Microtubules in mammalian heart muscle.

Sections of adult mammalian cardiac muscles fixed at room temperature reveal numerous microtubules (24--28 nm in diameter) both near the nucleus and in the extra-myofibrillar space. Microtubules encircle the nucleus, are associated with the myofibrils in a helical arrangement, and form a network that runs transversely at the level of the I band and axially between the myofibrils. Microtubules are more numerous in muscle cells than previously recognized and may perform more than cytoskeletal function.

Mitochondrial water in myocardial ischemia: investigation with nuclear magnetic resonance.

Nuclear magnetic resonance studies of mitochondria isolated from ischemic hearts after coronary vessel occlusion indicated a decrease in water proton relaxation times. This change coincided with a decrease in the hydration of the samples. It is suggested that in ischemia, changes in macromolecular hydration may be one of the first mechanisms to alter function in the mitochondria, which are vital to the energy-transducing process in heart muscle.

The influence of ouabain and alpha angelica lactone on calcium metabolism of dog cardiac microsomes.

The influence of ouabain and alpha angelica lactone on (45)calcium accumulation in cardiac microsomes was studied. Calcium binding (accumulation in the absence of excess oxalate or phosphate) was augmented by both ouabain and alpha angelica lactone in the presence of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) but unaffected in its absence. Calcium turnover (defined as the change in (45)Ca(++) bound to the microsomes after the specific activity is changed) was studied to determine if the augmented bound pool was freely exchangeable at equilibrium. Ouabain and alpha angelica lactone augmented calcium turnover in both the presence and absence of ATP. Calcium-stimulated ATPase was increased by both agents.It is proposed that these two unsaturated lactones, with known cardiotonic activity, may exert their effects by providing an increased contraction-dependent calcium pool to be released upon systolic depolarization.

Neutrophil induced oxidative injury of cardiac myocytes. A compartmented system requiring CD11b/CD18-ICAM-1 adherence.

We have previously shown that cytokines and postischemic cardiac lymph induce expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1, CD54) on canine adult cardiac myocytes. ICAM-1 expression allows adherence of activated neutrophils to myocytes that is blocked by anti-CD18 mAb, R15.7, or anti-ICAM-1 mAb, CL18/6. Interleukin 1, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, or interleukin 6-stimulated cardiac myocytes were loaded with 2',7'-dichlorofluorescin, and oxidation to the fluorescent dichlorofluorescein was monitored. Fluorescence and neutrophil/myocyte adherence followed the same time course, and both were blocked by monoclonal antibodies to CD18, CD11b, and ICAM-1, but mAb R7.1, recognizing a functional epitope on CD11a, was not inhibitory. The iron chelator, desferroxamine, and the hydroxyl radical scavenger, dimethylthiourea, did not inhibit neutrophil adherence, but completely inhibited fluorescence. In contrast, the extracellular oxygen radical scavengers superoxide dismutase and catalase, and the extracellular iron chelator, starch-immobilized desferroxamine, did not affect either fluorescence or adherence. Under the experimental conditions used, no superoxide production could be detected in the extracellular medium. Fluorescence microscopy demonstrated that fluorescence began within 5 min after neutrophil adherence to an individual myocyte, and myocyte contracture followed rapidly. Fluorescent intensity was highest initially at the site of myocyte-neutrophil adherence. When only neutrophils were loaded with 2',7'-dichlorofluorescein, fluorescence was observed only in those neutrophils adhering to the cardiac myocytes. Thus, adherence dependent on Mac-1 (CD11b/CD18) and ICAM-1 (CD54) activates the neutrophil respiratory burst resulting in a highly compartmented iron-dependent myocyte oxidative injury.

Effect of dexamethasone on hepatic glucose and insulin metabolism after oral glucose in conscious dogs.

To examine whether hyperinsulinemia associated with glucocorticoid treatment results solely from hypersecretion of insulin or also involves altered fractional hepatic extraction, oral glucose (1 g/kg body wt) was administered to dogs with or without dexamethasone treatment (2 mg/d for 2 d). Dexamethasone significantly increased basal glucose and insulin concentrations in the portal vein, hepatic vein, and femoral artery, reduced basal fractional hepatic extraction of insulin from 43 +/- 4% to 22 +/- 4%, and, after oral glucose, increased retention by the liver of net glucose released into the portal system from 27 +/- 4% to 53 +/- 13%. Intraportal insulin infusion (1 and 2 mU/kg per min) after 7 d of dexamethasone treatment (2 mg/d) caused less suppression of endogenous glucose production, and less exogenous glucose was required to maintain an euglycemic clamp than in control animals. Dexamethasone treatment is associated with: decreased basal fractional hepatic insulin extraction contributing to hyperinsulinemia; and less suppression of endogenous glucose production and increase in peripheral uptake in response to insulin, but no reduction in net hepatic glucose uptake after oral glucose.

Neutrophil adherence to isolated adult cardiac myocytes. Induction by cardiac lymph collected during ischemia and reperfusion.

Canine neutrophils can be induced to adhere in vitro to isolated adult cardiac myocytes by stimulation of the neutrophils with chemotactic factors such as zymosan-activated serum (ZAS) only if the myocytes have been previously exposed to cytokines such as interleukin 1 (IL-1) or tumor necrosis factor-alpha. These cytokines induce synthesis and surface expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) on the myocyte, and neutrophil adhesion is almost entirely CD18 and ICAM-1 dependent. The present study examines cardiac-specific lymph collected from awake dogs during 1-h coronary occlusion and 3 d of reperfusion for its ability to induce both ICAM-1 expression in cardiac myocytes, and neutrophil-myocyte adherence. Reperfusion lymph induced ICAM-1 expression in isolated myocytes, and myocyte adherence to ZAS-stimulated neutrophils that was completely inhibited by anti-CD18 and anti-ICAM-1 monoclonal antibodies. This activity peaked at 90 min of reperfusion and persisted for up to 72 h. Preischemic lymph was not stimulatory. IL-1 appeared not to be a stimulating factor in lymph in that dilutions of lymph were found to inhibit the stimulatory effects of recombinant IL-1 beta. However, investigation of interleukin 6 (IL-6) revealed that recombinant IL-6 stimulated myocyte adhesiveness for ZAS-stimulated neutrophils (ED50 = 0.002 U/ml) and expression of ICAM-1 by isolated myocytes. IL-6 neutralizing antibody markedly reduced the ability of reperfusion lymph to stimulate adhesion and ICAM-1 expression, and estimates of levels of IL-6 in reperfusion lymph ranged from 0.035 to 0.14 U/ml. These results indicate that cytokines capable of promoting neutrophil-myocyte adhesion occur in extracellular fluid during reperfusion of ischemic myocardium, and that one of these cytokines is IL-6. Neutrophil-myocyte adhesion may be of pathogenic significance because it may enhance the cytotoxic activity of the neutrophil.

Regulation of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in ischemic and reperfused canine myocardium.

Previous studies in vitro have shown an important role for intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in adherence interactions of canine neutrophils with canine jugular vein endothelial cells and in cytotoxicity of canine neutrophils for adult cardiac myocytes. To evaluate the regulation of ICAM-1 in myocardial inflammation and its role in the pathogenesis of myocardial ischemia and reperfusion, a series of in vivo and ex vivo studies were performed in canine animals. Systemic administration of LPS elicited ICAM-1 mRNA in several tissues, including myocardium, which demonstrated increasing ICAM-1 staining on intercalated discs of cardiac myocytes. In ischemia and reperfusion protocols: (a) ICAM-1 mRNA was found in ischemic segments within 1 h of reperfusion and in both ischemic and normally perfused segments by 24 h of reperfusion; (b) expression of ICAM-1 was detected in cardiac myocytes in the ischemic region by 6 h of reperfusion; increased expression was seen thereafter as a function of time; (c) post-ischemic (but not preischemic) cardiac lymph collected at intervals from 1 to 24 h after reperfusion elicited ICAM-1 mRNA, ICAM-1 expression, and ICAM-1-dependent neutrophil adhesion in canine jugular vein endothelial cells and in cardiac myocytes with peak cytokine activity seen by 1 h; (d) extravascular localization of neutrophils was detected in ischemic areas only, and was associated with endothelium bearing high levels of ICAM-1 within 1 h of reperfusion; infiltration increased thereafter in association with increasing levels of ICAM-1 mRNA in myocardial segments and increasing levels of ICAM-1 expression on cardiac myocytes. These findings provide the first direct evidence for inflammatory regulation of ICAM-1 in ischemic and reperfused canine myocardium. They support the hypothesis that ICAM-1 participates in neutrophil-mediated myocardial damage.

Dominant-negative effect of a mutant cardiac troponin T on cardiac structure and function in transgenic mice.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a disease of sarcomeric proteins. The mechanism by which mutant sarcomeric proteins cause HCM is unknown. The leading hypothesis proposes that mutant sarcomeric proteins exert a dominant-negative effect on myocyte structure and function. To test this, we produced transgenic mice expressing low levels of normal or mutant human cardiac troponin T (cTnT). We constructed normal (cTnT-Arg92) and mutant (cTnT-Gln92) transgenes, driven by a murine cTnT promoter, and produced three normal and five mutant transgenic lines, which were identified by PCR and Southern blotting. Expression levels of the transgene proteins, detected using a specific antibody, ranged from 1 to 10% of the total cTnT pool. M-mode and Doppler echocardiography showed normal left ventricular dimensions and systolic function, but diastolic dysfunction in the mutant mice evidenced by a 50% reduction in the E/A ratio of mitral inflow velocities. Histological examination showed cardiac myocyte disarray in the mutant mice, which amounted to 1-15% of the total myocardium, and a twofold increase in the myocardial interstitial collagen content. Thus, the mutant cTnT-Gln92, responsible for human HCM, exerted a dominant-negative effect on cardiac structure and function leading to disarray, increased collagen synthesis, and diastolic dysfunction in transgenic mice.

Fibronectin fragments modulate monocyte VLA-5 expression and monocyte migration.

To identify the mechanisms that cause monocyte localization in infarcted myocardium, we studied the impact of ischemia-reperfusion injury on the surface expression and function of the monocyte fibronectin (FN) receptor VLA-5 (alpha(5)beta(1) integrin, CD49e/CD29). Myocardial infarction was associated with the release of FN fragments into cardiac extracellular fluids. Incubating monocytes with postreperfusion cardiac lymph that contained these FN fragments selectively reduced expression of VLA-5, an effect suppressed by specific immunoadsorption of the fragments. Treating monocytes with purified, 120-kDa cell-binding FN fragments (FN120) likewise decreased VLA-5 expression, and did so by inducing a serine proteinase-dependent proteolysis of this beta(1) integrin. We postulated that changes in VLA-5 expression, which were induced by interactions with cell-binding FN fragments, may alter monocyte migration into tissue FN, a prominent component of the cardiac extracellular matrix. Support for this hypothesis came from experiments showing that FN120 treatment significantly reduced both spontaneous and MCP-1-induced monocyte migration on an FN-impregnated collagen matrix. In vivo, it is likely that contact with cell-binding FN fragments also modulates VLA-5/FN adhesive interactions, and this causes monocytes to accumulate at sites where the fragment concentration is sufficient to ensure proteolytic degradation of VLA-5.

Adherence of neutrophils to canine cardiac myocytes in vitro is dependent on intercellular adhesion molecule-1.

The adhesiveness of isolated canine cardiac myocytes for neutrophils is greatly increased by stimulation with cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha). Since this adhesion is significantly inhibited by an anti-CD18 MAb, experiments were performed to test the hypothesis that the newly expressed adhesion molecule on the cardiac myocytes was intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1). A newly developed MAb, CL18/6, was found to exhibit the functional and binding characteristics with canine neutrophils and canine jugular vein endothelial cells expected of an antibody recognizing ICAM-1. MAb CL18/6 also bound to isolated cardiac myocytes after stimulation of the myocytes with cytokines, and it blocked by greater than 90% the adhesion of neutrophils to stimulated myocytes. A partial cDNA clone for canine ICAM-1 was isolated, and ICAM-1 mRNA was found to be increased in both endothelial cells and cardiac myocytes after cytokine stimulation. Cytokines that both increased the CL18/6-inhibitable adhesion of neutrophils to myocytes and induced expression of ICAM-1 were IL-1 beta, TNF alpha, and LPS. These results are consistent with the conclusion that canine endothelial cells and cardiac myocytes express ICAM-1 in response to cytokine stimulation, and that ICAM-1 functions as an adhesive molecule for neutrophils on both cell types.

Neutrophil adherence to isolated adult canine myocytes. Evidence for a CD18-dependent mechanism.

Cardiac myocytes were isolated from adult dogs and incubated with isolated canine neutrophils (PMN). Intercellular adhesion was low and unchanged by stimulation of the PMN with zymosan activated serum or platelet activating factor (PAF) at concentrations that significantly enhance PMN adhesion to protein-coated glass and canine endothelial cell monolayers. Intercellular adhesion was significantly increased only when both myocytes and PMN were stimulated (e.g., myocytes incubated with IL-1, tumor necrosis factor, or phorbol myristate acetate, and PMN were chemotactically stimulated). Inhibitors of protein synthesis diminished the IL-1 beta-induced effect by greater than 80%. The IL-1 beta, PAF-stimulated PMN-myocyte adhesion was associated with substantial H2O2 production. Under conditions with low PMN-myocyte adhesion (i.e., IL-1 beta alone, PAF alone, or no stimulus) H2O2 production was generally less than 5% of that occurring with high adhesion. An anti-CD18 monoclonal antibody (R15.7) inhibited stimulated PMN-myocyte adhesion by greater than 95% and reduced H2O2 production by greater than 90%. Control isotype-matched, binding, and nonbinding antibodies were without effect on adherence or H2O2 production. The results indicate that cytokine stimulation of adult myocytes induces expression of a ligand involved in CD18-dependent adherence of canine neutrophils.

LFA-1 is sufficient in mediating neutrophil emigration in Mac-1-deficient mice.

To better define the specific function of Mac-1 (CD11b) versus LFA-1 (CD11a) and the other CD11 integrins in vivo, we have disrupted murine CD11b by targeted homologous recombination in embryonic stem cells and generated mice which are homozygous for a mutation in CD11b. A null mutation was confirmed by Southern blotting, RNase protection assay, immunohistochemistry, and flow cytometry. Neutrophils isolated from mice deficient in Mac-1 were defective in adherence to keyhole limpet hemocyanin-coated glass, iC3b-mediated phagocytosis, and homotypic aggregation. When challenged by thioglycollate intraperitoneally, Mac-1-deficient mice had similar levels of neutrophil accumulation in the peritoneal cavity at 1, 2, and 4 h. Treatment with mAb to LFA-1 blocked 78% of neutrophil accumulation in Mac-1-deficient mice and 58% in wild-type mice. Neutrophil emigration into the peritoneal cavity 16 h after the implantation of fibrinogen-coated disks was not reduced in Mac-1-deficient mice whereas neutrophil adhesion to the fibrinogen-coated disks was reduced by > 90%. Neutrophils from Mac-1-deficient mice also showed reduced degranulation. Our results demonstrate that Mac-1 plays a critical role in mediating binding of neutrophils to fibrinogen and neutrophil degranulation, but is not necessary for effective neutrophil emigration, which is more dependent upon LFA-1.

Regeneration of ischemic cardiac muscle and vascular endothelium by adult stem cells.

Myocyte loss in the ischemically injured mammalian heart often leads to irreversible deficits in cardiac function. To identify a source of stem cells capable of restoring damaged cardiac tissue, we transplanted highly enriched hematopoietic stem cells, the so-called side population (SP) cells, into lethally irradiated mice subsequently rendered ischemic by coronary artery occlusion for 60 minutes followed by reperfusion. The engrafted SP cells (CD34(-)/low, c-Kit(+), Sca-1(+)) or their progeny migrated into ischemic cardiac muscle and blood vessels, differentiated to cardiomyocytes and endothelial cells, and contributed to the formation of functional tissue. SP cells were purified from Rosa26 transgenic mice, which express lacZ widely. Donor-derived cardiomyocytes were found primarily in the peri-infarct region at a prevalence of around 0.02% and were identified by expression of lacZ and alpha-actinin, and lack of expression of CD45. Donor-derived endothelial cells were identified by expression of lacZ and Flt-1, an endothelial marker shown to be absent on SP cells. Endothelial engraftment was found at a prevalence of around 3.3%, primarily in small vessels adjacent to the infarct. Our results demonstrate the cardiomyogenic potential of hematopoietic stem cells and suggest a therapeutic strategy that eventually could benefit patients with myocardial infarction.

Interleukin-8 gene induction in the myocardium after ischemia and reperfusion in vivo.

Neutrophil adhesion and direct cytotoxicity for cardiac myocytes require chemotactic stimulation and are dependent upon CD18-ICAM-1 binding. To characterize the potential role of IL-8 in this interaction, canine IL-8 cDNA was cloned and the mature recombinant protein expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 cells. Recombinant canine IL-8 markedly increased adhesion of neutrophils to isolated canine cardiac myocytes. This adhesion resulted in direct cytotoxicity for cardiac myocytes. Both processes were specifically blocked by antibodies directed against CD18 and IL-8. In vivo, after 1 h of coronary occlusion, IL-8 mRNA was markedly and consistently induced in reperfused segments of myocardium. IL-8 mRNA was not induced in control (normally perfused) myocardial segments. Minimal amounts of IL-8 mRNA were detected after 3 or 4 h of ischemia without reperfusion. Highest levels of induction were evident in the most ischemic myocardial segments. IL-8 mRNA peaked in the first 3 h of reperfusion and persisted at high levels beyond 24 h. IL-8 staining was present in the inflammatory infiltrate near the border between necrotic and viable myocardium, as well as in small veins in the same area. These findings provide the first direct evidence for regulation of IL-8 in ischemic and reperfused canine myocardium and support the hypothesis that IL-8 participates in neutrophil-mediated myocardial injury.

Spontaneous calcium release from sarcoplasmic reticulum. A re-examination.

A recent study by Blayney and co-workers (Blayney, L., Thomas, H., Muir, J. and Henderson, A. (1977) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 470, 128--133) purported to demonstrate that apparent spontaneous calcium release in sarcoplasmic reticulum is an artifact of the uptake of murexide dye. This report demonstrates that spontaneous calcium release (1) takes place despite equilibration of murexide sarcoplasmic reticulum to a stable baseline; (2) may be reversed by addition of ATP or oxalate after release has begun. The identical phenomenon can be demonstrated utilizing the indicator arsenazo III or Millipore filtration methods. The results suggest that equilibration of the murexide with sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles must occur prior to ATP addition in order to achieve a stable baseline but that spontaneous calcium release is not an artifact.

Calcium uptake by two preparations of mitochondria from heart.

Ca/+ transport and respiratory characteristics of two preparations of cardiac mitochondria (Palmer, J.W., Tandler, B. and Hoppel, C.L. (1977) J. Biol. Chem. 252, 8731-8739) isolated using polytron homogenization (subsarcolemmal mitochondria) and limited Nagarse exposure (intermyofibrillar mitochondria) are described. The Nagarse procedure yields mitochondria with 50% higher rates of oxidative phosphorylation than the polytron-prepared mitochondria in both rat and dog. Rat hear intermyofibrillar mitochondria contain 50% more cytochrome aa3 than the polytron preparation, whereas in the dog, cytochrome aa3 content is not significantly different. Cytochrome oxidase activities and cytochrome c, c1 and b contents were comparable in both populations of rat and dog heart mitochondria. The V of succinate-supported Ca2+ accumulation for Nagarse-prepared mitochondria from rat heart was 1.8-fold higher than the polytron-prepared mitochondria. In dog heart, the Nagarse preparation showed a 3.0-fold higher V for Ca2+ uptake compared to the polytron preparation. A lower apparent affinity for Ca2+ was demonstrated in the intermyofibrillar mitochondria for both species (Km is 2-2.5-fold higher). The Hill coefficient was 1 both mitochondrial types. Subsarcolemmal mitochondria from both species were treated with Nagarse to determine the role of this treatment on the observed differences. Nagarse did not alter any kinetic parameter of Ca2+ uptake. The properties of these mitochondria with reference to their presumed intracellular location may pertain to the role of mitochondria as an intracellular Ca2+ buffering mechanism in contractile tissue.

The rate of calcium uptake into sarcoplasmic reticulum of cardiac muscle and skeletal muscle. Effects of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase and phosphorylase b kinase.

Calcium transport into sarcoplasmic reticulum fragments isolated from dog cardiac and mixed skeletal muscle (quadriceps) and from mixed fast (tibialis), pure fast (caudofemoralis) and pure slow (soleus) skeletal muscles from the cat was studied. Cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase and phosphorylase b kinase stimulated the rate of calcium transport although some variability was observed. A specific protein kinase inhibitor prevented the effect of protein kinase but not of phosphorylase b kinase. The addition of cyclic AMP to the sarcoplasmic reticulum preparations in the absence of protein kinase had only a slight stimulatory effect despite the presence of endogenous protein kinase. Cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase catalyzed the phosphorylation of several components present in the sarcoplasmic reticulum fragments; a 19000 to 21 000 dalton peak was phosphorylated with high specific activity in sarcoplasmic reticulum preparations isolated from heart and from slow skeletal muscle, but not from fast skeletal muscle. Phosphorylase b kinase phosphorylated a peak of molecular weight 95000 in all of the preparations. Cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase-stimulated phosphorylation was optimum at pH 6.8; phosphorylase b kinase phosphorylation had a biphasic curve in cardiac and slow skeletal muscle with optima at pH 6.8 and 8.0. The addition of exogenous phosphorylase b kinase or protein kinase increased the endogenous level of phosphorylation 25-100%. All sarcoplasmic reticulum preparations contained varying amounts of adenylate cyclase, phosphorylase b and a (b:a = 30.1), "debrancher" enzyme and glycogen (0.3 mg/mg protein), as well as varying amounts of protein kinase and phosphorylase b kinase which were responsible for a significant endogenous phosphorylation. Thus, the two phosphorylating enzymes stimulated calcium uptake in the sarcoplasmic reticulum of a variety of muscles possessing different physiologic characteristics and different responses to drugs. In addition, the phosphorylation catalyzed by these enzymes occurred at two different protein moieties which make physiologic interpretation of the role of phosphorylation difficult. While the role phosphorylation in these mechanisms is complex, the presence of a glycogenolytic enzyme system may be an important link in this phenomenon. The sarcoplasmic reticulum represents a new substrate for phosphorylase b kinase.

Cyclic AMP modulation of calcium accumulation by sarcoplasmic reticulum from fast skeletal muscle.

The role of cyclic 3',5'-AMP in modulating sarcoplasmic reticulum from fast skeletal muscle was studied. The rate of Ca2+ uptake was stimulated in the presence of protein kinase plus 1 micron cyclic AMP. The stimulation was absent when denatured protein kinase was used. When an adenylate cyclase inhibitor was added, the uptake rates fell to 55% of control. This decrease in rate was partially overcome by 1 micron cyclic AMP. A modulating role for cyclic AMP in fast skeletal muscle is proposed.

The cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum-glycogenolytic complex. A possible effector site for cyclic AMP.

Cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum-glycogenolytic complex, isolated as a single peak on sucrose density gradient, may function as a "compartmented" effector site for cyclic AMP resulting in modulation of both glycogenolysis and calcium transport. The conversion of phosphorylase b to a is stimulated by ATP and inhibited by protein kinase inhibitor. Cyclic AMP alone stimulated neither phosphorylase b to a conversion nor calcium uptake. An inhibitor of adenylate cyclase depressed both calcium uptake and phosphorylase activation and both functions were subsequently stimulated by micromolar concentrations of cyclic AMP. Endogenous phosphorylation of sarcoplasmic reticulum was also inhibited by adenylate cyclase inhibitor and the inhibition was reversed by cyclic AMP. These results suggest that the sarcoplasmic reticulum of cardiac muscle is an internal effector site for cyclic AMP which may regulate both calcium and metabolism. It appears that cyclic AMP formation in vitro is not the rate-controlling step in the activation sequence.