scholarly journals Peptide toxin blockers of voltage-sensitive K+ channels: inotropic effects on diaphragm

1999 ◽  
Vol 86 (3) ◽  
pp. 1009-1016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erik van Lunteren ◽  
Michelle Moyer

Agents that block many types of K+ channels (e.g., the aminopyridines) have substantial inotropic effects in skeletal muscle. Specific blockers of ATP-sensitive and Ca2+-activated K+ channels, on the other hand, do not, or minimally, alter the force of nonfatigued muscle, consistent with a predominant role for voltage-gated K+ channels in regulating muscle force. To test this more directly, we examined the effects of peptide toxins, which in other tissues specifically block voltage-gated K+ channels, on rat diaphragm in vitro. Twitch force was increased in response to α-, β-, and γ-dendrotoxin and tityustoxin Kα (17 ± 6, 22 ± 5, 42 ± 14, and 13 ± 5%; P < 0.05, < 0.01, < 0.05, < 0.05, respectively) but not in response to δ-dendrotoxin or BSA (in which toxins were dissolved). Force during 20-Hz stimulation was also increased significantly by α-, β-, and γ-dendrotoxin and tityustoxin Kα. Among agents, increases in twitch force correlated with the degree to which contraction time was prolonged ( r = 0.88, P < 0.02). To determine whether inotropic effects could be maintained during repeated contractions, muscle strips underwent intermittent 20-Hz train stimulation for a duration of 2 min in presence or absence of γ-dendrotoxin. Force was significantly greater with than without γ-dendrotoxin during repetitive stimulation for the first 60 s of repetitive contractions. Despite the ∼55% higher value for initial force in the presence vs. absence of γ-dendrotoxin, the rate at which fatigue occurred was not accelerated by the toxin, as assessed by the amount of time over which force declined by 25 and 50%. These data suggest that blocking voltage-activated K+ channels may be a useful therapeutic strategy for augmenting diaphragm force, provided less toxic blockers of these channels can be found.

2020 ◽  
Vol 295 (15) ◽  
pp. 5067-5080 ◽  
Author(s):  
Akello J. Agwa ◽  
Poanna Tran ◽  
Alexander Mueller ◽  
Hue N. T. Tran ◽  
Jennifer R. Deuis ◽  
...  

Huwentoxin-IV (HwTx-IV) is a gating modifier peptide toxin from spiders that has weak affinity for the lipid bilayer. As some gating modifier toxins have affinity for model lipid bilayers, a tripartite relationship among gating modifier toxins, voltage-gated ion channels, and the lipid membrane surrounding the channels has been proposed. We previously designed an HwTx-IV analogue (gHwTx-IV) with reduced negative charge and increased hydrophobic surface profile, which displays increased lipid bilayer affinity and in vitro activity at the voltage-gated sodium channel subtype 1.7 (NaV1.7), a channel targeted in pain management. Here, we show that replacements of the positively-charged residues that contribute to the activity of the peptide can improve gHwTx-IV's potency and selectivity for NaV1.7. Using HwTx-IV, gHwTx-IV, [R26A]gHwTx-IV, [K27A]gHwTx-IV, and [R29A]gHwTx-IV variants, we examined their potency and selectivity at human NaV1.7 and their affinity for the lipid bilayer. [R26A]gHwTx-IV consistently displayed the most improved potency and selectivity for NaV1.7, examined alongside off-target NaVs, compared with HwTx-IV and gHwTx-IV. The lipid affinity of each of the three novel analogues was weaker than that of gHwTx-IV, but stronger than that of HwTx-IV, suggesting a possible relationship between in vitro potency at NaV1.7 and affinity for lipid bilayers. In a murine NaV1.7 engagement model, [R26A]gHwTx-IV exhibited an efficacy comparable with that of native HwTx-IV. In summary, this study reports the development of an HwTx-IV analogue with improved in vitro selectivity for the pain target NaV1.7 and with an in vivo efficacy similar to that of native HwTx-IV.


1999 ◽  
Vol 276 (3) ◽  
pp. L474-L480 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. F. M. van der Heijden ◽  
L. M. A. Heunks ◽  
H. Folgering ◽  
C. L. A. van Herwaarden ◽  
P. N. R. Dekhuijzen

The aim of the present study was to investigate the in vitro effects of the short-acting β2-adrenoceptor agonist salbutamol and the long-acting β2-adrenoceptor agonist salmeterol on hypoxia-induced rat diaphragm force reduction. In vitro diaphragm twitch force (Pt) and maximal tetanic force (Po) of isolated diaphragm muscle strips were measured for 90 min during hyperoxia (tissue bath [Formula: see text] 83.8 ± 0.9 kPa and [Formula: see text] 3.9 ± 0.1 kPa) or severe hypoxia ([Formula: see text] 7.1 ± 0.3 kPa and [Formula: see text] 3.9 ± 0.1 kPa) in the presence and absence of 1 μM salbutamol or 1 μM salmeterol. During hyperoxia, salbutamol and salmeterol did not significantly alter the time-related decreases in Pt and Po (to ∼50% of initial values). Salbutamol had no effects on Po or the Pt-to-Poratio. Salmeterol treatment significantly reduced Po and increased the Pt-to-Poratio during hyperoxia ( P < 0.05 compared with control value). Hypoxia resulted in a severe decrease in Pt (to ∼30% of initial value) and Po after 90 min. Both salbutamol and salmeterol significantly reduced the decline in Pt during hypoxia ( P < 0.05). The reduction in Po was not prevented. Salbutamol increased Pt rapidly but transiently. Salmeterol had a delayed onset of effect and a longer duration of action. Addition of 1 μM propranolol (a nonselective β-adrenoceptor antagonist) did not alter Pt, Po, or the Pt-to-Poratio during hypoxia but completely blocked the inotropic effects of salbutamol and salmeterol, indicating that these effects are dependent on β2-adrenoceptor agonist-related processes.


Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (6) ◽  
pp. 1716
Author(s):  
Kun Tong ◽  
Ruotian Zhang ◽  
Fengzhi Ren ◽  
Tao Zhang ◽  
Junlin He ◽  
...  

Novel α-aminoamide derivatives containing different benzoheterocyclics moiety were synthesized and evaluated as voltage-gated sodium ion channels blocks the treatment of pain. Compounds 6a, 6e, and 6f containing the benzofuran group displayed more potent in vivo analgesic activity than ralfinamide in both the formalin test and the writhing assay. Interestingly, they also exhibited potent in vitro anti-Nav1.7 and anti-Nav1.8 activity in the patch-clamp electrophysiology assay. Therefore, compounds 6a, 6e, and 6f, which have inhibitory potency for two pain-related Nav targets, could serve as new leads for the development of analgesic medicines.


1973 ◽  
Vol 248 (18) ◽  
pp. 6450-6455
Author(s):  
Thomas R. Riggs ◽  
K. Janet McKirahan

2013 ◽  
Vol 109 (7) ◽  
pp. 1713-1723 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael R. Markham ◽  
Leonard K. Kaczmarek ◽  
Harold H. Zakon

We investigated the ionic mechanisms that allow dynamic regulation of action potential (AP) amplitude as a means of regulating energetic costs of AP signaling. Weakly electric fish generate an electric organ discharge (EOD) by summing the APs of their electric organ cells (electrocytes). Some electric fish increase AP amplitude during active periods or social interactions and decrease AP amplitude when inactive, regulated by melanocortin peptide hormones. This modulates signal amplitude and conserves energy. The gymnotiform Eigenmannia virescens generates EODs at frequencies that can exceed 500 Hz, which is energetically challenging. We examined how E. virescens meets that challenge. E. virescens electrocytes exhibit a voltage-gated Na+current ( INa) with extremely rapid recovery from inactivation (τrecov= 0.3 ms) allowing complete recovery of Na+current between APs even in fish with the highest EOD frequencies. Electrocytes also possess an inwardly rectifying K+current and a Na+-activated K+current ( IKNa), the latter not yet identified in any gymnotiform species. In vitro application of melanocortins increases electrocyte AP amplitude and the magnitudes of all three currents, but increased IKNais a function of enhanced Na+influx. Numerical simulations suggest that changing INamagnitude produces corresponding changes in AP amplitude and that KNachannels increase AP energy efficiency (10–30% less Na+influx/AP) over model cells with only voltage-gated K+channels. These findings suggest the possibility that E. virescens reduces the energetic demands of high-frequency APs through rapidly recovering Na+channels and the novel use of KNachannels to maximize AP amplitude at a given Na+conductance.


2008 ◽  
Vol 294 (3) ◽  
pp. H1183-H1187 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristen M. Park ◽  
Mario Trucillo ◽  
Nicolas Serban ◽  
Richard A. Cohen ◽  
Victoria M. Bolotina

Store-operated channels (SOC) and store-operated Ca2+ entry are known to play a major role in agonist-induced constriction of smooth muscle cells (SMC) in conduit vessels. In microvessels the role of SOC remains uncertain, in as much as voltage-gated L-type Ca2+ (CaL2+) channels are thought to be fully responsible for agonist-induced Ca2+ influx and vasoconstriction. We present evidence that SOC and their activation via a Ca2+-independent phospholipase A2 (iPLA2)-mediated pathway play a crucial role in agonist-induced constriction of cerebral, mesenteric, and carotid arteries. Intracellular Ca2+ in SMC and intraluminal diameter were measured simultaneously in intact pressurized vessels in vitro. We demonstrated that 1) Ca2+ and contractile responses to phenylephrine (PE) in cerebral and carotid arteries were equally abolished by nimodipine (a CaL2+ inhibitor) and 2-aminoethyl diphenylborinate (an inhibitor of SOC), suggesting that SOC and CaL2+ channels may be involved in agonist-induced constriction of cerebral arteries, and 2) functional inhibition of iPLA2β totally inhibited PE-induced Ca2+ influx and constriction in cerebral, mesenteric, and carotid arteries, whereas K+-induced Ca2+ influx and vasoconstriction mediated by CaL2+ channels were not affected. Thus iPLA2-dependent activation of SOC is crucial for agonist-induced Ca2+ influx and vasoconstriction in cerebral, mesenteric, and carotid arteries. We propose that, on PE-induced depletion of Ca2+ stores, nonselective SOC are activated via an iPLA2-dependent pathway and may produce a depolarization of SMC, which could trigger a secondary activation of CaL2+ channels and lead to Ca2+ entry and vasoconstriction.


2021 ◽  
Vol 129 (Suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Saiti S Halder ◽  
Lorenzo R Sewanan ◽  
Michael J Rynkiewicz ◽  
Jeffrey R Moore ◽  
William J Lehman ◽  
...  

Missense mutations in alpha-tropomyosin (TPM1) can lead to development of hypertrophic (HCM) or dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). HCM mutation E62Q and DCM mutation E54K have previously been studied extensively in experimental systems ranging from in vitro biochemical assays to animal models, although some conflicting results have been found. We undertook a detailed multi-scale assessment of these mutants that included atomistic simulations, regulated in vitro motility (IVM) assays, and finally physiologically relevant human engineered heart tissues. In IVM assays, E62Q previously has shown increased Calcium sensitivity. New molecular dynamics data shows mutation-induced changes to tropomyosin dynamics and interactions with actin and troponin. Human engineered heart tissues (EHT) were generated by seeding iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes engineered using CRISPR/CAS9 to express either E62Q or E54K cardiomyopathy mutations. After two weeks in culture, E62Q EHTs showed a drastically hypercontractile twitch force and significantly increased stiffness while displaying little difference in twitch kinetics compared to wild-type isogenic control EHTs. On the other hand, E54K EHTs displayed hypocontractile isometric twitch force with faster kinetics, impaired length-dependent activation and lowered stiffness. Given these contractile abnormalities, we hypothesized that small molecule myosin modulators to appropriately activate or inhibit myosin activity would restore E54K or E62Q EHTs to normal behavior. Accordingly, E62Q EHTs were treated with 0.5μM mavacamten (to remedy hypercontractility) and E54K EHTs with 0.5 μM danicamtiv (to remedy hypocontractility) for 4 days, followed by a 1 day washout period. Upon contractility testing, it was observed that the drugs were able to reverse contractile phenotypes observed in mutant EHTs and restore contractile properties to levels resembling those of the untreated wild type group. The computational, IVM and EHT studies provide clear evidence in support of the hyper- vs. hypo-contractility paradigm as a common axis that distinguishes HCM and DCM TPM1 mutations. Myosin modulators that directly compensate for underlying myofilament aberrations show promising efficacy in human in vitro systems.


2007 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 51-57 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Cristina Soares Santos ◽  
André Tortamano ◽  
Sandra Regina Frazatto Naccarato ◽  
Gladys Cristina Dominguez-Rodriguez ◽  
Julio Wilson Vigorito

This in vitro study was designed to compare the forces generated by commercially available elastomeric chains and NiTi closed coil springs, and to determine their force decay pattern. Forty elastomeric chains and forty NiTi closed coil springs were divided into 4 groups according to the following manufacturers: (1) Morelli®, (2) Abzil®, (3) TP Orthodontics® and (4) American Orthodontics®. The specimens were extended to twice their original length and stored in artificial saliva at 37°C. Initial force was measured by means of an Instron universal testing machine and then at 1, 4, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days. The results revealed that the elastomeric chains delivered a mean initial force of 347 g for Morelli®, 351 g for American Orthodontics®, 402 g for Abzil®, and 404 g for TP Orthodontics®. The NiTi closed coil springs generated a mean initial force of 196 g for American Orthodontics®, 208 g for TP Orthodontics®, 216 g for Abzil®, and 223 g for Morelli®. The mean percentage of force decay observed after 28 days for the elastomeric chains was 37.4% for TP Orthodontics®, 48.1% for American Orthodontics®, 65.4% for Morelli®, and 71.6% for Abzil®. After 28 days, the NiTi closed coil springs presented a mean percentage of force decay of 22.6% for American Orthodontics®, 29.8% for Abzil®, 30.6% for Morelli®, and 45.8% for TP Orthodontics®. At the end of the study, significant differences were observed between the elastomeric chains and the NiTi closed coil springs. The results indicated that the studied NiTi closed coil springs are more adequate for dental movement than the elastomeric chains.


1970 ◽  
Vol 48 (5) ◽  
pp. 291-298
Author(s):  
J. Pierluissi ◽  
J. Campbell ◽  
K. S. Rastogi ◽  
G. R. Green ◽  
V. Lazdins

The relation of insulinase activity to the biological effect of insulin on isolated tissue was studied. Rat diaphragm in vitro caused the rapid disappearance of immunoreactive insulin (IRI) in physiological concentrations. IRI loss at time intervals was exponential. The fractional rate of loss of IRI was therefore independent of IRI concentration and was also approximately constant per milligram of tissue, the value being 0.0216%/mg∙mm. The value of the Michaelis constant (Km), obtained from initial velocities at five initial concentrations of IRI, was 1.85 × 10−8M, and of the maximal velocity (Vmax) was 2.32 × 10−11 mole/g∙min, based on insulin dimer. The addition of an insulinase inhibitor (a partial hydrolysate of insulin) to hemidiaphragm in vitro reduced the fractional rate of IRI loss by 60%. The increase in Km, without appreciable change in Vmax, indicated that the inhibition was competitive. The IRI preserved by means of the inhibitor was biologically active, since it increased the glycogen accumulation and the incorporation of 14C-U-glucose into glycogen in a second, fresh hemidiaphragm. In single incubation of hemidiaphragm with insulin, the gain in glycogen was correlated with the amount of inhibitor. The biological effect of insulin on diaphragm in vitro was therefore limited by tissue insulinase activity, and insulinase inhibitor potentiated to some extent the action of insulin.


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