Nitro-oleic acid inhibits firing and activates TRPV1- and TRPA1-mediated inward currents in dorsal root ganglion neurons from adult male rats

Nitro-oleic acid (OA-NO(2)), an electrophilic fatty acid by-product of nitric oxide and nitrite reactions, is present in normal and inflamed mammalian tissues at up to micromolar concentrations and exhibits anti-inflammatory signaling actions. The effects of OA-NO(2) on cultured dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons were examined using fura-2 Ca(2+) imaging and patch clamping. OA-NO(2) (3.5-35 microM) elicited Ca(2+) transients in 20 to 40% of DRG neurons, the majority (60-80%) of which also responded to allyl isothiocyanate (AITC; 1-50 microM), a TRPA1 agonist, and to capsaicin (CAPS; 0.5 microM), a TRPV1 agonist. The OA-NO(2)-evoked Ca(2+) transients were reduced by the TRPA1 antagonist 2-(1,3-dimethyl-2,6-dioxo-1,2,3,6-tetrahydro-7H-purin-7-yl)-N-(4-isopropylphenyl) acetamide (HC-030031; 5-50 microM) and the TRPV1 antagonist capsazepine (10 microM). Patch-clamp recording revealed that OA-NO(2) depolarized and induced inward currents in 62% of neurons. The effects of OA-NO(2) were elicited by concentrations >or=5 nM and were blocked by 10 mM dithiothreitol. Concentrations of OA-NO(2) >or=5 nM reduced action potential (AP) overshoot, increased AP duration, inhibited firing induced by depolarizing current pulses, and inhibited Na(+) currents. The effects of OA-NO(2) were not prevented or reversed by the NO-scavenger carboxy-2-phenyl-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazolineoxyl-1-oxyl-3-oxide. A large percentage (46-57%) of OA-NO(2)-responsive neurons also responded to CAPS (0.5 microM) or AITC (0.5 microM). OA-NO(2) currents were reduced by TRPV1 (diarylpiperazine; 5 microM) or TRPA1 (HC-030031; 5 microM) antagonists. These data reveal that endogenous OA-NO(2) generated at sites of inflammation may initially activate transient receptor potential channels on nociceptive afferent nerves, contributing to the initiation of afferent nerve activity, and later suppresses afferent firing.

Protein kinase C is involved in M1-muscarinic receptor-mediated facilitation of L-type Ca2+ channels in neurons of the major pelvic ganglion of the adult male rat

We used patch clamp recording techniques to determine if muscarinic signaling mechanisms are present in dissociated autonomic neurons obtained from the major pelvic ganglion, which provides the cholinergic innervation of the urinary bladder and other pelvic organs. The M1 specific agonist, McN-A-343 (2-30 microM) enhanced Ca2+ currents in approximately 37% of neurons (by 50-80%). This enhancement was reduced by atropine (5-10 microM) or a PKC inhibitor (bisindolylmaleimide, 50-200 nM). In responsive neurons Ca2+ currents were also enhanced by the phorbol ester, phorbol-12,13-dibutyrate (50-300 nM) and the dihydropyridine agonist Bay K 8644 (5 microM) and had kinetics of activation and inactivation as expected for L-type Ca2+ channels. We conclude that in a subpopulation of MPG neurons, M1-mediated activation of PKC phosphorylates and enhances L-type Ca2+ channel activities. This muscarinic facilitatory mechanism in MPG neurons may be the same as the M1-mediated facilitation of transmitter release reported previously at the nerve terminals in the urinary bladder.

Increased T-type Ca2+ channel activity as a determinant of cellular toxicity in neuronal cell lines expressing polyglutamine-expanded human androgen receptors

We have analyzed Ca2+ currents in two neuroblastoma-motor neuron hybrid cell lines that expressed normal or glutamine-expanded human androgen receptors (polyGln-expanded AR) either transiently or stably. The cell lines express a unique, low-threshold, transient type of Ca2+ current that is not affected by L-type Ca2+ channel blocker (PN 200-110), N-type Ca2+ channel blocker (omega-conotoxin GVIA) or P-type Ca2+ channel blocker (Agatoxin IVA) but is blocked by either Cd2+ or Ni2+. This pharmacological profile most closely resembles that of T-type Ca2+ channels [1-3]. Exposure to androgen had no effect on control cell lines or cells transfected with normal AR but significantly changed the steady-state activation in cells transfected with expanded AR. The observed negative shift in steady-state activation results in a large increase in the T-type Ca2+ channel window current. We suggest that Ca2+ overload due to abnormal voltage-dependence of transient Ca2+ channel activation may contribute to motor neuron toxicity in spinobulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA). This hypothesis is supported by the additional finding that, at concentrations that selectively block T-type Ca2+ channel currents, Ni2+ significantly reduced cell death in cell lines transfected with polyGln-expanded AR.

Crosstalk between alpha-1A and alpha-1B adrenoceptors in neonatal rat myocardium: implications in cardiac hypertrophy

The myocardial effect of alpha-1A adrenoceptor (alpha-1 AR) agonists in neonatal rats are mediated by alpha-1A AR and not by alpha-1B AR, although both receptor subtypes are equally expressed; the functions of alpha-1B AR are not known. Here, we report that alpha-1 B ARs inhibit the activities of alpha-1A ARs in neonatal rat myocardium so that the inactivation of alpha-1 B ARs by chloroethylclonidine (CEC) potentiated the effects of nonselective alpha-1 AR agonist phenylephrine (PE) on myocardial protein synthesis and early gene (c-fos and c-jun) expression. CEC did not modify the hypertrophic effect of angiotensin II. The potentiation of the effects of PE by CEC was associated with a translocation of Ca(++)-dependent protein kinase C (PKC)alpha, which did not occur in the absence of CEC. Alpha-1A AR-selective agonist A61603 was approximately 1000-fold more potent than PE as a positive inotropic agent; it caused the translocation of PKC alpha, which was not affected by CEC. 5-Methylurapidil antagonized the effects of PE and A61603, suggesting that these were mediated via alpha-1A ARs. Alpha-1D AR antagonist BMY 7378 did not modify PE-induced translocation of PKC. CEC potentiated the effects of PE on Ca++ transients in Fura 2-AM-loaded dispersed cardiomyocytes, and this potentiation was prevented by nifedipine. In whole-cell patch-clamp recordings of cultured cardiomyocytes, CEC potentiated the effect of norepinephrine on Ca++ channel currents, which was blocked by 5-methylurapidil. We conclude that alpha-1A ARs are positively and alpha-1B ARs are negatively coupled to nifedipine-sensitive Ca++ channels, possibly via Gi protein, and this antagonistic relationship between alpha-A AR and alpha-1B AR in the neonatal heart might be required physiologically for normal alpha-1 AR-mediated responses and myocardial development.

Increases of T-type Ca2+ current in heart cells of the cardiomyopathic hamster

In the present study, the whole-cell voltage clamp technique was used in order to record the T- and L-type Ca2+ currents in single heart cells of newborn and young normal and hereditary cardiomyopathic hamsters. Our results showed that the I/V relationship curve as well as the kinetics of the L-type Ca2+ currents (ICa(L)) in both normal and cardiomyopathic heart cells were the same. However, the proportion of myocytes from normal heart hamster that showed L-type ICa was less than that of heart cells from cardiomyopathic hamster. The I/V relationship curve of the T-type ICa (ICa(T)) was the same in myocytes of both normal and cardiomyopathic hamsters. The main differences between ICa(T) of cardiomyopathic and normal hamster are a larger window current and the proportion of ventricular myocytes that showed this type of current in cardiomyopathic hamster. The high density of ICa(T) as well as the large window current and proportion of myocytes showing ICa(T) may explain in part Ca2+ overload observed in cardiomyopathic heart cells of the hamster.

Okadaic acid enhances prepulse facilitation of cardiac alpha 1-subunit but not endogenous calcium channel currents in Xenopus laevis oocytes

Xenopus laevis oocytes can be selected to express relatively high levels of endogenous Ca currents. These currents are facilitated by prepulses. Facilitated endogenous Ca currents are unaffected by okadaic acid, RpcAMPS or the dihydropyridine (DHP) antagonist (+) PN 200-110. The endogenous currents and facilitation of endogenous currents by depolarizing prepulses are fully blocked by 1 mM Cd2+. In contrast, oocytes injected with mRNA encoding for the rabbit cardiac alpha 1-subunit express prepulse-facilitated Ca channel currents that are highly enhanced by the phosphoprotein phosphatase inhibitor okadaic acid (3-fold) and blocked by RpcAMPS and the DHP antagonist (+) PN 200-110. While okadaic acid selectively stimulates prepulse facilitation of cardiac alpha 1-subunit Ca currents, the DHP agonist (+) SDZ 202-791 largely increases (5-fold) both the control (before prepulse) and facilitated currents (after prepulse). (+) SDZ 202-791 did not prevent the effect of RpcAMPS or okadaic acid on facilitation of cardiac alpha 1-subunit, suggesting that DHP stimulation is independent of phosphorylation leading to channel facilitation. The enhancement of prepulse facilitation of cardiac alpha 1L-subunit Ca channel current by okadaic acid can be accounted for by a speeding up in the rates of onset during the prepulse. Inhibition of phosphoprotein phosphatases by okadaic acid has only modest effects on the rates of recovery of cardiac alpha 1-subunit Ca channel current from facilitation in the time immediately following the prepulse.

Voltage-dependent potentiation of neuronal L-type calcium channels due to state-dependent phosphorylation

Modulation of Ca2+ channels during repetitive activity in excitable cells can have an important role in altering cellular function. In mammalian parasympathetic and dorsal root ganglion neurons, L-type Ca2+ channels are potentiated by single depolarizing prepulses or trains of short high-frequency depolarizing pulses. This type of potentiation takes place regardless of whether Ca2+ or Ba2+ is the charge carrier and requires phosphorylation by a adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP)-dependent protein kinase. The magnitude of facilitation was correlated with frequency of conditioning trains, was enhanced by 8-bromoadenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate or the Sp diastereomer of adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphothioate (cAMPS), and reduced by Rp-cAMPS or a peptide inhibitor of cAMP-dependent protein kinase. The N-type Ca2+ channels exhibited the opposite response to these agents. We propose that the potentiation of L-type Ca2+ channel currents in neurons is due to state-dependent phosphorylation by cAMP-dependent protein kinase (Sculptoreanu, A., T. Scheuer, and W. A. Catterall. Nature Lond. 364: 240-243, 1993; Sculptoreanu, A., E. Rotman, M. Takahashi, T. Scheuer, and W. A. Catterall. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 90: 10135-10139, 1993.). Thus state-dependent phosphorylation in neurons may be a mechanism for the regulation of various functions including transmitter release.

Atrial natriuretic factor blocks the high-threshold Ca2+ current and increases K+ current in fetal single ventricular cells

The effect of atriopeptin III (ANF) was studied on K+, Ca2+ and Na+ currents of single heart cells of 10-day-old chick embryos and 17- to 20-week old human fetuses. ANF III (2 x 10(-9) M) greatly decreased the basal and cAMP prestimulated high-threshold (IL) Ca2+ current without affecting the low-threshold Ca2+ current (IT) or the TTX-sensitive fast inward Na+ current. ANF III was also found to increase the delayed outward K+ currents (IK) in a dose-dependent fashion (10(-10) to 10(-7) M). The effects of ANF III on IK and IL were reversible upon washout of this hormone. Increasing intracellular guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP) blocked IL but had no effect on IK. These results suggested that ANF regulated one type of Ca2+ current and the delayed outward K+ current in single heart cells. The effects of ANF on IL (but not on IK) could be due in part to the increased [cGMP]i levels or to an unknown signal transduction that is stimulated by this hormone.

Voltage-dependent potentiation of the activity of cardiac L-type calcium channel alpha 1 subunits due to phosphorylation by cAMP-dependent protein kinase

Barium currents mediated by the alpha 1 subunit of the cardiac L-type Ca channel expressed in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells were increased up to 10-fold during dialysis of the cell with the catalytic subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase. After partial activation by exogenous kinase, the activity of the alpha 1 subunit was also reversibly potentiated up to 3.5-fold by prepulses to voltages in the range of 0 to +150 mV. Potentiation at +48 mV developed with a biphasic time course with time constants of 131 ms and 8 s. Reversal at -60 mV was biphasic with half-times of 12 ms and 100 ms and was blocked in the presence of the phosphatase inhibitor okadaic acid. Both the increase in calcium-channel activity during dialysis with kinase and the voltage-dependent potentiation were accompanied by shifts in the voltage dependence of activation to more negative membrane potentials. The increases in Ba current due to protein phosphorylation and to the dihydropyridine Ca channel agonist Bay K8644 were approximately additive. The results show that the alpha 1 subunit of the cardiac L-type Ca channel is sufficient for substantial modulation of Ca-channel activity by cAMP-dependent protein kinase and for potentiation by state-dependent protein phosphorylation. Voltage-dependent potentiation of the activity of the alpha 1 subunit may contribute to the increase in contractile force in response to increased rate of stimulation, the positive staircase effect in heart muscle.

Voltage-dependent potentiation of L-type Ca2+ channels due to phosphorylation by cAMP-dependent protein kinase

The force of contraction of motor units in skeletal muscle is graded by changing the discharge rate of motor neurons, and cytosolic calcium transients are similarly increased. During single twitches, contraction is not dependent on extracellular calcium, and L-type Ca2+ channels may only function as voltage sensors for initiating Ca2+ release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum. In contrast, forceful tetanic contractions triggered by action potentials at high frequency (20 to 200 Hz) are dependent on extracellular Ca2+ concentration and sensitive to L-type Ca2+ channel antagonists, but the mechanism of regulation of contractile force is unknown. Here we report a large, voltage- and frequency-dependent potentiation of skeletal muscle L-type Ca2+ currents by trains of high-frequency depolarizing prepulses, which is caused by a shift in the voltage-dependence of channel activation to more negative membrane potentials and requires phosphorylation by cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase in a voltage-dependent manner. This potentiation would substantially increase Ca2+ influx and contractile force in skeletal muscle fibres in response to tetanic stimuli.

Tetrodotoxin-insensitive sodium channels in a cardiac cell line from a transgenic mouse

The electrophysiological properties of a cardiac cell line (MCM1) originating from a transgenic mouse were characterized. The dominant current in these cells is a sodium current that is insensitive to concentrations of tetrodotoxin (TTX) up to 100 microM. It activates and inactivates rapidly with half-maximal activation at -40 mV and half-maximal inactivation at -79 mV. This sodium current is reduced by agents that increase intracellular adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) and activate cAMP-dependent protein kinase including isoproterenol, 8-bromo-cAMP, and isobutylmethylxanthine. The phenylalkylamine desmethoxyverapamil blocks the TTX-insensitive sodium current in MCM1 cells in both tonic and use-dependent fashion. Membrane depolarization enhances this block. It is proposed that the TTX-insensitive sodium current in these cells may be similar in origin to the embryonic type of TTX-insensitive sodium current described in other cardiac and skeletal muscle preparations.

Apamin, a highly potent fetal L-type Ca2+ current blocker in single heart cells

Apamin, a bee venom polypeptide, was reported to block the naturally occurring Ca2+ slow action potentials (APs) in cultured cell reaggregates from old chick hearts [Bkaily, G. et al. Am. J. Physiol. 248 (Heart Circ. Physiol. 17): H961-H965, 1985] as well as the tetrodotoxin (TTX)- and Mn(2+)-insensitive slow Na+ current in young embryonic chick heart cells (Bkaily, G. In Vitro Toxicology. Academic, In press; Bkaily et al. J. Mol. Cell. Cardiol. 23: 25-39, 1991). With the use of the whole cell voltage-clamp technique in single ventricular cells from 10-day-old chick embryos and 17- to 20-wk-old human fetuses, two types of Ca2+ currents (ICa), T and L, were found. These two types of slow inward current in both heart preparations were nearly similar in their voltage, kinetics, and pharmacology. Apamin, a slow Ca2+ action potential blocker in old embryonic chick heart, was found to block the L-type ICa (IL) in a dose-dependent manner without affecting the T-type ICa in both heart cell preparations. The blockade of the IL by apamin was completely reversible upon washout with apamin-free solution. Therefore, when compared with nifedipine or to PN 200-110, apamin seems to be a highly potent L-type Ca2+ channel blocker in heart cells.

Apamin, a highly potent blocker of the TTX- and Mn2(+)-insensitive fast transient Na+ current in young embryonic heart

The whole-cell current clamp and voltage clamp techniques were used to record the slow Na+ action potentials (APs) and the inward current in cultured single ventricular cells isolated from young (3 day-old) embryonic chicks. The slow Na+ APs had a +Vmax of 21.5 +/- 7.5 V/s (in 10 different single cells) and the macroscopic inward current responsible for the rising phase of these APs was a fast transient (ft) current. The ft inward current was sensitive to changes in [Na]o but not to changes in [Ca]o. This channel was found to be permeable to Li+ and Ba2+. Analysis of Na+ current decay suggests a second-order process of current decay. The slow Na+ APs and the ft inward current were insensitive to tetrodotoxin (TTX) and Mn2+. This current was also insensitive to the inorganic Ca2+ blockers, Ni2+, Cd2+ and La3+. At low concentration (10(-9)-10(-6) M) the organic Ca2+ blockers, (-)D888 and nifedipine had no effect on the TTX- and Mn2(+)-insensitive INa. However, at a high concentration (10(-5) M), the Ca2+ blockers, (-)D888 and nifedipine, completely blocked the slow Na+ APs and the TTX- and Mn2(+)-insensitive ft inward Na+ current responsible for the rising phase of the APs. High concentration of verapamil (10(-5) M) and D-600 (10(-5) M) had little depressant effects due to their frequency dependence. Apamin, a toxin in the bee venom, that was previously reported by our group to block the slow Ca2+ APs (Bkaily et al., 1985) and the slow Ca2+ current (Bkaily et al., 1988b), greatly decreased the TTX- and Mn2(+)-insensitive ft INa at 10(-10) M. Thus, the inward current responsible for the rising phase of the slow Na+ APs in 3 day-old embryonic chick heart shows fast transient activation and is TTX- and Mn2(+)-insensitive. This channel is highly sensitive to apamin and shares few characteristics with the Ca2+ channel and the TTX-sensitive fast Na+ channel.

A tetrodotoxin- and Mn2(+)-insensitive Na+ current in Duchenne muscular dystrophy

Muscle myotube cultures were obtained from normal and Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) biopsies by using an explant technique. The current-voltage (I/V) curve of the whole sodium (Na+) current (INa) in normal myotubes was similar to that obtained from DMD myotubes. However, the inactivation curve of the whole INa was different in normal myotubes when compared to that obtained from DMD myotubes. Addition of 10(-4) M tetrodotoxin (TTX, a fast INa blocker) decreased the whole INa in both preparations. The inorganic calcium (Ca2+) blocker manganese (Mn2+) completely blocked the remaining TTX-resistant INa of normal myotubes and decreased this current in DMD myotubes leaving behind a TTX- and Mn2(+)-insensitive INa that was insensitive to the Ca2+ blocker desmetoxyverapamil ((-)D888). The slow inward barium current (IBa) of both normal and DMD myotubes was blocked by Mn2+ and (-)D888. However the kinetics of the slow channel in normal myotubes was different from that of DMD myotubes. This study demonstrates the presence of a TTX- and Mn2(+)-insensitive INa in DMD myotubes. This channel may contribute to the increase of intracellular Na+ [( Na]i) in DMD and allow Ca2+ to enter the cells through the Na(+)-Ca2+ exchanger, thus contributing to calcium loading.

Angiotensin II increases Isi and blocks IK in single aortic cell of rabbit

The whole-cell voltage clamp technique was used in order to study the effects of Angiotensin II (Ang II) on the slow inward current and the K+ outward current in single aortic cells of the rabbit. Angiotensin II (10(-8) M) increased the slow inward Ba ++ current, and the addition of an antagonist of Ang II, [( Leu8] Ang II, 10(-8)M) rapidly reversed the effect of Ang II on IBa. Angiotensin II (5 x 10(-8)M) greatly decreased K+ current and the Ang II antagonist reversed this effect. Thus, it is quite possible that the decrease of IK and the increase of Isi in aortic single cells by Ang II may explain a part of the vasoconstrictor effect of this hormone in vascular smooth muscle.

Three types of slow inward currents as distinguished by melittin in 3-day-old embryonic heart

Membrane slow inward currents of 3-day-old embryonic chick single heart cells were investigated using the whole-cell patch clamp technique. In a solution containing only Na+ ions and in the presence of tetrodotoxin and Mn2+, the inward current-voltage relationship presented two maxima, confirming the existence of two different voltage-dependent slow inward currents. The first type, a fast transient slow inward current (Isi (ft], was activated from a holding potential of -80 mV and showed fast activation and inactivation. This current was highly sensitive to melittin (10(-8) M) and insensitive to low concentrations of desmethoxyverapamil [-)D888, 10(-9)-10(-6) M). Depolarizing voltage steps from a holding a potential of -50 mV activated two components of the slow inward current, i.e., a slow and a sustained current (Isi(sts] that showed a slow inactivation followed by a slow inactivation and a sustained component. Melittin at a high concentration (10(-4)M) completely blocked the slow transient component (Isi(st] and left unblocked the sustained component (Isi(s]. Both components (Isi(st) and Isi(s] were blocked by verapamil (10(-5)M) and low concentrations of (-)D888 (10(-8)-10(-6)M).

Macroscopic Ca2+ -Na+ and K+ currents in single heart and aortic cells

The whole-cell voltage clamp technique was used to study the slow inward currents and K+ outward currents in single heart cells of embryonic chick and in rabbit aortic cells. In single heart cells of 3-day-old chick embryo three types of slow inward Na+ currents were found. The kinetics and the pharmacology of the slow INa were different from those of the slow ICa in older embryos. Two types of slow inward currents were found in aortic single cells of rabbit; angiotensin II increased the sustained type and d-cAMP and d-cGMP decreased the slow transient component. Two types of outward K+ currents were found in both aortic and heart cells. Single channel analysis demonstrated the presence of a high single K+ channel conductance in aortic cells. In cardiac and vascular smooth muscles, slow inward currents do share some pharmacological properties, although the regulation of these channels by cyclic nucleotides and several drugs seems to be different.