sodium-calcium exchanger of intact endothelial cells is able to operate in reverse following stimulation by Ach, contributing to sustained hyperpolarization. Myoendothelial electrical communications do not mediate the effect of blockers of sodium-calcium exchanger.
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MESH Headings
- Acetylcholine/pharmacology
- Adrenergic alpha-Agonists/pharmacology
- Amiloride/analogs & derivatives
- Amiloride/pharmacology
- Animals
- Aorta, Thoracic/cytology
- Aorta, Thoracic/drug effects
- Aorta, Thoracic/physiology
- Calcium/metabolism
- Cell Membrane/metabolism
- Cell Membrane/physiology
- Diuretics/pharmacology
- Endothelial Cells/drug effects
- Endothelial Cells/metabolism
- Endothelial Cells/physiology
- Female
- Gap Junctions/drug effects
- In Vitro Techniques
- Ionophores/pharmacology
- Male
- Membrane Potentials/drug effects
- Monensin/pharmacology
- Muscle, Smooth, Vascular/cytology
- Muscle, Smooth, Vascular/drug effects
- Muscle, Smooth, Vascular/physiology
- Phenylephrine/pharmacology
- Rats
- Sodium/physiology
- Sodium-Calcium Exchanger/physiology
- Stimulation, Chemical
- Thiourea/analogs & derivatives
- Thiourea/pharmacology
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Bondarenko
- Department of Blood Circulation, AA Bogomoletz Institute of Physiology, NAS of Ukraine, 4, Bogomoletz Str., Kiev 01024, Ukraine.
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Su WH, Chen HI, Jen CJ. Differential movements of VE-cadherin and PECAM-1 during transmigration of polymorphonuclear leukocytes through human umbilical vein endothelium. Blood 2002; 100:3597-603. [PMID: 12393634 DOI: 10.1182/blood-2002-01-0303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Most existing evidence regarding junction protein movements during transendothelial migration of leukocytes comes from taking postfixation snap shots of the transendothelial migration process that happens on a cultured endothelial monolayer. In this study, we used junction protein-specific antibodies that did not interfere with the transendothelial migration to examine the real-time movements of vascular endothelial-cadherin (VE-cadherin) and platelet/endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (PECAM-1) during transmigration of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) either through a cultured endothelial monolayer or through the endothelium of dissected human umbilical vein tissue. In either experimental model system, both junction proteins showed relative movements, not transient disappearance, at the PMN transmigration sites. VE-cadherin moved away to different ends of the transmigration site, whereas PECAM-1 opened to surround the periphery of a transmigrating PMN. Junction proteins usually moved back to their original positions when the PMN transmigration process was completed in less than 2 minutes. The relative positions of some junction proteins might rearrange to form a new interendothelial contour after PMNs had transmigrated through multicellular corners. Although transmigrated PMNs maintained good mobility, they only moved laterally underneath the vascular endothelium instead of deeply into the vascular tissue. In conclusion, our results obtained from using either cultured cells or vascular tissues showed that VE-cadherin-containing adherent junctions were relocated aside, not opened or disrupted, whereas PECAM-1-containing junctions were opened during PMN transendothelial migration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Hong Su
- Department of Physiology and Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng-Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan, Republic of China
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Jen CJ, Chan HP, Chen HI. Chronic exercise improves endothelial calcium signaling and vasodilatation in hypercholesterolemic rabbit femoral artery. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2002; 22:1219-24. [PMID: 12117741 DOI: 10.1161/01.atv.0000021955.23461.cd] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study was to investigate the effects of chronic exercise on vasodilatation and endothelial intracellular calcium (EC [Ca2+]i) signaling in atherosclerotic animals. METHODS AND RESULTS For 8 weeks, male New Zealand White rabbits were fed rabbit chow with or without the addition of 2% cholesterol. They were further divided into control and exercise groups. Animals in the exercise groups ran on a leveled treadmill at 0.88 km/h for 10 to 60 minutes gradually for 5 days per week for a total of 8 weeks. At the end of experiments, femoral arteries were dissected, loaded with fura 2-AM, and mounted in a tissue flow chamber. PE-precontracted vessel specimens were exposed to acetylcholine (ACh). The EC [Ca2+]i elevation and vasorelaxation were determined simultaneously under an epifluorescence microscope equipped with a ratio-imaging capability. Our results showed the following: (1) high cholesterol diet feeding caused lipid deposition on vascular surface, reduced the ACh-evoked EC [Ca2+]i elevation, and impaired endothelium-dependent and endothelium-independent vascular responses, but chronic exercise had the opposite effects; (2) ACh-induced vasorelaxation was associated with EC [Ca2+]i elevation in all groups; and (3) vasorelaxation at high levels of EC [Ca2+]i elevation decreased in hypercholesterolemia. CONCLUSIONS Our data suggest that hypercholesterolemia induces vascular structural changes and impairs EC [Ca2+]i signaling and vasodilatation, whereas chronic exercise partially reverses these adverse effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chauying J Jen
- Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
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Huang TY, Chen HI, Liu CY, Jen CJ. Lysophosphatidylcholine alters vascular tone in rat aorta by suppressing endothelial [Ca(2+)](I) signaling. J Biomed Sci 2002; 9:327-33. [PMID: 12145530 DOI: 10.1007/bf02256588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The detailed mechanism of how lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) suppresses endothelium-dependent vasodilatation is unclear at present. We investigated the effects of LPC on endothelial intracellular calcium (EC [Ca(2+)](i)) signaling and vascular tone simultaneously using a new technique we developed. Fura-2-labeled rat aortic specimens were mounted in a tissue flow chamber and precontracted with phenylephrine (5 x 10(-8) M). Under either basal or agonist-stimulated conditions, the EC [Ca(2+)](i) level was calculated from fura 2 fluorescence ratio images, and the vascular tone was estimated by measuring the relative displacement of the fluorescence images. Although both acetylcholine (ACh)-induced EC [Ca(2+)](i) elevation and the concomitant vasorelaxation were partially suppressed in specimens pretreated with LPC (20 microM), the quantitative relationship between EC [Ca(2+)](i) elevation and the corresponding vasorelaxation was unaffected. A high concentration of LPC (40 microM) completely eliminated ACh-evoked [Ca(2+)](i) elevation and vasodilatation. It has been reported that exposing vascular tissue to a calcium-free buffer causes a reduction in the EC [Ca(2+)](i) level and the accompanying vasoconstriction. Pretreatment with 20 microM LPC reduced the basal EC [Ca(2+)](i) level and abolished the calcium-free solution-induced EC [Ca(2+)](i) reduction and vasoconstriction. We conclude that LPC impairs endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation mainly by reducing the basal EC [Ca(2+)](i) level and suppressing agonist-evoked EC [Ca(2+)](i) signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tung-Yi Huang
- Department of Physiology and Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan, ROC
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Jen CJ, Chan HP, Chen HI. Acute exercise enhances vasorelaxation by modulating endothelial calcium signaling in rat aortas. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2002; 282:H977-82. [PMID: 11834495 DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00693.2001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The role of endothelial calcium signaling in exercise-enhanced ACh-induced vasorelaxation was examined using male Wistar rats (8~10 wk old) that were divided into control and exercise groups. The exercised animals ran on a treadmill with progressive increments of speed until exhaustion. After decapitation, aortic rings were dissected and loaded with fura 2-AM. After being mounted on a tissue flow chamber, vessels were precontracted with phenylephrine, and ACh-induced endothelial calcium elevation and vasorelaxation were determined simultaneously under an epifluorescence microscope equipped with ratio imaging capability. Our results showed that 1) there was logarithmic correlation between endothelial calcium elevation and vasorelaxation; 2) acute exercise enhanced ACh-induced endothelial calcium elevation and vasorelaxation without altering their relationship; 3) pretreatment with N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine markedly reduced ACh-induced vasorelaxation in both groups but suppressed the calcium response only in the exercise group; and 4) the exercise effect on endothelial calcium elevation was abolished by Ca2+-free buffer or gadolinium. In conclusion, acute exercise increases ACh-induced vasorelaxation by increasing the endothelial calcium influx and the calcium-dependent nitric oxide release.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chauying J Jen
- Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan, Republic of China
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Huang TY, Chen HI, Liu CY, Jen CJ. Endothelial [Ca2+]i is an integrating signal for the vascular tone in rat aortae. BMC PHYSIOLOGY 2001; 1:5. [PMID: 11434869 PMCID: PMC34108 DOI: 10.1186/1472-6793-1-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2001] [Accepted: 06/20/2001] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although various endothelium-dependent relaxing factors (endothelial autacoids) are released upon the elevation of endothelial cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration (EC [Ca2+]i), the quantitative relationship between EC [Ca2+]i and vascular tone remains to be established. Moreover, whether the basal release of endothelial autacoids is modulated by basal EC [Ca2+]i is still unclear. We assessed these issues by using a novel method that allows simultaneous recording of EC [Ca2+]i and vascular displacement in dissected rat aortic segments. RESULTS Receptor-dependent (acetylcholine) or independent (ionomycin) agonists caused immediate EC [Ca2+]i elevation followed by vasorelaxation in preparations pre-contracted with phenylephrine. Low doses of agonists induced small EC [Ca2+]i elevations (about 100 nmol/L) and concomitant half-maximal vasorelaxation. At high doses, agonists elevated EC [Ca2+]i to micromol/L range with little additional vasodilatation. When EC [Ca2+]i was plotted against the vasorelaxation, the curves were almost identical for both acetylcholine and ionomycin treatments, in the presence or absence of various endothelial autacoid inhibitors. Calcium-free solution reduced basal EC [Ca2+]i and induced a drastic vasoconstriction. Endothelial autacoid inhibitors reduced EC [Ca2+]i changes and abolished both agonist-induced vasodilatation and calcium-free solution-induced vessel contraction. When the EC [Ca2+]i was completely chelated by 40 micromol/L BAPTA, the acetylcholine-evoked vasorelaxation could be abolished as well. However, when the EC [Ca2+]i was partially chelated by 20 micromol/L BAPTA, the acetylcholine-evoked vasorelaxation was almost unaffected. CONCLUSIONS These results indicate that vascular tone is modulated by subtle changes of EC [Ca2+]i level, which seems to serve as an integrating signal in both basal and stimulated states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tung-Yi Huang
- Department of Physiology, National Cheng-Kung University Medical College, Tainan 701, Taiwan
| | - Hsiun-ing Chen
- Department of Physiology, National Cheng-Kung University Medical College, Tainan 701, Taiwan
| | - Chin-Yen Liu
- Department of Physiology, National Cheng-Kung University Medical College, Tainan 701, Taiwan
| | - Chauying J Jen
- Department of Physiology, National Cheng-Kung University Medical College, Tainan 701, Taiwan
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Abstract
AbstractVascular endothelium plays an important role in regulating the transendothelial migration of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs). In this study, the intracellular calcium ion ([Ca2+]i) signaling of endothelial cells (ECs) during PMN transmigration was examined at the single-cell level. Human umbilical vein ECs were cultured on a thin layer of collagen gel. The ECs were labeled with fura-2, immersed in formyl-Met-Leu-Phe, and subsequently perfused with fresh buffer to establish a gradient of chemoattractant across the EC monolayer. The entire process of PMN rolling on, adhering to, and transmigrating across the EC monolayer was recorded under both phase-contrast and fluorescence optics. The data showed the following: (1) At high concentration (approximately 3 × 106/mL), both PMN suspension and its supernatant stimulated frequent EC [Ca2+]i elevations across the monolayer; (2) when used at lower concentration (approximately 5 × 105/mL) to avoid the interference of soluble factors, PMN transmigration, but not rolling or adhesion, was accompanied by EC [Ca2+]i elevation; (3) the latter EC [Ca2+]i elevation occurred simultaneously in ECs adjacent to the transmigration site, but not in those that were not in direct contact with the transmigrating PMNs; (4) this EC [Ca2+]i elevation was an initial and required event for PMN transmigration; and (5) PMNs pretreated with 5,5′-dimethyl-1,2-bis(2-aminophenoxy)ethane-N, N, N′, N′-tetraacetic acid transmigrated with the accompanying EC [Ca2+]i elevation, but they became elongated in the collagen gel. In conclusion, PMNs induce adjacent EC [Ca2+]i signaling, which apparently mediates the “gating” step for their subsequent transmigration.
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Abstract
Vascular endothelium plays an important role in regulating the transendothelial migration of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs). In this study, the intracellular calcium ion ([Ca2+]i) signaling of endothelial cells (ECs) during PMN transmigration was examined at the single-cell level. Human umbilical vein ECs were cultured on a thin layer of collagen gel. The ECs were labeled with fura-2, immersed in formyl-Met-Leu-Phe, and subsequently perfused with fresh buffer to establish a gradient of chemoattractant across the EC monolayer. The entire process of PMN rolling on, adhering to, and transmigrating across the EC monolayer was recorded under both phase-contrast and fluorescence optics. The data showed the following: (1) At high concentration (approximately 3 × 106/mL), both PMN suspension and its supernatant stimulated frequent EC [Ca2+]i elevations across the monolayer; (2) when used at lower concentration (approximately 5 × 105/mL) to avoid the interference of soluble factors, PMN transmigration, but not rolling or adhesion, was accompanied by EC [Ca2+]i elevation; (3) the latter EC [Ca2+]i elevation occurred simultaneously in ECs adjacent to the transmigration site, but not in those that were not in direct contact with the transmigrating PMNs; (4) this EC [Ca2+]i elevation was an initial and required event for PMN transmigration; and (5) PMNs pretreated with 5,5′-dimethyl-1,2-bis(2-aminophenoxy)ethane-N, N, N′, N′-tetraacetic acid transmigrated with the accompanying EC [Ca2+]i elevation, but they became elongated in the collagen gel. In conclusion, PMNs induce adjacent EC [Ca2+]i signaling, which apparently mediates the “gating” step for their subsequent transmigration.
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Jen CJ, Jhiang SJ, Chen HI. Invited review: effects of flow on vascular endothelial intracellular calcium signaling of rat aortas ex vivo. J Appl Physiol (1985) 2000; 89:1657-62; discussion 1656. [PMID: 11007609 DOI: 10.1152/jappl.2000.89.4.1657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
To study the effects of flow on in situ endothelial intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)) signaling, rat aortic rings were loaded with fura 2, mounted on a tissue flow chamber, and divided into control and flow-pretreated groups. The latter was perfused with buffer at a shear stress of 50 dyns/cm(2) for 1 h. Endothelial [Ca(2+)](i) responses to ACh or shear stresses were determined by ratio image analysis. Moreover, ACh-induced [Ca(2+)](i) elevation responses were measured in a calcium-free buffer, or in the presence of SKF-96365, to elucidate the role of calcium influx in the flow effects. Our results showed that 1) ACh increased endothelial [Ca(2+)](i) in a dose-dependent manner, and these responses were incremented by flow-pretreatment; 2) the differences in ACh-induced [Ca(2+)](i) elevation between control and flow-pretreated groups were abolished by SKF-96365 or by Ca(2+)-free buffer; and 3) in the presence of 10(-5) M ATP, shear stress induced dose-dependent [Ca(2+)](i) elevation responses that were not altered by flow-pretreatment. In conclusion, flow-pretreatment augments the ACh-induced endothelial calcium influx in rat aortas ex vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- C J Jen
- Department of Physiology, National Cheng-Kung University Medical College, Tainan, Taiwan 701, Republic of China
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Chu TF, Huang TY, Jen CJ, Chen HI. Effects of chronic exercise on calcium signaling in rat vascular endothelium. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2000; 279:H1441-6. [PMID: 11009427 DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.2000.279.4.h1441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Chronic exercise enhances endothelium-dependent vasodilating responses. To investigate whether this is due to a change in endothelial Ca(2+) signaling, we examined intracellular Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)) level in rat aortic endothelium in response to acetylcholine (ACh) or ATP. Four-week-old male Wistar rats were divided into control and exercise groups. The exercised animals ran on a treadmill at a moderate intensity for 60 min/day, 5 day/wk, for 10 wk. Rat aortas were then excised and loaded with fura 2. After the aortas were mounted on a flow chamber, these specimens were observed under an epifluorescence microscope equipped with ratio-imaging capability. Our results showed that 1) chronic exercise increased both ACh- and ATP-induced [Ca(2+)](i) responses; 2) ACh induced heterogeneous [Ca(2+)](i) elevation in individual endothelial cells; and 3) the exercise effect on ACh-evoked endothelial [Ca(2+)](i) elevation was inhibited by the Ca(2+) influx blocker SKF-96365, by a Ca(2+)-free buffer, or by high concentrations of extracellular K(+). We conclude that chronic exercise increases ACh-induced [Ca(2+)](i) elevation in rat aortic endothelium in situ, possibly by facilitating Ca(2+) influx.
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Affiliation(s)
- T F Chu
- Department of Physiology, National Cheng-Kung University Medical College, Tainan, Taiwan 701, Republic of China
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