On the Mechanism of Cardioprotective Effect of Fabomotizole in Alcoholic Cardiomyopathy.

The molecular mechanisms underlying the cardioprotective effect of fabomotizole were studied using the translational rat model of alcoholic cardiomyopathy developed by us. It was shown that intraperitoneal administration of fabomotizole (15 mg/kg) for 28 days to animals with alcoholic cardiomyopathy contributes to normalization of the expression of mRNA of genes of regulatory proteins СаМ (p=0.00001), Ерас1 (p=0.021), and Ерас2 (p=0.018) and receptors RyR2 (p=0.0031) and IP3R2 (p=0.006) in the myocardium of the myocardium of the left ventricle that is enhanced in control animals (p<0.05). These changes were accompanied by echocardiographically documented decrease in the degree of left ventricle remodeling and improvement of its inotropic function.

Influence of Social Isolation Stress on Age-Related Changes in Functional Activity and Expression of Receptors of Endogenous Vasoconstrictors in Rat Aorta.

Social isolation stress was modeled by long-term isolation of 12-month-old rats in individual cages over 28 weeks. It was found that sensitization of blood vessels to the vasoconstrictor action of serotonin due to overexpression of 5HT2A-type receptor genes, as well as an imbalance in the expression level of endothelin ETA- and ETB-receptors (55 and 153%, respectively) are the early signs of vascular aging. A significant contribution to the development of age-related changes in the contractile properties of blood vessels is made by the stress component, which is manifested at the level of glucocorticoid-dependent mechanisms of regulation of gene expression. The decrease in the expression of glucocorticoid receptors caused by isolation stress leads to a decrease in the expression of the genes responsible for the synthesis of V1A-R and ATII-R and to the development of vascular hyporeactivity to the vasoconstrictor action of ATII and AVP. In the aorta of stressed rats, the α1-AR mRNA level increases by 3 times. At the same time, stress did not affect the dynamics of age-related changes in the expression of genes encoding 5HT2A-R and ETA/ETB-R.

Studies of Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Cardioprotective Action of the ALM-802 Compound.

The mechanisms underlying cardioprotective activity of compound ALM-802 were studied in experiments on rats with chronic post-infarction heart failure. Real-time PCR showed that compound ALM-802 (daily intraperitoneal injections in a dose of 2 mg/kg for 28 days starting from day 91 after myocardial infarction modeling) restored the expression of genes encoding ß1- (p=0.00001) and ß2-adrenoreceptors (p=0.01) and type 2 ryanodine receptors (p=0.008) in the myocardium that was reduced in control animals. These effects can serve as the basis for the ability of the compound to reduce the intensity of remodeling and increase the inotropic function of the left heart ventricle shown earlier in this model.

Examination of Cardioprotective Effects of Fabomotizole Hydrochloride in Translational Rat Model of Chronic Heart Failure.

A translational rat model of chronic heart failure was employed to examine the cardioprotective effect of fabomotizole hydrochloride. Fabomotizole therapy for 28 days (15 mg/kg/day intraperitoneally) restored inotropic function of the left ventricle and increased ejection fraction from 54±3 to 65±3% (p=0.001). The inotropic function returned to normal against the background of significantly reduced myocardial expression of angiotensin (p=0.01) and glucocorticoid (p=0.03) receptors and significant increased expression of sigma-1 receptors (p=0.04). Inhibition of abnormal expression of angiotensin and glucocorticoid receptors responsible for activation of the pathological cascades underlying the postinfarction remodeling of the left ventricle as well as activation of the expression of cytoprotective sigma-1 receptors are viewed as the key features of the cardioprotective action of fabomotizole hydrochloride.

A Translational Model of Chronic Heart Failure.

We created a translational model of chronic heart failure in rats that developed in 3 months after reproducing experimental anterior transmural myocardial infarction. The model simulated the basic clinicodiagnostic criteria of this disease: impaired contractility and dilatation of heart ventricles, signs of venous congestion, elevated plasma content of biochemical markers, and abnormal overexpression of AT1aR and ß-adrenoceptors.

On the Mechanism of the Cardioprotective Action of σ1 Receptor Agonist Anxiolytic Fabomotizole Hydrochloride (Afobazole).

Original translational rat model of chronic heart failure provoked by experimental anterior transmural myocardium infarction was employed to examine the preventive action of anxiolytic Afobazole (15 mg/kg/day administered intraperitoneally during the first 15 days after coronary occlusion) on the development of the heart failure assessed in 3 months after infarction. Afobazole prevented the development of pathologic remodeling of the myocardium, maintained its inotropic function, and decreased the plasma level of brain natriuretic peptide known as a biochemical marker of chronic heart failure. In the myocardium, Afobazole down-regulated overexpression of the genes induced in chronic heart failure and assessed by corresponding RNA levels, which code angiotensin (AT1A-R), vasopressin (V1A-R), and glucocorticoid (GR) receptors as well as Epac2 protein. The revealed biochemical changes are consistent with the data on cardioprotective action of Afobazole.

Epac Proteins and Calmodulin as Possible Arrhythmogenesis Trigger in Alcoholic Cardiomyopathy.

The expression of Epac proteins (exchange protein directly activated by cAMP) and calmodulin (CaM) was assessed by the content of the corresponding mRNA in biopsy specimens of cardiac atrium, left ventricle, and thoracic aorta of rats with alcoholic cardiomyopathy. In the myocardium, overexpression of Еpac1, Ерас2, and СаМ mRNA was found. The content of Epac2 mRNA in the left ventricle was elevated by 2.9 times (p=0.000001), in the left atrium by 3.2 times (p=0.00001), in the right atrium by 3 times (p=0.00001). In contrast to the myocardial tissue, the content of CaM mRNA in the thoracic aorta was not increased, but showed a tendency to decrease, when compared to the control values, while the level of Epac1 and Epac2 mRNA was increased. The assumption is made that regulatory proteins Epac and CaM can play a key role in arrhythmogenesis development under conditions of alcoholic cardiomyopathy.

[Vascular reactivity and receptor expression of endogenous vasoconstrictor in rats with alcoholic cardiomyopathy and insulation stress].

On the model of alcohol cardiomyopathy studied the effect of chronic ethanol consumption and the insulation stress on the reactivity of isolated rat aorta and the expression of the endogenous vasoconstrictor receptors in the aorta. Pushing alcoholization outbred rats was carried out for 24-28 weeks, using as the sole source of liquid 10% ethanol solution. In assessing the results of the study took into account the age of the animals. It is found that the reactivity of isolated aortic rings dissected from the body of old (40-45 weeks) nonstressed rats in response to endothelin-1 (ET1), noradrenaline (NA), arginine vasopressin (AVP) or angiotensin II (ATII) is not different from such reactivity for young animals. However, with the increase in life expectancy increases the sensitivity of vessels to vasoconstrictor action of serotonin (5HT). Prolonged stress insulation and the consumption of high doses of ethanol the stress lead to increased ET1- and NA-induced contraction of the aortic rings and a significant decrease in contractile response of the aorta to the impact ATII and AVP. Stress and alco- hol in combination with stress causing reduction mRNA ETA-R, AT1A-R. and V1A-R and increased mRNA α1-AR in rat aorta. It is found that in the vessels of stressed and alcoholized animals reduced level of expression of cytosolic glucocorticoid receptors (GR), which is a transcription factor for genes ETA-R, AT1A-R V1A-R. It is propoused that the development of vascular hyporesponsiveness of stressed and alcoholized rats to action ATII and AVP is the result of reducing the expression of their receptors on the GR-dependent mechanism. It is shown that under the influence of ethanol vessels become hyporeactivity selectively with respect to the action of 5HT. The mechanism of this process is unclear. Importantly, the changes in the contractile properties vessels recovered from the rat at 1 month after the abolition of the reception of ethanol (step abstinence) were similar to changes found at the alcohohzed animals. Thus, the importance of breaking the neuroendocrine regulation of vascular tone during long-term consumption of ethanol has a stressor components. Furthermore, in this experimental model we not received data in favor ethanol direct impact on the development of hypertension.

[Agonists of 5HT2C-receptors SCH 23390 and MK 212 incresase the force of rat aorta contraction in the presence of vasopressin and angiotensin II].

We investigated the role of 5HT2C receptors in regulation of blood vessel contractility. We determined expression of 5HT2C receptors in smooth muscle cell line A7r5 as well as on isolated rat aorta. It was shown that strong vasoconstriction effect of 5HT2C receptor agonists - SCH 23390 and MK 212 appeared on blood vessels after preliminary activation of angiotensin ATIA- and vasopressin V1A-receptors. Biphasic contraction (a rhythmic alternation of contraction and subsequent relaxation phases of aoitic rings) and tonic contraction were observed in 75% and 25% of the cases after 5HT2C receptor activation, respectively. Periodic high amplitude constrictions of isolated rat aorta, induced by SCH 23390 and MK 212 agonists, were persisted for a long time (>1 hour). It was revealed that calmodulin and c-Src kinase play a central role in the mechanisms of signal transduction from 5HT2C receptors. Trifluoperazine and PP2, the inhibitors of calmodulin and c-Src kinase, respectively, abolished vasoconstriction reaction of isolated aortic rings in response to SCH 23390 and MK 212 but did not affect the strength gain of the vasoconstriction caused by fluoroaluminate, a G-protein activator. Taken together, these date suggest that 5HT2C receptors are in a latent state in blood vessels (<> receptors) and activation of these receptors is dependent on the functional state of the receptors of other endogenous vasoconstrictors.

[The Effects of Inhibitors of Rho- and tyrosine c-Src-kinases on serotonin-induced constrictions of the aorta and mesenteric artery in rats].

We found that the inhibitor of Rho-kinase fasudil selectively inhibited constriction of isolated rings of the aorta and mesenteric artery in rats in response to application of the agonists of 5HT2A-(DOI and TBC-2) and 5HT1A-receptors (8-OH-DPAT) and did not influence vasoconstriction induced by serotonin. We demonstrate for the first time that application of the agonists of 5HT2C-receptors (MK 212 and SCH 23390) did not influence the tone of "intact" vessels. The marked vasoconstrictory effect of the agonists of 5HT2C-receptors was observed in the vessels preconstricted due to angiotensin II or vasopressin. We found that the inhibitor of Rho-kinase did not influence negatively on MK 212 or SCH 23390-induced constriction of isolated rings of the aorta and mesenteric artery in rats. We suppose.that, in the presence of fasudil, serotonin induces constriction of vessels through the interaction with 5HT2C-receptors and signal transduction from these receptors does not involve Rho-kinase activity. We found that fasudil attenuated vasoconstriction induced by norepinephrine and vasopressin by 40%. We.demonstrated that tyrosine c-Src-kinase plays the most important role in signal transduction from 5HT-receptors because its effects are specific with relation to these receptors.

[Calmodulin inhibitors suppress a calcium signal from serotonin receptors in smooth muscle cells and remove the vasoconstrictive response upon intravenous introduction of serotonin].

Comparative study of the effect of calmodulin inhibitors (trifluoperazine, W-12, and W-13) and the TRPVI channel blocker (capsazepine) on receptor-dependent calcium exchange in smooth muscle cells of the rat aorta and on the contractility of the isolated aorta was conducted. It was determined that trifluoperazine almost completely removes an increase in the concentration of calcium ions in the cytoplasm of smooth muscle cells (isolated from the rat aorta) and smooth muscle cells of the A7r5 line in response to serotonin and does not influence the cell response to vasopressin and angiotensin II. W-12 and W-13 also do not reduce calcium ion concentration increase (induced by vasopressin and angiotensin II) but reduces by two times its rise in response to serotonin. It was found that the efficiency of calcium exchange suppression by calmodulin inhibitors correlates with the intensity at which they inhibit the contractile response of the aorta on the effect of serotonin. It was detected that the inhibiting effect of calmodulin blockers on calcium exchange in smooth muscle cells and the contractility of the rat isolated aorta during the activation of serotonin vasoconstrictive receptors are realized by a TRPV1-independent mechanism. It was demonstrated in experiments in vivo that trifluoperazine does not influence hypotensive reaction in rats (normally observed in response to intravenous serotonin introduction), but removes the hypertensive effect of this neurotransmitter in rats after chronic introduction of dexamethasone. The results obtained confirm the hypothesis (that we previously stated) about the direct involvement of calmodulin in signal transmission from vasoconstrictive serotonin receptors.

[Involvement of calmodulin in realization of vasoconstrictive effects of serotonin and norepinephrin].

Possible involvement ofcalmodulin in adrenergic and serotoninergic regulation of vascular contractility has been studied. Calmodulin inhibitors trifluoperazine and W-13 suppress vasoconstriction of the rat aorta in response to norepinephrine, serotonin, and serotonin 5HT1A- and 5HT2A-receptor agonists (8-OH-DPAT and DOI, respectively) and do not affect the vasodilatory effect of 5HT1B-, 5HT2B-, and 5HT4-receptors. The force of aorta contraction in response to 8-OH-DPAT increases after the activation of calcium entry through voltage-gated Ca2+-channels. This effect is not related to non-specific activation of alpha1-adrenoceptors, since it is realized in the presence of prazosin. The inhibitor of calmodulin-dependent myosin light chain kinase KN93 decreases the vasoconstrictive response in response to norepinephrine and serotonin by only 20%. Calmodulin inhibitors slightly decrease aortic constriction in response to endothelin-1, vasopressin, angiotensin II, and KCl. Trifluoperazine does not suppress vasoconstriction induced by the G-protein activator AlF4(-). It is assumed that the target of trifluoperazine and W-13 is calmodulin interacting directly with alpha1-adrenoceptors and serotonin 5HT1A- and 5HT2A-receptors.

[Activation of "silent" vasoconstrictive 5-HT1A receptors as a possible mechanism of synergism in angiotensin II and serotonin effect on vascular tone].

It has been shown that the agonist of 5HT1A-receptors 8-OH-DPAT induces contraction of aortic rings in the presence of angiotensin II. This effect is not associated with activation of alpha1-adrenoceptors by 8-OH-DPAT as it is reproduced in the presence of prazosin which completely suppresses the nonspecific vasoconstrictive effect of 8-OH-DPAT via alpha1-adrenoceptors on the aorta incubated without angiotensin II. Synergism in the action of angiotensin II and 8-OH-DPAT is completely preserved after partial desensitization of the receptors of angiotensin II. It has been found that 8-OH-DPAT increases the free cytoplasmic calcium concentration in cultured smooth muscle cells from the rat aorta. The data obtained support the hypothesis about the existence of "silent" vasoconstrictive 5HT1A-receptors. It has been suggested that activation of these receptors underlies synergism in vasoconstrictive action of serotonin and angiotensin II.

[Agonist 5HT1A-receptors of serotonin 8-OH-DPAT increase the power of collapse of the aorta and mesenteric artery in rats in the presence of endothelin-1 or vasopressin and cause vessel relaxation precollapsing with noradrenaline].

Agonist 5HT1A serotonin receptors 8-OH-DPAT at 70-80% in rats relax the isolated aorta and mesenteric artery, precollapsed with noradrenaline. An inhibitor of NO-synthase L-NAME two or more times suppresses vazodilatatomyh reaction in response to the effect of 8-OH-DPAT. The addition of 8-OH-DPAT to the aorta in a state of rest or precollapsed with endothelin-1 or vasopressin causes an increase in power reduction. A blocker of alpha1-adrenoceptors prazosin almost completely suppress the aorta collapse reaction to the effect of 8-OH-DPAT in the absence of vasoconstrictives, but does not affect the contraction force in response to 8-OH-DPAT of the aorta in the presence of endothelin-1 or vasopressin and does not shift the curve of the dependence of force collapse on the concentration of 8-OH-DPAT. Our data show the existence in the rat aorta of vasodilator and vasoconstrictive 5HT1A receptors. The vasodilator receptors act according to a NO-dependent mechanism. Vasoconstrictive 5HT1A-receptors are in a latent state (silent receptors) and begin to function after preactivation of endothelin-1 or vasopressin receptors. The ability ofvasoconstrictive 5HT1A-receptors to cause aorta reduction remains after washing endothelin-1 off of the aorta and its relaxation.

[Plasma membrane depolarization and activation of receptors for endogenous vasoconstrictors as possible mechanisms of potentiation of vasoconstrictive response to serotonin in traumatic shock in rats].

The goal of this work was to study possible mechanisms underlying the potentiation of vasopressor response to serotonin observed in traumatic shock. Experiments with isolated aorta and mesenteric artery of the rat showed that vasoconstriction is caused by the activation of 5HT2A receptors. Agonists of 5HT1B, 5HT1D, 5HT2B, and 5HT4 receptors induced vasodilation. Agonists of 5HT1A receptors had a dual effect determined by interaction with alpha1-adrenergic receptors and 5HT1A receptors. Plasma membrane depolarization with 15 mM KCl increased the vasoconstrictive force in response to serotonin. This effect was determined by the ability of KCl to activate voltage-gated calcium channels, as a result of which the intracellular calcium stores are replenished. Inhibition of serotonin response by ketanserin, a 5HT2A receptor blocker, did not depend on the presence of 15 mM KCl. Constriction in response to serotonin was potentiated after its addition to vessels preconstricted with noradrenaline or endothelin-1. The constriction response partially retained in the presence of 2 x 10(-7) M ketanserin, which completely suppressed the serotonin-induced constriction of dilated vessels both at normal membrane potential and after plasma membrane depolarization. It can be assumed that noradrenalin and endothelin-1 alter the characteristics of 5HT2A receptors and possibly 5HT1A receptors as a result of their heterodimerization with the receptors for these vasoconstrictive hormones or interreceptor interaction at the level of signaling systems. Along with the potentiating effect of KCl, this mechanism may underlie the enhancement of vasopressor response to serotonin in shock.

Inversion of the response to serotonin in rats with traumatic shock.

Normally serotonin reduced blood pressure. It was shown that in rats with traumatic shock its hypotensive effect was transformed into hypertensive one. In vitro serotonin exhibited a slight vasoconstrictor effect on isolated rat aorta, while 24 h after injury, the strength of aortic contractions in response to serotonin increased 2.2 times. Desensitization of glucocorticoid receptors caused by injection of high doses of dexamethasone (3 mg/kg) to rats for 5 days led to similar changes in serotonin effect. We hypothesized that inversion of the response to serotonin in shock was caused by increased activity and/or expression of vasoconstrictor serotonin receptors in blood vessels.

[The role of desensitization of glucocorticoid receptors in the development of vascular resistance to endogenous vasoconstrictors in traumatic shock].

The fact that the activity of cytosol glucocorticoid receptors decreases in shock have been shown before [Golikov P. P. et al., 2001]. The connection between the development of vascular hyporeactivity to endogenous vasoconstrictors and desensitization of glucocorticoid receptors was studied in this investigation. On Kenton traumatic model in a rat experiment, it was shown that the strength of the isometric constriction of the isolated aorta in response to angiotensin II, endothelin-1, phenylephrine, noradrenaline, and vasopressin falls on the second day after a severe mechanical injury (3.3, 2.1, 1.7, 1.6, and 1.5 times, respectively; p < 0.01). On the contrary, the strength of the constriction in response to serotonin increases more then twice. Artificial desensitization of glucocorticoid receptors by long-term administration of dexamethasone (3 mg per kg during five days) results in similar changes of vascular reactivity i.e. a 2.5, 2, 7, and 1.4-fold decrease in the strength of aortal constriction in response to angiotensin II, vasopressin, and endothelin-1, respectively. The strength of the constriction in response to serotonin tended to increase as well. Carbahol-induced relaxation of the aorta pre-constricted with noradrenaline did not change compared with control, being 70 to 80%, both in shock and after desensitization of glucocorticoid receptors with dexamethasone. Presumably, the pathogenetic mechanism of pressor reaction suppression, connected with a decrease in cytosol glucocorticoid receptor activity and thus with inhibition of glucocorticoid-induced expression of the membrane receptors of endogenous vasoconstrictors, is realized in traumatic shock together with other mechanisms.

Disturbances in hormonal regulation of vascular tone during traumatic shock.

Changes in hormonal regulation of the vascular tone in Wistar rats were studied on Cannon model of traumatic shock. The pressor response to angiotensin II decreased by 30-40% 3 h after the incidence of trauma. The reaction to vasopressin remained unchanged. However, phenylephrine in medium and high doses produced a more pronounced pressor response under these conditions. One day after trauma we revealed a decrease in vascular sensitivity not only to angiotensin II, but also to vasopressin and alpha1-adrenoceptor agonist phenylephrine. The vascular response was observed only after treatment with phenylephrine in maximum doses. Traumatic shock was accompanied by inverse response to serotonin: hypertensive effect instead of blood pressure drop. Our results show that traumatic shock is accompanied by specific changes in vascular reactivity.

[C677T mutation in methylentetrahydrofolatereductase gene in patients with venous thromboses from the central region of Russia correlates with a high risk of pulmonary artery thromboembolism].

AIM: To investigate genetic factors of risk (RF) to develop venous thrombosis and pulmonary artery thromboembolism (PATE) in population of central Russia. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We studied polymorphism of the genes of coagulation factor II (G20210A), factor V (G1691A) and methylentetrahydrofolatereductase (MTHFR) with polymerase chain reaction and restriction analysis of DNA amplified sites. We estimated prevalence of the mutations in healthy population and in patients with flebothrombosis as well as effects of the mutations on a PATE rate in patients with thrombosis. We examined 97 patients with documented flebothrombosis. PATE was detected in 54 of them. The control group consisted of 56 healthy volunteers matched by age and gender. RESULTS: G1691A mutation in the gene of coagulation factor V (Leiden mutation of factor V--LMFV) in healthy population occurred in 3.6%, in patients with flebothromboses--in 19.6% (OR = 6.58; 95% CI from 1.47 to 29.42; p = 0.006). Heterozygous mutation G20210A in prothrombine gene was detected in 8 (8.2%) patients (p = 0.027), while this mutation was registered in none controls. Polymorphism of MTHFR gene (C677T) was seen both in the control and patients (60.7 and 52.6%, respectively). LMFV occurrence in patients with flebothrombosis and PATE is less than in patients with flebothrombosis without TEPA (16.7 and 23%, respectively). The PATE risk is significantly higher in carriers of mutant allele 677CT and 677TT of MTHFR compared to patients free of this mutation (OR = 3.11; CI 95% from 1.35 to 7.15; p = 0.006). Homozygous inheritance of this mutation in males combined with PATE in 100% cases. Of 8 carriers of heterozygous mutation G20210A in prothrombin gene PATE was detected in 5 carriers. CONCLUSION: LMFV and mutation G20210A in prothrombin gene are genetic risk factors of venous thrombosis. LMFV is not a PATE risk factor. Mutation C677T in MTHFR gene has no influence on the risk of venous thromboses but makes PATE much more probable. This suggests that it may be a genetic risk factor of PATE in this disease.