Biomedical subjects

M M Grunstein

Publications and source records attributed to M M Grunstein.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed1998

Regulation of second messengers associated with airway smooth muscle contraction and relaxation.

Agonist-receptor interactions regulate airway smooth muscle tone through activation of guanine nucleotide binding proteins (G proteins), which are coupled to second messenger pathways that mediate changes in the tissue's contractile state. With respect to airway smooth muscle (ASM) contraction, receptor activation elicits phosphatidylinositol turnover that results in the formation of the second messengers, 1,2,-diacylglyserol, which activates protein kinase C (PKC), and inositol 1,4,5,-trisphosphate (Ins[1,4,5]P3), which binds to its intracellular receptor to mobilize intracellular calcium (Ca2+). Both the mobilization of Ca2+ and activation PKC play critical roles in initiating and acutely modulating the intensity and duration of the ASM contraction response. In contrast, bronchodilator agonist-mediated receptor activation is typically coupled to an enhanced accumulation of the second messenger, adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) which, through activation of cAMP-dependent protein kinase, induces the phosphorylation of specific proteins, leading to ASM relaxation. For activation of both of these functionally distinct signal transduction pathways, the agonist-receptor complexes interact with specific G proteins, which in turn modulate the enzymes regulating the production of their respective second messengers. Perturbations in Ins(1,4,5)P3 accumulation, its metabolism and intracellular binding may underlie changes in ASM contractility. Comparably, changes in ASM relaxation responsiveness, secondary to perturbations in cAMP accumulation, may be due to altered receptor/G protein modulation of adenylate cyclase activity, as well as to altered binding of Ins(1,4,5)P3 to its Ca2+-mobilizing intracellular receptor. This review begins with an overview of the structural and functional characteristics of G protein-linked receptors, followed by descriptions of the role of G proteins, their transmembrane signaling processes, and mechanisms regulating second messenger-coupled ASM contraction and relaxation, and concludes with new information underscoring the important roles of altered receptor/G protein-coupled expression and regulatory interactions between signaling pathways in modulating second-messenger accumulation and action in the "pro-asthmatic" sensitized airway smooth muscle.

Binding Sites↗

PubMed1997

Autocrine role of interleukin 1beta in altered responsiveness of atopic asthmatic sensitized airway smooth muscle.

The role of IL-1beta in regulating altered airway responsiveness in the atopic/asthmatic sensitized state was examined in isolated rabbit tracheal smooth muscle (TSM) tissue and cultured cells passively sensitized with sera from atopic asthmatic patients or nonatopic/nonasthmatic (control) subjects. During half-maximal isometric contraction of the tissues with acetylcholine, relative to control TSM, the atopic sensitized TSM exhibited significant attenuation of both their maximal relaxation (P < 0.001) and sensitivity (i.e., -log dose producing 50% maximal relaxation) to isoproterenol and PGE2 (P < 0.05), whereas the relaxation responses to direct stimulation of adenylate cyclase with forskolin were similar in both tissue groups. The impaired relaxation responses to isoproterenol and PGE2 were ablated in sensitized TSM that were pretreated with either the IL-1 recombinant human receptor antagonist or an IL-1beta-neutralizing antibody. Moreover, extended studies demonstrated that, in contrast to their respective controls, both passively sensitized rabbit TSM tissue and cultured cells exhibited markedly induced expression of IL-1beta mRNA at 6 h after exposure to the sensitizing serum, a finding similar to that also obtained in passively sensitized human bronchial smooth muscle tissue. Finally, unlike their respective controls, passively sensitized TSM tissue and cultured cells also displayed progressively enhanced release of IL-1beta protein into the culture media for up to 24 h after exposure to atopic/asthmatic serum. Collectively, these observations provide new evidence demonstrating that the altered responsiveness of atopic/asthmatic sensitized airway smooth muscle is largely attributed to its autologously induced expression and autocrine action of IL-1beta.

Acetylcholine↗

PubMed1996

Mechanism of cytokine-induced modulation of beta-adrenoceptor responsiveness in airway smooth muscle.

To elucidate the role of specific proinflammatory cytokines in regulating airway responsiveness, we examined the effects and mechanisms of action of IL-1beta, TNF-alpha, and IL-2 on the beta-adrenoceptor- and postreceptor-coupled transmembrane signaling mechanisms regulating relaxation in isolated rabbit tracheal smooth muscle (TSM) segments. During half-maximal isometric contraction of the tissues with acetylcholine, relaxation responses to isoproterenol, PGE2, and forskolin were separately compared in control (untreated) TSM and tissues incubated for 18 h with IL-1beta (10 ng/ml), TNF-(alpha (100 ng/ml), or IL-2 (200 ng/ml). Relative to controls, IL-1beta- and TNF-alpha-treated TSM, but not IL-2-treated tissues, depicted significant attenuation of their maximal relaxation and sensitivity (i.e., -log dose producing 50% maximal relaxation) to isoproterenol (P < 0.001) and PGE2 (P < 0.05); whereas the relaxation responses to direct stimulation of adenylate cyclase with forskolin were similar in the control and cytokine-treated tissues. Further, the attenuated relaxation to isoproterenol and PGE2 was ablated in the IL-1beta-treated TSM that were pretreated with either the muscarinic M2-receptor antagonist, methoctramine (10(-6) M), or pertussis toxin (100 ng/ml). Moreover, Western immunoblot analysis demonstrated that: (a) Gi protein expression was significantly enhanced in membrane fractions isolated from IL-1beta-treated TSM; and (b) the latter was largely attributed to induced enhanced expression of the Gi alpha2 and Gi alpha3 subunits. Collectively, these observations provide new evidence demonstrating that IL-lbeta and TNF-alpha induce impaired receptor-coupled airway relaxation in naive TSM, and that the latter effect is associated with increased muscarinic M2-receptor/Gi protein-coupled expression and function.

Acetylcholine↗

PubMed1996

Corticosteroid modulation of Na(+)-K+ pump-mediated relaxation in maturing airway smooth muscle.

1. The ontogeny of the relaxant influence of the airway electrogenic Na(+)-K+ pump and its potential modulation by corticosteroids were examined in airway smooth muscle (ASM) segments isolated from newborn and adult rabbits. 2. Control and methylprednisolone-treated (MP) ASM segments were half-maximally contracted with methacholine in K(+)-free buffer and the ASM relaxant responses to Na(+)-K+ pump activation were subsequently evaluated. Relative to adult ASM, control newborn ASM showed significantly enhanced maximal relaxation (Rmax) to KCl (62.5 +/- 5.2% vs. 47.8 +/- 5.2%), but no difference in sensitivity (pC2 = -log concentration producing 50% Rmax: 2.18 +/- 0.12 vs. 2.29 +/- 0.09-log M). 3. Exposure of ASM segments to 500 microM methylprednisolone for 1 h potentiated the airway Na(+)-K+ pump activity. A more pronounced effect was obtained in newborn ASM, where both the Rmax and pC2 values were significantly enhanced. In mature ASM, only the Rmax response to KCl was increased in the presence of MP. 4. Collectively, these data demonstrate that: (i) the functional activity of the airway electrogenic Na(+)-K+ pump decreases with post-natal maturation in the rabbit: (ii) corticosteroid treatment potentiates Na(+)-K+ pump activity in rabbit ASM; and (iii) the latter effect of corticosteroids is enhanced in immature airways. 5. The above findings provide new evidence that the airway relaxant response to activation of the electrogenic Na(+)-K+ pump varies ontogenetically and that corticosteroids potentiate the Na(+)-K+ pump activity in an age-dependent manner.

Aging↗

PubMed1996

Leukotriene D4 induces MMP-1, which functions as an IGFBP protease in human airway smooth muscle cells.

We have previously demonstrated that the asthma-associated proinflammatory eicosanoid leukotriene D4 (LTD4) is comitogenic with insulin-like growth factors (IGF) in airway smooth muscle (ASM) cells. This synergistic effect of LTD4 and IGF on ASM cell growth involves proteolysis of ASM-produced inhibitory IGF-binding proteins (IGFBP). In this report, we analyzed the conditioned media (CM) from LTD4-treated human ASM cells (ASM-LTD4-CM) by Western ligand blotting and demonstrated a marked LTD4-induced reduction in the levels of the intact IGFBP (predominantly IGFBP-2) secreted by these cells. The IGFBP-2 in the ASM-LTD4-CM was identified as lower-molecular-weight fragments by Western immunoblotting. Incubation with 125I-labeled IGFBP demonstrated that an IGFBP protease was induced in the ASM cells in response to LTD4 treatment. Immunodepletion of ASM-LTD4-CM with anti-matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1 antibodies demonstrated a dose-dependent reduction of IGFBP proteolysis. Tissue inhibitor of MMP-1 and Batimastat (synthetic) inhibited proteolysis of IGFBP. Immunoblotting the ASM-LTD4-CM with anti-MMP-1 demonstrated a dose-dependent increase in MMP-1 protein. Similar results were also obtained by immunocytochemistry. Collectively, these observations demonstrate that MMP-1 is an IGFBP protease induced by leukotrienes that plays a significant role in modulating IGF action in ASM cells. A similar mechanism may be applicable in vivo in the airways of patients with asthma.

Bronchi↗

PubMed1995

Mechanism of protein kinase C potentiation of airway beta-adrenergic relaxation.

To evaluate the regulatory action of protein kinase C (PKC) on airway beta-adrenergic function, the relaxant effects of isoproterenol (ISO) and 8 bromo-cyclic AMP (BrcAMP) were examined in tracheal smooth muscle (TSM) segments half-maximally contracted with acetylcholine in the absence (control) and presence of PKC activation with the phorbol ester, 12-deoxyphorbol 13-isobutyrate (DPB). Relative to control tissues, TSM treated with 0.1 microM DPB depicted significantly enhanced maximal relaxation and sensitivity to ISO but not to BrcAMP. The enhancing effect of DPB on ISO responsiveness was completely inhibited in the presence of the PKC antagonist H-7. Inhibition of the Na(+)-K+ pump with either ouabain or K(+)-free buffer diminished the TSM relaxant response to ISO but not to BrcAMP. Inhibition of the Na(+)-K+ pump also ablated the DPB-induced potentiation of beta-adrenoceptor responsiveness. Collectively, these data demonstrate that: 1) PKC activation enhances TSM relaxant responsiveness to beta-adrenoceptor stimulation; 2) inhibition of the airway Na(+)-K+ pump markedly blunts the relaxant response to beta-adrenoceptor stimulation; and 3) inhibition of the Na(+)-K+ pump abolishes the above potentiating effect of DPB on beta-adrenoceptor-mediated relaxation of rabbit TSM. Thus, the above findings provide new evidence that PKC activation enhances the airway relaxant response to beta-adrenoceptor stimulation, and that the latter effect is dependent on potentiated stimulation of the airway electrogenic Na(+)-K+ pump.

8-Bromo Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate↗

PubMed1995

Leukotriene D4 facilitates airway smooth muscle cell proliferation via modulation of the IGF axis.

The insulin-like growth factor (IGF) axis is involved in regulating proliferation in a variety of cell types, including airway smooth muscle. Because airway hyperplasia is a characteristic feature of asthma and other lung diseases, we examined the interaction of the potent proinflammatory eicosanoid leukotriene D4 (LTD4) with the IGF axis in regulating airway smooth muscle cell mitogenesis. In cultured rabbit airway smooth muscle cells, IGF-I but not LTD4 was mitogenic at submaximal concentrations. The combination of the two agents exerted a significant synergistic effect on airway smooth muscle cell mitogenesis. Analysis of airway smooth muscle cell conditioned medium by Western ligand blotting demonstrated a marked LTD4-induced reduction in the levels of the predominant IGF binding protein IGFBP-2, which is elaborated into the conditioned medium. The latter effect on IGFBP-2 release was not associated with a reduction in IGFBP-2 mRNA levels; however, LTD4-treated airway smooth muscle conditioned medium demonstrated the presence of a lower molecular weight form of IGFBP-2 by cross-linking to IGFs and specific proteolysis of radiolabeled IGFBP-2. IGFBP-2 was also noted to be associated with airway smooth muscle cell membranes, where it was protected from LTD4-induced proteolysis. Finally, exogenous administration of IGFBP-2 was found to inhibit the promitogenic effect of IGF-I in a dose-dependent manner.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

PubMed1995

Tachykinin regulation of airway smooth muscle cell proliferation.

The tachykinins, substance P (SP) and neurokinins A (NKA) and B (NKB), have been identified in the respiratory tract and implicated in mediating neurogenic inflammation of the airways. To the extent that these neuropeptides may be involved in the pathogenesis of asthma, a condition associated with hyperplasia of airway smooth muscle (ASM), we examined the mitogenic effects and mechanisms of action of tachykinins in cultured rabbit ASM cells. SP was found to elicit dose-dependent (10(-14) to 10(-4) M) stimulation of ASM cell proliferation, with a mean (+/- SE) maximal increase in cell number of 169 +/- 6.1% of control. In contrast, NKA and NKB had little and no effect on ASM cell growth, respectively. Because SP is nonselective in its binding to the tachykinin receptors, to identify the specific NK receptor subtype(s) mediating the promitogenic action of SP, in separate studies we found that 1) the NK1-receptor-specific agonist, [beta-Ala4, Sar9, Met(O2)11]SP-(4-11) induced stimulation of ASM cell growth similar in magnitude to that elicited by SP; 2) in contrast, neither the NK1- nor NK2-receptor-specific agonists, [beta-Ala8]NKA-(4-10) and [MePhe7]NKB, respectively, had any effect on ASM cell growth; and 3) the promitogenic action of SP was inhibited by the NK1-receptor antagonist, GR-82,334. Moreover, in extended experiments, we found that the phospholipase C and phospholipase A2 inhibitors, neomycin and quinacrine, respectively, each inhibited SP-induced ASM cell proliferation by approximately 45%. Collectively, these observations provide new evidence that the tachykinin SP induces ASM cell proliferation, and that this action is mediated by transmembrane signaling coupled to selective activation of the NK1 receptor.

Animals↗

PubMed1995

Mechanism of impaired beta-adrenoceptor responsiveness in atopic sensitized airway smooth muscle.

Decreased airway relaxation to beta-adrenoceptor stimulation has been hypothesized as a potential mechanism leading to enhanced bronchoconstrictor responsiveness in asthma. In addressing potential mechanisms underlying this phenomenon, the relative contributions of beta-adrenoceptor-coupled transmembrane signaling mechanisms were examined in isolated rabbit tracheal smooth muscle (TSM) passively sensitized with serum from atopic asthmatic patients and in TSM comparably exposed to non-atopic (control) human serum. During half-maximal isometric contraction of the tissues with acetylcholine, relative to control TSM, the sensitized tissues exhibited significant attenuation of both their maximal relaxation (Rmax) and sensitivity (i.e., -log 50% Rmax) to cumulative administration of isoproterenol (P < 0.001) or prostaglandin (PG)E2 (P < 0.001). In contrast, the relaxation responses to forskolin, a diterpene that directly activates adenylate cyclase, were similar in both tissue groups. Extended studies demonstrated that the attenuated relaxation to isoproterenol and PGE2 in sensitized TSM was 1) ablated by pretreatment with the muscarinic M2-receptor antagonists methoctramine (10(-6) M) or gallamine (10(-4) M); 2) also inhibited by pretreatment with pertussis toxin (100 ng/ml), which ADP ribosylates the inhibitory G protein (G(i)) negatively coupled to adenylate cyclase activation; and 3) associated with diminished adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate accumulation in response to isoproterenol administration. Moreover, based on Western immunoblot analysis, we found that G(i) protein expression was increased in membrane fractions from sensitized TSM, related to enhanced expression of the G(i) alpha 3 subunit. Collectively, these observations provide new evidence that the impaired beta-adrenoceptor-mediated relaxation in atopic sensitized airways is associated with increased muscarinic M2 receptor/G(i) protein-coupled expression and function.

Acetylcholine↗

PubMed1995

cAMP generation inhibits inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate binding in rabbit tracheal smooth muscle.

Agonist-induced airway contraction involves the generation and subsequent binding of the phosphoinositide-derived second messenger, inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate [Ins(1,4,5)P3], to its Ca(2+)-mobilizing intracellular receptor. To the extent that regulatory cross-talk is known to exist between different signal transduction pathways, the present study examined whether activation of the adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP)/protein kinase A (PKA) pathway induces altered binding of Ins(1,4,5)P3 to its receptor in membrane homogenates of rabbit tracheal smooth muscle (TSM). In control TSM, monophasic binding curves provided mean +/- SE values for Ins(1,4,5)P3 receptor density (Bmax) and binding affinity (Kd) amounting to 940 +/- 43 fmol/mg protein and 10.7 +/- 1.2 nM, respectively. Relative to control, binding of [3H]Ins(1,4,5)P3 was significantly reduced in paired TSM separately treated with isoproterenol, forskolin, or dibutyryl-cAMP. Ins(1,4,5)P3 binding was inhibited to a level averaging 60% of control binding by maximal concentrations of each agonist, an effect attributed to a reduction in Ins(1,4,5)P3 binding sites rather than altered ligand affinity. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that activation of the cAMP-dependent signaling pathway is associated with inhibition of Ins(1,4,5)P3 receptor binding and implicate a novel mechanism of action of beta-adrenergic agents in preventing and/or reversing airway contraction.

Animals↗

PubMed1995

Role of muscarinic M2 receptors in regulating beta-adrenergic responsiveness in maturing rabbit airway smooth muscle.

Muscarinic M2 and M3 receptor subtypes have been pharmacologically distinguished in airway smooth muscle. Whereas M3 receptors have been associated with smooth muscle contraction, M2 receptors have been implicated in Gi protein-coupled inhibition of adenylyl cyclase. To determine whether the role of M2 receptors varies with age in tracheal smooth muscle (TSM), dose-dependent relaxation responses to isoproterenol were compared in TSM isolated from 3-day-old and adult rabbits precontracted with acetylcholine (ACh) in the absence (control) and presence of an M2 receptor antagonist (gallamine or methoctramine). From sustained half-maximal ACh contractions, adult TSM were 5.6-fold less sensitive than 3-day-old tissues to isoproterenol-induced relaxation. Furthermore, the magnitude of muscarinic functional antagonism of isoproterenol-mediated TSM relaxation, assessed by varying the initial degree of ACh-induced contraction, significantly increased with age. In gallamine- and methoctramine-treated tissues, the relaxation-response curves to isoproterenol were shifted to the left in both 3-day-old and adult TSM. In contrast, pretreatment with either M2 receptor antagonist had no significant effect on the magnitude of muscarinic functional antagonism at either age. Moreover, Western blot analysis of G alpha i common and specific subunit expression in TSM membranes demonstrated qualitatively similar levels in 3-day-old and adult TSM. Collectively, these findings provide new evidence that 1) there exist inherent age-dependent differences in both the airway relaxant responsiveness to beta-adrenoceptor stimulation and muscarinic functional antagonism of beta-adrenergic relaxation, and 2) the latter are attributed to mechanisms other than ontogenetic alteration in M2 receptor function or Gi protein expression in maturing rabbit TSM.

Aging↗

PubMed1994

Stimulation of lung surfactant secretion by endothelin-1 from rat alveolar type II cells.

Endothelin-1 (ET-1), a potent vasoactive peptide released by endothelial cells, alters cytosolic Ca2+ and phosphoinositide metabolism in cells of myogenic and nonmyogenic origin. We evaluated the effect of ET-1 on surfactant phosphatidylcholine (PC) secretion from alveolar type II cells labeled with [methyl-3H]choline. ET-1 stimulated the secretion of PC in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Binding of 125I-labeled ET-1 to type II cell membranes was saturable at approximately 1 nM and suggested the presence of a single type of receptor. The secretagogue effect of ET-1 was independently inhibited by nifedipine and nitrendipine, both L-type calcium channel blockers, and removal of extracellular calcium. ET-1 also increased cellular diacylglycerol content by approximately 50% within 30 s, which could not be attenuated by pretreatment with nifedipine, suggesting an early activation of protein kinase C that was independent of Ca2+ influx. Further, ET-1-stimulated PC secretion was also blocked by inhibitors of protein kinase C. Collectively, these results indicate that the binding of ET-1 to type II cells is coupled to the activation of protein kinase C, which increases calcium influx through L-type calcium channels, and results in increased secretion of lung surfactant. Since ET-1 is released from pulmonary micro- and macrovasculature endothelial cells in close proximity to type II cells, our findings support the novel concept that endothelial cells interact with alveolar type II cells in a paracrine fashion to regulate surfactant secretion.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

PubMed1994

Adrenergic receptor-mediated regulation of cultured rabbit airway smooth muscle cell proliferation.

To evaluate the potential role of adrenergic receptors in regulating airway smooth muscle (ASM) cell proliferation, the mitogenic effects and mechanisms of action of selective alpha- and beta-adrenoceptor activation were investigated in cultured rabbit ASM cells. The alpha 1-adrenoceptor agonists, phenylephrine and methoxamine, elicited significant dose-dependent (10(-10)-10(-4) M) stimulation of ASM cell mitogenesis, with mean +/- SE peak increases in ASM cell count amounting to 17.0 +/- 3.5 and 44.0 +/- 6.8% above unstimulated (control) levels, respectively. Similarly, the alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonist clonidine (10(-8)-10(-4)) also induced ASM cell proliferation, with a 41.1 +/- 5.5% peak increase in cell count above control. The promitogenic responses to alpha-adrenoceptor activation were blocked by pertussis toxin (PT; 100 ng/ml), which ADP-ribosylates G protein negatively coupled to adenylate cyclase activation. In additional studies, we found that 1) treatment with agents inducing intracellular adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) accumulation including the beta-adrenergic agonist, isoproterenol, the cAMP analogue, 8-(4-chlorophenylthio)-cAMP and forskolin, all produced significant dose-dependent inhibition of serum-stimulated ASM cell growth; 2) alpha-adrenoceptor activation inhibited isoproterenol-induced cAMP accumulation; and 3) the anti-proliferative effects of isoproterenol and PT were additive. Collectively, the above findings provide new evidence that adrenergic receptors exert an opposing duality of action in regulating ASM cell proliferation, wherein receptors which are negatively coupled (i.e., alpha-adrenergic) and those which are positively coupled (i.e., beta-adrenergic) to activation of the adenylate cyclase/cAMP signal-transduction pathway are promitogenic and growth inhibitory to ASM cells, respectively.

Animals↗

PubMed1994

Insulin-like growth factor axis in airway smooth muscle cells.

Insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) mediate cell proliferation and differentiation and bind with high affinities and specificities to IGF receptors and IGF-binding proteins (IGFBPs). We examined the roles of these three groups of proteins in cultured rabbit airway smooth muscle (ASM) cells. Affinity cross-linking of IGF-I and IGF-II to membranes of ASM cells revealed type 1 and type 2 IGF receptors. Western ligand blot analysis of ASM cell-conditioned medium revealed the presence of a single IGFBP band that precipitated with an antibody specific to IGFBP-2. ASM cells secreted radioimmunoassayable IGF-II; however, no IGF-I was detected under the same conditions. Two molecular weight forms of IGF-II were produced by the ASM cells. Exposure of cells to 1,000 ng/ml of IGF-I stimulated them to proliferate to 230 +/- 9.7% of their respective controls. Exposure to 1,000 ng/ml of IGF-II was approximately 40% as effective as exposure to 1,000 ng/ml of IGF-I. Both IGF-I and IGF-II exhibited binding to the type 1 IGF receptor. In summary, IGFs are mitogens for cultured rabbit ASM cells, and their actions are most likely mediated through the type 1 IGF receptor. The ASM cells secrete IGF-II and IGFBP-2, and the latter could modulate the actions of the IGFs in these cells.

Animals↗

PubMed1993

Assessment of methacholine-induced airway constriction by ultrafast high-resolution computed tomography.

Assessment of changes in airway dimensions during bronchoconstriction is conventionally based on measurements of respiratory mechanics. We evaluated the efficacy of ultrafast high-resolution computed tomography (UHRCT) to directly determine the dynamic changes in cross-sectional area (CSA) of airways in response to methacholine (MCh). UHRCT scans were obtained at functional residual capacity before (baseline) and after intravenous bolus injections of MCh (10(-8.5)-10(-7.0) mol/kg) to seven mechanically ventilated pigs. Changes in CSA of bronchi of varying baseline size (1-10 mm diam) were determined by using a customized image processing software package (VIDA) based on a user-directed computer-adjusted edge-finding algorithm. MCh induced dose-dependent decreases in CSA, which were paralleled by increases in airway opening pressure at higher doses of MCh; at lower doses of MCh, decreases in CSA of smaller airways were detected without concomitant changes in airway opening pressure. Changes in CSA were heterogeneous and variable, especially in the smaller airway ranges. The results of the present study support the concept that UHRCT can be used in conjunction with bolus challenges to effectively determine dose-response changes in airway caliber in both large and small airways. This technique provides data that may not be reflected by conventional lung function measurements and, hence, is a useful tool to study airway reactivity.

Animals↗

PubMed1993

Effects of positive end-expiratory pressure on lung tissue mechanics in rabbits.

The effects of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) on lung tissue resistance (Rti) and dynamic elastance (Edyn,L) were examined separately during histamine-induced lung constriction and after saline lung lavage in anesthetized paralyzed New Zealand White rabbits. During mechanical ventilation in the open-chest state, Rti and Edyn,L were estimated by fitting the appropriate signals to the equation of motion of the single-compartment linear model of the lung. Data were analyzed in relation to the structural damping hypothesis, which assumes that energy dissipation (Rti) and energy storage (Edyn,L) within the lung tissues are coupled at a fundamental level; the coupling parameter, termed hysteresivity (eta), = Rti.omega/Edyn,L, where omega is angular frequency. Under baseline conditions, elevation in PEEP resulted in significant increases in both Rti and Edyn,L, with eta remaining unchanged. During induced constriction and after lung lavage, Rti and Edyn,L significantly increased relative to their baseline values. During histamine-induced constriction, increasing PEEP was associated with increases in Edyn,L, whereas Rti and eta were reduced. After lung lavage, elevation in PEEP from 5 to 7 cmH2O was associated with proportional increases in Rti and Edyn,L, resulting in a relative constancy of eta. By contrast, when PEEP was decreased from 5 to 3 cmH2O, the values of Rti increased, whereas Edyn,L remained unchanged, resulting in significant increases in eta. Collectively, these findings suggest that the effects of PEEP on Rti during agonist-induced constriction and after perturbations of the gas-liquid interface are dependent on the state of alveolar/airway stability.

Air Pressure↗

PubMed1992

Opiate action in the pulmonary circulation.

To gain insight into the mechanisms underlying the association between acute pulmonary edema and narcotic abuse, the direct action of morphine was examined in isolated, perfused left lower lobe (LLL) preparations in dogs and cats. Morphine sulphate injected (0.6 mg/kg) into the pulmonary artery of the LLL increased the pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) by about 100% in both species. The increase in PVR was primarily due to constriction of the veins, as determined with the arterial and venous occlusion technique. The increase in PVR with morphine injection was unaffected by alpha-adrenergic antagonists, but was reversed by chlorpheniramine, a histamine H1-receptor antagonist. Pretreatment, but not post-treatment with the opiate antagonist, naloxone, blocked the effect of morphine on PVR. Thus, the rapid administration of morphine produces pulmonary venoconstriction via histamine release from the lung, and the latter may account for the well-documented association between acute pulmonary edema and narcotic abuse.

Animals↗

PubMed1992

Assessment of signal transduction mechanisms regulating airway smooth muscle contractility.

Agonist-receptor interactions regulate airway smooth muscle tone through activation of guanine nucleotide binding proteins (G proteins) which are coupled to second-messenger pathways that mediate changes in the tissue's contractile state. Various methods have been applied to identify the structure/function characteristics of G proteins and their role in signal transduction in airway smooth muscle, including the use of exotoxins, nonhydrolyzable analogs of guanosine-triphosphate (GTP), antibodies to purified G proteins, and membrane reconstitution studies. In elucidating mechanisms of airway smooth muscle relaxation, considerable progress has been made in identifying the molecular basis for receptor/G protein coupling and other regulatory processes leading to both the activation and down-regulation of the adenylate cyclase/adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate system. Further, with respect to airway smooth muscle contraction, various approaches have been used to evaluate the role of membrane phosphoinositide turnover and the mechanisms of action of the bifurcating signal transduction pathways associated with the production and metabolism of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate and 1,2-diacylglycerol, and activation of protein kinase C. This review identifies much of the information gained to date on the above signal transduction pathways, with an emphasis placed on various methodological approaches used to determine membrane and transmembrane signaling processes in airway smooth muscle.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗