The vasodilator 17,18-epoxyeicosatetraenoic acid targets the pore-forming BK alpha channel subunit in rodents.

17,18-Epoxyeicosatetraenoic acid (17,18-EETeTr) stimulates vascular large-conductance K(+) (BK) channels. BK channels are composed of the pore-forming BK alpha and auxiliary BK beta1 subunits that confer an increased sensitivity for changes in membrane potential and calcium to BK channels. Ryanodine-sensitive calcium-release channels (RyR3) in the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) control the process.

Mouse Cyp4a isoforms: enzymatic properties, gender- and strain-specific expression, and role in renal 20-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid formation.

AA (arachidonic acid) hydroxylation to 20-HETE (20-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid) influences renal vascular and tubular function. To identify the CYP (cytochrome P450) isoforms catalysing this reaction in the mouse kidney, we analysed the substrate specificity of Cyp4a10, 4a12a, 4a12b and 4a14 and determined sex- and strain-specific expressions. All recombinant enzymes showed high lauric acid hydroxylase activities.

Eicosapentaenoic acid metabolism by cytochrome P450 enzymes of the CYP2C subfamily.

CYP2C enzymes epoxidize arachidonic acid (AA) to metabolites involved in the regulation of vascular and renal function. We tested the hypothesis that eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), a n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid, may serve as an alternative substrate. Human CYP2C8 and CYP2C9, as well as rat CYP2C11 and CYP2C23, were co-expressed with NADPH-CYP reductase in a baculovirus/insect cell system.

Inducible NOS inhibition, eicosapentaenoic acid supplementation, and angiotensin II-induced renal damage.

Background: Cytochrome P450(CYP)-dependent hydroxylation and epoxygenation metabolites of arachidonic acid (AA) influence renal vascular tone, salt excretion, and inflammation. Transgenic rats over expressing both human renin and angiotensinogen genes (dTGR) feature angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced organ damage, increased expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), decreased AA hydroxylation, and epoxygenation. As nitric oxide production via iNOS can inhibit CYP AA metabolism, we tested the hypothesis that by blocking iNOS or by supplementing eicosapentanoic acid (EPA), which can serve as an alternative CYP substrate, Ang II-induced vasculopathy could be ameliorated.

Arachidonic and eicosapentaenoic acid metabolism by human CYP1A1: highly stereoselective formation of 17(R),18(S)-epoxyeicosatetraenoic acid.

Human cytochrome P450 1A1 (CYP1A1) and human NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase were expressed and purified from Spodoptera frugiperda insect cells. A reconstituted enzymatically active system metabolized polyunsaturated fatty acids such as arachidonic (AA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). CYP1A1 was an AA hydroxylase which oxidizes this substrate at a rate of 650+/-10 pmol/min/nmol CYP1A1, with over 90% of metabolites accounted for by hydroxylation products and with 19-OH-AA as major product.

A peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha activator induces renal CYP2C23 activity and protects from angiotensin II-induced renal injury.

Cytochrome P450 (CYP)-dependent arachidonic acid (AA) metabolites are involved in the regulation of renal vascular tone and salt excretion. The epoxygenation product 11,12-epoxyeicosatrienoic acid (EET) is anti-inflammatory and inhibits nuclear factor-kappa B activation. We tested the hypothesis that the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha-activator fenofibrate (Feno) induces CYP isoforms, AA hydroxylation, and epoxygenation activity, and protects against inflammatory organ damage.

P450-dependent arachidonic acid metabolism and angiotensin II-induced renal damage.

Transgenic rats overexpressing both human renin and angiotensinogen genes (dTGR) develop hypertension, inflammation, and renal failure. We tested the hypothesis that these pathological features are associated with changes in renal P450-dependent arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism. Samples were prepared from 5- and 7-week-old dTGR and from normotensive Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats, ie, before and after the dTGR developed severe hypertension and albuminuria.

Cytochrome P450-dependent eicosapentaenoic acid metabolites are novel BK channel activators.

P450-dependent arachidonic acid (AA) metabolites regulate arterial tone by modulating calcium-activated (BK) potassium channels in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC). Because eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) has been reported to improve vascular function, we tested the hypothesis that P450-dependent epoxygenation of EPA produces alternative vasoactive compounds. We synthesized the 5 regioisomeric epoxyeicosattrienoic acids (EETeTr) and examined them for effects on K(+) currents in rat cerebral artery VSMCs with the patch-clamp technique.