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Qun Chen

Publications and source records attributed to Qun Chen.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

A novel phage vB_VhaM_HVS-1 inhibits host cell associated Vibrio harveyi.

INTRODUCTION: Vibrio harveyi is a major pathogen causing skin ulceration syndrome and mass mortality in sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus aquaculture. METHODS: In this study, a pathogenic strain NB-3 was isolated from diseased A. japonicus and identified as V. harveyi based on morphological, physiological, and genomic analyses. A novel lytic phage vB_VhaM_HVS-1 belonging to the family Straboviridae (class Caudoviricetes) was isolated from A. japonicus breeding pond silt. RESULTS: The phage exhibited a latent period of 50 min and a burst size of approximately 168 PFU/cell, and its genome lacked lysogeny-related genes, suggesting a lytic nature. Phage treatment significantly reduced the number of cell-associated bacteria, decreasing the association rate from 2.3% to nearly 0. Flow cytometry revealed that phage infection protected coelomocytes from V. harveyi-induced damage, increasing the proportion of viable cells from 78.17% to 88.54%. CONCLUSION: These findings demonstrate that phage vB_VhaM_HVS-1 effectively reduces V. harveyi association with coelomocytes and alleviates host cell apoptosis. The phage shows strong potential as an alternative biocontrol agent against V. harveyi infection in sea cucumber aquaculture.

aquaculture disease↗

Regulation of constitutive expression of mouse PTEN by the 5'-untranslated region.

PTEN tumor suppressor serves as a major negative regulator of survival signaling mediated by PI3 kinase/AKT/protein kinase B pathway, and is inactivated in various human tumors. Elucidation of mechanisms responsible for PTEN expression is important for providing insight into strategies to control the loss of PTEN expression in human cancers. Although recent studies suggested that p53 and Egr-1 can modulate induced PTEN expression, the mechanism responsible for ubiquitous constitutive expression of PTEN remains elusive. PTEN mRNA contains a highly conserved and GC-rich 5'-untranslated region (5'-UTR). Recently, it has been shown that the long 5'-UTR sequences of several growth-regulated mRNAs contain promoters that can generate mRNAs with shorter 5'-UTRs. In this paper, we tested whether the 5'-UTR sequence of mouse PTEN contains a promoter that is responsible for constitutive expression of PTEN. We found that the long 5'-UTR sequence of mouse PTEN severely inhibits translation of PTEN and a heterologous gene firefly luciferase. Deletion of the most 5'-UTR sequence would enhance translation efficiency 100-fold. We also showed that the 5'-UTR sequence of mouse PTEN does not have an internal ribosome entry site (IRES) that can mediate cap-independent initiation of translation. Instead, we found that the 5'-UTR sequence of mouse PTEN contains a strong promoter that drives the production of a transcript with shorter 5'-UTRs, which can be translated with higher efficiency. This promoter was mapped to the region between -551 and -220 bases upstream of the translation start codon. Cotransfection analysis using Drosophila SL2 cells showed that Sp1 is one of the major transcription factors that can constitutively activate this promoter. Two endogenous PTEN transcripts with 5'-UTRs of 193 and 109 bases were found in DU145 and H226 cell lines. Based on these observations, we conclude that the PTEN expression may be regulated at both transcriptional and translational levels, and that the 5'-UTR sequence of PTEN contains a promoter that is responsible for constitutive PTEN expression.

5' Untranslated Regions↗

Production of reactive oxygen species by mitochondria: central role of complex III.

The mitochondrial respiratory chain is a major source of reactive oxygen species (ROS) under pathological conditions including myocardial ischemia and reperfusion. Limitation of electron transport by the inhibitor rotenone immediately before ischemia decreases the production of ROS in cardiac myocytes and reduces damage to mitochondria. We asked if ROS generation by intact mitochondria during the oxidation of complex I substrates (glutamate, pyruvate/malate) occurred from complex I or III. ROS production by mitochondria of Sprague-Dawley rat hearts and corresponding submitochondrial particles was studied. ROS were measured as H2O2 using the amplex red assay. In mitochondria oxidizing complex I substrates, rotenone inhibition did not increase H2O2. Oxidation of complex I or II substrates in the presence of antimycin A markedly increased H2O2. Rotenone prevented antimycin A-induced H2O2 production in mitochondria with complex I substrates but not with complex II substrates. Catalase scavenged H2O2. In contrast to intact mitochondria, blockade of complex I with rotenone markedly increased H2O2 production from submitochondrial particles oxidizing the complex I substrate NADH. ROS are produced from complex I by the NADH dehydrogenase located in the matrix side of the inner membrane and are dissipated in mitochondria by matrix antioxidant defense. However, in submitochondrial particles devoid of antioxidant defense ROS from complex I are available for detection. In mitochondria, complex III is the principal site for ROS generation during the oxidation of complex I substrates, and rotenone protects by limiting electron flow into complex III.

Animals↗

Computing oxygen-enhanced ventilation maps using correlation analysis.

Correlation maps of oxygen-enhanced ventilation were obtained in nine healthy volunteers using complete and selected image series. The complete series included all images acquired with the subjects alternately inhaling room air and 100% oxygen. The selected series were the subsets of the complete series and included only co-registered images that showed matched diaphragmatic position at maximal expiration. Cross-correlation was computed between the time response function of each pixel and the input function representing the alternation between periods of room air and 100% oxygen inhalation. The confidence level for the correlation analysis was set to 0.01. Pulmonary parenchymal anatomy was consistently reproduced throughout the lung, even in anterior slices where published data have reported correlation problems. The overall average correlation coefficient was 0.66 +/- 0.07 for the complete series and 0.75 +/- 0.08 for the selected series. It was concluded that correlation analysis could be used to reconstruct qualitative oxygen-enhanced ventilation maps.

Adult↗

Effects and mechanisms of glucosides of chaenomeles speciosa on collagen-induced arthritis in rats.

Effects of glucosides of chaenomeles speciosa (GCS)-a Chinese traditional herbal medicine (CTM) on inflammatory and immune responses and its mechanisms in collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) rat were studied. Hind paw volumes of rats were measured by volume meter; lymphocyte proliferation, interleukin-1, interleukin-2, TNF-alpha level was determined by 3-(4,5-2 dimethylthiazal-2yl)2,5-diphenyltetrazoliumbromide (MTT) assay; cAMP level in synoviocytes was analyzed by competitive protein binding assay (CPBA). mRNA expression of G(i,), G(s), and TNF-alpha of synoviocytes in CIA rats was measured by RT-PCR and antibodies to collagen type II (CII) were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), respectively. There was a marked secondary inflammatory response in CIA model, which accompanied with the decrease of body weight and the weight of immune organs simultaneously. The administration of GCS (30, 60, 120 mg x kg(-1), ig x 7 days) inhibited the inflammatory response and restored body weight and the weight of immune organs of CIA rats. Lymphocyte proliferation and IL-2 production of CIA rats increases, together with IL-1 and TNF-alpha in peritoneal macrophages and synoviocytes. The administration of GCS (30, 60, 120 mg x kg(-1), ig x 7 days) reduced above changes significantly. GCS at the concentration of 0.5, 2.5, 12.5, 62.5, 125 mg x l(-1) increased cAMP level of synoviocytes, which decreased in CIA rats in vitro. At the same time, GCS inhibited mRNA expression of G(i,) and TNF-alpha of synoviocytes and increased mRNA expression of G(s) of synoviocytes in CIA rats. GCS had no effect on the concentration of antibodies to CII. GCS possesses anti-inflammatory and immunoregulatory actions and has a therapeutic effect on CIA rats due to G protein-AC-cAMP transmembrane signal transduction of synoviocytes, which play a crucial role in pathogenesis of this disease.

Animals↗

Preconditioning with sevoflurane reduces changes in nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide during ischemia-reperfusion in isolated hearts: reversal by 5-hydroxydecanoic acid.

BACKGROUND: Ischemia causes an imbalance in mitochondrial metabolism and accumulation of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH). We showed that anesthetic preconditioning (APC), like ischemic preconditioning, improved mitochondrial NADH energy balance during ischemia and improved function and reduced infarct size on reperfusion. Opening adenosine triphosphate-sensitive potassium (K(atp)) channels may be involved in triggering APC. The authors tested if effects of APC on NADH concentrations before, during, and after ischemia are reversible by 5-hydroxydecanoate (5-HD), a putative mitochondrial K channel blocker. METHODS: Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide fluorescence was measured in 60 guinea pig Langendorff-prepared hearts assigned into five groups: (1) no treatment before ischemia; (2) APC by exposure to 1.3 mm sevoflurane for 15 min; (3) 200 microm 5-HD from 5 min before to 15 min after sevoflurane exposure; (4) 35 min 5-HD alone; and (5) no treatment and no ischemia. Sevoflurane was washed out for 30 min, and 5-HD for 15 min, before 30-min ischemia and 120-min reperfusion. RESULTS: Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide was reversibly increased during sevoflurane exposure before ischemia, and the increase and rate of decline in NADH during ischemia were reduced after APC. 5-HD abolished these changes in NADH. On reperfusion, function was improved and infarct size reduced after APC compared with other groups. CONCLUSION: Anesthetic preconditioning was evidenced by improved mitochondrial bioenergetics as assessed from NADH concentrations during ischemia and by attenuated reperfusion injury. Reversal of APC by bracketing sevoflurane exposure with 5-HD suggests that APC is triggered by mitochondrial K channel opening or, alternatively, by attenuated mitochondrial respiration without direct involvement of mitochondrial K channel opening.

ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters↗

Na+/H+ exchange inhibition with cardioplegia reduces cytosolic [Ca2+] and myocardial damage after cold ischemia.

Cold cardioplegia protects against reperfusion damage. Blocking Na+/H+ exchange may be as protective as cardioplegia by improving the left ventricular pressure (LVP)-[Ca2+] relationship after cold ischemia. In guinea pig isolated hearts subjected to cold ischemia (4 h, 17 degrees C) and reperfusion, the cardioprotective effects of a Krebs-Ringer (KR) solution, a cardioplegia solution, a KR solution containing the Na+/H+ exchange inhibitor eniporide (1 microM), and a cardioplegia solution containing eniporide were compared. Treatments were given before and initially after cold ischemia. Systolic and diastolic [Ca2+] were calculated from indo-1 fluorescence transients recorded at the LV free wall. During ischemia, diastolic [Ca2+] increased in each group but more so in the KR group. Peak systolic and diastolic [Ca2+] on initial reperfusion were highest after KR and smallest after cardioplegia + eniporide. After reperfusion, systolic-diastolic LVP (% of baseline) and infarct size (%), respectively, were KR, 47 +/- 3%, 37 +/- 4%; cardioplegia, 71 +/- 5%*, 20 +/- 2.2%*; KR + eniporide, 73 +/- 5%*, 11 +/- 3%* dagger; and cardioplegia + eniporide 77 +/- 3%*, 10 +/- 1.4%* dagger (*P </= 0.05 vs KR; dagger P </= 0.05 vs cardioplegia). Ca2+ overload was reduced in each treated group, and most in the cardioplegia + eniporide group, and was associated with the improved function. Inhibition of Na+/H+ exchange was as effective as cardioplegia in restoring function and better than cardioplegia in reducing infarct size after hypothermic ischemia. The combination of cardioplegia and Na+/H+ exchange inhibition did not produce additive protective effects but caused a larger decrease in Ca2+ loading.

Animals↗

Effects and mechanisms of melatonin on immune responses in mice of different months.

AIM: To study the effects and mechanisms of melatonin (MT) on immune responses in mice of different months. METHODS: Thymocyte proliferation and IL-2 activity were assayed by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl) 2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) and activated mouse splenocyte proliferation methods, respectively; cAMP and methionine-enkephalin (met-Enk) level was determined by competitive protein binding assay and radioimmunoassay, respectively. RESULTS: The function of lymphocytes, obtained from BALB/c mice aged 6 and 11 months were decreased, which was restored by melatonin at the dose of 5 mg/kg or 30 mg/kg. In vitro, proliferation of lymphocytes in 11-month-old mice was decreased and cAMP level was increased. Melatonin (0.1 nmol/L or 1 micromol/L) had negative regulation to this. Forskolin (10 micromol/L) enhanced the cAMP level of lymphocytes in 2- and 11-month-old mice (P<0.01), which was antagonized partially by melatonin and this effect of melatonin was also abolished by pertussis toxin (1 mg/L) completely. Melatonin (1 micromol/L and 0.1 nmol/L) increased the content of met-Enk of lymphocytes in 2- and 11-month-old mice, respectively (P<0.01), which was blocked by nifedipine (1 micromol/L). CONCLUSION: Melatonin exerted an effect on immune responses in mice of different months, which might be mediated by G protein-AC-cAMP signal transduction pathway and regulation of met-Enk level.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗

Structural and functional consequences of mutating cysteine residues in the amino terminus of human multidrug resistance-associated protein 1.

Multidrug resistance-associated protein 1 (MRP1) is a member of the ATP-binding cassette membrane transport superfamily and is responsible for multidrug resistance in cancer cells. Currently, there are nine known human MRPs. Distinct from many other members of the ATP-binding cassette superfamily, human MRP1 and four other MRPs have an additional membrane-spanning domain (MSD) with a putative extracellular amino terminus. The functional significance of this additional MSD (MSD1) is currently unknown. To understand the role of MSD1 in human MRP1 structure and function, we studied the amino-terminal 33 amino acids. We found that the amino terminus of human MRP1 has two cysteine residues (Cys(7) and Cys(32)) that are conserved among the five human MRPs that have MSD1. Mutation analyses of the two cysteines in human MRP1 revealed that the Cys(7) residue is critical for the MRP1-mediated drug resistance and leukotriene C(4) transport activity. On the other hand, mutation of Cys(32) reduced only moderately the MRP1 function. The effect of Cys(7) mutation on MRP1 activity appears to be due to the 5-7-fold decrease in the maximal transport rate V(max). We also found that mutation of Cys(7) changed the amino-terminal conformation of MRP1. This conformational change is likely responsible for the decrease in V(max) of LTC(4) transport mediated by the mutant MRP1. Based on these studies, we conclude that the amino terminus of human MRP1 is important and that the Cys(7) residue plays a critical role in maintaining the proper structure and function of human MRP1.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Cytoplasmic retraction of the amino terminus of human multidrug resistance protein 1.

Human multidrug resistance protein 1 (MRP1) is a member of the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transport superfamily which also includes human multidrug resistance 1 (MDR1) gene product P-glycoprotein (Pgp). Overexpression of MRP1 or Pgp causes multidrug resistance in cancer cells. Different from Pgp, MRP1 contains an extra membrane-spanning domain (MSD1) with a putative extracellular amino terminus in addition to the core structure of two MSDs and two NBDs (nucleotide-binding domains). The structural and functional significance of the additional MSD1 in MRP1 remains elusive. In this study, we generated an IgG1 subclass monoclonal antibody, IU2H10, specific to the amino terminus of human MRP1 and mapped its epitope to 10 amino acids (S8ADGSDPLWD17). It can be used for Western blot, immunoprecipitation, and indirect immunofluorescence studies of human MRP1. However, surprisingly we found that IU2H10 cannot react with MRP1 unless cells are permeabilized. Furthermore, the IU2H10 epitope is exposed extracellularly when the carboxyl-terminal core domain of human MRP1 is deleted. Examination of the amino-terminal sequence of human MRP1 suggests that it consist of mainly coiled structures. These observations provide evidence for a model that is different from the prevailing extracellular location of the amino terminus of human MRP1. It is possible that part of the amino terminus of human MRP1, following exposure to the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum, is retracted to the cytoplasm.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Humanized mice as a model for rheumatoid arthritis.

Genetic susceptibility to rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a common autoimmune disease, is associated with certain HLA-DR4 alleles. Treatments are rarely curative and are often tied to major side effects. We describe the development of a humanized mouse model wherein new, less toxic, vaccine-like treatments for RA might be pretested. This model includes four separate transgenes: HLA-DR*0401 and human CD4 molecules, a RA-related human autoantigenic protein (HCgp-39), and a T-cell receptor (TCRalphabeta) transgene specific for an important HCgp-39 epitope, eliciting strong Th1 responses in the context of HLA-DR*0401.

Animals↗

Influence of oxygen flow rate on signal and T(1) changes in oxygen-enhanced ventilation imaging.

PURPOSE: To investigate the optimal oxygen flow rate for oxygen-enhanced MR ventilation imaging. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using a cardiac-triggered nonselective inversion recovery (IR) half Fourier single-shot fast spin echo sequence, series of images were acquired with the subject alternately inhaling room air and 100% oxygen. Oxygen flow rates of 5 L/min, 10 L/min, 15 L/min, 20 L/min, and 25 L/min were studied, and signal intensity from the oxygen-enhanced ventilation images and T(1) of the lung were measured. RESULTS: The average signal intensity was 63.0 +/- 21.0 for 5 L/min, 98.7 +/- 26.8 for 10 L/min, 133.8 +/- 20.0 for 15 L/min, 138.7 +/- 19.7 for 20 L/min, and 139.2 +/- 37.9 for 25 L/min. The average T(1)'s of the lung were 1399 msec +/- 130 msec for room air, 1314 msec +/- 101 msec for 5 L/min, 1276 msec +/- 105 msec for 10 L/min, 1207 msec +/- 71 msec for 15 L/min, 1206 msec +/- 90 msec for 20 L/min, and 1207 msec +/- 42 msec for 25 L/min. CONCLUSION: The optimal flow rate is 15 L/min for oxygen-enhanced ventilation imaging.

Adult↗

Ventilation-perfusion ratio of signal intensity in human lung using oxygen-enhanced and arterial spin labeling techniques.

This study investigates the distribution of ventilation-perfusion (V/Q) signal intensity (SI) ratios using oxygen-enhanced and arterial spin labeling (ASL) techniques in the lungs of 10 healthy volunteers. Ventilation and perfusion images were simultaneously acquired using the flow-sensitive alternating inversion recovery (FAIR) method as volunteers alternately inhaled room air and 100% oxygen. Images of the T(1) distribution were calculated for five volunteers for both selective (T(1f)) and nonselective (T(1)) inversion. The average T(1) was 1360 ms +/- 116 ms, and the average T(1f) was 1012 ms +/- 112 ms, yielding a difference that is statistically significant (P < 0.002). Excluding large pulmonary vessels, the average V/Q SI ratios were 0.355 +/- 0.073 for the left lung and 0.371 +/- 0.093 for the right lung, which are in agreement with the theoretical V/Q SI ratio. Plots of the V/Q SI ratio are similar to the logarithmic normal distribution obtained by multiple inert gas elimination techniques, with a range of ratios matching ventilation and perfusion. This MRI V/Q technique is completely noninvasive and does not involve ionized radiation. A limitation of this method is the nonsimultaneous acquisition of perfusion and ventilation data, with oxygen administered only for the ventilation data.

Adult↗

Band artifacts due to bulk motion.

Band artifacts due to bulk motion were investigated in images acquired with fast gradient echo sequences. A simple analytical calculation shows that the width of the artifacts has a square-root dependence on the velocity of the imaged object, the time taken to acquire each line of k-space and the field of view in the phase-encoding direction. The theory furthermore predicts that the artifact width can be reduced using parallel imaging by a factor equal to the square root of the acceleration parameter. The analysis and results are presented for motion in the phase- and frequency-encoding directions and comparisons are made between sequential and centric ordering. The theory is validated in phantom experiments, in which bulk motion is simulated in a controlled and reproducible manner by rocking the scan table back and forth along the bore axis. Preliminary cardiac studies in healthy human volunteers show that dark bands may be observed in the endocardium in images acquired with nonsegmented fast gradient echo sequences. The fact that the position of the bands changes with the phase-encoding direction suggests that they may be artifacts due to motion of the heart walls during the image acquisition period.

Artifacts↗

Inhibition of Na(+)/H(+) isoform-1 exchange protects hearts perfused after 6-hour cardioplegic cold storage.

OBJECTIVES: Cardiac ischemia-reperfusion activates Na(+)/H(+) exchange; excess Na(+) and the resulting Ca(2+) overload, through reverse Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchange, cause cellular injury and cardiac dysfunction. We postulated that inhibiting the Na(+)/H(+) isoform-1 exchanger would add to the protection of hearts after long-term cold storage in acidic cardioplegic solution. METHODS: Guinea pig hearts were isolated and perfused at 37 degrees C with Krebs-Ringer's solution (KRS) and then switched to an acidic St. Thomas solution (STS) at 25 degrees C. Perfusion was stopped at 10 degrees C, and hearts were stored for 6 hours in STS at 3.4 degrees C. On reperfusion to 25 degrees C, hearts were perfused with KRS for 60 minutes. Hearts were divided into 4 groups: sham control (SHAM); eniporide (EPR, EMD96785) IV, 1 mg/kg given IV over 15 minutes before heart isolation; EPR intracoronary, 1 micromol/liter in STS given intracoronary after heart isolation; and EPR IV and intracoronary. RESULTS: Values at 60 minutes reperfusion (the percentage of control [100%] before cold storage) are given, respectively, for EPR IV, EPR intracoronary, and EPR IV and intracoronary vs drug-free SHAM (SEM, *p < 0.05 vs SHAM): 72% +/- 3%*, 65% +/- 3%*, and 81% +/- 2%* vs 55% +/- 3% for left ventricular pressure; 94% +/- 3%*, 96% +/- 5%*, and 102% +/- 2%* vs 81% +/- 3% for coronary flow; 60% +/- 2%, 58% +/- 3%, and 74%* +/- 3% vs 58% +/- 4% for cardiac efficiency; 106% +/- 2%*, 108% +/- 3%*, and 107% +/- 2%* vs 116% +/- 4% for percentage of O(2) extraction. Infarct size as percentage of ventricular weight was 20% +/- 3%*, 31% +/- 3%, and 6% +/- 2%* vs 35% +/- 3% (SHAM) after 60 minutes of reperfusion. CONCLUSIONS: Na(+)/H(+) isoform-1 exchanger inhibition, particularly if given IV before storage and intracoronary during cooling and rewarming, adds to the protection of cardioplegic solutions.

Animals↗

Effects and mechanisms of melatonin on inflammatory and immune responses of adjuvant arthritis rat.

AIM: To study the effects of melatonin on inflammatory and immune responses and its mechanisms. METHODS: The model of adjuvant-induced arthritis (AA) rat was induced by Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA); the thymocyte proliferation and IL-2 production were assayed by 3-(4,5-2dimethylthiazal-2yl)2,5-diphenyltetrazoliumbromide (MTT) and activated mouse splenocytes proliferation, respectively; cAMP and methionine-enkephalin (Met-Enk) level were determined by competitive protein binding assay (CPBA) and radioimmuno-assay, respectively. RESULTS: There was a marked inflammatory response in AA model, which was accompanied by the decreases of thymocyte proliferation and IL-2 production simultaneously. The prophylactic and therapeutic administration of melatonin (1, 10 and 100 microg kg(-1), ig x 7 days) inhibited the inflammatory response and enhanced thymocytes proliferation and IL-2 production significantly in AA rats. In vitro, melatonin, at the concentrations of 10(-7) and 10(-6) mol l(-1) could enhance the thymocyte proliferation in AA rats. The cAMP level stimulated by forskolin (F, a selective adenylate cyclase [AC] activator) in AA rats was higher than that in the control groups. Melatonin (10(-10) or 10(-6) mol l(-1)) had down-regulation on the above increased cAMP levels, which could be abolished by pertussis toxin (PT). Meanwhile, the decrease of thymocyte proliferation in AA rats had a marked relation with the decrease of Met-Enk level in these thymocytes, melatonin (10(-10) or 10(-6) mol l(-1)) could markedly enhance the Met-Enk level, which were blocked by nifedipine, a Ca2+ channel antagonist. CONCLUSIONS: Melatonin possesses anti-inflammatory and immunoregulatory actions, the G protein-AC-cAMP transmembrane signal and Met-Enk release in thymocyte are important mechanisms of this action.

Animals↗

Anesthetic preconditioning attenuates mitochondrial Ca2+ overload during ischemia in Guinea pig intact hearts: reversal by 5-hydroxydecanoic acid.

UNLABELLED: Cardiac ischemia/reperfusion (IR) injury is associated with mitochondrial (m)Ca(2+) overload. Anesthetic preconditioning (APC) attenuates IR injury. We hypothesized that mCa(2+) overload is decreased by APC in association with mitochondrial adenosine triphosphate-sensitive K(+) (mK(ATP)) channel opening. By use of indo-1 fluorescence, m[Ca(2+)] was measured in 40 guinea pig Langendorff-prepared hearts. Control (CON) hearts received no treatment for 50 min before IR; APC hearts were exposed to 1.2 mM (8.8 vol%) sevoflurane for 15 min; APC + 5-hydroxydecanoate (5-HD) hearts received 200 micro M 5-HD from 5 min before to 15 min after sevoflurane exposure; and 5-HD hearts received 5-HD for 35 min. Sevoflurane was washed out for 30 min and 5-HD for 15 min before 30 min of global ischemia and 120 min of reperfusion. During ischemia, the peak m[Ca(2+)] accumulation was decreased by APC from 489 +/- 37 nM (CON) to 355 +/- 28 nM (P < 0.05); this was abolished by 5-HD (475 +/- 38 nM m[Ca(2+)]). APC resulted in improved function and reduced infarct size on reperfusion, which also was blocked by 5-HD. 5-HD pretreatment alone did not affect m[Ca(2+)] (470 +/- 34 nM) or IR injury. Thus, preservation of function and morphology on reperfusion is associated with attenuated mCa(2+) accumulation during ischemia. Reversal by 5-HD suggests that APC may be triggered by opening mK(ATP) channels. IMPLICATIONS: Myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury is associated with mitochondrial Ca(2+) overload. Mitochondrial [Ca(2+)] and function were measured in guinea pig isolated hearts. Anesthetic preconditioning attenuated mitochondrial Ca(2+) overload during ischemia, improved function, and reduced infarct size. Reversal by 5-hydroxydecanoate suggests that anesthetic preconditioning may be triggered by mitochondrial adenosine triphosphate-sensitive K channel opening.

Anesthetics↗