• Adenosine stimulation of DNA synthesis in human endothelial cells

      Ethier, Michael F.; Dobson, James G. Jr. (1997-03-01)
      We investigated adenosine stimulation of DNA synthesis in human endothelial cells by measuring [3H]thymidine incorporation in cultures derived from human umbilical veins. After 18 h of exposure to adenosine in serum-free medium, endothelial cell [3H]thymidine incorporation was increased by 30-64%. Adenosine-induced DNA synthesis was not mimicked by adenosine receptor agonists and was not inhibited by adenosine receptor antagonists. Adenosine-induced DNA synthesis was inhibited 81% by 100 microM 5'-(N,N-dimethyl)amiloride, an inhibitor of Na+/H+ exchange, and was totally inhibited by 10 microM 2',4'-dibromoacetophenone, an inhibitor of phospholipase A2 (PLA2). Adenosine increased adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate levels in endothelial cells, but adenosine-induced DNA synthesis was not inhibited by the protein kinase A (PKA) inhibitor Rp-cAMPS. Both ATP and the phorbol ester 4beta-phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) increased DNA synthesis in human endothelial cells. Stimulation by ATP was inhibited by the P2-receptor antagonist suramin, and PMA stimulation was inhibited by the protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor H-7. Neither suramin nor H-7 inhibited adenosine-stimulated DNA synthesis. The results suggest that Na+/H+ exchange and PLA2 are involved in adenosine-induced DNA synthesis in cultures of human endothelial cells independently of adenosine receptor, PKA, or PKC activation.
    • Effect of aging on myocardial adenosine production, adenosine uptake and adenosine kinase activity in rats

      Lorbar, Mojca; Fenton, Richard A.; Duffy, Andrew J.; Graybill, Christopher A.; Dobson, James G. (1999-03-27)
      Adenosine levels present in the interstitial fluid and coronary effluent of the aged heart exceed those of the young adult heart. The present study investigated mechanisms in the Fischer 344 rat heart which may be responsible for the observed differences. (1) Total production of adenosine was determined in isolated perfused hearts by measuring coronary effluent adenosine content while inhibiting adenosine deamination and rephosphorylation with erythrohydroxy-nonyladenosine (EHNA) and iodotubercidin (ITC), respectively. Total adenosine production was similar in both young (3-4 month) and aged (20-21 month) hearts at 31.8 +/- 6.6 and 38.4 +/- 3.3 nmol/min/g dry wt, respectively. However, stimulation with the beta-adrenergic agent, isoproterenol, elicited a significantly greater increase in adenosine production in the young vs. aged heart. (2) Adenosine transport was evaluated in isolated perfused hearts by determining 14C uptake by the myocardium after 20 min of 14C-adenosine perfusion. Adenosine uptake in the agent-free heart was found to be decreased 17 to 25% in aged compared to young adult hearts. (3) Adenosine transport characteristics were determined with nitrobenzylthioinosine saturation-binding studies in ventricular membrane preparations. The Bmax values were significantly lower in aged than young adult hearts (140.2 +/- 1.5 fmol/mg and 191.9 +/- 2.3 fmol/mg in aged and young hearts, respectively) indicating a decreased number of transporter sites in the aged heart. However, the values for Kd were decreased with aging, suggesting an increase in the affinity of the transporter for adenosine in the aged vs. young adult heart. (4) The activities and kinetics of adenosine kinase were determined in homogenates of aged and young adult ventricular myocardium. No statistical difference was found between the two activities. Taken together these results suggest that increased interstitial adenosine levels in the aged heart result from decreased uptake of adenosine by the ventricular myocardium.
    • Role of extracellular and intracellular adenosine in the attenuation of catecholamine evoked responses in guinea pig heart

      Dobson, James G. Jr.; Schrader, Jurgen (1984-09-01)
      Isolated guinea pig hearts were used to determine whether an extracellular (interstitial) or intracellular pool of myocardial adenosine is most important in attenuating the catecholamine-induced enhancement of cardiac contractile state and glycogenolysis. Isoproterenol (2 X 10(-8) M) stimulation of hypoxic (30% O2) perfused hearts produced a marked elevation in tissue and effluent perfusate adenosine levels that were greater than the increases observed with the isoproterenol stimulation of oxygenated hearts (95% O2). In the isoproterenol stimulated hypoxic hearts nitrobenzylthioinosine (NBMPR), a potent inhibitor of adenosine cellular transport, further increased tissue adenosine content and markedly decreased the perfusate level of the nucleoside. Assuming that perfusate levels of adenosine correlate directly with extracellular levels, NBMPR was used as a tool to increase the intracellular and decrease the extracellular content of the nucleoside. When compared to responses in oxygenated hearts, hypoxia reduced the isoproterenol-produced increase in myocardial cyclic AMP content, cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase activity and contractility but enhanced the increase in glycogen phosphorylase alpha formation. NBMPR completely prevented the reduction of the isoproterenol-induced cyclic AMP and cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase responses but only partially prevented the attenuation of the contractile response. The increase in phosphorylase alpha formation in the hypoxic isoproterenol stimulated hearts was not influenced by NBMPR. The results suggest that an increase in extracellular adenosine is more influential than an elevation of intracellular adenosine in attenuating beta-adrenoceptor-elicited increases in myocardial cyclic AMP content, cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase activity and contractile state.