Christina E. Squires

Trafficking of the Membrane Type-1 Matrix Metalloproteinase in Ischemia and Reperfusion Relation to Interstitial Membrane Type-1 Matrix Metalloproteinase Activity

Background—The matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) contribute to regional remodeling after prolonged periods of ischemia and reperfusion (I/R), but specific MMP types activated during this process remain poorly understood. A novel class, the membrane-type MMPs (MT-MMPs), has been identified in the myocardium, but activity of these MMP types has not been assessed in vivo, particularly during I/R. Methods and Results—Pigs (30 kg, n=8) were instrumented with microdialysis catheters to measure MT1-MMP activity in both ischemic and nonischemic (remote) myocardium. A validated MT1-MMP fluorogenic substrate was infused through the microdialysis system, and changes in fluorescence were reflective of MT1-MMP activity at steady state, during ischemia (90 minutes), and during reperfusion (120 minutes). At peak ischemia, MT1-MMP activity was increased by >40% in the ischemic region, with no change in the remote region, which persisted with reperfusion (P<0.05). After I/R, MT1-MMP abundance was increased by >50% (P<0.05). Differential centrifugation revealed that the endosomal fraction (which contains subcellular organelles) within the ischemic myocardium was associated with a >135% increase in MT1-MMP (P<0.05). Furthermore, in an isolated left ventricular myocyte model of I/R, hypoxia (simulated ischemia) induced a >70% increase in MT1-MMP abundance in myocytes, and confocal microscopy revealed MT1-MMP internalization during this time period and reemergence to the membrane with reperfusion. Conclusions—These unique results demonstrate that a specific MMP type, MT1-MMP, is increased in abundance and activity with I/R and is likely attributed, at least in part, to changes in intracellular trafficking.

Protein Kinase C Isoform Activation and Endothelin-1 Mediated Defects in Myocyte Contractility After Cardioplegic Arrest and Reperfusion

Background— Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is released after hyperkalemic cardioplegic arrest (CA) and reperfusion and may contribute to contractile dysfunction. ET-1 receptor transduction causes activation of protein kinase C (PKC) isoforms, which can cause differential intracellular events. The goal of this study was to determine which PKC isoforms contribute to myocyte contractile dysfunction with ET-1 and CA. Methods and Results— Percent shortening (PERSHORT) and the time to 50% relaxation (T50) were measured in porcine (n =22) left ventricular myocytes, randomized (minimum: 30 cells/group) to normothermia: (cell media for 2 hours/37°C), and CA: (2 hours/4°C, 24 mEq K+ solution followed by reperfusion in cell media), ET-1/CA: (100 pM ET-1 during CA). Studies were performed in the presence and absence of PKC inhibitors (500 nM) against the classical (Beta-I, Beta-II, Gamma) and novel (Epsilon, Eta) isoforms (myocytes from a minimum of 3 pigs per inhibitor). CA reduced PERSHORT by ≈35% from normothermia (P<0.05), which was further reduced with ET-1. PKC-Beta-II or PKC-Gamma inhibition increased PERSHORT from ET-1/CA as well as CA only (P<0.05). CA prolonged T50 by ≈19% from normothermia (P<0.05) and was further prolonged with ET-1. Inhibition of the classical PKC isoforms reduced T50 from ET-1/CA (P<0.05). Inhibition of novel PKC isoforms did not yield similar effects on either PERSHORT or T50 with ET-1/CA. Conclusions— Inhibition of the classical PKC isoforms relieved the negative inotropic and lusitropic effects of ET-1 after CA. These findings provide mechanistic support for developing targeted inhibitory strategies with respect to ET-1 signaling and myocyte contractile dysfunction with cardioplegic arrest and reperfusion.

Caspase inhibition attenuates contractile dysfunction following cardioplegic arrest and rewarming in the setting of left ventricular failure

Hyperkalemic cardioplegic arrest (HCA) and rewarming evokes postoperative myocyte contractile dysfunction, a phenomenon of particular importance in settings of preexisting left ventricular (LV) failure. Caspases are intracellular proteolytic enzymes recently demonstrated to degrade myocardial contractile proteins. This study tested the hypothesis that myocyte contractile dysfunction induced by HCA could be ameliorated with caspase inhibition in the setting of compromised myocardial function. LV myocytes were isolated from control pigs (n = 9, 30 kg) or pigs with LV failure induced by rapid pacing (n = 6, 240 bpm for 21 days) and were randomized to the following: (1) normothermia (2003 myocytes), incubation in cell culture medium for 2 hours at 37°C; (2) HCA only (506 myocytes), incubation for 2 hours in hypothermic HCA solution (4°C, 24 mEq K+); or (3) HCA + z-VAD, incubation in hypothermic HCA solution supplemented with 10 μM of the caspase inhibitor z-VAD (z-Val-Ala-Asp-fluoromethyl-ketone, 415 myocytes). Inotropic responsiveness was examined using β-adrenergic stimulation (25 nM isoproterenol). Ambient normothermic myocyte shortening velocity (μm/s) was reduced with LV failure compared with control values (54 ± 2 versus 75 ± 2, respectively, P < 0.05). Following HCA, shortening velocity decreased in the LV failure and control groups (27 ± 5 and 45 ± 3, P < 0.05). Institution of z-VAD increased myocyte shortening velocity following HCA in both the LV failure and control groups (49 ± 5 and 65 ± 5, P < 0.05). Moreover, HCA supplementation with z-VAD increased β-adrenergic responsiveness in both groups compared with HCA-only values. This study provides proof of concept that caspase activity contributes to myocyte contractile dysfunction following simulated HCA. Pharmacologic caspase inhibition may hold particular relevance in the execution of cardiac surgical procedures requiring HCA in the context of preexisting LV failure.