Background: Adenosine (ADE) may mediate the protective effects of preconditioning (PC). However, human data are lacking, and the optimal method of ADE administration and the mechanism of protection remain unresolved.
Methods and results: We have developed a model of simulated "ischemia" (I) and "reperfusion" (R) in quiescent human ventricular cardiomyocytes. Cellular injury and metabolic parameters were assessed after various interventions: Cells were preconditioned with anoxia (PC0), hypoxia (PC16), anoxic supernatant (SUP0), or hypoxic supernatant (SUP16) with or without the ADE receptor antagonist (SPT) or ADE deaminase (ADA). ADE was applied before, during, or after I or continuously with and without SPT. Cells were treated with the PKC agonist PMA. PC cells were incubated with the protein kinase-C (PKC) antagonist Calphostin-C (Cal-C). PKC translocation and PKC activity were assessed. PC0 was most protective. Protection was transferable via SUP0, which produced the highest concentrations of ADE. Protection was lost with SPT or ADA. Intracellular ATP fell after PC and prolonged I and R. Exogenous ADE was most protective when administered before I at 50 mumol. ADE during I was partially protective. No additional protection was provided with continuous ADE treatment. ADE prevented ATP degradation but increased lactate immediately after its administration. SPT abolished the protective effects of ADE. PMA conferred protection, which was abolished with Cal-C. ADE stimulated PKC translocation and PKC activity in the absence of SPT.
Conclusions: Maximal I confers maximal PC. The degree of I is reflected in supernatant ADE concentrations. The initial ATP fall with PC may account for a lack of ATP preservation after I and R. ADE reproduces the protective effects of PC, preserves ATP, and increases lactate production, perhaps by stimulating glycolysis. Clinical trials of ADE administered during cardiac surgery are necessary to further define its beneficial effects in humans.