激活细胞膜Na^＋／H^＋交换对心肌缺血再灌注损伤的影响

在离体大鼠等容收缩心脏灌流模型上,观察激活细胞膜Ｎａ＋／Ｈ＋交换对心肌缺血后再灌注性损伤的影响。采用经典ＮＨ４Ｃｌ负荷方法以激活细胞膜Ｎａ＋／Ｈ＋交换,结果表明,激活Ｎａ＋／Ｈ＋交换加重缺血后再灌注心脏血液动力学障碍,增加冠脉流出液中乳酸脱氢酶的活性,并使心肌组织中Ｎａ＋、Ｃａ２＋超负荷及Ｋ＋丢失加重。提示细胞膜Ｎａ＋／Ｈ＋交换是心肌缺血后再灌注损伤的发病机理之一。     

缺血预处理对缺血/再灌注离体心脏的保护作用

目的：探讨连续多次短暂缺血预处理对缺血/再灌注损伤心肌的保护作用及机制。方法：采用大鼠离体心脏Lan-gendorff灌流模型,观察缺血预处理对心肌缺血/再灌注后不同时间点冠脉流出液中AST、CPK、UDH及冠脉流量,心肌组织中SOD、LPO以及再灌注性心律失常的影响。结果：缺血预处理可以减少缺血/再灌注损伤的心肌冠脉流出液中AST、CPK、LDH的含量,提高心肌SOD活性,降低LPO水平,并且抑制再灌注性心律失常的发生,提高再灌注期间的冠脉流量。结论：缺血预处理对心肌缺血/再灌注损伤具有一定保护作用。     

心肌保护新方法—持续灌注温血心停跳液技术

心肌保护仍是目前需要进一步研究的课题。传统心肌保护研究的焦点集中在如何减轻心脏停搏时的缺血损伤或复灌后的再灌注损伤,研究结果也表明,化学性停搏加局部低温,以及复灌早期的控制性再灌注只能减轻心肌缺血再灌注损伤的程度,并不能完全消除缺血再灌注损伤。因为这些方法没有从根本上解决心脏停搏期间氧的供需矛盾,心肌缺血缺氧不可避免,对于需长时间停搏的心脏和高危病例,传统的心肌保护方法无法提供满意的心肌保护效果。近年来,心肌保护的方法有很大的发展,尤其是新近提出的持续灌注温血心脏停跳液技术,它可使心脏     

异丙酚和氯胺酮对大鼠离体缺血再灌注损伤心肌脂质过氧化的影响

目的：比较异丙酚和氯胺酮对大鼠离体缺血再灌注损伤心肌脂质过氧化的影响。方法：成年Wistar大鼠18只,雌雄不拘。体重240-300g,随机分为3组（T1=6）：心肌缺血再灌注损伤组（I／R组）,异丙酚组（P组）,氯胺酮组（K组）。采用Langendorff灌装置建立离体心脏缺血再灌注模型,将心脏连接至Langendorff逆灌装置,3组均以K-H液平衡灌注10min后,再分别以K．H液、含30μmol/L。异丙酚的K-H液、含10μmol-L-1氯胺酮的K-H液灌注10min,然后全心停灌25min,再分别以停灌前相同的灌注液恢复灌注30min。留取冠脉流出液测定总LDH活性;灌注末取左室心肌组织置于2．5％的戊二醛固定,观察心肌的超微结构;心尖部心肌组织留待检测8-异前列腺素和SOD活性。结果：与I／R组比较,P组8-异前列腺素含量降低,SOD活性升高,LDH活性降低（P〈0．05）;K组8-异前列腺素含量,SOD及LDH活性均无统计学意义（P〉0．05）;与P组比较,K组8-异前列腺素含量升高,SOD及LDH活性降低（P〈0．05）;P组心肌超微结构损伤较m组和K组也明显改善。结论：异丙酚可显著减轻心肌缺血再灌注损伤大鼠的脂质过氧化和心肌缺血再灌注损伤,而氯胺酮没有抗心肌缺血再灌注损伤心肌脂质过氧化的作用。     

Amiloride和耗竭细胞内糖原对心肌缺血再灌注损伤的影响

本工作在离体大鼠等容收缩心脏模型上,观察在缺血前给予ａｍｉｌｏｒｉｄｅ和耗竭心肌细胞内糖原以减少Ｎａ＋－Ｈ＋交换的底物对缺血后再灌注损伤的影响,以探讨Ｎａ＋－Ｈ＋交换和Ｎａ＋－Ｃａ２＋交换机制在心肌缺血后再灌注损伤中的发病学意义。结果表明,Ａｍｉｌｏｒｉｄｅ及耗竭心肌细胞内糖原均能提高心脏血液动力学的恢复,心肌组织乳酸脱氢酶（ＬＤＨ）漏出及丙二醛（ＭＤＡ）生成减少,线粒体中谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶有较高的活性;心肌细胞内Ｎａ＋,Ｃａ２＋超负荷减轻。Ａｍｉｌｏｒｉｄｅ的心肌保护作用可能与其抑制再灌注初期的细胞膜Ｎａ＋－Ｈ＋交换机制有关。耗竭细胞内糖原因减少缺血末细胞内Ｈ＋的堆积,使Ｎａ＋－Ｈ＋交换底物减少而抑制Ｎａ＋－Ｈ＋交换机制。     

缺血后功能低下大鼠心肌钙与水含量的变化及高渗甘露醇的影响

缺血后心室功能减低(myocardial stunning)的发生机制迄今尚不明了。本实验以 Lang-cndorff 法在离体灌流的大鼠心脏,研究了全心缺血20min 及再灌注40min 后心肌 Ca~(2+)、Na~+K~+、Mg~(2+)及 H_2O 含量的变化,以及高渗甘露醇对缺血后功能低下心肌的影响。实验发现:(1)缺血/再灌注后心肌组织中 Ca~(2+),H_2O 的含量与非缺血组相比分别增加42%(P<0.01)及7.6%(P0.05)。(2)于再灌注同时给予12%高渗甘露醇可明显改善缺血后心室功能:再灌注40min 时,心率-左室压乘积恢复达缺血前的85%,而不给甘露醇仅恢复66.3%(p<0.01);高渗甘露醇同时消除了缺血后功能低下心肌中 Ca~(2+)超负荷与心肌水肿,此现象提示缺血/再灌注引起的肌膜非特异性通透性改变,很可能是钙进入细胞内的路径之一。本研究结果表明,心肌 Ca~(2+)超负荷及轻度心肌水肿参与了缺血后心室功能低下,高渗甘露醇在离体大鼠心脏可明显改善缺血后功能低下心肌的功能,此作用至少部分是由于其具有减低心肌钙与水含量的效应。     

CD4^＋T细胞在大鼠心肌缺血再灌注损伤中的作用

目的通过大鼠心肌缺血再灌注损伤的动物模型,分析CD4^＋T细胞在心肌组织损伤中的作用。方法结扎大鼠冠状动脉左前降支45min,随后恢复再灌的方法,制作缺血再灌损伤的动物模型,随机分为再灌注0、2、6、9、12h组及相应的对照组。II导联心电图及TTC确定模型,组织病理学观察心肌细胞的损伤情况,免疫荧光染色计数浸润的炎性细胞,半定量PCR进一步验证各型T细胞的表达。结果心肌的梗死面积与心肌缺血再灌时间成正相关,至观察结束未出现峰值;组织中浸润的中型粒细胞和T细胞分别在2h和12h有峰值出现,但CD4^＋T/CD3^＋T的比率几乎保持不变;观察所见CD4^＋T细胞是组织中存在最多的T细胞。结论大鼠缺血再灌注损伤中,心肌组织中浸润的CD4^＋T细胞作为主要的效应细胞,参与了持续稳定的心肌损伤过程。     

影响离体大鼠心肌细胞和蛋白重组脂质体Na^＋—Ca^2＋交换的因素

本工作在离体成年大鼠心室肌细胞和狗心肌肌膜Na~ -Ca~(2 )交换蛋白重组脂质体上,发现预先用哇巴因孵育细胞使细胞内Na~ 浓度升高或降低细胞外Na~ 浓度均使细胞及脂质体的Na~ -Ca~(2 )交换增加。Mn~(2 )对细胞和脂质体的Na~ -Ca~(2 )交换呈剂量依赖性的抑制作用;异搏定则无明显影响;花生四烯酸对Na~ -Ca~(2 )交换有激活作用;过氧化氢引起膜脂质过氧化后,显著促进脂质体的Na~ -Ca~(2 )交换,并呈时间和剂量依赖性。     

心钠素前体分子内调控对心肌Na^＋—K^＋—ATP酶的作用

目的：研究利钾尿肽及心钠素前体分子内调控作用对心肌Ｎａ＋Ｋ＋ＡＴＰ酶的作用。方法：将大鼠心肌匀浆后,分别加入利钾尿肽、心钠素以及利钾尿肽＋心钠素,用比色法测定Ｎａ＋Ｋ＋ＡＴＰ酶活性。将大鼠心脏悬挂于Ｌａｎｇｅｎｄｏｒｆ灌流装置,分别以利钾尿肽、心钠素、利钾尿肽＋心钠素为灌流液,灌注心脏,用四道生理仪观测左心室内压、左心室收缩最大速率,左心室舒张最大速率,心率及冠脉流量。结果：心钠素虽然对Ｎａ＋Ｋ＋ＡＴＰ酶有抑制作用（抑制率２６．２％）,但是,与对照无显著性差异（Ｐ＞０．０５）。利钾尿肽显著抑制酶的活性（抑制率４６．５％,Ｐ＜０．０１）这种抑制作用可被心钠素抵消（抑制率１７．６％,Ｐ＞０．０５）。利钾尿肽可以增加左心室收缩和舒张最大速率以及左室内压,而这种强心作用可因心钠素的加入而消失或减弱。结论：利钾尿肽可以抑制心肌Ｎａ＋Ｋ＋ＡＴＰ酶的活性,产生强心作用,心钠素可以抵消以上作用。     

缺血-再灌注过程中心肌肌浆网钙摄取和Ca~(2 )-ATPase活性的变化

本实验用离体大鼠心脏Langendorff灌流模型,观察缺血及缺血——再灌注对大鼠心肌肌浆网[SR]钙转运功能的影响。结果表明:缺血25min引起SR钙摄取初速率下降,摄取量降低;缺血40min,使其进一步加重。缺血25min后再灌注15min,SR的钙转运功能进一步降低,与缺血40min后果类似;同时SR上的Ca~(2 )-ATPase活性也显著降低。用不同pH的灌流液进行再灌注,对SR钙转运功能的障碍无显著影响。这提示:心肌缺血可引起SR的钙转运功能障碍,并随缺血时间的延长而加重;再灌注加重缺血造成的SR功能的损伤。偏酸或偏碱的K-H液再灌注均不能改善SR钙转运功能的抑制,表明pH变化不是缺血-再灌注时引起SR功能障碍的重要因素。     

Ouabain Binding, ATP Hydrolysis, and Na+,K+-Pump Activity During Chemical Modification of Brain and Muscle Na+,K+-ATPase

The effects of 16 group-specific, amino acid-modifying agents were tested on ouabain binding, catalytical activity of membrane-bound (rat brain microsomal), sodium dodecyl sulfate-treated Na+,K(+)-ATPase, and Na+,K(+)-pump activity in intact muscle cells. With few exceptions, the potency of various tryptophan, tyrosine, histidine, amino, and carboxy group-oriented drugs to suppress ouabain binding and Na+,K(+)-ATPase activity correlated with inhibition of the Na+,K(+)-pump electrogenic effect. ATP hydrolysis was more sensitive to inhibition elicited by chemical modification than ouabain binding (membrane-bound or isolated enzyme) and than Na+,K(+)-pump activity. The efficiency of various drugs belonging to the same "specificity" group differed markedly. Tyrosine-oriented tetranitromethane was the only reagent that interfered directly with the cardiac receptor binding site as its inhibition of ouabain binding was completely protected by ouabagenin preincubation. The inhibition elicited by all other reagents was not, or only partially, protected by ouabagenin. It is surprising that agents like diethyl pyrocarbonate (histidine groups) or butanedione (arginine groups), whose action should be oriented to amino acids not involved in the putative ouabain binding site (represented by the -Glu-Tyr-Thr-Trp-Leu-Glu- sequence), are equally effective as agents acting on amino acids present directly in the ouabain binding site. These results support the proposal of long-distance regulation of Na+,K(+)-ATPase active sites.     

A single cell model of myocardial reperfusion injury: Changes in intracellular Na+ and Ca2+ concentrations in guinea pig ventricular myocytes

To investigate the contribution of the changes in intracellular Na+ and Ca2+ concentrations ([Na+]i and [Ca2+]i) to myocardial reperfusion injury, we made an ischemia/reperfusion model in intact guinea pig myocytes. Myocardial ischemia was simulated by the perfusion of metabolic inhibitors (3.3 mM amobarbital and 5 M carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone) with pH 6.6 and reperfusion was achieved by the washout of them with pH 7.4. [Na+]i increased from 7.9 ± 2.0 to 14.0 ± 3.4 mM (means ± S.E., p < 0.01) during 7.5 min of simulated ischemia (SI) and increased further to 18.8 ± 3.0 mM at 7.5 min after reperfusion. [Ca2+]i, expressed as the ratio of fluo 3 fluorescence intensity, increased to 133 ± 8% (p < 0.01) during SI and gradually returned to the control level after reperfusion. Intracellular pH decreased from 7.53 ± 0.04 to 6.31 ± 0.04 (p < 0.01) and recovered quickly after reperfusion. Reperfusion with the acidic solution or the continuous perfusion of hexamethylene amiloride (2 M) prevented the reperfusion-induced increase in [Na+]i. When the duration of SI was prolonged to 15 min, the cell response after reperfusion varied, 16 of 37 cells kept quiescent, 21 cells showed spontaneous Ca2+ waves, and 4 cells out of these 21 cells became hypercontracted. In quiescent cells, both [Na+]i and [Ca2+]i decreased immediately after reperfusion. In cells with Ca2+ waves, [Na+]i transiently increased further at the early phase of reperfusion, while [Ca+]i declined. In hypercontracted cells, [Na+]i increased as much as in Ca2+ wave cells, but [Ca2+]i increased extensively and both ion concentrations continued to increase. Reperfusion with the Ca2+-free solution prevented both the [Ca2+]i increase and morphological change. In the presence of ryanodine (10 M), the increase in [Ca2+]i after reperfusion was augmented and some cells became hypercontracted. We concluded that (1) Na+/H+ exchange is active both during SI and reperfusion, resulting in the additional [Na+]i elevation on reperfusion, (2) the [Na+]i level after reperfusion and the following Ca2+ influx via Na+/Ca2+ exchange are crucial for reperfusion cell injury, and (3) the Ca2+ buffering capacity of sarcoplasmic reticulum would also contribute to the Ca2+ regulation and cell injury after reperfusion.     

Feedback inhibition of NaCl entry inNecturus gallbladder epithelial cells

Summary WhenNecturus gallbladder epithelium is treated with ouabain the cells swell rapidly for 20–30 minutes then stabilize at a cell volume 30% greater than control. The cells then begin to shrink slowly to below control size. During the initial rapid swelling phase cell Na activity, measured with microelectrodes, rises rapidly. Calculations of the quantity of intracellular Na suggest that the volume increase is due to NaCl entry. Once the peak cell volume is achieved, the quantity of Na in the cell does not increase, suggesting that NaCl entry has been inhibited. We tested for inhibition of apical NaCl entry during ouabain treatment either by suddenly reducing the NaCl concentration in the mucosal bath or by adding bumetanide to the perfusate. Both maneuvers caused rapid cell shrinkage during the initial phase of the ouabain experiment, but had no effect on cell volume if performed during the slow shrinkage period. The lack of sensitivity to the composition of the mucosal bath during the shrinkage period occurred because of apparent feedback inhibition of NaCl entry. Another maneuver, reduction of the Na in the serosal bath to 10mm, also resulted in inhibition of apical NaCl uptake. The slow shrinkage which occurred after one or more hours of ouabain treatment was sensitive to the transmembrane gradients for K and Cl across the basolateral membrane and could be inhibited by bumetanide. Thus during pump inhibition inNecturus gallbladder epithelium cell Na and volume first increase due to continuing NaCl entry and then cell volume slowly decreases due to inhibition of the apical NaCl entry and activation of basolateral KCl exit.     

Ouabain resistance of a human trophoblast cell line is not related to its reactivity to ouabain

Ouabain is a specific inhibitor of sodium, potassium-dependent adenosine triphosphatase (Na,K-ATPase), a P-type ion-transporting ATPase which is essential for the maintenance of adequate concentrations of intracellular Na+ and K+ ions. The present study describes the establishment of a ouabain-resistant mutant, TLouaR, from a human trophoblast cell line TL. Morphologically TL and TLouaR are indistinguishable, but, TLouaR is about 1000 times more resistant to the cytotoxic effect of ouabain and > 2000 times to that of bufalin and yet ouabain can retard the growth of the TLouaR cells and in parallel reduce its cloning efficiency in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, Na,K-ATPase activity from TLouaR cells is inhibitable by ouabain albeit with lower efficiency. [3H]ouabain binding studies reveal that TLouaR cells have less (P < 0.05) ouabain binding sites (1.7 +/- 0.15 x 10(4)/cell vs. 2.3 +/- 0.115 x 10(4)/cell in the control). However, affinities (dissociation constants Kd) to ouabain for TL and TLouaR cells are not significantly different. Lastly, Na,K-ATPase activity (1.375 +/- 0.25 micromole ATP/min mg protein) of TLouaR cells is significantly higher (P < 0.05) than that of the TL cells (0.895 +/- 0.12 micromole ATP/min x mg protein). These studies show that the interactions between ouabain and Na,K-ATPase can be mediated through different pathways resulting in diverse phenotypic characteristics. In addition, ouabain resistance does not necessarily reflect the lack of response to the digitalis drug. The exact mechanisms of ouabain resistance observed in the present study remain to be determined but the TLouaR cells may be the best tool to uncover the many functional characteristics of Na,K-ATPase.     

Metal fluoride complexes of Na,K-ATPase: characterization of fluoride-stabilized phosphoenzyme analogues and their interaction with cardiotonic steroids

The Na,K-ATPase belongs to the P-type ATPase family of primary active cation pumps. Metal fluorides like magnesium-, beryllium-, and aluminum fluoride act as phosphate analogues and inhibit P-type ATPases by interacting with the phosphorylation site, stabilizing conformations that are analogous to specific phosphoenzyme intermediates. Cardiotonic steroids like ouabain used in the treatment of congestive heart failure and arrhythmias specifically inhibit the Na,K-ATPase, and the detailed structure of the highly conserved binding site has recently been described by the crystal structure of the shark Na,K-ATPase in a state analogous to E2·2K(+)·P(i) with ouabain bound with apparently low affinity (1). In the present work inhibition, and subsequent reactivation by high Na(+), after treatment of shark Na,K-ATPase with various metal fluorides are characterized. Half-maximal inhibition of Na,K-ATPase activity by metal fluorides is in the micromolar range. The binding of cardiotonic steroids to the metal fluoride-stabilized enzyme forms was investigated using the fluorescent ouabain derivative 9-anthroyl ouabain and compared with binding to phosphorylated enzyme. The fastest binding was to the Be-fluoride stabilized enzyme suggesting a preformed ouabain binding cavity, in accord with results for Ca-ATPase where Be-fluoride stabilizes the E2-P ground state with an open luminal ion access pathway, which in Na,K-ATPase could be a passage for ouabain. The Be-fluoride stabilized enzyme conformation closely resembles the E2-P ground state according to proteinase K cleavage. Ouabain, but not its aglycone ouabagenin, prevented reactivation of this metal fluoride form by high Na(+) demonstrating the pivotal role of the sugar moiety in closing the extracellular cation pathway.     

Murine lung injury caused by Leptospira interrogans glycolipoprotein,a specific Na/K-ATPase inhibitor

Background

Leptospiral glycolipoprotein (GLP) is a potent and specific Na/K-ATPase inhibitor. Severe pulmonary form of leptospirosis is characterized by edema, inflammation and intra-alveolar hemorrhage having a dismal prognosis. Resolution of edema and inflammation determines the outcome of lung injury. Na/K-ATPase activity is responsible for edema clearance. This enzyme works as a cell receptor that triggers activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) intracellular signaling pathway. Therefore, injection of GLP into lungs induces injury by triggering inflammation.

Methods

We injected GLP and ouabain, into mice lungs and compared their effects. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was collected for cell and lipid body counting and measurement of protein and lipid mediators (PGE₂ and LTB₄). The levels of the IL-6, TNFα, IL-1B and MIP-1α were also quantified. Lung images illustrate the injury and whole-body plethysmography was performed to assay lung function. We used Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) knockout mice to evaluate leptospiral GLP-induced lung injury. Na/K-ATPase activity was determined in lung cells by nonradioactive rubidium incorporation. We analyzed MAPK p38 activation in lung and in epithelial and endothelial cells.

Results

Leptospiral GLP and ouabain induced lung edema, cell migration and activation, production of lipid mediators and cytokines and hemorrhage. They induced lung function alterations and inhibited rubidium incorporation. Using TLR4 knockout mice, we showed that the GLP action was not dependent on TLR4 activation. GLP activated of p38 and enhanced cytokine production in cell cultures which was reversed by a selective p38 inhibitor.

Conclusions

GLP and ouabain induced lung injury, as evidenced by increased lung inflammation and hemorrhage. To our knowledge, this is the first report showing GLP induces lung injury. GLP and ouabain are Na/K-ATPase targets, triggering intracellular signaling pathways. We showed p38 activation by GLP-induced lung injury, which was may be linked to Na/K-ATPase inhibition. Lung inflammation induced by GLP was not dependent on TLR4 activation.     

Synergistic Effect of Prostaglandin E2 and Ouabain on Catecholamine Release from Cultured Bovine Adrenal Chromaffin Cells

We recently reported that prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) stimulated phosphoinositide metabolism in cultured bovine adrenal chromaffin cells and that PGE2 and ouabain, an inhibitor of Na+,K+-ATPase, synergistically induced a gradual secretion of catecholamines from the cells. The effect on catecholamine release was specific for prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) and PGE2 among prostaglandins tested (E1 = E2 greater than F2 alpha greater than D2). The release evoked by PGE2 plus ouabain was greatly reduced in Na+-depleted medium and not observed in Ca2+-free medium. Here we examined the synergistic effect of PGE2 and ouabain on the release with specific reference to ion fluxes. Regardless of the presence of PGE2, ouabain stimulated the release in a dose-dependent manner with half-maximal stimulation at 1 microM, and omission of K+ from the medium, a condition which suppresses the Na+,K+-ATPase activity, also enhanced the release from chromaffin cells exposed to PGE2. Ouabain induced a continuous accumulation of 22Na+ and 45Ca2+, as well as secretion of catecholamines. Although PGE2 itself showed hardly any effects on these cellular responses, PGE2 potentiated all of them induced by ouabain. The time course of catecholamine release was correlated with that of accumulation of 45Ca2+ rather than with that of 22Na+. The release evoked by PGE2 and ouabain was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner by amiloride and the analogue ethylisopropylamiloride, inhibitors of the Na+,H+-antiport, but not by the Na+-channel inhibitor tetrodotoxin nor by the nicotinic receptor antagonist hexamethonium. Ethylisopropylamiloride at 1 microM inhibited PGE2-enhanced accumulation of 22Na+ and 45Ca2+ and release of catecholamine by 40, 83, and 71%, respectively. Activation of the Na+,H+-antiport by elevation of the extracellular pH from 6.6 to 8.0 increased the release of catecholamines linearly. Furthermore, PGE2 induced a sustained increase in intracellular pH by about 0.1 pH unit above the resting value, which was abolished by amiloride or in Na+-free medium. These results taken together indicate that PGE2 activates the Na+,H+-antiport by stimulating phosphoinositide metabolism and that the increase in intracellular Na+ by both inhibition of Na+,K+-ATPase and activation of Na+,H+-antiport may lead to the redistribution of Ca2+, which is the initial trigger of catecholamine release.     

Enhancement of Na/K pump activity by chronic intermittent hypobaric hypoxia protected against reperfusion injury

Chronic intermittent hypobaric hypoxia (CIHH) has been shown to attenuate intracellular Na(+) accumulation and Ca(2+) overload during ischemia and reperfusion (I/R), both of which are closely related to the outcome of myocardial damage. Na/K pump plays an essential role in maintaining the equilibrium of intracellular Na(+) and Ca(2+) during I/R. It has been shown that enhancement of Na/K pump activity by ischemic preconditioning may be involved in the cardiac protection. Therefore, we tested whether Na/K pump was involved in the cardioprotection by CIHH. We found that Na/K pump current in cardiac myocytes of guinea pigs exposed to CIHH increased 1.45-fold. The K(1) and f(1), which reflect the portion of α(1)-isoform of Na/K pump, dramatically decreased or increased, respectively, in CIHH myocytes. Western blot analysis revealed that CIHH increased the protein expression of the α(1)-isoform by 76%, whereas the protein expression of the α(2)-isoform was not changed significantly. Na/K pump current was significantly suppressed in simulated I/R, and CIHH preserved the Na/K pump current. CIHH significantly improved the recovery of cell length and contraction during reperfusion. Furthermore, inhibition of Na/K pump by ouabain attenuated the protective effect afforded by CIHH. Collectively, these data suggest that the increase of Na/K pump activity following CIHH is due to the upregulating α(1)-isoform of Na/K pump, which may be one of the mechanisms of CIHH against I/R-induced injury.     

Erythrocyte sodium pump stimulation by ouabain and an endogenous ouabain-like factor

Cardiac glycosides inhibit the sodium pump. However, some studies suggest that nanomolar ouabain concentrations can stimulate the activity of the sodium pump. In this study, using the Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase of human erythrocytes, we compared the effect of digoxin, ouabain and an ouabain like-factor (OLF), on (86)Rb uptake. Ouabain concentrations below 10(-9) M significantly stimulate Rb(+) uptake, and the maximal increase above base-line values is 18 +/- 5% at 10(-10) M ouabain. No stimulation is observed in the same conditions by digoxin. OLF behaved like ouabain, producing an activation of Rb(+) flux at concentrations lower than 10(-9) M ouabain equivalents (14 +/- 3% at 10(-10) M). Western blot analysis revealed the presence of both alpha(1) and alpha(3) pump isoforms in human erythrocytes. Our data confirm the analogies between OLF and ouabain and suggest that Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase activation may be related to the alpha(3) isoform. In addition, we investigated whether ouabain at different concentrations was effective in altering the intracellular calcium concentration of erythrocytes. We found that ouabain at concentration lower than 10(-9) M did not affect this homeostasis.