Endothelial NADPH oxidase-2 promotes interstitial cardiac fibrosis and diastolic dysfunction through proinflammatory effects and endothelial-mesenchymal transition.

OBJECTIVES: This study sought to investigate the effect of endothelial dysfunction on the development of cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis. BACKGROUND: Endothelial dysfunction accompanies cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis, but its contribution to these conditions is unclear. Increased nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase-2 (NOX2) activation causes endothelial dysfunction. METHODS: Transgenic mice with endothelial-specific NOX2 overexpression (TG mice) and wild-type littermates received long-term angiotensin II (AngII) infusion (1.1 mg/kg/day, 2 weeks) to induce hypertrophy and fibrosis. RESULTS: TG mice had systolic hypertension and hypertrophy similar to those seen in wild-type mice but developed greater cardiac fibrosis and evidence of isolated left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (p < 0.05). TG myocardium had more inflammatory cells and VCAM-1-positive vessels than did wild-type myocardium after AngII treatment (both p < 0.05). TG microvascular endothelial cells (ECs) treated with AngII recruited 2-fold more leukocytes than did wild-type ECs in an in vitro adhesion assay (p < 0.05). However, inflammatory cell NOX2 per se was not essential for the profibrotic effects of AngII. TG showed a higher level of endothelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) than did wild-type mice after AngII infusion. In cultured ECs treated with AngII, NOX2 enhanced EMT as assessed by the relative expression of fibroblast versus endothelial-specific markers. CONCLUSIONS: AngII-induced endothelial NOX2 activation has profound profibrotic effects in the heart in vivo that lead to a diastolic dysfunction phenotype. Endothelial NOX2 enhances EMT and has proinflammatory effects. This may be an important mechanism underlying cardiac fibrosis and diastolic dysfunction during increased renin-angiotensin activation.

Nox2 is required for macrophage chemotaxis towards CSF-1.

Macrophage migration and infiltration is an important first step in many pathophysiological processes, in particular inflammatory diseases. Redox modulation of the migratory signalling processes has been reported in endothelial cells, vascular smooth muscle cells and fibroblasts. However the redox modulation of the migratory process in macrophages and in particular that from the NADPH oxidase-2 (Nox2) dependent ROS has not been established. To investigate the potential role of Nox2 in the migratory response of macrophages, bone marrow derived macrophages were obtained from WT and NOX2 knockout mice (Nox2KO) and subjected to CSF-1 stimulation. We report here that loss of Nox2 expression in BMM resulted in a significant reduction in the CSF-1 induced spreading response suggesting that Nox2 can modulate cytoskeletal events. Moreover, Nox2KO BMMs were deficient in cellular displacement in the presence of CSF-1. More significantly, when challenged with a gradient of CSF-1, Nox2KO BMMs showed a complete loss of chemotaxis accompanied by a reduction in cell migration speed and directional migration persistence. These results point to a specific role for Nox2KO downstream of CSF-1 during the BMM migratory response. Indeed, we have further found that Nox2KO BMMs display a significant reduction in the levels of ERK1/2 phosphorylation following stimulation with CSF-1.Thus Nox2 is important in BMM cellular motion to CSF-1 stimulation and necessary for their directed migration towards a CSF-1 gradient, highlighting Nox2 dependent signalling as a potential anti-inflammatory target.

Endothelial Nox4 NADPH oxidase enhances vasodilatation and reduces blood pressure in vivo.

OBJECTIVE: Increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production is involved in the pathophysiology of endothelial dysfunction. NADPH oxidase-4 (Nox4) is a ROS-generating enzyme expressed in the endothelium, levels of which increase in pathological settings. Recent studies indicate that it generates predominantly hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)), but its role in vivo remains unclear. METHODS AND RESULTS: We generated transgenic mice with endothelium-targeted Nox4 overexpression (Tg) to study the in vivo role of Nox4. Tg demonstrated significantly greater acetylcholine- or histamine-induced vasodilatation than wild-type littermates. This resulted from increased H(2)O(2) production and H(2)O(2)-induced hyperpolarization but not altered nitric oxide bioactivity. Tg had lower systemic blood pressure than wild-type littermates, which was normalized by antioxidants. CONCLUSION: Endothelial Nox4 exerts potentially beneficial effects on vasodilator function and blood pressure that are attributable to H(2)O(2) production. These effects contrast markedly with those reported for Nox1 and Nox2, which involve superoxide-mediated inactivation of nitric oxide. Our results suggest that therapeutic strategies to modulate ROS production in vascular disease may need to separately target individual Nox isoforms.

The use of long acting ß2-agonists, alone or in combination with inhaled corticosteroids, in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): a risk-benefit analysis.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a slowly progressive, largely non-reversible pulmonary disease which is characterised by airflow limitation. It is one of the few diseases with an increasing mortality rate and by 2020 it is predicted to be the third leading cause of death. The mainstays of current treatment are long acting ß2 agonists (LABAs) coupled with an increasing reliance on inhaled corticosteroids (ICS). Two LABAs (salmeterol and formoterol) are currently licensed for COPD both as monotherapy and in combination with ICS (fluticasone propionate (FP) and budesonide respectively). A comprehensive review of the risk-benefit of these medicines in COPD is provided here which concludes that there is limited efficacy for LABAs in COPD either alone or in combination with ICS and no overall modification of the disease process. However, where directly compared, combination therapy usually provides an advantage over monotherapy. Importantly the apparent effectiveness of treatment may significantly depend upon the outcome measure chosen with some measures possibly underestimating the extent of benefit. ICS benefit may also be greater in those patients who respond to treatment. Set against this benefit are recent concerns that a number of issues related to the clinical trial design such as prior use of ICS and different withdrawal rates between groups may be significantly influencing results. Furthermore there is no evidence of a dose response relationship with regard to ICS dose. A key issue with combination therapy is the excess risk of pneumonia conferred by the use of an ICS in this patient population. This risk does not appear to be proportional to the ICS dose but may differ between FP and budesonide. We conclude that further studies are required to identify the optimal dose of ICS, in terms of both risk and benefit, and to confirm their benefit in steroid naïve patients. Furthermore it will be important to determine whether the risk of pneumonia is apparent with both FP and budesonide and to identify factors which may predict steroid responsiveness in COPD.

Protein phosphatase 2A contributes to the cardiac dysfunction induced by endotoxemia.

AIMS: Sepsis-associated cardiac dysfunction represents an intrinsic impairment of cardiomyocyte function due in part to a decrease in myofilament Ca(2+) sensitivity associated with a sustained increase in cardiac troponin I (cTnI) phosphorylation at Ser23/24. Dephosphorylation of cTnI is under regulatory control. Thus, muscarinic and adenosine A(1)-receptor agonists antagonize beta-adrenergic stimulation via activation of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A). The aim of this study was to determine whether modulation of PP2A and thus cTnI phosphorylation could improve sepsis-induced contractile dysfunction. METHODS AND RESULTS: Cardiomyocytes were isolated from control or septic mice 16-18 h after an injection of vehicle or lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 9 mg/kg ip) respectively. Protein expression and phosphatase activity were determined in homogenates of control and septic hearts. Our data showed that LPS significantly increased cTnI phosphorylation at Ser23/24 in cardiomyocytes and reduced contraction amplitude without affecting Ca(2+)-transients. Treatment of cardiomyocytes with the A(1) agonist cyclopentyladenosine (CPA) or the protein kinase A inhibitor H89 significantly attenuated the LPS-induced contractile dysfunction without effect on Ca(2+)-transients. Co-treatment with CPA and H89 completely reversed the contractile dysfunction. Increased cTnI phosphorylation in septic hearts was associated with a significant reduction in the protein expression of both the catalytic and regulatory subunits (B56 alpha) of PP2A and a decrease in PP2A activity. CPA treatment of septic hearts increased PP2A activity. An increase in the protein expression of demethylated PP2A and a decrease in the PP2A-methyltransferase (PPMT; the methyltransferase that catalyses this reaction) were also observed. CONCLUSION: These data support the hypothesis that sustained cTnI phosphorylation underlies the contractile dysfunction seen in sepsis.

Involvement of Nox2 NADPH oxidase in adverse cardiac remodeling after myocardial infarction.

Oxidative stress plays an important role in the development of cardiac remodeling after myocardial infarction (MI), but the sources of oxidative stress remain unclear. We investigated the role of Nox2-containing reduced nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase in the development of cardiac remodeling after MI. Adult Nox2(-/-) and matched wild-type (WT) mice were subjected to coronary artery ligation and studied 4 weeks later. Infarct size after MI was similar in Nox2(-/-) and WT mice. Nox2(-/-) mice exhibited significantly less left ventricular (LV) cavity dilatation and dysfunction after MI than WT mice (eg, echocardiographic LV end-diastolic volume: 75.7+/-5.8 versus 112.4+/-12.3 microL; ejection fraction: 41.6+/-3.7 versus 32.9+/-3.2%; both P<0.05). Similarly, in vivo LV systolic and diastolic functions were better preserved in Nox2(-/-) than WT mice (eg, LV dP/dt(max): 7969+/-385 versus 5746+/-234 mm Hg/s; LV end-diastolic pressure: 12.2+/-1.3 versus 18.0+/-1.8 mm Hg; both P<0.05). Nox2(-/-) mice exhibited less cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, apoptosis, and interstitial fibrosis; reduced increases in expression of connective tissue growth factor and procollagen 1 mRNA; and smaller increases in myocardial matrix metalloproteinase-2 activity than WT mice. These data suggest that the Nox2-containing reduced nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase contributes significantly to the processes underlying adverse cardiac remodeling and contractile dysfunction post-MI.

NADPH oxidases in cardiovascular health and disease.

Increased oxidative stress plays an important role in the pathophysiology of cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension, atherosclerosis, diabetes, cardiac hypertrophy, heart failure, and ischemia-reperfusion. Although several sources of reactive oxygen species (ROS) may be involved, a family of NADPH oxidases appears to be especially important for redox signaling and may be amenable to specific therapeutic targeting. These include the prototypic Nox2 isoform-based NADPH oxidase, which was first characterized in neutrophils, as well as other NADPH oxidases such as Nox1 and Nox4. These Nox isoforms are expressed in a cell- and tissue-specific fashion, are subject to independent activation and regulation, and may subserve distinct functions. This article reviews the potential roles of NADPH oxidases in both cardiovascular physiological processes (such as the regulation of vascular tone and oxygen sensing) and pathophysiological processes such as endothelial dysfunction, inflammation, hypertrophy, apoptosis, migration, angiogenesis, and vascular and cardiac remodeling. The complexity of regulation of NADPH oxidases in these conditions may provide the possibility of targeted therapeutic manipulation in a cell-, tissue- and/or pathway-specific manner at appropriate points in the disease process.

Aldosterone mediates angiotensin II-induced interstitial cardiac fibrosis via a Nox2-containing NADPH oxidase.

Angiotensin (ANG) II (AngII) and aldosterone contribute to the development of interstitial cardiac fibrosis. We investigated the potential role of a Nox2-containing NADPH oxidase in aldosterone-induced fibrosis and the involvement of this mechanism in AngII-induced effects. Nox2-/- mice were compared with matched wild-type controls (WT). In WT mice, subcutaneous (s.c.) AngII (1.1 mg/kg/day for 2 wk) significantly increased NADPH oxidase activity, interstitial fibrosis (11.5+/-1.0% vs. 7.2+/-0.7%; P<0.05), expression of fibronectin, procollagen I, and connective tissue growth factor mRNA, MMP-2 activity, and NF-kB activation. These effects were all inhibited in Nox2-/- hearts. The mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist spironolactone inhibited AngII-induced increases in NADPH oxidase activity and the increase in interstitial fibrosis. In a model of mineralocorticoid-dependent hypertension involving chronic aldosterone infusion (0.2 mg/kg/day) and a 1% Na Cl diet ("ALDO"), WT animals exhibited increased NADPH oxidase activity, pro-fibrotic gene expression, MMP-2 activity, NF-kB activation, and significant interstitial cardiac fibrosis (12.0+/-1.7% with ALDO vs. 6.3+/-0.3% without; P<0.05). These effects were inhibited in Nox2-/- ALDO mice (e.g., fibrosis 6.8+/-0.8% with ALDO vs. 5.8+/-1.0% without ALDO; P=NS). These results suggest that aldosterone-dependent activation of a Nox2-containing NADPH oxidase contributes to the profibrotic effect of AngII in the heart as well as the fibrosis seen in mineralocorticoid-dependent hypertension.

NADPH oxidase-dependent redox signalling in cardiac hypertrophy, remodelling and failure.

Markers of increased oxidative stress are known to be elevated following acute myocardial infarction and in the context of chronic left ventricular hypertrophy or heart failure, and their levels may correlate with the degree of contractile dysfunction or cardiac deficit. An obvious pathological mechanism that may account for this correlation is the potential deleterious effects of increased oxidative stress through the induction of cellular dysfunction, energetic deficit or cell death. However, reactive oxygen species have several much more subtle effects in the remodelling or failing heart that involve specific redox-regulated modulation of signalling pathways and gene expression. Such redox-sensitive regulation appears to play important roles in the development of several components of the phenotype of the failing heart, for example cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, interstitial fibrosis and chamber remodelling. In this article, we review the evidence supporting the involvement of reactive oxygen species and redox signalling pathways in the development of cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure, with a particular focus on the NADPH oxidase family of superoxide-generating enzymes which appear to be especially important in redox signalling.

Glycated proteins stimulate reactive oxygen species production in cardiac myocytes: involvement of Nox2 (gp91phox)-containing NADPH oxidase.

BACKGROUND: Nonenzymatic glycation that results in the production of early-glycation Amadori-modified proteins and advanced-glycation end products may be important in the pathogenesis of diabetic complications. However, the effects of early-glycated proteins, such as glycated serum albumin (Gly-BSA), are poorly defined. In this study, we investigated the effects of Gly-BSA on reactive oxygen species (ROS) production by cardiomyocytes. METHODS AND RESULTS: Cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes were incubated with Gly-BSA or vehicle (bovine serum albumin [BSA]) for up to 48 hours. Gly-BSA dose-dependently increased in situ ROS production (whole-cell dichlorodihydrofluorescein fluorescence), with an optimum effect at 400 microg/mL after 24-hour incubation (152+/-10% versus BSA 100%; P<0.01). Treatment with the NADPH oxidase inhibitor apocynin, a Nox2 (gp91phox) antisense oligonucleotide (Nox2 AS), or the peptide gp91ds-tat significantly reduced Gly-BSA-induced ROS production at 24 hours (68.5+/-2.2%, 61.4+/-8.3%, and 53.2+/-5.4% reduction, respectively). NADPH-dependent activity in cell homogenates was also significantly increased by Gly-BSA at 24 hours (161+/-8% versus BSA) and was inhibited by diphenyleneiodonium, apocynin, NOX2AS, and the protein kinase C inhibitor bisindolylmaleimide I but not by a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor or mitochondrial inhibitors. Furthermore, bisindolylmaleimide I prevented Gly-BSA-stimulated Rac1 translocation, an essential step for NADPH oxidase activation. Gly-BSA-induced increases in ROS were associated with apocynin-inhibitable nuclear translocation of nuclear factor-kappaB and an increase in atrial natriuretic factor mRNA expression. CONCLUSIONS: Gly-BSA stimulates cardiomyocyte ROS production through a protein kinase C-dependent activation of a Nox2-containing NADPH oxidase, which results in nuclear factor-kappaB activation and upregulation of atrial natriuretic factor mRNA. These findings suggest that early-glycated Amadori products may play a role in the development of diabetic heart disease.

NADPH oxidase and heart failure.

Reactive oxygen species play important roles in the pathophysiology of chronic heart failure secondary to chronic left ventricular hypertrophy or myocardial infarction. Reactive oxygen species influence several components of the phenotype of the failing heart, including contractile function, interstitial fibrosis, endothelial dysfunction and myocyte hypertrophy. Recent studies implicate the production of reactive oxygen species by a family of NADPH oxidases in these effects. NADPH oxidases are activated in an isoform-specific manner by many pathophysiological stimuli and exert distinct downstream effects. Understanding NADPH oxidase activation and regulation, and their downstream effectors, could help to develop novel therapeutic targets.

Involvement of the nicotinamide adenosine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase isoform Nox2 in cardiac contractile dysfunction occurring in response to pressure overload.

OBJECTIVES: This study sought to examine the role of Nox2 in the contractile dysfunction associated with pressure-overload left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). BACKGROUND: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) production is implicated in the pathophysiology of LVH. The nicotinamide adenosine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase isoform, Nox2, is pivotally involved in angiotensin II-induced hypertrophy but is not essential for development of pressure-overload LVH. Its possible impact on contractile function is unknown. METHODS: The effects of aortic banding or sham surgery on cardiac contractile function and interstitial fibrosis were compared in adult Nox2-/- and matched wild-type (WT) mice. RESULTS: Banding induced similar increases in left ventricular (LV) mass in both groups. Banded Nox2-/- mice had better LV function than WT by echocardiography (e.g., fractional shortening 33.6 +/- 2.5% vs. 21.4 +/- 2.2%, p < 0.05). Comprehensive LV pressure-volume analyses also showed significant contractile dysfunction in banded WT compared with sham, whereas banded Nox2-/- mice had preserved function (e.g., maximum rate of rise of LV pressure: banded WT, 4,879 +/- 213; vs. banded Nox2-/-, 5,913 +/- 259 mm Hg/s; p < 0.05). Similar preservation of function was observed in isolated cardiomyocytes. The 24-h to 36-h treatment of banded WT mice with N-acetylcysteine resulted in recovery of contractile function. Cardiac interstitial fibrosis was significantly increased in banded WT but not Nox2-/- mice, together with greater increases in procollagen I and III mRNA expression. CONCLUSIONS: The Nox2 oxidase contributes to the development of cardiac contractile dysfunction and interstitial fibrosis during pressure overload, although it is not essential for development of morphologic hypertrophy per se. These data suggest divergent downstream effects of Nox2 on different components of the overall response to pressure overload.

Pivotal role of NOX-2-containing NADPH oxidase in early ischemic preconditioning.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated signaling is implicated in early ischemic preconditioning (PC). A NOX-2-containing NADPH oxidase is a recognized major source of ROS in cardiac myocytes, whose activity is augmented by preconditioning mimetics, such as angiotensin II. We hypothesized that this oxidase is an essential source of ROS in PC. Hearts from wild-type (WT) and NOX-2 knockout (KO) mice were Langendorff perfused and subjected to 35 min ischemia/reperfusion with or without preceding PC or drug treatment. Infarct size was measured by triphenyl tetrazolium chloride staining, and NADPH oxidase activity by lucigenin chemiluminescence. PC significantly attenuated infarct size in WT (26+/-2% vs. control, 38+/-2%, P<0.05) yet was ineffective in KO hearts (33+/-3% vs. control, 34+/-3%). Concomitantly, PC significantly increased NADPH oxidase activity in WT (+41+/-13%; P<0.05), but not in KO (-5+/-18%, P=NS). The ROS scavenger MPG (N-2-mercaptopropionyl glycine, 300 micromol/L) abrogated PC in WT (39+/-2% vs. control, 33+/-1%). CCPA (2-chloro N6 cyclopentyl adenosine, 200 nmol/L), a putative ROS-independent PC trigger, significantly attenuated infarct size in WT, MPG-treated WT and KO hearts (24+/-2, 23+/-1, and 20+/-3%, respectively, P<0.05). Furthermore, CCPA did not augment NADPH oxidase activity over control (+22+/-11%, P=NS). Inhibition of protein kinase C (PKC) with chelerythrine (CHE, 2 micromol/L) completely abrogated both PC (38+/-2% vs. CHE alone, 35+/-2%) and associated increases in oxidase activity (+3+/-10%, P=NS). PKC-dependent activation of a NOX-2-containing NADPH oxidase is pivotally involved in early ischemic PC. However, adenosine receptor activation can trigger a ROS and NOX-2 independent PC pathway.

Ischemic preconditioning: a potential role for protein S-thiolation?

Oxidant stress plays a crucial role in the triggering of cardioprotection involving ischemic preconditioning (IPC). We have used biotin-tagged cysteine to probe for redox-modified proteins in IPC protocols. Cysteine was biotinylated and introduced into isolated rat hearts. S-Thiolated proteins were detected and quantified using nonreducing western blots probed with streptavidin-horseradish peroxidase. Controls (15 min of aerobic perfusion plus 5 min of 0.5 mM biotin-cysteine plus 5 min of aerobic perfusion) showed low-level protein S-thiolation. Hearts preconditioned with 5 min of ischemia and reperfused for 5 min with biotin-cysteine plus 5 min of aerobic perfusion showed increased thiolation (160%) that was fully blocked by the antioxidant mercaptopropionylglycine, which is also known to block IPC. "Preconditioning" agonists (phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate or phenylephrine) or oxidants (hydrogen peroxide or diamide) administered during aerobic preparations to biotin-cysteine-loaded hearts induced efficient protein S-thiolation. Preconditioning agonist-induced S-thiolation was significantly attenuated by diphenyleneiodonium (a flavoprotein inhibitor) or by the protein kinase C inhibitor bisindolylmaleimide I. Additional studies testing the role of a Nox2-containing NAD(P)H oxidase as the source of the oxidant stress essential to the triggering IPC showed that protein S-thiolation was the same in wild-type and Nox2 knockout mice.

Protection against endotoxemia-induced contractile dysfunction in mice with cardiac-specific expression of slow skeletal troponin I.

Gram negative endotoxemia is associated with an intrinsic impairment of cardiomyocyte contraction, in part due to a reduction in myofilament Ca2+ responsiveness. Endotoxemic rat hearts show increased cardiac troponin I (cTnI) phosphorylation at serines 23 and 24, residues required for the protein kinase A (PKA)-dependent reduction of myofilament Ca2+ sensitivity after beta-adrenoceptor stimulation. To investigate the functional significance of increased TnI phosphorylation in endotoxemia, we studied the contractile effects of systemic bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treatment in transgenic mice (TG) with cardiac-specific replacement of cTnI by slow skeletal TnI (ssTnI, which lacks the PKA phosphorylation sites) and matched nontransgenic littermates (NTG) on a CD1 background. In wild-type CD1 mice treated with LPS (6 mg/kg ip), after 16-18 h there was a significant reduction in the maximum rates of left ventricular pressure development and pressure decline in isolated Langendorff-perfused hearts compared with saline-treated controls and a decrease in isolated myocyte unloaded sarcomere shortening from 6.1 +/- 0.2 to 3.9 +/- 0.2% (1 Hz, 32 degrees C, P<0.05). Similarly, in NTG myocytes, endotoxemia reduced myocyte shortening by 42% from 6.7 +/- 0.2 to 3.9 +/- 0.1% (P<0.05) with no change in intracellular Ca2+ transients. However, in the TG group, LPS reduced myocyte shortening by only 13% from 7.5 +/- 0.2 to 6.5 +/- 0.2% (P<0.05). LPS treatment significantly reduced the positive inotropic effect of isoproterenol in NTG myocytes but not in TG myocytes, even though isoproterenol-induced increases in Ca2+ transient amplitude were similar in both groups. Only LPS-treated NTG hearts showed a significant increase in cTnI phosphorylation. Investigation of the sarcomere shortening-Ca2+ relationship in Triton-skinned cardiomyocytes revealed a significant reduction in myofilament Ca2+ sensitivity after LPS treatment in NTG myocytes, an effect that was substantially attenuated in TG myocytes. In conclusion, the replacement of cTnI with ssTnI in the heart provides significant protection against endotoxemia-induced cardiac contractile dysfunction, most probably by preserving myofilament Ca2+ responsiveness due to prevention of phosphorylation of TnI at PKA-sensitive sites.

Analysis of ex vivo left ventricular pressure-volume relations in the isolated murine ejecting heart.

The development of microconductance technology to study cardiac pressure-volume relations in mice in vivo has significantly advanced the haemodynamic assessment of gene-modified models of cardiovascular disease. In this study, we describe the application of microconductance analysis of cardiac function to the isolated murine ejecting heart. This ex vivo model is complementary to the previously described in vivo preparation, allows assessment without confounding effects of anaesthetic or neurohumoral influences and enables careful control of cardiac loading (particularly preload). Ex vivo pressure-volume relations in the isolated murine heart are sensitive to changes in myocardial contractility induced by beta-adrenoceptor stimulation or beta-adrenoceptor blockade, as well as the effects of chronic pressure overload induced by aortic banding. We present data for both steady-state analyses of the Frank-Starling relation and for assessment of the left ventricular pressure-volume relation over variably loaded beats, which allows investigation of the end-systolic and end-diastolic pressure-volume relations. The measurement of ventricular volume in addition to pressure under carefully controlled loading conditions in the isolated ejecting heart allows a comprehensive analysis of cardiac contractile function, and provides a useful complementary model for the assessment of cardiac performance in murine models of heart disease.

Essential role of troponin I in the positive inotropic response to isoprenaline in mouse hearts contracting auxotonically.

PKA-dependent phosphorylation of cardiac troponin I (cTnI) contributes significantly to beta-adrenergic agonist-induced acceleration of myocardial relaxation (lusitropy). However, the role of PKA-dependent cTnI phosphorylation in the positive inotropic response to beta-adrenergic stimulation is unclear. We studied the contractile response to isoprenaline (10 nm) in isolated hearts and isolated cardiomyocytes from transgenic mice with cardiac-specific expression of slow skeletal TnI (ssTnI, which lacks the N-terminal protein extension containing PKA-sensitive phosphorylation sites in cTnI) and matched wild-type littermate controls. As expected, the lusitropic effect of isoprenaline was significantly blunted in ssTnI hearts. However, the positive inotropic response to isoprenaline was also blunted in ssTnI hearts. This effect was especially prominent for ejection-phase indices in isolated auxotonically loaded ssTnI hearts whereas the positive inotropic response of isovolumic hearts or unloaded isolated myocytes was much less affected. Isoprenaline decreased left ventricular end-systolic volume in wild-type hearts (10.6 +/- 1.6 to 6.2 +/- 0.4 microl at a preload of 20 cmH(2)O; P < 0.05) but not transgenic hearts (11.4 +/- 1.3 to 10.9 +/- 1.3 microl; P= n.s.). Likewise, isoprenaline increased stroke work in control hearts (14.5 +/- 1.0 to 22.5 +/- 1.8 mmHg microl mg(-1); P < 0.05) but not transgenic hearts (15.4 +/- 1.3 to 18.3 +/- 1.2 mmHg microl mg(-1); P= n.s.). The end-systolic pressure-volume relation was increased by isoprenaline to a greater extent in control than transgenic hearts. However, isoprenaline induced a similar rise in intracellular Ca(2+) transients in transgenic and non-transgenic cardiomyocytes. These results indicate that cTnI has a pivotal role in the positive inotropic response of the murine heart to beta-adrenergic stimulation, an effect that is highly dependent on loading conditions and is most evident in the auxotonically loaded ejecting heart.

Role of oxidative stress in cardiac remodelling after myocardial infarction.

Recovery from myocardial infarction is associated with a series of alterations in heart structure and function, collectively known as cardiac remodelling, which play a major role in the subsequent development of heart failure. Early remodelling involves infarct scar formation in the ischaemic zone whereas subsequent ventricular remodelling affects mainly the viable non-infarcted myocardium with especially profound alterations in the extracellular matrix. There is growing evidence for a role of oxidative stress and redox signalling in the processes underlying cardiac remodelling. Reactive oxygen species are a group of highly reactive molecules which have the potential to modulate several biological processes as well as cause tissue damage and dysfunction. Their effects can be beneficial or deleterious, depending on the concentrations produced, the site of production, and the overall redox status of the cell. Reactive oxygen species can be generated by all cardiovascular cell types. Under pathophysiological conditions, major enzymatic sources appear to be mitochondria, xanthine oxidase and the non-phagocytic NADPH oxidases. In this review, we outline the mechanisms underlying the progression of early and late cardiac remodelling with particular focus on the role of oxidative stress and the potential sources of reactive oxygen species which may be involved.

Contrasting roles of NADPH oxidase isoforms in pressure-overload versus angiotensin II-induced cardiac hypertrophy.

Increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is implicated in the development of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). Phagocyte-type NADPH oxidases are major cardiovascular sources of ROS, and recent data indicate a pivotal role of a gp91phox-containing NADPH oxidase in angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced LVH. We investigated the role of this oxidase in pressure-overload LVH. gp91phox-/- mice and matched controls underwent chronic Ang II infusion or aortic constriction. Ang II-induced increases in NADPH oxidase activity, atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) expression, and cardiac mass were inhibited in gp91phox-/- mice, whereas aortic constriction-induced increases in cardiac mass and ANF expression were not inhibited. However, aortic constriction increased cardiac NADPH oxidase activity in both gp91phox-/- and wild-type mice. Myocardial expression of an alternative gp91phox isoform, Nox4, was upregulated after aortic constriction in gp91phox-/- mice. The antioxidant, N-acetyl-cysteine, inhibited pressure-overload-induced LVH in both gp91phox-/- and wild-type mice. These data suggest a differential response of the cardiac Nox isoforms, gp91phox and Nox4, to Ang II versus pressure overload.

Increased myocardial NADPH oxidase activity in human heart failure.

OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to investigate whether nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide 3-phosphate (reduced form) (NADPH) oxidase is expressed in the human heart and whether it contributes to reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in heart failure. BACKGROUND: A phagocyte-type NADPH oxidase complex is a major source of ROS in the vasculature and is implicated in the pathophysiology of hypertension and atherosclerosis. An increase in myocardial oxidative stress due to excessive production of ROS may be involved in the pathophysiology of congestive heart failure. Recent studies have suggested an important role for myocardial NADPH oxidase in experimental models of cardiac disease. However, it is unknown whether NADPH oxidase is expressed in the human myocardium or if it has any role in human heart failure. METHODS: Myocardium of explanted nonfailing (n = 9) and end-stage failing (n = 13) hearts was studied for the expression of NADPH oxidase subunits and oxidase activity. RESULTS: The NADPH oxidase subunits p22(phox), gp91(phox), p67(phox), and p47(phox) were all expressed at messenger ribonucleic acid and protein level in cardiomyocytes of both nonfailing and failing hearts. NADPH oxidase activity was significantly increased in end-stage failing versus nonfailing myocardium (5.86 +/- 0.41 vs. 3.72 +/- 0.39 arbitrary units; p < 0.01). The overall level of oxidase subunit expression was unaltered in failing compared with nonfailing hearts. However, there was increased translocation of the regulatory subunit, p47(phox), to myocyte membranes in failing myocardium. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report of the presence of NADPH oxidase in human myocardium. The increase in NADPH oxidase activity in the failing heart may be important in the pathophysiology of cardiac dysfunction by contributing to increased oxidative stress.