Enhancement of bradykinin-induced relaxation by focal brain ischemia in the rat middle cerebral artery: Receptor expression upregulation and activation of multiple pathways.

Focal brain ischemia markedly affects cerebrovascular reactivity. So far, these changes have mainly been related to alterations in the level of smooth muscle cell function while alterations of the endothelial lining have not yet been studied in detail. We have, therefore, investigated the effects of...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Youhai Li, Natalia Lapina, Nina Weinzierl, Lothar Schilling
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2018-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0198553&type=printable
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849715565147455488
author Youhai Li
Natalia Lapina
Nina Weinzierl
Lothar Schilling
author_facet Youhai Li
Natalia Lapina
Nina Weinzierl
Lothar Schilling
author_sort Youhai Li
collection DOAJ
description Focal brain ischemia markedly affects cerebrovascular reactivity. So far, these changes have mainly been related to alterations in the level of smooth muscle cell function while alterations of the endothelial lining have not yet been studied in detail. We have, therefore, investigated the effects of ischemia/reperfusion injury on bradykinin (BK)-induced relaxation since BK is an important mediator of tissue inflammation and affects vascular function in an endothelium-dependent manner. Focal brain ischemia was induced in rats by endovascular filament occlusion (2h) of the middle cerebral artery (MCA). After 22h reperfusion, both MCAs were harvested and the response to BK studied in organ bath experiments. Expression of the BK receptor subtypes 1 and 2 (B1, B2) was determined by real-time semi-quantitative RT-qPCR methodology, and whole mount immunofluorescence staining was performed to show the B2 receptor protein expression. In control animals, BK did not induce significant vasomotor effects despite a functionally intact endothelium and robust expression of B2 mRNA. After ischemia/reperfusion injury, BK induced a concentration-related sustained relaxation in all arteries studied, more pronounced in the ipsilateral than in the contralateral MCA. The B2 mRNA was significantly upregulated and the B1 mRNA displayed de novo expression, again more pronounced ipsi- than contralaterally. Endothelial cells displaying B2 receptor immunofluorescence were observed scattered or clustered in previously occluded MCAs. Relaxation to BK was mediated by B2 receptor activation, abolished after endothelium denudation, and largely diminished by blocking nitric oxide (NO) release or soluble guanylyl cyclase activity. Relaxation to BK was partially inhibited by charybdotoxin (ChTx), but not apamin or iberiotoxin suggesting activation of an endothelium-dependent hyperpolarization pathway. When the NO-cGMP pathway was blocked, BK induced a transient relaxation which was suppressed by ChTx. After ischemia/reperfusion injury BK elicits endothelium-dependent relaxation which was not detectable in control MCAs. This gain of function is mediated by B2 receptor activation and involves the release of NO and activation of an endothelium-dependent hyperpolarization. It goes along with increased B2 mRNA and protein expression, leaving the functional role of the de novo B1 receptor expression still open.
format Article
id doaj-art-55edcafeecfe461088f7abee2ccfbdba
institution DOAJ
issn 1932-6203
language English
publishDate 2018-01-01
publisher Public Library of Science (PLoS)
record_format Article
series PLoS ONE
spelling doaj-art-55edcafeecfe461088f7abee2ccfbdba2025-08-20T03:13:19ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032018-01-01136e019855310.1371/journal.pone.0198553Enhancement of bradykinin-induced relaxation by focal brain ischemia in the rat middle cerebral artery: Receptor expression upregulation and activation of multiple pathways.Youhai LiNatalia LapinaNina WeinzierlLothar SchillingFocal brain ischemia markedly affects cerebrovascular reactivity. So far, these changes have mainly been related to alterations in the level of smooth muscle cell function while alterations of the endothelial lining have not yet been studied in detail. We have, therefore, investigated the effects of ischemia/reperfusion injury on bradykinin (BK)-induced relaxation since BK is an important mediator of tissue inflammation and affects vascular function in an endothelium-dependent manner. Focal brain ischemia was induced in rats by endovascular filament occlusion (2h) of the middle cerebral artery (MCA). After 22h reperfusion, both MCAs were harvested and the response to BK studied in organ bath experiments. Expression of the BK receptor subtypes 1 and 2 (B1, B2) was determined by real-time semi-quantitative RT-qPCR methodology, and whole mount immunofluorescence staining was performed to show the B2 receptor protein expression. In control animals, BK did not induce significant vasomotor effects despite a functionally intact endothelium and robust expression of B2 mRNA. After ischemia/reperfusion injury, BK induced a concentration-related sustained relaxation in all arteries studied, more pronounced in the ipsilateral than in the contralateral MCA. The B2 mRNA was significantly upregulated and the B1 mRNA displayed de novo expression, again more pronounced ipsi- than contralaterally. Endothelial cells displaying B2 receptor immunofluorescence were observed scattered or clustered in previously occluded MCAs. Relaxation to BK was mediated by B2 receptor activation, abolished after endothelium denudation, and largely diminished by blocking nitric oxide (NO) release or soluble guanylyl cyclase activity. Relaxation to BK was partially inhibited by charybdotoxin (ChTx), but not apamin or iberiotoxin suggesting activation of an endothelium-dependent hyperpolarization pathway. When the NO-cGMP pathway was blocked, BK induced a transient relaxation which was suppressed by ChTx. After ischemia/reperfusion injury BK elicits endothelium-dependent relaxation which was not detectable in control MCAs. This gain of function is mediated by B2 receptor activation and involves the release of NO and activation of an endothelium-dependent hyperpolarization. It goes along with increased B2 mRNA and protein expression, leaving the functional role of the de novo B1 receptor expression still open.https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0198553&type=printable
spellingShingle Youhai Li
Natalia Lapina
Nina Weinzierl
Lothar Schilling
Enhancement of bradykinin-induced relaxation by focal brain ischemia in the rat middle cerebral artery: Receptor expression upregulation and activation of multiple pathways.
PLoS ONE
title Enhancement of bradykinin-induced relaxation by focal brain ischemia in the rat middle cerebral artery: Receptor expression upregulation and activation of multiple pathways.
title_full Enhancement of bradykinin-induced relaxation by focal brain ischemia in the rat middle cerebral artery: Receptor expression upregulation and activation of multiple pathways.
title_fullStr Enhancement of bradykinin-induced relaxation by focal brain ischemia in the rat middle cerebral artery: Receptor expression upregulation and activation of multiple pathways.
title_full_unstemmed Enhancement of bradykinin-induced relaxation by focal brain ischemia in the rat middle cerebral artery: Receptor expression upregulation and activation of multiple pathways.
title_short Enhancement of bradykinin-induced relaxation by focal brain ischemia in the rat middle cerebral artery: Receptor expression upregulation and activation of multiple pathways.
title_sort enhancement of bradykinin induced relaxation by focal brain ischemia in the rat middle cerebral artery receptor expression upregulation and activation of multiple pathways
url https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0198553&type=printable
work_keys_str_mv AT youhaili enhancementofbradykinininducedrelaxationbyfocalbrainischemiaintheratmiddlecerebralarteryreceptorexpressionupregulationandactivationofmultiplepathways
AT natalialapina enhancementofbradykinininducedrelaxationbyfocalbrainischemiaintheratmiddlecerebralarteryreceptorexpressionupregulationandactivationofmultiplepathways
AT ninaweinzierl enhancementofbradykinininducedrelaxationbyfocalbrainischemiaintheratmiddlecerebralarteryreceptorexpressionupregulationandactivationofmultiplepathways
AT lotharschilling enhancementofbradykinininducedrelaxationbyfocalbrainischemiaintheratmiddlecerebralarteryreceptorexpressionupregulationandactivationofmultiplepathways