Few studies have quantified resting mouse muscle metabolism and even fewer studies have separated the contribution of sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+ pumping to resting metabolic rate. Furthermore, the studies that have attempted to quantify the contribution of Ca2+ pumping have used indirect methods to inhibit SR Ca2+ ATPase activity. The purpose of this study is to directly quantify resting muscle oxygen consumption and the contribution of SR Ca2+ pumping to resting oxygen consumption in mouse hindlimb muscles by using CPA to specifically inhibit Ca2+ pump activity in intact muscles at rest. The TIOX system was used to measure resting muscle VO2 of extensor digitorum longus (EDL) and soleus (SOL) muscles at 30oC and 20oC. C57BL mice aged 8-12 weeks were used with an average whole body mass of 23.8 g and EDL and SOL dry weights averaging 1.88 mg and 1.8 mg, respectively. All muscle VO2 measurements are expressed per gram dry weight. There were no differences (P>0.1) in resting muscle VO2 between EDL and SOL muscles at either 30oC (EDL, 2.05 µL/g/s; SOL, 2.27 µL/g/s) or 20oC (EDL, 0.62 µL/g/s; SOL, 0.71 µL/g/s). The average Q10 (3.1) was determined from EDL and SOL VO2 measures at 20oC and 30oC. The contribution of Ca2+ pumping by the sarco(endo)plasmic reticulum Ca2+ ATPase (SERCA) was measured at 30oC using a range of CPA concentrations (1-15 µM) . There was a concentration-dependent effect of CPA on oxygen consumption with increasing CPA concentrations up to 10 µM resulting in progressively greater reductions in muscle oxygen consumption. Specifically, 1, 5, 10, and 15 µM CPA caused an 11, 35.4, 49.5, and 50.3% reduction in VO2. There were no differences (P>0.1) between 10 and 15 µM CPA indicating that 10 µM CPA induces maximal inhibition of SERCA in isolated muscle preparations. The results indicate that the Ca2+ pumping by SERCA is responsible for ~50% of oxygen consumption in resting mouse EDL and SOL muscle. This is the first study to use a direct inhibitor of SERCA to quantify the contribution of Ca2+ cycling to resting oxygen consumption and therefore is a more accurate reflection of the actual contribution of SERCA to resting muscle oxygen consumption compared to previous findings. These results suggest that SERCA energy consumption accounts for a large portion of resting muscle metabolism and may represent a potential therapeutic target for metabolic alterations to oppose obesity.

No description available.

Glucose metabolism in pancreatic α- and β-cells is believed to regulate secretion of glucagon and insulin, respectively. In β-cells, ATP links glucose metabolism to electrical activity and insulin secretion. In α-cells, ATP has been attributed various roles in glucose-regulated glucagon release, but the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. Despite its importance in insulin and glucagon secretion little is known about ATP kinetics in α- and β-cells. In this thesis, the novel fluorescent ATP biosensor Perceval was used to monitor physiologically relevant ATP concentrations with little influence of ADP. Glucose stimulation of β-cells within mouse and human pancreatic islets induced pronounced rise of ATP with superimposed oscillations. Simultaneous measurements of the sub-plasma membrane ATP and Ca2+ concentrations revealed glucose-induced oscillations in opposite phase. ATP increased further and the oscillations ceased when voltage-dependent Ca2+ influx was prevented. In contrast, ATP promptly decreased in response to K+-depolarization-induced elevation of Ca2+. Also mobilization of Ca2+ from intracellular stores lowered ATP, but the negative effect was not due to increased ATP consumption by the sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase. Store-operated Ca2+ entry alone had little effect but markedly elevated ATP when combined with muscarinic receptor activation. When comparing ATP and Ca2+ responses in α- and β-cells within the same islet, glucose-induced ATP generation was much less pronounced and the dose-response relationship left-shifted in the α-cells. At basal glucose, individual α-cells showed Ca2+ and concomitant ATP oscillations in opposite-phase with variable frequency. These oscillations largely cancelled out when averaging data from several α-cells. At high glucose, the Ca2+ and ATP oscillations in α-cells tended to synchronize with the corresponding β-cell oscillations. Since β-cell Ca2+ oscillations drive pulsatile insulin secretion, which is antiparallel to pulsatile glucagon secretion, there seems to be an inverse relationship between changes in α-cell Ca2+ and glucagon release. This paradox is attributed to paracrine inhibition overriding Ca2+ stimulation, since somatostatin receptor blockade potently stimulated glucagon release with little effect on α-cell Ca2+ signalling. The data indicate that complex ATP-Ca2+ interactions in α- and β-cells underlie cell-intrinsic regulation of glucagon and insulin secretion and that paracrine inhibition of glucagon release becomes important in hyperglycaemia.

No description available.

京都大学 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(薬科学) / 甲第23834号 / 薬科博第149号 / 新制||薬科||16(附属図書館) / 京都大学大学院薬学研究科薬科学専攻 / (主査)教授 竹島 浩, 教授 金子 周司, 教授 土居 雅夫 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Pharmaceutical Sciences / Kyoto University / DFAM

Os conhecimentos sobre os mecanismos regulatórios responsáveis pelo crescimento dos fungos filamentosos apresentam lacunas e sua compreensão é necessária para o desenvolvimento de uma terapêutica antifúngica mais adequada, assim como para incrementar a síntese de produtos de interesse comercial. Assim sendo, estudar o envolvimento do Ca2+ na resposta de um fungo modelo como A. nidulans sob fontes de carbono diferentes constitui um meio de gerar conhecimentos sobre as características de crescimento dos fungos filamentosos, de sua resposta a adaptação ambiental e dos mecanismos que controlam essa resposta. Analisou-se na linhagem A26 e na AP27, esta última com ruptura do gene da plcA, o gradiente de Ca2+ citosólico, a morfologia das hifas, a germinação e o ciclo de divisão nuclear quando as linhagens tinham calcineurina ou calmodulina inibidas e quando os canais de Ca2+ estavam bloqueados ou abertos. Os níveis de Ca2+ citosólico na linhagem A26, crescendo em presença de glicose, foram maiores que os detectados em meio suplementado com pectina. O ciclo de germinação e divisão celular no AP27, independentemente da fonte de carbono, mostrou-se mais lento se comparado com a linhagem A26, provavelmente devido ao fato de seus estoques intracelulares de Ca2+, tanto em nível vesicular quanto citosólico, serem menores. A linhagem AP27 apresentou ramificações dicotômicas nas pontas das hifas e nas hifas laterais em ambas as fontes de carbono nas quais foi cultivada, o que não se observou na linhagem A26. Quando calcineurina foi inibida por ciclosporina A, as hifas das duas linhagens, em ambas condições de cultivo, alongaram-se menos e apresentaram-se mais ramificadas, no entanto este efeito foi mais pronunciado em presença de glicose, e entre as duas linhagens pode-se dizer que foi mais intenso na linhagem AP27, demonstrando a importância dos níveis de cálcio na atividade desta enzima e conseqüentemente no desenvolvimento normal das hifas. A abertura dos canais de Ca2+, por ionóforo, produziu hiperramificação em ambas as linhagens, mas principalmente quando cresciam em pectina e ao contrário do efeito observado em presença de verapamil, que bloqueia os canais de Ca2+, não promoveram hifas laterais e nem pontas dicotômicas. No entanto o outro bloqueador dos canais de Ca2+ testado, ácido caurenóico, apresentou efeito morfológico diferente, pois as hifas tornaram-se curvas o que indica perda de polaridade. O inibidor da calmodulina (TFP) retardou a germinação, principalmente no mutante AP27, quando crescendo em presença de glicose. Lembrando que o complexo Ca2+/CaM ativa a calcineurina e que o mutante apresenta menores níveis de cálcio, esse resultado é justificável. A ruptura do gene plcA não impediu o crescimento e desenvolvimento do mutante, provavelmente porque a função desta enzima poder ser provida por outras partes do genoma, mas comprometeu os níveis intracelulares de cálcio e conseqüentemente a sua morfologia. Este estudo mostra a importância da fosfolipase C, para manutenção dos níveis intracelulares de Ca2+, no desenvolvimento normal das hifas de A. nidulans e, pela primeira vez, demonstra que esses níveis são diferentes quando o fungo cresce em presença de uma fonte de carbono, prontamente metabolizável ou não. Esses resultados conferem ao cálcio um papel modulador nessas condições de cultivo. / The knowledge about regulatory mechanisms responsible for filamentous fungi growth presents lacks and its understanding is important to develop adequate antifungal therapy either to contribute the synthesis of interestingly commercial products. By this way, study Ca2+ relationship to a fungal model as A. nidulans about different carbon sources, constitute knowledge about the filamentous fungi growing characteristics, environment adaptation and its control mechanisms. The strains A26 and AP27 was analyzed, this last one with disruption plcA gene, cytosolic Ca2+ gradient hyphal morfology, germination and nuclear division cycle when these strains had calcineurin or calmodulin inhibition and Ca2+ channel were blocked or opened. Cytosolic Ca2+ levels in A26 strain, growing in the presence of glucose was higher than supplemented media with pectin. AP27 strain, independently of carbon source, demonstrated lower germination and cell division than A26 strains, probably due to the fact that intracellular Ca2+ stocks either vesicular as cytosolic levels were lower. AP27 strain presented dichotomous branching at tip-high and lateral hyphae, at both carbon source that was grown, didnt observed at A26 linkage. When calcineurin was inhibited by cyclosporin A, hyphae from both strains, in both growth conditions, had less elongated and showed more branching, however this effect was more pronounced in presence of glucose, and between both strains was more intense at AP27 strain, indicating the importance of Ca2+ levels at this enzymatic activity and therefore the normal development of hyphae. The opening of Ca2+ channel by ionophore, produced hyperbranching in both strains, even when growth in pectin and in contrast of effect observed in the presence of verapamil, that blocks Ca2+ channels, didnt promote lateral or tip high dichotomous branching. However kaurenoic acid, an another Ca2+ channel blocker tested, presented different morphological effect, because hyphae became curved, indicating loss of polarity. Calmodulin inhibitor (TFP) delayed germination mainly at mutant AP27, when growing in the presence of glucose. Remembering that Ca2+/CaM complex activate calcineurin and the mutant exhibit lower Ca2+ levels, justifying this results. The rupture of plcA gene didnt affected growth and development of mutant, probably because the function of this enzyme can be provided by another parts of genoma, damaged the Ca2+ intracellular levels and consequently its morphology. This study shows the importance of fosfolipase C to maintaining the intracellular Ca2+ levels, at the normal hyphae development of A. nidulans and for the first time, demonstrating that this levels are different when fungi are grown in the presence of carbon source, promptly metabolizable or not. This results gives to Ca2+ as modulator at growth conditions.

Dans leur environnement naturel, les plantes sont constamment exposées aux stress de nature biotique et abiotiques. Aussi, pour maintenir leur croissance et achever leur cycle de développement, les plantes ont développé des mécanismes rapides et efficaces leur permettant de percevoir, de décoder ces signaux de l'environnement et de mettre en places des réponses adaptées. S'il est à présent admis que le calcium joue un rôle crucial en tant que second messager, les mécanismes de décodage jouent eux aussi des rôles indispensables. Parmi les calcium sensors les mieux caractérisés, la calmoduline (CaM) est certainement la plus étudiée. La CaM est retrouvée chez tous les eucaryotes et contribue à la signalisation cellulaire en interagissant avec de nombreuses protéines cibles au cours du développement et en réponse au stress. Cependant, contrairement aux autres eucaryotes, les plantes se caractérisent par la présence dans leur génome de nombreux gènes codant des protéines apparentées à la CaM appelées CalModulin-Like (CMLs) dont les rôles restent encore à révéler. Au cours de ce travail, une analyse moléculaire des CaM et des CML a été réalisée au sein de la lignée verte (des algues aux plantes supérieures). Nous avons montré que l'émergence des CaM et des CMLs mais aussi leur nombre ont évolué au cours des processus de colonisation de la terre par les plantes et que l'émergence de nouvelles classes de CMLs est concomitante de l'apparition de nouvelles fonctions ou organes. Le travail s'est ensuite focalisé sur l'analyse fonctionnelle de CML8 et de CML11 et il a été montré que CML8 est impliqué dans le développement des plantes en particulier dans le développement des racines latérales et la ramification mais également dans l'immunité des plantes contre Pseudomonas syringae et Ralstonia solanacearum en tant que régulateur positif. Les mécanismes moléculaires restent encore à préciser mais CML8 serait impliquée dans l'ETS (Effector Triggered Susceptibility) en lien avec la voie de l'acide salicylique plutôt qu'avec les processus de PTI (PAMP Triggered Immunity) en réponse à Pseudomonas. Concernant CML11, cette CML se caractérise par la présence d'un domaine PolyQ. Si le profil d'expression de CML11 est différent de CML8, l'analyse fonctionnelle n'a pu être qu'initiée pendant ce travail avec un intérêt particulier pour le rôle joué par le domaine polyQ. / Plants are continuously exposed to a variety of unfavorable environmental conditions including biotic and abiotic stresses. To maintain their growth and achieve their development cycle, plant evolved efficient and rapid mechanisms to perceive, transduce and respond to these signals. It is now well-known that calcium plays a crucial role as a secondary messenger in the implementation of adaptative responses. However, the calcium signals need to be decoded and relayed by calcium sensors such as calmodulin to downstram target proteins to trigger specific responses. Calmodulin (CaM) is a well-studied calcium sensor which is ubiquitous in all eukaryotes and that contributes to signaling during developmental processes and stress responses. However, compared to other eukaryotes, plants possess a remarkable variety of CaM-like proteins (CMLs) for which the role remain to be elucidated. CaM and CML evolution analysis among the green lineage from algae to land plants shows that CaM and CMLs evolved during the terrestrial colonization of plants and that the emergence of new CML classes appeared throughout the green lineage and correlated with the acquisition of novel biological traits. The functional analysis of two closely relative protein CML8 and CML11 showed that CML8 is involved in plant development by affecting lateral root formation and shoot branching but also as a positive regulator in plant immunity against Pseudomonas syringae and Ralstonia solanacearum phytopathogenic bacteria. The molecular mechanisms controlled by CML8 are still unsolved but we propose that CML8 may participate in ETS (Effector Triggered Susceptibility) through a salicylic acid dependent pathway rather than in PTI (PAMP Triggered Immunity) in response to Pst inoculation. Concerning CML11, this protein is characterized by the presence of a polyQ domain. While its gene expression profile is different from CML8, its functional analysis was initiated during this work with a particular focus on the polyQ domain.

Neutrophils playa key role in the systemic inflammatory response which may lead to serious tissue injury and multiple organ dysfunction. In this setting, activated neutrophils, largely in response to tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), secrete reactive oxidants, granule proteases and bioactive lipids, as well as pro-inflammatory cytokines, emphasising the importance of these cells as targets for anti-inflammatory therapies. There are, however, only a few currently available agents that directly modulate neutrophil pro-inflammatory responses in clinical practice, with corticosteroids being relatively ineffective against these cells. Although, the anti-inflammatory potential of cAMP-elevating agents has been recognised, the exact molecular/biochemical mechanisms which underlie the anti-inflammatory actions of epinephrine and related β-agonists with neutrophils, have not been established. Epinephrine treatment of neutrophils resulted in increased intracellular cAMP and dose-related inhibition of both superoxide production and elastase release, which was potentiated by the type 4 phosphodiesterase inhibitor, rolipram, further supporting a cAMP-mediated effect. Although epinephrine did not affect the release of Ca2+ from neutrophil intracellular stores, the rate of clearance of cytosolic Ca2+ was accelerated by this agent. In the setting of decreased efflux and a reduction in store-operated influx of Ca2+, these effects of epinephrine are compatible with enhancement of the cAMP-dependent Ca2+ sequestering/resequestering endo-membrane Ca2+-ATPase. Epinephrine therefore down-regulates the pro-inflammatory activation of neutrophils by cAMP-mediated enhancement of the clearance of cytosolic Ca2+. Comparison of the effects of 4 selective (fenoterol, formoterol, salbutamol and salmeterol) and 3 non-selective (epinephrine, norepinephrine and isoproterenol) β-adrenoreceptor agonists, on the pro-inflammatory activities of human neutrophils, demonstrated that the agents tested clearly differ with respect to anti-inflammatory potential. Epinephrine, isoproterenol, fenoterol and formoterol significantly increased intracellular concentrations of cAMP in neutrophils, an activity which was paralleled by inhibition of the production of reactive oxidants and release of elastase from FMLP-activated cells. Salbutamol and salmeterol on the other hand, did not cause significant suppression of the pro-inflammatory activities of these cells. The effect of norepinephrine was intermediate between these two groups. The inhibitory effects of βagonists are mediated via β2-adrenergic receptors on the neutrophil membrane. The relationship between activation of NAOPH oxidase, alterations in membrane potential and triggering of Ca2+ fluxes in human phagocytes has been investigated using neutrophils from 4 subjects with chronic granulomatous disease (CGO). Activation of CGO neutrophils was accompanied by a prolonged increase in cytosolic Ca2+, occurring in the setting of trivial membrane depolarisation and accelerated influx of Ca2+. This was associated with hyperactivity of the cells with excessive elastase release, which was attenuated by the type 4 phosphodiesterase inhibitor, rolipram. These findings support the involvement of NAOPH oxidase in regulating membrane potential and Ca2+ influx in activated neutrophils, and may explain the disordered inflammatory responses, and granuloma formation, which are characteristic of CGO. Store-operated influx of Ca2+ into activated neutrophils is stringently regulated, presumably to prevent hyperactivation of the cells. The major contributors to this physiologic, anti-inflammatory process are NAOPH oxidase which, by its membrane depolarising actions excludes extracellular Ca2+, and the plasma membrane and endomembrane Ca2+-ATPases, which mediate clearance of store-derived cation. Subsequent influx of the cation, through store-operated Ca2+ channels is controlled by the relatively slow, restraining, membrane repolarising action of the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger, enabling efficient diversion of incoming cation into stores. / Thesis (DPhil (Immunology))--University of Pretoria, 2005. / Immunology / unrestricted

Sammanfattning Introduktion: Hypertoni utgör en stor riskfaktor som kraftigt ökar risken att drabbas av kardiovaskulär sjukdom, en av världens ledande dödsorsaker idag. Två av förstahandsvalen vid farmakologisk behandling av hypertoni är Ca2+-antagonister och ACE-hämmare. Ca2+-antagonister ger kärldilatation med effekten sänkt blodtryck genom att få den glatta muskulaturen runt artärer och arterioler att relaxera. ACE-hämmare verkar genom att påverka kroppens renin-angiotensin-aldosteron-system (RAAS) genom att inhibera ett viktigt enzym som deltar i RAAS-processen. Resultatet blir utebliven vasokonstriktion samt minskad Na+-retention, vilket medför blodtryckssänkning. I Sverige bestäms behandlingsplan utefter patientens riskprofil, där en låg risk för kardiovaskulär sjukdom med samtidig mild hypertoni medför initial icke-farmakologisk behandling som övergår i monoterapi vid utebliven effekt, medan högre risk med samtidig måttlig eller svår hypertoni medför initial kombinationsterapi. Syfte och metod: Syftet var att undersöka effektiviteten hos Ca2+-antagonister och ACE-hämmare som monoterapi eller kombinationsterapi vid farmakologisk behandling av primär hypertoni. Examensarbetet utformades som en litteraturstudie för att besvara frågeställningen. Databasen PubMed nyttjades för att finna fem randomiserade och kontrollerade studier som jämförde kombinationsterapi och monoterapi med Ca2+-antagonister och ACE-hämmare. Resultat: Alla fem studier som undersöktes erhöll resultat där kombinationsterapi tenderade att ge en mer effektiv blodtryckssänkning i jämförelse med monoterapi, även om inte alla studier erhöll signifikant större sänkning av blodtryck i jämförelse med monoterapi. Tre av studierna visade en signifikant större reduktion av blodtryck vid kombinationsterapi i jämförelse med monoterapi, medan två av studierna inte visade på en signifikant reduktion. Dock återfanns denna tendens även hos dessa två studier där kombinationsterapi var mer effektiv i att reducera blodtryck. I tre av fem studier uppnådde en större andel patienter från kombinationsgrupperna målblodtrycket (<140/90 mmHg) än i monoterapigrupperna. Gällande biverkningar visade ingen av studierna någon skillnad i biverkningsgrad mellan kombinationsterapi och monoterapi. Slutsatser: Den samlade slutsatsen utifrån de undersökta studierna visar att kombinationsterapi med både Ca2+-antagonister och ACE-hämmare sänker blodtryck mer effektivt än monoterapi med vardera substansen. Eftersom en del av skillnaderna trots allt var små kan den biologiska relevansen av reduktionen diskuteras. Då biverkningarna inte var fler vid kombinationsterapi bör kombinationsterapi i framtiden övervägas som primärval vid behandling av primär hypertoni.

The activation of bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMCs) induces a number of cell processes such as degranulation, proliferation and cytoskeleton rearrangements. Although microtubules are important in these processes, molecular mechanisms that control changes in microtubule organisation during cell activation are unknown. Activation of BMMCs can be achieved in several ways. Under physiological conditions, the aggregation of IgE receptors (FcRI) on the surface of BMMCs leads to the initiation of specific signaling pathways. Cells can be also activated nonspecifically by a tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor pervanadate, or by thapsigargin that inhibits Ca2+ ATPase pumps located on the endoplasmic reticulum. In this diploma thesis it was found out that rapid morphological changes can be monitored when BMMC are immobilised on the fibronectin before their activation. It was proved that specific and nonspecific activation events lead to microtubule reorganization, as well as to generation of a large number of microtubule-dependent protrusions. In the course of FcRI aggregation, generation of microtubule protrusions depends on the activity of Src family protein tyrosine kinases and on the intracellular Ca2+ concentration. STIM1, an endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ sensor, which participates in the activation of...