Igor Yu. Malyshev

Differences in adaptive stabilization of structures in response to stress and hypoxia relate with the accumulation of hsp70 isoforms.

The phenomenon of adaptive stabilization of structures (PhASS) develops during adaptation of the organism to intermittent restraint stress. The PhASS manifests itself in a considerably increased resistance of the heart to a broad spectrum of harmful factors. In the present work, the content of hsp70 and their role in the development of PhASS during adaptation to intermittent restraint stress and to intermittent hypoxia were studied. In adaptation to restraint stress, five hsp70 isoforms with pI ranging from 5.7 to 6.3 were accumulated in the myocardium. The heart simultaneously became strikingly resistant to reperfusion paradox and heat shock. In adaptation to hypoxia, only two hsp70 isoforms with pI about 5.8 were accumulated. The resistance to reperfusion paradox was not increased and the resistance to heat shock was increased only moderately. These data suggest a role of different hsp70 isoforms in the mechanism of PhASS as well as adaptive protection of the heart.

Application of the nitric oxide donor SNAP to cardiomyocytes in culture provides protection against oxidative stress.

Multiple data indicates that nitric oxide (NO) donors retain immediate protective effects against different disturbances in cardiovascular system. The aim of the present study was to investigate delayed effects of nitric oxide donor S-nitroso-N-acetyl-l,l-penicillamine (SNAP) application in cardiac H9c2 cell line. Cardiomyocytes were treated with SNAP for 2h followed by 24h wash with fresh growth medium. The concentration curve was constructed in range from 0.5 to 2mM, toxicity was observed at 2mM concentration of SNAP. For the study of SNAP-induced protection against t-butyl hydroperoxide-induced oxidative injury 1mM concentration was used. Cell viability was assessed by MTT reductase activity assay; mitochondrial transmembrane potential (mdeltapsi) was measured by flow cytometry with fluorescent dye DiOC(6). Synthesis of heat-shock proteins (hsps) was analyzed by Western blot. Analysis of the cell viability and mdeltapsi reflected delayed protective effect of 1mM SNAP application against oxidative injury. SNAP in 1mM concentration caused 70% induction of hsp75 synthesis in cardiomyocytes. However, the other analyzed hsps (hsp70, hsp27, hsp60, hsp10, and CyP A) did not display any significant induction after incubation with SNAP. Present work demonstrates that the NO donor SNAP causes delayed protection against oxidative stress in H9c2 cardiomyocyte cell line, reflected in cell viability increase and preservation of the mdeltapsi. We suppose the major pathway for the development of SNAP-induced protection is through mitochondria. Induction of hsp75 expression following SNAP pretreatment is one possible way to explanation the mechanisms of this protection.

Adaptation to stress increases the heart resistance to ischemic and reperfusion arrhythmias

Adaptation to repeated stress prevents or limits ischemic and reperfusion arrhythmias in the whole organism. In studying mechanism of this phenomenon, we have investigated the effect of local ischemia and subsequent reperfusion on the function of isolated hearts of rats adapted to the stress of repeated immobilization. We established that such adaptation limited the depression of the amplitude and velocity of contraction and velocity of relaxation of the heart in ischemia and subsequent reperfusion. Simultaneously this adaptation limited reperfusion-induced arrhythmias to a considerable extent; in particular, the duration of reperfusion-induced fibrillation was reduced two-fold. Thus the cardioprotective antiarrhythmic effect of adaptation of the organism to stress exposure depends not only on adaptive alterations of central regulation, but to a considerable extent, is determined by processes occurring at the level of the heart itself.