Endothermy in the smalleye opah (Lampris incognitus): A potential role for the uncoupling protein sarcolipin.

Sarcolipin (SLN) is a small transmembrane protein that in mice has been shown to uncouple the calcium ATPase pump of the sarcoplasmic reticulum, resulting in heat production. Mice up-regulate expression of SLN in response to cold challenge. This thermoregulatory mechanism is characterized as non-shivering muscle-based thermogenesis (NST). The current study was conducted to determine if the endothermic fish species, the smalleye opah (Lampris incognitus), has higher levels of sln transcription in tissues thought to be the main source of endothermic heat, namely the red aerobic pectoral fin musculature, which powers continuous swimming in this species. A search of the draft assembly of the opah genome reveals a single sln gene that is 95% identical to the zebrafish sln ortholog at the amino acid level. Quantitative PCR (qPCR) using opah-specific sln shows significantly higher sln transcript levels in the dark red pectoral fin muscle compared to both the light red pectoral muscle and white axial muscle tissues. The high ratio of sln transcripts to CaATPase (serca1) transcripts suggests that opah may utilize a futile calcium cycling NST mechanism in the dark red pectoral fin muscle to generate heat.

Identification of the human PMR1 mRNA endonuclease as an alternatively processed product of the gene for peroxidasin-like protein.

The PMR1 endonuclease was discovered in Xenopus liver and identified as a member of the large and diverse peroxidase gene family. The peroxidase genes arose from multiple duplication and rearrangement events, and their high degree of sequence similarity confounded attempts to identify human PMR1. The functioning of PMR1 in mRNA decay depends on the phosphorylation of a tyrosine in the C-terminal polysome targeting domain by c-Src. The sequences of regions that are required for c-Src binding and phosphorylation of Xenopus PMR1 were used to inform a bioinformatics search that identified two related genes as potential candidates for human PMR1: peroxidasin homolog (PXDN) and peroxidasin homolog-like (PXDNL) protein. Although each of these genes is predicted to encode a large, multidomain membrane-bound peroxidase, alternative splicing of PXDNL pre-mRNA yields a transcript whose predicted product is a 57-kDa protein with 42% sequence identity to Xenopus PMR1. Results presented here confirm the existence of the predicted 57-kDa protein, show this is the only form of PXDNL detected in any of the human cell lines examined, and confirm its identity as human PMR1. Like the Xenopus protein, human PMR1 binds to c-Src, is tyrosine phosphorylated, sediments on polysomes, and catalyzes the selective decay of a PMR1 substrate mRNA. Importantly, the expression of human PMR1 stimulates cell motility in a manner similar to that of the Xenopus PMR1 expressed in human cells, thus providing definitive evidence linking endonuclease decay to the regulation of cell motility.

Expression of Ca(2+)-ATPase in sarcoplasmic reticulum in rat cardiomyocytes during experimental postinfarction cardiosclerosis and diabetes mellitus.

We studied the expression of Ca(2+)-ATPase in sarcoplasmic reticulum of rat cardiomyocytes during isolated and combined development of postinfarction cardiosclerosis and diabetes mellitus. Postinfarction cardiosclerosis was formed within 6 weeks after coronary artery occlusion. Diabetes mellitus developed within 6 weeks after intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (60 mg/kg). Ca(2+)-ATPase in homogenate of rat myocardium was assayed by immunoblotting. Ischemic and diabetic remodeling of the myocardium was associated with reduced expression of Ca(2+)-ATPase in the sarcoplasmic reticulum. Combined pathology was characterized by minimum decrease in the level of this protein. It was concluded that induction of diabetes mellitus at the early stage of postinfarction cardiosclerosis triggered adaptive mechanisms that prevent the decrease in Ca(2+)-ATPase level in the sarcoplasmic reticulum of cardiomyocytes.

Tail-anchored membrane protein SLMAP is a novel regulator of cardiac function at the sarcoplasmic reticulum.

Sarcolemmal membrane-associated proteins (SLMAPs) are components of cardiac membranes involved in excitation-contraction (E-C) coupling. Here, we assessed the role of SLMAP in cardiac structure and function. We generated transgenic (Tg) mice with cardiac-restricted overexpression of SLMAP1 bearing the transmembrane domain 2 (TM2) to potentially interfere with endogenous SLMAP through homodimerization and subcellular targeting. Histological examination revealed vacuolated myocardium; the severity of which correlated with the expression level of SLMAP1-TM2. High resolution microscopy showed dilation of the sarcoplasmic reticulum/endoplasmic reticulum (SR/ER) and confocal imaging combined with biochemical analysis indicated targeting of SLMAP1-TM2 to the SR/ER membranes and inappropriate homodimerization. Older (28 wk of age) Tg mice exhibited reduced contractility with impaired relaxation as assessed by left ventricle pressure monitoring. The ventricular dysfunction was associated with electrophysiological abnormalities (elongated QT interval). Younger (5 wk of age) Tg mice also exhibited an elongated QT interval with minimal functional disturbances associated with the activation of the fetal gene program. They were less responsive to isoproterenol challenge (ΔdP/dt(max)) and developed electrical and left ventricular pressure alternans. The altered electrophysiological and functional disturbances in Tg mice were associated with diminished expression level of calcium cycling proteins of the sarcoplasmic reticulum such as the ryanodine receptor, Ca(2+)-ATPase, calsequestrin, and triadin (but not phospholamban), as well as significantly reduced calcium uptake in microsomal fractions. These data demonstrate that SLMAP is a regulator of E-C coupling at the level of the SR and its perturbation results in progressive deterioration of cardiac electrophysiology and function.

2-BFI attenuates experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis-induced spinal cord injury with enhanced B-CK, CaATPase, but reduced calpain activity.

The lack of disease-modifying pharmacological agents for effective treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS) still represents a large and urgent unmet medical need. Our previous studies showed that ligands to type 2 imidazoline receptors (I(2)R) were effective in protecting spinal cord injury caused by experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), a mouse model of MS. In this study, we further examined the protective property of a very selective ligand of I(2)R, 2-(2-benzofuranyl) 2-imidazoline (2-BFI) against EAE. Importantly, a mechanism of 2-BFI-mediated protection was investigated which possibly involves an I(2)R binding protein, brain-creatine kinase (B-CK), as well as CaATPase and calpain. The enzymatic activity of B-CK and CaATPase was significantly reduced in EAE injured spinal cord. Reduction of B-CK activity in EAE spinal cord may lead to energy reduction and dysfunction in cellular calcium homeostasis. Increased intracellular calcium evokes elevation of calpain activity occurring in EAE spinal cord which causes further tissue damage. Indeed, EAE injured spinal cord showed significant reduction in CaATPase and increase calpain activities. Remarkably, spinal cord tissue from mice treated daily with 2-BFI during the progression of EAE significantly restored B-CK and CaATPase enzymatic activities and showed no induction in calpain activity. Moreover, EAE spinal cord from 2-BFI treated mice also demonstrated better preservation of myelin; reduced axonal injury, as evidenced by the lower level of ß-APP expression, and above all, highly improved neurobehavioral scores (p<0.01; n=10). These findings suggest that 2-BFI can be further developed as a therapeutic drug for MS treatment.

Dilated cardiomyopathy mutant tropomyosin mice develop cardiac dysfunction with significantly decreased fractional shortening and myofilament calcium sensitivity.

Mutations in striated muscle alpha-tropomyosin (alpha-TM), an essential thin filament protein, cause both dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Two distinct point mutations within alpha-tropomyosin are associated with the development of DCM in humans: Glu40Lys and Glu54Lys. To investigate the functional consequences of alpha-TM mutations associated with DCM, we generated transgenic mice that express mutant alpha-TM (Glu54Lys) in the adult heart. Results showed that an increase in transgenic protein expression led to a reciprocal decrease in endogenous alpha-TM levels, with total myofilament TM protein levels remaining unaltered. Histological and morphological analyses revealed development of DCM with progression to heart failure and frequently death by 6 months. Echocardiographic analyses confirmed the dilated phenotype of the heart with a significant decrease in the left ventricular fractional shortening. Work-performing heart analyses showed significantly impaired systolic, and diastolic functions and the force measurements of cardiac myofibers revealed that the myofilaments had significantly decreased Ca(2+) sensitivity and tension generation. Real-time RT-PCR quantification demonstrated an increased expression of beta-myosin heavy chain, brain natriuretic peptide, and skeletal actin and a decreased expression of the Ca(2+) handling proteins sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase and ryanodine receptor. Furthermore, our study also indicates that the alpha-TM54 mutation decreases tropomyosin flexibility, which may influence actin binding and myofilament Ca(2+) sensitivity. The pathological and physiological phenotypes exhibited by these mice are consistent with those seen in human DCM and heart failure. As such, this is the first mouse model in which a mutation in a sarcomeric thin filament protein, specifically TM, leads to DCM.

Concerted but noncooperative activation of nucleotide and actuator domains of the Ca-ATPase upon calcium binding.

Calcium-dependent domain movements of the actuator (A) and nucleotide (N) domains of the SERCA2a isoform of the Ca-ATPase were assessed using constructs containing engineered tetracysteine binding motifs, which were expressed in insect High-Five cells and subsequently labeled with the biarsenical fluorophore 4',5'-bis(1,3,2-dithioarsolan-2-yl)fluorescein (FlAsH-EDT(2)). Maximum catalytic function is retained in microsomes isolated from High-Five cells and labeled with FlAsH-EDT(2). Distance measurements using the nucleotide analog 2',3'-O-(2,4,6-trinitrophenyl) adenosine 5'-triphosphate (TNP-ATP), which acts as a fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) acceptor from FlAsH, identify a 2.4 A increase in the spatial separation between the N- and A-domains induced by high-affinity calcium binding; this structural change is comparable to that observed in crystal structures. No significant distance changes occur across the N-domain between FlAsH and TNP-ATP, indicating that calcium activation induces rigid body domain movements rather than intradomain conformational changes. Calcium-dependent decreases in the fluorescence of FlAsH bound, respectively, to either the N- or A-domains indicate coordinated and noncooperative domain movements, where both A- and N-domains display virtually identical calcium dependencies (i.e., K(d) = 4.8 +/- 0.4 microM). We suggest that occupancy of a single high-affinity calcium binding site induces the rearrangement of the A- and N-domains of the Ca-ATPase to form an intermediate state, which facilitates phosphoenzyme formation from ATP upon occupancy of the second high-affinity calcium site.

Involvement of an ABI-like protein and a Ca2+-ATPase in drought tolerance as revealed by transcript profiling of a sweetpotato somatic hybrid and its parents Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam. and I. triloba L.

Previously, we obtained the sweetpotato somatic hybrid KT1 from a cross between sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.) cv. Kokei No. 14 and its drought-tolerant wild relative I. triloba L. KT1 not only inherited the thick storage root characteristic of Kokei No. 14 but also the drought-tolerance trait of I. triloba L. The aim of this study was to explore the molecular mechanism of the drought tolerance of KT1. Four-week-old in vitro-grown plants of KT1, Kokei No. 14, and I. triloba L. were subjected to a simulated drought stress treatment (30% PEG6000) for 0, 6, 12 and 24 h. Total RNA was extracted from samples at each time point, and then used for transcriptome sequencing. The gene transcript profiles of KT1 and its parents were compared to identify differentially expressed genes, and drought-related modules were screened by a weighted gene co-expression network analysis. The functions of ABI-like protein and Ca2+-ATPase, two proteins screened from the cyan and light yellow modules, were analyzed in terms of their potential roles in drought tolerance in KT1 and its parents. These analyses of the drought responses of KT1 and its somatic donors at the transcriptional level provide new annotations for the molecular mechanism of drought tolerance in the somatic hybrid KT1 and its parents.

Phenotype of a calbindin-D9k gene knockout is compensated for by the induction of other calcium transporter genes in a mouse model.

UNLABELLED: CaBP-9k may be involved in the active calcium absorption and embryo implantation. Although we generated CaBP-9k KO mice to explore its function, no distinct phenotypes were observed in these KO mice. It can be hypothesized that TRPV5 and 6 and plasma membrane calcium ATPase 1b may play a role in the regulation of calcium transport to compensate CaBP-9k deficiency in its KO model. INTRODUCTION: Active calcium transport in the duodenum and kidney is carried in three steps: calcium entry through epithelial Ca2+ channels (TRPV5 and TRPV6), buffering and/or transport by calbindin-D9k (CaBP-9k) and -D28k (CaBP-28k), and extrusion through the plasma membrane calcium ATPase 1b (PMCA1b) and sodium/calcium exchanger 1. Although the molecular mechanism of calcium absorption has been studied using knockouts (KOs) of the vitamin D receptor and CaBP-28k in animals, the process is not fully understood. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We generated CaBP-9k KO mice and assessed the phenotypic characterization and the molecular regulation of active calcium transporting genes when the mice were fed different calcium diets during growth. RESULTS: General phenotypes showed no distinct abnormalities. Thus, the active calcium transport of CaBP-9k-null mice proceeded normally in this study. Therefore, the compensatory molecular regulation of this mechanism was elucidated. Duodenal TRPV6 and CaBP-9k mRNA of wildtype (WT) mice increased gradually during preweaning. CaBP-9k is supposed to be an important factor in active calcium transport, but its role is probably compensated for by other calcium transporter genes (i.e., intestinal TRPV6 and PMCA1b) during preweaning and renal calcium transporters in adult mice. CONCLUSIONS: Depletion of the CaBP-9k gene in a KO mouse model had little phenotypic effect, suggesting that its depletion may be compensated for by calcium transporter genes in the intestine of young mice and in the kidney of adult mice.

How does glucose insulin potassium improve hemodynamic performance? Evidence for altered expression of beta-adrenoreceptor and calcium handling genes.

BACKGROUND: Glucose insulin potassium (GIK) improves hemodynamic performance after coronary artery surgery (CABG). We investigated whether this is associated with changes in gene expression of beta1-adrenergic receptor (ADRB1) or other calcium handling proteins. METHODS AND RESULTS: During a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial, 48 patients undergoing on-pump CABG, allocated to receive pre-ischemic placebo (5% dextrose) or GIK (40% dextrose, K+ 100 mmol.L(-1), insulin 70 u.L(-1); 0.75 mL.kg(-1).h(-1)) continued for 6 hours after the removal of the aortic cross-clamp (AXC), underwent left ventricular biopsy for analysis of specific mRNAs immediately before AXC, before release of AXC, and 10 minutes after reperfusion (placebo n=24, GIK n=24). GIK or placebo was infused for a mean of 79+/-21 minutes or 79+/-18 minutes pre-ischemia respectively. Serial hemodynamic measurements were performed. Biopsy samples were snap-frozen and stored at -80 degrees C, mRNA was extracted and TaqMan real-time polymerase chain reaction was performed to investigate expression of ADRB1, sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca-ATPase (SERCA2a), and phospholamban (PLB). GIK significantly increased cardiac index versus placebo (P=0.037). TaqMan reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction showed significantly greater ADRB1 mRNA expression at all time points (4.9-fold, 7.4-fold, and 15.6-fold increase, respectively; P<0.001), significantly greater SERCA2a mRNA expression after reperfusion (13.2-fold; P<0.001), and increased PLB mRNA expression at pre-ischemia and reperfusion (P<0.001 for both time-points) in GIK groups versus placebo. CONCLUSIONS: The beneficial hemodynamic effects of GIK therapy are associated with increased ADRB1 and SERCA2a mRNA expression. Further work is therefore warranted to investigate these mRNA effects at the protein level.

Relevance of brain natriuretic peptide in preload-dependent regulation of cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ ATPase expression.

BACKGROUND: In heart failure (HF), ventricular myocardium expresses brain natriuretic peptide (BNP). Despite the association of elevated serum levels with poor prognosis, BNP release is considered beneficial because of its antihypertrophic, vasodilating, and diuretic properties. However, there is evidence that BNP-mediated signaling may adversely influence cardiac remodeling, with further impairment of calcium homeostasis. METHODS AND RESULTS: We studied the effects of BNP on preload-dependent myocardial sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ ATPase (SERCA2a) expression. In rabbit isolated muscle strips stretched to high preload and shortening isotonically over 6 hours, the SERCA/glyceraldehyde phosphate dehydrogenase mRNA ratio was enhanced by 168% (n=8) compared with unloaded preparations (n=8; P<0.001). Recombinant human BNP at a concentration typically found in end-stage HF patients (350 pg/mL) abolished SERCA upregulation by stretch (n=9; P<0.0001 versus BNP free). Inhibition of cyclic guanosine 3',5' monophosphate (cGMP)-phosphodiesterase-5 mimicked this effect, whereas inhibition of cGMP-dependent protein kinase restored preload-dependent SERCA upregulation in the presence of recombinant human BNP. Furthermore, in myocardium from human end-stage HF patients undergoing cardiac transplantation (n=15), BNP expression was inversely correlated with SERCA levels. Moreover, among 23 patients treated with left ventricular assist devices, significant SERCA2a recovery occurred in those downregulating BNP. CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate that preload stimulates SERCA expression. BNP antagonizes this mechanism via guanylyl cyclase-A, cGMP, and cGMP-dependent protein kinase. This novel action of BNP to uncouple preload-dependent SERCA expression may adversely affect contractility in patients with HF.

Nitric oxide, atrial natriuretic peptide, and cyclic GMP inhibit the growth-promoting effects of norepinephrine in cardiac myocytes and fibroblasts.

This study tested the hypothesis that nitric oxide (NO) and atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) can attenuate the effects of adrenergic agonists on the growth of cardiac myocytes and fibroblasts. In ventricular cells cultured from neonatal rat heart, ANP and the NO donor S-nitroso-N-acetyl-D,L-penicillamine (SNAP) caused concentration-dependent decreases in the norepinephrine (NE)-stimulated incorporation of [3H]leucine in myocytes and [3H]thymidine in fibroblasts. In myocytes, the NO synthase inhibitor NG-monomethyl-L-arginine potentiated NE-stimulated [3H]leucine incorporation. In both cell types, ANP and SNAP increased intracellular cGMP levels, and their growth-suppressing effects were mimicked by the cGMP analogue 8-bromo-cGMP. Furthermore, in myocytes, 8-bromo-cGMP attenuated the alpha1-adrenergic receptor-stimulated increases in c-fos. Likewise, ANP and 8-bromo-cGMP attenuated the alpha1-adrenergic receptor- stimulated increase in prepro-ANP mRNA and the alpha1-adrenergic receptor-stimulated decrease in sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPase mRNA. The L-type Ca2+ channel blockers verapamil and nifedipine inhibited NE-stimulated incorporation of [3H]leucine in myocytes and [3H]thymidine in fibroblasts, and these effects were not additive with those of ANP, SNAP, or 8-bromo-cGMP. In myocytes, the Ca2+ channel agonist BAY K8644 caused an increase in [3H]leucine incorporation which was inhibited by ANP. These findings indicate that NO and ANP can attenuate the effects of NE on the growth of cardiac myocytes and fibroblasts, most likely by a cGMP-mediated inhibition of NE-stimulated Ca2+ influx.

Calcineurin inhibits VCX1-dependent H+/Ca2+ exchange and induces Ca2+ ATPases in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The PMC1 gene in Saccharomyces cerevisiae encodes a vacuolar Ca2+ ATPase required for growth in high-Ca2+ conditions. Previous work showed that Ca2+ tolerance can be restored to pmc1 mutants by inactivation of calcineurin, a Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein phosphatase sensitive to the immunosuppressive drug FK506. We now report that calcineurin decreases Ca2+ tolerance of pmc1 mutants by inhibiting the function of VCX1, which encodes a vacuolar H+/Ca2+ exchanger related to vertebrate Na+/Ca2+ exchangers. The contribution of VCX1 in Ca2+ tolerance is low in strains with a functional calcineurin and is high in strains which lack calcineurin activity. In contrast, the contribution of PMC1 to Ca2+ tolerance is augmented by calcineurin activation. Consistent with these positive and negative roles of calcineurin, expression of a vcx1::lacZ reporter was slightly diminished and a pmc1::lacZ reporter was induced up to 500-fold by processes dependent on calcineurin, calmodulin, and Ca2+. It is likely that calcineurin inhibits VCX1 function mainly by posttranslational mechanisms. Activities of VCX1 and PMC1 help to control cytosolic free Ca2+ concentrations because their function can decrease pmc1::lacZ induction by calcineurin. Additional studies with reporter genes and mutants indicate that PMR1 and PMR2A, encoding P-type ion pumps required for Mn2+ and Na+ tolerance, may also be induced physiologically in response to high-Mn2+ and -Na+ conditions through calcineurin-dependent mechanisms. In these situations, inhibition of VCX1 function may be important for the production of Ca2+ signals. We propose that elevated cytosolic free Ca2+ concentrations, calmodulin, and calcineurin regulate at least four ion transporters in S. cerevisiae in response to several environmental conditions.

Ca2+ content and expression of an acidocalcisomal calcium pump are elevated in intracellular forms of Trypanosoma cruzi.

The survival of a eukaryotic protozoan as an obligate parasite in the interior of a eukaryotic host cell implies its adaptation to an environment with a very different ionic composition from that of its extracellular habitat. This is particularly important in the case of Ca2+, the intracellular concentration of which is 3 orders of magnitude lower than the extracellular value. Ca2+ entry across the plasma membrane is a widely recognized mechanism for Ca2+ signaling, needed for a number of intracellular processes, and obviously, it would be restricted in the case of intracellular parasites. Here we show that Trypanosoma cruzi amastigotes possess a higher Ca2+ content than the extracellular stages of the parasite. This correlates with the higher expression of a calcium pump, the gene for which was cloned and sequenced. The deduced protein product (Tca1) of this gene has a calculated molecular mass of 121,141 Da and exhibits 34 to 38% identity with vacuolar Ca2+-ATPases of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Dictyostelium discoideum, respectively. The tca1 gene suppresses the Ca2+ hypersensitivity of a mutant of S. cerevisiae that has a defect in vacuolar Ca2+ accumulation. Indirect immunofluorescence and immunoelectron microscopy analysis indicate that Tca1 colocalizes with the vacuolar H+-ATPase to the plasma membrane and to intracellular vacuoles of T. cruzi. These vacuoles were shown to have the same size and distribution as the calcium-containing vacuoles identified by the potassium pyroantimoniate-osmium technique and as the electron-dense vacuoles observed in whole unfixed parasites by transmission electron microscopy and identified in a previous work (D. A. Scott, R. Docampo, J. A. Dvorak, S. Shi, and R. D. Leapman, J. Biol. Chem. 272:28020-28029, 1997) as being acidic and possessing a high calcium content (i.e., acidocalcisomes). Together, these results suggest that acidocalcisomes are distinct from other previously recognized organelles present in these parasites and underscore the ability of intracellular parasites to adapt to the hostile environment of their hosts.

Diallyl tetrasulfide modulates the cadmium-induced impairment of membrane bound enzymes in rats.

Cadmium (Cd) induces extensive membrane damage that contributes to the cytotoxic effect of Cd. We studied the effect of diallyl tetrasulfide (DTS) from garlic on Cd-induced changes in lipid peroxidation and membrane-bound enzymes in liver, kidney, and testis of rats. Cadmium exposure (3 mg/kg body weight, s.c) for 3 weeks induced a significant elevation in the levels of lipid peroxidation markers (thiobarbituric acid substances and lipid hydroperoxides) with a significant decrease in the activities of membrane bound ATPases (Na+/K+ ATPase, Ca2+ ATPase, Mg2+ ATPase), the indicators of membrane function in liver, kidney and testis. The oral administration of DTS (40 mg/kg body weight) along with Cd significantly decreased the level of lipid peroxidation and significantly restored the activities of membrane bound ATPases. The results of our study suggest that DTS attenuates lipid peroxidation in tissues and promotes the stability of the membrane by protecting it from Cd-induced alterations.

[Alterations in gene expression of calcium handling proteins in patients with chronic atrial fibrillation].

OBJECTIVE: To discuss the role of calcium-overloading in initiation and maintenance of atrial fibrillation (AF). METHODS: The right atrial appendages were obtained from 14 patients with AF and 12 patients with sinus rhythm. The mRNA expression of proteins influencing the calcium homeostasis was measured by semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and normalized to the mRNA level of glyceraldehyde-3- phosphate dehydrogenase. The left atrial diameter (LAD), mitral valvular area (MVOA), and systolic pulmonary arterial pressure were obtained by echocardiography before surgery. RESULTS: Compared to sinus rhythm group, the mRNA levels of L-type calcium channel alc, sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR), calcium adenosine triphosphatase (Ca2+ -ATPase), and ryanodine receptor type-2 (R(Y) R2) were significantly decreased (P < 0.01); the mRNA level of inositol triphosphate receptor type-1 (IP3R1) was significantly increased (P < 0.05). No changes in the mRNA expression of phospholamban and calsequestrin were observed between two groups (P > 0.05). Correlations were found between MVOA and mRNA levels of LVDC-Calc, SR Ca2+ -ATPase (r = 0.719, P = 0.004; r = 0.625, P = 0.017). The mRNA level of SR Ca2+ -ATPase was negatively correlated with LAD (r = -0.573, P = 0.032). CONCLUSIONS: Calcium loading may be responsible for the occurrence and maintenance of AF, and abnormal regulation in the mRNA expression may be the molecular mechanism of intracellular Ca2+ overload. The progressive nature of AF involves structural change.

Does the beta2-agonist clenbuterol help to maintain myocardial potential to recover during mechanical unloading?

OBJECTIVE: Chronic mechanical unloading induces left ventricular (LV) atrophy, which may impair functional recovery during support with an LV-assist device. Clenbuterol, a beta2-adrenergic receptor (AR) agonist, is known to induce myocardial hypertrophy and might prevent LV atrophy during LV unloading. Furthermore, beta2-AR stimulation is reported to improve Ca2+ handling and contribute to antiapoptosis. However, there is little information on the effects of clenbuterol during LV unloading. METHODS AND RESULTS: We investigated LV atrophy and function after LV unloading produced by heterotopic heart transplantation in isogenic rats. After transplantation, rats were randomized to 1 of 2 groups (n=10 each). The clenbuterol group received 2 mg.kg(-1).d(-1) of the drug for 2 weeks; the control group received normal saline. The weight of unloaded control hearts was 48% less than that of host hearts after 2 weeks of unloading. Clenbuterol significantly increased the weight of the host hearts but did not prevent unloading-induced LV atrophy. Papillary muscles were isolated and stimulated, and there was no difference in developed tension between the 2 groups. However, the inotropic response to the beta-AR agonist isoproterenol significantly improved in the clenbuterol group. The mRNA expression of myocardial sarco(endo)plasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase 2a (SERCA2a) and fetal gene shift (myosin heavy chain [MHC] mRNA isozyme) was also significantly improved by clenbuterol treatment. There was no difference in beta1-AR mRNA expression between the 2 groups. In contrast, beta2-AR mRNA was significantly decreased in the clenbuterol-treated, unloaded heart. This indicates that clenbuterol may downregulate beta2-ARs. In the evaluation of apoptosis, mRNA expression of caspase-3, which is the central pathway for apoptosis, tended to be better in the clenbuterol group. CONCLUSIONS: During complete LV unloading, clenbuterol did not prevent myocardial atrophy but improved gene expression (SERCA2a, beta-MHC) and beta-adrenergic responsiveness and potentially prevented myocardial apoptosis. However, chronic administration of clenbuterol may be associated with downregulation of beta2-ARs.

Intracerebral hemorrhage elicits aberration in cardiomyocyte contractile function and intracellular Ca2+ transients.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The sequelae of intracerebral hemorrhage involve multiple organ damage including electrocardiographic alteration, although the mechanism(s) behind myocardial dysfunction is unknown. The aim of this study was to examine the impact of intracerebral hemorrhage on cardiomyocyte contractile function, intracellular Ca2+ handling, Ca2+ cycling proteins, I kappa B beta protein (IkappaB) phosphorylation, hypoxia-inducible factor 1alpha (HIF-1alpha), and nitrosative damage within 48 hours of injury. METHODS: Mechanical and intracellular Ca2+ properties were evaluated including peak shortening (PS), maximal velocity of shortening/relengthening (+/-dL/dt), time-to-PS (TPS), time-to-90% relengthening (TR90), fura-2 fluorescence intensity (FFI), and intracellular Ca2+ decay. RESULTS: Myocytes from intracerebral hemorrhage rats exhibited depressed PS, +/-dL/dt, prolonged TPS and TR90, as well as declined baseline FFI and slowed intracellular Ca2+ decay between 12 and 24 hours after injury. Most of these aberrations returned to normal levels 48 hours after hemorrhage with the exception of -dL/dt and TR90. Myocytes from 24-hour posthemorrhage rats exhibited a stepper negative staircase in PS with increased stimulus frequency. Cardiac expression of sarco(endo)plasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase 2a and phospholamban was enhanced, whereas that of Na+-Ca2+ exchanger and voltage-dependent K+ channel was decreased. IkappaB phosphorylation, HIF-1alpha, inducible NO synthase, and 3-nitrotyrosine were enhanced 12 hours after injury. CONCLUSIONS: These data demonstrated that intracerebral hemorrhage initiates cardiomyocyte contractile and intracellular Ca2+ dysregulation possibly related to altered expression of Ca2+ cycling proteins, nitrosative damage, and myocardial phosphorylation of IkappaB.

Sarco/endoplasmic reticulum calcium-ATPase 2 expression as a tumor marker in colorectal cancer.

Maintaining a high calcium concentration in the endoplasmic reticulum through the action of sarco/endoplasmic reticulum calcium-ATPases (SERCAs) is crucial in many cell functions involved in intracellular signal transduction, control of proliferation, programmed cell death, or the synthesis of mature proteins. Recent studies have found that many SERCAs have altered expression patterns in various malignancies. The purpose of the current study was to quantify the expression of SERCA2 in colorectal cancer (CRC) tissues and the corresponding noncancerous tissues, and to statistically analyze whether the SERCA2 expression levels correlate with the clinico-pathologic features and prognosis of CRC patients. Paired colorectal tissue samples from cancerous and the corresponding noncancerous tissues were obtained from 50 patients who underwent surgical resection. Semiquantitative measurements of SERCA2 messenger RNA (mRNA) expression were done using the multiplex reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. CRC tissues were analyzed through immunohistochemistry for the SERCA2 protein. SERCA2 mRNA overexpression in cancerous tissues compared with normal counterparts was observed in 45 of 50 (90%) patients. The mean expression level of SERCA2 mRNA in cancerous tissues was significantly higher than that in noncancerous tissues (P = 0.01). Increased SERCA2 protein expression was significantly correlated with serosal invasion (P = 0.012), lymph node metastasis (P = 0.009), and advanced tumor stage (P = 0.004). Furthermore, patients with high SERCA2 expression had a significantly poorer overall survival rate than patients with low SERCA2 (P = 0.032). Multivariate analyses indicated that tumor stage (P = 0.015) and SERCA2 expression were independently correlated with overall survival (P = 0.018). The result of this study indicated that SERCA2 may be a molecular determinant in the development and progression of CRC. The molecular mechanisms underlying the SERCA-dependent calcium accumulation and CRC tumorigenesis are worthy of further investigations.

Tight control of exogenous SERCA expression is required to obtain acceleration of calcium transients with minimal cytotoxic effects in cardiac myocytes.

Collateral effects of exogenous sarcoendoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+) ATPase (SERCA) expression were characterized in neonatal rat and chicken embryo cardiac myocytes, and the conditions required to produce acceleration of Ca(2+) transients with minimal toxicity were established. Cultured myocytes were infected with adenovirus vector carrying the cDNA of wild-type SERCA1, an inactive SERCA1 mutant, or enhanced green fluorescence protein under control of the cytomegalovirus promoter. Controls were exposed to empty virus vector. Each group was tested with and without phenylephrine (PHE) treatment. Under conditions of limited calf-serum exposure, the infected rat myocytes manifested a more rapid increase in size, protein content, and rate of protein synthesis relative to noninfected controls. These changes were not accompanied by reversal to fetal transcriptional pattern (as observed in hypertrophy triggered by PHE) and may be attributable to facilitated exchange with serum factors. SERCA virus titers >5 to 6 plaque-forming units per cell produced overcrowding of ATPase molecules on intracellular membranes, followed by apoptotic death of a significant number of rat but not chicken myocytes. Enhanced green fluorescence protein virus and empty virus also produced cytotoxic effects but at higher titers than SERCA. Expression of exogenous SERCA and enhancement of Ca(2+) transient kinetics could be obtained with minimal cell damage in rat myocytes if the SERCA virus titer were maintained within 1 to 4 plaque-forming units per cell. Expression of endogenous SERCA was unchanged, but expression of exogenous SERCA was higher in myocytes rendered hypertrophic by treatment with PHE than in nontreated controls.