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Biomedical subjects

R Busse

Publications and source records attributed to R Busse.

At least 217 records · Page 12Linked to original sources

L-arginine-dependent nitric oxide formation and nitrite release in bone marrow-derived macrophages stimulated with bacterial lipopeptide and lipopolysaccharide.

This study shows that stimulating bone marrow-derived macrophages with either lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or the lipopeptide N-palmitoyl-S-(2,3-bis(palmitoyloxy)-(2RS)-propyl)-(R)- cysteinyl-alanyl-glycine (Pam3Cys-Ala-Gly), a synthetic analogue of the N-terminal part of bacterial lipoprotein, leads to the formation of nitric oxide (NO) and nitrite (NO2-), a stable analogue of NO. NO was detected by applying the chemiluminescence method and by measuring the activity of exogenously added soluble guanylate cyclase (GC), which is strongly and selectively activated by NO. Synthesis of NO and NO2- occurs via activation of the L-arginine and NADPH-dependent enzyme(s) present in the cytosol of bone marrow-derived macrophages. No produced by this non-constitutive L-arginine pathway is thought to be responsible for the cytostatic and killing properties of macrophages (Stuehr & Nathan, 1989). Macrophages stimulated either with LPS or Pam3Cys-Ala-Gly exhibited a 6-hr lag time before engaging in nitrite synthesis, a time at which expression of the NO-forming enzyme had already reached its maximum. The regulation of NO and NO2- synthesis during macrophage development seems to differ from that of cytokine synthesis. Whereas cytokine release varies during a culture period up to 20 days, NO synthesis and expression of the NO-forming enzyme remain unaltered. These studies show that, similar to LPS, Pam3Cys-Ala-Gly is a potent activator of 'the oxidative L-arginine pathway' in bone marrow-derived macrophages. Whether both stimuli use the same signal transfer mechanism to induce this pathway and whether NO synthesized by this pathway is involved in the activation of the enzyme guanylate cyclase in macrophages requires clarification.

Animals↗

Low-density lipoproteins stimulate internal free calcium and prostacyclin release in endothelial cells.

We have studied the effects of low density lipoproteins (LDL) on the intracellular free calcium concentration [( Ca2+]i, measured with the fluorescent probe indo-1) and PGI2 release (measured with radioimmunoassay of 6-keto PGF1 alpha) in cultured endothelial cells from bovine aorta. Cells transferred to serum-free medium developed an increasing responsiveness to native LDL in terms of increases in [Ca2+]i. After 6 h, native LDL (20-160 micrograms/ml) concentration-dependently evoked immediate, but transient, elevations of [Ca2+]i (from 90 +/- 10 nmol/l to 530 +/- 60 nmol/l at 160 micrograms/ml LDL) and enhanced release of PGI2 at 160 micrograms/ml. Increases in [Ca2+]i were found also in the absence of extracellular Ca2+ indicating that native LDL induces mobilization of Ca2+ from internal stores. LDL oxidized by incubation with Cu2+ had no immediate effects on [Ca2+]i when applied at a concentration of 80 micrograms/ml, whereas 160 micrograms/ml, in the presence of 1 mmol/l extracellular Ca2+, elicited increases in [Ca2+]i and PGI2 release. We conclude that the stimulating actions of low concentrations of native LDL on endothelial cells are likely to be mediated by membrane receptors expressed after removal of serum.

Animals↗

Regulation of femoral vascular resistance by adenine nucleotides via endothelial and smooth muscle receptors.

It is well established that adenosine (ADO) and adenine nucleotides are potent vasodilators, but their role in local blood flow control is still under debate. Recent findings on contribution of vascular endothelium to the vasomotor regulation pointed out this problem. In the present study the effects of adenine nucleotides were investigated in vivo on the femoral arterial flow (FAF) and femoral vascular resistance (FVR). Selective suppression of the endothelium mediated dilation was achieved by gossypol (35 mumol/l). On intact hindlimbs ADO (4 mmol/l) and ATP (0.5 mmol/l) elicited 3.5-fold increase of FAF, in average. Resistance decreased by 6.24 +/- 0.58 and 7.23 +/- 1.12 peripheral resistance units (PRU100), respectively. After gossypol, ATP-induced dilation was either significantly suppressed (resistance-decrease was 3.70 +/- 0.58 PRU100; p less than 0.02 vs control) or turned to strong constriction (FAF decreased by 50%). ADO-induced dilation remained unchanged. These results, in agreement with in vitro data, suggest that adenosine directly relaxes the vascular smooth muscle of resistance vessels via P1-purinoceptors, while ATP-induced vasomotion is composed of a dilator effect mediated by endothelial P2y-receptors, and a direct constrictor effect on the vascular smooth muscle via P2x-purinoceptors.

Adenosine↗

Generation of nitric oxide by human neutrophils.

Human neutrophils were evaluated for their ability to generate nitric oxide. Neutrophils incubated with superoxide dismutase at 37 degrees C produce nitrite anion at a rate of 1.8 nmols/2 x 10(6) cells/30 min, providing indirect evidence of nitric oxide production. Incubation of the neutrophils with concentrations of serum-opsonized zymosan, N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine, or phorbol myristate acetate sufficient to stimulate the respiratory burst and lysosomal enzyme release caused no additional nitrite anion production. Glass wool-adherent neutrophils exhibited a similar dissociation of nitrite anion production from the respiratory burst and lysosomal enzyme release. Direct evidence for nitric oxide production was also obtained using nitric oxide-specific chemiluminescence. These results demonstrate that human neutrophils are capable of generating nitric oxide.

Anions↗

Identification and partial characterization of an adenosine(5')tetraphospho(5')adenosine hydrolase on intact bovine aortic endothelial cells.

The biologically active dinucleotides adenosine(5')tetraphospho(5')adenosine (Ap4A) and adenosine(5')-triphospho(5')adenosine (Ap3A), which are both releasable into the circulation from storage pools in thrombocytes, are catabolized by intact bovine aortic endothelial cells. 1. Compared with extracellular ATP and ADP, which are very rapidly hydrolysed, the degradation of Ap4A and Ap3A by endothelial ectohydrolases is relatively slow, resulting in a much longer half-life on the endothelial surface of the blood vessel. The products of hydrolysis are further degraded and finally taken up as adenosine. 2. Ap4A hydrolase has high affinity for its substrate (Km 10 microM). 3. ATP as well as AMP transiently accumulates in the extracellular fluid, suggesting an asymmetric split of Ap4A by the ectoenzyme. 4. Mg2+ or Mn2+ at millimolar concentration are needed for maximal activity; Zn2+ and Ca2+ are inhibitory. 5. The hydrolysis of Ap4A is retarded by other nucleotides, such as ATP and Ap3A, which are released from platelets simultaneously with Ap4A.

Acid Anhydride Hydrolases↗

Endothelium- and sydnonimine-induced responses of native and cultured aortic smooth muscle cells are not impaired by nitroglycerin tolerance.

Tolerance to the cyclic GMP-mediated vasodilator action of nitroglycerin develops with prolonged exposure and may be mediated either by formation of less nitric oxide from nitroglycerin or by desensitization of soluble guanylate cyclase to activation with nitric oxide. In the latter case, smooth muscle cells tolerant to nitroglycerin should show cross-tolerance to nitric oxide released from sydnonimines and endothelial cells (endothelium-derived relaxing factor). Therefore cultured smooth muscle cells from rabbit aorta were pretreated for 1 h with vehicle or high concentrations (0.55 mM) of nitroglycerin or the sydnonimine SIN-1. The formation of cyclic GMP induced by subsequent small doses of nitroglycerin, sydnonimine SIN-1 and endothelium-derived relaxing factor (released from cultured endothelial cells) was compared with the changes in activation of soluble guanylate cyclase, cyclic GMP formation and vasodilation in response to the same stimuli in similarly pretreated segments from rabbit thoracic aortae. Both cultured and native smooth muscle cells remained responsive to stimulation with sydnonimine SIN-1 and endothelium-derived relaxing factor after pretreatment with nitroglycerin, vehicle, or sydnonimine SIN-1, even though they were tolerant to nitroglycerin after pretreatment with nitroglycerin. In contrast, activation of soluble guanylate cyclase by nitroglycerin and sydnonimine SIN-1 was attenuated in homogenates of nitrate-tolerant aortae. The findings suggest that nitroglycerin tolerance in intact cells does not involve desensitization of soluble guanylate cyclase, because in intact cells nitrate tolerance can be overcome by direct activators of soluble guanylate cyclase.

Animals↗

LY 83583 (6-anilino-5,8-quinolinedione) blocks nitrovasodilator-induced cyclic GMP increases and inhibition of platelet activation.

We studied the effects and the mechanism of action of the cyclic GMP-lowering substance 6-anilino-5,8-quinolinedione (LY 83583) on cyclic GMP-mediated inhibition of platelet function. The activation of washed human platelets by thrombin was counteracted by 8-bromo-cyclic GMP and the direct activators of soluble guanylate cyclase, sodium nitroprusside and endothelium-derived relaxant factor (EDRF = nitric oxide). LY 83583 significantly antagonized the inhibitory effect of sodium nitroprusside and EDRF, but not that of 8-bromo-cyclic GMP, on thrombin-induced aggregation, ATP-release, adhesion to native endothelial cells and increase in concentration of free intracellular calcium ions. In accordance, increases in intracellular cyclic GMP by sodium nitroprusside and EDRF were attenuated by LY 83583. The inhibition of cyclic GMP-mediated effects on platelets by LY 83583 could be related to inhibition of platelet soluble guanylate cyclase, as the activation of the purified enzyme from platelets by sodium nitroprusside was directly inhibited by LY 83583. This effect of LY 83583 was attenuated in the presence of superoxide dismutase. Our findings support the hypothesis that sodium nitroprusside and EDRF inhibit platelet activation by stimulation of soluble guanylate cyclase via nitric oxide. Consequently, inhibition of nitric oxide-induced cyclic GMP formation by LY 83583, which may act by intracellular generation of superoxide anions, facilitates platelet activation.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Nitric oxide synthesis in endothelial cytosol: evidence for a calcium-dependent and a calcium-independent mechanism.

Release of nitric oxide (NO) from endothelial cells critically depends on a sustained increase in intracellular free calcium maintained by a transmembrane calcium influx into the cells. Therefore, we studied whether the free cytosolic calcium concentration directly affects the activity of the NO-forming enzyme(s) present in the cytosol from freshly harvested porcine aortic endothelial cells. NO was quantified by activation of a purified soluble guanylate cyclase co-incubated with the cytosol. In the presence of 1 mM L-arginine, 0.1 mM NADPH and 0.1 mM EGTA, endothelial cytosol (0.2 mg of cytosolic protein per ml) stimulated the activity of guanylate cyclase 5.0 +/- 0.5-fold (from 31 +/- 9 to 153 +/- 15 nmol cyclic GMP formed per min per mg guanylate cyclase). Calcium chloride increased this stimulation further in a concentration-dependent fashion by up to 136 +/- 15% (with 2 microM free calcium; EC50 0.3 microM). The calcium-dependent and -independent activation of guanylate cyclase was enhanced by superoxide dismutase (0.3 microM) and was inhibited by the stereospecifically acting inhibitor of L-arginine-dependent NO formation NG-nitro-L-arginine (1 mM) and by LY 83583 (1 microM), a generator of superoxide anions. Our findings suggest a calcium-dependent and -independent synthesis of NO from L-arginine by native porcine aortic endothelial cells.

Aminoquinolines↗

Differential vascular sensitivity to luminally and adventitially applied endothelin-1.

When secreted into the vascular lumen, endothelin-1 (ET-1) potentially may act as a circulating pressor substance. We investigated whether luminal ET-1 can directly stimulate smooth muscle in isolated vascular segments. Rabbit femoral arteries and veins whose luminal and adventitial surfaces could be perfused separately were used. Luminally administered ET-1 (1 nM) induced a vasoconstriction (21 +/- 5% of outer resting diameter) in segments without endothelium whereas in segments with intact endothelium, no significant vasomotor response was observed. In segments without endothelium, however, the vasoconstrictor responses to luminal and abluminal ET-1 were not significantly different. Similar results were obtained in segments of femoral veins. No release of endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF) could be detected (guanylate cyclase assay) in segments of rabbit aorta and vena cava following stimulation with ET-1 whereas there was a slight increase (by 20 +/- 13%) of PGI2 release. It is concluded that the endothelium forms a tight barrier to circulating ET-1 (up to 1 nM) in intact vessels that has no functionally significant effect on endothelial autacoid release.

Animals↗

Modulation of the vasodilator action of SIN-1 by the endothelium.

We studied the influence of endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF) on sydnonimine (SIN-1)-induced vasodilatation and the accumulation of cyclic GMP in the rabbit femoral artery. The potency of SIN-1 to elicit vasodilatation in norepinephrine-contracted femoral arteries was significantly enhanced in the absence of the endothelium or following impairment of the synthesis of EDRF with gossypol or NG-nitro-L-arginine, whether the application of SIN-1 was intra- or extraluminal. The increase in cyclic GMP in the femoral segments by a combination of SIN-1 and endothelium-derived relaxant factor (released by the endothelium of either the rabbit thoracic aorta or the femoral artery) was significantly less than the sum of the increases in cyclic GMP induced by each agent alone. In contrast, stimulation of purified soluble guanylate cyclase by submaximal concentrations of SIN-1 was additive with the effect of EDRF, released from acetylcholine-stimulated rabbit aortas. This indicates the absence of a direct interaction between the factor and SIN-1 at the level of soluble guanylate cyclase. The interaction seems to be specific for cyclic GMP-mediated responses, since cyclic AMP-induced dilatations elicited by isoproterenol were not affected by the presence of the endothelium. The results indicate that the endothelium can modulate the vascular reactivity to SIN-1. This modulation may be mediated either by EDRF or by another endothelial substance that alters the metabolism or the action of cyclic GMP in vascular smooth muscle.

Animals↗

Hypoxia stimulates release of endothelium-derived relaxant factor.

It was tested whether hypoxia stimulates the release of endothelium-derived relaxant factor (EDRF). In paired segments (with and without endothelium) of either femoral artery (n = 49) or aorta (n = 42) from rabbits, selective luminal hypoxia (Po2 = 24 +/- 8 mmHg) was induced, whereas the Po2 at the adventitial side was kept above 300 mmHg. Hypoxia induced a dilation of 11 +/- 2% in aortic segments with endothelium, whereas the paired segments without endothelium dilated by only 1.2 +/- 0.2% (P less than 0.001). Similar results were obtained in femoral segments (11.8 +/- 1.5% dilation in segments with endothelium vs. 1.4 +/- 0.2% in segments without; P less than 0.001). Likewise in 19 out of 36 bioassay experiments, perfusate from endothelium-intact rabbit aortas or cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells exposed to hypoxia elicited dilation (10.7 +/- 3.2%) in the detector. The EDRF-inhibitors, hemoglobin (5 microM) and dithiothreitol (200 microM), significantly inhibited the hypoxia-induced dilation of intact segments as well as of assay segments perfused with effluent from hypoxic donors. These results suggest that hypoxia stimulates the release of EDRF from native and cultured endothelium. Low partial pressures of oxygen, such as those that exist in small arteries and arterioles, might therefore be a physiological stimulus for continuous release of EDRF.

Acetylcholine↗

EDRF increases cyclic GMP in platelets during passage through the coronary vascular bed.

It was investigated whether endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF) increases cyclic GMP (cGMP) content in platelets passing through the coronary bed. Boluses of washed platelets from healthy human donors were injected into the aortic perfusion line of isolated, saline-perfused rabbit hearts under constant flow conditions (28 +/- 2 ml/min). The coronary effluent was collected over 5 seconds, and the cGMP content of platelets was determined by radioimmunoassay. Platelet cGMP amounted to 0.34 +/- 0.11 pmol/mg protein after passage through the unstimulated coronary bed. During stimulation with acetylcholine (1 microM), it increased to 1.6 +/- 0.5 pmol/mg (p less than 0.01; n = 14). Simultaneously, the platelet recovery (measured over 20 seconds after injection) was enhanced (by 45 +/- 11%; p less than 0.01) during endothelial stimulation with acetylcholine. Treatment with the EDRF inhibitor hemoglobin (6 microM) completely abolished the increase in platelet cGMP (p less than 0.01; n = 11) as well as the enhanced platelet recovery (n = 8). Inhibition of EDRF by hemoglobin reduced also the basal platelet cGMP content to 0.17 +/- 0.11 pmol/mg (p less than 0.01). The data indicate that basally released EDRF is able to increase cGMP in platelets during a single passage through the coronary bed. The enhanced recovery of platelets after EDRF stimulation, which coincides with an increase of platelet cGMP, suggests that EDRF plays an important role as inhibitor of platelet activation in the coronary circulation.

Acetylcholine↗

Physiological targets of superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide in reperfusion injury.

Current dogma associates reperfusion injury with the introduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) into the ischemic tissue. The sources of ROS under discussion are xanthine oxidase in the endothelium of small vessels and/or invaded polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN). The beneficial effects of both superoxide dismutase and catalase suggest an involvement of superoxide anions and hydrogen peroxide in this pathophysiological process, without describing the targets of their action. In our work we demonstrate that these two ROS effectively interact with two enzymes. Superoxide anions inhibit soluble guanylate cyclase. Its product, cGMP, is considered to antagonize platelet activation and to cause smooth muscle relaxation. Thus O2- can intensify platelet aggregability and small vessel occlusion. Similar effects are elicited by H2O2, which shifts the dose response curve of several agonists towards smaller concentrations by activating cyclooxygenase. This enzyme provides the substrate for thromboxane synthase which generates TxA2, the most potent physiologically occurring platelet aggregating and smooth muscle contacting agonist. These results lead us to the suggestion that the influence of the oxidative burst of PMN in the phenomenon of reperfusion injury should be reconsidered.

Arachidonic Acid↗

[Inhibition of thrombocyte aggregation and adhesion by endothelium-derived relaxant factor (EDRF) and their pathophysiologic significance].

Changes in viscous drag acting upon the endothelial lining and a number of circulating agonists (ATP, ADP, serotonin, thrombin) stimulate the release of EDRF from intact endothelial cells. EDRF is probably identical with nitric oxide (NO), the vasoactive compound which is also formed in the metabolism of nitrovasodilators in the vasculature (some of them directly release NO without the essential foregoing bioconversion step). Albuminally released NO stimulates soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) in the vasculature initiating vasodilation; luminally released NO stimulates, sGC in platelets and increases cyclic GMP inhibiting platelet activation and aggregation. Endothelial impairment brings about loss of dilator and antiaggregant capacity.

Animals↗

Mechanisms controlling the production of endothelial autacoids.

The endothelium plays an important role in the control of vascular tone and platelet activity. This is mainly achieved by the release of autacoids, particularly EDRF (identical with nitric oxide, NO) and PGI2. The release of both autacoids is evoked by physical factors like hypoxia and shear stress and by various chemical compounds like acetylcholine, ATP and bradykinin. These agonists bind to membrane receptors coupled to phospholipase C, thereby increasing production of inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3). IP3 mobilizes Ca2+ from intracellular stores, thus elevating the intracellular free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i), in synergy with a simultaneously induced transmembrane Ca2+ influx. The level of [Ca2+]i closely correlates with endothelial production of PGI2 whereas Ca2+ influx is apparently a decisive signal for the sustained release of EDRF. This influx may be facilitated by an agonist-induced membrane hyperpolarization probably being mediated by activation of Ca2+-dependent K+ channels. Depolarization of the endothelial cell membrane on the other hand (evoked by raising the extracellular K+ concentration) attenuates the Ca2+ influx as well as EDRF release. The agonist-induced endothelial hyperpolarization may also be electrotonically transmitted to adjacent smooth muscle cells via myoendothelial gap junctions and may act synergistically with the EDRF-mediated relaxation. Alternatively, spread of this electrical signal along the endothelial lining may enhance the release of autacoids.

Animals↗

Clinical tolerance to nitroglycerin is due to impaired biotransformation of nitroglycerin and biological counterregulation, not to desensitization of guanylate cyclase.

UNLABELLED: We studied the effect of nitroglycerin (NTG), endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF), sydnonimine SIN-1, and sodium nitroprusside (SNP) on vascular tone, cyclic GMP content and activity of soluble guanylate cyclase (GC) (in homogenates) of tolerant (1 h 0.55 mM NTG) and non-tolerant (1 h vehicle) de-endothelialized rabbit aortae (RA) as well as on cyclic GMP content of cultured smooth muscle cells (SMC) from RA. Nitrate tolerance significantly attenuated NTG-induced vasodilation of precontracted (1.0 microM norepinephrine) RA, increase in cyclic GMP in RA and SMC, and activation of guanylate cyclase in homogenates as compared to controls. In contrast, vasodilation and cyclic GMP increases to NNP, SIN-1, and EDRF (from cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells) were not affected in RA and SMC, despite desensitization of guanylate cyclase to activation with SNP and SIN-1 in homogenized tolerant RA. CONCLUSION: A desensitization of soluble guanylate cyclase to activation with NO can be demonstrated under non-physiological conditions (disrupted cells) in homogenates from nitrate tolerant RA. However, in intact cells (in situ or in culture) soluble guanylate cyclase is not desensitized to EDRF, SIN-1 or SNP. Therefore reduced generation of NO from NTG because of impaired biotransformation of NTG must be regarded as the basis of nitrate tolerance.

Animals↗

Desensitization of guanylate cyclase in nitrate tolerance does not impair endothelium-dependent responses.

Tolerance of vascular smooth muscle to nitroglycerin could be induced by an impaired biotransformation of nitroglycerin to nitric oxide, the activator of soluble guanylate cyclase, or by desensitization of guanylate cyclase to activation with nitric oxide. The latter would imply that there would also be tolerance to nitric oxide delivered from sodium nitroprusside or endothelial cells. Therefore, endothelium-denuded segments of rabbit aorta were treated with nitroglycerin to induce tolerance, and were then assessed for mechanical response, cyclic GMP content, and activity of soluble guanylate cyclase after addition of nitrovasodilators. Nitrate tolerance decreased the vasodilation and the increase in cyclic GMP elicited by nitroglycerin, but not that elicited by sodium nitroprusside or endothelium-derived relaxing factor, in norepinephrine-contracted segments. However, soluble guanylate cyclase in the supernatants of homogenates of nitrate-tolerant aortas was desensitized to activation with nitroglycerin and sodium nitroprusside. As the guanylate cyclase was still responsive to activation by nitric oxide in the intact, tolerant smooth muscle, an impaired biotransformation of nitroglycerin rather than desensitization of soluble guanylate cyclase may be the mechanism by which nitrate tolerance develops.

Animals↗