Pathophysiological aspects of cellular pyridine nucleotide metabolism: focus on the vascular endothelium. Review

Direct effects of corticosterone on ATP production by mitochondria from immortalized hypothalamic GT1-7 neurons

Glucocorticoids are known to decrease intracellular ATP levels in the brain. This study was performed to investigate whether corticosterone at physiological levels depresses mitochondrial ATP production by directly acting on mitochondria. Mitochondria were isolated from immortalized hypothalamic GT1-7 neurons. ATP levels were determined using a luciferase-luciferin assay. When malate, alpha-ketoglutarate or pyruvate was used as a respiration substrate, corticosterone at > or =100 nM decreased ATP production by 10%. In contrast, corticosterone did not affect ATP production when succinate or N,N,N',N'-tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine+ascorbate were used. To investigate the specificity of corticosterone inhibition, we examined several steroids. All steroids tested suppressed mitochondrial ATP production by 10% at a concentration of 100 nM, in a manner similar to that of corticosterone. To examine the effects of corticosterone on GT1-7 cell physiology, we incubated GT1-7 cells with t-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BuOOH) with corticosterone. Corticosterone largely enhanced t-BuOOH-induced cell death. These results indicate that corticosterone non-specifically inhibits mitochondrial ATP production by suppressing electron transfer from NADH to the electron transfer chain through complex I. Partial inhibition of mitochondrial ATP production by corticosterone may contribute to oxidative stress-induced cell death.

Radiation-induced PARP activation is enhanced through EGFR-ERK signaling

We examined the impact of EGFR-ERK signaling on poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) activation following ionizing irradiation of human prostate cancer (PCa) cell lines displaying marked differences in ERK dependence. PARP activation was indicated by the appearance of polyADP-ribose, the incorporation of P32-labelled NADH, and by cellular NADH. EGFR-ERK signaling was manipulated through ligand activation or signal interruption using the tyrphostin AG1478, or MEK inhibitor PD 184352. EGF activation of ERK prior to irradiation was associated with a marked increase in PARP activation and decreased survival in both cell lines. Prior inactivation of PARP protected both cell lines from the initial decrease in NAD+ and improved the survival of LNCaP cells following combined EGF and IR treatment. MEK inhibitor PD 184352 also reduced PARP activation and improved LNCaP survival following EGF and IR treatment. These data imply that PARP activation following exposure to ionizing radiation is enhanced through EGFR-ERK signaling.

ADP-ribosyl cyclase and ryanodine receptor activity contribute to basal renal vasomotor tone and agonist-induced renal vasoconstriction in vivo

An important role for the enzyme ADP-ribosyl cyclase (ADPR cyclase) and its downstream targets, the ryanodine receptors (RyR), is emerging for a variety of vascular systems. We hypothesized that the ADPR cyclase/RyR pathway contributes to regulation of renal vasomotor tone in vivo. To test this, we continuously measured renal blood flow (RBF) in anesthetized Sprague-Dawley rats. Infusion of the ADPR cyclase inhibitor nicotinamide intrarenally at low doses inhibits angiotensin II (ANG II)- and norepinephrine (NE)-induced vasoconstriction by 72 and 67%, respectively ( P < 0.001). RBF studies in rats were extended to mice lacking the predominant form of ADPR cyclase (CD38). Acute renal vasoconstrictor responses to ANG II and NE are impaired by 59 and 52%, respectively, in anesthetized CD38−/− mice compared with wild-type controls ( P < 0.05). Intrarenal injection of the RyR activator FK506 decreases RBF by 22% ( P > 0.03). Furthermore, RyR inhibition with ruthenium red attenuates ANG II and NE responses by 50 and 59%, respectively ( P ≤ 0.01). Given at higher doses, nicotinamide increases basal RBF by 22% ( P > 0.001). Non-receptor-mediated renal vasoconstriction by L-type voltage-gated Ca2+channels is also dependent on ADPR cyclase and RyRs. Nicotinamide and ruthenium red inhibit constriction by the L-type channel agonist BAY K 8644 by 59% ( P > 0.02) and 63% ( P > 0.001). We conclude that 1) ADPR cyclase activity contributes to regulation of renal vasomotor tone under resting conditions, 2) renal vasoconstriction induced by G protein-coupled receptor agonists ANG II and NE is mediated in part by ADPR cyclase and RyRs, and 3) ADPR cyclase and RyRs participate in L-type channel-mediated renal vasoconstriction in vivo.