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Query: UMLS:C0020538 (hypertension)
 170,190 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

To study the diastolic properties of the heart includes examining active relaxation, passive ventricular stiffness and atrial contraction. (i) The main determinant of active relaxation is the adenosine triphosphate (ATP) concentration. Relaxation needs to occur so that the ATP content of the cell can be decreased by activation of the myosin ATPase, which in turn depends upon an intracellular messenger, elevation of the calcium transient. In a model of cardiac hypertrophy active relaxation is always slower. This slowing accompanies a slowing of the calcium transient, a diminution in the activity of the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger, a change in the properties of Na+, K+ ATPase and a decreased concentration of Ca2+ ATPase in the sarcoplasmic reticulum. (ii) Chamber stiffness is likely to be increased only in relation to the degree of ventricular hypertrophy. The main, if not unique, determinant of ventricular diastolic tissue stiffness is the structure and concentration of the collagen. Consequently tissue stiffness is augmented in cardiac hypertrophy in which the ventricular collagen concentration is elevated. It is important that both clinically and experimentally cases of cardiac hypertrophy, even those resulting from pressure overload in which myocardial stiffness and cardiac collagen concentration remain unchanged, have been documented. A good example of this is the DOCA-salt model of arterial hypertension. (iii) Atrial contraction is normally more rapid than ventricular contraction, the biological basis for which is the difference in isomyosin content.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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PMID:Biological basis of diastolic dysfunction of the hypertensive heart. 139 55

We have previously reported our studies on glucocorticoid (GC) effects on Na+ influx in vascular smooth muscle (VSM) cells. We now report a parallel study on the effect of mineralocorticoid (MC) on Na+ influx in VSM cells. Unidirectional influx of Na+ was measured in cultured cells of rabbit aortic media with 22Na as tracer. Cells were treated with near physiologic (5 nM) or supraphysiologic (50 nM) aldosterone (ALDO) for 24 or 48 hours, or for 7 to 10 days, in the presence of competitive inhibitors of MC-receptor binding, K-prorenoate (PRN), or GC-receptor binding, RU 486. ALDO at 5 nM increased Na+ influx by 98% +/- 12%, but only after 7-10 days of treatment. This effect was inhibited by PRN, but not by RU 486, and blocked by amiloride but not by ethylisopropyl-amiloride or by dichlorobenzamil (DCB). In VSM cell membranes from aortae of rabbits treated in vivo with ALDO (2 mg/day) for 4 weeks. Na+ channels were quantified by determination of specific [3H]amiloride binding in the presence of excess of DCB and EIPA to exclude tracer binding from the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger and the Na+/H+ antiporter. ALDO doubled the number of of Na+ channels in such isolated cell membranes, as determined by Bmax per mg membrane protein. We propose that this vascular effect of ALDO may constitute an important pathogenetic mechanism of hypertension induced by chronic excess of MC, in addition to the well known renal mechanism.
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PMID:Aldosterone (ALDO) increases transmembrane influx of Na+ in vascular smooth muscle (VSM) cells through increased synthesis of Na+ channels. 779 95

In the last two decades, major progress has been made in understanding the role of calcium (Ca) metabolism in blood pressure (BP) control. This article discusses the intracellular Ca handling systems that could potentially be involved in the pathogenesis of primary hypertension. We begin by reviewing our current knowledge of intracellular Ca handling, alterations of intracellular Ca metabolism in primary hypertension, and possible mechanisms of BP control. We have analyzed data on the structure and alternative splicing of major genes controlling intracellular free Ca concentration, ie, genes encoding intracellular Ca-binding protein (calmodulin, calbindin, plasma membrane Ca2+ pump, Na+/Ca2+ exchanger, and voltage-dependent Ca channels). Data are presented on the relationship of gene polymorphism and alternative splicing with membrane architecture and the function of gene products. Numerous observations on abnormalities of these gene products in primary hypertension are summarized. Studies on the polymorphism of genes regulating intracellular Ca in hypertension are only now being performed.
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PMID:Genes of intracellular calcium metabolism and blood pressure control in primary hypertension. 858 17

Ouabain is an endogenous substance occurring in the plasma in the nanomolar range, that has been proposed to increase vascular resistance and induce hypertension. This substance acts on the alpha-subunit of Na+,K(+)-ATPase inhibiting the Na(+)-pump activity. In the vascular smooth muscle this effect leads to intracellular Na+ accumulation that reduces the activity of the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger and to an increased vascular tone. It was also suggested that circulating ouabain, even in the nanomolar range, sensitizes the vascular smooth muscle to vasopressor substances. We tested the latter hypothesis by studying the effects of ouabain in the micromolar and nanomolar range on phenylephrine (PE)-evoked pressor responses. The experiments were performed in normotensive and hypertensive rats in vivo, under anesthesia, and in perfused rat tail vascular beds. The results showed that ouabain pretreatment increased the vasopressor responses to PE in vitro and in vivo. This sensitization after ouabain treatment was also observed in hypertensive animals which presented an enhanced vasopressor response to PE in comparison to normotensive animals. It is suggested that ouabain at nanomolar concentrations can sensitize vascular smooth muscle to vasopressor stimuli possibly contributing to increased tone in hypertension.
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PMID:Effects of ouabain on vascular reactivity. 925 76

Intracellular Ca2+ and pH are potent modulators of growth factor-induced mitogenesis and contraction. This study examined platelet-derived growth factor-(PDGF-BB) and insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1)-mediated signal transduction in primary cultured unpassaged vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) from mesenteric arteries of Sprague-Dawley rats. Intracellular free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) and intracellular pH (pHi) were measured by fluorescence digital imaging using fura-2 AM and 2'7'-bis(2-carboxyethyl)-5(6)-carboxyfluorescein, respectively. Characteristics of [Ca2+]i transients were determined by pre-exposing cells to Ca2+-free buffer, and involvement of the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger was assessed by withdrawal of extracellular Na+ and by exposure to dimethylbenzamil (Na+/Ca2+ exchange blocker). To determine whether pHi responses were mediated via the Na+/H+ exchanger, cells were preincubated with 10(-5) mol/L 5-(N-ethyl-N-isopropyl)amiloride (a selective Na+/H+ exchange blocker). The role of protein kinase C (PKC) and tyrosine kinases in growth factor signaling was assessed by pre-exposing cells to calphostin C and chelerythrine chloride (selective PKC inhibitors; 10(-5) mol/L) and tyrphostin A23 (a selective tyrosine kinase inhibitor; 10(-5) mol/L). PDGF-BB and IGF-1 (1 to 10 ng/mL) increased [Ca2+]i and pHi in a dose-dependent manner. At concentrations greater than 1 ng/mL both growth factors induced a biphasic [Ca2+]i response with an initial transient peak followed by a sustained elevation. At 5 ng/mL PDGF-BB and IGF-1 significantly increased [Ca2+]i from 95+/-3 nmol/L to 328+/-28 and 251+/-18 nmol/L, respectively. Ca2+ withdrawal abolished the second phase of [Ca2+]i elevation. Agonist-induced [Ca2+]i responses were similarly altered by Na+ withdrawal, by Na+/ Ca2+ exchange blockade, and by PKC inhibition; latency, the period from stimulus application to the first [Ca2+]i peak, was increased, the initial [Ca2+]i peak was attenuated, and the sustained phase was prolonged. PDGF-BB and IGF-1 (10 ng/mL) significantly increased pHi from 6.89+/-0.04 nmol/L to 7.11+/-0.01 and 7.09+/-0.02 nmol/L, respectively. EIPA and calphostin C completely inhibited agonist-elicited alkalinization. Tyrphostin A-23 abolished second-messenger responses to PDGF-BB and IGF-1, whose receptors have tyrosine kinase activity. In conclusion, PDGF-BB and IGF-1 elicit significant [Ca2+]i and pHi responses in VSMC. The underlying pathways that mediate these responses are partially dependent on Na+/ Ca2+ transporters and the Na+/H+ exchanger, both of which are linked to PKC activation.
Hypertension 1997 Dec
PMID:Growth factors mediate intracellular signaling in vascular smooth muscle cells through protein kinase C-linked pathways. 940 65

As the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger plays an important role in the regulation of myocyte contractility, it has been suggested that alterations in this system might be involved in the development of insulin resistance and/or diabetes-induced myocardial alterations. Moreover, gene expression and function of the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger in states of combined hypertension and insulin resistance is of a special interest. Thus, we used hereditary hypertriglyceridemic (hHTg) rat (a model of genetically induced insulin resistance and hypertension) to study the effect of losartan, the blocker of type 1 angiotensin receptors, on the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger in the rat heart. We found that gene expression, but not activity of the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger was decreased in the left ventricle of hHTg rats when compared to their normotensive mates. No changes were observed in the right ventricle. In addition, losartan decreased mRNA levels of the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger in the left, but not in the right ventricle of normotensive rats. In hHTg rats, losartan had no effect on the gene expression of this transporter. Our results point to different modulatory pathways of Na+/Ca2+ exchanger in normotensive and hHTg rats.
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PMID:Effect of losartan on the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger in left ventricle of the insulin resistant and hypertensive hHTg rat. 1269 12

Immune dysfunction has been reported in hypertensive rats, and circulating levels of ouabain are increased in some experimental models of hypertension. Ouabain is an inhibitor of the Na+/K+-ATPase capable of diverse effects on cells of the immune system, but its mode of action on these cells is still unknown. The levels of cytoplasmic calcium ions play an important role in cell signaling, and ouabain may induce an increase in intracellular calcium indirectly through the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger. The current work examined the possibility that this drug could be exerting its effects on thymocytes through calcium mobilization and an increase in the cytosolic calcium concentration. Intracellular calcium was evaluated by using Balb-c mouse thymocytes loaded with FURA-2. Both intracellular and extracellular calcium pools were mobilized by ouabain (3 to 1000 nmol). The influx of extracellular calcium depended on the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger and on voltage-dependent calcium channels, as it was inhibited by amiloride and benzamil, consistent with the inhibition of the Na+/K+ pump. In addition, the increase of calcium from intracellular stores was extremely rapid. Furthermore, an increase in cytosolic calcium levels was obtained with the combination of ouabain and thapsigargin, which was greater than that seen with either drug alone. Our data suggest that low concentrations of ouabain may be acting on thymocytes through a mechanism different from the traditional inhibition of the Na+/K+-ATPase, as the cytosolic calcium rise was partly dependent on the release from intracellular stores.
Hypertension 2003 Jun
PMID:Ca2+ mobilization induced by ouabain in thymocytes involves intracellular and extracellular Ca2+ pools. 1273 88

The Na+/Ca2+ exchanger regulates intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i), and attenuation of Na+/Ca2+ exchange by oxidative stress might lead to dysregulation of [Ca2+]i. We have shown that the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger differs functionally and at the amino acid level between salt-sensitive and salt-resistant rats. Therefore, the purpose of these studies was to determine how oxidative stress affects the activities of the 2 Na+/Ca2+ exchangers that we cloned from mesangial cells of salt-resistant (RNCX) and salt-sensitive (SNCX) Dahl/Rapp rats. The effects of oxidative stress on exchanger activity were examined in cells expressing RNCX or SNCX by assessing 45Ca2+ uptake (reverse mode) and [Ca2+]i elevation (forward mode) in the presence and absence of H2O2 and peroxynitrite. Our results showed that 45Ca2+ uptake in SNCX cells was attenuated at 500 and 750 micromol/L H2O2 (63+/-12% and 25+/-7%, respectively; n=16) and at 50 and 100 micromol/L peroxynitrite (47+/-9% and 22+/-9%, respectively; n=16). In RNCX cells, 45Ca2+ uptake was attenuated at only 750 and 100 micromol/L H2O2 and peroxynitrite (61+/-9% and 63+/-6%, respectively; n=16). In addition, the elevation in [Ca2+]i was greater in SNCX cells than in RNCX cells in response to 750 micromol/L H2O2 (58+/-5.5 vs 17+/-4.1 nmol/L; n=13) and 100 micromol/L peroxynitrite (33+/-5 vs 11+/-6 nmol/L; n=19). The enhanced impairment of SNCX activity by oxidative stress might contribute to the dysregulation of [Ca2+]i that is found in this model of salt-sensitive hypertension.
Hypertension 2003 Sep
PMID:Na+/Ca2+ exchanger: target for oxidative stress in salt-sensitive hypertension. 1288 89

Effects of hypertension on the function of the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger (NCX) were investigated by analyzing vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) from spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and normotensive Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats. Angiotensin II-induced 45Ca2+ efflux from VSMCs mediated by NCX was enhanced by up to 3-fold in SHR compared with WKY, whereas ionomycin-induced Ca efflux mediated by NCX was not different between SHR and WKY. The decline rate from the peak value of intracellular 45Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) mobilized by angiotensin II was decelerated by removal of extracellular sodium (Na+o) in SHR but not in WKY. Gene expressions of NCX subtype 1 and angiotensin II receptor type1A assessed by quantitative RT-PCR were increased by 1.3- and 1.5-fold, respectively in SHR compared with WKY. NCX protein was also increased 1.6-fold in SHR compared with WKY. MEK inhibitor, PD98059, partly blocked the Nao-dependent acceleration of the [Ca2+]i recovery rate and tyrosine kinase inhibitor, genistein, diminished it in SHR. Genistein decreased angiotensin II-induced Nao- dependent 45Ca2+ efflux. However, angiotensin II did not enhance the tyrosine phosphorylation of NCX. These results suggest that acceleration of Ca2+ efflux from VSMCs of SHR was at least partly due to the enhancement of functional activity of NCX via increased gene expression and tyrosine phosphorylation in connection with hypertension.
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PMID:Gene expression and functional activity of sodium/calcium exchanger enhanced in vascular smooth muscle cells of spontaneously hypertensive rats. 1507 49

The Na+/Ca2+ exchanger (NCX) is an ion transporter that exchanges Na+ and Ca2+ in either Ca2+ efflux or Ca2+ influx mode, depending on membrane potential and transmembrane ion gradients. In myocytes, neurons, and nephron cells, NCX is thought to play an important role in the regulation of intracellular Ca2+ concentration. Recently, the benzyloxyphenyl derivatives KB-R7943, SEA0400, and SN-6 have been developed as selective NCX inhibitors. Currently, SEA0400 is the most potent and selective inhibitor. These inhibitors possess different isoform-selectivities, although they have similar properties, such as Ca2+ influx mode-selectivity and I1 inactivation-dependence. Recent site-directed mutagenesis has revealed that these inhibitors possess some molecular determinants (Phe-213, Val-227, Tyr-228, Gly-833, and Asn-839) for interaction with NCX1. These benzyloxyphenyl derivatives are expected to be useful tools to study the physiological roles of NCX. Moreover, such inhibitors may have therapeutic potential as a new remedy for ischemic disease, arrhythmias, heart failure, and hypertension.
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PMID:Forefront of Na+/Ca2+ exchanger studies: molecular pharmacology of Na+/Ca2+ exchange inhibitors. 1535 84


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