|
|
||||||||
Ann Thorac Surg 2002;73:843-848
© 2002 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons
a Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Groupe Hospitalier Bichat-Claude Bernard, Paris, France
b Department of Anesthesiology, Groupe Hospitalier Bichat-Claude Bernard, Paris, France
c Department of Biochemistry, Groupe Hôspitalier Bichat-Claude Bernard, Paris, France
d National Cardiovascular Center, Fujishirodai Suita, Osaka, Japan
Accepted for publication November 1, 2001.
* Address reprint requests to Dr Menasché, Service de Chirurgie, Cardiovasculaire B, Groupe Hôspitalier Bichat-Claude Bernard, 46, rue Henri Huchard, 75877 Paris Cedex 18, France
e-mail: ccv-bloc.sec3{at}bch.ap-hop-paris.fr
| Abstract |
|---|
|
|
|---|
Methods. A total of 20 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting surgery were studied. During the first 10 minutes of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), 10 were treated with sevoflurane (2.5 minimum alveolar concentration), an inhalational anesthetic that mimics preconditioning through a similar activation of the kinase cascade. Ten case-matched patients undergoing 10 minutes of sevoflurane-free CPB served as controls. Right atrial biopsies were taken before and 10 minutes after CPB and were then processed for the measurement of PKC, TK, and p38 MAPK activities by enzyme assay techniques. Troponin I was also monitored over the first 2 postoperative days.
Results. Compared with pre-CPB values, PKC and p38 MAPK activities (in nanomoles per milligram of protein per minute and arbitrary units, respectively) increased significantly and to the same extent in both groups: PKC, from 20.7 ± 0.7 to 29.9 ± 3.9 in controls (p = 0.037) and from 18.4 ± 1.1 to 23.9 ± 1.8 in sevoflurane (p = 0.016); p38 MAPK, from 88.6 ± 8.5 to 312.9 ± 66.2 in controls (p = 0.005) and from 114.6 ± 14.7 to 213.4 ± 51.8 in sevoflurane (p = 0.045). Conversely, sevoflurane triggered a significant increase in TK activity (from 68.5 ± 1.4 to 83.7 ± 2.9 picomoles per milligram of protein per minute p = 0.0015) which did not occur in controls (from 67.5 ± 1.9 to 76.8 ± 4.2 picomoles per milligram of protein per minute, p = 0.09). Likewise, the peak postoperative value of troponin I was not different between controls and sevoflurane-treated patients (3.4 ± 0.6 vs 2.4 ± 0.4, p = 0.21).
Conclusions. Cardiopulmonary bypass triggers an activation of the kinase cascade that is mechanistically linked to opening of potassium channels. The direct opening of these channels by the anesthetic sevoflurane does not increase kinase activation further, nor does it improve markers of cell necrosis, thus suggesting that pharmacologically targeting potassium channels may overlap the preconditioning-like effects of CPB alone.
| Introduction |
|---|
|
|
|---|
| Patients and methods |
|---|
|
|
|---|
Perioperative myocardial necrosis assessment
To detect myocardial infarction, blood levels of troponin I were serially measured with the Dimension RXL-HM analyzer using a two-site fluorometric enzyme immunoassay (Dade Behring, La Défense, France) after the induction of anesthesia, 20 hours and 2 days after the surgery. Values are expressed as nanograms per milliliter.
Measurement of PKC, TK, and MAPK activities
To detect kinase activation, right atrial biopsy samples were harvested before bypass and then either at the end of the 10-minute preconditioning regimen in sevoflurane-treated patients or after an equivalent pump time in control patients, immediately before aortic cross-clamping. Tissue specimens were frozen into liquid nitrogen and stored at -80°C.
The activity of PKC was measured, as described previously [8], by enzyme assay with the RPN 77A kit (Amersham), which provides a simple and reliable method of estimating PKC without extensive purification of the samples. Activity of PKC is expressed as nanomoles per milligram of protein per minute. Protein concentrations were measured by the method of Lowry and colleagues [9], with bovine serum albumin used as a standard.
Tyrosine kinase activity was assessed by the enzymatic assay technique [10, 11] (using the AUSA tyrosine kinase assay kit, Transbio Corporation, Baltimore, MD) and is expressed as picomoles per milligram of protein per minute.
To immunoprecipitate p38 MAPK, 1 g of cardiac tissue was homogenized and an in vitro kinase assay was carried out as described previously [12]. At the end of the kinase reaction, the immunoprecipitates were separated by electrophoresis on a sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel, which was fixed, dried, and subjected to autoimmunography. The activity of p38 MAPK was then measured by an image analyzer and is expressed in arbitrary units.
Statistical analysis
The data are represented as the mean ± 1 SEM, with a value of p less than 0.05 considered significant. All analyses were performed with appropriate software (StatView; SAS Institute, Inc, Cary, NC). Longitudinal studies comparing values over time within each group were achieved using paired t tests. One-way analysis of variance were used to test for differences between groups.
| Results |
|---|
|
|
|---|
|
|
|
|
|
| Comment |
|---|
|
|
|---|
Justification of end points
A major issue associated with studies of preconditioning during clinical cardiac operations is the selection of end points providing reasonable evidence that the pathway has been turned on. Because the states of opening and closing of potassium channels cannot be assessed directly in the in situ human heart, one has to rely on surrogate markers. In this study, we measured myocardial tissue levels of PKC, TK, and p38 MAPK because a large number of experimental studies have brought compelling evidence that activation of this cascade is mechanistically linked to opening of ATP-sensitive potassium channels. Most recently, the codependent relationship between these two events has been well demonstrated in a sheep model of regional ischemia [13], in which the infarct-limiting effect of preconditioning was abolished by opposite blockade (ie, a potassium channel opener + an inhibitor of PKC or an agonist of PKC + an inhibitor of potassium channels). That such a relationship also exists in human is suggested by two other studies showing, in human ventricular myocytes, that PKC activates the KATP current at reduced intracellular concentrations of ATP [14], and that delayed preconditioning involves both the p38 MAPK pathway and mitochondrial potassium channels [15]. We acknowledge that a more direct evidence that kinase activation is a surrogate marker for potassium channel opening would have required pharmacologic manipulations with potassium channel blockers, but this was not attempted for obvious ethical reasons.
In fact, there is ongoing controversy regarding the critical juncture at which potassium channels come into play temporally along this pathway. According to the classic scheme, signaling is initiated by activation of various membrane receptors by their agonists (particularly adenosine, bradykinin, opioids, and
-agonists). Receptor activation then causes phosphorylation and translocation of PKC and other downstream kinases [1618], especially TK and p38 MAPK, the phosphorylation of which correlates with the protection afforded by preconditioning [19]. This would ultimately lead to opening of ATP-dependent sarcolemmal/mitochondrial potassium channels [20], the role of which in mediating a preconditioning-type of cardioprotection in the human heart has been established by studies using right atrial trabeculae harvested during cardiac operations [21, 22]. This paradigm, however, has been recently challenged by some studies suggesting that mitochondrial potassium channels could actually act as triggers, rather than end effectors, of the signaling pathway [23, 24]. According to this hypothesis, receptor activation opens mitochondrial potassium channels, causing the mitochondria to produce oxygen-derived free radicals that would then set the heart in a preconditioned state by oxidative activation of the kinase cascade [2527]. The end effector of this pathway is not yet precisely identified; however, heat shock protein (HSP) 27 is one possible candidate. This small molecular weight compound has been shown to play an important role in maintaining the integrity of the actin cytoskeleton [28] and it is mechanistically linked to the kinase cascade, as it can be phosphorylated by the p38 MAPK [29]. However, regardless of whether potassium channels are upstream or downstream from the kinase cascade, all data converge toward a tight coupling between these two events.
Data analysis
In the present study, patients exposed to sevoflurane demonstrated a significant upregulation of PKC, TK, and p38 MAPK shortly after the onset of bypass, thus suggesting that the biochemical pathway involved in preconditioning had been turned on. Our choice of sevoflurane was based on some attractive characteristics of this inhalational anesthetic, which include short half-life, easy handling, and marked cardioprotective properties manifest as a reduction in infarct size [30], an improved recovery of function after unprotected global ischemia [5, 6, 31] and cardioplegic arrest [4, 32], and a better preservation of postischemic coronary flow and nitric oxide release [6]. The observation that these protective effects are consistently abrogated by potassium channel blockers [47] strongly suggests the involvement of these channels, similar to what occurs in classic ischemic preconditioning.
Unexpectedly, however, upregulation of the kinase cascade suggestive of potassium channel activation was also found to occur in control patients after a time-matched period of bypass, and its magnitude was not different from that seen after exposure to sevoflurane except in the case of TK. One explanation for the greater activation of TK in the sevoflurane group could be a more specific effect of the drug on TK receptors, a finding that has actually been reported in skeletal muscle [33]. Likewise, enzymatic markers of cell necrosis, as assessed by troponin I levels, were similar in the two groups. This observation suggests a preconditioning-like effect of CPB itself, which could be explained by the endogenous release of membrane receptor activators of the signal transduction pathway such as adenosine or catecholamines. This hypothesis is consistent with the previous findings of Burns and coworkers [34], who demonstrated that the infarct-limiting effect of ischemic preconditioning could actually be duplicated by a brief period of CPB before the coronary occlusion.
Taken together, our data suggest that CPB triggers an activation of the kinase cascade, which makes likely an opening of potassium channels. Administration of a direct potassium channel opener such as sevoflurane does not induce a greater upregulation of the kinase cascade, nor does it translate into a reduced postoperative release of enzymatic markers of myocardial cell necrosis. Thus, in the clinical setting of on-pump coronary artery operations, a sole pretreatment by potassium channel openers might be redundant with CPB, thereby generating uncertainty as to whether these drugs can elicit additional cardioprotective effects through the kinase-potassium channel pathway. This redundancy could have been missed by studies using human right atrial trabeculae to demonstrate a preconditioning effect because of the pre-CPB timing of tissue biopsies.
Study limitations
This somewhat negative conclusion should, however, be tempered by the methodologic limitations inherent in the design of this pilot study. First, the small sample size may have precluded the demonstration of between-group differences in enzyme release. This issue will be addressed by an ongoing trial that has been powered to detect such differences if they occur. However, it is noteworthy that in our previous small study of isoflurane [3], a trend towards lower postoperative troponin I levels could be demonstrated, and it is thus possible that inhalational anesthetic agents (such as isoflurane, sevoflurane, enflurane, desflurane, and halothane) display different degrees of cardioprotection [30, 3537]. Second, the right atrial site of tissue sampling and the measurement of global enzymatic activities versus specific kinases isoforms pose additional methodologic limitations inherent in the use of human specimens. However, a recent study of the MAPK kinase/extracellular-regulated kinase pathway has shown that atrial and ventricular myocardium responded similarly to CPB [38]. We finally acknowledge that the timing of drug administration may have not been optimal. In fact, to maximize the chances of demonstrating an effect of sevoflurane, the anesthetic was given as an immediate pre-cross-clamp treatment, thereby skipping the washout period intrinsic to true preconditioning protocols. It is conceivable that a better therapeutic exploitation of the cardioprotective properties of the drug would be obtained by extending its time of administration, as suggested by the cardioprotective effects of sustained mitochondrial potassium channel opening during index ischemia [39] and reperfusion [40]. In support of this assumption, exposure to sevoflurane during the sole period of reperfusion has also been shown to elicit cardioprotection [30, 32, 37].
In conclusion, taking activation of the kinase cascade as a marker for potassium channel activation, our data failed to demonstrate that the inhalational anesthetic sevoflurane turned on this pathway characteristic of preconditioning to a greater extent than CPB alone. However, the rationale for the use of this type of anesthetic agents and the preclinical data are strong enough to warrant further studies to assess how the cardioprotective effects of these agents can best be therapeutically exploited.
| References |
|---|
|
|
|---|
1-Adrenoreceptor activation increases ecto-5'-nucleotidase activity, and adenosine release in rat cardiomyocytes by activating protein kinase C. Circulation 1995;91:2226-2234.
productions is regulated by MEK kinases. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 1997;94:6358-6363.This article has been cited by other articles:
![]() |
J. Frassdorf, S. De Hert, and W. Schlack Anaesthesia and myocardial ischaemia/reperfusion injury Br. J. Anaesth., July 1, 2009; 103(1): 89 - 98. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
J. Frassdorf, A. Borowski, D. Ebel, P. Feindt, M. Hermes, T. Meemann, R. Weber, J. Mullenheim, N. C. Weber, B. Preckel, et al. Impact of preconditioning protocol on anesthetic-induced cardioprotection in patients having coronary artery bypass surgery. J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg., June 1, 2009; 137(6): 1436 - 1442.e2. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
S. Lorsomradee, S. Cromheecke, S. Lorsomradee, and S. G De Hert Cardioprotection with Volatile Anesthetics in Cardiac Surgery Asian Cardiovasc Thorac Ann, June 1, 2008; 16(3): 256 - 264. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
Z. Naydenova, J. B. Rose, and I. R. Coe Inosine and equilibrative nucleoside transporter 2 contribute to hypoxic preconditioning in the murine cardiomyocyte HL-1 cell line Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, June 1, 2008; 294(6): H2687 - H2692. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
V. Piriou, J. Mantz, G. Goldfarb, M. Kitakaze, P. Chiari, S. Paquin, C. Cornu, J.-B. Lecharny, P. Aussage, E. Vicaut, et al. Sevoflurane preconditioning at 1 MAC only provides limited protection in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery: a randomized bi-centre trial Br. J. Anaesth., November 1, 2007; 99(5): 624 - 631. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
J. A. Symons and P. S. Myles Myocardial protection with volatile anaesthetic agents during coronary artery bypass surgery: a meta-analysis Br. J. Anaesth., August 1, 2006; 97(2): 127 - 136. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
S. G. De Hert Volatile Anesthetics and Cardiac Function Seminars in Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia, March 1, 2006; 10(1): 33 - 42. [Abstract] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
S. G. De Hert, F. Turani, S. Mathur, and D. F. Stowe Cardioprotection with Volatile Anesthetics: Mechanisms and Clinical Implications Anesth. Analg., June 1, 2005; 100(6): 1584 - 1593. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
N. Chaudary, Z. Naydenova, I. Shuralyova, and I. R. Coe The Adenosine Transporter, mENT1, Is a Target for Adenosine Receptor Signaling and Protein Kinase C{epsilon} in Hypoxic and Pharmacological Preconditioning in the Mouse Cardiomyocyte Cell Line, HL-1 J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther., September 1, 2004; 310(3): 1190 - 1198. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
I. Shuralyova, P. Tajmir, P. J. Bilan, G. Sweeney, and I. R. Coe Inhibition of glucose uptake in murine cardiomyocyte cell line HL-1 by cardioprotective drugs dilazep and dipyridamole Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, February 1, 2004; 286(2): H627 - H632. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
M. Zaugg, E. Lucchinetti, C. Garcia, T. Pasch, D. R. Spahn, and M. C. Schaub Anaesthetics and cardiac preconditioning. Part II. Clinical implications Br. J. Anaesth., October 1, 2003; 91(4): 566 - 576. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
J. Vaage and G. Valen Preconditioning and cardiac surgery Ann. Thorac. Surg., February 1, 2003; 75(2): S709 - 714. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
L. G. Kevin, M. M. Sayin, O. Ozatamer, and N. U:nal Propofol and myocardial lipid peroxidation Br. J. Anaesth., February 1, 2003; 90(2): 253 - 254. [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
U. Sunderdiek, S. Schmitz-Spanke, B. Korbmacher, E. Gams, and J. D. Schipke Preconditioning: myocardial function and energetics during coronary hypoperfusion and reperfusion Ann. Thorac. Surg., December 1, 2002; 74(6): 2147 - 2155. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
| ANN THORAC SURG | ASIAN CARDIOVASC THORAC ANN | EUR J CARDIOTHORAC SURG |
| J THORAC CARDIOVASC SURG | ICVTS | ALL CTSNet JOURNALS |