Modulation of the c-Jun N-terminal kinase activity in the embryonic heart in response to anoxia-reoxygenation: involvement of the Ca2+ and mitoKATP channels.

Whether the response of the fetal heart to ischemia-reperfusion is associated with activation of the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) pathway is not known. In contrast, involvement of the sarcolemmal L-type Ca2+ channel (LCC) and the mitochondrial KATP (mitoKATP) channel has been established. This work aimed at investigating the profile of JNK activity during anoxia-reoxygenation and its modulation by LCC and mitoK(ATP) channel. Hearts isolated from 4-day-old chick embryos were submitted to anoxia (30 min) and reoxygenation (60 min). Using the kinase assay method, the profile of JNK activity in the ventricle was determined every 10 min throughout anoxia-reoxygenation. Effects on JNK activity of the LCC blocker verapamil (10 nM), the mitoK(ATP) channel opener diazoxide (50 microM) and the blocker 5-hydroxydecanoate (5-HD, 500 microM), the mitochondrial Ca2+ uniporter (MCU) inhibitor Ru360 (10 microM), and the antioxidant N-(2-mercaptopropionyl) glycine (MPG, 1 mM) were determined. In untreated hearts, JNK activity was increased by 40% during anoxia and peaked fivefold relative to basal level after 30-40 min reoxygenation. This peak value was reduced by half by diazoxide and was tripled by 5-HD. Furthermore, the 5-HD-mediated stimulation of JNK activity during reoxygenation was abolished by diazoxide, verapamil or Ru360. MPG had no effect on JNK activity, whatever the conditions. None of the tested pharmacological agents altered JNK activity under basal normoxic conditions. Thus, in the embryonic heart, JNK activity exhibits a characteristic pattern during anoxia and reoxygenation and the respective open-state of LCC, MCU and mitoKATP channel can be a major determinant of JNK activity in a ROS-independent manner

Hydroperoxide-induced oxidative stress alters pyridine nucleotide metabolism in neonatal heart muscle cells

An oxidant burden established by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) overload may elicit postischemic myocardial damage. We assess herein the influence of H2O2-induced oxidative stress on heart muscle pyridine nucleotide metabolism. Exposure of neonatal rat cardiomyocytes to 50 microM-1.0 mM H2O2 bolus rapidly shifted their pyridine-nucleotide redox balance toward oxidation. At least 30% of the observed NADPH oxidation was independent of glutathione cycle activity and appeared chemical in nature with H2O2 itself, and not a radical metabolite, acting as oxidant. Cell exposure to H2O2 also depleted cardiomyocyte pyridine nucleotides as a consequence of enhanced utilization. The oxidative stress activated one major route of pyridine nucleotide catabolism (i.e., protein ADP-ribosylation) without acute inhibitory effect upon the other (cleavage by NAD glycohydrolase). The limited NAD sparing by metal chelators and inhibitors of ADP-ribosylation reflected pyridine nucleotide utilization for repair of single-strand DNA breaks caused by hydroxyl-like radicals formed intracellularly through iron-dependent H2O2 reduction. Cardiomyocyte NAD depletion during H2O2-induced oxidative stress was independent of cell integrity and lipid peroxidation. The NAD lost after a discrete H2O2 "pulse" was only partly replenished over a 24-h postinjury period. These data demonstrate that cardiomyocyte pyridine nucleotide metabolism is a nonperoxidative injury target that is chronically affected by H2O2 overload. Derangement of myocardial pyridine nucleotide pools due to oxidative stress may contribute to ischemic heart injury in vivo by interfering with cardiac hydrogen metabolism and redox balance.</jats:p