alpha1-Adrenergic stimulation of FGF-2 promoter in cardiac myocytes and in adult transgenic mouse hearts.

Fibroblast growth factor (FGF-2), a mitogenic, angiogenic, and cardioprotective agent, is reported to be released from the postnatal heart by a mechanism of transient remodeling of the sarcolemma during contraction. This release can be increased with adrenergic stimulation. RNA blotting was used to assess whether FGF-2 synthesis in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes might also be regulated by adrenergic stimulation. FGF-2 RNA levels were increased after treatment with norepinephrine for 6 h or with the alpha-adrenergic agonist phenylephrine for 48 h. To assess an effect on transcription, neonatal rat cardiomyocytes were transfected with a hybrid rat FGF-2 promoter/luciferase gene (-1058FGFp.luc) and treated with norepinephrine or phenylephrine for 6 or 48 h, respectively. FGF-2 promoter activity was increased two- to sevenfold in an alpha1-specific manner. Putative phenylephrine-responsive elements (PEREs) were identified at positions -780 and -761 relative to a major transcription initiation site. However, deletion analysis of -1058FGFp.luc showed that the phenylephrine response was independent of the putative PEREs, cell contraction, and Ca2+ influx. In transgenic mice expressing -1058FGFp.luc, a significant three- to sevenfold stimulation of FGF-2 promoter activity was detected in the hearts of two independent lines 6 h after intraperitoneal administration of phenylephrine (50 mg/kg). This increase was still apparent at 24 h but was not detected at 48 h posttreatment. Analysis of FGF-2 mRNA in normal mouse hearts revealed accumulation of the 6.1-kb transcript at 24 h. Control of local FGF-2 synthesis at the transcriptional level through adrenergic stimulation may be important in the response to injury as well as in the maintenance of a healthy myocardium.

An A/G-rich motif in the rat fibroblast growth factor-2 gene confers enhancer activity on a heterologous promoter in neonatal rat cardiac myocytes.

We have cloned the rat fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) promoter region including 1058 base pairs (bp) of 5'-flanking DNA. Complete sequencing of this promoter region revealed a 74 bp domain between nucleotides-793 and-720 that was greater than 97% A/G-rich. A repeat of the sequence 5'-AGGGAGGG-3' separated by 11 bp was located at the core of this domain. A 37 bp A/G-rich oligonucleotide containing these AGGG-repeat sequences was synthesised, and tested for function on a minimal herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (TK) promoter, fused to the firefly luciferase gene (TKp.luc), in transiently transfected neonatal rat cardiac myocytes. Promoter activity was stimulated approximately 3 fold in the presence of AGGG-repeat sequences. This effect was neither tissue or species-specific since TK promoter activity was increased approximately 11 fold in both rat and human glial tumor cells. Four specific complexes (Cl-4) were detected between neonatal rat heart nuclear proteins and the 37 bp A/G-rich oligonucleotide by gel mobility shift assay. Competition with excess unlabelled 37 bp A/G-rich oligonucleotide revealed that two complexes represented very high affinity/specificity interactions (C2 > C4) while Cl and C3 were of lower affinity. As a result, competition with up to a 25 fold molar excess of 37 bp A/G-rich oligonucleotide led to the loss of C2 and C4, and a corresponding and transient increase in the levels of Cl and C3, which themselves were reduced with more competitor oligonucleotide. The AGGG-repeat resembles the 5'-gGGGAGGG-3' sequence previously implicated in the response of the atrial natriuretic factor promoter to the alpha-adrenergic agonist, phenylephrine. Although an additional 1.5 fold increase in TK promoter activity was detected in the presence of the 37 bp A/G-rich oligonucleotide with phenylephrine treatment of transfected myocytes, this effect was not statistically significant. Furthermore, there was no difference in the gel mobility shift (Cl-4) pattern obtained with the 37 bp A/G-rich oligonucleotide and nuclear protein isolated from neonatal rat cardiac myocytes grown in the presence or absence of norepinephrine. These data suggest that the A/G rich sequences in the rat FGF-2 gene 5'-flanking DNA, including the AGGG-repeat, are able to confer stimulatory activity on a promoter in a tissue- and species-independent manner, but alone are not able to induce a significant phenylephrine response in neonatal rat cardiac myocytes.

Identification of changes in cardiac phospholipase C activity in congestive heart failure.

Although phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C (PLC) is involved in signal transduction mechanisms of the myocardial cell. very little is known about its status in congestive heart failure (CHF). We have examined the PLC activity in sarcolemmal and cytosolic fractions isolated from the viable left ventricle of rats at 8 weeks (moderate stage of CHF) and 16 weeks (severe stage of CHF) after occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery; the hypertrophied right ventricle was used for comparison. At 8 weeks, the hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate by sarcolemmal PLC was reduced by 37% of sham control values only in the left ventricle, whereas at 16 weeks, PLC-mediated hydrolysis was depressed in both left and right ventricles by 25% and 30%, respectively. The hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol 4-monophosphate (PIP) was reduced by 25% of control value only in the severely failing left ventricle, while the phosphatidylinositol (PI) hydrolysis remained unaltered. Kinetic studies of PLC activity in the left ventricle showed a depression of V(max) at moderate and severe failure stages, whereas the affinity for the substrate was increased in the left ventricle at 8 weeks and decreased in the right ventricle at 16 weeks. The only difference observed between experimental and control groups at the cytosolic level, was a significant enhancement of PLC activity in the severely failing left ventricle when PIP was given as a substrate, and in the corresponding right ventricle when PI was the substrate. The results of this study identify time-related defects in sarcolemmal PLC in right and left ventricles during the development of CHF due to myocardial infarction.

Purification and characterization of phospholipase C-beta 1 mutants expressed in E. coli.

In the M1-muscarinic receptor-Gq-phospholipase C-beta 1 (PLC-beta 1) pathway, PLC-beta 1 is both the effector regulated by Gq and acts as GTPase activating protein (GAP) for Gq. To rapidly evaluate in vitro PLC-beta 1 mutants constructed by oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis, we established a quick expression and purification procedure. A pQE60/His6PLC-beta 1 construct was expressed in E. coli SG13009[pREP4]. Purification (approximately 160-fold) was obtained after high-salt extraction and chromatography over Ni(+)-agarose, Mono Q and Mono S columns. Several His6PLC-beta 1 mutants were equally responsive to alpha q. GTP gamma S, although the mutant His6PLC-beta 1-P57 (G758D) had only 2.5% the intrinsic PLC activity of the wild type. Also, His6PLC-beta 1 wild type and mutants acted as GAPs for Gq in a reconstitution assay. Thus, the present procedure provides a method to quickly assess phospholipase activity, alpha q-responsiveness, and GAP activity of PLC-beta 1.

Regulation of G protein function: implications for heart disease.

Heterotrimeric GTP-binding and -hydrolyzing proteins (G proteins) link members of a family of seven-helix transmembrane receptors (G protein-coupled receptors, GPCR) to intracellular effectors. The coupling mechanism involves the G protein completing a cycle of activation, dissociation into alpha and beta gamma subunits, deactivation, and reassociation. At the center of this cycle is the alpha subunit, in which activation by GPCR, GTPase activity, and regulation of effector are combined. Whereas G alpha's functional domains and residues had already been inferred from mutagenesis studies, the recent solution of the crystal structure has elucidated the structural basis of alpha subunit function. It is now clear that an irregularity in any GPCR pathway component could cause a physiological defect. This is confirmed by the identification of mutations in GPCR and G alpha's in various human diseases. Although several cardiomyopathies are associated with abnormal GPCR function, mutations are unlikely in these disorders. The last few years, other aspects of G protein function have moved into focus: e.g. posttranslational modifications; effector regulation by beta gamma subunits; GTPase activating protein (GAP) activity of effectors; G protein expression levels etc. When comparing the regulation of G protein functional activity in cAMP and in inositol phosphate generating pathways, an extrapolation can be made to data on the status of these pathways in some cardiovascular diseases.

Membrane phospholipids and adrenergic receptor function.

We have reviewed the effects on adrenergic receptors by membrane phospholipid alterations secondary to oxidative stress and phospholipases' activity. Experimental evidences indicate that the function of both alpha- and beta-adrenoceptors is regulated by their phospholipid microdomain; however, the underlying mechanism is still undefined. No information seems to be available on the influence of phospholipids on alpha 2-adrenoceptors and on all adrenoceptors' subtypes. Thus, further studies are necessary to clarify the role of membrane phospholipids in regulating the function of each member of the adrenergic receptor superfamily.

Involvement of thiol groups in the impairment of cardiac sarcoplasmic reticular phospholipase D activity by oxidants.

Considerable phospholipase D (PLD) activity is localized in myocardial sarcoplasmic reticular (SR) membranes, where it may take part in the regulation of Ca2+ movements. In this study, we examined thiol group dependence as a possible regulatory mechanism for SR PLD. SR membranes isolated from rat heart were exposed to four types of thiol group modifiers, which all induced a decrease in SR PLD activity that was prevented by dithiothreitol. Furthermore, since abnormalities in thiol status and Ca2+ homeostasis are characteristic for the myocardial cell damage induced by oxidative stress, we also studied the effects of oxidants on the SR PLD activity. The enzyme was not affected by xanthine-xanthine oxidase, but was depressed by hydrogen peroxide and by hypochlorous acid. These inhibitory effects were prevented by catalase as well as by methionine and dithiothreitol, respectively. Furthermore, reduced glutathione protected against the hydrogen peroxide-induced depression, whereas oxidized glutathione inhibited SR PLD. The results indicate that SR PLD activity is inhibited by nonradical oxidants, hydrogen peroxide and hypochlorous acid, through reversible modification of associated thiol groups. Thus, the enzyme may be controlled by the glutathione redox status of the cardiac cell.

Oxidative stress modifies the activity of cardiac sarcolemmal phospholipase C.

We have examined the direct effects of oxidant metabolites on cardiac sarcolemmal phosphoinositide phospholipase C which transduces signals from various receptors for the modulation of intracellular Ca2+ levels. The enzyme activity in rat cardiac sarcolemmal membranes that had been preincubated (10 min; 37 degrees C) with xanthine-xanthine oxidase, a superoxide anion generating system, was not significantly affected. The addition to this system of superoxide dismutase, which converts superoxide anion to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), resulted in a significant decrease of the enzyme activity in comparison with control values. Such decrease was fully prevented by catalase. Preincubation of sarcolemma with hypochlorous acid also gave a significant inhibition of phospholipase C, which was counteracted by the synthetic thiol reducer dithiothreitol. H2O2-pretreatment induced a concentration-dependent inhibition of the enzyme which was prevented by catalase but not by the iron chelator deferoxamine. Dithiothreitol was able to protect against, as well as to recover the enzyme activity from the H2O2 effects. These data suggest that superoxide anions and hydroxyl radicals did not interfere with phospholipase C activity, and that the nonradical oxidants, H2O2 and hypochlorous acid, may have acted through oxidation of thiol (SH) groups. The existence of reactive SH groups associated with the enzyme was confirmed by the inhibitory effects of SH modifiers (p-chloromercuriphenylsulfonic acid, 5'5'-dithio-bis(2-nitrobenzoic acid), N-ethylmaleimide and methyl methanethiosulfonate), which were prevented and in some cases also reversed by dithiothreitol. The biological reducer glutathione (GSH) was not able to recover the H2O2-induced inhibition of phospholipase C, whereas its oxidized form (GSSG) decreased the enzyme activity both in control and H2O2-pretreated membranes. The enzyme was active in a wide range of GSH/GSSG redox states, but H2O2 pretreatment narrowed this range. The results showed that oxidative stress changed the redox state of sarcolemmal phospholipase C, and this deactivated the enzyme. The oxidants' concentrations that significantly impaired phospholipase C in this study were compatible with those occurring in vivo during ischemia-reperfusion [Am. J. Med. 91(Suppl. 3C):235, 1991]. This supports the possibility that alteration of the receptor-associated phospholipase C may be a factor in the oxidant-related dysfunction of the ischemic-reperfused heart.

Alpha 1-adrenergic stimulation of phospholipase C activity in purified cardiac sarcolemmal membranes.

Cardiac sarcolemmal (SL) phospholipase C (PLC) is a key enzyme in the signal transduction of several cardiac receptors. Thus, the earlier described Ca(2+)-stimulated SL PLC activity may represent variously coupled enzymes. The present study was undertaken to delineate the alpha 1-adrenoceptor/G protein-stimulated PLC activity in purified cardiac SL vesicles. Although certain detergents and membrane pore formers enhanced SL PLC activity, measured as formation of 3H-inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate [Ins(1,4,5)P3] from 3H-phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate, alpha 1-adrenoceptor stimulated activity was not observed. When SL vesicles were preincubated (0-4 degrees C) with substrate in detergent-free buffer, subsequent incubation (37 degrees C; in mM: 100 NaCl, 2 EGTA, 1.8 CaCl2, 10 LiCl) resulted in a time-dependent production of 3H-Ins(1,4,5)P3, that was increased in the presence of 100 microM GTP gamma S. GTP gamma S stimulation of SL PLC activity required the presence of Mg2+ and Ca2+, but was lost at (sub)millimolar concentrations of these bivalent cations. Mg2+ (0.01-10 mM) promoted a 2,3-diphosphoglycerate-insensitive phosphatase activity. GTP gamma S enhanced the sensitivity of SL PLC to Ca2+, but did not increase the maximum Ca2+ (0.1-1 mM) stimulated SL PLC activity. At 5 microM Ca2+, GTP gamma S induced a concentration-dependent rise in inositol phosphates production, which was further elevated by the alpha 1-agonist, phenylephrine (PhE). The PhE-effect was inhibited by the alpha 1-antagonist prazosin, but not by the beta-antagonist atenolol. These results show that the components necessary for the alpha 1-adrenoceptor transmembrane signal are associated with the SL membrane and can be functionally coupled.

Possible role of phospholipase C in the induction of Ca(2+)-paradox in rat heart.

In order to investigate the involvement of phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C (PLC), an enzyme associated with phosphoinositide signal transduction pathway, for the occurrence of Ca(2+)-paradox (loss of contractile activity associated with contracture), rat hearts perfused with Ca(2+)-free medium (1 to 5 min) were reperfused (5 to 10 min) with medium containing 1.25 mM Ca2+. Crude membranes isolated from hearts perfused with Ca(2+)-free medium exhibited a significantly increased activity of PLC, whereas normal activity was detected in hearts reperfused with Ca(2+)-containing medium. A significant rise in PLC activity was observed at 1 min of Ca(2+)-free perfusion; maximal increase was seen at 4 min of Ca(2+)-free perfusion. Minimal concentration of Ca2+ in the perfusion medium required for showing an increase in PLC activity was 10 microM, whereas that required for the occurrence of Ca(2+)-paradoxic changes in heart function upon reperfusion was 50 microM. Perfusion of the hearts with Ca(2+)-free medium in the presence of low Na+ or at low temperature, which prevents the occurrence of Ca(2+)-paradox upon reperfusion, did not prevent the increase in PLC activity. An increase during Ca(2+)-free perfusion similar to that seen for PLC was also observed for two other enzymes, namely the phosphatidylinositol (PI) 4-kinase and the PI-4-monophosphate (PIP) 5-kinase, which synthesize the PLC substrate, phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2). No alteration of the alpha-adrenoreceptors was observed after 5 min of Ca(2+)-free perfusion. On the other hand, the observed changes in PLC activity during Ca(2+)-free perfusion appear to be due to some redistribution of the enzyme in the myocardium. These results suggest a possible role of the phosphoinositide/PLC pathway in the induction of Ca(2+)-paradox via mechanisms which do not appear to be associated with changes in the characteristics of alpha-adrenergic receptors.

Depression of cardiac sarcolemmal phospholipase D activity by oxidant-induced thiol modification.

Myocardial phospholipase D (PLD) is primarily localized at the sarcolemmal level and selectively hydrolyzes phosphatidylcholine to form phosphatidic acid as part of the signal transduction mechanisms for regulating Ca2+ movements in the heart. Since the myocardial cell damage induced by oxidative stress is associated with abnormalities in Ca2+ homeostasis and thiol status, we examined the thiol group dependence and the effects of oxidant species on this enzyme. Sarcolemmal membranes isolated from rat heart were exposed to several types of thiol group modifiers. Alkylation with N-ethylmaleimide or methyl methanethiosulfonate, mercaptide formation with p-chloromercuriphenylsulfonic acid, and thiol-disulfide exchange with 5,5'-dithio-bis(2-nitrobenzoate) depressed sarcolemmal PLD activity; in all cases the depression was prevented by dithiothreitol. At different concentrations of N-ethylmaleimide the PLD depression correlated well (r = 0.98) with the decrease in total thiol group content of the membrane. The enzyme activity was not affected by xanthine-xanthine oxidase, a superoxide anion-generating system, but was depressed by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in a concentration-dependent manner. This inhibitory effect was prevented by catalase as well as by dithiothreitol, but not by D-mannitol. The effect of a hydroxyl radical-generating system (Fenton reaction) could not be assessed because of an interfering direct inhibition by Fe2+. Dithiothreitol was also able to restore PLD activity in H2O2-pretreated membranes and to prevent a severe deactivation of the enzyme by hypochlorous acid (HOCI). Protection by glutathione and inhibition by its oxidized form were also observed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The substrate specificity of phosphoinositide-phospholipase C in rat heart sarcolemma.

In rat cardiac sarcolemmal membranes a phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C (PLC) was found to be present. The enzyme hydrolysed exogenous [3H-]phosphatidylinositol 4,5-biphosphate ([3H-]PtdIns(4,5)P2) in an optimized assay mixture containing 15 micrograms SL protein, 100 mM NaCl, 1 mM free Ca2+, 14 mM Na-cholate and 20 microM [3H-]PtdIns-(4,5)P2 (400-500 dpm/microliter) in 30 mM HEPES-Tris buffer (pH 7.0). The average specific activity was 9.14 +/- 0.55 nmol.mg-1.2.5 min-1. The addition of Mg2+ to the assay mixture did not change PLC activity but increased the relative amounts of dephosphorylated inositol products. In the absence of Na+ and at a low Ca2+ concentration (0.3 microM), Mg2+ also enhanced the intraSL levels of PtdIns4P and PtdIns, and, moreover, inhibited PLC activity (IC50-0.07 mM). PtdIns4P seemed to be a good substrate for th rat SL PLC (23.07 +/- 1.57 nmol.mg-1.2.5 min-1) whereas PtdIns was hydrolysed at a very low rate (0.36 +/- 0.08 nmol.mg-1.2.5 min-1). Unlike PtdIns(4,5)P2, PLC-dependent PtdIns4P and PtdIns hydrolysis was not inhibited by Ca2+ concentrations over 1 mM. The possibility of distinct isozymes being responsible for the different hydrolytic activities is discussed.

Occurrence and functions of the phosphatidylinositol cycle in the myocardium.

In the last decade a great deal of attention was awarded to a signal transduction pathway which is utilized primarily by 'Ca2+ mobilizing' signal molecules and which involves the hydrolysis of a quantitatively minor phospholipid, phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PtdIns(4,5)P2) by a PtdIns-specific phospholipase C (PLC). The evidence for the existence of receptor-mediated GTP binding protein-coupled PLC in myocardium and its possible functions are briefly summarized. The minireview is concentrated on the following aspects: 1) cellular localization and synthesis of polyphospho-PtdIns from PtdIns, 2) desensitization of the alpha 1-adrenergic agonist and endothelin-1 mediated PtdIns responses, 3) oscillatory Ca2+ transients initiated by PtdIns(4,5)P2 hydrolysis, 4) polyunsaturated fatty acids as constituents of polyphospho-PtdIns and of the protein kinase C activator 1,2-diacylglycerol (DAG), 5) source other than PtdIns(4,5)P2 contributing to the stimulated DAG, 6) role of the PtdIns pathway in cardiomyocyte growth and gene expression during the hypertrophic response.

Modification of fatty acid composition of the phospholipids of cultured rat ventricular myocytes and the rate of phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate hydrolysis.

Cultured neonatal cardiac myocytes have been utilized as a model for the study of the role of fatty acids in the alpha 1-adrenoceptor mediated phosphatidylinositol turnover. Experiments were started 24 h after seeding, when there was a confluent monolayer of beating cardiomyocytes. The cells were incubated for 3-4 days in sera containing culture medium with (1) no additives or (2) a mixture of 107 microM 18:0 and 18:1n-9, or (3) only 214 microM 18:2n-6 or (4) 214 microM 20:5n-3. No differences in the cellular content of the various phospholipid classes among the different groups of fatty acid treated cells were found. The predicted elevations of 18:1n-9, 18:2n-6 and 20:5n-3 associated with a partial depletion of 20:4n-6 were confirmed in all phospholipid classes, except for sphingomyelin. The mol% of 18:0, 18:2n-6, 20:4n-6 and 20:5n-3 in the phosphatidylinositol fraction were respectively 39, 4, 30 and 0.6 for the control treated cells, 34, 3, 15 and 0 for 18:0/18:1n-9 treated cells, 40, 17, 24 and 0.2 for the 18:2n-6 treated cells and 41, 3, 13 and 21 for the 20:5n-3 treated cells. Apart from the observed reductions in the basal rates, the phenylephrine (30 microM) stimulated production of inositolphosphates was reduced by 51% and 71%, respectively in the 18:2n-6 and 20:5n-3 treated cardiomyocytes. The basal rate of inositolphosphate formation was 37% increased in the 18:0/18:1n-9 treated cells. The [3H]-inositol incorporation into phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate was only slightly reduced by 18:2n-6 and 20:5n-3 treatments (respectively 12 and 28% compared to control treated cells). Prolonged (30 min) alpha 1-adrenergic stimulation did not affect the contents and fatty acid profiles of any class of phospholipid, not even phosphatidylinositol. In conclusion, variations in the polyunsaturated fatty acid composition of membrane phospholipids do affect the basal and the alpha 1-adrenoceptor stimulated rate of phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate hydrolysis. The reducing effects of 18:2n-6 and 20:5n-3 treatment on the rate of inositolphosphate production may be partially ascribed to altered levels of phosphatidyl-inositol 4,5-bisphosphate.

Phorbol ester and the actions of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate specific phospholipase C and protein kinase C in microsomes prepared from cultured cardiomyocytes.

Microsomes were prepared from cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes. Incubation of microsomes in buffer containing 5 microM CaCl2, 5 mM cholate and 100 nM [3H-]Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PtdIns(4,5) P2) resulted in the formation of [3H-]InsP3. GTP-gamma-S (125 microM) stimulated the production of [3H-]InsP3. Microsomes prepared from phorbol ester-treated (100 nM phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, PMA) cardiomyocytes showed decreased activities of basal as well as GTP-gamma-S-stimulated [3H-]PtdIns(4,5)P2 hydrolysis. In the microsomes a 15 kD protein was demonstrated to be the major substrate phosphorylated by intrinsic protein kinase C, which was activated by 0.5 mM Ca2+. Addition of phorbol ester (100 nM PMA) enhanced the 32P-incorporation into the 15 kD protein. Protein kinase C, purified from rat brain, in the presence of Ca2+, diglyceride, and phosphatidylserine did not change the phosphorylation pattern any further. In conclusion, it was shown that phorbol ester pretreatment of neonatal rat cardiomyocytes reduces microsomal GTP-gamma-S-stimulated PtdIns(4,5)P2-specific phospholipase C activity, as estimated with exogenous substrate, and that in cardiomyocyte microsomes phorbol ester activates protein kinase C-induced 15 kD protein phosphorylation. The results indicate that phorbol ester may down-regulate alpha 1-adrenoceptor mediated PtdIns(4,5)P2 hydrolysis by activation of protein kinase C-induced 15 kD protein phosphorylation.

Alterations in polyunsaturated fatty acid composition of cardiac membrane phospholipids and alpha 1 adrenoceptor mediated phosphatidylinositol turnover.

STUDY OBJECTIVE - The aim of the study was to investigate the steps at which polyunsaturated fatty acids are involved in alpha 1 adrenoceptor mediated phosphatidylinositol turnover. DESIGN - Phosphatidylinositol turnover rates were investigated after preincubating neonatal rat ventricular myocytes with culture media enriched with linoleic acid (18:2n-6) or eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5n-3) to change the polyunsaturated fatty acid composition of their membrane phospholipids. EXPERIMENTAL MATERIAL - Cardiomyocytes were isolated from ventricles of 2-4 d old Wistar rats by trypsinization and were then cultured. Experiments were started 48 h after seeding, when there was a confluent monolayer of beating cardiomyocytes. MEASUREMENTS and RESULTS - In 18:2n-6 treated cells the 18:2n-6 content in the total phospholipid fraction rose from 45 to 68 nmol.mg-1 protein; in 20:5n-6 treated cells the 20:5n-3 content rose from 1.5 to 12.5 nmol.mg-1 protein, and the docosapentaenoic acid (22:5n-3) content rose from 5.1 to 14.7 nmol.mg-1 protein. The major n-3 fatty acid, 22:6n-3 (11.4 nmol.mg-1 protein), did not change after 20:5n-3 treatment. Although the phosphatidylinositol fraction showed changes paralleling those in the total phospholipids, none were significant. In this fraction the major n-3 fatty acid appeared to be 22:5n-3 (0.4 nmol.mg-1 protein). The fatty acid treated cells were prelabelled with [3H]-inositol to estimate the rate of phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate turnover. There were no differences in the rate of [3H]-inositolphosphate formation between control, 18:2n-6 treated cells, and 20:5n-3 treated cells. Prolonged alpha 1 adrenergic stimulation of control and treated cells did not change the polyunsaturated fatty acid composition of the total phospholipid and phosphatidylinositol fractions. CONCLUSIONS - The alpha 1 adrenoceptor mediated phosphatidylinositol turnover rate is not affected by changes in polyunsaturated fatty acid composition of membrane phospholipids, neither does prolonged alpha 1 adrenergic stimulation lead to significant depletion of any specific or total polyunsaturated fatty acids in the phosphatidylinositol lipids.

Discrete interactions between phosphatidylethanolamine-N-methylation and phosphatidylinositolbisphosphate hydrolysis in rat myocardium.

Both phosphatidylethanolamine(PE)-N-methylation and phosphatidyl-inositol bisphosphate (PI-bisphosphate) breakdown potentially modify the microdomains in the sarcolemmal lipid bilayer. In this study the possibility of a mutual interaction between the enzymes responsible for these phospholipid reactions is examined. In sarcolemma purified from rat heart, prior hydrolysis of PI lipids by exogenous specific phospholipase C inhibited (to 75, 59 and 78% of control for sites I, II and II, respectively) the PE-N-methyltransferase system. In cultured rat cardiomyocytes the addition of L-methionine, a precursor for the methyl donor S-adenosylmethionine, stimulated PE-N-methylation in a concentration (0.2-300 microM)-dependent manner. Methionine (50 microM) decreased the basal rate of PI-bisphosphate hydrolysis (to 72% of control), but had no effect on the phenylephrine-stimulated PI-bisphosphate hydrolysis. Maximal activation of the PI-bisphosphate breakdown by 30 microM phenylephrine did not affect the rate of PE-N-methylation in the presence of exogenous methionine (50 microM). These findings support the existence of interactions, although discrete, between the enzymes involved in the PE-N-methylation and PI turnover.

Phorbolester inhibits alpha 1-adrenoceptor mediated phosphoinositide breakdown in cardiomyocytes.

The regulation of and the intracellular events following alpha 1-adrenergic receptor stimulation of myocardium are not completely understood. The alpha 1-adrenergic stimulation of phosphoinositide breakdown was examined in a culture of neonatal rat ventricular myocytes and the influence of a protein kinase C activator, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, on this process was studied. Inositolphosphate accumulation was stimulated by phenylephrine (EC50 5 microM) in the presence of 10 mM LiCl. The increase was antagonized by prazosin (10(-6) M) but not by propranolol (10(-6) M). The rate of inositolphosphate accumulation after prolonged alpha 1-adrenoceptor stimulation decreased without clear evidence of depletion of the membrane phosphatidylinositolbisphosphate pool. Phorbol ester treatment (IC50 10(-8) M) led to a dose-dependent inactivation of alpha 1-adrenoceptor stimulated phosphoinositide breakdown. These findings provide evidence that protein kinase C plays a role in the regulation of alpha 1-adrenoceptor sensitivity.

Alpha-1-adrenergic stimulation of phosphoinositide breakdown in cultured neonatal rat ventricular myocytes.

The regulation of and the intracellular events following alpha 1-adrenergic receptor stimulation in the myocardium still remain to be disclosed. The effect of alpha 1-adrenergic stimulation on phosphoinositide breakdown was studied in cultured neonatal rat ventricular myocytes. Phenylephrine (30 microM) stimulated inositolphosphates formation, but only in the presence of 10 mM LiCl this could be measured. The increase was antagonized by prazosin (1 microM) but not by propranolol (1 microM). The variability in proportional distribution of the three inositolphosphates is discussed.