Donate Help Contact The AHA Sign In Home
American Heart Association
Circulation
Search: search_blue_button Advanced Search
Circulation. 2004;110:1826-1831
Published online before print September 13, 2004, doi: 10.1161/01.CIR.0000142618.20278.7A
This Article
Right arrow Abstract Freely available
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow All Versions of this Article:
110/13/1826    most recent
01.CIR.0000142618.20278.7Av1
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Pan, H.-L.
Right arrow Articles by Chen, S.-R.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Pan, H.-L.
Right arrow Articles by Chen, S.-R.
Right arrowPubmed/NCBI databases
*Compound via MeSH
*Substance via MeSH
Medline Plus Health Information
*Angina
Related Collections
Right arrow Cardiovascular Pharmacology
Right arrow Animal models of human disease
Right arrow Ischemic biology - basic studies
Right arrow Other Treatment
Right arrow Coronary circulation

(Circulation. 2004;110:1826-1831.)
© 2004 American Heart Association, Inc.


Molecular Cardiology

Sensing Tissue Ischemia

Another New Function for Capsaicin Receptors?

Hui-Lin Pan, MD, PhD; Shao-Rui Chen, MD

From the Department of Anesthesiology, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, and the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, Pa.

Correspondence to Hui-Lin Pan, MD, PhD, Department of Anesthesiology, H187, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, 500 University Dr, Hershey, PA 17033-0850. E-mail hpan{at}psu.edu

Received March 30, 2004; de novo received May 7, 2004; revision received June 1, 2004; accepted June 3, 2004.


*    Abstract
up arrowTop
*Abstract
down arrowIntroduction
down arrowMethods
down arrowResults
down arrowDiscussion
down arrowReferences
 
Background— Chest pain is a hallmark of myocardial ischemia, but its underlying signaling mechanisms remain poorly understood. The capsaicin receptor, vanilloid receptor-1 (VR1), is an important cation channel present on primary nociceptive neurons. We have shown that the VR1 is expressed on sensory nerve endings of the heart. In the present study, we determined the role of VR1s in activation of cardiac spinal afferent nerves caused by myocardial ischemia.

Methods and Results— Single-unit activity of cardiac afferents was recorded from the sympathetic chain of anesthetized ferrets. Cardiac afferents responded to 5 minutes of regional myocardial ischemia and topical application of 10 µg/mL bradykinin in a reproducible manner. Topical application of a specific VR1 antagonist, iodoresiniferatoxin (50 µmol/L), to the receptive field of afferents produced a large attenuation of the firing activity of cardiac afferents caused by myocardial ischemia. Iodoresiniferatoxin also significantly reduced the afferent response to bradykinin applied to the receptive field. Furthermore, treatment with a VR1 channel blocker, ruthenium red (200 µmol/L), had a similar inhibitory effect on the afferent responses to myocardial ischemia and bradykinin.

Conclusions— This study provides the first functional evidence that ischemic stimulation of cardiac spinal afferent nerves is mediated through VR1s. The VR1 on the cardiac sensory nerve may function as a molecular sensor to detect tissue ischemia and activate cardiac nociceptors.


Key Words: pain • coronary disease • nervous system • angina


*    Introduction
up arrowTop
up arrowAbstract
*Introduction
down arrowMethods
down arrowResults
down arrowDiscussion
down arrowReferences
 
Chest pain is a distinct symptom and warning sign associated with myocardial ischemia and infarction in humans. The sensory signals triggering the chest pain are conducted through cardiac spinal (sympathetic) afferents, primarily thinly myelinated A{delta}- and unmyelinated C-fibers, that project to the dorsal horn of the upper thoracic spinal cord.1–4 Myocardial ischemia produces an array of chemical mediators that activate or sensitize nociceptors to elicit pain.4–6 However, the signaling mechanisms involved in detection of myocardial ischemia and activation of cardiac spinal afferent nerves remain poorly understood.

The capsaicin receptor, also known as the vanilloid receptor-1 (VR1), or TRPV1 channel, is an ion channel mainly expressed on nociceptors and serves as the molecular target for capsaicin, the main pungent ingredient in chili peppers.7,8 This VR1 cation channel can be activated by noxious heat, capsaicin, and other chemicals such as anandamide and lipoxygenase products.8–11 Activation of the VR1 is essential for nociception elicited by heat and capsaicin.12 Because the VR1 is mainly located on small-sized dorsal root ganglion neurons, it is considered an important sensor for somatic nociception. We recently have shown that the VR1 is present on the sensory nerve endings that innervate the surface of the heart.13 Although the cardiac VR1-containing afferent nerves are essential in initiating cardiogenic sympathetic reflexes,13 little is known about the physiological function of VR1s in the heart. In this study, we determined the potential role of VR1s in the activation of cardiac spinal afferent nerves during myocardial ischemia.


*    Methods
up arrowTop
up arrowAbstract
up arrowIntroduction
*Methods
down arrowResults
down arrowDiscussion
down arrowReferences
 
General Surgical Preparations
Experiments were conducted on adult male ferrets (Marshall Farms, North Rose, NY) weighing between 1.2 and 1.5 kg. The procedures and protocols were approved by the Animal Care and Use Committee of the Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine and conformed to the guidelines of the National Institutes of Health Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. Because the chest cavity of rats is too small to allow us to access the sympathetic chain for single-unit recordings, we used ferrets for this electrophysiology study. Ferrets were initially anesthetized with 2% to 3% halothane in O2. The trachea was cannulated, and ferrets were mechanically ventilated with an animal ventilator (Columbus Instruments). Expired CO2 concentration was monitored with a CO2 analyzer (Capstar 100, CWE, Inc) and maintained at 4% to 5% throughout the experiment. The left carotid artery was cannulated, and the arterial blood pressure was measured with a pressure transducer (PT300, Grass Instruments). The arterial pressure was recorded on a PowerLab data acquisition system (model 4SP), displayed, and stored on a Pentium computer. Heart rate, calculated beat to beat, was counted by triggering from the blood pressure pulse. The left jugular vein was cannulated for intravenous injection of drugs. Halothane was discontinued after {alpha}-chloralose (50 mg/kg IV) and sodium phenobarbital (20 to 40 mg/kg IV) were administered. Supplemental doses of sodium phenobarbital were given to maintain adequate depth of anesthesia. Body temperature was maintained at 37°C to 38°C with a heating lamp. A midline sternotomy was performed, and the first to seventh left ribs and the upper lobe of the left lung were removed. The fascia overlying the left paravertebral sympathetic chain from T2 to T6 was removed. The isolated sympathetic chain was then laid on a microplate and covered with warm mineral oil. The ferret was euthanized with an overdose of sodium phenobarbital (100 mg/kg IV) at the end of the experiment.

Single-Unit Recording of Cardiac Spinal Afferents
Small nerve filaments were teased gently from the chain between T2 and T5 under a surgical microscope. The rostral cut end of the nerve was placed across a recording electrode connected to a high-impedance probe. The nerve filaments were dissected gradually until single-unit activity of a cardiac afferent fiber was isolated, as we described previously.3,4 The action potential of the afferent was amplified (x50 000) and bandpass filtered (100 to 1000 Hz) through an AC amplifier (P511, Grass Instruments). Afferent activity was recorded into a Pentium computer installed with data acquisition and analysis software (DataWave Technology) for online and offline quantitative analysis. Discharge frequency was quantified by using a software window discriminator, and a histogram was generated for each afferent. Accurate counting of the afferent discharge frequency was verified for each afferent by comparing the constructed histogram with the raw tracing saved in the computer. When the nerve fiber was on the recording electrode, the epicardium was mapped gradually from the apex to the base of the heart with a stimulating electrode to electrically (5 to 10 V, 0.25 ms, and 0.5 Hz) search for the nerve endings of the cardiac afferents.3 Once the action potential of an afferent fiber was evoked, the conduction velocity and the precise location of the receptive field were measured by gradually moving the stimulating electrode around the spot identified initially at a minimal stimulation intensity. Also, the afferent response to mechanical stimulation was tested by stimulation of the receptive field of afferents with a cotton-tipped applicator. Myocardial ischemia was induced by constricting the coronary artery supplying the receptive field of cardiac ventricular afferents with a thread placed around the vessel.3,4 Under an operating microscope, ligatures were placed around the proximal coronary artery. On occlusion of the coronary artery, the ischemic region was verified visually by cyanosis. Conduction time of the cardiac afferent was determined by measuring the time interval from the signal of electrical stimulation to recording of the evoked afferent’s action potential displayed on an oscilloscope. Conduction distance was estimated from the receptive field along the course of the inferior cardiac nerve to the left stellate ganglion and to the recording electrode down the course of the sympathetic chain.1,3,4 C- and A{delta}-fiber afferents were classified as those with a conduction velocity <2.5 and 2.5 to 30 m/s, respectively.

The responses of a cardiac afferent to 5 minutes of myocardial ischemia and topical application of bradykinin (10 µg/mL, Sigma Chemical) were examined before and after topical application of a selective VR1 blocker, iodoresiniferatoxin (iodo-RTX; LC Laboratories) or ruthenium red (Sigma). In some animals, capsaicin (10 µg/mL, Sigma) was also topically applied to the receptive fields of afferents to assess the effective concentration of VR1 antagonists. To select the appropriate concentrations of VR1 antagonists to fully block the VR1s, we examined the effect of topical application of 10 to 100 µmol/L iodo-RTX and 30 to 600 µmol/L ruthenium red on the blood pressure response induced by 10 µg/mL capsaicin in a preliminary study. Capsaicin applied to the anterior surface of the heart significantly increased the mean arterial blood pressure from 74±7 to 104±12 mm Hg (n=7). Both iodo-RTX and ruthenium red at a concentration of 50 and 200 µmol/L, respectively, completely blocked the pressor response evoked by capsaicin.

Data Analysis
Values are presented as mean±SEM. The discharge activity of afferents was averaged during a 2- to 5-minute control period, 5 minutes of myocardial ischemia, and 2 minutes of reperfusion. Afferents were considered to be ischemia-sensitive when their discharge frequency during 5 minutes of myocardial ischemia was increased by at least 50% above baseline activity.3,4 The response of afferents to bradykinin or capsaicin was measured by averaging the discharge rate during the entire period of responses. Comparisons between control and experimental interventions were made by either a paired Student t test or repeated-measures ANOVA with Dunnett post hoc test. Differences were considered to be statistically significant when P<0.05.


*    Results
up arrowTop
up arrowAbstract
up arrowIntroduction
up arrowMethods
*Results
down arrowDiscussion
down arrowReferences
 
A total of 45 ferrets was used in this study. Among 49 afferent fibers studied, the discharge activity of 17 fibers (conduction velocity, 0.74±0.16 m/s) did not increase significantly during 5 minutes of myocardial ischemia, and they were not studied further. The receptive fields of 32 ischemia-sensitive afferents were all C-fibers and located either on the anterior (n=17; conduction velocity, 0.54±0.11 m/s) or posterior (n=15; conduction velocity, 0.48±0.13 m/s) wall of the left ventricle. The blood pressure and heart rate were 77±6 mm Hg and 167±10 bpm, respectively, during control. During ischemia, the blood pressure and heart rate were 75±8 mm Hg and 165±12 bpm, respectively, at the time of the maximal afferent response (typically 2 to 4 minutes after ligation of the coronary artery).

Effect of Iodo-RTX on Afferent Response to Myocardial Ischemia
We first examined the role of VR1s in ischemia-induced activation of cardiac afferents by using a highly specific VR1 antagonist, iodo-RTX.14 Iodo-RTX (50 µmol/L dissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide and 2-hydroxypropyl-ß-cyclodextrin, {approx}30 µL) was topically applied to the afferent receptive field on the epicardium because the VR1 is located on the surface of the heart.13 In 10 cardiac afferent fibers studied, the initial 5 minutes of myocardial ischemia led to a large increase in discharge activity (Figures 1 and 2Down). The afferent nerves were allowed to recover for 15 to 20 minutes after their initial response to ischemia. The response of these afferent nerves to a subsequent 5 minutes of ischemia was reduced substantially by iodo-RTX treatment (Figures 1 and 2Down). This concentration of iodo-RTX had no significant effect on the baseline activity of afferent nerves. Topical application of 10 µg/mL capsaicin failed to stimulate 6 cardiac afferent nerves examined (from 0.54±0.16 to 0.56±0.17 Hz, P>0.05) in the presence of 50 µmol/L iodo-RTX. In the absence of iodo-RTX, topical application of 10 µg/mL capsaicin significantly increased the firing activity of 5 ischemia-sensitive afferents (from 0.47±0.11 to 2.14±0.16 Hz, P<0.05). In another 6 ischemia-sensitive afferents, the response of cardiac afferent nerves to a repeated 5 minutes of ischemia was not significantly altered by application of the iodo-RTX vehicle (10 µL dimethyl sulfoxide in 140 µL 2-hydroxypropyl-ß-cyclodextrin) to the receptive field, compared with that during the initial period of ischemia (Figure 2).



View larger version (19K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Figure 1. Response of a cardiac afferent to 5 minutes of myocardial ischemia before (A) and after (B) treatment with iodo-RTX (50 µmol/L). Histograms show firing activity of cardiac C-fiber (conduction velocity=0.43 m/s) innervating anterior wall of left ventricle during 2 minutes of control, 5 minutes of ischemia, and 2 minutes of reperfusion before and 5 minutes after topical treatment with iodo-RTX. Original tracings labeled 1 through 4 are afferent’s neurograms at times indicated above histograms. Abbreviations are as defined in text.



View larger version (27K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Figure 2. A, Effect of topical treatment with iodo-RTX (50 µmol/L) on mean response activity of 10 cardiac afferents to 5 minutes of ischemia. B, Mean firing activity of 6 cardiac afferents during 5 minutes of myocardial ischemia before and after application of iodo-RTX vehicle. Data are presented as mean±SEM *P<0.05 vs preischemia control; #P<0.05 vs afferent response to initial ischemia. Abbreviations are as defined in text.

Effect of Iodo-RTX on Afferent Response to Bradykinin
We next determined whether the effect of bradykinin on cardiac spinal afferents is mediated by VR1s. Bradykinin is an endogenous metabolite produced during myocardial ischemia5 and can stimulate cardiac spinal afferents.3,6,15 Bradykinin was dissolved in normal saline because this vehicle has no effect on cardiac afferents. In 11 ischemia-sensitive afferent fibers examined, the firing activity evoked by topical application of 10 µg/mL bradykinin was significantly reduced 5 minutes after application of iodo-RTX to the receptive field (Figure 3). In another 8 afferent nerves, repeated application of 10 µg/mL bradykinin, separated by an interval of 15 to 20 minutes, caused a large and reproducible increase in the firing activity of afferents in the presence of the iodo-RTX vehicle (Figure 3).



View larger version (20K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Figure 3. A, Original tracings showing response of a cardiac afferent (conduction velocity=0.38 m/s) located on anterior wall of left ventricle to epicardial application of bradykinin (BK, 10 µg/mL) before and after treatment with iodo-RTX (50 µmol/L). Bradykinin was applied at time point indicated by arrow. B, Effect of topical treatment with iodo-RTX (50 µmol/L) on mean response of 11 cardiac afferents to 10 µg/mL bradykinin. C, Mean firing activity of 7 cardiac afferents in response to bradykinin before and after application of iodo-RTX vehicle. Data are presented as mean±SEM *P<0.05 vs control; #P<0.05 vs initial afferent response to bradykinin.

Effect of Ruthenium Red on Afferent Responses to Myocardial Ischemia and Bradykinin
To further determine the role of VR1 channels in the activation of cardiac afferent nerves by ischemia and bradykinin, we used a selective VR1 channel blocker, ruthenium red (200 µmol/L dissolved in normal saline). Ruthenium red is a selective, noncompetitive blocker for VR1 channels.16,17 Topical application of ruthenium red ({approx}30 µL) to the receptive field of 10 ischemia-sensitive afferent nerves substantially reduced the firing activity of these fibers during 5 minutes of ischemia (Figures 4 and 5Down). In 8 separate afferent nerves studied, topical application of 10 µg/mL capsaicin failed to activate these afferents (from 0.71±0.13 to 0.72±0.15 Hz, P>0.05) in the presence of 200 µmol/L ruthenium red. Also, we tested the response of 10 ischemia-sensitive afferent fibers to 10 µg/mL bradykinin applied to the receptive field before and 5 minutes after treatment with ruthenium red. Ruthenium red significantly decreased the bradykinin-induced firing activity of these afferent fibers compared with their initial response to bradykinin (Figure 5). The inhibitory effects of ruthenium red on the responses of cardiac afferents to both ischemia and bradykinin were comparable to those of iodo-RTX.



View larger version (17K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Figure 4. Response of a cardiac afferent to 5 minutes of myocardial ischemia before (A) and after (B) treatment with ruthenium red (200 µmol/L). Histograms show firing activity of cardiac C-fiber (conduction velocity=0.46 m/s) innervating posterior wall of left ventricle during 2 minutes of control, 5 minutes of ischemia, and 2 minutes of reperfusion before and 5 minutes after topical treatment with ruthenium red. Original neurograms labeled 1 through 4 are raw tracings of afferent activity at times indicated above histograms. Abbreviations are as defined in text.



View larger version (20K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Figure 5. A, Response of 10 cardiac afferents to 5 minutes of myocardial ischemia before and after treatment with ruthenium red (RR, 200 µmol/L). B, Mean firing activity of 10 cardiac afferents in response to bradykinin before and after application of ruthenium red (RR, 200 µmol/L). Data are presented as mean±SEM *P<0.05 vs control; #P<0.05 vs initial afferent response to ischemia or bradykinin application. Abbreviations are as defined in text.


*    Discussion
up arrowTop
up arrowAbstract
up arrowIntroduction
up arrowMethods
up arrowResults
*Discussion
down arrowReferences
 
Sensory signals triggering chest pain during myocardial ischemia are conveyed by thinly myelinated A{delta}- and unmyelinated C-fibers that travel in cardiac spinal afferents.2–4,13 Myocardial ischemia produces various metabolites, including bradykinin and protons, which can stimulate cardiac spinal afferent nerves.4–6 However, the signaling mechanisms involved in ischemic stimulation of cardiac nociceptors are still not clear. The VR1 may serve as a polymodal detector of pain-producing chemical and physical stimuli.11 We recently have demonstrated that VR1-expressing afferent nerves are widely distributed on the epicardial surface of the ventricle.13 Although capsaicin-sensitive afferents are essential for the excitatory cardiac-sympathetic reflex elicited by bradykinin,13 little is known about the physiological function of VR1s present on the cardiac afferent nerves. Specifically, the potential role of VR1s in ischemic stimulation of cardiac spinal afferents has not been studied previously. In this study, we used a highly specific VR1 antagonist, iodo-RTX, which is much more potent than another VR1 antagonist, capsazepine.14 We found that iodo-RTX treatment produced a large reduction in the afferent response to myocardial ischemia. Furthermore, this finding is supported by our data showing the similar inhibitory effect of ruthenium red, a structurally different blocker for the VR1 channel,16,17 on ischemia-elicited cardiac afferent activity. These data suggest that stimulation of cardiac spinal afferent nerves by ischemia is largely through activation of VR1s. Therefore, this study provides the first in vivo functional evidence that the VR1 on the sensory nerve endings of the heart likely functions as a transduction molecule responsible for sensing tissue ischemia and stimulating cardiac nociceptors.

Bradykinin is considered an important ischemic metabolite that activates cardiac afferent nerves through kinin B2 receptors.3,6 The signaling pathways responsible for the stimulating effect of bradykinin on cardiac afferent nerves are not fully known. Bradykinin can interact with VR1s in cultured dorsal root ganglia and HEK293 cells.18,19 In this regard, bradykinin may activate VR1s through protein kinase C20 and 12-lipoxygenase products.9,18 Also, bradykinin increases heat-induced inward currents, and this effect is blocked by the VR1 antagonist capsazepine and a protein kinase C inhibitor.19 The capsaicin-sensitive afferent nerves are essential for the cardiogenic sympathetic reflex elicited by bradykinin,13 suggesting that both kinin B2 receptors and VR1s are probably expressed on the same sensory nerve endings in the heart. Although the bradykinin-evoked cardiac-sympathetic reflex is not significantly reduced by iodo-RTX,13 we found in this study that the direct excitatory effect of bradykinin on ischemia-sensitive cardiac afferents was significantly attenuated by both iodo-RTX and ruthenium red. It should be noted that bradykinin stimulates both ischemia-sensitive and ischemia-insensitive cardiac afferents.3 Nevertheless, the signaling mechanisms for the action of bradykinin are probably dissimilar for ischemia-sensitive and ischemia-insensitive afferent nerves. It is possible that the sympathetic reflex elicited by epicardial bradykinin is the result of stimulation of both ischemia-sensitive and ischemia-insensitive cardiac afferents.13 On the other hand, we specifically studied the role of VR1s in the effect of bradykinin on the single-unit activity of ischemia-sensitive afferent nerves in this study. Alternatively, we cannot exclude the possibility that block of the VR1 with iodo-RTX may decrease the generalized ability of cardiac spinal afferents to discharge action potentials in response to all stimuli. Data from the present study suggest that the VR1 contributes to the stimulatory effect of bradykinin on ischemia-sensitive cardiac afferent nerves.

In the present study performed in ferrets, topical application of capsaicin to the epicardium caused activation of cardiac spinal afferents and the excitatory cardiovascular reflexes that are comparable to those in rats and dogs.13,21 Furthermore, topical treatment with VR1 antagonists significantly attenuated the afferent response to induced ischemia in ferrets. This evidence strongly suggests that VR1s on sensory nerve endings are present on the surface of the heart in different animal species. There are 2 possible reasons why the pressor response during ischemia was not observed in the ferret in this study. First, the nerve dissection procedures along the sympathetic chain caused partial denervation of the heart. Second, we ligated the proximal coronary artery to induce myocardial ischemia, which impaired cardiac function. In addition to bradykinin, there are other possible candidates that could activate or sensitize VR1s. These include several lipoxygenase products, protons, free radicals, protein kinase C, and anandamide.9–11,20,22 Protons are capable of modulating the activity of a number of receptors and ion channels expressed on primary afferent nociceptors, including acid-sensitive channels and VR1s.11,23 Also, the response of VR1 channels to capsaicin or noxious heat is potentiated by extracellular protons within a pH range encountered during tissue acidosis.24 In addition, bradykinin and anandamide can induce and enhance VR1 channel activity in a protein kinase C–dependent manner.20 We have shown that 5 minutes of myocardial ischemia can reduce the extracellular pH to {approx}7.0.5 At this tissue pH level, protons are less likely to activate the VR1 directly but could sensitize the response of VR1s to other ischemic metabolites. Thus, the VR1 channel on the cardiac sensory nerve endings could integrate and respond to multiple ischemic metabolites. The roles of putative endogenous VR1 ligands and their interactions in activation of cardiac VR1s during ischemia should be further investigated.

Silent or painless myocardial ischemia and infarction is a significant clinical problem and has been the subject of many studies.25,26 Although clinical studies have suggested that diabetic neuropathy and destruction of nociceptive afferent nerve endings by infarction are the possible explanations in many patients, the reasons for silent ischemia are still not fully known. It should be recognized that unlike somatic tissues, visceral organs such as the heart are innervated with far fewer nociceptive afferent nerve fibers. Also, the projection of cardiac afferent nerves to the thoracic spinal cord is very diffuse.1 Thus, lack of adequate cardiac afferent innervation and the diffuse central projection of cardiac afferents in general may contribute to silent ischemia in many patients with coronary artery disease. Furthermore, our recent histological study13 and the present electrophysiological experiments provide strong evidence that cardiac nociceptive afferents expressing VR1s are located on the epicardial surface of the heart. Consequently, the location of myocardial ischemia and infarction is likely another important factor for the lack of perception of ischemic cardiac pain. In this regard, if the ischemia does not involve the epicardium (ie, nontransmural and localized endocardial infarction), it is less likely that VR1s on cardiac nociceptive afferents would be activated. This possibility should be further determined in clinical studies.

In summary, this study provides important functional evidence demonstrating a new physiological function of VR1s for sensing myocardial ischemia. Also, we found that VR1s contribute importantly to the action of bradykinin on ischemia-sensitive cardiac afferent nerves. Because cardiac spinal afferent nerves are essential for perception of chest pain, the cardiac VR1s may function as a transduction molecule in the sensory detection of tissue ischemia. Therefore, these new findings are important to our understanding of the sensory mechanisms of cardiac pain caused by myocardial ischemia. Blocking of cardiac VR1s may be an alternative intervention for treatment of refractory ischemic chest pain that cannot be relieved by conventional therapies, such as nitroglycerin and ß-adrenergic receptor blockers.


*    Acknowledgments
 
This study was funded by grant HL60026 and an Independent Scientist Career Award to H.L. Pan by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. We thank C. Yang for technical support and P. Myers for secretarial assistance.


*    References
up arrowTop
up arrowAbstract
up arrowIntroduction
up arrowMethods
up arrowResults
up arrowDiscussion
*References
 
1. Kuo DC, Oravitz JJ, DeGroat WC. Tracing of afferent and efferent pathways in the left inferior cardiac nerve of the cat using retrograde and transganglionic transport of horseradish peroxidase. Brain Res. 1984; 321: 111–118.[CrossRef][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

2. White JC. Cardiac pain: anatomic pathways and physiologic mechanisms. Circulation. 1957; 16: 644–655.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

3. Pan HL, Chen SR. Myocardial ischemia recruits mechanically insensitive cardiac sympathetic afferents in cats. J Neurophysiol. 2002; 87: 660–668.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

4. Pan HL, Longhurst JC, Eisenach JC, et al. Role of protons in activation of cardiac sympathetic C-fibre afferents during ischaemia in cats. J Physiol. 1999; 518: 857–866.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

5. Pan HL, Chen SR, Scicli GM, et al. Cardiac interstitial bradykinin release during ischemia is enhanced by ischemic preconditioning. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2000; 279: H116–H121.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

6. Tjen-A-Looi SC, Pan HL, Longhurst JC. Endogenous bradykinin activates ischaemically sensitive cardiac visceral afferents through kinin B2 receptors in cats. J Physiol. 1998; 510: 633–641.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

7. Szallasi A, Blumberg PM. Vanilloid (capsaicin) receptors and mechanisms. Pharmacol Rev. 1999; 51: 159–212.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

8. Caterina MJ, Schumacher MA, Tominaga M, et al. The capsaicin receptor: a heat-activated ion channel in the pain pathway. Nature. 1997; 389: 816–824.[CrossRef][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

9. Hwang SW, Cho H, Kwak J, et al. Direct activation of capsaicin receptors by products of lipoxygenases: endogenous capsaicin-like substances. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2000; 97: 6155–6160.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

10. Olah Z, Karai L, Iadarola MJ. Anandamide activates vanilloid receptor 1 (VR1) at acidic pH in dorsal root ganglia neurons and cells ectopically expressing VR1. J Biol Chem. 2001; 276: 31163–31170.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

11. Tominaga M, Caterina MJ, Malmberg AB, et al. The cloned capsaicin receptor integrates multiple pain-producing stimuli. Neuron. 1998; 21: 531–543.[CrossRef][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

12. Caterina MJ, Leffler A, Malmberg AB, et al. Impaired nociception and pain sensation in mice lacking the capsaicin receptor. Science. 2000; 288: 306–313.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

13. Zahner MR, Li DP, Chen SR, et al. Cardiac vanilloid receptor 1-expressing afferent nerves and their role in the cardiogenic sympathetic reflex in rats. J Physiol. 2003; 551: 515–523.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

14. Wahl P, Foged C, Tullin S, et al. Iodo-resiniferatoxin, a new potent vanilloid receptor antagonist. Mol Pharmacol. 2001; 59: 9–15.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

15. Baker DG, Coleridge HM, Coleridge JC, et al. Search for a cardiac nociceptor: stimulation by bradykinin of sympathetic afferent nerve endings in the heart of the cat. J Physiol. 1980; 306: 519–536.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

16. Nagy I, Rang HP. Similarities and differences between the responses of rat sensory neurons to noxious heat and capsaicin. J Neurosci. 1999; 19: 10647–10655.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

17. Garcia-Martinez C, Morenilla-Palao C, Planells-Cases R, et al. Identification of an aspartic residue in the P-loop of the vanilloid receptor that modulates pore properties. J Biol Chem. 2000; 275: 32552–32558.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

18. Shin J, Cho H, Hwang SW, et al. Bradykinin-12-lipoxygenase-VR1 signaling pathway for inflammatory hyperalgesia. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2002; 99: 10150–10155.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

19. Sugiura T, Tominaga M, Katsuya H, et al. Bradykinin lowers the threshold temperature for heat activation of vanilloid receptor 1. J Neurophysiol. 2002; 88: 544–548.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

20. Premkumar LS, Ahern GP. Induction of vanilloid receptor channel activity by protein kinase C. Nature. 2000; 408: 985–990.[CrossRef][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

21. Staszewska-Woolley J, Woolley G. Effects of neuropeptides, ruthenium red and neuraminidase on chemoreflexes mediated by afferents in the dog epicardium. J Physiol. 1991; 436: 1–13.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

22. Schultz HD, Ustinova EE. Capsaicin receptors mediate free radical-induced activation of cardiac afferent endings. Cardiovasc Res. 1998; 38: 348–355.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

23. Sutherland SP, Benson CJ, Adelman JP, et al. Acid-sensing ion channel 3 matches the acid-gated current in cardiac ischemia-sensing neurons. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2001; 98: 711–716.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

24. Jordt SE, Tominaga M, Julius D. Acid potentiation of the capsaicin receptor determined by a key extracellular site. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2000; 97: 8134–8139.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

25. Margolis JR, Kannel WS, Feinleib M, et al. Clinical features of unrecognized myocardial infarction–silent and symptomatic: eighteen year follow-up: the Framingham study. Am J Cardiol. 1973; 32: 1–7.[CrossRef][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

26. Kannel WB, McNamara PM, Feinleib M, et al. The unrecognized myocardial infarction: fourteen-year follow-up experience in the Framingham study. Geriatrics. 1970; 25: 75–87.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther.Home page
H. Sun, D.-P. Li, S.-R. Chen, W. N. Hittelman, and H.-L. Pan
Sensing of Blood Pressure Increase by Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid 1 Receptors on Baroreceptors
J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther., December 1, 2009; 331(3): 851 - 859.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Am. J. Physiol. Regul. Integr. Comp. Physiol.Home page
B. Zhong and D. H. Wang
Protease-activated receptor 2-mediated protection of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury: role of transient receptor potential vanilloid receptors
Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, December 1, 2009; 297(6): R1681 - R1690.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Exp PhysiolHome page
G.-Q. Zhu, Y. Xu, L.-M. Zhou, Y.-H. Li, L.-M. Fan, W. Wang, X.-Y. Gao, and Q. Chen
Enhanced cardiac sympathetic afferent reflex involved in sympathetic overactivity in renovascular hypertensive rats
Exp Physiol, July 1, 2009; 94(7): 785 - 794.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
IOVSHome page
R. M. Sappington, T. Sidorova, D. J. Long, and D. J. Calkins
TRPV1: Contribution to Retinal Ganglion Cell Apoptosis and Increased Intracellular Ca2+ with Exposure to Hydrostatic Pressure
Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci., February 1, 2009; 50(2): 717 - 728.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
HypertensionHome page
W. Huang, J. Rubinstein, A. R. Prieto, L. V. Thang, and D. H. Wang
Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid Gene Deletion Exacerbates Inflammation and Atypical Cardiac Remodeling After Myocardial Infarction
Hypertension, February 1, 2009; 53(2): 243 - 250.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Am. J. Physiol. Heart Circ. Physiol.Home page
B. Zhong and D. H. Wang
N-oleoyldopamine, a novel endogenous capsaicin-like lipid, protects the heart against ischemia-reperfusion injury via activation of TRPV1
Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, August 1, 2008; 295(2): H728 - H735.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Mol. Pharmacol.Home page
T. Kark, Z. Bagi, E. Lizanecz, E. T. Pasztor, N. Erdei, A. Czikora, Z. Papp, I. Edes, R. Porszasz, and A. Toth
Tissue-Specific Regulation of Microvascular Diameter: Opposite Functional Roles of Neuronal and Smooth Muscle Located Vanilloid Receptor-1
Mol. Pharmacol., May 1, 2008; 73(5): 1405 - 1412.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Am. J. Physiol. Heart Circ. Physiol.Home page
R. Huang, A. Karve, I. Shah, M. C. Bowers, D. J. DiPette, S. C. Supowit, and G. S. Abela
Deletion of the mouse {alpha}-calcitonin gene-related peptide gene increases the vulnerability of the heart to ischemia-reperfusion injury
Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, March 1, 2008; 294(3): H1291 - H1297.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Am. J. Physiol. Heart Circ. Physiol.Home page
B. Zhong and D. H. Wang
TRPV1 gene knockout impairs preconditioning protection against myocardial injury in isolated perfused hearts in mice
Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, September 1, 2007; 293(3): H1791 - H1798.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Am. J. Physiol. Regul. Integr. Comp. Physiol.Home page
Z.-Z. Wu and H.-L. Pan
Role of TRPV1 and intracellular Ca2+ in excitation of cardiac sensory neurons by bradykinin
Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, July 1, 2007; 293(1): R276 - R283.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Am. J. Physiol. Regul. Integr. Comp. Physiol.Home page
C. Qin, J. P. Farber, K. E. Miller, and R. D. Foreman
Responses of thoracic spinal neurons to activation and desensitization of cardiac TRPV1-containing afferents in rats
Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, December 1, 2006; 291(6): R1700 - R1707.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
CirculationHome page
P. G. Camici and M. Pagani
Cardiac Nociception
Circulation, November 28, 2006; 114(22): 2309 - 2312.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
CirculationHome page
M. Ieda, H. Kanazawa, Y. Ieda, K. Kimura, K. Matsumura, Y. Tomita, T. Yagi, T. Onizuka, K. Shimoji, S. Ogawa, et al.
Nerve Growth Factor Is Critical for Cardiac Sensory Innervation and Rescues Neuropathy in Diabetic Hearts
Circulation, November 28, 2006; 114(22): 2351 - 2363.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
CirculationHome page
R. Bolli and A. Abdel-Latif
No Pain, No Gain: The Useful Function of Angina
Circulation, December 6, 2005; 112(23): 3541 - 3543.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
CirculationHome page
L. Wang and D. H. Wang
TRPV1 Gene Knockout Impairs Postischemic Recovery in Isolated Perfused Heart in Mice
Circulation, December 6, 2005; 112(23): 3617 - 3623.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Sci SignalHome page
B. Nilius, T. Voets, and J. Peters
TRP Channels in Disease
Sci. Signal., August 2, 2005; 2005(295): re8 - re8.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


This Article
Right arrow Abstract Freely available
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow All Versions of this Article:
110/13/1826    most recent
01.CIR.0000142618.20278.7Av1
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Pan, H.-L.
Right arrow Articles by Chen, S.-R.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Pan, H.-L.
Right arrow Articles by Chen, S.-R.
Right arrowPubmed/NCBI databases
*Compound via MeSH
*Substance via MeSH
Medline Plus Health Information
*Angina
Related Collections
Right arrow Cardiovascular Pharmacology
Right arrow Animal models of human disease
Right arrow Ischemic biology - basic studies
Right arrow Other Treatment
Right arrow Coronary circulation