Blockade of ATP-sensitive K+ channels attenuates preconditioning effect on myocardial metabolism in swine: myocardial metabolism and ATP-sensitive K+ channels

Localization of ATP-sensitive K+ channel subunits in rat liver

BACKGROUND

ATP-sensitive K⁺ (K_ATP) channels were originally found in cardiac myocytes by Noma in 1983. K_ATP channels were formed by potassium ion-passing pore-forming subunits (Kir6.1, Kir6.2) and regulatory subunits SUR1, SU2A and SUR2B. A number of cells and tissues have been revealed to contain these channels including hepatocytes, but detailed localization of these subunits in different types of liver cells was still uncertain.

AIM

To investigate the expression of K_ATP channel subunits in rat liver and their localization in different cells of the liver.

METHODS

Rabbit anti-rat SUR1 peptide antibody was raised and purified by antigen immunoaffinity column chromatography. Four of Sprague-Dawley rats were used for liver protein extraction for immunoblot analysis, seven of them were used for immunohistochemistry both for the ABC method and immunofluorescence staining. Four of Wistar rats were used for the isolation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and Kupffer cells for both primary culture and immunocytochemistry.

RESULTS

Immunoblot analysis showed that the five kinds of K_ATP channel subunits, i.e. Kir6.1, Kir6.2, SUR1, SUR2A, and SUR2B, were detected in liver. Immunohistochemical staining showed that Kir6.1 and Kir6.2 were weakly to moderately expressed in parenchymal cells and sinusoidal lining cells, while SUR1, SUR2A, and SUR2B were mainly localized to sinusoidal lining cells, such as HSCs, Kupffer cells, and sinusoidal endothelial cells. Immunoreactivity for SUR2A and SUR2B was expressed in the hepatocyte membrane. Double immunofluorescence staining further showed that the pore-forming subunits Kir6.1 and/or Kir6.2 colocalized with GFAP in rat liver sections and primary cultured HSCs. These K_ATP channel subunits also colocalized with CD68 in liver sections and primary cultured Kupffer cells. The SUR subunits colocalized with GFAP in liver sections and colocalized with CD68 both in liver sections and primary cultured Kupffer cells. In addition, five K_ATP channel subunits colocalized with SE-1 in sinusoidal endothelial cells.

CONCLUSION

Observations from the present study indicated that K_ATP channel subunits expressed in rat liver and the diversity of K_ATP channel subunit composition might form different types of K_ATP channels. This is applicable to hepatocytes, HSCs, various types of Kupffer cells and sinusoidal endothelial cells.

Smooth Muscle Ion Channels and Regulation of Vascular Tone in Resistance Arteries and Arterioles

Vascular tone of resistance arteries and arterioles determines peripheral vascular resistance, contributing to the regulation of blood pressure and blood flow to, and within the body's tissues and organs. Ion channels in the plasma membrane and endoplasmic reticulum of vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) in these blood vessels importantly contribute to the regulation of intracellular Ca2+ concentration, the primary determinant of SMC contractile activity and vascular tone. Ion channels provide the main source of activator Ca2+ that determines vascular tone, and strongly contribute to setting and regulating membrane potential, which, in turn, regulates the open-state-probability of voltage gated Ca2+ channels (VGCCs), the primary source of Ca2+ in resistance artery and arteriolar SMCs. Ion channel function is also modulated by vasoconstrictors and vasodilators, contributing to all aspects of the regulation of vascular tone. This review will focus on the physiology of VGCCs, voltage-gated K+ (KV) channels, large-conductance Ca2+-activated K+ (BKCa) channels, strong-inward-rectifier K+ (KIR) channels, ATP-sensitive K+ (KATP) channels, ryanodine receptors (RyRs), inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors (IP3Rs), and a variety of transient receptor potential (TRP) channels that contribute to pressure-induced myogenic tone in resistance arteries and arterioles, the modulation of the function of these ion channels by vasoconstrictors and vasodilators, their role in the functional regulation of tissue blood flow and their dysfunction in diseases such as hypertension, obesity, and diabetes. © 2017 American Physiological Society. Compr Physiol 7:485-581, 2017.

Role of potassium channels in coronary vasodilation

K+ channels in coronary arterial smooth muscle cells (CASMC) determine the resting membrane potential ( Em) and serve as targets of endogenous and therapeutic vasodilators. Em in CASMC is in the voltage range for activation of L-type Ca2+ channels; therefore, when K+ channel activity changes, Ca2+ influx and arterial tone change. This is why both Ca2+ channel blockers and K+ channel openers have such profound effects on coronary blood flow; the former directly inhibits Ca2+ influx through L-type Ca2+ channels, while the latter indirectly inhibits Ca2+ influx by hyperpolarizing Em and reducing Ca2+ channel activity. K+ channels in CASMC play important roles in vasodilation to endothelial, ischemic and metabolic stimuli. The purpose of this article is to review the types of K+ channels expressed in CASMC, discuss the regulation of their activity by physiological mechanisms and examine impairments related to cardiovascular disease.

Voltage-dependent K+ channels regulate the duration of reactive hyperemia in the canine coronary circulation

We previously demonstrated a role for voltage-dependent K(+) (K(V)) channels in coronary vasodilation elicited by myocardial metabolism and exogenous H(2)O(2), as responses were attenuated by the K(V) channel blocker 4-aminopyridine (4-AP). Here we tested the hypothesis that K(V) channels participate in coronary reactive hyperemia and examined the role of K(V) channels in responses to nitric oxide (NO) and adenosine, two putative mediators. Reactive hyperemia (30-s occlusion) was measured in open-chest dogs before and during 4-AP treatment [intracoronary (ic), plasma concentration 0.3 mM]. 4-AP reduced baseline flow 34 +/- 5% and inhibited hyperemic volume 32 +/- 5%. Administration of 8-phenyltheophylline (8-PT; 0.3 mM ic or 5 mg/kg iv) or N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME; 1 mg/min ic) inhibited early and late portions of hyperemic flow, supporting roles for adenosine and NO. 4-AP further inhibited hyperemia in the presence of 8-PT or L-NAME. Adenosine-induced blood flow responses were attenuated by 4-AP (52 +/- 6% block at 9 microg/min). Dilation of arterioles to adenosine was attenuated by 0.3 mM 4-AP and 1 microM correolide, a selective K(V)1 antagonist (76 +/- 7% and 47 +/- 2% block, respectively, at 1 microM). Dilation in response to sodium nitroprusside, an NO donor, was attenuated by 4-AP in vivo (41 +/- 6% block at 10 microg/min) and by correolide in vitro (29 +/- 4% block at 1 microM). K(V) current in smooth muscle cells was inhibited by 4-AP (IC(50) 1.1 +/- 0.1 mM) and virtually eliminated by correolide. Expression of mRNA for K(V)1 family members was detected in coronary arteries. Our data indicate that K(V) channels play an important role in regulating resting coronary blood flow, determining duration of reactive hyperemia, and mediating adenosine- and NO-induced vasodilation.

Simvastatin-induced myocardial protection against ischemia–reperfusion injury is mediated by activation of ATP-sensitive K+ channels

OBJECTIVES

Previous studies have suggested that the 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors attenuate ischemia-reperfusion injury. We investigated whether pretreatment with simvastatin reduces myocardial infarct size and whether glyburide, a non-selective inhibitor of the ATP-sensitive K channels, abrogates this infarct size-limiting effect.

METHODS

Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with either simvastatin (20 mg/kg per day) or saline alone for 3 days. Additional groups of rats were treated as above and on the fourth day they received intravenous glyburide (0.3 mg/kg). All rats underwent 30 min of coronary artery occlusion followed by 180 min of reperfusion. Ischemic myocardium at risk was assessed with blue dye and infarct size with triphenyltetrazolium chloride.

RESULTS

Infarct size, expressed as a percentage of the myocardium at risk, was significantly smaller in the simvastatin group (n = 8, 20.8 +/- 3.4%) than in the placebo group (n = 6, 40.1 +/- 2.7%) (P = 0.001). Glyburide abolished the protective effect of simvastatin with infarct size being 34.2 +/- 6.9% and 29.7 +/- 3.9% of the area at risk in the simvastatin group (n = 7) and placebo (n = 7) group, respectively (P = 0.58).

CONCLUSIONS

Simvastatin significantly reduced myocardial infarct size. The protective effect was completely abrogated by glyburide, strongly suggesting that this protective effect is mediated via activation of the ATP-sensitive K channels.

Ischaemic preconditioning alters the energy metabolism and protects the ischaemic myocardium in a stepwise fashion

AIMS AND METHODS

Recently it was suggested that ischaemic preconditioning (IP) protects the myocardium in a graded pattern as assessed by myocardial infarct size estimation. Using tissue biopsies we investigated the impact of the proposed graded pattern of protection on myocardial energy state in an open-chest porcine model of IP with either one (1xIP) or four (4xIP) episodes of preconditioning. Furthermore, we evaluated the relationship between interstitial energy-related metabolite levels obtained by the microdialysis technique and the degree of subsequent ischaemic insult.

RESULTS

During the long ischaemia the difference between pre-ischaemic and post-ischaemic total adenylate pools and the sum of adenylate breakdown products (adenosine, inosine and hypoxanthine) as well as tissue lactate levels appeared as follows: non-IP > 1xIP > 4xIP (P < 0.05). Moreover interstitial peak levels of lactate, hypoxanthine and taurine displayed a graded pattern analogous to the development of ischaemic damage, where non-IP > 1xIP > 4xIP.

CONCLUSIONS

We present for the first time concordant energy metabolic and morphometric data in support of IP being a stepwise phenomenon for protection of the ischaemic myocardium. Furthermore, IP resulted in proportionally higher levels of hypoxanthine (relative to inosine) in the ischaemic myocardium, suggesting a different handling of adenine nucleotide breakdown products in the IP myocardium.

The effect of K(atp)channel activation on myocardial cationic and energetic status during ischemia and reperfusion: role in cardioprotection

The role of cation and cellular energy homeostasis in ATP-sensitive K(+)(K(ATP)) channel-induced cardioprotection is poorly understood. To evaluate this, rapidly interleaved(23)Na and(31)P NMR spectra were acquired from isolated rat hearts exposed to direct K(ATP)channel activation from nicorandil or pinacidil. Nicorandil attenuated ATP depletion and intracellular Na(+)(Na(+)(i)) accumulation, delayed the progression of acidosis during zero-flow ischemia and prevented ischemic contracture. The K(ATP)channel inhibitor 5-hydroxydecanoate abolished these effects. Pinacidil did not alter Na(+)(i)accumulation, ATP depletion or pH during ischemia under the conditions employed. Both agonists greatly improved the post-ischemic functional recovery. Both agonists also dramatically improved the rate and extent of the reperfusion recoveries of Na(+)(i), PCr and ATP. The Na(+)(i)and PCr reperfusion recovery rates were tightly correlated, suggesting a causal relationship. Separate atomic absorption tissue Ca(2+)measurements revealed a marked reperfusion Ca(2+)uptake, which was reduced two-fold by pinacidil. In conclusion, these results clearly indicate that while K(ATP)channel-induced metabolic alterations can vary, the functional cardioprotection resulting from this form of pharmacological preconditioning does not require attenuation of acidosis, cellular energy depletion, or Na(+)(i)accumulation during ischemia. Rather than preservation of cationic/energetic status during ischemia, the cardioprotective processes may involve a preserved capability for its rapid restoration during reperfusion. The enhanced reperfusion Na(+)(i)recovery may be enabled by the improved reperfusion cellular energy state. This accelerated Na(+)(i)recovery could play an important cardioprotective role via a potential causal relationship with the reduction of reperfusion tissue Ca(2+)uptake and resultant reperfusion injury.