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We have shown that short-term exposure of rat small coronary arteries (RSCAs) to high glucose enhances superoxide (O2-*) formation and impairs cAMP-mediated dilation by reducing voltage-gated K+ (Kv) channel function. However, it is not clear whether the impairment also occurs in diabetes mellitus (DM), where alternate mechanisms could mask or aggravate vasodilator dysfunction. RSCAs were isolated from control and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Reduced constriction to 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) was observed in RSCAs from DM rats, indicating Kv channel impairment. Forskolin increased 4-AP-inhibitable K+ channel open-state probability and whole cell K+ current density in coronary myocytes from non-DM rats but had little effect on K+ current density in cells from DM rats. Diminished dilation to 8-bromo-cAMP, forskolin, or isoproterenol was observed in DM RSCAs. The attenuated dilation to forskolin or isoproterenol in DM RSCAs was partially restored by application of the superoxide dismutase mimetic manganese[III] tetrakis (4-benzoic acid) porphyrin. Histofluorescence studies using hydroethidine revealed a blockage of O2-* generation by the NADPH oxidase inhibitor apocynin in DM RSCAs. Sepiapterin, a precursor of tetrahydrobiopterin, had little effect on hyperglycemia-induced O2-* formation. Consistent with the findings from the concurrent fluorescence study, apocynin also partially restored the reduced dilator response to forskolin in DM RSCAs. Forskolin-induced cAMP production was unaltered in DM. We conclude that in diabetes, enhanced O2-* formation by activation of NADPH oxidase impairs cAMP-medicated dilation in RSCAs by inhibiting Kv channel activity.

Mitochondrial H2O2 contributes to flow-mediated dilation (FMD) in human coronary arterioles (HCA). We examined the hypothesis that the endothelial cytoskeleton plays a critical role in transducing endothelial wall shear stress into a stimulus for releasing mitochondrial ROS. Phallacidin together with α-, β-tubulin antibodies and Mito-Tracker Red showed the proximity of F-actin, microtubules and mitochondria in endothelial cells. Cytochalasin D (CytoD) and nocodazole (Noc) disrupted endothelial F-actin and microtubules in HCA, respectively, concurrent with a reduction in the generation of cytosolic O2 and H•− and H2O2 (hydroethidine and dichlorodihydrofluorescein fluorescence) and mitochondrial superoxide (mitoSox) during flow (control: 3.5 ± 1.6, Cyto D: 0.51 ± 0.2, Noc: 0.81 ± 0.6). FMD, but not the dilation to bradykinin or papaverine, was reduced by Cyto D (26 ± 10% vs. 56 ± 3%) or Noc (26 ± 11% vs. 58 ± 7%). These results suggest that cytoskeletal elements are a critical component of the signaling mechanism linking endothelial shear stress and mitochondrial release of ROS in the human coronary microcirculation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Small coronary arteries (SCA) from diabetic rats exhibit enhanced peroxynitrite (ONOO-) formation and concurrent impairment of voltage-dependent potassium (Kv) channel function. However, it is unclear whether ONOO- plays a causative role in this impairment. We hypothesized that functional loss of Kv channels in coronary smooth muscle cells (SMC) in diabetes is due to ONOO- with subsequent tyrosine nitration of Kv channel proteins. Diabetic rats and nondiabetic controls were treated with or without ebselen (Eb) for 4 wk, SCA were prepared for immunohistochemistry (IHC), immunoprecipitation (IP) followed by Western blot (WB), videomicroscopy, and patch-clamp analysis. IHC revealed excess ONOO- in SCA from diabetic rats. IP and WB revealed elevated nitration of the Kv 1.2 α-subunit and reduced Kv 1.2 protein expression in diabetic rats. Each of these changes was improved in Eb-treated rats. Protein nitration and Kv1.5 expression were unchanged in SCA from diabetic rats. Forskolin, a direct cAMP activator that induces Kv1 channel activity, dilated SCA from nondiabetic rats in a correolide (Cor; a selective Kv1 channel blocker)-sensitive fashion. Cor did not alter the reduced dilation to forskolin in diabetic rats; however, Eb partially restored the Cor-sensitive component of dilation. Basal Kv current density and response to forskolin were improved in smooth muscle cells from Eb-treated DM rats. We conclude that enhanced nitrosative stress in diabetes mellitus contributes to Kv1 channel dysfunction in the coronary microcirculation. Eb may be beneficial for the therapeutic treatment of vascular complications in diabetes mellitus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule 1 (PECAM-I) is capable of transducing signals in endothelial cells exposed to shear; however, the biological consequences of this signal transduction are unknown. Because shear stress elicits flow-mediated dilation (FMD), we examined whether steady-state FMD in mouse coronary arteries (MCAs) is affected in the PECAM-I knockout (KO) mouse. MCAs were isolated from wild-type (WT) or KO mice and prepared for videomicroscopy, histofluorescence, Western blotting, and immunohistochemistry. FMD was examined in the absence and presence of Nω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) and L-NAME+indomethacin (INDO). FMD was reduced in KO relative to WT MCAs, but the L-NAME-inhibitable portion of FMD was similar between the two. The INDO-sensitive component of FMD was diminished in KO MCAs. In contrast, the residual component of dilation, presumably because of endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor (EDHF), was abolished in KO MCAs. Histofluorescence showed relatively more superoxide (O2-·; oxy-ethidium fluorescence) and peroxide production (dihydrochlorofluorescene fluoresecence) in KO MCAs at rest. Flow augmented O2-· and peroxide production in WT MCAs but had little effect on KO MCAs. Enhanced nitric oxide generation was observed in arteries from KO mice, accompanied with increased eNOS S1177 phosphorylation. In vessels from KO mice, treatment with ebselen decreased peroxynitrite (ONOO-) formation and improved the reduced FMD, largely due to restoration of the presumed EDHF component. These results suggest that PECAM-1 is necessary for normal FMD in the mouse coronary circulation. In the absence of this adhesion and signaling molecule, ONOO- production is increased concomitant with a reduction in both the EDHF and INDO-sensitive components of FMD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have shown that short-term exposure of rat small coronary arteries (RSCAs) to high glucose enhances superoxide (O2-·) formation and impairs cAMP-mediated dilation by reducing voltage-gated K+ (Kv) channel function. However, it is not clear whether the impairment also occurs in diabetes mellitus (DM), where alternate mechanisms could mask or aggravate vasodilator dysfunction. RSCAs were isolated from control and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Reduced constriction to 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) was observed in RSCAs from DM rats, indicating Kv channel impairment. Forskolin increased 4-AP-inhibitable K+ channel open-state probability and whole cell K+ current density in coronary myocytes from non-DM rats but had little effect on K+ current density in cells from DM rats. Diminished dilation to 8-bromo-cAMP, forskolin, or isoproterenol was observed in DM RSCAs. The attenuated dilation to forskolin or isoproterenol in DM RSCAs was partially restored by application of the superoxide dismutase mimetic manganese[III] tetrakis (4-benzoic acid) porphyrin. Histofluorescence studies using hydroethidine revealed a blockage of O2-· generation by the NADPH oxidase inhibitor apocynin in DM RSCAs. Sepiapterin, a precursor of tetrahydrobiopterin, had little effect on hyperglycemia-induced O2-·. formation. Consistent with the findings from the concurrent fluorescence study, apocynin also partially restored the reduced dilator response to forskolin in DM RSCAs. Forskolin-induced cAMP production was unaltered in DM. We conclude that in diabetes, enhanced O2-· formation by activation of NADPH oxidase impairs cAMP-medicated dilation in RSCAs by inhibiting Kv channel activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]