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Biomedical subjects

R H Strasser

Publications and source records attributed to R H Strasser.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

The cardiac adrenergic system in ischaemia: differential role of acidosis and energy depletion.

OBJECTIVE: Acute myocardial ischaemia has been shown to modulate the beta-adrenergic system and to activate protein kinase C. The aim of this study was to investigate if two important components of ischaemia, i.e. energy depletion or acidosis, may contribute to these changes. METHODS: Isolated rat hearts were perfused either with anoxia (in the absence of oxygen) or with cyanide in the absence of glucose as models of energy depletion with a loss of high energy phosphates. Alternatively, isolated hearts were perfused with acidic modified Krebs-Henseleit solution to induce acidosis. RESULTS: Energy depletion induced by cyanide perfusion leads to an increase of beta-adrenergic receptors (81 +/- 7 vs. 50 +/- 3 fmol/mg protein, p < or = 0.05) comparable to the changes observed in ischaemia, yet without any change of total adenylyl cyclase activity or protein kinase C activity. Similar, yet less pronounced changes were induced by anoxic perfusion. Acidic perfusion, in contrast, promotes a translocation of protein kinase C to the plasma membranes, suggesting its rapid activation. Additionally, an increased total forskolin-stimulated activity of adenylyl cyclase (515 +/- 16 vs. 428 +/- 17 pmol/min/mg, p < or = 0.05) was observed. Both were comparable to the sensitization observed in early ischaemia. In acidosis, the density of beta-adrenergic receptors remained unaltered. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that the regulation of cardiac beta-adrenergic receptors is susceptible to energy depletion, but not to acidosis, whereas the intracellular enzymes both adenylyl cyclase and protein kinase C may be regulated by intracellular acidosis. This is the first differentiation of distinct components of ischaemia modulating the beta-adrenergic signal transduction pathway. Both components may be operative in concert in acute myocardial ischaemia and may contribute to the regulation of these components of signal transduction observed in acute ischaemia.

Acidosis↗
PubMed1997

Protein kinase C activation after cellular adhesion on fibronectin: partial suppression after inhibition of protein isoprenylation.

The cellular events following interaction between matrix proteins and cells are important requisites for physiological mechanisms as well as the progress of a number of diseases. Cellular adhesion to fibronectin, an important component of the extracellular matrix has been demonstrated to be associated with translocation of protein kinase C (PKC) by an integrin-dependent pathway. For this process G-proteins may play an important role as coupling proteins. Membrane association and activity of G-proteins has been shown to be regulated by isoprenylation. We therefore studied whether fibronectin mediated adhesion resulted in PKC translocation and if isoprenylation of cellular proteins may play a role for this integrin-dependent pathway of PKC activation. Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells were pretreated with either the Hydroxy-methylglutaryl(HMG)-CoA reductase inhibitor lovastatin or prenylation inhibitor limonene. For the stimulation by extracellular matrices, CHO cells were plated on tissue culture dishes coated with fibronectin or bovine serum albumin and PKC activity was determined. To investigate direct effects of inhibition of isoprenylation on cytoskeletal organization, phalloidin-stained stress fibers were characterized after adhesion on different matrices. CHO cells seeded on fibronectin displayed over twice the PKC translocation to the particulate fraction in comparison to that measured in cells on albumin. Pretreatment of CHO cells with lovastatin or limonene resulted in partial suppression of PKC activation after cell-seeding on the specific matrix fibronectin. Changed PKC distribution was not due to a disorganization of the actin skeleton. These data show that inhibition of isoprenylation of cellular proteins, possibly small Guanosine triphosphate(GTP)-binding proteins, alters only the integrin-mediated PKC distribution but does not greatly influence constitutive PKC distribution.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Beta-blockade reduces effects of adenosine and carbachol by transregulation of inhibitory receptors and Gi proteins.

Chronic blockade of stimulatory beta-adrenergic receptors may decrease inhibitory receptors of the adrenergic signal transduction system. This transregulation process might reduce the negative inotropic response of the myocardium to inhibitory receptor stimulation. Rats were treated for 6 days with the beta-blocker atenolol (2 mg/day). beta-Adrenergic receptors in cardiac plasma membranes increased from 49 +/- 6 to 75 +/- 9 fmol/mg protein (means +/- SE; P = 0.053), whereas muscarinic M2 receptors decreased (155 +/- 15 vs. 105 +/- 10 fmol/mg protein; P < or = 0.05). Moreover, inhibitory G alpha(i) proteins were reduced by 36%. The functional responses of isolated hearts to inhibitory agonists after prestimulation with isoproterenol (3 nmol/l) were significantly blunted. The Ki value for the negative inotropic response of the maximal rise in developed left ventricular pressure (dP/dt(max)) to adenosine (0.1-100 micromol/l) increased from 5.9 +/- 1.7 to 24.0 +/- 2.5 micromol/l (P < or = 0.001). A similar rightward shift of the dose-response curve was observed for the effects of adenosine on developed left ventricular pressure (LVP) and of carbachol (0.01-10 micromol/l) on LVP and dP/dt. Thus chronic beta-blockade leads to a coordinate transregulation of inhibitory receptors and Gi proteins, reducing the effects of inhibitory receptor activation of the heart. This mechanism may contribute to the beneficial effects of beta-blocker therapy in heart failure.

Adenosine↗
PubMed1996

Contrast-enhanced doppler ultrasound for noninvasive assessment of pulmonary artery pressure during exercise in patients with chronic congestive heart failure.

Pulmonary artery pressure response to exercise was assessed using contrast enhancement of tricuspid regurgitation peak velocities in 19 patients with chronic congestive heart failure. Estimated systolic pulmonary artery pressures correlated closely with invasively measured pressures at rest (r=0.82, p <0.001) and during peak exercise (r=0.86, p <0.001) at a good level of agreement (mean difference 7.3 +/- 12 mm Hg), indicating that this method provides a reliable, noninvasive approach to evaluating functional reserve in patients with chronic congestive heart failure.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Differential regulation of mRNA specific for beta 1- and beta 2-adrenergic receptors in human failing hearts. Evaluation of the absolute cardiac mRNA levels by two independent methods.

In human heart failure beta-adrenergic receptors are downregulated which contributes to the reduced responsiveness to positive inotropic beta-agonists in the diseased heart. The present study addressed the question whether the number of beta-adrenergic receptors in the failing human heart is regulated at the level of the mRNA and whether the absolute steady-state levels of subtype-specific mRNAs mirror the expression of receptor-subtype proteins in human heart. In a collaborative effort, two different and independent methods, performed in two independent laboratories, reverse transcription followed by polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and RNase protection assays, were used to determine the absolute steady-state levels of beta 1- and beta 2-adrenergic receptor mRNAs in control (NF) and in failing human hearts. As determined by quantitative RT-PCR the beta 1-mRNA was significantly reduced from 0.98 +/- 0.12 (n = 10) to 0.49 +/- 0.11 pg/microgram total RNA in dilated cardiomyopathy (dCMP, n = 7) and to 0.40 +/- 0.11 pg/microgram total RNA in ischemic cardiomyopathy (iCMP, n = 8). The steady-state levels of mRNA specific for beta 2-adrenergic receptors also tended to be decreased but without reaching significance (NF: 0.16 +/- 0.05, dCMP: 0.11 +/- 0.03, iCMP: 0.13 +/- 0.04 pg/microgram total RNA). RNase protection assays revealed similar values. beta 1-mRNA was found to be significantly reduced from 1.22 +/- 0.22 in NF (n = 10) to 0.63 +/- 0.14 pg/microgram total RNA in dCMP (n = 5) and to 0.52 +/- 0.1 pg/microgram total RNA in iCMP (n = 8). The beta 2-mRNA also tended to be lower in dCMP and in iCMP as compared to NF but again without reaching significance (NF: 0.14 +/- 0.02, dCMP: 0.099 +/- 0.02, iCMP 0.107 +/- 0.02 pg/microgram total RNA). This is the first study to demonstrate in parallel by two different methods performed independently in two laboratories that the ratio of beta 1- and beta 2-adrenergic receptor densities in the left ventricle of the normal human heart of about 80/20 is closely related to the absolute steady state concentrations of their specific mRNA. In addition, the magnitude of the decrease in mRNA-levels of beta 1- and beta 2-adrenergic receptors in the failing human heart closely correlates with the decrease of the respective receptor proteins. These data suggest that the predominant regulation of beta-adrenergic receptors occurs at the mRNA level.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

[The role of nitrates in therapy of heart failure].

For nitrates their efficacy in acute and chronic heart failure has to be differentiated. In acute heart failure the hemodynamic and symptomatic improvements after administration of short term nitrate therapy render this form of therapy a standard medication. In contrast, the therapy with nitrates in chronic heart failure has not significantly improved prognosis especially when compared with ACE-inhibitors. On the contrary, nitrates in chronic heart failure tend to increase the sympathetic tone which is negatively correlated to survival. Thus, nitrates are only adjunctive therapy in patients with chronic heart failure.

Heart Failure↗
PubMed1996

Changes in cardiac signal transduction systems in chronic ethanol treatment preceding the development of alcoholic cardiomyopathy.

Chronic alcohol consumption has been postulated as an important pathogenetic mechanism for the development of alcoholic cardiomyopathy. This form of chronic heart failure shares with other forms of cardiomyopathy the pronounced alterations of the adrenergic signal transduction systems. These alterations include a significant reduction of beta-adrenergic receptors and a reduced responsiveness of the adenylyl cyclase. Changes of other receptor systems such as alpha-adrenergic and muscarinic receptors have not been studied extensively so far. To address the question if changes of the adrenergic signal transduction systems may occur early in the development of alcoholic cardiomyopathy and if alpha 1-adrenergic receptors and muscarinic receptors may be subjected to an altered expression even before severe impairment of the left ventricular function becomes obvious, rats were chronically fed with an alcohol diet containing 35% of total calorie intake as ethanol. In cardiac plasma membranes beta-adrenergic receptors, alpha 1-adrenergic receptors, muscarinic receptors and adenylyl cyclase activities were determined after 4 and 8 weeks of chronic alcohol treatment. After these periods of chronic alcohol diet no signs of overt heart failure such as pleural effusion or increased lung wet weight as parameters for congestion were present. Body weight gain was comparable in the controls and under chronic alcohol treatment in these adolescent rats. Both after 4 and 8 weeks of chronic alcohol treatment the density of cardiac beta-adrenergic receptors remained unchanged and all adenylyl cyclase activities remained fully responsive. In contrast, after 8 weeks of alcohol treatment the developmental increase of cardiac muscarinic receptors in the adolescent rats was greatly impaired resulting in a significantly reduced expression of these receptors even before clinical signs of heart failure. In contrast the density of cardiac alpha 1-adrenergic receptors were significantly reduced already after 4 weeks of chronic alcohol treatment with an additional impairment of the developmental increase after 8 weeks of alcohol treatment. These data characterize for the first time early changes of cardiac receptor system in chronic alcohol treatment which precede the development of overt heart failure. These changes include alpha 1-adrenergic and muscarinic receptors, but in contrast to severe heart failure, leave the beta 1-adrenergic system and the responsiveness of the adenylyl cyclase intact. Additionally these data show the developmentally increased expression of cardiac alpha 1-adrenergic and muscarinic receptors in rat heart.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗
PubMed1995

Regulation of beta-adrenergic receptors in acute myocardial ischemia: subtype-selective increase of mRNA specific for beta 1-adrenergic receptors.

Acute myocardial ischemia leads to a rapid increase of cardiac beta-adrenergic receptors in plasma membranes despite the release of large and desensitizing amounts of endogenous catecholamines. Part of this increase has been shown to occur at the expense of intracellular receptors. To investigate whether an additional expressional regulation of beta-adrenergic receptors due to an increase of mRNA levels is involved, the mRNA levels specific for beta 1- and beta 2-adrenergic receptors were determined after various periods of global ischemia in isolated perfused rat hearts. The subtype-specific quantification of mRNA for beta 1- and beta 2-adrenergic receptors was determined using reverse-transcription followed by PCR (RT-PCR) and RNA protection assays. RT-PCR resulted in single amplification products of the expected sizes (159 bp for beta 1-adrenergic receptors and 240 bp for beta 2-adrenergic receptors). The specificity of these amplification products was confirmed by specific restriction digests. Southern blot hybridizations with internal oligonucleotides and sequencing using the dideoxy chain termination method. For quantification purposes, the mRNAs of housekeeping gene GAPDH and of cardiac alpha-actin were determined as internal standards. Additionally, cRNAs specific for beta 1- and beta 2-adrenergic receptors were used as external standards. Brief periods of global ischemia induced a rapid increase in the steady state level of mRNA for beta 1-adrenergic receptors. There was a statistically significant rise already after 15 min by 57% compared to controls. After 30 min of ischemia the mRNA levels had almost doubled. After 60 min of ischemia, the mRNA levels specific for beta 1-adrenergic receptors tended to decrease, but remained significantly above normoxic controls. In contrast, the mRNA levels specific for beta 2-adrenergic receptors remained constant up to 60 min of global myocardial ischemia. To investigate, whether agonist occupancy of the receptors may contribute to this regulation, the effect of preperfusion with the beta-blocker alprenolol was determined. Contrary to expectation, beta-blockade did not influence the ischemia-induced increase of mRNA levels specific for beta 1-adrenergic receptors. These data demonstrate for the first time, that acute myocardial ischemia induces a rapid, and subtype-selective regulation of mRNA levels for beta 1-adrenergic receptors. However, occupation or activation of beta-adrenergic receptors by an agonist is not involved in this newly characterized regulation of mRNA for beta 1-adrenergic receptors in acute myocardial ischemia.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1995

Impaired function of inhibitory G proteins during acute myocardial ischemia of canine hearts and its reversal during reperfusion and a second period of ischemia. Possible implications for the protective mechanism of ischemic preconditioning.

A brief antecedent period of myocardial ischemia and reperfusion can delay cellular injury during a subsequent ischemic condition. Recent observations suggest that this protective mechanism depends on the continued activation of adenosine A1 receptors and Gi proteins. During acute myocardial ischemia, sufficient amounts of adenosine for maximal activation of adenosine A1 receptors are released, independent of a preconditioning ischemia. Hence, the protective mechanism of ischemic preconditioning may not exclusively be explained by activation of adenosine A1 receptors. As a working hypothesis, an increased responsiveness of Gi proteins toward receptor-mediated activation, leading to an increased response of Gi-regulated effectors, was tested in this study. In 47 anesthetized dogs, ischemia was induced by proximal ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery. Animals underwent either a single period of 5 minutes of ischemia (n = 9), a single period of 15 minutes of ischemia (n = 10), 5 minutes of ischemia followed by 15 minutes of reperfusion (n = 8), 15 minutes of ischemia followed by 60 minutes of reperfusion (n = 5), or 5 minutes of ischemia followed by 15 minutes of reperfusion and a second period of 5 minutes of ischemia (n = 15). Sarcolemmal membranes were prepared from the central ischemic area and from the posterior left ventricular wall, which served as the control. During ischemia, carbochol-stimulated GTPase decreased by 38% (control, 33.5 +/- 17.7; ischemia, 24.2 +/- 15 pmol.min-1.mg protein-1; n = 9; P < .001). The decrease in carbachol-stimulated GTPase activity was associated with a 45% decrease in carbachol-mediated inhibition of adenylyl cyclase (control, 28.9 +/- 2.4% maximal inhibition; ischemia, 15.1 +/- 2.6% maximal inhibition; n = 5; P < .001). Prolongation of the ischemic period to 15 minutes did not lead to a further reduction of the Gi-mediated signal transduction. The binding properties of muscarinic receptors were not affected by ischemia. Furthermore, as demonstrated by carbachol-stimulated binding of [gamma-35S]GTP to sarcolemmal membranes, high- and low-affinity binding sites for the muscarinic antagonist carbachol, the EC50 for carbachol-stimulated GTPase activity and the substrate dependency of the high-affinity GTPase, the interaction between muscarinic receptors and inhibitory G proteins, and GTP binding to G proteins were not altered (n = 14). Immunoblotting with alpha 1- and alpha 2-specific antibodies did not indicate a loss of Gi proteins during ischemia that could explain the reduced GTPase activity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Chronic beta-blockade transregulates inhibitory A1 adenosine and muscarinic M2 receptors of the adenylyl cyclase system.

Chronic beta-blockade has evolved to an important therapeutic strategy in medicine. Not all its therapeutic effects may be explained by its direct action on the beta-adrenergic system. We therefore investigated if chronic beta-blockade in vivo or in isolated cell systems may modulate also inhibitory receptors of the adenylyl cyclase system. Chronic treatment with metoprolol for 6 days (10 mg/day) induced an increase of beta-adrenergic receptors in rat cardiac plasma membranes (53 +/- 8 vs 80 +/- 12 fmol/mg protein). Simultaneously the density of cardiac muscarinic M2 receptors decreased significantly from 150 +/- 17 to 110 +/- 12 fmol/mg protein without any change of the affinity of the receptors for their agonists or antagonists. By this mechanism chronic beta-blockade leads to an unexpected impairment of the muscarinic-mediated inhibition of the adenylyl cyclase. This transregulation of inhibitory receptors by chronic beta-blockade was not restricted to the heart but also reduced the muscarinic receptors of rat lung (35 +/- 4 vs 24 +/- 3 fmol/mg protein). Additionally, other inhibitory receptors of the adenylyl cyclase system such as the A1 adenosine receptors of rat brain were reduced by chronic beta-blockade (532 +/- 32 vs 444 +/- 26 fmol/mg protein). This transregulation of A1 adenosine receptors occurred only after chronic beta-blockade with the active stereoisomer (-)-metoprolol whereas the (+)-isomer was ineffective. The ability of the remaining A1 adenosine receptors to form the agonist-promoted high affinity state was unaltered. Their reduction, however, was sufficient to abolish the phenylisopropyl-mediated inhibition of the adenylyl cyclase. To evaluate if this regulation of various inhibitory receptors in different organs may represent a general cellular regulation mechanism, we investigated whether this transregulation also occurred in isolated cells. Isolated smooth muscle cells derived from the vas deferens (DDT1 MF-2) were cultivated in the presence of the beta-blocker atenolol (10(-5) M) for 3 days. Chronic beta-blockade in these isolated cells induced an increase of beta-adrenergic receptors and concomitantly a significant decrease of A1 adenosine receptors (460 +/- 42 vs 368 +/- 18 fmol/mg protein). The affinity of the A1 adenosine receptors for their agonists and antagonists and the ability of the remaining receptors to form the agonist-promoted high affinity state remained unaltered. In contrast, the reduction of receptor density greatly impaired the adenosine-mediated inhibition of the adenylyl cyclase. These data demonstrate that chronic beta-blockade leads to a functionally significant reduction of inhibitory receptors of the adenylyl cyclase system.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Adenylyl Cyclases↗
PubMed1992

Alpha 1-receptor-independent activation of protein kinase C in acute myocardial ischemia. Mechanisms for sensitization of the adenylyl cyclase system.

The activity of the adrenergic system plays an important role in the genesis of malignant arrhythmias and the spreading of the infarcted zone in acute myocardial ischemia. Acute myocardial ischemia induces an increased activity of adenylyl cyclase. This sensitization at the enzyme level as shown in the isolated perfused rat heart occurs rapidly after the onset of ischemia (5-15 minutes) and is rapidly reversible on reperfusion. With prolonged ischemia, it is only transient and is followed by a gradual loss of the adenylyl cyclase activity. The increased activity of adenylyl cyclase is even retained after partial purification, suggesting a covalent modification of the enzyme. Blockade of alpha 1-adrenergic receptors does not prevent this sensitization, demonstrating that it occurs independently of alpha 1-adrenergic receptor activation. Only blockade of protein kinase C by various inhibitors, such as polymyxin B or staurosporine, is able to completely prevent this sensitization process. Moreover, in acute myocardial ischemia an activation of protein kinase C could be identified using its translocation from the cytosol to the particulate fraction as an indicator. Blockade of alpha 1-adrenergic receptors using prazosin fails to prevent the activation of protein kinase C and consequently the sensitization of the adenylyl cyclase system, indicating that the ischemia-induced translocation of protein kinase C occurs independently of alpha 1-adrenergic receptors. These data characterize for the first time an important interaction of two effector enzymes of two distinct signal transduction pathways, i.e., the adenylyl cyclase system and the protein kinase C system in acute myocardial ischemia.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adenylyl Cyclases↗
PubMed1991

Sensitization of the beta-adrenergic system in acute myocardial ischaemia by a protein kinase C-dependent mechanism.

In acute myocardial infarction the occurrence of malignant arrhythmias and the spreading of the infarcted zone followed by the development of heart failure determine the clinical outcome of the disease. The activity of the adrenergic system plays an important role in both. At various levels acute myocardial ischaemia induces an inadequate activation of the adrenergic system. The increased presynaptic release of endogenous catecholamines does not promote the expected desensitization at the postsynaptic level. In contrast, acute ischaemia leads to a rapid and persistent increase of functionally coupled beta-adrenergic receptors, which in the early phase of acute ischaemia, induce an increased responsiveness of the adenylyl cyclase system to beta-adrenergic stimulation. This sensitization at the receptor level is superimposed by a receptor-independent sensitization of the adenylyl cyclase and a loss of tonic inhibition due to the functional impairment of the inhibitory G protein. At the enzyme level a transient sensitization of adenylyl cyclase in acute myocardial ischaemia is due to a modification of the enzyme, which is tightly associated with the purified enzyme. Only inhibition of protein kinase C is able to block completely the ischaemia-induced sensitization of adenylyl cyclase. Based on these data, it could be demonstrated that acute myocardial ischaemia leads to a rapid activation of protein kinase C by an as yet undefined mechanism. Beyond the sensitization of adenylyl cyclase, activation of protein kinase C may directly activate ion channels or the N+/H+ echanger, and it may induce the increased expression of oncogenes and thus crucially influence the clinical outcome of an acute myocardial infarction.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗
PubMed1990

Supersensitivity of the adenylyl cyclase system in acute myocardial ischemia: evaluation of three independent mechanisms.

Malignant arrhythmias and the spreading of the infarcted zone in acute myocardial ischemia may be influenced by the sympathetic system. It has been known for quite some time that acute ischemia leads to an increased release of endogenous catecholamines. Adaptive mechanisms at the postsynaptic level such as receptor desensitization, which are operative under normoxic conditions, are abolished in acute myocardial ischemia. On the contrary, three newly characterized, distinct mechanisms lead to a transiently increased activity of the beta-adrenergic system in the early phase of acute ischemia: 1) Functionally coupled beta-adrenergic receptors are rapidly and persistently increased at the cell surface due to the impairment of beta-agonist-promoted uncoupling and internalization. 2) Despite the reversible increase of inhibitory, muscarinic M2 receptors, the inhibitory pathway of the adenylyl cyclase systems becomes ineffective since the coupling protein, Gi, is rapidly impaired. Both the Gi-linked GTPase-activity and the binding of [gamma-35S]GTP are reduced by 25-30% without any loss of the total protein. Stimulatory effects prevail at the G-protein level since in the early period of ischemia the stimulatory G-protein, Gs, remains intact. 3) The adenylyl cyclase is transiently sensitized by about 30%. This increased activity is closely associated with the partially purified enzyme and may be due to a rapidly reversible covalent modification. Prolonged ischemia, in contrast, results in a general decrease of the cyclase activity notwithstanding any changes at the receptor or G-protein level. The individual mechanisms may play distinct and/or complimentary roles in the early sensitization of the adenylyl cyclase system in acute myocardial ischemia.

Adenylyl Cyclase Inhibitors↗