HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 289/6/H2379    most recent 00132.2005v1 Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (5) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Brzezinska, A. K. Articles by Chilian, W. M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Brzezinska, A. K. Articles by Chilian, W. M.

Electrophysiological effects of O₂^–· on the plasma membrane in vascular endothelial cells

Departments of Physiology and Anesthesiology and The Cardiovascular Research Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and Department of Physiology, Louisiana State University, Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana

Submitted 10 February 2005 ; accepted in final form 9 June 2005

Vascular dysfunction is a hallmark of many diseases, including coronary heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. The underlying mechanisms of these disorders are intimately associated with an increase in oxidative stress and excess generation of reactive oxygen species. Here, we report that the anionic free radical, superoxide (O₂^–·), directly affects the function of ion channels in vascular endothelial cells. Vascular endothelial cells were exposed to O₂^–· under physiological, symmetrical chloride and chloride-free conditions. Superoxide was generated from the reaction of xanthine (0.2 mM) and xanthine oxidase (0.1, 1, and 10 mU/ml) while its effects were determined with the whole cell mode of the patch-clamp technique. Inhibitors of K⁺ and Cl^– channels were used to determine the role of these ion channels in mediating the electrophysiological effects of superoxide. The addition of O₂^–· caused a dose-dependent depolarization of endothelial cells and activation of the whole cell current. Activation of superoxide-dependent current was observed in the presence of inhibitors of K⁺ channels, Ba²⁺ (100 µM) or iberiotoxin (100 nM), and was not affected by inhibitors of nonselective cation channels, La³⁺, or by inhibition of the Cl^–/HCO₃^– transporter by bumetanide. The inhibitors of the Cl^– channel, NPPB (0.1 mM) or DIDS (100 µM), partially prevented activation of superoxide-dependent current but were unable to reverse it. The effects of superoxide on the amplitude of whole cell current were prevented and reversed by superoxide dismutase. Taken together, these results suggest that superoxide directly affects the function of ion channels in vascular endothelium but the mechanisms of its modulatory effects remain unresolved.

vascular endothelium; chloride channels; 4,4'-diisothiocyanotostibene-2,2'-disulfic acid; superoxide dismutase

This article has been cited by other articles:

				N.-L. R. Han, J.-S. Ye, A. C. H. Yu, and F.-S. Sheu Differential Mechanisms Underlying the Modulation of Delayed-Rectifier K+ Channel in Mouse Neocortical Neurons by Nitric Oxide J Neurophysiol, April 1, 2006; 95(4): 2167 - 2178. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]