Adenosine causes cAMP-dependent activation of chick embryo red cell carbonic anhydrase and 2,3-DPG synthesis

Dipyridamole enhances ischaemia-induced arteriogenesis through an endocrine nitrite/nitric oxide-dependent pathway

AIMS

Anti-platelet agents, such as dipyridamole, have several clinical benefits for peripheral artery disease with the speculation of angiogenic potential that could preserve ischaemic tissue viability, yet the effect of dipyridamole on ischaemic arteriogenesis or angiogenesis is unknown. Here we test the hypothesis that dipyridamole therapy augments arteriolar vessel development and function during chronic ischaemia.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Mice were treated with 200 mg/kg dipyridamole twice daily to achieve therapeutic plasma levels (0.8-1.2 microg/mL). Chronic hindlimb ischaemia was induced by permanent femoral artery ligation followed by measurement of tissue perfusion using laser Doppler blood flow along with quantification of vascular density, cell proliferation, and activation of nitric oxide (NO) metabolism. Dipyridamole treatment quickly restored ischaemic hindlimb blood flow, increased vascular density and cell proliferation, and enhanced collateral artery perfusion compared with control treatments. The beneficial effects of dipyridamole on blood flow and vascular density were dependent on NO production as dipyridamole did not augment ischaemic tissue reperfusion, vascular density, or endothelial cell proliferation in endothelial NO synthase (eNOS)-deficient mice. Blood and tissue nitrite levels were significantly higher in dipyridamole-treated mice compared with controls and eNOS(-/-) mice, verifying increased NO production that was regulated in a PKA-dependent manner.

CONCLUSION

Dipyridamole augments nitrite/NO production, leading to enhanced arteriogenesis activity and blood perfusion in ischaemic limbs. Together, these data suggest that dipyridamole can augment ischaemic vessel function and restore blood flow, which may be beneficial in peripheral artery disease.

Carbonic anhydrase isozyme-II-deficient mice lack the duodenal bicarbonate secretory response to prostaglandin E2

Duodenal bicarbonate secretion (DBS) is accepted as the primary mucosal defense against acid discharged from the stomach and is impaired in patients with duodenal ulcer disease. The secretory response to luminal acid is the main physiological stimulus for DBS and involves mediation by PGE2 produced by mucosal cells. The aim of this investigation is to elucidate the role of carbonic anhydrases (CAs) II and IX in PGE2-mediated bicarbonate secretion in the murine duodenum. CA II- and IX-deficient mice and different combinations of their heterozygous and WT counterparts were studied. A 10-mm segment of the proximal duodenum with intact blood supply was isolated, and DBS was titrated by pH-stat (TitroLine-easy, Schott, Mainz, Germany). Mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) was continuously recorded, and blood acid/base balance and gastrointestinal morphology were analyzed. The duodenal segment spontaneously secreted HCO3(-) at a steady basal rate of 5.3 +/- 0.6 micromol x cm(-1) x h(-1). Perfusing the duodenal lumen for 20 min with 47 microM PGE2 caused a significant increase in DBS to 13.0 +/- 2.9 micromol x cm(-1) x h(-1), P < 0.0001. The DBS response to PGE2 was completely absent in Car2-/- mice, whereas basal DBS was normal. The CA IX-deficient mice with normal Car2 alleles showed a slight increase in DBS. Histological abnormalities were observed in the gastroduodenal epithelium in both CA II- and IX-deficient mice. Our data demonstrate a gastrointestinal phenotypic abnormality associated with CA II deficiency. The results show that the stimulatory effect of the duodenal secretagogue PGE2 completely depends on CA II.

Inhibition of bicarbonate reabsorption in the rat proximal tubule by activation of luminal P2Y1 receptors

The present study used a stationary microperfusion technique to investigate in vivo the effect of P2Y1 receptor activation on bicarbonate reabsorption in the rat proximal tubule. Proximal tubules were perfused with a bicarbonate Ringer solution before flow was stopped by means of an oil block. The recovery of lumen pH from the initial value (pH 8.0) to stationary values (pH approximately 6.7) was recorded by a H+-sensitive microelectrode inserted downstream of the perfusion pipette and oil block. The stationary pH value and the t(1/2) of pH recovery were used to calculate bicarbonate reabsorption (JHCO3). Both EIPA and bafilomycin A1 caused significant reductions in proximal tubule JHCO3, consistent with the established contributions of Na/H exchange and H+-ATPase to proximal tubule HCO3 reabsorption. The nucleotides ADP and, to a lesser extent, ATP reduced JHCO3 but AMP and UTP were without effect. 2MeSADP, a highly selective agonist of the P2Y1 receptor, reduced JHCO3 in a dose-dependent manner. MRS-2179, a P2Y1 receptor-specific antagonist, abolished the effect of 2MeSADP, whereas theophylline, an antagonist of adenosine (P1) receptors, did not. The inhibitory action of 2MeSADP was blocked by inhibition of protein kinase C and reduced by inhibition of protein kinase A. The effects of EIPA and 2MeSADP were not additive. The data provide functional evidence for P2Y1 receptors in the apical membrane of the rat proximal tubule: receptor activation impairs acidification in this nephron segment.

Erythroid pyrimidine 5'-nucleotidase: cloning, developmental expression, and regulation by cAMP and in vivo hypoxia

A characteristic process of terminal erythroid differentiation is the degradation of ribosomal RNA into mononucleotides. The pyrimidine mononucleotides can be dephosphorylated by pyrimidine 5'-nucleotidase (P5N-I). In humans, a lack of this enzyme causes hemolytic anemia with ribosomal structures and trinucleotides retained in the red blood cells (RBCs). Although the protein/nucleotide sequence of P5N-I is known in mammals, the onset and regulation of P5N-I during erythroid maturation is unknown. However, in circulating chicken embryonic RBCs, the enzyme is induced together with carbonic anhydrase (CAII) and 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate (2,3-BPG) by norepinephrine (NE) and adenosine, which are released by the embryo under hypoxic conditions. Here, we present the chicken P5N-I sequence and the gene expression of P5N-I during RBC maturation; the profile of gene expression follows the enzyme activity with a rise between days 13 and 16 of embryonic development. The p5n-I expression is induced (1) in definitive but not primitive RBCs by stimulation of beta-adrenergic/adenosine receptors, and (2) in definitive RBCs by hypoxic incubation of the chicken embryo. Since embryonic RBCs increase their hemoglobin-oxygen affinity by degradation of nucleotides such as uridine triphosphate (UTP) and cytidine triphosphate (CTP), the induction of p5n-I expression can be seen as an adaptive response to hypoxia.

Hypoxia, hormones, and red blood cell function in chick embryos

The red blood cell function of avian embryos is regulated by cAMP. Adenosine A(2A) and beta-adrenergic receptor activation during hypoxic conditions cause changes in the hemoglobin oxygen affinity and CO(2) transport. Furthermore, experimental evidence suggests a general involvement of cAMP in terminal differentiation of avian erythroblasts.

NTP pattern of avian embryonic red cells: role of RNA degradation and AMP deaminase/5'-nucleotidase activity

During terminal erythroid differentiation, degradation of RNA is a potential source for nucleotide triphosphates (NTPs) that act as allosteric effectors of hemoglobin. In this investigation, we assessed the developmental profile of RNA and purine/pyrimidine trinucleotides in circulating embryonic chick red blood cells (RBC). Extensive changes of the NTP pattern are observed which differ significantly from what is observed for adult RBC. The biochemical mechanisms have not been identified yet. Therefore, we studied the role of AMP deaminase and IMP/GMP 5'-nucleotidase, which are key enzymes for the regulation of the purine nucleotide pool. Finally, we tested the effect of major NTPs on the oxygen affinity of embryonic/adult hemoglobin. The results are as follows. 1) Together with ATP, UTP and CTP serve as allosteric effectors of hemoglobin. 2) Degradation of erythroid RNA is apparently a major source for NTPs. 3) Developmental changes of nucleotide content depend on the activities of key enzymes (AMP deaminase, IMP/GMP 5'-nucleotidase, and pyrimidine 5'-nucleotidase). 4) Oxygen-dependent hormonal regulation of AMP deaminase adjusts the red cell ATP concentration and therefore the hemoglobin oxygen affinity.

cAMP and in vivo hypoxia induce tob, ifr1, and fos expression in erythroid cells of the chick embryo

During avian embryonic development, terminal erythroid differentiation occurs in the circulation. Some of the key events, such as the induction of erythroid 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate (2,3-BPG), carbonic anhydrase (CAII), and pyrimidine 5'-nucleotidase (P5N) synthesis are oxygen dependent (Baumann R, Haller EA, Schöning U, and Weber M, Dev Biol 116: 548-551, 1986; Dragon S and Baumann R, Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol 280: R870-R878, 2001; Dragon S, Carey C, Martin K, and Baumann R, J Exp Biol 202: 2787-2795, 1999; Dragon S, Glombitza S, Götz R, and Baumann R, Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol 271: R982-R989, 1996; Dragon S, Hille R, Götz R, and Baumann R, Blood 91: 3052-3058, 1998; Million D, Zillner P, and Baumann R, Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol 261: R1188-R1196, 1991) in an indirect way: hypoxia stimulates the release of norepinephrine (NE)/adenosine into the circulation (Dragon et al., J Exp Biol 202: 2787-2795, 1999; Dragon et al., Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol 271: R982-R989, 1996). This leads via erythroid beta-adrenergic/adenosine A(2) receptor activation to a cAMP signal inducing several proteins in a transcription-dependent manner (Dragon et al., Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol 271: R982-R989, 1996; Dragon et al., Blood 91: 3052-3058, 1998; Glombitza S, Dragon S, Berghammer M, Pannermayr M, and Baumann R, Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol 271: R973-R981, 1996). To understand how the cAMP-dependent processes are initiated, we screened an erythroid cDNA library for cAMP-regulated genes. We detected three genes that were strongly upregulated (>5-fold) by cAMP in definitive and primitive red blood cells. They are homologous to the mammalian Tob, Ifr1, and Fos proteins. In addition, the genes are induced in the intact embryo during short-term hypoxia. Because the genes are regulators of proliferation and differentiation in other cell types, we suggest that cAMP might promote general differentiating processes in erythroid cells, thereby allowing adaptive modulation of the latest steps of erythroid differentiation during developmental hypoxia.

Erythroid carbonic anhydrase and hsp70 expression in chick embryonic development: role of cAMP and hypoxia

In the second half of avian embryonic development cAMP affects major aspects of red blood cell (RBC) function. At day 13/14, progressive developmental hypoxia causes the release of norepinephrine and erythroid beta-adrenergic receptor stimulation initiates the coordinate induction of adaptive key events of erythroid differentiation like carbonic anhydrase (CAII) and 2,3-biphosphoglycerate synthesis. Although cAMP-dependent regulation of CAII protein synthesis has been described in detail, no data exist about the transcriptional regulation in embryonic RBC. Here we report that after day 12 of embryonic development, the caII mRNA is accumulating. Hypoxic incubation at day 10 as well as in vitro incubation of isolated RBC with cAMP-elevating agonists strongly induces erythroid caII expression. The induction of caII occurs fast and does not require new protein synthesis. By screening several late erythroid genes, we could identify hsp70 as another cAMP-induced gene in definitive RBC. Because caII (but not hsp70) is also induced by cAMP in primitive RBC, the signal may regulate key events of late primitive and definitive erythropoiesis.