Potentiation of P1075-induced K+ channel opening by stimulation of adenylate cyclase in rat isolated aorta

Interaction of cyclic AMP modulating agents with levcromakalim in the relaxation of rat isolated mesenteric artery

The effect of cyclic AMP modulating agents on levcromakalim-induced relaxation was investigated in myograph-mounted rat mesenteric arteries. Forskolin (adenylyl cyclase activator), dibutyryl cyclic AMP (protein kinase A activator) and 5'-N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine (NECA; adenosine receptor agonist) all potentiated the vasorelaxant effects of levcromakalim. The modulatory and relaxant effects of dibutyryl cyclic AMP, NECA and forskolin were sensitive to the protein kinase A inhibitor, Rp-cAMPS. However, relaxation to these three agents was unaffected by the K(ATP) inhibitor, glibenclamide. Dibutyryl cyclic AMP and NECA also caused levcromakalim to induce relaxation in the sub-nanomolar concentration range, however, this effect was Rp-cAMPS- and glibenclamide-insensitive. These results suggest that cyclic AMP modulating agents modulate K(ATP), even though this channel does not contribute to their relaxant effects.

Bronchodilator and anti-inflammatory activities of glaucine: In vitro studies in human airway smooth muscle and polymorphonuclear leukocytes

1. Selective phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) inhibitors are of potential interest in the treatment of asthma. We examined the effects of the alkaloid S-(+)-glaucine, a PDE4 inhibitor, on human isolated bronchus and granulocyte function. 2. Glaucine selectively inhibited PDE4 from human bronchus and polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) in a non-competitive manner (Ki=3.4 microM). Glaucine displaced [3H]-rolipram from its high-affinity binding sites in rat brain cortex membranes (IC50 approximately 100 microM). 3. Glaucine inhibited the spontaneous and histamine-induced tone in human isolated bronchus (pD2 approximately 4.5). Glaucine (10 microM) did not potentiate the isoprenaline-induced relaxation but augmented cyclic AMP accumulation by isoprenaline. The glaucine-induced relaxation was resistant to H-89, a protein kinase A inhibitor. Glaucine depressed the contractile responses to Ca2+ (pD'2 approximately 3.62) and reduced the sustained rise of [Ca2+]i produced by histamine in cultured human airway smooth muscle cells (-log IC50 approximately 4.3). 4. Glaucine augmented cyclic AMP levels in human polymorphonuclear leukocytes challenged with N-formyl-Met-Leu-Phe (FMLP) or isoprenaline, and inhibited FMLP-induced superoxide generation, elastase release, leukotriene B4 production, [Ca2+]i signal and platelet aggregation as well as opsonized zymosan-, phorbol myristate acetate-, and A23187-induced superoxide release. The inhibitory effect of glaucine on superoxide generation by FMLP was reduced by H-89. 5. In conclusion, Ca2+ channel antagonism by glaucine appears mainly responsible for the relaxant effect of glaucine in human isolated bronchus while PDE4 inhibition contributes to the inhibitory effects of glaucine in human granulocytes. The very low PDE4/binding site ratio found for glaucine makes this compound attractive for further structure-activity studies.

ATP-sensitive K+ channels in smooth muscle cells of guinea-pig mesenteric lymphatics: role in nitric oxide and beta-adrenoceptor agonist-induced hyperpolarizations

1. Intracellular microelectrode recordings were performed to investigate the membrane K+ conductances involved in smooth muscle hyperpolarization of lymphatic vessels in the guinea-pig mesentery. 2. Nitric oxide (NO), released either by the endothelium after acetylcholine (ACh; 10 microM) stimulation or by sodium nitroprusside (SNP; 50-100 microM), hyperpolarized lymphatic smooth muscle. These responses were inhibited with the guanylyl cyclase inhibitor 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazole [4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ, 10 microM). 3. ACh and SNP-induced hyperpolarizations were inhibited (by about 90%) upon application of the ATP-sensitive K+(K(ATP)) channel blocker, glibenclamide (10 microM), or with 4-aminopyridine (2.5 mM), but were not affected by the Ca2+-activated K+ channels blocker, penitrem A (100 nM). 4. Hyperpolarization caused by the K+ channel opener, cromakalim (0.1-10 microM), isoprenaline (0.1 microM) or forskolin (0.5 microM) were all significantly blocked by glibenclamide. 5. Hyperpolarization evoked by ACh and SNP were inhibited with N-[2-(p-bromociannamylamino)-ethyl]-5-isoquinolinesulfonamide-dich loride (H89, 10 microM), suggesting the involvement of cyclic AMP dependent protein kinase (PKA). 6. These results suggest that K(ATP) channels play a central role in lymphatic smooth muscle hyperpolarization evoked by a NO-induced increase in cyclic GMP synthesis, as well as by beta-adrenoceptor-mediated production of cyclic AMP. Interestingly, both pathways lead to K(ATP) channels opening through the activation of PKA.

Synergistic interaction between endothelium-derived NO and prostacyclin in pulmonary artery: potential role for K+ATP channels

1. The aim of the present study was to assess interactions between nitric oxide (NO) and prostacyclin (PGI2) during endothelium-dependent relaxations evoked by bradykinin, calcium ionophore (A23187) and acetylcholine in canine isolated pulmonary artery. 2. Relaxations to low concentrations of bradykinin and A23187 were abolished by combined inhibition of NO-synthase (by N omega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester L-NAME, 30 microM) and cyclo-oxygenase (indomethacin, 10 microM), suggesting mediation by NO and PGI2. The individual contributions of NO and PGI2 to the dilator responses were quantified by use of areas above the separate indomethacin-insensitive and L-NAME-insensitive components of the concentration-effect curves, respectively. Individually, NO and PGI2 accounted for only 53 +/- 5% and 16 +/- 9% of total bradykinin-induced relaxation, and 46 +/- 10% and 20 +/- 9% of total A23187-induced relaxation, suggesting that NO and PGI2 acted synergistically to cause endothelium-dependent relaxation. 3. Relaxation to low concentrations of acetylcholine was abolished by L-NAME but not affected by indomethacin, suggesting the response was mediated solely by NO with no interaction from PGI2. 4. Glibenclamide (1 microM), an inhibitor of ATP-sensitive potassium (K+ATP) channels, inhibited responses to bradykinin or A23187 but did not affect relaxations evoked by acetylcholine. Glibenclamide did not affect endothelium-independent relaxations to PGI2 or the NO-donor, 3-morpholinosydnonimine (SIN-1). 5. With bradykinin, glibenclamide attenuated total relaxation by 49 +/- 8%, but did not alter the individual NO and PGI2-mediated components of the response. Glibenclamide abolished the synergistic interaction between endothelium-derived NO and PGI2. 6. At high concentrations, bradykinin, A23187 or acetylcholine caused endothelium-dependent relaxation that was insensitive to L-NAME + indomethacin. With bradykinin or A23187, this component of relaxation was inhibited by glibenclamide, whereas with acetylcholine, glibenclamide had no effect. 7. The synergistic interaction between endothelium-derived NO and PGI2 in canine pulmonary artery is mediated by activation of K+ATP channels, presumably by an endothelium-derived hyperopolarizing factor (EDHF). The pattern of endothelial dilator mediators and the presence of this synergistic interaction is dependent on the nature of the endothelial stimulus.

Hypoxic dilatation of porcine small coronary arteries: role of endothelium and KATP-channels

1. The aim of the present study was to determine the cellular mechanims and potential mediators involved in hypoxic dilatation of porcine small coronary arteries. 2. Small coronary arteries were isolated from a branch of the left anterior descending artery of porcine hearts, cannulated with glass micropipettes and studied in a perfusion myograph system. At a transmural pressure of 40 mmHg, the arteries had an internal diameter of 167.8 +/- 6.6 microns (n = 37). 3. In arteries contracted with acetylcholine (ACh), hypoxia (0% O2, 30 min) caused dilatation (86.9 +/- 6.7% relaxation, n = 6) in vessels with endothelium but constriction in endothelium-denuded vessels. 4. Hypoxic vasodilatation occurring in arteries with endothelium was abolished by the KATP channel inhibitor, glibenclamide (0.44 microM), but was not affected by inhibition of nitric oxide synthase (L-NAME, 44 microM) or cyclo-oxygenase (indomethacin, 4.4 microM). 5. Bradykinin evoked endothelium-dependent relaxation that was inhibited by L-NAME (44 microM) but not glibenclamide 0.44 microM). Cromakalim (0.1-0.3 microM), a KATP channel opener, caused relaxation that was inhibited by glibenclamide, but was not affected by L-NAME (44 microM) and/or indomethacin (4.4 microM). 6. Endothelium-removal inhibited vasodilatation evoked by cromakalim, but increased vasodilator responses to the NO donor, SIN-1 (10(-8) to 10(-5) M). 7. These results indicate that hypoxia acted directly on vascular smooth muscle of small coronary arteries to cause contraction. However, this effect was overwhelmed by endothelium-dependent relaxation in response to hypoxia. This relaxation was most likely mediated by release of an endothelium-derived factor, distinct from nitric oxide or prostacyclin, that activated smooth muscle KATP-channels.

ATP-sensitive K+ channels in the kidney

ATP-sensitive K+ channels (KATP channels) form a link between the metabolic state of the cell and the permeability of the cell membrane for K+ which, in turn, is a major determinant of cell membrane potential. KATP channels are found in many different cell types. Their regulation by ATP and other nucleotides and their modulation by other cellular factors such as pH and kinase activity varies widely and is fine-tuned for the function that these channels have to fulfill. In most excitable tissues they are closed and open when cell metabolism is impaired; thereby the cell is clamped in the resting state which saves ATP and helps to preserve the structural integrity of the cell. There are, however, notable exceptions from this rule; in pancreatic beta-cells, certain neurons and some vascular beds, these channels are open during the normal functioning of the cell. In the renal tubular system, KATP channels are found in the proximal tubule, the thick ascending limb of Henle's loop and the cortical collecting duct. Under physiological conditions, these channels have a high open probability and play an important role in the reabsorption of electrolytes and solutes as well as in K+ homeostasis. The physiological role of their nucleotide sensitivity is not entirely clear; one consequence is the coupling of channel activity to the activity of the Na-K-ATPase (pump-leak coupling), resulting in coordinated vectorial transport. In ischemia, however, the reduced ATP/ADP ratio would increase the open probability of the KATP channels independently from pump activity; this is particularly dangerous in the proximal tubule, where 60 to 70% of the glomerular ultrafiltrate is reabsorbed. The pharmacology of KATP channels is well developed including the sulphonylureas as standard blockers and the structurally heterogeneous family of channel openers. Blockers and openers, exemplified by glibenclamide and levcromakalim, show a wide spectrum of affinities towards the different types of KATP channels. Recent cloning efforts have solved the mystery about the structure of the channel: the KATP channels in the pancreatic beta-cell and in the principal cell of the renal cortical collecting duct are heteromultimers, composed of an inwardly rectifying K+ channel and sulphonylurea binding subunit(s) with unknown stoichiometry. The proteins making up the KATP channel in these two cell types are different (though homologous), explaining the physiological and pharmacological differences between these channel subtypes.

Modulation of vasorelaxant responses to potassium channel openers by basal nitric oxide in the rat isolated superior mesenteric arterial bed

1. We have used the isolated buffer-perfused mesenteric arterial bed of the rat to assess the modulation of vasorelaxation to potassium channel openers (KCOs) by basal nitric oxide. 2. The dose-response curves to the KCOs, levcromakalim and pinacidil, in preconstricted preparations were significantly shifted to the left in the presence of the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor (100 microM) NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (levcromakalim, ED50 = 4.47 +/- 0.70 nmol vs. 1.73 +/- 0.26 nmol, P < 0.001; pinacidil, ED50 = 16.1 +/- 4.8 nmol vs. 5.43 +/- 1.10 nmol, P < 0.001). The vasorelaxant responses to papaverine, a vasodilator which acts independently of potassium channels was unaffected by NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME). 3. Removal of the endothelium, by perfusion with the detergent CHAPS (0.3%), significantly (P < 0.001) increased the potency of levcromakalim as a vasodilator (ED50 4.47 +/- 0.70 nmol vs. 2.59 +/- 0.31 nmol). The subsequent administration of L-NAME following perfusion with CHAPS did not lead to any additional enhancement of responses to levcromakalim. 4. The presence of the non-selective adenosine antagonist, 8-phenyltheophylline (8-PT, 10 microM) significantly (P < 0.001) shifted the dose-response curve to levcromakalim to the left (ED50 4.47 +/- 0.70 nmol vs. 1.11 +/- 0.32 nmol). In the presence of both L-NAME and 8-PT, the dose-response curve to levcromakalim was also significantly (P < 0.01) shifted to the left compared with control (ED50 in the presence of both L-NAME and 8-PT was 0.42 +/- 0.08 nmol). 5. The presence of 8-bromo cyclic GMP (10 microM) reversed the increase potency of levcromakalim, observed following inhibition of nitric oxide synthase (ED50 in the presence of L-NAME was 0.59 +/- 0.01 nmol and in the presence of 8-bromo cyclic GMP plus L-NAME the ED50 was 3.17 +/- 0.80 nmol). However in the absence of L-NAME, the cell permeable analogue of cyclic GMP, 8-bromo cyclic GMP, did not affect the dose-response curve to levcromakalim compared with control (control ED50 value was 4.16 +/- 0.52 nmol vs. 3.85 +/- 1.13 nmol in the presence of 8-bromo cyclic GMP). 6. The present investigation demonstrates that both basal nitric oxide and adenosine modulate vasorelaxation to the KCOs levcromakalim and pinacidil. The modulatory effect of nitric oxide may be mediated via cyclic GMP.