Maw-Shung Liu

Impairment of the ryanodine-sensitive calcium release channels in the cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum and its underlying mechanism during the hypodynamic phase of sepsis.

Changes in Ca2+-induced Ca2+ release in cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) during different phases of sepsis were studied. Sepsis was induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). The 45Ca2+ release studies show that the amount of Ca2+ released from the passively and the actively loaded SR vesicles was unaffected during the early sepsis (9 h after CLP), but it was significantly decreased during the late phase (18 h after CLP) of sepsis. The [3H]ryanodine binding assays reveal that the Bmax for ryanodine binding was unaffected during the early phase, but was decreased by 32.1% during the late phase of sepsis. The affinity of ryanodine receptor for Ca2+ remained unchanged during sepsis. ATP, AMP-PCP, and caffeine stimulated binding, while MgCl2 and ruthenium red inhibited [3H]ryanodine binding in control, early sepsis, and late sepsis groups. The EC50 and IC50 values for these regulators were unaffected during the progression of sepsis. Digestion of control SR with phospholipase A2 decreased [3H]ryanodine binding and the decrease was reversible by the addition of phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), or phosphatidylserine (PS). Addition of PC, PE, or PS to the SR isolated from septic rats stimulated [3H]ryanodine binding. These data demonstrate that Ca2+-induced Ca2+ release from cardiac SR remained relatively unaffected during the early phase, but was significantly impaired during the late phase of sepsis. The sepsis-induced impairment in SR Ca2+ release is a result of a quantitative reduction in the number of Ca2+ release channels. Furthermore, the reduction is associated with a mechanism involving a modification of membrane lipid profile in response to certain stimuli such as activation of phospholipase A2.

Calcium uptake by sarcoplasmic reticulum is impaired during the hypodynamic phase of sepsis in the rat heart.

Alterations of the ATP-dependent Ca2+ uptake in the cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) during the 2 hemodynamically distinct phases of sepsis were investigated. Sepsis was induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). Control rats were sham-operated. The SR vesicles were isolated by sucrose gradient centrifugation. The results show that the rates of ATP-dependent Ca2+ uptake in the cardiac SR were unaffected during the early hyperdynamic phase, whereas they were decreased by 41-46% (P < 0.01) during the late hypodynamic phase of sepsis. Analysis of the kinetics of Ca2+ transport indicates that during the late phase of sepsis, the Vmax values of Ca2+ pump for ATP and Ca2+ were decreased, whereas the affinities of Ca2+ pump for ATP and Ca2+ were unaffected. Magnesium stimulated, whereas vanadate inhibited the ATP-dependent Ca2+ uptake, but the Mg2+-stimulated and the vanadate-inhibited Ca2+ uptake activities were significantly lower during the late sepsis. Phosphorylation of SR by the cAMP-dependent and the calmodulin-dependent protein kinases stimulated the ATP-dependent Ca2+ uptake in the control and the early septic experiments, whereas it failed to stimulate Ca2+ uptake in the late sepsis. The extent of the phosphorylation-stimulated Ca2+ uptake activities was reduced by 65-69% (P < 0.01) during the early sepsis, and they were completely abolished during the late sepsis. These data indicate that the ATP-dependent Ca2+ uptake in cardiac SR was impaired during the late hypodynamic phase of sepsis. The impaired Ca2+ uptake during late sepsis was associated with a defective phosphorylation of SR proteins. Because the ATP-dependent Ca2+ uptake by cardiac SR plays an important role in the regulation of contraction-relaxation coupling, our findings may contribute to the understanding of the pathogenesis of altered cardiac function during the progression of sepsis.

Altered Phospholamban-calcium Atpase Interaction in Cardiac Sarcoplasmic Reticulum During the Progression of Sepsis

The purpose of this study was to investigate alterations of phospholamban phosphorylation and its interaction with Ca2+ transport (Ca2+-ATPase activity and Ca2+ uptake) in sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) during the progression of sepsis. Sepsis was induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). Phospholamban phosphorylation was studied by the labeling of the myocardial ATP pool by perfusing isolated rat hearts with [32P]H3PO4 followed by identification of the phosphorylated phospholamban. Results show that phospholamban phosphorylation was increased by 153% during the early hyperdynamic phase (9 h after CLP), while it was decreased by 51% during the late hypodynamic phase (18 h after CLP) of sepsis. The increase in phospholamban phosphorylation during early sepsis was associated with increases in +dP/dtmax and tissue cAMP content, while Ca2+ transport, left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP), and −dP/dtmax remained unchanged. The decrease in phospholamban phosphorylation during late sepsis was accompanied by decreases in Ca2+ transport, LVDP, ±dP/dtmax, and tissue cAMP content. When isoproterenol was present in the perfusion medium, all parameters measured were stimulated in all three experimental groups (control, early sepsis, and late sepsis) except that Ca2+-ATPase activity and SR Ca2+ uptake were unresponsive in the early and the late septic groups. These findings demonstrate that during the late hypodynamic phase of sepsis, the observed decrease in myocardial contractility was due to the decrease in phospholamban phosphorylation, which resulted in decreased Ca2+ transport across the SR. In contrast, during the early hyperdynamic phase of sepsis, the increase in phospholamban phosphorylation did not correlate with increases in Ca2+ uptake and Ca2+-ATPase activity. Thus, the interaction between phospholamban phosphorylation and Ca2+ transport across the SR was disrupted during the early phase of sepsis.

Hyper- and hypocardiodynamic states are associated with externalization and internalization, respectively, of alpha-adrenergic receptors in rat heart during sepsis.

Alterations in the distribution of α-adrenergic receptors (αARs) in two subcellular organelles, the sarcolemmal membrane and the light vesicle, of rat heart during the progression of sepsis were studied. Sepsis was induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). αARs were assayed by using [3H]prazosin binding and photoaffinity labeling with [125I]arylazidoprazosin in combination with polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Septic rat hearts exhibit two distinct phases: an initial hypercardiodynamic (9 h after CLP; early sepsis) followed by a hypocardiodynamic (18 h after CLP; late sepsis) phase. [3H]prazosin binding studies show that during early sepsis, the Bmax (maximal binding capacity) was increased by 21.4% in sarcolemma but was decreased by 22.5% in light vesicles, while during late sepsis, the Bmax was decreased by 25.4% in sarcolemma but was increased by 60.8% in light vesicles. The photoaffinity labeling studies revealed three binding peptides with Mr of 77, 68, and 39 kDa. The total binding for the three label peptides during early sepsis was increased by 25.5% in sarcolemma but was decreased by 40% in light vesicles, while during late sepsis, the total binding was decreased by 32.1% in sarcolemma but was increased by 35.8% in light vesicles. These data indicate that αARs in the rat heart were externalized from light vesicles to sarcolemma during early hypercardiodynamic phase while they were internalized from surface membranes to intracellular compartment during late hypocardiodynamic phase of sepsis. Because αARs play an important role in regulating myocardial contractility, an initial externalization followed by internalization of αARs may contribute to the development of the initial hypercardiodynamic and the subsequent hypocardiodynamic states during sepsis.

G protein and adenylate cyclase complex-mediated signal transduction in the rat heart during sepsis.

Changes in the protein level of various subunits of GTP-binding protein and the activity of adenylate cyclase in the rat heart during different phases of sepsis were studied. Sepsis was induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). Experiments were divided into three groups: control, early sepsis, and late sepsis. Early and late sepsis refers to those animals sacrificed at 9 and 18 h, respectively, after CLP. The protein levels of various subunits of GTP-binding protein were determined by Western blot analysis. The activity of adenylate cyclase was measured based on the rate of formation of cAMP from [&agr;-32P]ATP. The results show that protein levels of G&agr;s and G&bgr; remained stable during the early and the late phases of sepsis. The protein levels of G&agr;i-2 and G&agr;i-3 remained relatively unaltered during the early phase of sepsis, but they were increased by 46.5% (P < 0.05) and 61.3% (P < 0.01), respectively, during the late phase of sepsis. The basal adenylate cyclase activity remained unchanged during the early phase while it was decreased by 25.7% (P < 0.05) during the late phase of sepsis. The isoproterenol-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity was unchanged during early sepsis while it was decreased by 44.6% (P < 0.01) during late sepsis. These data demonstrate that during the late hypodynamic phase of sepsis, myocardial G&agr;i-2 and G&agr;i-3 protein levels were increased and the increases were coupled with a reduction in adenylate cyclase activity. Because GTP-binding proteins mediate sympathetic control of cardiac function, the present findings may have a pathophysiological significance in contributing to the understanding of the pathogenesis of cardiac dysfunction during the late stage of sepsis.

Phosphorylation of β-adrenergic receptor leads to its redistribution in rat heart during sepsis

The role of receptor phosphorylation on the redistribution of β-adrenergic receptors (β-ARs) in rat hearts during different phases of sepsis was investigated. Sepsis was induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). Changes in the distribution of β-ARs in the sarcolemmal and light vesicle fractions were studied using (-)-[4,6-propyl-3H]dihydroalprenolol ([3H]DHA). Phosphorylation of β-ARs was studied by perfusing hearts with [32P]H3PO4followed by identification of the phosphorylated β-ARs with immunoprecipitation using anti-β1-AR antibody. The results show that septic rat hearts exhibit an initial hypercardiodynamic (9 h after CLP; early sepsis) and a subsequent hypocardiodynamic (18 h after CLP; late sepsis) state. [3H]DHA binding studies show that, during early sepsis, the maximum binding capacity (Bmax) was increased by 26% in sarcolemma but was decreased by 30% in light vesicles, whereas, during late sepsis, the Bmax was decreased by 39% in sarcolemma but increased by 31% in light vesicles. These data indicate that β-ARs in the rat heart were externalized from light vesicles to sarcolemma during early sepsis but were internalized from surface membranes to intracellular sites during late sepsis. The immunoprecipitation studies reveal that the externalization of β-ARs during early sepsis was coupled with a concomitant decrease (-28.5 to -30.6%, P < 0.01) in the receptor phosphorylation, whereas the internalization of β-ARs during late sepsis was accompanied by a simultaneous increase (30.3 to 33.8%, P < 0.01) in the receptor phosphorylation. Because the phosphorylation/dephosphorylation of β1-ARs regulate their functional coupling and may reflect their subcellular distribution, it is suggested that the increase in receptor phosphorylation seen in late sepsis leads to the receptor internalization observed in late sepsis; similarly, externalization of (dephosphorylated) receptors in early sepsis may give rise to the apparent decrease in sarcolemmal receptor phosphorylation observed during this interval.

Impaired calcium uptake by cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum and its underlying mechanism in endotoxin shock

Effects of endotoxin administration on the ATP-dependent Ca2+ uptake by canine cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) were investigated. Results obtained 4 h after endotoxin administration show that ATP-dependent Ca2+ uptake by cardiac SR was decreased by 27–43% (p < 0.05). Kinetic analysis indicates that the Vmax values for Ca2+ and for ATP were significantly decreased while the S0.5 and the Hill coefficient values were not affected during endotoxin shock. Magnesium (1–5 mM) stimulated while vanadate (25–50 μM) inhibited the ATP-dependent Ca2+ uptake, but the Mg2+-stimulated and the vanadate-inhibited activities remained significantly lower in the endotoxin-treated animals. Phosphorylation of SR by the exogenously added catalytic subunit of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase or by the addition of calmodulin stimulated the ATP-dependent Ca2+ uptake activities both in the control and endotoxin-injected dogs. However, the phosphorylation-stimulated activities remained significantly lower in the endotoxin-injected dogs. Dephosphorylation of SR decreased the ATP-dependent Ca2+ uptake, but the half-time required for the maximal dephosphorylation was reduced by 31% (p < 0.05) 4 h post-endotoxin. These data indicate that endotoxin administration impairs the ATP-dependent Ca2+ uptake in canine cardiac SR and the endotoxininduced impairment in the SR calcium transport is associated with a mechanism involving a defective phosphorylation and an accelerated dephosphorylation of SR membrane protein. Since ATP-dependent Ca2+ uptake by cardiac SR plays an important role in the regulation of the homeostatic levels of the contractile calcium, our findings may provide a biochemical explanation for myocardial dysfunction that occurs during endotoxin shock.

Protein kinase a activity is increased in rat heart during late hypodynamic phase of sepsis.

Changes in the activities of protein kinase A (PKA, or cAMP-dependent protein kinase) in rat heart during different cardiodynamic phases of sepsis were investigated. Sepsis was induced by cecal ligation and puncture. Experiments were divided into three groups: control, early sepsis, and late sepsis. Early and late sepsis refers to those animals killed at 9 and 18 h, respectively, after cecal ligation and puncture. Cardiac PKA was extracted and partially purified by acid precipitation, ammonium sulfate fractionation, and DEAE-cellulose chromatography. PKA was eluted from DEAE-cellulose column with a linear NaCl gradient. Two peaks of PKA, type I (eluted at low ionic strength) and type II (eluted at high ionic strength), were collected and their activities were determined based on the rate of incorporation of [γ-32P]ATP into histone. Results obtained show that during early sepsis, both type I and type II PKA activities were unaffected. During late sepsis, type I PKA activities were stimulated by 66.7–97.7%, while type II PKA activities remained constant. Kinetic analysis of the data on type I PKA during late sepsis reveals that the Vmax values for ATP, cAMP, and histone were increased by 84.7, 66.7, and 97.7%, respectively; while the Km values for ATP, cAMP, and histone were unaltered. These data indicate that type I PKA is activated in rat heart during late hypodynamic phase of sepsis. Since kinase-mediated phosphorylation plays an important role in regulating myocardial function and metabolism, an activation of type I PKA during late sepsis may contribute to the development of altered myocardial function during hypodynamic phase of sepsis.

Transcriptional regulation of α1-adrenoceptor gene in the rat liver during different phases of sepsis

Changes in alpha1-adrenoceptor (alpha1AR) gene expression in the rat liver during different phases of sepsis were studied. Sepsis was induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). Septic rats exhibit two metabolically distinct phases: an initial hyperglycemic phase (9 h after CLP, early sepsis) followed by a hypoglycemic phase (18 h after CLP; late sepsis). The [3H]prazosin binding studies show that the density of alpha1AR was increased by 30% during the early phase while it was decreased by 24% during the late phase of sepsis. Western blot analyses reveal that alpha1AR protein level was elevated by 48% during early sepsis but was decreased by 55% during late sepsis. Northern blot analyses depict that the steady-state level of alpha1bAR mRNA was enhanced by 21% during the early phase but was declined by 29% during the late phase of sepsis. Nuclear run-off assays show that the transcription rate of alpha1bAR gene transcript was increased by 76% during early sepsis while it was decreased by 29% during late sepsis. The actinomycin D pulse-chase studies indicate that the half-life of alpha1bAR mRNA remained unaffected during the early and the late phases of sepsis. These findings demonstrate that during the early phase of sepsis, the increase in the rate of transcription of alpha1bAR gene paralleled with the elevations in the alpha1bAR mRNA abundance and alpha1AR protein level, while during the late phase of sepsis, the decrease in the rate of transcription of alpha1bAR gene coincided with the declines in the alpha1bAR mRNA abundance and the alpha1AR protein level in the rat liver. These observations indicate that the altered expression of alpha1AR genes in the rat liver during the progression of sepsis was regulated transcriptionally.

Heart sarcolemmal Ca2+ transport in endotoxin shock: II. Mechanism of impairment in ATP-dependent Ca2+ transport

The role of the phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of sarcolemma and that of the alteration of membrane lipids in the endotoxin-induced impairment of the ATP-dependent Ca2+ transport in canine cardiac sarcolemma were investigated. The results indicate that the ATP-dependent Ca2+ transport in canine cardiac sarcolemma was decreased by 30–35% 4h after endotoxin administration. Phosphorylation of sarcolemma by the catalytic subunit of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase or calmodulin stimulated ATP-dependent Ca2+ transport in both groups, however, the phosphorylation-stimulated activities remained significantly lower in endotoxic animals. Dephosphorylation of sarcolemma decreased ATP-dependent Ca2+ transport in both groups, yet, the time required to reach maximal dephosphorylation was reduced from 120 to 90 min 4 h post-endotoxin. Analysis of sarcolemmal membranes reveals that phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine contents were decreased while their respective lysophosphatide levels were increased significantly after endotoxin injection. Digestion of control heart sarcolemma with phospholipase A2 inhibited Ca2+ transport and the inhibition was reversible by phosphatidylcholine. The inhibition caused by the in vivo administration of endotoxin was completely reversible by the addition of phosphatidylcholine. Based on these data, it is concluded that endotoxin administration impairs ATP-dependent Ca2+ transport in canine cardiac sarcolemma and that the impairment may be due to i) a defective phosphorylation of sarcolemma; ii) a reduced number of Ca2+ pumps; iii) an accelerated dephosphorylation of sarcolemma; and iv) an alteration in membrane phospholipid profile in response to phospholipase A activation.