The mixed-lineage kinase 1-3 signalling pathway regulates stress response in cardiac myocytes via GATA-4 and AP-1 transcription factors.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The mixed-lineage kinases (MLKs) act upstream of mitogen-activated protein kinases, but their role in cardiac biology and pathology is largely unknown. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: We investigated the effect of a MLK1-3 inhibitor CEP-11004 on G protein-coupled receptor agonist-induced stress response in neonatal rat cardiac myocytes in culture. KEY RESULTS: CEP-11004 administration dose-dependently attenuated phenylephrine and endothelin-1 (ET-1)-induced c-Jun N-terminal kinase activation. MLK inhibition also reduced ET-1- and phenylephrine-induced phosphorylation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase. In contrast, phenylephrine-induced extracellular signal-regulated kinase phosphorylation was further up-regulated by CEP-11004. ET-1 increased activator protein-1 binding activity 3.5-fold and GATA-binding protein 4 (GATA-4) binding activity 1.8-fold, both of which were attenuated with CEP-11004 administration by 59% and 63% respectively. Phenylephrine induced activator protein-1 binding activity by 2.6-fold, which was decreased by 81% with CEP-11004 administration. Phenylephrine also induced a 3.7-fold increase in the transcriptional activity of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), which was attenuated by 41% with CEP-11004 administration. In agreement, MLK inhibition also reduced hypertrophic agonist-induced secretion of immunoreactive atrial natriuretic peptide and BNP. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: These results showed that inhibition of the MLK1-3 signalling pathway was sufficient for suppressing the activity of key nuclear effectors (GATA-4 and activator protein-1 transcription factors) in cardiac hypertrophy, and attenuated the agonist-induced atrial natriuretic peptide secretion and activation of BNP gene transcription.

Mechanical load-induced alterations in B-type natriuretic peptide gene expression.

Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), and C-type natriuretic peptide are the known members of the mammalian natriuretic peptide system. Like ANP, BNP is a natriuretic and diuretic hormone that also causes peripheral vasodilation and inhibition of the sympathetic and renin-angiotensin systems. Although originally isolated from porcine brain, the BNP gene is expressed in a specific manner in cardiac myocytes in both the atria and the ventricles, but it is mainly released from the ventricles. The major determinant of BNP secretion is wall stretch, and the levels of BNP mRNA increase substantially in response to cardiac overload. In the clinical setting, BNP appears to be the most powerful neurohumoral predictor of left-ventricular function and prognosis. An acute increase in BNP gene expression occurs within 1 h and mimics the rapid induction of proto-oncogenes in response to hemodynamic stress. BNP can be used as a myocyte-specific marker to identify mechanisms that couple acute mechanical overload to alterations in cardiac gene expression. This paper is focused on the mechanisms that regulate BNP gene expression in cardiac overload. Particularly, autocrine-paracrine factors as well as cytoplasmic signaling pathways and transcription factors involved in mechanical stretch-induced BNP gene expression are discussed.