Biomedical subjects

Jiazhen Dai

Publications and source records attributed to Jiazhen Dai.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2005

Calyculin-A disrupts subplasmalemmal junction and recurring Ca2+ waves in vascular smooth muscle.

Excitation-contraction coupling (E-C coupling) in phenylephrine(PE)-stimulated rabbit inferior vena cava (IVC) depends on the generation of asynchronous recurring Ca2+ waves in the in situ vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC). Previous studies by our group have implicated a putative non-selective cationic store-operated channel and the reverse-mode Na+-Ca2+ exchange in refilling of the intracellular Ca2+ store via the sarco/endoplasmic reticulum ATPase (SERCA) and the maintenance of the recurring Ca2+ waves. We hypothesize that for the proper functioning of these three Ca2+ translocators in the process of SR refilling, the plasma membrane (PM) and the underlying superficial sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) form specialized PM-SR junctions, which are essential for the maintenance of the recurring Ca2+ waves. In order to test this hypothesis, calyculin-A, a serine/threonine phosphatase inhibitor that has been demonstrated to result in the disruption of the PM-SR junctions was used. In the control rabbit IVC, electron microscopy of the in situ VSMC indicates that 14.2+/-0.7% of the PM is closely apposed by the prominent superficial SR network, forming numerous flattened PM-SR junctional cytoplasmic spaces. In the control IVC stimulation with 5 microM PE resulted in sustained recurring Ca2+ waves with a frequency of 0.42+/-0.02 Hz. In calyculin-A treated rabbit IVC, a concentration-dependent dissociation of the superficial SR and loss of PM-SR junctions was observed. This progressive loss of the PM-SR junctions occurs over the same concentration range as the inhibition of PE-induced recurring Ca2+ waves. These findings offer support for the hypothesis that the presence of the PM-SR junctions is required for the generation of asynchronous recurring Ca2+ waves, which underlie excitation-contraction coupling in the VSMC of the rabbit IVC.

Action Potentials↗

PubMed2005

Rearrangement of the close contact between the mitochondria and the sarcoplasmic reticulum in airway smooth muscle.

The mitochondria and the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) are two major intracellular calcium-storing organelles that exhibit close functional interaction with each other. Close spatial association is believed to be important for their functional interaction. In this study, we have characterized the spatial relationship between the SR and the mitochondria in porcine tracheal smooth muscle cells (TSMC) under different conditions. By examining the cross-section of unstimulated TSMC with electron microscopy, we found that 99.4 +/- 0.5% of the mitochondria seen on random cross-sections were situated within 30 nm of the SR and that 82.2 +/- 6.7% of the mitochondria were completely enveloped by the SR network. Overall, 48.0 +/- 3.5% of the mitochondrial outer membrane was within 30 nm with the SR. After stimulation of the TSMC with acetylcholine (ACh) or 80 mM [K(+)] solution 97.0 +/- 2.1% and 98.6 +/- 1.4% of the mitochondria observed were situated within 30 nm of the SR, respectively. However, the proportion of the mitochondria that was completely enveloped by the SR was significantly reduced to 12.2 +/- 5.9% in ACh-stimulated cells and 9.7 +/- 6.6% in 80 mM [K(+)] stimulated cells. The percentage of mitochondrial membrane closely associated with the SR was correspondingly lower at 10.1 +/- 1.0% during ACh stimulation and 10.8 +/- 0.9% during 80 mM [K(+)] stimulation. During smooth muscle cell stimulation, the SR appears to unwrap from the mitochondria and extend into the cytoplasm while maintaining close contact with the mitochondria over a smaller area. Such static and dynamic components of the close spatial association between the mitochondria and the SR may serve as a structural basis for the selective and efficient Ca(2+) trafficking between the two organelles in TSMC.

Acetylcholine↗

PubMed2004

Organellar junctions promote targeted Ca2+ signaling in smooth muscle: why two membranes are better than one.

Numerous cellular processes are regulated by fluctuations in the concentration of a single cation, Ca(2+). To accomplish this feat, cells have developed mechanisms that target Ca(2+) signals to specific effectors in both space, by strategically localizing effectors and ion-transporting molecules, and time, by encoding the regulation of the frequency of Ca(2+) oscillations. With an emphasis on smooth muscle, we have analyzed how the interaction of Ca(2+) transporters located on closely apposing membranes of the plasma membrane, sarcoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria provides the structural foundation for site-specific and time-specific Ca(2+) signaling. These junctional membrane complexes can either control the concentration of Ca(2+) in the microdomain that surrounds an effector molecule or deliver Ca(2+) from the translocator on one membrane to a second translocator on the opposing membrane without significant diffusion into the bulk cytosol, an event we term 'linked Ca(2+) transport'.

Calcium↗

PubMed2003

Relationship between asynchronous Ca2+ waves and force development in intact smooth muscle bundles of the porcine trachea.

Fluctuations in intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) constitute the main link in excitation-contraction coupling (E-C coupling) in airway smooth muscle cells (ASMC). It has recently been reported that ACh induces asynchronous recurring Ca2+ waves in intact ASMC of murine bronchioles. With the use of a novel technique allowing us to simultaneously measure subcellular [Ca2+]i and force generation in ASMC located within an intact tracheal muscle bundle, we examined a similar pattern of Ca2+ signaling in the trachea. We found that application of ACh resulted in the generation of recurring intracellular Ca2+ waves progressing along the longitudinal axis of the ribbon-shaped intact ASMC. These Ca2+ waves were not synchronized between neighboring cells, and induction of wave-like [Ca2+]i oscillations was temporally associated with development of force by the tracheal muscle bundle. By comparing the concentration dependence of force generation and the parameters characterizing the [Ca2+]i oscillations, we found that the concentration-dependent increase in ACh-induced force development by the tracheal smooth muscle bundle is achieved by differential recruitment of intact ASMC to initiate Ca2+ waves and by enhancement in the frequency of [Ca2+]i oscillations and elevation of interspike [Ca2+]i once the cells are recruited. Our findings demonstrate that asynchronous recurring Ca2+ waves underlie E-C coupling in ACh-induced contraction of the intact tracheal smooth muscle bundle. Furthermore, in contrast to what was reported in enzymatically dissociated ASMC, Ca2+ influx through the L-type voltage-gated Ca2+ channel was not an obligatory requirement for the generation of [Ca2+]i oscillations and development of force in ACh-stimulated intact ASMC.

Acetylcholine↗

PubMed2002

Proteinase-activated receptor-2 (PAR2): vascular effects of a PAR2-derived activating peptide via a receptor different than PAR2.

We studied the actions of the proteinase-activated receptor-2-activating peptide (PAR2-AP) trans-cinnamoyl-LIGRLO-amide (tc-LI) in femoral (FA), renal, and small mesenteric (MA) arterial vessels from C57BL/6 [PAR2 (+/+)] and PAR2 (-/-) mice. The actions of tc-LI were compared with those of the parent PAR2-AP Ser-Leu-Ile-Gly-Arg-Leu-amide (SLIGRL-amide; SLI-NH2). Either SLI-NH2 or tc-LI (0.1-10 microM) induced relaxation of either 9,11-dideoxy-9alpha,11alpha-methanoepoxy-prosta-5Z,13E-dien-1-oic acid (U46619)- or cirazoline-precontracted FA from PAR2 (+/+) in endothelium-intact preparations but did not relax vessels from PAR2 (-/-) mice. This FA relaxation by SLI-NH2 and by tc-LI was inhibited by 1) pretreatment with a combination of L-N(G)-nitroarginine methyl ester (L-NAME) and 1H-[1,2,4]-oxadiazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ), 2) precontraction with 30 mM KCl, or 3) removal of the endothelium. In contrast, tc-LI caused an L-NAME/ODQ/indomethacin-resistant relaxation of MA from PAR2 (+/+) mice. In contrast with SLI-NH2, tc-LI (>30 microM) contracted arteries from both PAR2 (-/-) and PAR2 (+/+) mice. Pretreatment of tissues with a combination of cyclopiazonic acid plus caffeine reduced significantly tc-LI-induced contractions, whereas nifedipine, CdCl2, and Ca2+-free conditions did not. Inhibitors of vascular muscarinic, alpha1-adrenergic, neurokinin, thromboxane A2, histamine, angiotensin II, or endothelin-1 receptors failed to inhibit contractions by 50 microM tc-LI. At resting tension, SLI-NH2 (>10 microM) contracted all arteries in an endothelium-independent manner but only from PAR2 (+/+) mice. We conclude that the endothelium-dependent vasodilation initiated by SLI-NH2 and tc-LI, but not the endothelium-independent contraction initiated by tc-LI, are due to the activation of PAR2. Indeed, the data from PAR2 (-/-) mice indicate that tc-LI, in addition to activating PAR2, is an agonist of vascular smooth muscle contraction via a receptor different than PAR2.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Asynchronous calcium waves in smooth muscle cells.

Asynchronous Ca2+ waves or wave-like [Ca2+]i oscillations constitute a specialized form of agonist-induced Ca2+ signaling that is observed in a variety of smooth muscle cell types. Functionally, it is involved in the contractile regulation of the smooth muscle cells as it signals for tonic contraction in certain smooth muscle cells while causing relaxation in others. Mechanistically, repetitive Ca2+ waves are produced by repetitive cycles of sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ release followed by Ca2+ uptake. Plasmalemmal Ca2+ entry mechanisms are important for providing the additional Ca2+ necessary to maintain proper refilling of the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ store and support ongoing Ca2+ waves. In this paper, we will review the phenomenon of asynchronous Ca2+ waves in smooth muscle and discuss the scientific and clinical significance of this new understanding.

Animals↗