irl-1620 and Reperfusion-Injury

Endotoxemia produces hepatic vascular dysregulation resulting from inhibition of endothelin (ET)-stimulated NO production. Mechanisms include overexpression of caveolin-1 (Cav-1) and altered phosphorylation of endothelial nitric oxide (NO) synthase (NOS; eNOS) in sinusoidal endothelial cells. Since ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) also causes vascular dysregulation, we tested whether the mechanisms are the same. Rats were exposed to either mild (30 min) or moderate (60 min) hepatic ischemia in vivo followed by reperfusion (6 h). Livers were harvested and prepared into precision-cut liver slices for in vitro analysis of NOS activity and regulation. Both I/R injuries significantly abrogated both the ET-1 (1 microM) and the ET(B) receptor agonist (IRL-1620, 0.5 microM)-mediated stimulation of NOS activity. 30 min I/R resulted in overexpression of Cav-1 and loss of ET-stimulated phosphorylation of Ser1177 on eNOS, consistent with an inflammatory response. Sixty-minute I/R also resulted in loss of ET-stimulated Ser1177 phosphorylation, but Cav-1 expression was not altered. Moreover, expression of ET(B) receptors was significantly decreased. This suggests that the failure of ET to activate eNOS following 60-min I/R is associated with decreased protein expression consistent with ischemic injury. Thus hepatic vascular dysregulation following I/R is mediated by inflammatory mechanisms with mild I/R whereas ischemic mechanisms dominate following more severe I/R stress.

Topics: Alanine Transaminase; Animals; Calmodulin; Caveolin 1; Endothelin-1; Endothelins; Endothelium, Vascular; HSP90 Heat-Shock Proteins; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; Liver; Male; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III; Peptide Fragments; Phosphorylation; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Receptor, Endothelin A; Receptor, Endothelin B; Reperfusion Injury

To analyse the coronary effects of endothelin-1 after ischemia-reperfusion, the left anterior descending coronary artery of anesthetized pigs was subjected to 30-min occlusion followed by 60-min reperfusion. Then, rings distal (ischemic arteries) and proximal (control arteries) to the occlusion were taken from this artery and prepared for isometric tension recording. The sensitivity of the contraction in response to endothelin-1 (3 x 10(-10)-3 x 10(-7) M) and the endothelin ET(B) receptor agonist IRL-1620 (3 x 10(-10)-3 x 10(-7) M) was greater in ischemic vessels. The endothelin ET(A) receptor antagonist BQ-123 (10(-7)-3 x 10(-6) M) decreased the sensitivity of the response to endothelin-1 similarly in ischemic and control arteries. The endothelin ET(B) receptor antagonist BQ-788 (10(-6) M), endothelium removal or the inhibitor of nitric oxide synthesis N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME 10(-4) M) potentiated the response to endothelin-1 and IRL-1620 in control arteries only. The cyclooxygenase inhibitor meclofenamate (10(-5) M) augmented the maximal response to endothelin-1 in control arteries, and reduced it in ischemic arteries. In precontracted arteries, IRL-1620 (3 x 10(-11)-3 x 10(-10) M) relaxed control but not ischemic arteries, and L-NAME or meclofenamate abolished this relaxation. Therefore, ischemia-reperfusion increases the coronary vasoconstriction in response to endothelin-1 probably due to impairment of endothelin ET(B) receptor-induced release of nitric oxide and prostacyclin, augmentation of the contractile response to activation of endothelin ET(B) receptors, and increased release of vasoconstrictor prostanoids.

Topics: Animals; Arteries; Blood Pressure; Coronary Vessels; Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Endothelin A Receptor Antagonists; Endothelin B Receptor Antagonists; Endothelin-1; Endothelins; Enzyme Inhibitors; Female; Heart Rate; In Vitro Techniques; Male; Meclofenamic Acid; NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester; Nitric Oxide; Nitric Oxide Synthase; Nitroprusside; Oligopeptides; Peptide Fragments; Peptides, Cyclic; Piperidines; Prostaglandins; Receptor, Endothelin A; Receptor, Endothelin B; Receptors, Endothelin; Reperfusion Injury; Swine; Vasoconstriction; Vasodilation; Vasodilator Agents

This study was performed to determine whether ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in rat liver results in alterations in endothelin receptor expression. Hepatic ischemia was produced in rats for 60 min followed by 6 or 24 h reperfusion. Portal inflow pressure was increased (7.38+/-0.60 mmHg) at 24 hours after reperfusion. Serum ALT increased significantly at both 6 and 24 h (6 h; 258.3+/-74.3, 24 h; 243.1+/-74.8 IU/L). Portal vascular response to an endothelin-B receptor agonist (IRL 1620) was significantly increased in the I/R livers compared to control and this was potentiated by L-NAME. IRL 1620 also caused LDH release from I/R livers but not controls. LDH release after IRL 1620 in I/R livers correlated with increased portal pressure response. To determine whether the altered response might be the result of altered endothelin receptor expression, livers were harvested after reperfusion and total endothelin binding sites were determined by competitive binding with ET-1. Proportion of endothelin receptor subtypes (ET(A)/ET(B)) was determined using the ET(A) antagonist BQ-610 (1 microM) and ET(B) agonist IRL-1620 (100 nM). There were no significant changes in Kd but Bmax for endothelin-1 was decreased in I/R group especially non-ischemic lobe at 24 h. ET(A) receptors were significantly decreased whereas ET(B) receptors were increased. These changes were more pronounced at 24 h after reperfusion than at 6 h. Interestingly, the changes in ET receptors was observed identically both in ischemic and non-ischemic lobes (ischemic lobe ET(A) 41.9%, ET(B) 51%; non-ischemic lobe ET(A) 38.8%, ET(B) 49.5%). These results indicate that the major functional endothelin receptor subtype upregulated in I/R is the ET(B) receptor and that this upregulation may contribute to microvascular dysregulation and hepatic injury.

Topics: Animals; Endothelin Receptor Antagonists; Endothelin-1; Endothelins; Gene Expression Regulation; Ischemia; Liver; Male; NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester; Oligopeptides; Peptide Fragments; Portal Pressure; Portal System; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Receptor, Endothelin A; Receptor, Endothelin B; Receptors, Endothelin; Reperfusion; Reperfusion Injury