Both ischaemic and hypoxic hypoxia initiate glycocalyx degradation, promoting an increase in permeability. A contributing mechanism could be purine-mediated degranulation of resident mast cells, with liberated tryptase β acting as potential 'sheddase'.

We identified the ADP/ATP carrier, located within the inner mitochondrial membrane, to be an organ-and conformation-specific autoantigen in myocarditis and dilated cardiomyopathy. We also showed that autoantibodies to the ADP/ATP carrier inhibit the nudeotide transport in vitro. Specific binding of the autoantibodies to the carrier was demonstrated by radioimmunoassay and the immunoblot technique; the inhibition of the nudeotide transport was determined by the inhibitor stop method. To establish if these autoantibodies might also affect cardiac energy metabolism in vivo, we measured whether they are capable of penetrating into myocytes and whether subcellular ATP/ADP ratios and phosphorylation potentials of ATP change in hearts of guinea pigs that have been immunized with the isolated ADP/ATP carrier. An intracellular deposition of autoantibodies was observed by direct inununofluorescence and by immunoperoxldase staining on cryosectlons of the myocardial tissue of animals Immunized with the ADP/ATP carrier. Furthermore, binding of autoantibodies to mitochondrial membrane structures was shown by immunoelectron-microscopic methods. The cytosolic and intramitochondrial distribution of adenine nucleotides in stimulated, isolated perfused hearts of guinea pigs immunized with the ADP/ATP carrier was measured by nonaqueous fractionation. Compared with controls performing equal external heart work, the cytosolic ATP decreased in the immunized animals, whereas the mitochondrial ATP increased strongly; ADP concentrations showed an opposite change. Thus, a resultant cytosolic decrease and a marked mitochondrial increase of the ATP/ADP ratio was established. As a consequence, the cytosolicmitochondrial phosphorylation potential of ATP was diminished. These findings demonstrate that antibodies against intracellular antigens are able to penetrate into living cells, and that autoimmunity to the ADP/ATP carrier may contribute to the pathophysiology of myocarditis and dilated cardiomyopathy by causing an autoantibody-mediated imbalance between intracellular energy delivery and demand. may already be inactivated or continuing as a smoldering process. 6 Indeed, virus persistence has been observed in the hearts of patients with dilated cardiomyopathy who previously suffered from myocarditis.7 Thus, the virus infection may initiate an autoimmune process through antigenic determinants shared by the virus and the host cell or by altering the host's immune system, thereby causing the release or the expression of sequestered antigens.No reports on a possible role of autoantigens in myocarditis and dilated cardiomyopathy exist to date. However, we recently showed that patients with these diseases have autoantibodies against the ADP/ATP carrier, a protein in the inner mitochondria! membrane.8 -10 This transport protein is of great importance for the energy metabolism of the eukaryotic cell.11 It is responsible for both the by guest on May 12, 2018

No abstract

1) Pretreatment of hearts with sevoflurane reduces intracoronary platelet adhesion, most likely via an endothelial mechanism. 2) Pretreatment of platelets with sevoflurane does not reduce platelet adhesion, but nevertheless averts cardiodepressive effects derived from or generated by adherent platelets. 3) Transudate formation of hearts during reperfusion was reduced after platelet application, independent of the adherence of platelets.

Calcium antagonists may protect against postischemic reperfusion injury of the heart, but neither the time and mode of action leading to cardioprotection is resolved, nor is the generality of this effect proven. Accordingly, the functional and metabolic influence of four different Ca2+-antagonists (diltiazem, 3x10(-8) M; nifedipine, 3x10(-9) M; amlodipine, 3x 10(-9) M; barnidipine, 3x10(-11) M) was examined in preparations of guinea pig hearts (n=7/group) performing pressure-volume work after being subjected to low-flow ischemia (30 min) and reperfusion (35 min). The drugs were applied throughout the study at concentrations without negative inotropic or chronotropic effect, as would be mandatory for any therapeutic application, and without overt coronary dilatation. All calcium antagonists improved postischemic recovery of external heart work: from 42% in controls (post- vs. preischemic value) to 59% for diltiazem, 61% for nifedipine, 65% for amlodipine, and 73% for barnidipine (all P<0.05). Efficiency of myocardial performance (work in relation to oxygen consumption) was low in postischemic controls (8% of total energy equivalents), but significantly improved in treated hearts, especially by barnidipine (15% efficiency). Release of lactate dehydrogenase in the first 5 min of reperfusion, a sign of cell damage, increased from basal (65 mU/min) to 208 mU/min in controls. This increase was fully suppressed by all drugs tested. Myocardial release of lactate and of purine catabolites of adenine nucleotides (markers of anaerobic metabolism) was markedly reduced by Ca2+-antagonists. Interestingly, these metabolic effects were evident not only in the reperfusion phase, but already in the period of low-flow ischemia. Oxidative consumption of pyruvate was enhanced, whereas coronary flow and heart rate showed no postischemic effect of treatment. These findings on isolated guinea pig hearts suggest that Ca2+-antagonists generally improve postischemic pump function and aerobic metabolism without any requirements for negative inotropic action or coronary dilatation. The protective effects seemed to rely on an attenuation of both ischemic stress and reperfusion damage. This could implicate a benefit from prophylactic use of Ca2+-antagonists in patients at risk for myocardial ischemia.