Nesfatin‐1, a peptide whose receptor is yet to be identified, has been involved in the modulation of feeding, stress, and metabolic responses. More recently, increasing evidence supports a modulatory role for nesfatin‐1 in autonomic and cardiovascular activity. This study was undertaken to test if the expression of nesfatin‐1 in the nucleus ambiguus, a key site for parasympathetic cardiac control, may be correlated with a functional role. As we have previously demonstrated that nesfatin‐1 elicits Ca2+ signaling in hypothalamic neurons, we first assessed the effect of this peptide on cytosolic Ca2+ in cardiac pre‐ganglionic neurons of nucleus ambiguus. We provide evidence that nesfatin‐1 increases cytosolic Ca2+ concentration via a Gi/o‐coupled mechanism. The nesfatin‐1‐induced Ca2+ rise is critically dependent on Ca2+ influx via P/Q‐type voltage‐activated Ca2+ channels. Repeated administration of nesfatin‐1 leads to tachyphylaxis. Furthermore, nesfatin‐1 produces a dose‐dependent depolarization of cardiac vagal neurons via a Gi/o‐coupled mechanism. In vivo studies, using telemetric and tail‐cuff monitoring of heart rate and blood pressure, indicate that microinjection of nesfatin‐1 into the nucleus ambiguus produces bradycardia not accompanied by a change in blood pressure in conscious rats. Taken together, our results identify for the first time that nesfatin‐1 decreases heart rate by activating cardiac vagal neurons of nucleus ambiguus.
Urotensin II (U‐II) is a cyclic undecapeptide that regulates cardiovascular function at central and peripheral sites. The functional role of U‐II nucleus ambiguus, a key site controlling cardiac tone, has not been established, despite the identification of U‐II and its receptor at this level. We report here that U‐II produces an increase in cytosolic Ca2+ concentration in retrogradely labeled cardiac vagal neurons of nucleus ambiguus via two pathways: (i) Ca2+ release from the endoplasmic reticulum via inositol 1,4,5‐trisphosphate receptor; and (ii) Ca2+ influx through P/Q‐type Ca2+ channels. In addition, U‐II depolarizes cultured cardiac parasympathetic neurons. Microinjection of increasing concentrations of U‐II into nucleus ambiguus elicits dose‐dependent bradycardia in conscious rats, indicating the in vivo activation of the cholinergic pathway controlling the heart rate. Both the in vitro and in vivo effects were abolished by the urotensin receptor antagonist, urantide. Our findings suggest that, in addition, to the previously reported increase in sympathetic outflow, U‐II activates cardiac vagal neurons of nucleus ambiguus, which may contribute to cardioprotection.
Acid sensing ion channels (ASICs), Ca2+ and voltage-activated potassium channels (BK) are widely present throughout the central nervous system. Previous studies have shown that when expressed together in heterologous cells, ASICs inhibit BK channels, and this inhibition is relieved by acidic extracellular pH. We hypothesized that ASIC and BK channels might interact in neurons, and that ASICs may regulate BK channel activity. We found that ASICs inhibited BK currents in cultured wild-type cortical neurons, but not in ASIC1a/2/3 triple knockout neurons. The inhibition in the wild-type was partially relieved by a drop in extracellular pH to 6. To test the consequences of ASIC-BK interaction for neuronal excitability, we compared action potential firing in cultured cortical neurons from wild-type and ASIC1a/2/3 null mice. We found that in the knockout, action potentials were narrow and exhibited increased after-hyperpolarization. Moreover, the excitability of these neurons was significantly increased. These findings are consistent with increased BK channel activity in the neurons from ASIC1a/2/3 null mice. Our data suggest that ASICs can act as endogenous pH-dependent inhibitors of BK channels, and thereby can reduce neuronal excitability. 相似文献
Acid-sensing ion channel 3 (ASIC3) is expressed in synoviocytes, activated by decreases in pH, and reduces inflammation in animal models of inflammatory arthritis. The purpose of the current study was to characterize potential mechanisms underlying the control of inflammation by ASIC3 in fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS).
Methods
Experiments were performed in cultured FLS from wild-type (WT) and ASIC3-/- mice, ASIC1-/- mice, and people with rheumatoid arthritis. We assessed the effects of acidic pH with and without interleukin-1β on FLS and the role of ASICs in modulating intracellular calcium [Ca2+]i, mitogen activated kinase (MAP kinase) expression, and cell death. [Ca2+]i was assessed by fluorescent calcium imaging, MAP kinases were measured by Western Blots; ASIC, cytokine and protease mRNA expression were measured by quantitative PCR and cell death was measured with a LIVE/DEAD assay.
Results
Acidic pH increased [Ca2+]i and decreased p-ERK expression in WT FLS; these effects were significantly smaller in ASIC3-/- FLS and were prevented by blockade of [Ca2+]i. Blockade of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) prevented the pH-induced decreases in p-ERK. In WT FLS, IL-1β increases ASIC3 mRNA, and when combined with acidic pH enhances [Ca2+]i, p-ERK, IL-6 and metalloprotienase mRNA, and cell death. Inhibitors of [Ca2+]i and ERK prevented cell death induced by pH 6.0 in combination with IL-1β in WT FLS.
Conclusions
Decreased pH activates ASIC3 resulting in increased [Ca2+]i, and decreased p-ERK. Under inflammatory conditions, acidic pH results in enhanced [Ca2+]i and phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase that leads to cell death. Thus, activation of ASIC3 on FLS by acidic pH from an inflamed joint could limit synovial proliferation resulting in reduced accumulation of inflammatory mediators and subsequent joint damage. 相似文献
Changes induced in tracheal smooth muscle tone by bulbar electrical stimulation were investigated in 30 cats anesthetized with a chloralose-urethane mixture and paralyzed with succinyl choline bromide. Raised tonus was mainly observed during stimulation of the caudal section of the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus nerve, the vicinity of the nucleus ambiguus, and the adjoining reticular formation structures. Attenuation, however, was produced by stimulating bulbar reticular formation nuclei at a level 1 mm caudal and 6 mm rostral to the obex. Raised tonus is thought to be connected with activation of efferent neurons belonging to the motor nucleus of the vagal nerve, as well as axons of nucleus ambiguus neurons in transit through the medial zone, whilst attenuation is connected with excitation of sympathotonic reticular neurons, inhibitory neurons activated by pulmonary stretch receptors, and possibly with vagal efferent neurons activating the non-adrenergic inhibitory nervous system of the bronchi.Medical Institute, Latvian Ministry of Health, Riga. Cardiology Research Institute. Latvian Ministry of Health, Riga. Translated from Neirofiziologiya, Vol. 21, No. 3, pp. 320–326, May–June, 1989. 相似文献
Neurons innervating the airways contribute to airway hyperreactivity (AHR), a hallmark feature of asthma. Several observations suggested that acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs), neuronal cation channels activated by protons, might contribute to AHR. For example, ASICs are found in vagal sensory neurons that innervate airways, and asthmatic airways can become acidic. Moreover, airway acidification activates ASIC currents and depolarizes neurons innervating airways. We found ASIC1a protein in vagal ganglia neurons, but not airway epithelium or smooth muscle. We induced AHR by sensitizing mice to ovalbumin and found that ASIC1a-/- mice failed to exhibit AHR despite a robust inflammatory response. Loss of ASIC1a also decreased bronchoalveolar lavage fluid levels of substance P, a sensory neuropeptide secreted from vagal sensory neurons that contributes to AHR. These findings suggest that ASIC1a is an important mediator of AHR and raise the possibility that inhibiting ASIC channels might be beneficial in asthma. 相似文献
Acid-sensing ion channel 1a (ASIC1a) and 2a (ASIC2a) subunits are widely expressed throughout mammalian central nervous system.
Activation of Ca2+-permeable ASIC1a homomultimers is largely responsible for acidosis-mediated, glutamate receptor-independent, ischemic neuronal
injury. The function of ASIC2a in brain ischemia is less known except that transient global ischemia induces ASIC2a protein
expression up-regulation in neurons that survived ischemia. Acidosis is assumed to play a critical role in brain ischemia
injury. In the present experiment, rat C6 neuroglioma cells were used to explore the function of ASIC2a. MTT and relative
LDH release assay revealed that knockdown of ASIC2a could aggravate the acidosis-induced injury of C6 cells. Through changing
extracellular Ca2+ concentration and measuring intracellular calcium fluorescence intensity, it was found that aggravated damage was due to
toxic Ca2+ overload via ASICs mechanisms. The current results indicated that, different from ASIC1a, ASIC2a probably played a protective
role against the injury induced by extracellular acidosis in C6 cells. 相似文献
Acidosis is a common feature of brain in acute neurological injury, particularly in ischemia where low pH has been assumed
to play an important role in the pathological process. However, the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying acidosis-induced
injury remain unclear. Recent studies have demonstrated that activation of Ca2+-permeable acid-sensing ion channels (ASIC1a) is largely responsible for acidosis-mediated, glutamate receptor-independent,
neuronal injury. In cultured mouse cortical neurons, lowering extracellular pH to the level commonly seen in ischemic brain
activates amiloride-sensitive ASIC currents. In the majority of these neurons, ASICs are permeable to Ca2+, and an activation of these channels induces increases in the concentration of intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i). Activation of ASICs with resultant [Ca2+]i loading induces time-dependent neuronal injury occurring in the presence of the blockers for voltage-gated Ca2+ channels and the glutamate receptors. This acid-induced injury is, however, inhibited by the blockers of ASICs, and by reducing
[Ca2+]o. In focal ischemia, intracerebroventricular administration of ASIC1a blockers, or knockout of the ASIC1a gene protects brain
from injury and does so more potently than glutamate antagonism. Furthermore, pharmacological blockade of ASICs has up to
a 5 h therapeutic time window, far beyond that of glutamate antagonists. Thus, targeting the Ca2+-permeable acid-sensing ion channels may prove to be a novel neuroprotective strategy for stroke patients. 相似文献
Acidic microenvironment is commonly observed in ischaemic tissue. In the kidney, extracellular pH dropped from 7.4 to 6.5 within 10 minutes initiation of ischaemia. Acid‐sensing ion channels (ASICs) can be activated by pH drops from 7.4 to 7.0 or lower and permeates to Ca2+entrance. Thus, activation of ASIC1a can mediate the intracellular Ca2+ accumulation and play crucial roles in apoptosis of cells. However, the role of ASICs in renal ischaemic injury is unclear. The aim of the present study was to test the hypothesis that ischaemia increases renal epithelia cell apoptosis through ASIC1a‐mediated calcium entry. The results show that ASIC1a distributed in the proximal tubule with higher level in the renal tubule ischaemic injury both in vivo and in vitro. In vivo, Injection of ASIC1a inhibitor PcTx‐1 previous to ischaemia/reperfusion (I/R) operation attenuated renal ischaemic injury. In vitro, HK‐2 cells were pre‐treated with PcTx‐1 before hypoxia, the intracellular concentration of Ca2+, mitochondrial transmembrane potential (?ψm) and apoptosis was measured. Blocking ASIC1a attenuated I/R induced Ca2+ overflow, loss of ?ψm and apoptosis in HK‐2 cells. The results revealed that ASIC1a localized in the proximal tubular and contributed to I/R induced kidney injury. Consequently, targeting the ASIC1a may prove to be a novel strategy for AKI patients. 相似文献
We evaluated whether pericardial injections of the retrograde tracers cholera toxin subunit B (CTb) or Fast Blue (FB) reliably labelled cardiac vagal pre-ganglionic neurons. Injections of CTb into the pericardial space of the rat labelled neurons in both the external and compact formations of the nucleus ambiguus. Most labelled neurons were found in the compact formation of the nucleus ambiguus, and the majority of these, and only these, expressed immunoreactivity for calcitonin gene-related peptide. This distribution of labelled neurons and their immunohistochemical properties is characteristic of oesophageal motoneurons. Examination of the oesophagus following intra-pericardial CTb applications revealed strong labelling of motor end plates within the skeletal muscle of the thoracic but not the abdominal oesophagus. When a second retrograde tracer, FB, was injected into the abdominal oesophagus, labelled somata were found adjacent to CTb-labelled neurons in the compact formation of the nucleus ambiguus. No co-localisation of tracers was found, but identical proportions of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) immunoreactivity were observed in both groups of neurons. FB injected into the pericardial space labelled intra-cardiac neurons but not brainstem neurons. We conclude that intra-pericardial, and perhaps sub-epicardial, injections of some retrograde tracers are likely to label a subset of oesophageal, as well as cardiac, vagal motor neurons in the brainstem.This work was supported in part by grant No. G 00 M 0670 from the National Heart Foundation of Australia. 相似文献
J. Neurochem. (2012) 122, 1129-1136. ABSTRACT: Urocortin 3 (also known as stresscopin) is an endogenous ligand for the corticotropin-releasing factor receptor 2 (CRF(2) ). Despite predominant G(s) coupling of CRF(2) , promiscuous coupling with other G proteins has been also associated with the activation of this receptor. As urocortin 3 has been involved in central cardiovascular regulation at hypothalamic and medullary sites, we examined its cellular effects on cardiac vagal neurons of nucleus ambiguus, a key area for the autonomic control of heart rate. Urocortin 3 (1?nM-1000?nM) induced a concentration-dependent increase in cytosolic Ca(2+) concentration that was blocked by the CRF(2) antagonist K41498. In the case of two consecutive treatments with urocortin 3, the second urocortin 3-induced Ca(2+) response was reduced, indicating receptor desensitization. The effect of urocortin 3 was abolished by pre-treatment with pertussis toxin and by inhibition of phospolipase C with U-73122. Urocortin 3 activated Ca(2+) influx via voltage-gated P/Q-type channels as well as Ca(2+) release from endoplasmic reticulum. Urocortin 3 promoted Ca(2+) release via inositol 1,4,5 trisphosphate receptors, but not ryanodine receptors. Our results indicate a novel Ca(2+) -mobilizing effect of urocortin 3 in vagal pre-ganglionic neurons of nucleus ambiguus, providing a cellular mechanism for a previously reported role for this peptide in parasympathetic cardiac regulation. 相似文献
Acid Sensing Ion Channels (ASICs) are a family of proton-gated cation channels that play a role in the sensation of noxious stimuli. Of these, ASIC1a is the only family member that is reported to be permeable to Ca2+, although the absolute magnitude of the Ca2+ current is unclear. Here, we used patch-clamp photometry to determine the contribution of Ca2+ to total current through native and recombinant ASIC1a receptors. We found that acidification of the extracellular medium evoked amiloride and psalmotoxin 1-sensitive currents in isolated chick dorsal root ganglion neurons and human embryonic kidney cells, but did not alter fura-2 fluorescence when the bath concentration of Ca2+ was close to that found in normal physiological conditions. Further, activation of recombinant ASIC1a receptors also failed to produce measurable changes in fluorescence despite of the fact that the total cation current through the over-expressed receptor was ten-fold larger than that of the native channels. Finally, we imaged a field of intact DRG neurons loaded with the Ca2+-sensing dye Fluo-4, and found that acidification increased [Ca2+]i in a small population of cells. Thus, although our whole-field imaging data agree with previous studies that activation of ASIC1a receptors can potentially cause elevations in intracellular free Ca2+, our single cell data strongly challenges the view that Ca2+ entry through the ASIC1a receptor itself contributes to this response. 相似文献
Acid sensing ion channels (ASICs) are cation-selective membrane channels activated by H+ binding upon decrease in extracellular pH. It is known that Ca2+ plays an important modulatory role in ASIC gating, competing with the ligand (H+) for its binding site(s). However, the H+ or Ca2+ binding sites involved in gating and the gating mechanism are not fully known. We carried out a computational study to investigate potential cation and H+ binding sites for ASIC1 via all-atom molecular dynamics simulations on five systems. The systems were designed to test the candidacy of some acid sensing residues proposed from experiment and to determine yet unknown ligand binding sites. The ion binding patterns reveal sites of cation (Na+ and Ca2+) localization where they may compete with protons and influence channel gating. The highest incidence of Ca2+ and Na+ binding is observed at a highly acidic pocket on the protein surface. Also, Na+ ions fill in an inner chamber that contains a ring of acidic residues and that is near the channel entrance; this site could possibly be a temporary reservoir involved in ion permeation. Some acidic residues were observed to orient and move significantly close together to bind Ca2+, indicating the structural consequences of Ca2+ release from these sites. Local structural changes in the protein due to cation binding or ligand binding (protonation) are examined at the binding sites and discussed. This study provides structural and dynamic details to test hypotheses for the role of Ca2+ and Na+ ions in the channel gating mechanism. 相似文献
Both oxalate-supported Ca2+ uptake and Ca2+-stimulated ATPase activity of the sarcoplasmic reticulum are sensitive to the pH of the assay medium. Ca2+ uptake is optimal at relatively acidic pH (6.2–6.6); whereas, Ca2+-stimulated ATPase activity is optimal at a more alkaline pH (7.4–8.0). Following the addition of ATP, Ca2+ uptake demonstrates a time-dependent resistance to the inhibition by an alkaline pH. Once the linear phase of Ca2+ uptake is reached, alkalinization thereafter does not alter the rate established at the acidic pH. A similar time-dependent resistance is observed to the inhibition of Ca2+ uptake by the cation ionophore, X537A. In contrast, acidification of the alkaline medium after Ca2+ uptake is initiated by ATP has no such resistance to change. Acidification results in a prompt acceleration of the rate of Ca2+ uptake identical to that observed under control conditions at the acidic pH. Ca2+-stimulated ATPase activity, however, increases with alkalinization and decreased with acidification, regardless of time, in a manner expected from the rates observed under conditions when the pH is constant from the time of ATP addition. The results suggest that there is a time-dependent, pH-sensitive factor of oxalate-supported Ca2+ uptake. This factor can be activated by acidification at any time after ATP addition and, thus, does not represent a destruction of membrane function. In contrast, Ca2+-stimulated ATPase activity demonstrates no time-dependent resistance to pH change. 相似文献
Heart rate increases during inspiration and slows during postinspiration; this respiratory sinus arrhythmia helps match pulmonary blood flow to lung inflation and maintain an appropriate diffusion gradient of oxygen in the lungs. This cardiorespiratory pattern is found in neonatal and adult humans, baboons, dogs, rabbits, and seals. Respiratory sinus arrhythmia occurs mainly due to inhibition of cardioinhibitory parasympathetic cardiac vagal neurons during inspiration. Surprisingly, however, a recent study in anesthetized rats paradoxically found an enhancement of cardiac vagal activity during inspiration, suggesting that rats have an inverted respiratory sinus arrhythmia (Rentero N, Cividjian A, Trevaks D, Pequignot JM, Quintin L, and McAllen RM. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 283: R1327-R1334, 2002). To address this controversy, this study examined respiratory sinus arrhythmia in conscious freely moving rats and tested whether the commonly used experimental anesthetics urethane, pentobarbital sodium, or ketamine-xylazine alter respiratory sinus arrhythmia. Heart rate significantly increased 21 beats/min during inspiration in conscious rats, a pattern similar to the respiratory sinus arrhythmia that occurs in other species. However, anesthetics altered normal respiratory sinus arrhythmia. Ketamine-xylazine (87 mg/kg and 13 mg/kg) depressed and pentobarbital sodium (60 mg/kg) abolished normal respiratory sinus arrhythmia. Urethane (1 g/kg) inverted the cardiorespiratory pattern so that heart rate significantly decreased during inspiration. Our study demonstrates that heart rate normally increases during inspiration in conscious, freely moving rats, similar to the respiratory sinus arrhythmia pattern that occurs in other species but that this pattern is disrupted in the presence of general anesthetics, including inversion in the case of urethane. The presence and consequences of anesthetics need to be considered in studying the parasympathetic control of heart rate. 相似文献
When the (pHi) surrounding myofilaments of striated muscle is reduced there is an inhibition of both the actin-myosin reaction as well as the Ca2+-sensitivity of the myofilaments. Although the mechanism for the effect of acidic pH on Ca2+-sensitivity has been controversial, we have evidence for the hypothesis that acidic pH reduces the affinity of troponin C (TNC) for Ca2+. This effect of acidic pH depends not only on a direct effect of protons on Ca2+-binding to TNC, but also upon neighboring thin filament proteins, especially TNI, the inhibitory component of the TN complex. Using flourescent probes that report Ca2+-binding to the regulatory sites of skeletal and cardiac TNC, we have shown, for example, that acidic pH directly decreases the Ca2+-affinity of TNC, but only by a relatively small amount. However, with TNC in whole TN or in the TNI-TNC complex, there is about a 2-fold enhancement of the effects of acidic pH on Ca2+-binding to TNC. Acidic pH decreases the affinity of skeletal TNI for skeletal TNC, and also influences the micro-environment of a probe postioned at Cys-133 of TNI, a region of interaction with TNC. Other evidence that the effects of acidic pH on Ca2+-TNC activation of myofilaments are influenced by TNI comes from studies with developing hearts. In contrast, to the case with the adult preparations, Ca2+-activation of detergent extracted fibers prepared from dog or rat hearts in the peri-natal period are weakly affected by a drop in pH from 7.0 to 6.5. This difference in the effect of acidic (pHi) appears to be due to a difference in the isoform population of TNI, and not to differences in isotype population or amount of TNC. 相似文献
The Ether-a-go-go (EAG) superfamily of voltage-gated K+ channels consists of three functionally distinct gene families (Eag, Elk, and Erg) encoding a diverse set of low-threshold K+ currents that regulate excitability in neurons and muscle. Previous studies indicate that external acidification inhibits activation of three EAG superfamily K+ channels, Kv10.1 (Eag1), Kv11.1 (Erg1), and Kv12.1 (Elk1). We show here that Kv10.2, Kv12.2, and Kv12.3 are similarly inhibited by external protons, suggesting that high sensitivity to physiological pH changes is a general property of EAG superfamily channels. External acidification depolarizes the conductance–voltage (GV) curves of these channels, reducing low threshold activation. We explored the mechanism of this high pH sensitivity in Kv12.1, Kv10.2, and Kv11.1. We first examined the role of acidic voltage sensor residues that mediate divalent cation block of voltage activation in EAG superfamily channels because protons reduce the sensitivity of Kv12.1 to Zn2+. Low pH similarly reduces Mg2+ sensitivity of Kv10.1, and we found that the pH sensitivity of Kv11.1 was greatly attenuated at 1 mM Ca2+. Individual neutralizations of a pair of EAG-specific acidic residues that have previously been implicated in divalent block of diverse EAG superfamily channels greatly reduced the pH response in Kv12.1, Kv10.2, and Kv11.1. Our results therefore suggest a common mechanism for pH-sensitive voltage activation in EAG superfamily channels. The EAG-specific acidic residues may form the proton-binding site or alternatively are required to hold the voltage sensor in a pH-sensitive conformation. The high pH sensitivity of EAG superfamily channels suggests that they could contribute to pH-sensitive K+ currents observed in vivo. 相似文献
Acid sensing ion channels (ASICs) are proton-gated cation channels that are expressed in the nervous system and play an important role in fear learning and memory. The function of ASICs in the pituitary, an endocrine gland that contributes to emotions, is unknown. We sought to investigate which ASIC subunits were present in the pituitary and found mRNA expression for all ASIC isoforms, including ASIC1a, ASIC1b, ASIC2a, ASIC2b, ASIC3 and ASIC4. We also observed acid-evoked ASIC-like currents in isolated anterior pituitary cells that were absent in mice lacking ASIC1a. The biophysical properties and the responses to PcTx1, amiloride, Ca2+ and Zn2+ suggested that ASIC currents were mediated predominantly by heteromultimeric channels that contained ASIC1a and ASIC2a or ASIC2b. ASIC currents were also sensitive to FMRFamide (Phe-Met-Arg-Phe amide), suggesting that FMRFamide-like compounds might endogenously regulate pituitary ASICs. To determine whether ASICs might regulate pituitary cell function, we applied low pH and found that it increased the intracellular Ca2+ concentration. These data suggest that ASIC channels are present and functionally active in anterior pituitary cells and may therefore influence their function. 相似文献