Overexpression of β(1)-adrenoceptor can not protect rat cardiomyocytes from injury induced by isoprenaline

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of the overexpression of β(1)-adrenoceptor (β(1)-AR) on the contractile function and cell survival of rat cardiomyocytes injured by isoprenaline (ISO). The rat cardiomyocytes were isolated using the collagenase perfusion method and then transfected with β(1)-AR gene using adenoviruses vector. Four hours after the infection, the rat cardiomyocytes were treated with ISO for 24 h to imitate the high catecholamine levels of chronic heart failure. Western blot was performed to measure the protein expression of β(1)-AR. The percentages of rod cells were measured to test cell survival. Video-based edge-detection system was used to measure the contractile function of the cardiomyocytes. The results indicated that the expression of β(1)-AR in β(1)-AR-transfected cardiomyocytes was significantly increased compared with that in control group (P<0.01). Meanwhile, β(1)-AR transfection also increased β(1)-AR protein levels in ISO-injured cardiomyocytes. The cardiomyocyte survival was significantly decreased in ISO group compared with that in control group. β(1)-AR-transfection alone had no effect on cardiomyocyte survival in β(1)-AR group, but it further decreased cardiomyocyte survival in β(1)-AR+ISO group. Contractile amplitudes of ISO-injured cardiomyocytes were significantly decreased regardless of whether they were transfected with β(1)-AR or not, although β(1)-AR-transfected cardiomyocytes showed significantly increased contractile function compared with control group (P<0.05). These results suggest that the overexpression of β(1)-AR has no significant protective effect on rat cardiomyocytes injured by ISO.     

Prevention of ischemic ventricular tachycardia of Purkinje origin: role for alpha(2)-adrenoceptors in Purkinje?

Recent studies have shown the presence of postjunctional alpha(2)-adrenergic receptors on canine Purkinje fibers but not muscle cells. Stimulation of these receptors results in prolongation of the action potential duration and the Purkinje relative refractory period. We studied the effect of alpha(2)-adrenergic agonists on inducible ischemic ventricular tachycardia (VT) of both Purkinje fiber and myocardial origin. Open-chest dogs in whom VT was induced with extrastimuli after occlusion of the anterior descending coronary artery were studied. A mapping system, incorporating Purkinje signals, characterized the mechanisms of VT. The alpha(2)-adrenergic agonists clonidine (0.5-4.0 microg/kg) or UK 14,304 (4-5 microg/kg) versus saline were given intravenously after reproducibility of inducible sustained monomorphic VT had been demonstrated. Eighteen dogs were given clonidine, eleven of which had focal Purkinje VT. Of these 11 dogs, clonidine blocked VT induction in 9 (81.9%) and rendered VT nonsustained in 1 (9.1%), and VT remained inducible in 1 dog (9.1%), although this was focal midmyocardial VT only. In the seven dogs with VT of myocardial origin, six (85.6%) remained inducible with clonidine, whereas one dog (14.4%) had only nonsustained VT after clonidine. Of the six dogs, UK 14,304 blocked VT induction in four (66.6%) and rendered VT nonsustained in one (16.7%), and VT remained inducible in one dog (16.7%). In four dogs with VT of myocardial origin, VT remained inducible. In the eight control dogs that were given saline, focal Purkinje VT was repeatedly inducible. Pharmacological stimulation of postjunctional alpha(2)-adrenoceptors on Purkinje fibers may selectively prevent induction of VT of Purkinje fiber origin in the ischemic canine ventricle.     

Confinement of β(1)- and β(2)-adrenergic receptors in the plasma membrane of cardiomyocyte-like H9c2 cells is mediated by selective interactions with PDZ domain and A-kinase anchoring proteins but not caveolae

The sympathetic nervous system regulates cardiac output by activating adrenergic receptors (ARs) in cardiac myocytes. The predominant cardiac ARs, β(1)- and β(2)AR, are structurally similar but mediate distinct signaling responses. Scaffold protein-mediated compartmentalization of ARs into discrete, multiprotein complexes has been proposed to dictate differential signaling responses. To test the hypothesis that βARs integrate into complexes in live cells, we measured receptor diffusion and interactions by single-particle tracking. Unstimulated β(1)- and β(2)AR were highly confined in the membrane of H9c2 cardiomyocyte-like cells, indicating that receptors are tethered and presumably integrated into protein complexes. Selective disruption of interactions with postsynaptic density protein 95/disks large/zonula occludens-1 (PDZ)-domain proteins and A-kinase anchoring proteins (AKAPs) increased receptor diffusion, indicating that these scaffold proteins participate in receptor confinement. In contrast, modulation of interactions between the putative scaffold caveolae and β(2)AR did not alter receptor dynamics, suggesting that these membrane domains are not involved in β(2)AR confinement. For both β(1)- and β(2)AR, the receptor carboxy-terminus was uniquely responsible for scaffold interactions. Our data formally demonstrate that distinct and stable protein complexes containing β(1)- or β(2)AR are formed in the plasma membrane of cardiomyocyte-like cells and that selective PDZ and AKAP interactions are responsible for the integration of receptors into complexes.     

GPCRs through the keyhole: the role of protein flexibility in ligand binding to β-adrenoceptors

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are proteins of pharmaceutical importance, with over 30% of all drugs in clinical use targeting them. Increasing numbers of X-ray crystal (XRC) structures of GPCRs offer a wealth of data relating to ligand binding. For the β-adrenoceptors (β-ARs), XRC structures are available for human β₂- and turkey β₁-subtypes, in complexes with a range of ligands. While these structures provide insight into the origins of ligand structure-activity relationships (SARs), questions remain. The ligands in all published complexed XRC structures lack extensive substitution, with no obvious way the ligand-binding site can accommodate β₁-AR-selective antagonists with extended side-chains para- to the common aryloxypropanolamine pharmacophore. Using standard computational docking tools with such ligands generally returns poses that fail to explain known SARs. Application of our Active Site Pressurisation modelling method to β-AR XRC structures and homology models, however, reveals a dynamic area in the ligand-binding pocket that, through minor changes in amino acid side chain orientations, opens a fissure between transmembrane helices H4 and H5, exposing intra-membrane space. This fissure, which we term the “keyhole”, is ideally located to accommodate extended moieties present in many high-affinity β₁-AR-selective ligands, allowing the rest of the ligand structure to adopt a canonical pose in the orthosteric binding site. We propose the keyhole may be a feature of both β₁- and β₂-ARs, but that subtle structural differences exist between the two, contributing to subtype-selectivity. This has consequences for the rational design of future generations of subtype-selective ligands for these therapeutically important targets.     

The β(3) -integrin ligand of Borrelia burgdorferi is critical for infection of mice but not ticks

P66 is a Borrelia burgdorferi surface protein with β₃ integrin binding and channel forming activities. In this study, the role of P66 in mammalian and tick infection was examined. B. burgdorferiΔp66 strains were not infectious in wild‐type, TLR2^?/?‐ or MyD88^?/?‐deficient mice. Strains with p66 restored to the chromosome restored near wild‐type infectivity, while complementation with p66 on a shuttle vector did not restore infectivity. Δp66 mutants are cleared quickly from the site of inoculation, but analyses of cytokine expression and cellular infiltrates at the site of inoculation did not reveal a specific mechanism of clearance. The defect in these mutants cannot be attributed to nutrient limitation or an inability to adapt to the host environment in vivo as Δp66 bacteria were able to survive as well as wild type in dialysis membrane chambers in the rat peritoneum. Δp66 bacteria were able to survive in ticks through the larva to nymph moult, but were non‐infectious in mice when delivered by tick bite. Independent lines of evidence do not support any increased susceptibility of the Δp66 strains to factors in mammalian blood. This study is the first to define a B. burgdorferi adhesin as essential for mammalian, but not tick infection.     

Mitochondrial,but not peroxisomal, β-oxidation of fatty acids is conserved in coenzyme A-Deficient rat liver

Growth hormone (GH) exerts acute insulin-like effects, such as increased lipogenesis and inhibition of catecholamine-induced lipolysis, in rat adipocytes that have not been exposed to GH during the preceding three hours. We found that OPC3911, a highly specific inhibitor of the cGMP-inhibited cAMP phosphodiesterase, completely blocked the antilipolytic but not the lipogenic effect of GH. This indicates that the antilipolytic effect of GH is mediated through activation of this phosphodiesterase leading to reduction of cAMP levels in the same manner as has been shown for insulin.     

Pyruvate dehydrogenase E1α phosphorylation is induced by glucose but does not control metabolism-secretion coupling in INS-1E clonal β-cells

Glucose-induced insulin secretion from pancreatic β-cells depends on mitochondrial activation. In the organelle, glucose-derived pyruvate is metabolised along the oxidative and anaplerotic pathway to generate downstream signals leading to insulin granule exocytosis. Entry into the oxidative pathway is catalysed by pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) and controlled in part by phosphorylation of the PDH E1α subunit blocking enzyme activity. We find that glucose but not other nutrient secretagogues induce PDH E1α phosphorylation in INS-1E cells and rat islets. INS-1E cells and primary β-cells express pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase (PDK) 1, 2 and 3, which mediate the observed phosphorylation. In INS-1E cells, suppression of the two main isoforms, PDK1 and PDK3, almost completely prevented PDH E1α phosphorylation. Under basal glucose conditions, phosphorylation was barely detectable and therefore the enzyme almost fully active (90% of maximal). During glucose stimulation, PDH is only partially inhibited (to 78% of maximal). Preventing PDH phosphorylation in situ after suppression of PDK1, 2 and 3 neither enhanced pyruvate oxidation nor insulin secretion. In conclusion, although glucose stimulates E1α phosphorylation and therefore inhibits PDH activity, this control mechanism by itself does not alter metabolism-secretion coupling in INS-1E clonal β-cells.     

Hidden prenatal malnutrition in the rat: role of β₁-adrenoceptors on synaptic plasticity in the frontal cortex

Moderate reduction in the protein content of the mother's diet (hidden malnutrition) does not alter body and brain weights of rat pups at birth, but leads to dysfunction of neocortical noradrenaline systems together with impaired long-term potentiation and visuo-spatial memory performance. As β?-adrenoceptors and downstream protein kinase signaling are critically involved in synaptic long-term potentiation and memory formation, we evaluated the β?-adrenoceptor density and the expression of cyclic-AMP dependent protein kinase, calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase and protein kinase Fyn, in the frontal cortex of prenatally malnourished adult rats. In addition, we also studied if β?-adrenoceptor activation with the selective β? agonist dobutamine could improve deficits of prefrontal cortex long-term potentiation presenting these animals. Prenatally malnourished rats exhibited half of β?-adrenoceptor binding, together with a 51% and 65% reduction of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase α and calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase α expression, respectively, as compared with eutrophic animals. Administration of the selective β? agonist dobutamine prior to tetanization completely rescued the ability of the prefrontal cortex to develop and maintain long-term potentiation in the malnourished rats. Results suggest that under-expression of neocortical β?-adrenoceptors and protein kinase signaling in hidden malnourished rats functionally affects the synaptic networks subserving prefrontal cortex long-term potentiation. β?-adrenoceptor activation was sufficient to fully recover neocortical plasticity in the PKA- and calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II-deficient undernourished rats, possibly by producing extra amounts of cAMP and/or by recruiting alternative signaling cascades.     

Regulation of contractility and metabolic signaling by the β2-adrenergic receptor in rat ventricular muscle

AimsCardiac function is modulated by the sympathetic nervous system through β-adrenergic receptor (β-AR) activity and this represents the main regulatory mechanism for cardiac performance. To date, however, the metabolic and molecular responses to β₂-agonists are not well characterized. Therefore, we studied the inotropic effect and signaling response to selective β₂-AR activation by tulobuterol.Main methodsStrips of rat right ventricle were electrically stimulated (1 Hz) in standard Tyrode solution (95% O₂, 5% CO₂) in the presence of the β₁-antagonist CGP-20712A (1 μM). A cumulative dose–response curve for tulobuterol (0.1–10 μM), in the presence or absence of the phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitor IBMX (30 μM), or 10 min incubation (1 μM) with the β₂-agonist tulobuterol was performed.Key findingsβ₂-AR stimulation induced a positive inotropic effect (maximal effect = 33 ± 3.3%) and a decrease in the time required for half relaxation (from 45 ± 0.6 to 31 ± 1.8 ms, ? 30%, p < 0.001) after the inhibition of PDEs. After 10 min of β₂-AR stimulation, p-AMPKα^T172 (54%), p-PKB^T308 (38%), p-AS160^T642 (46%) and p-CREB^S133 (63%) increased, without any change in p-PKA^T197.SignificanceThese results suggest that the regulation of ventricular contractility is not the primary function of the β₂-AR. Rather, β₂-AR could function to activate PKB and AMPK signaling, thereby modulating muscle mass and energetic metabolism of rat ventricular muscle.     

The role of β3-integrins in tumor angiogenesis: context is everything

Integrins are a family of cell-extracellular matrix adhesion molecules that play important roles in tumor angiogenesis. αvβ3-Integrin has received much attention as a potential anti-angiogenic target because it is upregulated in tumor-associated blood vessels. Agents targeting αvβ3-integrin are now showing some success in phase III clinical trails for the treatment of glioblastoma, but the exact function of this integrin in tumor angiogenesis is still relatively unknown. This review highlights some of the recent data illustrating that β3-integrins play both pro-angiogenic and anti-angiogenic roles in tumor angiogenesis depending on the context. Specifically we will discuss how the following differentially influence β3-integrin's role in tumor angiogenesis: first, cell-matrix interactions, second, β3-integrin inhibitor doses, third, cell type, and fourth, other interacting molecules.     

Hyphal in vitro growth of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Glomus mosseae is affected by chitinase but not by β-1,3-glucanase

Purified basic chitinase or #-1,3-glucanase or a combination of the two enzymes were applied to hyphae of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Glomus mosseae grown in vitro. Chitinase applied to the hyphal tip produced an inhibition of hyphal extension, lysis of the apex and alterations of the growth pattern of the fungus. No effect was observed, however, when chitinase was applied to subapical parts of the hyphae or when glucanase was applied to any part of the hyphae. Application of a combination of the two enzymes to the hyphal tip produced an effect similar to that of chitinase alone.     

TGF-β1 induced epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) in human bronchial epithelial cells is enhanced by IL-1β but not abrogated by corticosteroids

Background

Chronic persistent asthma is characterized by ongoing airway inflammation and airway remodeling. The processes leading to airway remodeling are poorly understood, and there is increasing evidence that even aggressive anti-inflammatory therapy does not completely prevent this process. We sought to investigate whether TGFβ₁ stimulates bronchial epithelial cells to undergo transition to a mesenchymal phenotype, and whether this transition can be abrogated by corticosteroid treatment or enhanced by the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-1β.

Methods

BEAS-2B and primary normal human bronchial epithelial cells were stimulated with TGFβ₁ and expression of epithelial and mesenchymal markers assessed by quantitative real-time PCR, immunoblotting, immunofluorescence microscopy and zymography. In some cases the epithelial cells were also incubated with corticosteroids or IL-1β. Results were analyzed using non-parametric statistical tests.

Results

Treatment of BEAS-2B or primary human bronchial epithelial cells with TGFβ₁ significantly reduced the expression level of the epithelial adherence junction protein E-cadherin. TGFβ₁ then markedly induced mesenchymal marker proteins such as collagen I, tenascin C, fibronectin and α-smooth muscle actin mRNA in a dose dependant manner. The process of mesenchymal transition was accompanied by a morphological change towards a more spindle shaped fibroblast cell type with a more motile and invasive phenotype. Corticosteroid pre-treatment did not significantly alter the TGFβ₁ induced transition but IL-1β enhanced the transition.

Conclusion

Our results indicate, that TGFβ₁ can induce mesenchymal transition in the bronchial epithelial cell line and primary cells. Since asthma has been strongly associated with increased expression of TGFβ₁ in the airway, epithelial to mesenchymal transition may contribute to the contractile and fibrotic remodeling process that accompanies chronic asthma.     

Genomic instability induced by mutant succinate dehydrogenase subunit D (SDHD) is mediated by O2(-•) and H2O2

SDHD mutations are associated with human cancers but the mechanisms that may contribute to transformation are unknown. The hypothesis that mutations in SDHD increase levels of superoxide leading to genomic instability was tested using site-directed mutagenesis to generate a truncated SDHD cDNA that was expressed in Chinese hamster fibroblasts. Stable expression of mutant SDHD resulted in 2-fold increases in steady-state levels of superoxide that were accompanied by a significantly increased mutation rate as well as a 70-fold increase in mutation frequency at the hprt locus. Overexpression of MnSOD or treatment with polyethylene glycol conjugated (PEG)-catalase suppressed mutation frequency in SDHD mutant cells by 50% (P<0.05). Simultaneous treatment with PEG-catalase and PEG-SOD suppressed mutation frequency in SDHD mutant cells by 90% (P<0.0005). Finally, 95% depletion of glutathione using l-buthionine-[S,R]-sulfoximine (BSO) in SDHD mutant cells caused a 4-fold increase in mutation frequency (P<0.05). These results demonstrate that mutations in SDHD cause increased steady-state levels of superoxide which significantly contributed to increases in mutation rates and frequency mediated by superoxide and hydrogen peroxide. These results support the hypothesis that mutations in SDHD may contribute to carcinogenesis by increasing genomic instability mediated by increased steady-state levels of reactive oxygen species.     

SOS repair of 8-methoxypsoralene monoadducts in DNA of lambda bacteriophage and plasmids is mediated by MucA 2 ′ B, but not UmuD 2 ′ C (PolV) polymerase

The light-induced action of 8-methoxypsoralen (8-MOP) on λ phage and plasmids yields monoadducts and interstrand crosslinks. The survival and clear plaque mutation frequency in the phage photosensitized with 8-MOP and irradiated with UV at wavelength >320 nm are increased when the wild-type host (Escherichia coli uvr ⁺) is subjected to UV irradiation (wavelength = 254 nm) prior to phage inoculation. These phenomena are known as “W reactivation” and “W mutagenesis.” It is shown that 8-MOP monoadducts in λ DNA induce clear mutations in the phage inoculated to UV-irradiated excision repair mutants of E. coli only when the error-prone repair is performed by MucA ₂ ^′ B, but not PolV (UmuD ₂ ^′ C) polymerase. The efficiency of the SOS repair (W reactivation) of 8-MOP monoadducts in plasmid and λ phage DNA also only increases with the presence of pKM101 plasmid muc ⁺ in E. coli uvr ^?.     

The colocalization potential of HIV-specific CD8+ and CD4+ T-cells is mediated by integrin β7 but not CCR6 and regulated by retinoic acid

CD4(+) T-cells from gut-associated lymphoid tissues (GALT) are major targets for HIV-1 infection. Recruitment of excess effector CD8(+) T-cells in the proximity of target cells is critical for the control of viral replication. Here, we investigated the colocalization potential of HIV-specific CD8(+) and CD4(+) T-cells into the GALT and explored the role of retinoic acid (RA) in regulating this process in a cohort of HIV-infected subjects with slow disease progression. The expression of the gut-homing molecules integrin β7, CCR6, and CXCR3 was identified as a "signature" for HIV-specific but not CMV-specific CD4(+) T-cells thus providing a new explanation for their enhanced permissiveness to infection in vivo. HIV-specific CD8(+) T-cells also expressed high levels of integrin β7 and CXCR3; however CCR6 was detected at superior levels on HIV-specific CD4(+) versus CD8(+) T-cells. All trans RA (ATRA) upregulated the expression of integrin β7 but not CCR6 on HIV-specific T-cells. Together, these results suggest that HIV-specific CD8(+) T-cells may colocalize in excess with CD4(+) T-cells into the GALT via integrin β7 and CXCR3, but not via CCR6. Considering our previous findings that CCR6(+)CD4(+) T-cells are major cellular targets for HIV-DNA integration in vivo, a limited ability of CD8(+) T-cells to migrate in the vicinity of CCR6(+)CD4(+) T-cells may facilitate HIV replication and dissemination at mucosal sites.     

DNA-damage tolerance mediated by PCNA?Ub fusions in human cells is dependent on Rev1 but not Polη

In response to replication-blocking lesions, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) can be sequentially ubiquitinated at the K164 residue, leading to two modes of DNA-damage tolerance, namely, translesion DNA synthesis (TLS) and error-free lesion bypass. Although the majority of reported data support a model whereby monoubiquitinated PCNA enhances its affinity for TLS polymerases and hence recruits them to the damage sites, this model has also been challenged by several observations. In this study, we expressed the PCNA-164R and ubiquitin (UB) fusion genes in an inducible manner in an attempt to mimic PCNA monoubiquitination in cultured human cells. It was found that expression of both N- and C-terminal PCNA•Ub fusions conferred significant tolerance to ultraviolet (UV)-induced DNA damage. Surprisingly, depletion of Polη, a TLS polymerase dedicated to bypassing UV-induced pyrimidine dimers, did not alter tolerance conferred by PCNA•Ub. In contrast, depletion of Rev1, another TLS polymerase serving as a scaffold for the assembly of the TLS complex, completely abolished PCNA•Ub-mediated damage tolerance. Similar genetic interactions were confirmed when UV-induced monoubiquitination of endogenous PCNA is abolished by RAD18 deletion. Hence, PCNA•Ub fusions bypass the requirement for PCNA monoubiquitination, and UV damage tolerance conferred by these fusions is dependent on Rev1 but independent of Polη.     

The positive force–frequency relationship is maintained in absence of sarcoplasmic reticulum function in rabbit,but not in rat myocardium

Myocardial calcium handling differs between species, mainly in the relative contribution between the sources for activator calcium. To investigate the role of the myofilaments and intracellular calcium decline in governing the relaxation phase of cardiac muscle, and to elucidate additional determinants of relaxation other than the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) at various frequencies within the in vivo range, the present study was performed by altering the calcium handling in rat and rabbit. Trabeculae, iontophoretically loaded with bis-fura-2 to monitor cytoplasmic calcium levels, were subjected to ryanodine and cyclopiazonic acid to inhibit SR function. Simultaneous force and [Ca²⁺]_i measurements were obtained at 1–4 Hz in rabbit and at 4–8 Hz in rat before and after SR inhibition. Inhibition of the SR resulted in increased diastolic and peak calcium levels as well as decreased developed force in both species. Calcium transient amplitude decreased in rat, but increased in rabbit after SR inhibition. Time to peak tension, time from peak tension to 50% relaxation, time to peak calcium, and time from peak calcium to 50% calcium decline were all prolonged. Results suggest that L-type calcium channel current is responsible for increases in calcium with increasing frequency, and that the SR amplifies this effect in response to increased L-type current. The response of the myofilaments to alterations in calcium handling plays a critical role in the final determination of force, and may differ between species. These results imply the balance between force relaxation and calcium decline is significantly different in larger mammals, necessitating a critical re-evaluation of how myocardial relaxation is governed, specifically regarding frequency-dependent activation.