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PubMed1999

Regional alterations in SR Ca(2+)-ATPase, phospholamban, and HSP-70 expression in chronic hibernating myocardium.

We sought to identify mechanisms for chronic dysfunction in hibernating myocardium. Pigs were instrumented with a left anterior descending artery stenosis for 3 mo. Angiography demonstrated high-grade stenoses and hibernating myocardium with 1) severe anterior hypokinesis (P < 0.001 vs. shams), 2) reduced subendocardial perfusion [0.73 +/- 0.05 (SE) vs. 1.01 +/- 0.06 ml. min(-1). g(-1) in normal, P < 0.001], and 3) critically reduced adenosine flow (1.0 +/- 0.17 vs. 3.84 +/- 0.26 ml. min(-1). g(-1) in normal, P < 0.001). Histology did not reveal necrosis. Northern blot analysis of hibernating myocardium demonstrated regional downregulation in mRNAs for sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) proteins phospholamban (0.76 +/- 0.08 vs. 1.07 +/- 0.06, P < 0.02) and SR Ca(2+)-ATPase (0.83 +/- 0.06 vs. 1.02 +/- 0.06, P < 0.05) with no change in calsequestrin (1.08 +/- 0.06 vs. 0.96 +/- 0.05, P = not significant). Heat shock protein (HSP)-70 mRNA was regionally induced in hibernating myocardium (2.4 +/- 0.3 vs. 1.0 +/- 0.11, P < 0.01). Directionally similar changes were confirmed by Western blot analysis of respective proteins. Our results indicate that hibernating myocardium exhibits a molecular phenotype that on a regional basis is similar to end-stage ischemic cardiomyopathy. This supports the hypothesis that SR dysfunction from reversible ischemia may be an early defect in the progression of left ventricular dysfunction.

Adenosine↗
PubMed2001

Glucocorticoid modulation of protein phosphorylation and sarcoplasmic reticulum function in rat myocardium.

To decipher the mechanism(s) underlying glucocorticoid action on cardiac contractile function, this study investigated the effects of adrenalectomy and dexamethasone treatment on the contents of sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca(2+)-cycling proteins, their phosphorylation by endogenous Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaM kinase II), and SR Ca(2+) sequestration in the rat myocardium. Cardiac SR vesicles from adrenalectomized rats displayed significantly diminished rates of ATP-energized Ca(2+) uptake in vitro compared with cardiac SR vesicles from control rats; in vivo administration of dexamethasone to adrenalectomized rats prevented the decline in SR function. Western immunoblotting analysis showed that the relative protein amounts of ryanodine receptor/Ca(2+)-release channel, Ca(2+)-ATPase, calsequestrin, and phospholamban were neither diminished significantly by adrenalectomy nor elevated by dexamethasone treatment. However, the relative amount of SR-associated CaM kinase II protein was increased 2.5- to 4-fold in dexamethasone-treated rats compared with control and adrenalectomized rats. Endogenous CaM kinase II activity, as judged from phosphorylation of ryanodine receptor, Ca(2+)-ATPase, and phospholamban protein, was also significantly higher (50--80% increase) in the dexamethasone-treated rats. The stimulatory effect of CaM kinase II activation on Ca(2+) uptake activity of SR was significantly depressed after adrenalectomy and greatly enhanced after dexamethasone treatment. These findings identify the SR as a major target for glucocorticoid actions in the heart and implicate modification of the SR CaM kinase II system as a component of the mechanisms by which dexamethasone influences SR Ca(2+)-cycling and myocardial contraction.

Adrenalectomy↗
PubMed2001

Overexpression of Na+/Ca2+ exchanger alters contractility and SR Ca2+ content in adult rat myocytes.

The functional consequences of overexpression of rat heart Na+/Ca2+ exchanger (NCX1) were investigated in adult rat myocytes in primary culture. When maintained under continued electrical field stimulation conditions, cultured adult rat myocytes retained normal contractile function compared with freshly isolated myocytes for at least 48 h. Infection of myocytes by adenovirus expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP) resulted in >95% infection as ascertained by GFP fluorescence, but contraction amplitude at 6-, 24-, and 48-h postinfection was not affected. When they were examined 48 h after infection, myocytes infected by adenovirus expressing both GFP and NCX1 had similar cell sizes but exhibited significantly altered contraction amplitudes and intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) transients, and lower resting and diastolic [Ca2+]i when compared with myocytes infected by the adenovirus expressing GFP alone. The effects of NCX1 overexpression on sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+ content depended on extracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]o), with a decrease at low [Ca2+]o and an increase at high [Ca2+]o. The half-times for [Ca2+]i transient decline were similar, suggesting little to no changes in SR Ca2+-ATPase activity. Western blots demonstrated a significant (P < or = 0.02) threefold increase in NCX1 but no changes in SR Ca2+-ATPase and calsequestrin abundance in myocytes 48 h after infection by adenovirus expressing both GFP and NCX1 compared with those infected by adenovirus expressing GFP alone. We conclude that overexpression of NCX1 in adult rat myocytes incubated at high [Ca2+]o resulted in enhanced Ca2+ influx via reverse NCX1 function, as evidenced by greater SR Ca2+ content, larger twitch, and [Ca2+]i transient amplitudes. Forward NCX1 function was also increased, as indicated by lower resting and diastolic [Ca2+]i.

Adenoviridae↗
PubMed2002

Microarray gene expression profiles in dilated and hypertrophic cardiomyopathic end-stage heart failure.

Despite similar clinical endpoints, heart failure resulting from dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) appears to develop through different remodeling and molecular pathways. Current understanding of heart failure has been facilitated by microarray technology. We constructed an in-house spotted cDNA microarray using 10,272 unique clones from various cardiovascular cDNA libraries sequenced and annotated in our laboratory. RNA samples were obtained from left ventricular tissues of precardiac transplantation DCM and HCM patients and were hybridized against normal adult heart reference RNA. After filtering, differentially expressed genes were determined using novel analyzing software. We demonstrated that normalization for cDNA microarray data is slide-dependent and nonlinear. The feasibility of this model was validated by quantitative real-time reverse transcription-PCR, and the accuracy rate depended on the fold change and statistical significance level. Our results showed that 192 genes were highly expressed in both DCM and HCM (e.g., atrial natriuretic peptide, CD59, decorin, elongation factor 2, and heat shock protein 90), and 51 genes were downregulated in both conditions (e.g., elastin, sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase). We also identified several genes differentially expressed between DCM and HCM (e.g., alphaB-crystallin, antagonizer of myc transcriptional activity, beta-dystrobrevin, calsequestrin, lipocortin, and lumican). Microarray technology provides us with a genomic approach to explore the genetic markers and molecular mechanisms leading to heart failure.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Ryanodine receptors of striated muscles: a complex channel capable of multiple interactions.

The ryanodine receptor (RyR) is a high-conductance Ca2+ channel of the sarcoplasmic reticulum in muscle and of the endoplasmic reticulum in other cells. In striated muscle fibers, RyRs are responsible for the rapid release of Ca2+ that activates contraction. Ryanodine receptors are complex molecules, with unusually large cytoplasmic domains containing numerous binding sites for agents that control the state of activity of the channel-forming domain of the molecule. Structural considerations indicate that long-range interactions between cytoplasmic and intramembrane domains control channel function. Ryanodine receptors are located in specialized regions of the SR, where they are structurally and functionally associated with other intrinsic proteins and, indirectly, also with the luminal Ca2(+)-binding protein calsequestrin. Activation of RyRs during the early part of the excitation-contraction coupling cascade is initiated by the activity of surface-membrane Ca2+ channels, the dihydropyridine receptors (DHPRs). Skeletal and cardiac muscles contain different RyR and DHPR isoforms and both contribute to the diversity in cardiac and skeletal excitation-contraction coupling mechanisms. The architecture of the sarcoplasmic reticulum-surface junctions determines the types of RyR-DHPR interactions in the two muscle types.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Calcium ion in skeletal muscle: its crucial role for muscle function, plasticity, and disease.

Mammalian skeletal muscle shows an enormous variability in its functional features such as rate of force production, resistance to fatigue, and energy metabolism, with a wide spectrum from slow aerobic to fast anaerobic physiology. In addition, skeletal muscle exhibits high plasticity that is based on the potential of the muscle fibers to undergo changes of their cytoarchitecture and composition of specific muscle protein isoforms. Adaptive changes of the muscle fibers occur in response to a variety of stimuli such as, e.g., growth and differentition factors, hormones, nerve signals, or exercise. Additionally, the muscle fibers are arranged in compartments that often function as largely independent muscular subunits. All muscle fibers use Ca(2+) as their main regulatory and signaling molecule. Therefore, contractile properties of muscle fibers are dependent on the variable expression of proteins involved in Ca(2+) signaling and handling. Molecular diversity of the main proteins in the Ca(2+) signaling apparatus (the calcium cycle) largely determines the contraction and relaxation properties of a muscle fiber. The Ca(2+) signaling apparatus includes 1) the ryanodine receptor that is the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+) release channel, 2) the troponin protein complex that mediates the Ca(2+) effect to the myofibrillar structures leading to contraction, 3) the Ca(2+) pump responsible for Ca(2+) reuptake into the sarcoplasmic reticulum, and 4) calsequestrin, the Ca(2+) storage protein in the sarcoplasmic reticulum. In addition, a multitude of Ca(2+)-binding proteins is present in muscle tissue including parvalbumin, calmodulin, S100 proteins, annexins, sorcin, myosin light chains, beta-actinin, calcineurin, and calpain. These Ca(2+)-binding proteins may either exert an important role in Ca(2+)-triggered muscle contraction under certain conditions or modulate other muscle activities such as protein metabolism, differentiation, and growth. Recently, several Ca(2+) signaling and handling molecules have been shown to be altered in muscle diseases. Functional alterations of Ca(2+) handling seem to be responsible for the pathophysiological conditions seen in dystrophinopathies, Brody's disease, and malignant hyperthermia. These also underline the importance of the affected molecules for correct muscle performance.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Triadin overexpression stimulates excitation-contraction coupling and increases predisposition to cellular arrhythmia in cardiac myocytes.

Triadin 1 (TRD) is an integral membrane protein that associates with the ryanodine receptor (RyR2), calsequestrin (CASQ2) and junctin to form a macromolecular Ca signaling complex in the cardiac junctional sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR). To define the functional role of TRD, we examined the effects of adenoviral-mediated overexpression of the wild-type protein (TRD(WT)) or a TRD mutant lacking the putative CASQ2 interaction domain residues 200 to 224 (TRD(Del.200-224)) on intracellular Ca signaling in adult rat ventricular myocytes. Overexpression of TRD(WT) reduced the amplitude of I(Ca)- induced Ca transients (at 0 mV) but voltage dependency of the Ca transients was markedly widened and flattened, such that even small I(Ca) at low and high depolarizations triggered maximal Ca transients. The frequency of spontaneous Ca sparks was significantly increased in TRD(WT) myocytes, whereas the amplitude of individual sparks was reduced. Consistent with these changes in Ca release signals, SR Ca content was decreased in TRD(WT) myocytes. Periodic electrical stimulation of TRD(WT) myocytes resulted in irregular, spontaneous Ca transients and arrhythmic oscillations of the membrane potential. Expression of TRD(Del.200-224) failed to produce any of the effects of the wild-type protein. The lipid bilayer technique was used to record the activity of single RyR2 channels using microsome samples obtained from control, TRD(WT) and TRD(Del.200-224) myocytes. Elevation of TRD(WT) levels increased the open probability of RyR2 channels, whereas expression of the mutant protein did not affect RyR2 activity. We conclude that TRD enhances cardiac excitation-contraction coupling by directly stimulating the RyR2. Interaction of TRD with RyR2 may involve amino acids 200 to 224 in C-terminal domain of TRD.

Adenoviridae↗
PubMed2005

Paradoxical cellular Ca2+ signaling in severe but compensated canine left ventricular hypertrophy.

In conscious dogs with severe left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy (H) (doubling of LV/body weight), which developed gradually over 1 to 2 years after aortic banding, baseline LV function was well compensated. The LV was able to generate twice the LV systolic pressure without an increase in LV end-diastolic pressure, or decrease in LV dP/dt or LV wall thickening. However, LV myocytes isolated from LVH dogs exhibited impaired contraction at baseline and in response to Ca2+. There was no change in L-type Ca2+ channel current (ICa) density but the ability of ICa to trigger Ca2+ release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) was reduced. Immunoblot analysis revealed a 68% decrease in SERCA2a, and a 35% decrease in the number of ryanodine receptors (RyR2), with no changes in protein level of calsequestrin, Na+/Ca2+ exchanger or phospholamban (PLB), but with both RyR2 and PLB hyperphosphorylated. Spontaneous Ca2+ sparks in LVH cells were found to have prolonged duration but similar intensities despite the reduced SR Ca2+ load. A higher Ca2+ spark rate was observed in LVH cells, but this is inconsistent with the reduced SR Ca2+ content. However, Ca2+ waves were found to be less frequent, slower and were more likely to be aborted in Ca2+-challenged LVH cells. These paradoxical observations could be accounted for by a nonuniform SR Ca2+ distribution, RyR2 hyperphosphorylation in the presence of decreased global SR Ca2+ load. We conclude that severe LVH with compensation masks cellular and subcellular Ca2+ defects that remain likely contributors to the limited contractile reserve of LVH.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Association of clathrin with microsomes isolated from canine myocardium.

We and others have observed specialized regions of sarcoplasmic reticulum membranes that resemble coated vesicles, in the I-band region of myocardial cells. These structures have been named "corbular" sarcoplasmic reticulum, and are distinct in appearance from Golgi-associated coated vesicles, in that they are larger and contain a flocculent material that has been identified as calsequestrin. Whereas it has been suggested that these structures have a role in cardiac calcium metabolism, their function(s) and the molecular identity of the characteristic "bristle" coat remain unknown. Microsomes enriched in sarcoplasmic reticulum were prepared from canine ventricular muscle by Polytron homogenization in pH 6.5 buffer, followed by differential centrifugation. Protein was released by incubation in 50 mM Tris/HCl, pH 8, followed by centrifugation. We found these extracts to be enriched in a protein that was identical to brain clathrin in mobility on a Sepharose 4B gel filtration column, final position of the native protein following nondenaturing electrophoresis, relative mobility in denaturing (sodium dodecyl sulfate) electrophoresis on 6% and 7.5% gels, and antigenicity to anti-clathrin IgG. These findings confirmed the presence of clathrin triskelions in the cardiac microsome extract. On this basis, we suggest that clathrin may be a component of the electron dense "coat" of corbular sarcoplasmic reticulum.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Alterations in sarcoplasmic reticulum gene expression in human heart failure. A possible mechanism for alterations in systolic and diastolic properties of the failing myocardium.

Recent studies have shown that intracellular Ca2+ handling is abnormal in the myocardium of patients with end-stage heart failure. Muscles from the failing hearts showed a prolonged Ca2+ transient and a diminished capacity to restore a low resting Ca2+ level during diastole. Accordingly, we examined whether this defect in Ca2+ transport function is due to alterations in sarcoplasmic reticulum gene expression. We determined the messenger RNA (mRNA) levels of sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ transport proteins in failing human hearts from 17 cardiac transplant recipients with a diagnosis of dilated cardiomyopathy, primary pulmonary hypertension, or ischemic heart disease. The expression levels of each mRNA were compared with each other and then correlated with that of atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) mRNA in the failing ventricle. The mRNA levels for the calcium release channel (ryanodine receptor, RYR2), Ca2+ uptake pump (Ca(2+)-ATPase, SERCA2 isoform), and phospholamban differed significantly between heart samples but showed an inverse relation with that of ventricular ANF mRNA. In contrast, calsequestrin mRNA levels remained unchanged in these failing hearts. In addition, beta-myosin and alpha-cardiac actin mRNA levels also showed an inverse relation with ANF mRNA levels. These changes were observed in both right and left ventricles of hearts with congestive heart failure due to dilated cardiomyopathy, primary pulmonary hypertension, or ischemic heart disease. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that abnormal calcium handling in the sarcoplasmic reticulum of failing hearts is due to the altered expression of the genes encoding sarcoplasmic reticulum proteins.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Compensatory mechanisms associated with the hyperdynamic function of phospholamban-deficient mouse hearts.

Phospholamban ablation is associated with significant increases in the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase activity and the basal cardiac contractile parameters. To determine whether the observed phenotype is due to loss of phospholamban alone or to accompanying compensatory mechanisms, hearts from phospholamban-deficient and age-matched wild-type mice were characterized in parallel. There were no morphological alterations detected at the light microscope level. Assessment of the protein levels of the cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase, calsequestrin, myosin, actin, troponin I, and troponin T revealed no significant differences between phospholamban-deficient and wild-type hearts. However, the ryanodine receptor protein levels were significantly decreased (25%) upon ablation of phospholamban, probably in an attempt to regulate the release of Ca2+ from the sarcoplasmic reticulum, which had a significantly higher diastolic Ca2+ content in phospholamban-deficient compared with wild-type hearts (16.0 +/- 2.2 versus 8.6 +/- 1.0 mmol Ca2+/kg dry wt, respectively). The increases in Ca2+ content were specific to junctional sarcoplasmic reticulum stores, as there were no alterations in the Ca2+ content of the mitochondria or A band. Assessment of ATP levels revealed no alterations, although oxygen consumption increased (1.6-fold) to meet the increased ATP utilization in the hyperdynamic phospholamban-deficient hearts. The increases in oxygen consumption were associated with increases (2.2-fold) in the active fraction of the mitochondrial pyruvate dehydrogenase, suggesting increased tricarboxylic acid cycle turnover and ATP synthesis. 31P nuclear magnetic resonance studies demonstrated decreases in phosphocreatine levels and increases in ADP and AMP levels in phospholamban-deficient compared with wild-type hearts. However, the creatine kinase activity and the creatine kinase reaction velocity were not different between phospholamban-deficient and wild-type hearts. These findings indicate that ablation of phospholamban is associated with downregulation of the ryanodine receptor to compensate for the increased Ca2+ content in the sarcoplasmic reticulum store and metabolic adaptations to establish a new energetic steady state to meet the increased ATP demand in the hyperdynamic phospholamban-deficient hearts.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Enhanced myocardial contractility and increased Ca2+ transport function in transgenic hearts expressing the fast-twitch skeletal muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase.

In this study, we investigated whether the fast-twitch skeletal muscle sarco(endo)plasmic reticulum Ca2+ transport pump (SERCA1a) can functionally substitute the cardiac SERCA2a isoform and how its overexpression affects cardiac contractility. For this purpose, we generated transgenic (TG) mice that specifically overexpress SERCA1a in the heart, using the cardiac-specific alpha-myosin heavy chain promoter. Ectopic expression of SERCA1a resulted in a 2.5-fold increase in the amount of total SERCA protein. At the same time, the level of the endogenous SERCA2a protein was decreased by 50%, whereas the level of other muscle proteins, including calsequestrin, phospholamban, actin, and tropomyosin, remained unchanged. The steady-state level of SERCA phosphoenzyme intermediate was increased 2.5-fold, and the maximal velocity of Ca2+ uptake was increased 1.7-fold in TG hearts, demonstrating that the overexpressed protein is functional. Although the basal cytosolic calcium signal was decreased by 38% in TG cardiomyocytes, the amplitude of cytosolic calcium signal was increased by 71.8%. The rate of calcium resequestration was also increased in TG myocytes, which was reflected by a 51.6% decrease in the normalized time to 80% decay of calcium signal. This resulted in considerably increased peak rates of myocyte shortening and relengthening (50.0% and 66.6%, respectively). Cardiac functional analysis using isolated work-performing heart preparations revealed significantly faster rates of contraction and relaxation in TG hearts (41.9% and 39.5%, respectively). The time to peak pressure and the time to half-relaxation were shorter (29.1% and 32.7%, respectively). In conclusion, our study demonstrates that the SERCA1a pump can functionally substitute endogenous SERCA2a, and its overexpression significantly enhances Ca2+ transport and contractile function of the myocardium. These results also demonstrate that the SERCA pump level is a critical determinant of cardiac contractility.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Cellular mechanisms of altered contractility in the hypertrophied heart: big hearts, big sparks.

To investigate the cellular mechanisms for altered Ca2+ homeostasis and contractility in cardiac hypertrophy, we measured whole-cell L-type Ca2+ currents (ICa,L), whole-cell Ca2+ transients ([Ca2+]i), and Ca2+ sparks in ventricular cells from 6-month-old spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) and from age- and sex-matched Wistar-Kyoto and Sprague-Dawley control rats. By echocardiography, SHR hearts had cardiac hypertrophy and enhanced contractility (increased fractional shortening) and no signs of heart failure. SHR cells had a voltage-dependent increase in peak [Ca2+]i amplitude (at 0 mV, 1330+/-62 nmol/L [SHRs] versus 836+/-48 nmol/L [controls], P<0.05) that was not associated with changes in ICa,L density or kinetics, resting [Ca2+]i, or Ca2+ content of the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR). SHR cells had increased time of relaxation. Ca2+ sparks from SHR cells had larger average amplitudes (173+/-192 nmol/L [SHRs] versus 109+/-64 nmol/L [control]; P<0.05), which was due to redistribution of Ca2+ sparks to a larger amplitude population. This change in Ca2+ spark amplitude distribution was not associated with any change in the density of ryanodine receptors, calsequestrin, junctin, triadin 1, Ca2+-ATPase, or phospholamban. Therefore, SHRs with cardiac hypertrophy have increased contractility, [Ca2+]i amplitude, time to relaxation, and average Ca2+ spark amplitude ("big sparks"). Importantly, big sparks occurred without alteration in the trigger for SR Ca2+ release (ICa,L), SR Ca2+ content, or the expression of several SR Ca2+-cycling proteins. Thus, cardiac hypertrophy in SHRs is linked with an alteration in the coupling of Ca2+ entry through L-type Ca2+ channels and the release of Ca2+ from the SR, leading to big sparks and enhanced contractility. Alterations in the microdomain between L-type Ca2+ channels and SR Ca2+ release channels may underlie the changes in Ca2+ homeostasis observed in cardiac hypertrophy. Modulation of SR Ca2+ release may provide a new therapeutic strategy for cardiac hypertrophy and for its progression to heart failure and sudden death.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

The presence of Lys27 instead of Asn27 in human phospholamban promotes sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase superinhibition and cardiac remodeling.

BACKGROUND: Phospholamban (PLN) is an inhibitor of the Ca2+ affinity of sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+-ATPase (SERCA2). The amino acid sequence of PLN is highly conserved, and although all species contain asparagine (Asn), human PLN is unique in containing lysine (Lys) at amino acid 27. METHODS AND RESULTS: Human PLN was introduced in the null background. Expression of human PLN, at similar levels to mouse wild-type PLN, resulted in significant decreases in the affinity of SERCA2 for Ca2+, attributed to unique spatial conformation of this PLN form and increases in its monomeric active unit compared with mouse PLN. The increased inhibition by human PLN was associated with attenuated cardiac contractility in the intact-animal, organ, and cardiomyocyte levels and with depressed calcium kinetics. These inhibitory effects could not be fully reversed even on maximal isoproterenol stimulation. There were no alterations in the expression levels of SERCA2, calsequestrin, ryanodine receptor, and FKBP12, although the sodium/calcium exchanger and the L-type Ca2+ channel expression levels were upregulated. The depressed function resulted in increased heart/body weight ratios and phosphorylation levels of Akt, p38, and Erk1/2. CONCLUSIONS: Human PLN may play a more inhibitory role than that of other species in Ca2+ cycling. Expression of human PLN in the mouse is compensated by alterations in Ca2+-handling proteins and cardiac remodeling in an effort to normalize cardiac contractility. Thus, the unique amino acid sequence of human PLN may be critical in maintaining a high cardiac reserve, which is of paramount importance in the regulation of human cardiac function.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2007

Sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium overloading in junctin deficiency enhances cardiac contractility but increases ventricular automaticity.

BACKGROUND: Abnormal sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium (Ca) cycling is increasingly recognized as an important mechanism for increased ventricular automaticity that leads to lethal ventricular arrhythmias. Previous studies have linked lethal familial arrhythmogenic disorders to mutations in the ryanodine receptor and calsequestrin genes, which interact with junctin and triadin to form a macromolecular Ca-signaling complex. The essential physiological effects of junctin and its potential regulatory roles in sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca cycling and Ca-dependent cardiac functions, such as myocyte contractility and automaticity, are unknown. METHODS AND RESULTS: The junctin gene was targeted in embryonic stem cells, and a junctin-deficient mouse was generated. Ablation of junctin was associated with enhanced cardiac function in vivo, and junctin-deficient cardiomyocytes exhibited increased contractile and Ca-cycling parameters. Short-term isoproterenol stimulation elicited arrhythmias, including premature ventricular contractions, atrioventricular heart block, and ventricular tachycardia. Long-term isoproterenol infusion also induced premature ventricular contractions and atrioventricular heart block in junctin-null mice. Further examination of the electrical activity revealed a significant increase in the occurrence of delayed afterdepolarizations. Consistently, 25% of the junctin-null mice died by 3 months of age with structurally normal hearts. CONCLUSIONS: Junctin is an essential regulator of sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca release and contractility in normal hearts. Ablation of junctin is associated with aberrant Ca homeostasis, which leads to fatal arrhythmias. Thus, normal intracellular Ca cycling relies on maintenance of junctin levels and an intricate balance among the components in the sarcoplasmic reticulum quaternary Ca-signaling complex.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Receptors and intracellular signaling in human neutrophils.

Adherence, chemotaxis, phagocytosis, and responses to cytokines are mediated by distinct classes of cell surface receptors in human neutrophils. Intracellular signaling by these different receptors is a subject of active investigation. Observation of single neutrophils adherent to surfaces reveals the presence of spontaneous oscillations of cytosolic-free calcium, [Ca2+]i, generated by mechanisms that are presently unknown. Chemoattractant receptor activation via a specific G-regulatory protein activates a plasma membrane phospholipase C and generates diacylglycerol and inositol(1,4,5)triphosphate. DG activates C kinase(s). Ins(1,4,5)P3 releases Ca2+ from a specific intracellular organelle, the calciosome. Calciosomes resemble sarcoplasmic reticulum: they contain a Ca2(+)-ATPase and a high capacity/low affinity calcium-binding, calsequestrin-like protein. Chemoattractant receptor stimulation of calcium influx across the plasma membrane in phagocytes correlates strongly with the conversion of Ins(1,3,4,5)P3 to Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 by a Ca2(+)-calmodulin-sensitive kinase. The transduction system of phagocytosis receptors also generates DG and Ins(1,4,5)P3 and elicits [Ca2+]i elevations. The Ca2+ signal is an important regulator of secretion (granule exocytosis, superoxide production), whereas C kinase(s)/and other unknown mediators appear to be more important for the control of movement. Several mechanisms that could account for the specificity of cell signaling by different receptors are discussed.

Calcium↗
PubMed1992

Age-related differences in the expression of proto-oncogene and contractile protein genes in response to pressure overload in the rat myocardium.

Cardiac adaptation to hemodynamic stress involves both quantitative (hypertrophy) and qualitative (pattern of gene expression) changes. Our previous studies have shown that advancing age in the rat is associated with diminished capacity to develop left ventricular hypertrophy in response to either ascending aortic constriction (AoC). In this study, we examined whether the expression of protooncogenes and contractile protein genes in response to AoC differs between adult (9-mo-old) and old (18-mo-old) rats. RNA was isolated from the left ventricles of AoC animals of both age groups subjected to a similar hemodynamic stress. Immediately after AoC, the levels of the ventricular expression of c-fos and c-jun protooncogenes were markedly lower in the old rats than in the adult animals. 5 d after the operation, the ratio of beta- to alpha-myosin heavy chain mRNAs increased significantly after AoC in both age groups. In contrast, AoC was associated with a marked reduction in the levels of mRNAs encoding sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase (by 69%) and cardiac calsequestrin (by 49%) in the old rats but not in the adults. The mRNAs encoding atrial natriuretic factor and skeletal alpha-actin increased in response to AoC only in the adult rats. There were no significant differences in expression of the cardiac alpha-actin mRNA among the experimental groups. These data suggest that (a) the expression of protooncogenes in response to acute pressure overload is significantly reduced in the aged rats and (b) the pattern of expression of the contractile protein gene in response to AoC in the old rats differs qualitatively as well as quantitatively from that in younger animals. These age-related differences may play a role in the higher frequency of heart failure in the aged during hemodynamic stress.

Actins↗
PubMed1997

Overexpression of the rat sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ ATPase gene in the heart of transgenic mice accelerates calcium transients and cardiac relaxation.

The Ca2+ ATPase of the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SERCA2) plays a dominant role in lowering cytoplasmic calcium levels during cardiac relaxation and reduction of its activity has been linked to delayed diastolic relaxation in hypothyroid and failing hearts. To determine the contractile alterations resulting from increased SERCA2 expression, we generated transgenic mice overexpressing a rat SERCA2 transgene. Characterization of a heterozygous transgenic mouse line (CJ5) showed that the amount of SERCA2 mRNA and protein increased 2. 6-fold and 1.2-fold, respectively, relative to control mice. Determination of the relative synthesis rate of SERCA2 protein showed an 82% increase. The mRNA levels of some of the other genes involved in calcium handling, such as the ryanodine receptor and calsequestrin, remained unchanged, but the mRNA levels of phospholamban and Na+/Ca2+ exchanger increased 1.4-fold and 1.8-fold, respectively. The increase in phospholamban or Na+/Ca2+ exchanger mRNAs did not, however, result in changes in protein levels. Functional analysis of calcium handling and contractile parameters in isolated cardiac myocytes indicated that the intracellular calcium decline (t1/2) and myocyte relengthening (t1/2) were accelerated by 23 and 22%, respectively. In addition, the rate of myocyte shortening was also significantly faster. In isolated papillary muscle from SERCA2 transgenic mice, the time to half maximum postrest potentiation was significantly shorter than in negative littermates. Furthermore, cardiac function measured in vivo, demonstrated significantly accelerated contraction and relaxation in SERCA2 transgenic mice that were further augmented in both groups with isoproterenol administration. Similar results were obtained for the contractile performance of myocytes isolated from a separate line (CJ2) of homozygous SERCA2 transgenic mice. Our findings suggest, for the first time, that increased SERCA2 expression is feasible in vivo and results in enhanced calcium transients, myocardial contractility, and relaxation that may have further therapeutic implications.

Animals↗