Caroline Dart

Circulating Histones Are Mediators of Trauma-associated Lung Injury

RATIONALE Acute lung injury is a common complication after severe trauma, which predisposes patients to multiple organ failure. This syndrome largely accounts for the late mortality that arises and despite many theories, the pathological mechanism is not fully understood. Discovery of histone-induced toxicity in mice presents a new dimension for elucidating the underlying pathophysiology. OBJECTIVES To investigate the pathological roles of circulating histones in trauma-induced lung injury. METHODS Circulating histone levels in patients with severe trauma were determined and correlated with respiratory failure and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) scores. Their cause-effect relationship was studied using cells and mouse models. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS In a cohort of 52 patients with severe nonthoracic blunt trauma, circulating histones surged immediately after trauma to levels that were toxic to cultured endothelial cells. The high levels were significantly associated with the incidence of acute lung injury and SOFA scores, as well as markers of endothelial damage and coagulation activation. In in vitro systems, histones damaged endothelial cells, stimulated cytokine release, and induced neutrophil extracellular trap formation and myeloperoxidase release. Cellular toxicity resulted from their direct membrane interaction and resultant calcium influx. In mouse models, cytokines and markers for endothelial damage and coagulation activation significantly increased immediately after trauma or histone infusion. Pathological examinations showed that lungs were the predominantly affected organ with edema, hemorrhage, microvascular thrombosis, and neutrophil congestion. An anti-histone antibody could reduce these changes and protect mice from histone-induced lethality. CONCLUSIONS This study elucidates a new mechanism for acute lung injury after severe trauma and proposes that circulating histones are viable therapeutic targets for improving survival outcomes in patients.

The properties and distribution of inward rectifier potassium currents in pig coronary arterial smooth muscle.

1. Whole‐cell potassium currents were studied in single smooth muscle cells enzymatically isolated from pig coronary arteries. 2. In cells isolated from small diameter branches of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD), an inward rectifier potassium current (IK(IR)) was identified, which was inhibited by extracellular barium ions, suggesting the presence of inward rectifier potassium (KIR) channels. 3. The conductance for IK(IR) measured in 6, 12, 60 and 140 mM extracellular potassium was a function of membrane potential and the extracellular potassium concentration. 4. On hyperpolarization, IK(IR) activated along an exponential time course with a time constant that was voltage dependent. 5. Inward rectifier current was compared in cells isolated from coronary vessels taken from different points along the vascular tree. Current density was greater in cells isolated from small diameter coronary arteries; at ‐140 mV it was ‐20.5 +/‐ 4.4 pA pF‐1 (n = 23) in 4th order branches of the LAD, but ‐0.8 +/‐ 0.2 pA pF‐1 (n = 11) in the LAD itself. 6. In contrast to IK(IR), there was little effect of arterial diameter on the density of voltage‐dependent potassium current; densities at +30 mV were 12.8 +/‐ 1.3 pA pF‐1 (n = 19) in 4th order branches and 17.4 +/‐ 3.1 pA pF‐1 (n = 11) in the LAD. 7. We conclude that KIR channels are present in pig coronary arteries, and that they are expressed at a higher density in small diameter arteries. The presence of an enhanced IK(IR) may have functional consequences for the regulation of cell membrane potential and tone in small coronary arteries.

Lipid microdomains and the regulation of ion channel function

Many types of ion channel localize to cholesterol and sphingolipid‐enriched regions of the plasma membrane known as lipid microdomains or ‘rafts’. The precise physiological role of these unique lipid microenvironments remains elusive due largely to difficulties associated with studying these potentially extremely small and dynamic domains. Nevertheless, increasing evidence suggests that membrane rafts regulate channel function in a number of different ways. Raft‐enriched lipids such as cholesterol and sphingolipids exert effects on channel activity either through direct protein–lipid interactions or by influencing the physical properties of the bilayer. Rafts also appear to selectively recruit interacting signalling molecules to generate subcellular compartments that may be important for efficient and selective signal transduction. Direct interaction with raft‐associated scaffold proteins such as caveolin can also influence channel function by altering gating kinetics or by affecting trafficking and surface expression. Selective association of ion channels with specific lipid microenvironments within the membrane is thus likely to be an important and fundamental regulatory aspect of channel physiology. This brief review highlights some of the existing evidence for raft modulation of channel function.

The PSD95–nNOS interface: a target for inhibition of excitotoxic p38 stress-activated protein kinase activation and cell death

The stress-activated protein kinase p38 and nitric oxide (NO) are proposed downstream effectors of excitotoxic cell death. Although the postsynaptic density protein PSD95 can recruit the calcium-dependent neuronal NO synthase (nNOS) to the mouth of the calcium-permeable NMDA receptor, and depletion of PSD95 inhibits excitotoxicity, the possibility that selective uncoupling of nNOS from PSD95 might be neuroprotective is unexplored. The relationship between excitotoxic stress–generated NO and activation of p38, and the significance of the PSD95–nNOS interaction to p38 activation also remain unclear. We find that NOS inhibitors reduce both glutamate-induced p38 activation and the resulting neuronal death, whereas NO donor has effects consistent with NO as an upstream regulator of p38 in glutamate-induced cell death. Experiments using a panel of decoy constructs targeting the PSD95–nNOS interaction suggest that this interaction and subsequent NO production are critical for glutamate-induced p38 activation and the ensuing cell death, and demonstrate that the PSD95–nNOS interface provides a genuine possibility for design of neuroprotective drugs with increased selectivity.

Activation of ATP‐dependent K+ channels by hypoxia in smooth muscle cells isolated from the pig coronary artery.

1. The perforated patch technique with amphotericin B was used to record whole‐cell currents activated by hypoxia in smooth muscle cells, isolated enzymatically from pig coronary arteries. 2. Superfusion with hypoxic solution (O2 partial pressure, 25‐40 mmHg) activated an inward current at ‐60 mV in 143 mM extracellular K+. The reversal potential of the current induced by hypoxia shifted with extracellular [K+] as expected for a K+ current, while its current‐voltage relation was consistent with the channels showing little voltage dependence. 3. The hypoxia‐induced current was inhibited by glibenclamide (10 microM), but was unaffected by charybdotoxin (50 nM). 4. In whole‐cell recordings at ‐60 mV in 143 mM K+ solution, openings of single channels passing a current close to ‐2 pA could sometimes be detected in normoxic solution. Openings became more frequent during the onset of the response to hypoxia, when several levels could be detected. Channels with a similar conductance were activated by hypoxia in cell‐attached patches. 5. Our results suggest that hypoxia activates ATP‐dependent K+ channels. We discuss possible mechanisms by which this activation may occur.

SYMPOSIUM REVIEW: Lipid microdomains and the regulation of ion channel function

Many types of ion channel localize to cholesterol and sphingolipid‐enriched regions of the plasma membrane known as lipid microdomains or ‘rafts’. The precise physiological role of these unique lipid microenvironments remains elusive due largely to difficulties associated with studying these potentially extremely small and dynamic domains. Nevertheless, increasing evidence suggests that membrane rafts regulate channel function in a number of different ways. Raft‐enriched lipids such as cholesterol and sphingolipids exert effects on channel activity either through direct protein–lipid interactions or by influencing the physical properties of the bilayer. Rafts also appear to selectively recruit interacting signalling molecules to generate subcellular compartments that may be important for efficient and selective signal transduction. Direct interaction with raft‐associated scaffold proteins such as caveolin can also influence channel function by altering gating kinetics or by affecting trafficking and surface expression. Selective association of ion channels with specific lipid microenvironments within the membrane is thus likely to be an important and fundamental regulatory aspect of channel physiology. This brief review highlights some of the existing evidence for raft modulation of channel function.

Caveolae Localize Protein Kinase A Signaling to Arterial ATP-Sensitive Potassium Channels

Arterial ATP-sensitive K+ (KATP) channels are critical regulators of vascular tone, forming a focal point for signaling by many vasoactive transmitters that alter smooth muscle contractility and so blood flow. Clinically, these channels form the target of antianginal and antihypertensive drugs, and their genetic disruption leads to hypertension and sudden cardiac death through coronary vasospasm. However, whereas the biochemical basis of KATP channel modulation is well-studied, little is known about the structural or spatial organization of the signaling pathways that converge on these channels. In this study, we use discontinuous sucrose density gradients and Western blot analysis to show that KATP channels localize with an upstream signaling partner, adenylyl cyclase, to smooth muscle membrane fractions containing caveolin, a protein found exclusively in cholesterol and sphingolipid-enriched membrane invaginations known as caveolae. Furthermore, we show that an antibody against the KATP pore-forming subunit, Kir6.1 co-immunoprecipitates caveolin from arterial homogenates, suggesting that Kir6.1 and caveolin exist together in a complex. To assess whether the colocalization of KATP channels and adenylyl cyclase to smooth muscle caveolae has functional significance, we disrupt caveolae with the cholesterol-depleting agent, methyl-&bgr;-cyclodextrin. This reduces the cAMP-dependent protein kinase A–sensitive component of whole-cell KATP current, indicating that the integrity of caveolae is important for adenylyl cyclase–mediated channel modulation. These results suggest that to be susceptible to protein kinase A–dependent activation, arterial KATP channels need to be localized in the same lipid compartment as adenylyl cyclase; the results also provide the first indication of the spatial organization of signaling pathways that regulate KATP channel activity.

Evaluating Caveolin Interactions: Do Proteins Interact with the Caveolin Scaffolding Domain through a Widespread Aromatic Residue-Rich Motif?

Caveolins are coat proteins of caveolae, small flask-shaped pits of the plasma membranes of most cells. Aside from roles in caveolae formation, caveolins recruit, retain and regulate many caveolae-associated signalling molecules. Caveolin-protein interactions are commonly considered to occur between a ∼20 amino acid region within caveolin, the caveolin scaffolding domain (CSD), and an aromatic-rich caveolin binding motif (CBM) on the binding partner (фXфXXXXф, фXXXXфXXф or фXфXXXXфXXф, where ф is an aromatic and X an unspecified amino acid). The CBM resembles a typical linear motif - a short, simple sequence independently evolved many times in different proteins for a specific function. Here we exploit recent improvements in bioinformatics tools and in our understanding of linear motifs to critically examine the role of CBMs in caveolin interactions. We find that sequences conforming to the CBM occur in 30% of human proteins, but find no evidence for their statistical enrichment in the caveolin interactome. Furthermore, sequence- and structure-based considerations suggest that CBMs do not have characteristics commonly associated with true interaction motifs. Analysis of the relative solvent accessible area of putative CBMs shows that the majority of their aromatic residues are buried within the protein and are thus unlikely to interact directly with caveolin, but may instead be important for protein structural stability. Together, these findings suggest that the canonical CBM may not be a common characteristic of caveolin-target interactions and that interfaces between caveolin and targets may be more structurally diverse than presently appreciated.

Targeting of an A Kinase-anchoring Protein, AKAP79, to an Inwardly Rectifying Potassium Channel, Kir2.1

Protein kinase A (PKA) is targeted to discrete subcellular locations close to its intended substrates through interaction with A kinase-anchoringproteins (AKAPs). Ion channels represent a diverse and important group of kinase substrates, and it has been shown that membrane targeting of PKA through association with AKAPs facilitates PKA-mediated phosphorylation and regulation of several classes of ion channel. Here, we investigate the effect of AKAP79, a membrane-associated multivalent-anchoring protein, upon the function and modulation of the strong inwardly rectifying potassium channel, Kir2.1. Functionally, the presence of AKAP79 enhanced the response of Kir2.1 to elevated intracellular cAMP, suggesting a requirement for a pool of PKA anchored close to the channel. Antibodies directed against a hemagglutinin epitope tag on Kir2.1 coimmunoprecipitated AKAP79, indicating that the two proteins exist together in a complex within intact cells. In support of this, glutathione S-transferase fusion proteins of both the intracellular N and C domains of Kir2.1 isolated AKAP79 from cell lysates, while glutathioneS-transferase alone failed to interact with AKAP79. Together, these findings suggest that AKAP79 associates directly with the Kir2.1 ion channel and may serve to anchor kinase enzymes in close proximity to key channel phosphorylation sites.

Human CRP Defends against the Toxicity of Circulating Histones

C-reactive protein (CRP) is an acute-phase protein that plays an important defensive role in innate immunity against bacterial infection, but it is also upregulated in many noninfectious diseases. The generic function of this highly conserved molecule in diseases that range from infection, inflammation, trauma, and malignancy is not well understood. In this article, we demonstrate that CRP defends the human body against the toxicity of histones released into the circulation after extensive cell death. In vitro, CRP significantly alleviates histone-induced endothelial cell damage, permeability increase, and platelet aggregation. In vivo, CRP rescues mice challenged with lethal doses of histones by inhibiting endothelial damage, vascular permeability, and coagulation activation, as reflected by significant reductions in lung edema, hemorrhage, and thrombosis. In patients, elevation of CRP significantly increases the capacity to neutralize extracellular histones in the circulation. We have also confirmed that CRP interacts with individual histones in vitro and forms CRP–histone complexes in serum from patients with both elevated CRP and histones. CRP is able to compete with phospholipid-containing liposomes for the binding to histones. This explains how CRP prevents histones from integrating into cell membranes, which would otherwise induce calcium influx as the major mechanism of cytotoxicity caused by extracellular histones. Because histone elevation occurs in the acute phase of numerous critical illnesses associated with extensive cell death, CRP detoxification of circulating histones would be a generic host defense mechanism in humans.