Ca++ inhibition of isoproterenol responses in mammalian skeletal muscle

In noncontracting mouse hemidiaphragms incubated in modified Krebs-Ringer--bicarbonate buffer with 10 mM Ca++, isoproterenol-stimulated phosphorylase a formation, conversion of phosphorylase kinase to the activated form, elevation of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase activity ratios and increase in cyclic AMP concentrations were reduced 35 to 50% over the responses in buffer with 2.5 mM Ca++. In buffer with 10 mM Ca++, the initial rate of isoproterenol-stimulated cyclic AMP accumulation was 59% of that in buffer with 2.5 mM Ca++. The inhibitory action of Ca++ on cyclic AMP accumulation was antagonized by verapamil, but not by inhibitors of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase activity. In buffer with 2.5 mM Ca++, isoproterenol-stimulated cyclic AMP accumulation was inhibited by A23187 and caffeine, agents that can increase intracellular Ca++ concentrations. In addition to Ca++, high concentrations of Co++, Ni++, Mn++ and, to a lesser extent, Sr++ inhibited the isoproterenol response. The results of these studies indicate that high buffer Ca++ concentrations inhibit the response of the glycogenolytic pathway to isoproterenol by an action on cyclic AMP formation. We propose that the site of the inhibitory action of Ca++ is the divalent metal activator site associated with hormone-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity.     

Serum-induced sensitization of cyclic AMP accumulation in C62B rat glioma cells.

Exposure of C62B rat glioma cells to fresh medium containing fetal bovine serum induced a sensitization of the subsequent ability of isoproterenol and forskolin to stimulate cyclic AMP accumulation, compared to cells exposed to fresh medium without serum. Isoproterenol stimulation was typically increased by 2- to 4-fold and forskolin stimulation by 3- to 5-fold. Sensitization occurred rapidly, was rapidly reversible and appeared to result from an increase in maximal stimulation. A commercial preparation of albumin, purified chromatographically so as to retain bound lipids and other factors, was able to mimic the effect of serum. In contrast to the effects of serum, exposure of cells to phorbol 12-myristate, 13-acetate induced little or no change in forskolin stimulation but a marked desensitization of isoproterenol stimulation that was due primarily to a decrease in potency. Neither the protein kinase C inhibitor staurosporine or overnight exposure to phorbol 12-myristate, 13-acetate to down-regulate protein kinase C prevented serum-induced sensitization. Pertussis toxin almost completely blocked serum-induced sensitization, suggesting involvement of a pertussis toxin-sensitive guanine nucleotide-binding protein in mediating the effects of serum. Sensitization was poorly retained in membrane adenylate cyclase assays. Studies with the phosphodiesterase inhibitor 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine, direct assays of cyclic AMP degradation by intact cells and assays of phosphodiesterase activity in cell lysates all indicated that degradation of cyclic AMP was decreased in serum-pretreated cells. Thus, both increased cyclic AMP synthesis and decreased cyclic AMP degradation may contribute to sensitization in these cells.     

Effects of Colchicine and Vinblastine on the Cellular Action of Vasopressin in Mammalian Kidney A POSSIBLE ROLE OF MICROTUBULES

To evaluate the possible role of microtubules in the cellular action of vasopressin on the mammalian kidney, the effects of microtubule-disrupting agents were studied in vivo and in vitro.In vivo studies were done in rats in mild to moderate water diuresis induced by drinking 5% glucose. Microtubule-disrupting alkaloids, colchicine (0.1 mg/day) or vinblastine (0.08 mg/day), given intraperitoneally, did not change water and solute excretion itself, but blocked or markedly inhibited the antidiuretic response (increase in urine osmolality and decrease in urine flow) to exogenous vasopressin. Total solute excretion was unaffected by these two alkaloids and there were no substantial changes in excretion of sodium, potassium, or creatinine. Lumicolchicine, a derivative of colchicine that does not interact with microtubules, did not alter the antidiuretic response to exogenous vasopressin. Activities of adenylate cyclase in the renal medullary plasma membrane, and cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase and protein kinase in renal medullary cytosol, were not influenced by 10(-5)-10(-4) M colchicine or vinblastine in vitro. Studies on the subcellular distribution of microtubular protein (assessed as [(3)H]colchicine-binding protein) in renal medulla shows that this protein is contained predominantly in the cytosol. Particulate fractions, including plasma membrane, contain only a minute amount (less than 6%) of the colchicine-binding activity.The results suggest that the integrity of cytoplasmic microtubules in cells of the distal nephron is required for the antidiuretic action of vasopressin, probably in the sites distal to cyclic AMP generation in the mammalian kidney.     

Phorbol ester modulation of cyclic AMP accumulation in a primary culture of rat aortic smooth muscle cells

Over the past few years, the importance of calcium and cyclic AMP in the regulation of vascular smooth muscle tone has been well documented. We used a primary culture of rat aortic myocytes to study the effect of protein kinase C on isoproterenol- and forskolin-stimulated cyclic AMP production. Addition of the protein kinase C activator 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) to these cells, but not an inactive analog, increased the stimulation of cyclic AMP production induced with isoproterenol or forskolin without changes in the apparent affinity of these compounds but did not affect the basal cAMP level. TPA also enhanced the cholera toxin-stimulated cyclic AMP accumulation. Isoproterenol and cholera toxin increased the forskolin apparent potency suggesting that interaction of activatory GTP-dependent protein with the catalytic subunit of adenylate cyclase facilitates forskolin interaction to the catalytic subunit. Treatment of myocytes with pertussis toxin had no effect on the basal level of cyclic AMP production and did not significantly modify isoproterenol- and forskolin-induced stimulation. Pertussis toxin treatment of cells did not affect the TPA-enhanced isoproterenol or forskolin stimulations suggesting that pertussis toxin and TPA actions would not share a common target of myocyte adenylate cyclase system. Our data would be in agreement with a possible direct interaction of protein kinase C with the catalytic subunit of adenylate cyclase system.     

Modulation of cyclic AMP production by signal transduction pathways in preglomerular microvessels and microvascular smooth muscle cells

Cyclic AMP affects microvascular smooth muscle contraction and growth. Therefore, it is important to elucidate mechanisms regulating cyclic AMP production in microvascular smooth muscle. In this study, we determined whether several signal transduction pathways regulate receptor-induced cyclic AMP in isolated preglomerular microvessels and microvascular smooth muscle cells. Preglomerular microvessels were incubated with isoproterenol (beta-adrenoceptor agonist) and with and without U73122 (phospholipase C inhibitor), GF109203X (protein kinase C inhibitor), 1-butanol (phospholipase D inhibitor), CGP77675 (c-src inhibitor), HA1077 (Rho kinase inhibitor), Y27632 (Rho kinase inhibitor), LY294002 (phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase inhibitor), dipenyleneiodonium (NADPH oxidase inhibitor), or Tempol (superoxide dismutase mimetic). Cultured preglomerular microvascular smooth muscle cells were incubated with isoproterenol or forskolin (direct activator of adenylyl cyclase) and with or without U73122, C(2)-ceramide (phospholipase D inhibitor), or PP1 [src family inhibitor, 1-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-1-(4-methylphenyl)-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidin-4-amine]. All studies were conducted with 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (broad-spectrum phosphodiesterase inhibitor) to eliminate changes in cyclic AMP degradation. In microvessels isoproterenol-induced cyclic AMP was not affected by Y27632, HA1007, LY294002, dipenylene-iodonium, or Tempol; was increased by U73122 and GF109203X; and was decreased by 1-butanol and CGP77675. In cells, U73122 increased and C(2)-ceramide and PP1 decreased isoproterenol-induced cyclic AMP. Forskolin-induced cyclic AMP was not altered. These results indicate that receptor-mediated activation of adenylyl cyclase is 1) not modulated by Rho kinase, phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase, NADPH oxidase, or superoxide; 2) is attenuated by phospholipase C and protein kinase C; and 3) is augmented by phospholipase D and src. Phospholipase C, phospholipase D, and src modulate receptor-induced cyclic AMP by affecting beta-adrenoreceptor/G protein/adenylyl cyclase coupling rather than by directly affecting adenylyl cyclase activity.     

Functional antagonism in canine tracheal smooth muscle: inhibition by methacholine of the mechanical and biochemical responses to isoproterenol

The biochemical basis for the functional interaction between bronchoconstricting and bronchodilating pathways was investigated. Contracting canine trachealis strips with increasing concentrations of methacholine resulted in a progressive shift to the right of isoproterenol concentration-response curves. Thus, the EC50 for the relaxant response to isoproterenol was nearly 500-fold higher in preparations exposed to 3.0 microM methacholine than in tissues exposed to 0.03 microM methacholine. The maximum relaxation produced by isoproterenol was also dependent upon the initial muscarinic cholinergic tone. For example, isoproterenol reversed completely the contraction induced by 0.03 microM methacholine but did not relax trachealis strips contracted with 30 microM methacholine. To identify the molecular mechanism responsible for this functional antagonism, experiments were conducted to determine the effect of methacholine on isoproterenol-stimulated cyclic AMP accumulation and cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase activation. Methacholine did not alter basal cyclic AMP content but did reduce cyclic AMP accumulation in response to isoproterenol. Furthermore, the ability of isoproterenol to activate cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase was inhibited by methacholine in a concentration-dependent manner. This inhibition paralleled the decrease in mechanical responsiveness to isoproterenol. These results suggest that muscarinic cholinergic stimulation of canine tracheal smooth muscle functionally antagonizes the relaxant responses to beta adrenergic agonists and that a portion of this antagonism may be due to a suppression of catecholamine-stimulated cyclic AMP accumulation and cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase activation.     

Bronchodilator mechanisms in bullfrog lung: differences in response to isoproterenol, theophylline and papaverine

The effects of bronchodilators and smooth muscle relaxants on mechanical responses and lung cyclic nucleotide levels in the isolated hemilung of Rana catesbeiana demonstrate striking differences in intensity and time course of drug action in an unstimulated preparation of airway smooth muscle. Isoproterenol, nitroprusside and nitroglycerin elicit a fast onset relaxation (minutes) with ceiling effects at 20, 22 and 43%, respectively, of maximal relaxation. Theophylline, dibutyryl cyclic AMP and papaverine produce maximal or near maximal relaxation, but require 8 to 32 hr for peak effect. Papaverine-induced relaxation is accompanied by a slow increase in lung cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP and is markedly accelerated by isoproterenol. Theophylline (10(-3) M) produces no change in cyclic nucleotide levels and its relaxant effect is not accelerated by isoproterenol. The hierarchy of relaxant responses suggests drug action at discrete loci in a highly compartmentalized effector chain, with cyclic AMP-dependent mechanisms separable into at least two components. The first is activated by isoproterenol and elicits a rapid, limited response, presumably reflecting an increase in cyclic AMP in a relatively restricted pool. The second is activated by papaverine and elicits a very slow, but complete relaxation, presumably reflecting a more pervasive or diffuse accumulation of cyclic AMP secondary to phosphodiesterase inhibition. The major portion of theophylline-induced relaxation in this preparation appears to be independent of changes in cyclic nucleotide metabolism.     

Mechanisms of beta-adrenoceptor mediated increase in delayed rectifier potassium current

Experiments were carried out in single ventricular cells of the guinea-pig heart. Isoproterenol, forskolin, intracellularly applied cyclic AMP and 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine increased the delayed rectifier potassium current (IK). The effect of isoproterenol was abolished by intracellularly applied guanosine 5'-O-(3-thio-triphosphate). These results indicate that isoproterenol stimulates beta-adrenoceptors to activate adenylate cyclase by mediation through the stimulatory GTP-binding protein, and causes an increase in intracellular cyclic AMP levels. Then IK is probably increased by phosphorylation of the IK-channel protein by cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase.     

Specific nuclear binding of adenosine 3'',5''-monophosphate-binding protein complex with subsequent poly(A) RNA synthesis in embryonic chick cartilage

We used embryonic chick pelvic cartilage as a model to study the mechanism by which cyclic AMP increases RNA synthesis. Isolated nuclei were incubated with [32P]-8-azidoadenosine 3,5'-monophosphate ([32P]N3cAMP) with no resultant specific nuclear binding. However, in the presence of cytosol proteins, nuclear binding of [32P]N3cAMP was demonstrable that was specific, time dependent, and dependent on a heat-labile cytosol factor. The possible biological significance of the nuclear binding of the cyclic AMP-protein complex was identified by incubating isolating nuclei with either cyclic AMP or cytosol cyclic AMP-binding proteins prepared by batch elution DEAE cellulose chromatography (DEAE peak cytosol protein), or both, in the presence of cold nucleotides and [3H]uridine 5'-triphosphate. Poly(A) RNA production occurred only in nuclei incubated with cyclic AMP and the DEAE peak cytosol protein preparation. Actinomycin D inhibited the incorporation of [3H]uridine 5'-monophosphate into poly(A) RNA. The newly synthesized poly(A) RNA had a sedimentation constant of 23S. Characterization of the cytosol cyclic AMP binding proteins using [32P]N3-cAMP with photoaffinity labeling three major cAMP-binding complexes (41,000, 51,000, and 55,000 daltons). The 51,000 and 55,000 dalton cyclic AMP binding proteins were further purified by DNA-cellulose chromatography. In the presence of cyclic AMP they stimulated poly(A) RNA synthesis in isolated nuclei. The 51,000-dalton cyclic AMP-binding protein was the predominant one that bound to the nuclei. While cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinsae activity was present in the cytosol and DEAE peak cytosol proteins, it was not present in the DNA-cellulose-bound, cyclic AMP-binding proteins. We conclude that one possible mechanism by which cyclic AMP increases RNA synthesis is by complexing to a 51,000-dalton cytosol cyclic AMP-binding protein and being subsequently translocated to the nucleus, where it is specifically bound and associated with induction of poly(A) RNA synthesis.     

Beta-2 adrenergic control of ornithine decarboxylase activity in brain regions of the developing rat

Development of brain tissue is thought to be regulated, in part, by biogenic amines. We examined the role of noradrenergic stimulation in regulation of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), an enzyme whose activity is obligatory for neuronal development and which has been used as a biochemical marker for cellular maturation. Intracisternal administration of adrenergic agonists produced a prompt increase in ODC in neonatal rat cerebellum, an effect mediated through beta-2 receptors: the rank order of activity was isoproterenol greater than epinephrine greater than norepinephrine greater than methoxamine; the effect could be blocked by propranolol but not phenoxybenzamine; and zinterol (a beta-2 selective agonist) was equipotent to isoproterenol whereas prenalterol (a beta-1 agonist) was ineffective. The elevation of ODC caused by adrenergic stimulation was cyclic AMP-dependent, as evidenced by: direct measurement of cyclic AMP levels after isoproterenol administration; comparisons of the dose-response curve for stimulation of cyclic AMP with that of ODC; examination of the time course of effect on the two variables; stimulation of ODC by administration of cyclic AMP analogs; demonstration of identical kinetic mechanisms for ODC stimulation by dibutyryl-cyclic AMP and isoproterenol; and potentiation of the actions of isoproterenol on both cyclic AMP and ODC by RO-201724, a specific inhibitor of phosphodiesterase. Examination of the ontogenetic pattern of phosphodiesterase.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Mechanism of resistance to the phosphaturic effect of the parathyroid hormone in the hamster.

The effect of parathyroid hormone and calcitonin on the renal excretion of phosphate, calcium, and cyclic AMP was evaluated in the thyroparathyroidectomized hamster, a mammal apparently reisstant to the phosphaturic effect of parathyroid hormone. Parathyroid hormone did not increase phosphate excretion, although it decreased excretion of calcium and increased urinary excretion of cyclic AMP. This lack of a phosphaturic response to parathyroid hormone was not reversed by administration of 25-OH vitamin D or infusions of calcium or phosphate. Calcitonin, another potentially phosphaturic hormone, also vailed to increase phosphate excretion but markedly elevated urinary excretion of cyclic AMP. In hamsters pretreated with infusion of urinary ammonium chloride, which decreased plasma and urinary pH, both parathyroid hormone and calcitonin increased excretion of phosphate as well as that of cyclic AMP. Acetazolamide had no phosphaturic effect in ammonium chloride-loaded hamsters, and it decreased cyclic AMP and calcium excretion. Alkalinization of urine by acetazolamide did not prevent the phosphaturic effect of parathyroid hormone in ammonium chloride-loaded hamsters, but it blocked the increase in urinary cyclic AMP excretion. Parathyroid hormone and calcitonin both stimulated adenylate cyclase in a cell-free system (600-g pellet) from hamster renal cortex, elevated tissue cyclic AMP levels, and activated protein kinase in tissue slices from hamster renal cortex. In acid medium, the increase in cyclic AMP and activation of protein kinase in response to parathyroid hormone was diminished, but addition of acetazolamide restored responsiveness of both parameters to control values. Acetazolamide, on the other hand, did not influence adenylate cyclase or its response to parathyroid hormone or cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase activity. We conclude that the lack of a phosphaturic effect of parathyroid hormone and calcitonin in the hamster depends on steps in the cellular action of these hormones, steps that are sensitive to pH subsequent to cyclic AMP generation and protein kinase activation. In addition, acetazolamide may potentiate the phosphaturic effect of parathyroid hormone by promoting accumulation of cyclic AMP in tissue. Thus, the hamster is a particularly useful model for studies of syndromes in which there is renal resistance to phosphaturic hormones.     

The effects of amrinone on transport and cyclic AMP metabolism in toad urinary bladder

Amrinone is a new noncatechol, nonglycoside agent with cardiotonic and vasodilator properties. This paper examines the effects of amrinone in the toad urinary bladder, a tissue whose function may be altered by many factors which also change cardiovascular activity. Amrinone enhanced the effect of vasopressin and cyclic AMP on water and urea permeabilities, as well as the effect of vasopressin on sodium transport. Consistent with these actions, amrinone inhibited cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase activity in epithelial homogenates and increased both cyclic AMP content and the protein kinase activity ratio measured in intact epithelial cells. The inhibitory effect of amrinone on phosphodiesterase may be relevant to its cardiostimulatory and vasodilator activities.     

Human T lymphocyte "E" rosette function. I. A process modulated by intracellular cyclic AMP

The capacity of normal human T lymphocytes to form rosettes with sheep red blood cells can be inhibited by drugs or agents which induce elevations in intracellular levels of cyclic AMP. The effect is early in the presence of agents which elicit rapid elevations in intracellular cyclic AMP (isoproterenol, aminophylline) and occurs later in the presence of cholera toxin which induces a dalayed increase in endogenous cyclic AMP. Dibutyryl cyclic AMP is inhibitory, and the effects of dibutyryl cyclic AMP and the adenyl cyclase stimulators are potentiated by inhibition of phosphodiesterase. These data provide substantial evidence that elevation of intracellular cyclic AMP diminishes E rosette function of lymphocytes.     

Inhibitory effect of methacholine on drug-induced relaxation, cyclic AMP accumulation, and cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase activation in canine tracheal smooth muscle

Functional antagonism between bronchoconstricting and bronchodilating pathways was examined in canine tracheal smooth muscle. Trachealis strips were contracted with either 0.3 microM (EC55) or 3.0 microM (EC80) methacholine before being relaxed by the cumulative addition of isoproterenol, prostaglandin E2, or forskolin. The EC50 for all three relaxants was increased 10-fold in tissues contracted with 3.0 microM methacholine vs. those contracted with 0.3 microM methacholine. Moreover, contracting tissues with the higher concentration of methacholine reduced the maximum relaxation induced by prostaglandin E2 and isoproterenol. Forskolin produced total relaxation regardless of the concentration of methacholine used and thus was a much more effective bronchodilator than either isoproterenol or prostaglandin E2. The inhibitory effect of methacholine on the relaxant response to these agents was paralleled by a reduction in drug-stimulated cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase activity. Methacholine reduced the maximum activation of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase elicited by isoproterenol, prostaglandin E2 and submaximal concentrations of forskolin, which was a much more powerful enzyme activator than the other two agents. The ability of a maximum concentration of forskolin (30 microM) to activate cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase was not inhibited by methacholine. Although methacholine also appeared to suppress drug-stimulated cyclic AMP accumulation, the inhibitory effect was only statistically significant in forskolin-treated tissues.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Regulation of endothelial cell cyclic nucleotide metabolism by prostacyclin.

An analysis of prostaglandin-stimulated adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cyclic AMP) accumulation in cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells showed prostacyclin (PGI2) to be the most potent agonist followed by prostaglandin (PG)H2, which was more potent than PGE2, while PGD2 was essentially inactive. The endothelial cells studied apparently have a high rate of cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase activity because significant PGI2-mediated increases in cyclic AMP could not be shown in the presence of the phosphodiesterase inhibitor isobutylmethylxanthine (MIX). Endoperoxide PGH2-stimulation of cyclic AMP accumulation was inhibited 75--80% by the prostacyclin synthetase inhibitors 12-hydroperoxyeicosatetraenoic acid or 9,11-azoprosta-5,13-dienoic acid. These data indicate that the PGH2-stimulation is due primarily to conversion to PGI2. The beta-adrenergic agonist L-isoproterenol stimulated cyclic AMP accumulation in the endothelial cells. This accumulation was completely blocked by propranolol. However, stimulation of cyclic AMP accumulation by the beta-adrenergic agent did not equal that induced by PGI2. Furthermore, the PGI2 response could not be blocked by propranolol. Thrombin-stimulated PGI2 biosynthesis was attenuated by PGE1 or isoproterenol in the presence of MIX. MIX alone was less effective than a combination of PGE1 or isoproterenol plus MIX. These data suggest two potential effects of PGI2 biosynthesis by endothelial cells: first, the PGI2 can elevate cyclic AMP in platelets, and second, endothelial cell cyclic AMP can be elevated as well, so that subsequent PGI2 synthesis will be attenuated.     

Studies on the activities, kinetic properties and subcellular localisation of cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase in human neutrophil leukocytes

A one-step radioassay for cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase was optimised for human polymorphonuclear leukocytes. Kinetic studies indicated the presence of two forms of phosphodiesterase activity with apparent Km values of 0.015 mmol/l and 0.98 mmol/l for cyclic AMP. Control neutrophils were homogenised in isotonic sucrose and, after low speed centrifugation, the supernatant was subjected to analytical subcellular fractionation. Gradient fractions were assayed for principal marker enzymes and for cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase. Both forms of phosphodiesterase activity were located in the cytosol. Polymorphonuclear leukocyte homogenates were isolated from control subjects, patients with chronic granulocytic leukaemia and patients in the third trimester of pregnancy. A portion of each homogenate was used for enzyme analysis and the remainder assayed for cyclic AMP content. The specific activity (mUnits/mg protein) of the low Km phosphodiesterase was reduced in both patient groups compared with control values, whilst that of the high Km phosphodiesterase was unchanged. Leukocytes from patients with chronic granulocytic leukaemia had only a fifth of the cyclic AMP content of control neutrophils, whilst leukocytes from patients in the third trimester of pregnancy had an elevated cyclic AMP content.     

Human Lung Tissue and Anaphylaxis: EVIDENCE THAT CYCLIC NUCLEOTIDES MODULATE THE IMMUNOLOGIC RELEASE OF MEDIATORS THROUGH EFFECTS ON MICROTUBULAR ASSEMBLY

The addition of specific antigen to IgE-sensitized human lung tissue causes the secretion of the mediators histamine and slow-reacting substance of anaphylaxis. The mechanisms by which increased levels of cyclic AMP suppress and increased levels of cyclic GMP enhance this secretory process were studied. Colchicine, an agent which disrupts many secretory reactions by binding to microtubules in their disassembled 6S form, was a relatively ineffective inhibitor of the antigen-induced release of mediators unless lung fragments were incubated at 4 degrees C for 60 min to induce microtubular disassembly. As colchicine appeared to inhibit the immunologic secretion of mediators from human lung tissue most effectively after microtubular disassembly, the capacity of colchicine to modulate the release reaction indicated the state of microtubular assembly; inhibition by colchicine signaled a shift to the colchicine-sensitive 6S subunits whereas failure to inhibit suggested maintenance in the colchicine-resistant polymerized state.Exogenously added 8-Bromo-cyclic GMP prevented low temperature-facilitated colchicine suppression of mediator release suggesting that increased levels of cyclic GMP stabilize polymerized microtubules. Transiently increased cyclic AMP concentrations, either exogenously added as 8-Bromo-cyclic AMP or endogenously produced by isoproterenol, promoted colchicine suppression of mediator release suggesting that microtubular disassembly was produced. Direct measurement of cyclic AMP levels revealed parallel kinetics after isoproterenol stimulation between control and colchicine-treated lung fragments.The requirement for functional microtubules in the release reaction may occur after the antigen IgE-stimulated activation of a serine esterase, energy utilization, and an intracellular calcium requirement. The mechanism by which cyclic nucleotides influence microtubular assembly is postulated to involve the degree of phosphorylation-dephosphorylation of microtubules.     

Inhibition of bradykinin stimulation of renal medullary prostaglandin E2 synthesis by phosphodiesterase inhibitors

Effects of phosphodiesterase inhibitors DL-4-(3-butoxy-4-methoxybenzyl)-2-imidazolidinone (Ro-20) and 1-methyl-3-isobutylxanthine (MIX) on prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) synthesis were examined using rabbit renal inner medullary slices incubated in Krebs' buffer with or without 1 mM RO-20 or 2 mM MIX. Basal and bradykinin-mediated PGE2 synthesis were inhibited in a dose-dependent, reversible manner by both RO-20 and MIX. Arachidonic acid-mediated increases in PGE2 synthesis were not inhibited. By contrast, 1 mM aspirin completely inhibited PGE2 synthesis. Phosphodiesterase inhibitors increased slice cyclic AMP content more than 6-fold. However, this elevation in tissue cyclic AMP content did not appear to be the cause of decreased PGE2 synthesis. Exogenous 3 mM cyclic AMP and 3 mM dibutyryl cyclic AMP did not alter PGE2 synthesis. 2',5'-Dideoxyadenosine, an inhibitor of adenylate cyclase, prevented RO-20 and MIX-mediated increases in cyclic AMP but had no effect on PGE2 synthesis. Exogenous 3 mM cyclic GMP and dibutyryl cyclic GMP did not alter PGE2 synthesis. Neither RO-20 nor MIX had a direct effect on PG endoperoxide synthetase. These results indicate MIX and RO-20 inhibit renal medullary PGE2 production by limiting the availability of arachidonic acid. These effects of MIX and RO-20 on PGE2 synthesis are not secondary to their effects on cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase.     

Agonist-related differences in the relationship between cAMP content and protein kinase activity in canine trachealis.

We investigated the relationships between relaxation, cyclic AMP (cAMP) accumulation and cAMP-dependent protein kinase (cAMP-PK) activity in canine tracheal smooth muscle. In time course and concentration-response studies, forskolin and isoproterenol elicited relaxation of isolated trachealis strips that was accompanied by an increase in cAMP content and an activation of cAMP-PK. Although these results were consistent with the proposal that cAMP is a second messenger mediating relaxation of airway smooth muscle, close inspection of the data revealed a discrepancy in the relationship between cAMP accumulation and relaxation. To induce equivalent degrees of tracheal relaxation, forskolin generated greater increments in cAMP accumulation than did isoproterenol. On the other hand, the activation state of cAMP-PK correlated reasonably well with relaxation regardless of which agonist was used. Further analysis of the data revealed that the apparent disparity between cAMP accumulation and relaxation could largely be explained at the level of the relationship between cAMP content and cAMP-PK activity: compared to isoproterenol, forskolin induced greater increases in cAMP accumulation to achieve the same activation state of cAMP-PK. These observations lend support to the proposal that in canine trachealis, various components of the cAMP/cAMP-PK cascade exist in distinct subcellular compartments such that not all of the cAMP generated in response to forskolin has access to its target enzyme, cAMP-PK.