Specific antibody binding to the APP672-699 region shifts APP processing from α- to ß-cleavage.

Alzheimer's disease (AD), a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that is the most common cause of dementia in the elderly, is characterized by the accumulation of amyloid-ß (Aß) plaques and neurofibrillary tangles, as well as a progressive loss of synapses and neurons in the brain. The major pertinacious component of amyloid plaques is Aß, a variably sized peptide derived from the integral membrane protein amyloid precursor protein (APP). The Aß region of APP locates partly within its ecto- and trans-membrane domains. APP is cleaved by three proteases, designated as α-, ß-, and γ-secretases. Processing by ß- and γ-secretase cleaves the N- and C-terminal ends of the Aß region, respectively, releasing Aß, whereas α-secretase cleaves within the Aß sequence, releasing soluble APPα (sAPPα). The γ-secretase cleaves at several adjacent sites to yield Aß species containing 39-43 amino acid residues. Both α- and ß-cleavage sites of human wild-type APP are located in APP672-699 region (ectodomain of ß-C-terminal fragment, ED-ß-CTF or ED-C99). Therefore, the amino acid residues within or near this region are definitely pivotal for human wild-type APP function and processing. Here, we report that one ED-C99-specific monoclonal antibody (mAbED-C99) blocks human wild-type APP endocytosis and shifts its processing from α- to ß-cleavage, as evidenced by elevated accumulation of cell surface full-length APP and ß-CTF together with reduced sAPPα and α-CTF levels. Moreover, mAbED-C99 enhances the interactions of APP with cholesterol. Consistently, intracerebroventricular injection of mAbED-C99 to human wild-type APP transgenic mice markedly increases membrane-associated ß-CTF. All these findings suggest that APP672-699 region is critical for human wild-type APP processing and may provide new clues for the pathogenesis of sporadic AD.

Vasoactive intestinal peptide: cardiovascular effects.

Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) is present in the peripheral and the central nervous systems where it functions as a nonadrenergic, noncholinergic neurotransmitter or neuromodulator. Significant concentrations of VIP are present in the gastrointestinal tract, heart, lungs, thyroid, kidney, urinary bladder, genital organs and the brain. On a molar basis, VIP is 50-100 times more potent than acetylcholine as a vasodilator. VIP release in the body is stimulated by high frequency (10-20 Hz) nerve stimulation and by cholinergic agonists, serotonin, dopaminergic agonists, prostaglandins (PGE, PGD), and nerve growth factor. The VIP peptide combines with its receptor and dose-dependently activates adenylyl cyclase. The vasodilatory effect of VIP in different vascular tissues or species also may be due to increases in nitric oxide, cyclic GMP, and other signaling agents. In the heart, VIP immunoreactive nerve fibers are present not only in the epicardial coronary arteries and veins, but also the sinoatrial node, atrium, interatrial septum, atrioventricular node, intracardiac ganglia, and ventricles (right ventricle >> left ventricle). In the coronary arterial walls, VIP may contribute to the regulation of normal coronary vasomotor tone. In research animals and in humans, VIP, administered into the coronary artery or intravenously, increases the epicardial coronary artery cross-sectional area, decreases coronary vascular resistance, and significantly increases coronary artery blood flow. High frequency parasympathetic (vagal) nerve stimulation also releases endogenous VIP in the coronary vessels and heart and significantly increases coronary artery blood flow. In addition, the release of VIP in the heart is increased during coronary artery occlusion and during reperfusion where VIP may promote local blood flow and may have a free-radical scavenging effect. VIP also has a primary positive inotropic effect on cardiac muscle that is enhanced by its ability to facilitate ventricular-vascular coupling by reducing mean arterial pressure by 10-15%. In concentrations of 10(-8)-10(-5) mol, VIP augments developed isometric force and increases atrial and ventricular contractility. The presence of VIP-immunoreactive nerve fibers in and around the sinus and the atrioventricular nodes of mammals strongly suggests that this peptide can affect the heart rate. In this regard, endogenously released or exogenous VIP can significantly increase the heart rate and has a more potent effect on heart rate than does norepinephrine. The presence and significant cardiovascular effects of VIP in the heart suggests that this peptide is important in the regulation of coronary blood flow, cardiac contraction, and heart rate. Current investigations are defining the physiological role of VIP in the regulation of cardiovascular function.

Adenosine A(2a)-receptor activation increases contractility in isolated perfused hearts.

Adenosine A(2a)-receptor activation enhances shortening of isolated cardiomyocytes. In the present study the effect of A(2a)-receptor activation on the contractile performance of isolated rat hearts was investigated by recording left ventricular pressure (LVP) and the maximal rate of LVP development (+dP/dt(max)). With constant-pressure perfusion, adenosine caused concentration-dependent increases in LVP and +dP/dt(max), with detectable increases of 4.1 and 4.8% at 10(-6) M and maximal increases of 12.0 and 11.1% at 10(-4) M, respectively. The contractile responses were prevented by the A(2a)-receptor antagonists chlorostyryl-caffeine and aminofuryltriazolotriazinyl-aminoethylphenol (ZM-241385) but were not affected by the beta(1)-adrenergic antagonist atenolol. The adenosine A(1)-receptor antagonist dipropylcyclopentylxanthine and pertussis toxin potentiated the positive inotropic effects of adenosine. The A(2a)-receptor agonists ethylcarboxamidoadenosine and dimethoxyphenyl-methylphenylethyl-adenosine also enhanced contractility. With constant-flow perfusion, 10(-5) M adenosine increased LVP and +dP/dt(max) by 5.5 and 6.0%, respectively. In the presence of the coronary vasodilator hydralazine, adenosine increased LVP and +dP/dt(max) by 7.5 and 7.4%, respectively. Dipropylcyclopentylxanthine potentiated the adenosine contractile responses with constant-flow perfusion in the absence and presence of hydralazine. These increases in contractile performance were also antagonized by chlorostyryl-caffeine and ZM-241385. The results indicate that adenosine increases contractile performance via activation of A(2a) receptors in the intact heart independent of beta(1)-adrenergic receptor activation or changes in coronary flow.

Myocardial adenosine A1-receptor sensitivity during juvenile and adult stages of maturation.

In the heart, endogenous adenosine attenuates the beta-adrenergic-elicited increase in contractile performance via activation of adenosine A1 receptors. It has been recently reported that this function of adenosine becomes more pronounced with myocardial maturation. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether mature hearts possess a greater sensitivity than immature hearts to this antiadrenergic effect of adenosine. Isolated perfused hearts or atria from immature (ca. 23 days) and mature (ca. 80 days) rats were stimulated with isoproterenol (Iso), a beta-adrenergic agonist, at 10(-8) M and concomitantly exposed to increasing concentrations of 2-chloro-N6-cyclopentyladenosine (CCPA), a highly selective and potent adenosine A1-receptor agonist, from 10(-12) to 10(-6) M. CCPA at 10(-10)-10(-6) M dose dependently reduced the Iso-elicited contractile response more in immature than in mature hearts or atria. At 10(-6) M, CCPA reduced the Iso-elicited contractile response by 103% in immature hearts and by 55% in mature hearts. These effects of CCPA were attenuated by the adenosine A1-receptor antagonist 8-cyclopentyl-1,3-dipropylxanthine at 10(-7) M. In additional experiments, CCPA exhibited similar effectiveness in reducing the spontaneous heart rate of immature and mature hearts, an effect also mediated by activation of adenosine A1 receptors. Similar to CCPA, the adenosine A1-receptor agonist R-N6-(2-phenylisopropyl)adenosine reduced the Iso-elicited contractile response more in immature than in mature hearts, albeit with less effectiveness than CCPA. In agreement with these results, CCPA reduced Iso-elicited adenylyl cyclase activity more in immature than in mature hearts. Overall, in contrast with our original hypothesis, these results indicate that immature hearts display greater sensitivity than mature hearts to the antiadrenergic effect of adenosine A1-receptor activation.

Myocardial adenosine A1 and A2 receptor activities during juvenile and adult stages of development.

Myocardial contractile responsiveness to beta-adrenoceptor stimulation is known to be reduced with maturation or aging. The present study was undertaken to determine the role of antiadrenergic A1 and stimulatory A2 adenosine receptors in the modulation of beta-adrenergic-elicited contractile performance of the heart at juvenile (approximately 25 days) and adult (approximately 79 days) stages of maturation. Isoproterenol, a beta-adrenergic agonist, at 10(-7) M produced a greater maximal increase in contractility, assessed as the maximal rate of left ventricular pressure development (+dP/dtmax), in immature than in mature hearts (104 and 80%, respectively), but produced a greater increase in venous adenosine concentration in the mature than in the immature hearts (738 and 277 nM, respectively). Isoproterenol at 10(-9) to 10(-8) M produced similar increases in contractility in the absence or presence of the A1 adenosine receptor antagonist xanthine amine congener (XAC; 0.5 microM) for both immature and mature hearts. In addition, XAC did not alter the isoproterenol-elicited contractile response in the immature heart during hypoperfusion induced by 50% reduction of coronary flow. However, in the mature heart, 10(-8) M isoproterenol elicited a significantly greater increase in +dP/dtmax during hypoperfusion in the presence (79%) vs. the absence (60%) of XAC. In both immature and mature hearts, hypoperfusion enhanced isoproterenol-elicited venous adenosine concentration by similar magnitudes of 76 and 72%, respectively. In further studies, the A2 adenosine receptor antagonist 9-chloro-2-(2-furyl)[1,2,4]-triazolo[1,5-c]quinazolin-5-amine (CGS-15943; 1 microM) reduced the isoproterenol-elicited contractile response of mature but not immature hearts during normal perfusion. These results suggest that myocardial adenosine modulates the beta-adrenergic-elicited contractile response of the adult heart via activation of both A1 and A2 adenosine receptors and that these functions of adenosine become expressed with myocardial maturation.

Characterization of two affinity states of adenosine A2a receptors with a new radioligand, 2-[2-(4-amino-3-[125I]iodophenyl)ethylamino]adenosine.

Adenosine analogs substituted in the 2-position with arylamino groups have been found to have high affinity and selectivity for A2a adenosine receptors. Two such compounds, 2-[2-(4-aminophenyl)ethylamino]adenosine and 2-[2-4-amino-3-iodophenyl)ethylamino]adenosine (I-APE), were synthesized and found to be potent coronary vasodilators (ED50 < 3 nm). These compounds bind weakly to A1 adenosine receptors of rat cortex (Ki > 150 nM). 125I-APE was synthesized and the new radioligand was found to bind to two affinity states of rat striatal A2a adenosine receptors (Kd = 1.3 +/- 0.1 nM and 19 +/- 4.5 nM). The high affinity site represents a previously unrecognized small (15-20%) fraction of A2a adenosine receptors coupled to G proteins. Guanosine 5'-O-(3-thio)triphosphate (GTP gamma S) reduces specific binding of 125I-APE half-maximally at a concentration of 45 +/- 2 nM. [3H]CGS21680 also binds to two affinity states of A2a receptors on striatal membranes (Kd = 3.9 +/- 0.9 and 51 +/- 5.5 nM), although in previous studies single Kd values ranging from 5 to 15 nM have been reported. This high affinity site is substantiated by the finding that the IC50 of CGS21680 in competition with 125I-APE binding to striatal membranes is shifted leftward in membranes diluted for 4 min before filtration, to selectively dissociate radioligand from low affinity receptors. Assuming that agonist radioligands bind to both coupled and uncoupled forms of striatal A2a adenosine receptors, we could simulate with the computer the finding that the decrease in specific binding induced by GTP gamma S (100 microM) is variable and depends on radioligand concentration, ranging from 20 to 90%. Unlike 125I-APE, [3H]CGS21680 is charged at physiological pH, and treatment of membranes with the pore-forming antibiotic alamethicin uncovers cryptic [3H]CGS21680 but not 125I-APE binding sites. We conclude that the GTP gamma S-sensitive high affinity form of the A2a adenosine receptor can be preferentially labeled by 125I-APE, due to both its high specific activity and its physicochemical properties. Possible functional manifestations of poor coupling of A2a adenosine receptors to G proteins are discussed.

Effects of xanthine amine congener on hypoxic coronary resistance and venous and epicardial adenosine concentrations.

OBJECTIVE: The aim was to define the contributions of interstitial and vascular adenosine in regulating coronary vascular resistance during hypoxia. To help in the assessment of adenosine in the vasodilator response, a potent adenosine receptor antagonist, xanthine amine congener (XAC), was used to block adenosine receptors. METHODS: Seven isolated guinea pig hearts were perfused at constant flow with Krebs buffer. Coronary vascular resistance was determined during normoxia (95% O2) and mild hypoxia (60% O2) in the absence or presence of 200 or 400 nM XAC. Interstitial fluid was sampled by the epicardial disc technique and the interstitial concentration of XAC (ISF[XAC]) was determined directly by a radioreceptor assay or as tritiated XAC. Venous and epicardial concentrations of adenosine were determined by high performance liquid chromatography. In six additional experiments, the vasodilator effect of 1 microM intracoronary adenosine was measured in the absence or presence of 100 or 200 nM XAC. RESULTS: Mild hypoxia decreased coronary resistance by 37 (SEM 4)% in the absence of XAC and 26(5)% or 17(4)% in the presence of 200 or 400 nM XAC, respectively. ISF[XAC] rapidly equilibrated with [XAC] in the arterial perfusate or venous effluent. XAC 400 nM markedly increased (p < 0.05) the hypoxic levels of venous and epicardial fluid adenosine from 49(19) and 251(42) nM to 75(11) and 495(48) nM, respectively. XAC 100-200 nM almost completely prevented the vasodilatation induced by 1 microM intracoronary adenosine. CONCLUSIONS: Adenosine mediates at least 54% of hypoxic vasodilatation. XAC rapidly equilibrates within the myocardial interstitial space and, as a result of blocking adenosine receptors, increases interstitial and venous adenosine concentrations. Increases in interstitial adenosine may partially overcome the adenosine receptor blockade by XAC, thereby reducing the effectiveness of XAC in attenuating the hypoxic vasodilatation. XAC attenuates intracoronary adenosine induced vasodilatation (mediated by endothelial adenosine receptors) much more effectively than it attenuates hypoxic vasodilatation, underscoring the minimal role played by the endothelial receptors in hypoxic vasodilatation.

Role of adenosine in postprandial and reactive hyperemia in canine jejunum.

The role of adenosine in postprandial jejunal hyperemia was investigated by determining the effect of placement of predigested food into the jejunal lumen on blood flow and oxygen consumption before and during intra-arterial infusion of dipyridamole (1.5 microM arterial concn) or adenosine deaminase (9 U/ml arterial concn) in anesthetized dogs. Neither drug significantly altered resting jejunal blood flow and oxygen consumption. Before dipyridamole or deaminase, food placement increased blood flow by 30-36%, 26-42%, and 21-46%, and oxygen consumption by 13-22%, 21-22%, and 26-29%, during 0- to 3-, 4- to 7-, and 8- to 11-min placement periods, respectively. Adenosine deaminase abolished the entire 11-min hyperemia, whereas dipyridamole significantly enhanced the initial 7-min hyperemia (45-49%). Both drugs abolished the initial 7-min food-induced increase in oxygen consumption. Dipyridamole attenuated (14%), whereas deaminase did not alter (28%), the increased oxygen consumption that occurred at 8-11 min. Adenosine deaminase also prevented the food-induced increase in venoarterial adenosine concentration difference. In separate series of experiments, luminal placement of food significantly increased jejunal lymphatic adenosine concentration and release. Also, reactive hyperemia was accompanied by an increase in venous adenosine concentration and release. This study provides further evidence to support the thesis that adenosine plays a role in postprandial and reactive hyperemia in the canine jejunum.

Adenosine is a vasodilator in the intestinal mucosa.

The vasoactivity of adenosine in the intestinal mucosa of anesthetized dogs was determined using two experimental techniques. By use of the microsphere technique, infusion of adenosine (1 mumol/min ia) was found to increase significantly venous outflow and mucosal and muscularis blood flows in both jejunum (+77, +72, and +78%) and ileum (+111, +146, and +71%). In constant flow jejunal preparations, intra-arterial adenosine significantly decreased perfusion pressure (-32%), an index of vascular resistance, but did not significantly alter the blood flow distribution between the mucosa and muscularis as determined by microspheres. Thus adenosine equally dilated the mucosal and muscularis vasculatures. Using the second experimental technique, we found that local mucosal application of adenosine or non-metabolizable adenosine analogues [N6-cyclohexyladenosine or 5'-(N-ethylcarboxamido)-adenosine] dose dependently increased jejunal venous outflow. Almost all of the adenosine absorbed from the lumen was localized in the mucosal tissue, suggesting that the above hyperemia resulted from exposure of the mucosal vasculature to these compounds. The hyperemia produced by the luminal placement was not mediated by stimulation of the mucosal nerves, because the hyperemia was unaltered after treating the mucosal surface with a local anesthetic. The present results demonstrate therefore that adenosine is a vasodilator in the canine intestinal mucosa.

Jejunal adenosine increases during food-induced jejunal hyperemia.

If adenosine mediates postprandial intestinal hyperemia, increases in local adenosine release must accompany the hyperemia. We tested this by determining jejunal venous and arterial plasma adenosine concentrations, jejunal blood flow, and oxygen consumption before and during placement of normal saline or predigested food plus bile into the jejunal lumen of anesthetized dogs. Adenosine concentrations were measured by high-pressure liquid chromatography. Luminal placement of food significantly increased blood flow (+46%), oxygen consumption (+40%), venous adenosine concentration (+56 nM), and adenosine release (+1.7 nmol.min-1.100 g tissue-1) during the initial 3 min of placement. Whereas blood flow and oxygen consumption remained elevated for the entire 15-min placement period, venous adenosine concentration and release returned to control levels at 7 and 11 min after placement, respectively. Placement of the same volume of normal saline did not significantly alter any variables measured, indicating that the food-induced changes were because of constituents of food. In conclusion, introduction of predigested food into the jejunal lumen significantly increases adenosine releases into the local venous blood during the initial several minutes of food placement. The increased adenosine production and release may play a role in postprandial jejunal hyperemia.

Adenosine plays a role in food-induced jejunal hyperemia.

The aim of this study is to determine the role of adenosine in postprandial hyperemia in the jejunum of anesthetized dogs. The effect of two adenosine antagonists, aminophylline and 8-phenyltheophylline, on the vascular responses to intra-arterial infusion of adenosine and luminal placement of food was determined. The effect of aminophylline on the food-induced hyperemia was found to be dependent on motility. Aminophylline had no effect on the hyperemia when motility was high but inhibited the hyperemia when motility was low. Vasodilations produced by intra-arterial infusions of adenosine, however, were attenuated by aminophylline regardless of the level of motility. The more potent and specific adenosine antagonist, 8-phenyltheophylline, also inhibited both adenosine- and food-induced vasodilations. This inhibition occurred whether the intestinal motility was high or low. In conclusion, adenosine receptor blockade inhibits jejunal food-induced hyperemia, and adenosine may play a role in the hyperemia. The effect of aminophylline was complicated by motility.

Intestinal prostacyclin and thromboxane production in irreversible hemorrhagic shock.

Arterial and intestinal venous blood were sampled every hour for measurement of thromboxane B2 (TXB2) and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha, stable metabolites of thromboxane A2 and prostacyclin, respectively, in dogs subjected to hemorrhagic hypotension at 32.8 +/- 1.4 mm Hg for 3 h, followed by reinfusion of the remaining shed blood. Control dogs were treated alike without hypotension. Arterial and intestinal venous TXB2 significantly increased during hypotensive and post-transfusion periods, the venous concentration being significantly higher than the corresponding arterial. The arterial and venous 6-keto-PGF1 alpha increased during hypotension but decreased during post-transfusion periods. Furthermore, arterial and venous TXB2 to 6-keto-PGF1 alpha concentration ratio increased. Intestinal TXB2 release (blood flow X arteriovenous concentration difference) increased progressively, whereas 6-keto-PGF1 alpha release decreased. No significant changes occurred in the control dogs. This study shows an imbalance in intestinal production and release of TXA2 and PGI2, in favor of TXA2 during severe hemorrhagic hypotension and after blood transfusion. The imbalance may contribute to the development of irreversible hemorrhagic shock and reperfusion injury.