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I Levitan

Publications and source records attributed to I Levitan.

15 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

KATP channels are an important component of the shear-sensing mechanism in the pulmonary microvasculature.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of a KATP channel in sensing shear, specifically its cessation, in the endothelial cells of the pulmonary microvasculature. METHODS: Endothelial cells isolated from the pulmonary microvasculature of wild-type and KATP channel knockout (KIR6.2-/-) mice were either statically cultured (non-flow-adapted) or kept under flow (flow-adapted) and the KIR currents in these cells were monitored by whole-cell patch-clamp technique during flow and its cessation. Membrane potential changes, generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and Ca2+ influx with flow cessation were evaluated by the use of fluorescent dyes. Lungs isolated from wild-type mice were imaged to visualize ROS generation in the subpleural endothelium. RESULTS: By patch-clamp analysis, reduction in the KIR current with cessation of flow occurred only in wild-type cells that were flow-adapted and not in flow-adapted KIR6.2-/- cells. Similar observations were made using changes in bisoxonol fluorescence as an index of cell membrane potential. Generation of ROS and Ca2+ influx that follow membrane depolarization were significantly lower in statically cultured and in KIR6.2-/- cells as compared to flow-adapted wild-type cells. Imaging of subpleural endothelial cells of the whole lung showed that the KATP antagonist glyburide caused the production of ROS in the absence of flow cessation. CONCLUSIONS: The responses to stop of flow (viz. membrane depolarization, KIR currents, ROS, Ca2+) were significantly altered with knockout of KATP channels, which indicates that this channel is an important component of the pulmonary endothelial response to abrupt loss of shear stress.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Osmotic stress alters the intracellular distribution of non-erythroidal spectrin (fodrin) in bovine aortic endothelial cells.

Cell swelling is known to result in unfolding of membrane invaginations and restructuring of F-actin. The effect of cell swelling on the intracellular distributions of other cytoskeletal proteins that constitute the submembrane cortical cytoskeleton is virtually unknown. This study focuses on the effects of cell swelling on non-erythroidal spectrin (fodrin, also known as spectrin II), a predominant component of the membrane cytoskeleton. The intracellular distribution of spectrin in vascular endothelial cells was studied by optical sectioning using a 3-D deconvolution microscopy system. Our results show that once bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAECs) reach confluency, the non-erythroidal spectrin is localized in the submembrane regions of the cells. Analysis of the intensity profiles of the non-erythroidal spectrin under isotonic and hypotonic conditions show that: (a) the width of the submembrane spectrin staining increases gradually with time within the first 5 minutes after the osmotic shock; (b) significant recovery is observed after 10 minutes even if the cells are maintained in hypotonic medium, and (c) spectrin distribution is altered by disrupting F-actin with latrunculin A but not by stabilizing F-actin with jasplakinolide. We suggest that cell swelling results in partial translocation of the submembrane spectrin to the cytosol and that it may play a major role in initiation of swelling-induced cellular events.

Adaptation, Physiological↗
PubMed2000

PTIP, a novel BRCT domain-containing protein interacts with Pax2 and is associated with active chromatin.

The Pax gene family encodes transcription factors essential for organ and tissue development in higher eukaryotes. Pax proteins are modular with an N-terminal DNA binding domain, a C-terminal transcription activation domain, and a transcription repression domain called the octapeptide. How these domains interact with the cellular machinery remains unclear. In this report, we describe the isolation and characterization of a novel gene and its encoded protein, PTIP, which binds to the activation domain of Pax2 and other Pax proteins. PTIP binds to Pax2 in vitro, in the yeast two-hybrid assay and in tissue culture cells. The binding of PTIP to Pax2 is inhibited by the octapeptide repression domain. The PTIP protein contains five BRCT domains, first identified in BRCA1 and other nuclear proteins involved in DNA repair/recombination or cell cycle control. Pax2 and PTIP co-localize in the cell nucleus to actively expressed chromatin and the nuclear matrix fraction. For the first time, these results point to a link between Pax transcription factors and active chromatin.

3T3 Cells↗
PubMed2000

Modulation of volume regulated anion current by I(Cln).

I(Cln), a cytosolic protein associated with a nucleotide-sensitive chloride current, may be involved in the regulation of a volume-regulated anion current (VRAC) associated with hypotonic cell swelling. We have determined the nucleic acid sequences of I(Cln) from human tsA201a, colonic (T84) and myeloma (RPMI 8826) cell lines. The amino acid sequences are highly homologous (>/=99%) to each other but less homologous to I(Cln) protein from other species. Using the whole-cell patch clamp technique, we examined the effect of I(Cln) protein expression levels on VRAC properties during a hyposmotic challenge. Overexpression of T84 or RPMI 8226-derived I(Cln) protein in tsA201a cells results in a more than 9-fold increase in the rate of VRAC activation over control values, while having no effect on VRAC inactivation properties. Underexpression of endogenous I(Cln) protein in tsA201a cells using antisense oligonucleotides results in a more than 180-fold decrease in VRAC activation rate as compared to control values. These results indicate that I(Cln) protein expression modulates VRAC activation but not inactivation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2000

Membrane cholesterol content modulates activation of volume-regulated anion current in bovine endothelial cells.

Activation of volume-regulated anion current (VRAC) plays a key role in the maintenance of cellular volume homeostasis. The mechanisms, however, that regulate VRAC activity are not fully understood. We have examined whether VRAC activation is modulated by the cholesterol content of the membrane bilayer. The cholesterol content of bovine aortic endothelial cells was increased by two independent methods: (a) exposure to a methyl-beta-cyclodextrin saturated with cholesterol, or (b) exposure to cholesterol-enriched lipid dispersions. Enrichment of bovine aortic endothelial cells with cholesterol resulted in a suppression of VRAC activation in response to a mild osmotic gradient, but not to a strong osmotic gradient. Depletion of membrane cholesterol by exposing the cells to methyl-beta-cyclodextrin not complexed with cholesterol resulted in an enhancement of VRAC activation when the cells were challenged with a mild osmotic gradient. VRAC activity in cells challenged with a strong osmotic gradient were unaffected by depletion of membrane cholesterol. These observations show that changes in membrane cholesterol content shift VRAC sensitivity to osmotic gradients. Changes in VRAC activation were not accompanied by changes in anion permeability ratios, indicating that channel selectivity was not affected by the changes in membrane cholesterol. This suggests that membrane cholesterol content affects the equilibrium between the closed and open states of VRAC channel rather than the basic pore properties of the channel. We hypothesize that changes in membrane cholesterol modulate VRAC activity by affecting the membrane deformation energy associated with channel opening.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

A chamber to permit invasive manipulation of adherent cells in laminar flow with minimal disturbance of the flow field.

An obstacle to real-time in vitro measurements of endothelial cell responses to hemodynamic forces is the inaccessibility of the cells to instruments of measurement and manipulation. We have designed a parallel plate laminar flow chamber that permits access to adherent cells during exposure to flow. The "minimally invasive flow device" (MIF device) has longitudinal slits (1 mm wide) cut in the top plate of the chamber to allow insertion of a recording, measurement, or stimulating instrument (e.g., micropipette) into the flow field. Surface tension forces at the slit openings are sufficient to counteract the hydrostatic pressure generated in the chamber and thus prevent overflow. The invasive probe is brought near to the cell surface, makes direct contact with the cell membrane, or enters the cell. The slits provide access to a large number (and choice) of cells. The MIF device can maintain physiological levels of shear stress (<1-15 dyn/cm2) without overflow in the absence and presence of fine instruments such as micropipettes used in electrophysiology, membrane aspiration, and microinjection. Microbead trajectory profiles demonstrated negligible deviations in laminar flow near the surface of target cells in the presence of microscale instruments. Patch-clamp electrophysiological recordings of flow-induced changes in membrane potential were demonstrated. The MIF device offers numerous possibilities to investigate real-time endothelial responses to well-defined flow conditions in vitro including electrophysiology, cell surface mechanical probing, local controlled chemical release, biosensing, microinjection, and amperometric techniques.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Anion competition for a volume-regulated current.

We have examined whether the anionic amino acids, glutamate and aspartate, permeate through the same volume-regulated conductance permeant to Cl- ions. Cell swelling was initiated in response to establishing a whole-cell configuration in the presence of a hyposmotic gradient. Volume-regulated anion currents carried by Cl-, glutamate, or aspartate developed with similar time courses and showed similar voltage-dependent inactivation. Permeability ratios (Paa/PCl) calculated from measured reversal potentials were dependent on the mole fraction ratio (MFR) of the permeant anions ([aa]/([aa] + [Cl-])). MFR was varied from 0.00 to 0.97. As the fraction of amino acid increased, Paa/PCl decreased. Current amplitude was similarly dependent on MFR. These results show that the permeation of anionic amino acids and that of Cl- ions are not independent of each other, indicating that the ion channel underlying the volume-regulated conductance can be occupied by more than one ion at a time. Application of Eyring rate theory indicated that the major barrier to Cl- ion permeation is at the intracellular side of the membrane, and that the major barrier to amino acid permeation is at the extracellular side of the membrane. The interactions between these permeant ions may have a physiological modulatory role in volume regulation through a volume-regulated anion conductance.

Anions↗
PubMed1995

Modulation of a volume-regulated chloride current by F-actin.

We have examined whether F-actin integrity is involved in activation of a volume-regulated Cl- current (VRChlC) in B-lymphocytes. VRChlC activation was initiated in response to establishing a whole cell recording in the presence of a hyposmotic gradient. Parallel confocal microscopy experiments using Rhodamine-Phalloidin (R-P) as a specific marker of F-actin showed that the submembrane actin ring is reversibly disrupted in response to an hyposmotic gradient. Disruptions of cortical F-actin integrity by 50 microM cytochalasin B (CB) does not trigger activation of VRChlC under isosmotic conditions or potentiate the rate of activation when the osmolarity of the extracellular solution was decreased by 75%. However, incubation with CB increased the rate of VRChlC activation in response to a 90% hyposmotic gradient. Phalloidin, a stabilizer of F-actin, decreases the rate of VRChlC activation in response to a 90% gradient, but has no effect in response to a 75% gradient. These observations suggest that disassembly of cortical F-actin is not critical for VRChlC activation in B-lymphocytes. The integrity of cortical F-actin, however, can exert a modulatory effect on the rate of VRChlC activation in the presence of a hyposmotic gradient.

Actins↗
PubMed1995

Voltage-dependent inactivation of volume-regulated Cl- current in human T84 colonic and B-cell myeloma cell lines.

The voltage-dependent inactivation of a volume-regulated Cl- current (VRChlC) in an epithelial (T84), and a B cell myeloma (RPMI-8226) cell lines were compared. Both cell types exhibited similar time and voltage-dependent current inactivation when recorded using standard whole cell patch technique, with a NaCl external solution that was approximately 90 mOsm hypotonic to the Cs-Glutamate internal solution. The time course of voltage-dependent current inactivation was fit by the sum of a slow, dominant voltage-dependent and a faster voltage-independent components. Recovery from inactivation was approximated by a single exponential process and was dependent on the recovery voltage. The major difference was that the voltage-dependent current inactivation in myeloma cells was shifted to a approximately 30mV more depolarized value than that in T84 cells although the effective charge movement of inactivation was similar. These results indicate that the macroscopic volume-regulated Cl- current in these two cell lines is functionally similar.

B-Lymphocytes↗
PubMed1994

Facilitation of the responses to injections of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate analogs in Limulus ventral photoreceptors.

Injection of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate and its metabolically resistant analogs InsP3S3 and L-chiro-2,3,5-InsP3 into the ventral photoreceptors of Limulus results in the release of calcium from internal stores and in a current flow into the cells. We show here that the dependence of the current response on the amount of analog injected is supralinear. The injections also facilitate the responses to subsequent injections. We analyze the kinetics of the responses either by very slow application of the analogs directly into the lobe that is sensitive to InsP3 and light or by delivering a pulse into the nonsensitive lobe of the cell, in both cases creating a ramp of rising concentration in the sensitive region. Typically, a long latent period was followed by a strong brief inward current. The ratio between the latency and the duration of the response, defined as twice the time from half-amplitude to the peak of the response, reaches values greater than 10. Our analysis shows that this value cannot be attained within realistic models whose only nonlinearity is the cooperative binding of the ligand to its receptor. The observed ratio, however, can be achieved with a positive feedback model. Treatments that lead to partial depletion of calcium stores reversibly increase the latency of the response. We conclude that the mechanisms of the response of Limulus ventral eye to the metabolically resistant analogs of InsP3 probably involves a positive feedback mechanism and that the carrier of the feedback is likely to be Ca2+.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Fast desensitization of the response to InsP3 in Limulus ventral photoreceptors.

In Limulus ventral photoreceptor cells the time-course of the desensitization of InsP3 response was measured by an injection-pair paradigm. Pressure pulses of InsP3 were delivered into the cell with various interpulse intervals. The desensitization of the response to the second injection of each pair approached totality at 200 ms, which is the duration of the response to a single pressure pulse of InsP3. Lowering extracellular calcium did not affect the time-course of the desensitization. Lowering the temperature slowed down both the time-course of the response to InsP3 and the time-course of the desensitization to the same extent. These findings suggest that the desensitization is powerful enough and its onset fast enough to contribute to the transience of the InsP3 response. The time-course of the desensitization suggests it may influence light adaptation.

Adaptation, Physiological↗
PubMed1991

Prolactin messenger ribonucleic acid concentrations throughout the ovine estrous cycle: assessment relative to prolactin serum and pituitary amounts.

Prolactin (PRL) mRNA concentrations were assessed by nucleic acid hybridization assays in pituitaries of ewes representing the defined stages of the ovine estrous cycle. Concomitantly, pituitary and serum PRL concentrations were measured in these ewes using radioimmunoassays. It was observed that PRL serum, pituitary and mRNA concentrations tended to increase near the time of the gonadotropin preovulatory surge, particularly between 24 hrs before behavioral estrus to 5 hours after estrus. However, the changes in PRL mRNA, serum and pituitary concentrations were shown not to be statistically significant. These data suggest that PRL production during the sheep estrous cycle is maintained without dramatic changes in synthesis or secretion.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Effects of estradiol on gonadotropin subunit messenger ribonucleic acid amounts during an induced gonadotropin surge in anestrous ewes.

The preovulatory gonadotropin surge in the sheep was recently characterized by a divergent pattern of LH beta and FSH beta mRNAs immediately preceding this event. It is not clear whether this pattern is due to estradiol (E2), inhibin or other effectors. In this study, to determine if E2 may be involved in the divergent beta mRNA patterns seen during the surge, gonadotropin surges were induced in anestrous ewes (An) by E2 (An + E2) and several parameters were then measured. These included the amounts of alpha, LH beta, and FSH beta mRNAs, as assessed by solution hybridization assays, plus pituitary and serum gonadotropin concentrations. The values were compared with those observed in control, An ewes, to assess the effect of E2. The E2 treatment resulted in LH and FSH surges that appeared to be similar to the normal surges seen during the breeding season. Concomitantly, the E2 treatment lowered pituitary concentrations of FSH (P less than 0.05), while LH amounts did not change. Although the effect of E2 on gonadotropin subunit mRNA amounts varied depending upon the individual subunit, the changes that were observed paralleled changes reported during the preovulatory surge of the cycle. Specifically, alpha mRNA amounts increased significantly (P less than 0.001) while FSH beta mRNA amounts fell dramatically (P less than 0.001). Moreover, LH beta mRNA amounts were slightly increased, although not significantly by E2. These results demonstrate that E2 effects changes in the amounts of the gonadotropin subunit mRNAs during an induced gonadotropin surge in An ewes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Anestrus↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Evidence for the role of cell stiffness in modulation of volume-regulated anion channels.

AIM: To investigate the link between cell stiffness and volume-regulated anion current (VRAC) in aortic endothelium. METHOD: Bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAECs) were exposed to methyl-beta-cyclodextrin (MbetaCD) to deplete cellular cholesterol and the changes in cellular stiffness were measured by micropipette aspiration. VRAC density was measured electrophysiologically in the same cell populations. Furthermore, to probe the effects of cholesterol depletion on the mechanics of 'deep' cytoskeleton, we employ a novel technique to analyse correlated motion of intracellular particles. RESULTS: We show that cholesterol depletion results in cellular stiffening and an upregulation of VRAC density. Replenishing cellular sterol pool with epicholesterol, a chiral analogue of cholesterol, abrogates both of these effects. This indicates that cholesterol sensitivity of both cell mechanics and VRAC are due to changes in the physical properties of the membrane rather than due to specific sterol-protein interactions. We also show that cholesterol depletion increases the stiffness of the 'deep cytoskeleton' and that disruption of actin filaments abolishes both cell stiffening and upregulation of VRAC due to cholesterol depletion. Furthermore, comparing BAECs to human aortic endothelial cells (HAECs), we show that BAECs that are inherently stiffer also develop larger VRACs. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, our observations suggest an increase in the cytoskeleton stiffness has a facilitatory effect on VRAC development. We suggest that stiffening of the cytoskeleton increases tension in the membrane-cytoskeleton layer and that in turn facilitates VRAC.

Animals↗