Eicosanoid excretion in hepatic cirrhosis. Predominance of 20-HETE.

The cytochrome P450 system transforms AA to hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (HETE) metabolites that are vasoactive and affect transport in several nephron segments. A principal product of this system, 20-HETE, participates in key mechanisms that regulate the renal circulation and extracellular fluid volume. We hypothesized that excess production of 20-HETE, which constricts the renal vasculature, contributes to the renal functional disturbances in patients with hepatic cirrhosis, particularly the depression of renal hemodynamics. The development of a precise and sensitive gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric method makes it possible to measure 20-HETE and the subterminal HETEs (16-,17-,18-, and 19-HETEs) in biological fluids. As 20-HETE was excreted as the glucuronide conjugate, measurement of 20-HETE required treatment of urine with glucuronidase. We measured HETEs in the urine of patients with cirrhosis, and compared these values to those of normal subjects. Urinary excretion rate of 20-HETE was highest in patients with ascites; 12.5+/-3.2 ng/min vs. 5.0+/-1.5 and 1.6+/-0.2 ng/min in cirrhotic patients without ascites and in normal subjects, respectively. Excretion of 16-, 17-, and 18-HETEs was not increased. In patients with cirrhosis, the excretory rate of 20-HETE was several-fold higher than those of prostaglandins and thromboxane, whereas in normal subjects 20-HETE and prostaglandins were excreted at similar rates. Of the eicosanoids, only increased excretion of 20-HETE in subjects with cirrhosis was correlated (r = -0.61; P < 0.01) with reduction of renal plasma flow (RPF).

Carbon monoxide of vascular origin attenuates the sensitivity of renal arterial vessels to vasoconstrictors.

Rat renal interlobar arteries express heme oxygenase 2 (HO-2) and manufacture carbon monoxide (CO), which is released into the headspace gas. CO release falls to 30% and 54% of control, respectively, after inhibition of HO activity with chromium mesoporphyrin (CrMP) or of HO-2 expression with antisense oligodeoxynucleotides (HO-2 AS-ODN). Patch-clamp studies revealed that CrMP decreases the open probability of a tetraethylammonium-sensitive (TEA-sensitive) 105 pS K channel in interlobar artery smooth muscle cells, and that this effect of CrMP is reversed by CO. Assessment of phenylephrine-induced tension development revealed reduction of the EC(50) in vessels treated with HO-2 AS-ODN, CrMP, or TEA. Exogenous CO greatly minimized the sensitizing effect on agonist-induced contractions of agents that decrease vascular CO production, but not the sensitizing effect of K channel blockade with TEA. Collectively, these data suggest that vascular CO serves as an inhibitory modulator of vascular reactivity to vasoconstrictors via a mechanism that involves a TEA-sensitive K channel.

Effect of angiotensin II on the apical K+ channel in the thick ascending limb of the rat kidney.

We have used the patch-clamp technique to study the effect of angiotensin II (AII) on the activity of the apical 70 pS K+ channel and used Na(+)-sensitive fluorescent dye (SBFI) to investigate the effect of AII on intracellular Na+ concentration (Na+i) in the thick ascending limb (TAL) of the rat kidney. Addition of 50 pM AII reversibly reduced NPo, a product of channel open probability (Po) and channel number (N), to 40% of the control value and reduced the Na+i by 26%. The AII (50 pM)-induced decrease in channel activity defined by NPo was partially reversed by addition of 5 microM 17-octadecynoic acid (17-ODYA), an agent which blocks the cytochrome P450 monooxygenase. The notion that P450 metabolites of arachidonic acid (AA) may mediate the inhibitory effect of AII was further suggested by experiments in which addition of 10 nM of 20-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (20-HETE) blocked the channel activity in cell-attached patches in the presence of 17-ODYA. We have used gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC/MS) to measure the production of 20-HETE, a major AA metabolite of the P450-dependent pathway in the TAL of the rat. Addition of 50 pM AII increased the production of 20-HETE to 260% of the control value, indicating that 20-HETE may be involved in mediating the effect of AII (50 pM). In contrast to the inhibitory effect of 50 pM AII, addition of 50-100 nM AII increased the channel activity to 270% of the control value and elevated the Na+i by 45%. The effect of AII on the activity of the 70 pS K+ channel was also observed in the presence of 5 microM 17-ODYA and 5 microM calphostin C, an inhibitor of protein kinase C. However, addition of 100 microM NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase, abolished completely the AII (50-100 nM)-induced increase in channel activity and addition of an exogenous nitric oxide (NO) donor, S-nitroso-N-acetyl-penicillamine (SNAP), increased channel activity in the presence of L-NAME. These data suggest that the stimulatory effect of AII is mediated by NO. We conclude that AII has dual effects on the activity of the apical 70 pS K+ channel. The inhibitory effect of AII is mediated by P450-dependent metabolites whereas the stimulatory effect may be mediated via NO.

Peroxynitrite augments fMLP-stimulated chemiluminescence by neutrophils in human whole blood.

The neutrophil respiratory burst was examined by the technique of luminol-dependent chemiluminescence (LDCL) triggered by submaximal concentrations of N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP) in diluted whole blood. We sought to identify the chemical species responsible for LDCL in whole blood, to examine the role of leukotriene B4 (LTB4) and other arachidonic acid metabolites as mediators of the fMLP signaling pathway, and to investigate the effect of peroxynitrite on this response. Both sodium azide and taurine significantly inhibited LDCL (93% inhibition with 100 microM azide, 52% inhibition with 10 mM taurine). More modest inhibition was seen with superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA), and with inhibitors of the cyclooxygenase (indomethacin), lipoxygenase (AA-861; no effect), and cytochrome P-450 (SKF 525-A) pathways of arachidonic acid metabolism. The nitric oxide donor SIN-1 (1-100 microM) and peroxynitrite (10-300 microM) also augmented fMLP-induced LDCL. The augmentation seen with peroxynitrite and SIN-1 was attenuated by SOD. Despite the increase in LDCL, peroxynitrite caused a dose-related inhibition of fMLP-stimulated LTB4 release. In summary, our results indicate that (1) LDCL elicited by fMLP in diluted whole blood appears primarily mediated by hypochlorous acid derived from myeloperoxidase; (2) pretreatment with the nitric oxide donor SIN-1 or with peroxynitrite augments LDCL; and (3) LTB4 release does not contribute to fMLP-stimulated LDCL or in the modulation of LDCL by SIN-1 or peroxynitrite.

Identification of arachidonate P-450 metabolites in human platelet phospholipids.

Phospholipase A2 (Naja mocambique) catalyzed release of epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs) and 20-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (20-HETE) from phospholipids of isolated human platelets. The amount of EETs released by phospholipase A2 measured by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) was 4.3 +/- 0.9 pmol/10(6) platelets. No EETs were detected when phospholipase A2 was omitted from the incubations. The relative abundance of EET isomers (14,15-EET, 11,12-EET, 8,9-EET, and 5,6-EET) from human platelets was 5.4:4.5:3.7:1, respectively, as established by a new method based on particle-beam liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS). Fractionation of platelet phospholipids by normal-phase high-performance liquid chromatography followed by hydrolysis and GC/MS analyses indicated that the amount of EETs was highest in fractions containing phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylserine (142 and 61 pmol/nmol of phosphorus, respectively) while low in phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine (19 and 11 pmol/nmol of phosphorus, respectively). The majority of EETs associated with phosphatidylcholine was found in fractions containing 1-O-alkylphosphatidylcholine. Human platelet phospholipids also released 20-HETE on phospholipase treatment (9.7 +/- 1.6 fmol/10(5) cells) and at least three other HETEs, one of which was tentatively identified as 16-HETE. Activation of human platelets by thrombin or platelet-activating factor released 5 to 7 fmol EET/10(6) cells. Receptor-mediated hydrolysis of phospholipids containing EETs and 20-HETE may play a role in stimulus-response coupling in platelets.

16(R)-hydroxy-5,8,11,14-eicosatetraenoic acid, a new arachidonate metabolite in human polymorphonuclear leukocytes.

Intact human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL) incubated with substimulatory amounts of arachidonic acid in the absence of a calcium ionophore formed four metabolites that were isolated by reverse-phase HPLC and characterized structurally by GC/MS. A major metabolite eluting as the most abundant peak of radioactivity lacked UV chromophores above 215 nm, and its formation was sensitive to 2-diethylaminoethyl-2,2-diphenylvalerate hydrochloride (SKF525A) but not 3-amino-1-[m(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-2-pyrazoline (BW755C), suggesting that it was likely to be a product of cytochrome P450. The GC/MS analysis revealed the presence of two components: 20-hydroxy-5,8,11,14-eicosatetraenoic acid (20-HETE) and 16-hydroxy-5,8,11,14-eicosatetraenoic acid (16-HETE) in an approximate ratio of 4:1. The minor metabolites were identified as 15-HETE and 5-HETE. Although 20-HETE has been observed previously as a product of arachidonic acid metabolism in PMNL, the occurrence of 16-HETE was a novel finding. The stereochemistry of the hydroxyl group in PMNL-derived 16-HETE was established by analysis of 1-pentafluorobenzyl-16-naphthoyl derivatives on a chiral-phase chromatographic column and comparison with authentic synthetic stereoisomers. The PMNL-derived radioactive metabolite co-eluted with the synthetic 16(R)-HETE stereoisomer. Analysis of the total lipid extracts from intact PMNL followed by mild alkaline hydrolysis resulted in detectable amounts of 16-HETE (108+/-26 pg/10(8) cells) and 20-HETE (341+/-69 pg/10(8) cells), which suggested that these HETEs were formed from endogenous arachidonic acid and esterified within PMNL lipids. Thus, in contrast to calcium ionophore-stimulated neutrophils that generate large amounts of 5-lipoxygenase products, the intact PMNL generate 20-HETE and 16(R)-HETE via a cytochrome P450 omega- and omega-4 oxygenase(s).

16(R)-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid, a novel cytochrome P450 product of arachidonic acid, suppresses activation of human polymorphonuclear leukocyte and reduces intracranial pressure in a rabbit model of thromboembolic stroke.

OBJECTIVE: Activated polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) have been suggested to contribute to the development of increased intracranial pressure (ICP). We recently demonstrated that human PMNs produce a novel cytochrome P450-derived arachidonic acid metabolite, 1 6(R)-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid [16(R)-HETE], that modulates their function. It was thus of interest to examine this novel mediator in an acute stroke model. METHODS: 16-HETE was assessed initially in a variety of human PMN and platelet in vitro assays and subsequently in an established rabbit model of thromboembolic stroke. A total of 50 rabbits completed a randomized, blinded, four-arm study, receiving 16(R)-HETE, tissue plasminogen activator, both, or neither. Experiments were completed 7 hours after autologous clot embolization. The primary end point for efficacy was the suppression of increased ICP. RESULTS: In in vitro assays, 16(R)-HETE selectively inhibited human PMN adhesion and aggregation and leukotriene B4 synthesis. In the thromboembolic stroke model, animals that received 16(R)-HETE demonstrated significant suppression of increased ICP (7.7 +/- 1.2 to 13.1 +/- 2.7 mm Hg, baseline versus final 7-h time point, mean +/- standard error), compared with either the vehicle-treated group (7.7 +/- 0.9 to 15.8 +/- 2.6 mm Hg) or the tissue plasminogen activator-treated group (7.6 +/- 0.6 to 13.7 +/- 2.1 mm Hg). The group that received the combination of 16(R)-HETE plus tissue plasminogen activator demonstrated no significant change in ICP for the duration of the protocol (8.6 +/- 0.6 to 11.1 +/- 1.2 mm Hg). CONCLUSION: 16(R)-HETE suppresses the development of increased ICP in a rabbit model of thromboembolic stroke and may serve as a novel therapeutic strategy in ischemic and inflammatory pathophysiological states.

Trans-arachidonic acids: new mediators of inflammation.

Inflammation and many other pathological processes lead to increased production of free radicals that target critical macromolecules such as proteins, DNA and lipids. Structural modifications of these molecules, induced by free radicals, typically result in alterations of vital biochemical processes. Hydroxyl radical-initiated lipid peroxidation is known to generate a variety of toxic oxidized lipids, many of which originate from polyunsaturated fatty acids esterified to cellular membrane phospholipids. Recent interests have focused on a group of lipids known as isoeicosanoids that are formed from peroxidation of arachidonic acid, and share structural similarity to enzymatically-derived prostaglandins and leukotrienes. However, little is known about lipid peroxidation processes initiated by nitrogen free radicals. NO2 is a toxic free radical and an abundant urban air pollutant, which is also generated in vivo from oxidations of nitric or nitrite and decomposition of peroxynitrite. The NO2-induced lipid peroxidation mechanisms involving arachidonic acid have not been characterized. Described here is the isomerization of arachidonic acid, a new process induced by NO2, which leads to a mixture of trans-arachidonic acids. We observed that the levels of trans-arachidonic acids in rat plasma increased following infusion of bacterial endotoxin; therefore, the isomerization of arachidonic acid is likely to occur in vivo by a mechanism involving NO2.

Metabolism of 5,6-epoxyeicosatrienoic acid by the human platelet. Formation of novel thromboxane analogs.

Radiolabeled cis-(+-)-5,6-epoxyeicosatrienoic acid (5(6)-EpETrE) was incubated with a suspension of isolated human platelets in order to study its metabolic fate. The epoxide slowly disappeared from the suspension and was completely metabolized within 30 min. After extraction and analysis by reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography, seven metabolites were found. Addition of either indomethacin (0.01 mM, cyclooxygenase inhibitor) or BW755C (0.1 mM, cyclooxygenase/lipoxygenase inhibitor) to the incubations blocked the formation of four and six metabolites, respectively, 1,2-Epoxy-3,3,3-trichloropropane (inhibitor of microsomal epoxide hydrolase) failed to inhibit the formation of 5,6-dihydroxyeicosatrienoic acid (5,6-DiHETrE), a hydrolysis product of the precursor 5(6)-EpETrE. The metabolites were characterized by UV spectroscopy, negative ion chemical ionization liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry, gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and, in one instance, coelution with synthetic standard. Three primary platelet metabolites were structurally determined to be 5,6-epoxy-12-hydroxyeicosatrienoic acid, 5,6-epoxy-12-hydroxyheptadecadienoic acid, and a unique bicyclic metabolite, 5-hydroxy-6,9-epoxy-thromboxane B1, which originated from intramolecular hydrolysis of 5,6-epoxythromboxane-B1. This thromboxane analog was partially separated into stereoisomers and coeluted with the racemic synthetic standard in gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry. Three other metabolites were characterized as 5,6,12-trihydroxyeicosatrienoic acid, 5,6,12-trihydroxyheptadecadienoic acid, and 5,6-dihydroxythromboxane-B1, and resulted from the hydrolysis of the corresponding epoxides rather than from the metabolism of 5,6-DiHETrE. The latter was not metabolized by platelet cyclooxygenase or lipoxygenase. The biosynthesis of two cyclooxygenase metabolites indicated the formation of unstable 5,6-epoxythromboxane-A1 as an intermediate precursor. Platelet aggregation was not induced by 5(6)-EpETrE, although responsiveness to arachidonic acid was reduced following preincubation with the epoxide. The platelet metabolites of 5(6)-EpETrE might be useful in assessing its in vivo production in humans.

Peroxynitrite and arachidonic acid. Identification of arachidonate epoxides.

Peroxynitrite is a novel substance capable of oxidation of arachidonic acid. Treatment of [1-14C]arachidonic acid with peroxynitrite at pH 7.4 resulted in formation of a complex mixture of radioactive products. The isolation of these compounds and structural analysis by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry revealed formation of three epoxyeicosatrienoic acids: 8,9-EET, 11,12-EET and 14,15-EET. These epoxides can play a role in peroxynitrite induced oxidative modification of arachidonic acid in cells.

Detection of 3-nitrotyrosine in human platelets exposed to peroxynitrite by a new gas chromatography/mass spectrometry assay.

A new sensitive and specific assay was developed and applied for the quantitative determination of 3-nitrotyrosine in proteins of human platelets. 3-Nitrotyrosine was quantitatively converted into a new pentafluorobenzyl derivative in a single step and detected as an abundant carboxylate anion at m/z 595 using negative ion chemical ionization gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The internal standard, [13C6]-3-nitrotyrosine, was prepared via a new and efficient method using nitronium borofluorate dissolved in hydrochloric acid. The assay showed excellent linearity and sensitivity. Intact human platelets contained 1.4+/-0.6 ng of 3-nitrotyrosine per milligram of protein. Peroxynitrite increased 3-nitrotyrosine levels 4- to 535-fold at the concentration range of 10 to 300 microM. Decomposed peroxynitrite was without the effect. Nitrogen dioxide (43 microM) was also a potent tyrosine nitrating molecule, increasing the levels of 3-nitrotyrosine 153-fold. HOCl (50 microM) in the presence of nitrite (50 microM) increased the 3-nitrotyrosine levels 3-fold. Exposure of platelets to nitric oxide, nitrite, thrombin, adenosine diphosphate, platelet activating factor, and arachidonic acid had no effect on platelet 3-nitrotyrosine levels.

Diffusion of peroxynitrite into the human platelet inhibits cyclooxygenase via nitration of tyrosine residues.

Peroxynitrite (ONOO(-)), a reactive oxidant produced by the reaction between nitric oxide and superoxide, was found to diffuse into the platelet cytosol and inhibit arachidonic acid-induced platelet aggregations with IC(50) value of 5.8 +/- 1.2 microM. A fluorescence assay established that ONOO(-) diffused into the platelet cytosol in a manner that was inhibited (50-70%) by 4, 4'-diisothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid, an inhibitor of HCO(3)(-)/Cl(-) anion exchanger. Treatment of platelets with (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (2 microM), a tea polyphenol and inhibitor of tyrosine nitration, abolished the inhibitory effect of ONOO(-) on arachidonate-induced aggregations by 88%. ONOO(-) (50-300 microM), added to platelets 1 min before arachidonic acid, inhibited (20-100%) formation of platelet cyclooxygenase (COX) products thromboxane A(2) and 12-hydroxyheptadecatrienoic acid. Interestingly, simultaneous addition of ONOO(-) and arachidonic acid stimulated eicosanoid production by 20 to 60%. The inhibition of thromboxane A(2) generation correlated with the 5- to 10-fold increase in the 3-nitrotyrosine levels of the platelet COX. Experiments with purified COX-1 and COX-2 also showed 9-fold increase of 3-nitrotyrosine levels, which correlated with decreased (93-98%) production of prostaglandin H(2) when ONOO(-) (50 microM) was added 1 min before arachidonic acid. However, the addition of ONOO(-) (50-100 microM) simultaneously with arachidonic acid increased prostaglandin H(2) formation by 30 to 60%. Thus, the inhibitory effect of ONOO(-) involved nitration of COX tyrosine residues, whereas the stimulatory effect was likely to be a result of ONOO(-) functioning as a peroxide activator of eicosanoid signaling. Increasing doses of ONOO(-) not only inhibited platelet COX but also induced formation of unique eicosanoids: iso-prostaglandin F(2alpha), epoxyhydroxyeicosatrienoic acid, and trans-arachidonic acids, suggesting that OH and NO(2) radicals were generated from ONOO(-) in platelets. Formation of ONOO(-) from NO and superoxide may function as a platelet hormone-like COX regulatory mechanism in inflammatory processes in which large amounts of these molecules are produced.

Characterization of epoxides of polyunsaturated fatty acids by mass spectrometry via 3-pyridinylmethyl esters.

The isomeric epoxides of linoleic, arachidonic and docosahexaenoic acids were prepared by reaction with m-chloroperoxybenzoic acid and, after separation by normal-phase high-performance liquid chromatography, were esterified with 3-pyridylcarbinol via the unstable imidazolide generated by the reaction with 1,1'-carbonyldiimidazole. The electron impact mass spectra of these derivatives showed a molecular ion and a sequence of peaks with two characteristic abundant ions that resulted from formal cleavage of the carbon-carbon bonds at the oxirane ring. Both these ions retained the ester group. This fragmentation pattern allowed the unequivocal identification of the separate epoxide isomers.

Determination of platelet-activating factor and alkyl-ether phospholipids by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry via direct derivatization.

A mass spectrometric method has been developed for the quantitative analysis of platelet-activating factor (PAF) and lyso-platelet-activating factor (lyso-PAF) based on electron-capture gas chromatography-mass spectrometry using a stable-isotope dilution technique. The cleavage and derivatization was accomplished in a single step by direct reaction of phospholipid with pentafluorobenzoyl chloride at 150 degrees C. Spectroscopic and chromatographic data indicated that PAF and lyso-PAF were converted into derivatives containing a pentafluorobenzoyl group in place of the original phosphocholine group with 95 and 51% yield, respectively. Additionally, in the lyso-PAF derivative, the free hydroxyl group was found to be replaced by chlorine. Phosphatidylcholines containing an arachidonoyl group can be derivatized with a solution of PFBCl/chloroform at 120 degrees C for 18 h, producing 90% derivative. Analysis by GC/MS and LC/MS allowed the detection of 1 or 250 pg derivative, respectively, injected onto the column with S/N greater than 3. Newly available analogues of high isotopic purity containing either three or four deuterium atoms located in the 1-O-hexadecyl chain were used as internal standards. The developed GC/MS assay was used to quantitate PAF and lyso-PAF in rabbit leukocytes before and after stimulation with calcium ionophore. The levels of PAF in unstimulated cells were in the order of 2.27 pmol/10(6) cells and increased about 17-fold during 10-min stimulation with 2 microM ionophore A23187. The lyso-PAF levels in resting cells were in the order of 3.76 pmol/10(6) cells and increased 1.7-fold during stimulation. This assay exhibited satisfactory sensitivity, reproducibility, and accuracy.

Expression of prostaglandin H2-mediated mechanism of vascular contraction in hypertensive rats. Relation to lipoxygenase and prostacyclin synthase activities.

We tested the hypothesis that a prostanoid-mediated mechanism of vascular contraction is expressed in rats with aortic coarctation-induced hypertension. Rings of descending thoracic aorta taken from normotensive and hypertensive rats were contrasted in terms of constrictor responsiveness to arachidonic acid (AA), AA-induced release of eicosanoids, and ability to convert exogenous prostaglandin (PG) H2 to PGI2. AA (10(-8) to 10(-5) mol/L) increased isometric tension in aortic rings (bathed in Krebs' bicarbonate buffer) of hypertensive but not normotensive rats. AA (10(-5) mol/L) also elicited the release of PGI2, PGE2, thromboxane (TX) A2, and monohydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids (HETEs); this release from the aortic rings of hypertensive rats exceeded the corresponding release from the aortic rings of normotensive rats. However, the rate of conversion of exogenous PGH2 to PGI2 by aortic rings of hypertensive rats was < 50% the rate of conversion by aortic rings of normotensive rats. The constrictor effect of AA in aortic rings of hypertensive rats was abolished by an inhibitor of cyclooxygenase (indomethacin, 10 mumol/L) and a blocker of TXA2-PGH2 receptors (SQ29548, 1 mumol/L) but was not affected by an inhibitor of TXA2 synthesis (CGS13080, 10 mumol/L), suggesting mediation by PGH2. The lipoxygenase inhibitor baicalein (75 mumol/L) also attenuated the constrictor effect of AA in aortic rings of hypertensive rats while decreasing the associated release of HETEs and correcting the impairment in the conversion of PGH2 to PGI2.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Renal oxygenases: differential contribution to vasoconstriction induced by ET-1 and ANG II.

In the rat isolated perfused kidney, 5,8,11,14-eicosatetraynoic acid, an inhibitor of all pathways of arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism, diminished endothelin-1 (ET-1)- and angiotensin II (ANG II)-induced renal vasoconstriction by approximately 60-70%. We then examined the individual contribution of each oxygenase, cyclooxygenase (COX), lipoxygenase (LOX), and cytochrome P-450 (CYP) to the vasoconstrictor effects of ET-1 and ANG II. Inhibition of COX with indomethacin reduced by 30-40% the vasoconstrictor responses to ET-1 and ANG II. Inhibition of 12-LOX with baicalein and 5- and 12-LOX with 5,8,11-eicosatriynoic acid attenuated ANG II-induced renal vasoconstriction by approximately 40-60% but did not affect responses to ET-1. In contrast, 12,12-dibromododec-11-enoic acid (DBDD), an inhibitor of the CYP omega/omega 1-hydroxylase pathway, diminished ET-1-induced renal vasoconstriction by 30-40%, an effect reproduced by depletion of CYP enzymes with CoCl2. Neither DBDD nor CoCl2 affected renal vasoconstriction elicited by ANG II. ET-1 increased efflux of 19- and 20-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid, an effect reduced by DBDD. Thus products of the COX and CYP pathways contribute to the renal vasoconstrictor response to ET-1, whereas COX- and LOX-derived eicosanoids contribute to the response to ANG II, accounting for > or = 80% of the vasoactivity of the peptides.

Phospholipase A2 is involved in mediating the effect of extracellular Ca2+ on apical K+ channels in rat TAL.

Raising extracellular Ca2+ (Ca2+o) stimulating the Ca(2+)-sensing receptor (CaR) decreased the activity of the apical 70-pS K+ channel via a cytochrome P-450-dependent mechanism in the thick ascending limb (TAL) of the rat kidney [W. H. Wang, M. Lu, and S. C. Hebert. Am. J. Physiol. 270 (Cell Physiol. 39): C103-C111, 1996]. We have now used the patch-clamp technique and fluorescent dyes to investigate the signaling mechanism by which this effect is produced. Addition of 500 microM gadolinium (Gd3+), an agent which has been shown to activate the CaR (E. M. Brown, G. Gamba, D. Riccardi, M. Lombardi, R. Butters, O. Kifor, A. Sun, M. A. Hediger, J. Lytton, and S. C. Hebert. Nature 366: 575-580, 1993), mimics the inhibitory effect of raising Ca2+o from 1.1 to 5 mM on channel activity. Effects of the high Ca2+o and Gd3+ were abolished by blockade of phospholipase A2 (PLA2) but not by inhibition of phospholipase C (PLC). Raising Ca2+o also increased 20-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid production significantly. To investigate the effect of stimulation of the CaR on intracellular Ca2+ (Ca2+i), we used the acetoxymethyl ester of fura 2 to monitor the Ca2+i. Raising Ca2+o from 1.1 to 5 mM increased the Ca2+i significantly from 50 to 150 nM. However, addition of thapsigargin failed to abolish the effect of 5 mM Ca2+o on Ca2+i. Also, application of Gd3+ only slightly increased the Ca2+i, suggesting that elevation of the Ca2+i by high Ca2+o was the result of an influx of Ca2+ rather than enhanced Ca2+ release from Ca2+ stores. That the increase in Ca2+ influx is not mainly responsible for the effect of stimulating the CaR on channel activity is further supported by experiments in which 500 microM Gd3+ inhibited the K+ channel in cell-attached patches in a Ca(2+)-free bath. Furthermore, addition of 500 microM Gd3+ or 5 mM Ca2+o decreased intracellular Na+ measured with fluorescent sodium indicator, suggesting inhibition of Na+ transport. We conclude that PLA2 is involved in the stimulation of the CaR-induced inhibition of apical K+ channels in the TAL.

The incorporation and release of 12(S)-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid and its major metabolite, 8(S)-hydroxyhexadecatrienoic acid, from rabbit corneal lipids.

12(S)-Hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (12(S)-HETE) is the predominant corneal lipoxygenase metabolite formed after injury. To investigate the metabolic fate of this eicosanoid in the tissue, [3H]12(S)-HETE was injected intracamerally into rabbits. Corneas were removed 1 to 18 hr after labeling. In some experiments, either entire corneas or the constituent tissues (epithelium, endothelium and stroma) were then incubated in oxygenated Ames' medium for different times. Eighteen hours after injection, the radioactivity was mainly incorporated into the membrane phospholipids, phosphatidyl choline (49%) and phosphatidyl ethanolamine (40%). Free 12(S)-HETE represented less than 1% of the total label. Analysis of the products after phospholipase A2 treatment indicated that the label was acylated in the sn-2 position. HPLC analysis of extracts from tissue and medium showed the presence of 12(S)-HETE and a more polar metabolite established as 8(S)-hydroxyhexadecatrienoic acid [8(S)-OH-16:3] by gas-chromatography-mass-spectrometry. Within 1 hr of injection, 27% of the tissue label was recovered as 8(S)-OH-16:3 and at 8 hr the ratio of incorporated 8(S)-OH-16:3 to 12(S)-HETE was 2:1. 8(S)-OH-16:3 was released into the medium faster than 12(S)-HETE. Metabolism was highest on the epithelial corneal surface. The mitochondrial beta-oxidation inhibitor, 4-pentenoic acid, did not inhibit the formation of 8(S)-OH-16:3 which suggested a peroxisomal beta oxidation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)