title: Differential inhibition of lysophosphatidate signaling by volatile anesthetics.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Volatile anesthetics have been found to interfere with the functioning of several G protein-coupled receptors, effects that may be relevant to the mechanism of anesthetic action. Lysophosphatidate (1-acyl-2-sn-glycero-3-phosphate; LP) is the simplest natural phospholipid. It has pronounced biological effects and signals through a specific G protein-coupled receptor. Because of its lipophilicity, the LP receptor is a feasible site of anesthetic interaction. Therefore, the authors investigated the effects of halothane and isoflurane on LP signaling using Xenopus oocytes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mature oocytes were harvested from Xenopus frogs, isolated, and defolliculated manually. Lysophosphatidate receptors are endogenously present in these cells. Angiotensin receptors were expressed recombinantly to study anesthetic effects on intracellular signaling. Oocytes were studied individually with a two-electrode voltage clamp at room temperature. Integrated Ca(2+)-activated Cl- currents (ICl(Ca)) were used to evaluate the effects of anesthetics on changes in intracellular Ca2+ concentration in response to receptor agonists (10(-7) M LP or 10(-7) M angiotensin II) or intracellular inositoltrisphosphate (IP3) injection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Halothane depressed LP signaling in a concentration-dependent manner, with half-maximal inhibition at 0.23 mM and virtually complete inhibition at 0.34 mM. Responses could be recovered after an anesthetic-free wash. Oocyte injection with heparin, an IP3 receptor antagonist, completely blocked LP and angiotensin signaling, indicating similar IP3- dependent pathways. However, ICl(Ca) induced by angiotensin receptor activation or intracellular IP3 injection were not inhibited by halothane. Isoflurane, at comparable concentrations, did not depress LP responses in oocytes significantly.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lipid-mediator signaling can be affected profoundly by volatile anesthetics. At clinically relevant concentrations, halothane and isoflurane have different effects on LP signaling. The inhibitory effects of halothane on the LP signaling pathway occur before the IP3 receptor.
authors.affiliation: University of Virginia, Charlottesville, USA.
authors.forename: C K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Durieux
mesh_terms: D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001665:Binding Sites; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D018118:Chloride Channels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D003864:Depression, Chemical; D005260:Female; D006221:Halothane / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007295:Inositol Phosphates / Q000502:physiology; D007530:Isoflurane / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008246:Lysophospholipids / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000502:physiology*; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009865:Oocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D011945:Receptors, Angiotensin / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D014982:Xenopus laevis
chemical_list: D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation; D018118:Chloride Channels; D007295:Inositol Phosphates; D008246:Lysophospholipids; D011945:Receptors, Angiotensin; D007530:Isoflurane; D002118:Calcium; D006221:Halothane