Effects of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids on the contraction of neonatal rat cardiac myocytes.

Because of the ability of certain long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) to prevent lethal cardiac arrhythmias, we have examined the effects of various long-chain fatty acids on the contraction of spontaneously beating, isolated, neonatal rat cardiac myocytes. The omega 3 PUFA from fish oils, eicosapentaenoic acid [EPA; C20:5 (n-3)] and docosahexaenoic acid [DHA; C22:6 (n-3)], at 2-10 microM profoundly reduced the contraction rate of the cells without a significant change in the amplitude of the contractions. The fatty acid-induced reduction in the beating rate could be readily reversed by cell perfusion with fatty acid-free bovine serum albumin. Addition of either oxygenase inhibitors or antioxidants did not alter the effect of the fatty acids. Arachidonic acid [AA; C20:4 (n-6)] produced two different effects on the beating rate, an increase or a decrease, or it produced no change. In the case of the increased or unchanged beating rate in the presence of AA, addition of AA oxygenase inhibitors subsequently reduced the contraction rate. The nonmetabolizable AA analog eicosatetraynoic acid (ETYA) always reduced the beating rate, as did EPA or DHA. Two other PUFAs, linoleic acid [C18:2 (n-6)] and linolenic acid [C18:3 (n-3)] also exhibited similar but less potent effects compared with EPA or ETYA. In contrast, neither the monounsaturated fatty acid oleic acid [C18:1 (n-9)] nor the saturated fatty acids stearic acid (C18:0), myristic acid (C14:0), and lauric acid (C12:0) affected the contraction rate. The inhibitory effect of these PUFAs on the contraction rate was similar to that produced by the class I antiarrhythmic drug lidocaine. The fatty acids that are able to reduce the beating rate, particularly EPA and DHA, could effectively prevent and terminate lethal tachyarrhythmias (contracture/fibrillation) induced by high extracellular calcium concentrations or ouabain. These results suggest that free PUFAs can suppress the automaticity of cardiac contraction and thereby exert their antiarrhythmic effects.     

Long-chain fatty acids activate calcium channels in ventricular myocytes.

Nonesterified fatty acids accumulate at sites of tissue injury and necrosis. In cardiac tissue the concentrations of oleic acid, arachidonic acid, leukotrienes, and other fatty acids increase greatly during ischemia due to receptor or nonreceptor-mediated activation of phospholipases and/or diminished reacylation. In ischemic myocardium, the time course of increase in fatty acids and tissue calcium closely parallels irreversible cardiac damage. We postulated that fatty acids released from membrane phospholipids may be involved in the increase of intracellular calcium. We report here that low concentrations (3-30 microM) of each long-chain unsaturated (oleic, linoleic, linolenic, and arachidonic) and saturated (palmitic, stearic, and arachidic) fatty acid tested induced multifold increases in voltage-dependent calcium currents (ICa) in cardiac myocytes. In contrast, neither short-chain fatty acids (less than 12 carbons) or fatty acid esters (oleic and palmitic methyl esters) had any effect on ICa, indicating that activation of calcium channels depended on chain length and required a free carboxyl group. Inhibition of protein kinases C and A, G proteins, eicosanoid production, or nonenzymatic oxidation did not block the fatty acid-induced increase in ICa. Thus, long-chain fatty acids appear to directly activate ICa, possibly by acting at some lipid sites near the channels or directly on the channel protein itself. We suggest that the combined effects of fatty acids released during ischemia on ICa may contribute to ischemia-induced pathogenic events on the heart that involve calcium, such as arrhythmias, conduction disturbances, and myocardial damage due to cytotoxic calcium overload.     

Free, long-chain, polyunsaturated fatty acids reduce membrane electrical excitability in neonatal rat cardiac myocytes.

Because previous studies showed that polyunsaturated fatty acids can reduce the contraction rate of spontaneously beating heart cells and have antiarrhythmic effects, we examined the effects of the fatty acids on the electrophysiology of the cardiac cycle in isolated neonatal rat cardiac myocytes. Exposure of cardiomyocytes to 10 microM eicosapentaenoic acid for 2-5 min markedly increased the strength of the depolarizing current required to elicit an action potential (from 18.0 +/- 2.4 pA to 26.8 +/- 2.7 pA, P < 0.01) and the cycle length of excitability (from 525 ms to 1225 ms, delta = 700 +/- 212, P < 0.05). These changes were due to an increase in the threshold for action potential (from -52 mV to -43 mV, delta = 9 +/- 3, P < 0.05) and a more negative resting membrane potential (from -52 mV to -57 mV, delta = 5 +/- 1, P < 0.05). There was a progressive prolongation of intervals between spontaneous action potentials and a slowed rate of phase 4 depolarization. Other polyunsaturated fatty acids--including docosahexaenoic acid, linolenic acid, linoleic acid, arachidonic acid, and its nonmetabolizable analog eicosatetraynoic acid, but neither the monounsaturated oleic acid nor the saturated stearic acid--had similar effects. The effects of the fatty acids could be reversed by washing with fatty acid-free bovine serum albumin. These results show that free polyunsaturated fatty acids can reduce membrane electrical excitability of heart cells and provide an electrophysiological basis for the antiarrhythmic effects of these fatty acids.     

Effects of heart failure on brain-type Na+ channels in rabbit ventricular myocytes.

AIMS: Brain-type alpha-subunit isoforms of the Na(+) channel are present in various cardiac tissue types and may control pacemaker activity and excitation-contraction coupling. Heart failure (HF) alters pacemaker activity and excitation-contraction coupling. Here, we studied whether HF alters brain-type Na(+) channel properties. METHODS AND RESULTS: HF was induced in rabbits by volume/pressure overload. Na(+) currents of ventricular myocytes were recorded in the cell-attached mode of the patch-clamp technique using macropatches. Macropatch recordings were conducted from the middle portions of myocytes or from intercalated disc regions between cell pairs. Both areas exhibited a fast activating and inactivating current, 8.5 times larger in intercalated disc regions. Tetrodotoxin (TTX) (50 nM) did not block currents in the intercalated disc regions, but did block in the middle portions, indicating that the latter currents were TTX-sensitive brain-type Na(+) currents. Macropatch recordings from these regions were used to study the effects of HF on brain-type Na(+) current. Neither current density nor gating properties (activation, inactivation, recovery from inactivation, slow inactivation) differed between CTR and HF. CONCLUSION: The density and gating properties of brain-type Na(+) current are not altered in our HF model. In the volume/pressure-overload rabbit model of HF, the role of brain-type Na(+) current in HF-induced changes in excitation-contraction coupling is limited.     

Evidence that free polyunsaturated fatty acids modify Na+ channels by directly binding to the channel proteins.

The effects of free polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) on the binding of ligands to receptors on voltage-sensitive Na+ channels of neonatal rat cardiac myocytes were assessed. The radioligand was [benzoyl-2,5-(3)H] batrachotoxinin A 20alpha-benzoate ([(3)H]BTXB), a toxin that binds to the Na+ channel. The PUFA that have been shown to be antiarrhythmic, including eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA; C20:5n-3), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; C22:6n-3), eicosatetraynoic acid (ETYA), linolenic acid (C18:3n-3), and linoleic acid (C18:2n-6), inhibited [(3)H]BTXB binding in a dose-dependent fashion with IC50 values of 28-35 microM, whereas those fatty acids that have no antiarrhythmic effects including saturated fatty acid (stearic acid, C18:0), monounsaturated fatty acid (oleic acid; C18:1n-9), and EPA methyl ester did not have a significant effect on [(3)H]BTXB binding. Enrichment of the myocyte membrane with cholesterol neither affected [(3)H]BTXB binding when compared with control cells nor altered the inhibitory effects of PUFA on [(3)H]BTXB binding. Scatchard analysis of [(3)H]BTXB binding showed that EPA reduced the maximal binding without altering the Kd for [(3)H]BTXB binding, indicating allosteric inhibition. The inhibition by EPA of [(3)H]BTXB binding was reversible (within 30 min) when delipidated bovine serum albumin was added. The binding of the PUFA to this site on the Na+ channel is reversible and structure-specific and occurs at concentrations close to those required for apparent antiarrhythmic effects and a blocking effect on the Na+ current, suggesting that binding of the PUFA at this site relates to their antiarrhythmic action.     

Sulfhydryl modulation of K+ channels in rat ventricular myocytes

Oxidative stress markedly alters protein function through redox modification of sulfhydryl groups present in cysteine residues. To explore the role of redox state in modulating cardiac K+ channels, this study examined the effects of sulfhydryl modifiers on the repolarizing transient outward current (Ito) in voltage-clamped myocytes from rat ventricle. Oxidized glutathione (GSSG; 5mM), an endogenous disulfide that specifically reacts with protein sulfhydryls, decreased maximum Ito amplitude from baseline by 49% when added to the external solution (P<0.05) and by 27% during internal dialysis (P<0.05). The membrane-impermeable disulfide, 5,5'-dithio-bis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid) (DTNB) did not alter Ito when added to the external solution, but it decreased current amplitude by 31% during internal dialysis (P<0.05). GSSG-mediated Ito inhibition varied in a frequency- and voltage-dependent manner, consistent with a state-dependent blocking mechanism. This phenomenon was also observed in myocytes internally dialyzed with DTNB or Cd2+, which also covalently binds to free sulfhydryls. Inhibition of Ito by GSSG was not reversed by washout alone, consistent with the stable nature of covalently-modified sulfhydryl groups. However, when myocytes pretreated with GSSG were dialyzed with the reducing agent dithiothreitol, Ito amplitude increased significantly by 42% (P<0.05). These data suggest that alpha-subunits underlying Ito, or associated proteins, have one or more sulfhydryl groups within the cytoplasmic domain that directly modulate channel activity in response to changes in cell redox state. Redox modulation of Ito channels may be an important post-translational mechanism contributing to acute changes in cardiac repolarization under conditions of oxidative stress, such as ischemia and reperfusion.     

Regulation of K+ channels in cardiac myocytes by free fatty acids

Using rat ventricular cells, we studied the actions of free fatty acids and their ability to modulate the ATP-sensitive K+ channel and to activate a new type of ATP-insensitive K+ channel previously identified in rat atrial cells. Perfusion of the cytoplasmic face of the membrane with unsaturated fatty acids (10-50 microM) such as arachidonic, linoleic, and eicosatrienoic acids inhibited the ATP-sensitive K+ channel almost completely; lysophospholipids also markedly inhibited this channel. Inhibition was due to decreases in the frequency and the burst duration of channel openings. Arachidonic acid activated the ATP-insensitive K+ channel with an outwardly rectifying property. Since the level of free fatty acids rises after longer periods of ischemia, we speculate that the ATP-insensitive K+ channel contributes to the late or secondary phase of extracellular K+ accumulation.     

Bactericidal effects of polyunsaturated fatty acids

Bactericidal effects of polyunsaturated fatty acids were investigated by using an in vitro killing assay. All gram-positive species tested were extremely susceptible to 10(-5) M arachidonic acid as were Neisseria, Branhamella, and Haemophilus spp. Pseudomonas aeruginosa and and members of the Enterobacteriaceae were resistant. The toxicity of polyunsaturated fatty acids for Staphylococcus aureus was dependent upon time, concentration, and fatty acid unsaturation. Arachidonic acid underwent peroxidation when incubated with S. aureus, but arachidonic acid peroxidation products had low bactericidal activity. Catalase protected S. aureus, whereas superoxide dismutase was ineffective. Scavengers of hydroxyl radicals or singlet oxygen or removal of halide ions had little effect on arachidonic acid-induced killing of bacteria, whereas transition metal chelators and some thiols were highly protective. S. aureus grown in iron-supplemented broth had increased iron content and arachidonic acid susceptibility. Ascorbate also potentiated arachidonic acid-induced killing of S. aureus. These observations indicate that bactericidal effects of polyunsaturated fatty acids are mediated by a peroxidative process involving H2O2 and bacterial iron.     

Omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acid modulates dihydropyridine effects on L-type Ca2+ channels, cytosolic Ca2+, and contraction in adult rat cardiac myocytes.

The effect of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; C22:6) on dihydropyridine (DHP) interaction with L-type Ca2+ channel current (ICa), cytosolic Ca2+ (Cai), and cell contraction in isolated adult rat cardiac myocytes was studied. The DHP L-type Ca(2+)-channel blocker nitrendipine (10 nM) reduced peak ICa (measured by whole-cell voltage clamp from -45 to 0 mV) and reduced the amplitude of the Ca2+ transient (measured as the transient in indo-1 fluorescence, 410/490 nm) and the twitch amplitude (measured via photodiode array) during steady-state electrical stimulation (0.5 Hz). The DHP L-type Ca2+ channel agonist BAY K 8644 (10 nM) significantly increased ICa, the amplitude of the Cai transient, and contraction. When cells were exposed to DHA (5 microM) simultaneously with either BAY K 8644 or nitrendipine, the drug effects were abolished. Arachidonic acid (C20:4) at 5 microM did not block the inhibitory effects of nitrendipine nor did it prevent the potentiating effects of BAY K 8644. DHA modulation of DHP action could be reversed by cell perfusion with fatty acid-free bovine serum albumin at 1 mg/ml. Neither DHA nor arachidonic acid alone (5 microM) had any apparent effect on the parameters measured. DHA (5 microM) had no influence over beta-adrenergic receptor stimulation (isoproterenol, 0.01-1 microM)-induced increases in ICa, Cai, or contraction. The findings that DHA inhibits the effect of DHP agonists and antagonists on Ca(2+)-channel current but has no effect alone or on beta-adrenergic-induced increases in ICa suggests that DHA specifically binds to Ca2+ channels at or near DHP binding sites and interferes with ICa modulation.     

Angiotensin II modulates cardiac Na+ channels in neonatal rat

Since chronic congestive heart failure syndromes are associated with both elevated circulating levels of angiotensin II and potentially lethal ventricular tachyarrhythmias, we investigated the effect of angiotensin II on voltage-dependent cardiac Na+ currents. Single-channel Na+ currents in neonatal rat ventricular myocytes were studied using the patch clamp method in the cell-attached mode. Angiotensin II applied outside the patch increased the frequency of opening and rates of activation and inactivation of single-channel Na+ currents within the patch. These effects were mimicked by the phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) and were prevented by prior incubation with TPA. Therefore, we propose that angiotensin II modulates cardiac Na+ currents by a cytoplasmic second messenger, perhaps protein kinase C, and this may predispose toward arrhythmia.     

Endothelin-1 enhances calcium entry through T-type calcium channels in cultured neonatal rat ventricular myocytes.

Endothelin-1 (ET-1), a 21-amino acid vasoconstrictive peptide, increases intracellular Ca2+ level and has hypertrophic action on ventricular myocytes. To elucidate a possible role of Ca2+ entry through sarcolemmal Ca2+ channels on this ET-1 action, we examined effects of ET-1 on L-type (ICa,L) and T-type (ICa,T) Ca2+ currents in cultured neonatal rat ventricular myocytes using the patch-clamp technique. ET-1 at a concentration of 10 nM increased the maximum current density of ICa,T from -3.0 +/- 1.4 microA/cm2 in the control condition to -4.4 +/- 1.6 microA/cm2 (p < 0.01). Although the peak amplitude of ICa,L was decreased during ET-1 application (from -9.7 +/- 1.9 microA/cm2 in the control condition to -5.0 +/- 1.4 microA/cm2 [p < 0.01]), this magnitude of decrease in ICa,T (52 +/- 19%) was comparable to that of spontaneous "run-down" of ICa,L (47 +/- 26%). The enhancement of ICa,T by ET-1 was dose dependent; it was initiated as low as 0.32 nM, and the maximal response was attained at approximately 10 nM, with a half-maximal dose of 1.26 nM. The enhancement of ICa,T by ET-1 was antagonized by protein kinase C inhibitors staurosporine (0.2 microM) and 1-(5-isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-methylpiperazine (H-7, 20 microM) applied to the pipette solution. Extracellular application of tumor-promoting phorbol esters, phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (PDBu) and 4 beta-phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, augmented ICa,T. PDBu (0.2 microM) increased the maximal current density of ICa,T from -4.2 +/- 0.5 microA/cm2 in the control condition to -5.5 +/- 1.0 microA/cm2 (p < 0.01). In the presence of H-7 (20 microM) in the pipette solution, PDBu failed to enhance ICa,T, and an inactive isomer of PDBu (4 alpha-phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate, 0.2 microM) did not augment ICa,T. Thus, ET-1 enhances Ca2+ entry through the sarcolemmal T-type Ca2+ channel, possibly through a pathway involving activation of protein kinase C. This ET-1 action may be involved in the rise of the intracellular Ca2+ level and may contribute to the induction of cardiac hypertrophy by ET-1.     

Calcium and osmotic regulation of the Na+/H+ exchanger in neonatal ventricular myocytes

Intracellular pH regulation in primary cultures of neonatal cardiac myocytes has been characterized. Myocytes were exposed to hyperosmolar solutions to examine the effects on pH regulation by the Na+/H+ exchanger. Exposure to 100 mM NaCl, sorbitol, N-methyl-D-glucamine, or choline chloride all caused significant increases in steady state pHi in myocytes. Omission of extracellular calcium or administration of calmodulin antagonists reduced the osmotic activation of the exchanger. The myosin light-chain inhibitor ML-7 completely blocked osmotic activation of the exchanger suggesting that myosin light-chain kinase is involved in osmotic activation of the exchanger in the myocardium. The calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II inhibitor KN-93 inhibited the rate of recovery from an acute acid load as did trifluoperazine (TFP) and the calmodulin blocker W7, [N-(6-aminohexyl)-5-chloro-1-naphthalenesulfonamide]. Addition of the calcium ionophore ionomycin caused a large increase in resting pHi in isolated myocytes. However, this effect was largely resistant to HMA (5-(N,N-hexamethylene)-amiloride) indicating that an alternative mechanism of pHi regulation is responsible. The results demonstrate that the Na+/H+ exchanger of the neonatal myocardium is responsive to calcium and osmotically responsive pathways and that myosin light-chain kinase is a key protein involved in mediating the osmotic response.     

Na+-Ca2+ exchange activity is localized in the T-tubules of rat ventricular myocytes

Detubulation of rat ventricular myocytes has been used to investigate the role of the t-tubules in Ca2+ cycling during excitation-contraction coupling in rat ventricular myocytes. Ca2+ was monitored using fluo-3 and confocal microscopy. In control myocytes, electrical stimulation caused a spatially uniform increase in intracellular [Ca2+] across the cell width. After detubulation, [Ca2+] rose initially at the cell periphery and then propagated into the center of the cell. Application of caffeine to control myocytes resulted in a rapid and uniform increase of intracellular [Ca2+]; the distribution and amplitude of this increase was the same in detubulated myocytes, although its decline was slower. On application of caffeine to control cells, there was a large, rapid, and transient rise in extracellular [Ca2+] as Ca2+ was extruded from the cell; this rise was significantly smaller in detubulated cells, and the remaining increase was blocked by the sarcolemmal Ca2+ ATPase inhibitor carboxyeosin. The treatment used to produce detubulation had no significant effect on Ca2+ efflux in atrial cells, which lack t-tubules. Detubulation of ventricular myocytes also resulted in loss of Na+-Ca2+ exchange current, although the density of the fast Na+ current was unaltered. It is concluded that Na+-Ca2+ exchange function, and hence Ca2+ efflux by this mechanism, is concentrated in the t-tubules, and that the concentration of Ca2+ flux pathways in the t-tubules is important in producing a uniform increase in intracellular Ca2+ on stimulation.     

盐酸关附甲素对豚鼠和大鼠心肌细胞钾通道的阻断作用

目的用膜片钳全细胞记录法观察盐酸关附甲素(GFA)对分离的单个豚鼠心室肌细胞缓慢激活型延迟整流钾电流(IKs),大鼠内向整流钾电流(IK1)、瞬时外向钾电流(Ito)的影响。方法用急性酶解法分离获得单个豚鼠和大鼠心室肌细胞。用标准的全细胞膜片钳技术记录IKs、IK1、Ito离子通道电流,观察不同浓度的GFA对豚鼠心室肌细胞IKs,大鼠心室肌细胞IK1、Ito的影响。结果50,150,500μmol/LGFA使IKs尾电流(IKs,tail)最大峰值电流密度分别降低11.4%±3.32%、23.3%±7.36%、36.7%±4.99%,P<0.05;使IK1稳态电流密度分别降低5.1%±0.6%、7.5%±0.9%、7.2%±0.9%;50,500μmol/LGFA使Ito最大峰值电流密度分别降低6.1%±0.64%、8.6%±1.13%。结论GFA对IKs具有浓度依赖性阻滞作用,这可能是其延长动作电位时程而对静息电位影响不大的电生理基础,是其抗心律失常作用的机制之一。     

Hypoxia inhibits the changes in action potentials and ion channels during primary culture of neonatal rat ventricular myocytes.

Action potentials of rat ventricular myocytes are progressively shortened after birth within several weeks mainly due to a progressive increase in transient outward potassium current (I(to)). On the supposition that an elevation in blood oxygen after birth may contribute to such developmental change, we studied effects of long-term exposure to hypoxia on changes in cardiac action potentials and I(to). Single ventricular myocytes isolated from day-old neonatal rat hearts were cultured in normoxic condition (21% O(2)) for 15 days and served as control. To test the influence of long-term exposure to hypoxia, O(2)tension was reduced to 7.5% at day 6 during culture. In 15-day cells cultured in normoxia, action potential duration (APD) was shortened by 44% (n=11) compared with 5-day cells (n=10); cell capacitance was increased to 2.0-fold. I(to)density was increased by 189-265% (n=11) at voltage levels from -20 to 50 mV without any changes in the kinetics of current inactivation. In 15-day cells cultured in hypoxia, APD was shortened only by 16% (n=6) from control; the increment of cell capacitance was 2.1-fold (n=6). The I(to)increment was limited to 53% (n=8); both inactivation and its recovery of the current was apparently slowed due to the amplification of the slower component. These results suggest that the developmental augmentation of I(to)expression during culture requires oxygen and the increase in I(to)and cell hypertrophy are likely regulated independently.     

Anti-obesity effects of long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids

Animal studies suggest that increased consumption of the long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid, can protect against the development of obesity in animals exposed to an obesogenic diet and reduce body fat when already obese. There is also evidence that increased intakes of these fatty acids can reduce body fat in humans, but human studies are relatively few and have generally been conducted over short time periods with small sample sizes, making it difficult to draw definitive conclusions. Reported reductions in body fat may result from appetite-suppressing effects, adipocyte apoptosis and changes of gene expression in skeletal muscle, heart, liver, intestine and adipose tissues that suppress fat deposition and increase fat oxidation and energy expenditure. We conclude that increased intakes of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids may improve body composition, but longer-term human studies are needed to confirm efficacy and determine whether increasing omega-3 intakes might be an effective strategy to combat obesity.     

二十二碳六烯酸对心室肌细胞离子通道的影响

近年来,n-3多不饱和脂肪酸(n-3PUFAs)对心血管的有益作用已受到广泛重视.大量研究表明n-3PUFAs具有抗心律失常作用,能降低冠心病的猝死率及心肌梗死后恶性心律失常的发生率[1].基于这些研究结果,在心血管疾病的一级和二级预防中,美国和欧洲等心脏病学会推荐每日摄入小剂量n-3PUFAs[2].目前,n-3PUFAs抗心律失常的机制仍不完全清楚.n-3PUFAs主要包括二十二碳六烯酸(DHA)和二十碳五烯酸(EPA).本文通过膜片钳技术探讨DHA对大鼠心室肌细胞静息电位(RP)、动作电位时限(APD)、延迟整流性钾通道电流(IK)及内向整流性钾通道电流( IKl)的影响,阐述DHA抗心律失常的可能机制. 1.材料和溶液组成:Axopatch 700B膜片钳放大器、Digi-Data 1322型数/模(或模/数)转换器、pClamp 9.0脉冲发放和数据采集软件(美国Axon Instruments公司).DHA(美国Sigma公司)以无水乙醇配制成50 mmol/L的母液,分装避光保存于-80℃备用.使用时无水乙醇的终浓度＜0.4％,以避免无水乙醇对离子通道的影响.牛血清白蛋白(BSA,美国Sigma公司)配制成2 mg/ml,4℃保存.     

Metabolism of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in rat kidney cells

The metabolism of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids is characterized in tissues, such as liver and heart, especially from studies based on isolated cells incubated with radiolabelled fatty acid substrates. Differently, only little is known about the metabolism of fatty acids in the kidney. It is controversial whether the kidney possesses the ability to desaturate long-chain fatty acids or whether kidney cells are dependent on performed polyunsaturated fatty acids transported from the liver. In this study we used isolated rat kidney cells obtained by a perfusion technique. The cells were incubated with [1-(14)C]-labelled 18:3(n-3) or 20:3(n-6) fatty acids which were incorporated into complex lipids or desaturated/elongated. The lipids were separated by thin-layer chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography. The present study shows that isolated kidney cells take up and esterify labelled long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. We have also demonstrated that isolated rat kidney cells only to a minor extent Delta6-desaturate labelled 18:3(n-3) to 18:4 (n-3). Conversely, the Delta 5-desaturation of 20:3(n-6) to 20:4(n-6) is far more active. It may thus be concluded that the kidney, at least in part, must obtain its C(20) and C(22) fatty acids from the circulation, while the active Delta5-desaturase suggests that preformed C(20) fatty acids can be converted to more unsaturated homologues in the kidney.     

Modulation of cardiac Na+ channels expressed in a mammalian cell line and in ventricular myocytes by protein kinase C.

Cardiac rH1 Na+ channel alpha subunits were expressed in cells of the Chinese hamster lung 1610 cell line by transfection, and a stable cell line expressing cardiac Na+ channels (SNa-rH1) was isolated. Mean Na+ currents of 2.2 +/- 1.0 nA were recorded, which corresponds to a cell surface density of approximately 1-2 channels active at the peak of the Na+ current per micron2. The expressed cardiac Na+ current was tetrodotoxin resistant (Kd = 1.8 microM) and had voltage-dependent properties similar to those of the Na+ current in neonatal ventricular myocytes. Activation of protein kinase C by 1-oleoyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycerol (OAG) (10 microM) decreased this current approximately 33% at a holding potential of -114 mV and 56% at -94 mV. This reduction in peak current was caused in part by an 8- to 14-mV shift of steady-state inactivation in the hyperpolarized direction. Na+ channel activation was unchanged. Effects of OAG in SNa-rH1 cells and in neonatal rat cardiac myocytes were similar, except that the time course of inactivation was slowed either transiently or persistently when protein kinase C was activated in myocytes bathed in low-Ca2+ (1 microM) or Ca(2+)-free solution but was unaffected in SNa-rH1 cells. The effects of OAG on cardiac Na+ current were blocked in cells that had been previously microinjected with a peptide inhibitor of protein kinase C but not with a peptide inhibitor of cAMP-dependent protein kinase, indicating that protein kinase C is responsible for the effect of OAG. Single-channel recordings from SNa-rH1 cells showed that the probability of channel opening was reduced by OAG, but the conductance was unaffected. OAG did not induce the late Na+ channel openings observed with PKC modulation of neuronal and skeletal muscle Na+ channels. Thus, the substantial reduction in Na+ current at normal diastolic depolarizations with 10 microM OAG is due to failure of channel opening in response to depolarization. Such Na+ current reductions may have profound effects on cardiac cell excitability.