Late preconditioning elicited by activation of adenosine A(3) receptor in heart: Role of NF-kappa B, iNOS and mitochondrial K-ATP channel

T. C. ZHAO AND R. C. KUKREJA. Late Preconditioning Elicited by Activation of Adenosine A(3) Receptor in Heart: Role of NF-kappaB, iNOS and Mitochondrial K-ATP Channel. Journal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology (2002) 34, 263-277. Activation of adenosine A(3) receptor (A(3)AR) protects against ischemia/reperfusion injury in the heart. However, the downstream signaling mechanisms leading to its delayed anti-ischemic effects remain unclear. We hypothesized that A(3)AR stimulation protects the heart via activation of nuclear transcription factor kappaB (NF-kappaB) and synthesis of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). Mice were treated with selective A(3)AR agonist, N-6-(3-iodobenzyl) adenosine-5'-N-methyluronamide (IB-MECA). Twenty-four h later, hearts were perfused in Langendorff mode and subjected to 30 min of global ischemia and 30 min of reperfusion. IB-MECA caused post-ischemic reduction in necrosis and improvement in myocardial performance which was abolished by A(3)AR antagonist, MRS1191. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay demonstrated increased NF-kappaB binding in nuclear extracts following A(3)AR stimulation, which was diminished by MRS1191 and NF-kappaB inhibitor, pyrrolidinediethyldithiocarbamate (PDTC). The cardioprotection was abrogated by PDTC and targeted ablation of p50 subunit of NT-kappaB in mice. The inhibition of iNOS with S-methylisothiourea and targeted disruption of the iNOS gene also abolished the protective effect of A3AR stimulation. Expression of iNOS mRNA and NO production were enhanced after 6 and 24 h respectively of IB-MECA treatment. MRS1191 and PDTC blocked IB-MECA induced NO production after A(3)AR stimulation. MitoK(ATP) channel blocker, 5-hydroxydecanoate abolished the protective effect of A(3)AR. For the first time, we have provided direct evidence of an essential role of NF-kappaB activation and iNOS in A(3)AR- induced late preconditioning. Selective activation of A(3)AR with IB-MECA can be used to trigger long-lasting ischemic protection in the heart. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.