Stephen J. Fuller

Depletion of Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Using an Antisense Oligodeoxynucleotide Approach Downregulates the Phenylephrine-Induced Hypertrophic Response in Rat Cardiac Myocytes

An antisense oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) approach was used to investigate whether mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) is necessary for the hypertrophic response in cardiac myocytes. A phosphorothioate-protected 17-mer directed against the initiation of translation sites of the p42 and p44 MAPK isoform mRNAs was introduced into cultured cardiac myocytes by liposomal transfection. At an antisense ODN concentration of 0.2 mumol/L, p42 MAPK protein was reduced by 82% (immunoblot) after 48 hours, and p42 and p44 MAPK activities were reduced by 44% and 60%, respectively. The same concentration of anti-MAPK ODN inhibited development of the morphological features of hypertrophy (sarcomerogenesis, increased cell size) in myocytes exposed to phenylephrine. Phenylephrine-induced activation of the atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) promoter (measured by the activity of a transfected ANF promoter/luciferase reporter gene) and induction of ANF mRNA (measured by RNase protection assay) were also attenuated. We conclude that MAPK is important for the development of the hypertrophic phenotype in this model of hypertrophy.

Glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3) in the heart: a point of integration in hypertrophic signalling and a therapeutic target? A critical analysis

Glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3, of which there are two isoforms, GSK3α and GSK3β) was originally characterized in the context of regulation of glycogen metabolism, though it is now known to regulate many other cellular processes. Phosphorylation of GSK3α(Ser21) and GSK3β(Ser9) inhibits their activity. In the heart, emphasis has been placed particularly on GSK3β, rather than GSK3α. Importantly, catalytically‐active GSK3 generally restrains gene expression and, in the heart, catalytically‐active GSK3 has been implicated in anti‐hypertrophic signalling. Inhibition of GSK3 results in changes in the activities of transcription and translation factors in the heart and promotes hypertrophic responses, and it is generally assumed that signal transduction from hypertrophic stimuli to GSK3 passes primarily through protein kinase B/Akt (PKB/Akt). However, recent data suggest that the situation is far more complex. We review evidence pertaining to the role of GSK3 in the myocardium and discuss effects of genetic manipulation of GSK3 activity in vivo. We also discuss the signalling pathways potentially regulating GSK3 activity and propose that, depending on the stimulus, phosphorylation of GSK3 is independent of PKB/Akt. Potential GSK3 substrates studied in relation to myocardial hypertrophy include nuclear factors of activated T cells, β‐catenin, GATA4, myocardin, CREB, and eukaryotic initiation factor 2Bɛ. These and other transcription factor substrates putatively important in the heart are considered. We discuss whether cardiac pathologies could be treated by therapeutic intervention at the GSK3 level but conclude that any intervention would be premature without greater understanding of the precise role of GSK3 in cardiac processes.

Regulation of Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases in Cardiac Myocytes through the Small G Protein Rac1

ABSTRACT Small guanine nucleotide-binding proteins of the Ras and Rho (Rac, Cdc42, and Rho) families have been implicated in cardiac myocyte hypertrophy, and this may involve the extracellular signal-related kinase (ERK), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and/or p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades. In other systems, Rac and Cdc42 have been particularly implicated in the activation of JNKs and p38-MAPKs. We examined the activation of Rho family small G proteins and the regulation of MAPKs through Rac1 in cardiac myocytes. Endothelin 1 and phenylephrine (both hypertrophic agonists) induced rapid activation of endogenous Rac1, and endothelin 1 also promoted significant activation of RhoA. Toxin B (which inactivates Rho family proteins) attenuated the activation of JNKs by hyperosmotic shock or endothelin 1 but had no effect on p38-MAPK activation. Toxin B also inhibited the activation of the ERK cascade by these stimuli. In transfection experiments, dominant-negative N17Rac1 inhibited activation of ERK by endothelin 1, whereas activated V12Rac1 cooperated with c-Raf to activate ERK. Rac1 may stimulate the ERK cascade either by promoting the phosphorylation of c-Raf or by increasing MEK1 and/or -2 association with c-Raf to facilitate MEK1 and/or -2 activation. In cardiac myocytes, toxin B attenuated c-Raf(Ser-338) phosphorylation (50 to 70% inhibition), but this had no effect on c-Raf activity. However, toxin B decreased both the association of MEK1 and/or -2 with c-Raf and c-Raf-associated ERK-activating activity. V12Rac1 cooperated with c-Raf to increase expression of atrial natriuretic factor (ANF), whereas N17Rac1 inhibited endothelin 1-stimulated ANF expression, indicating that the synergy between Rac1 and c-Raf is potentially physiologically important. We conclude that activation of Rac1 by hypertrophic stimuli contributes to the hypertrophic response by modulating the ERK and/or possibly the JNK (but not the p38-MAPK) cascades.

Signaling pathways mediating cardiac myocyte gene expression in physiological and stress responses

The contractile cells in the heart (the cardiac myocytes) are terminally differentiated. In response to pathophysiological stresses, cardiac myocytes undergo hypertrophic growth or apoptosis, responses associated with the development of cardiac pathologies. There has been much effort expended in gaining an understanding of the stimuli which promote these responses, and in identifying the intracellular signaling pathways which are activated and potentially involved. These signaling pathways presumably modulate gene and protein expression to elicit the end‐stage response. For the regulation of gene expression, the signal may traverse the cytoplasm to modulate nuclear‐localized transcription factors as occurs with the mitogen‐activated protein kinase or protein kinase B/Akt cascades. Alternatively, the signal may promote translocation of transcription factors from the cytoplasm to the nucleus as is seen with the calcineurin/NFAT and JAK/STAT systems. We present an overview of the principal signaling pathways implicated in the regulation of gene expression in cardiac myocyte pathophysiology, and summarize the current understanding of these pathways, the transcription factors they regulate and the changes in gene expression associated with the development of cardiac pathologies. Finally, we discuss how intracellular signaling and gene expression may be integrated to elicit the overall change in cellular phenotype. J. Cell. Physiol. 212: 311–322, 2007.

Classical, novel and atypical isoforms of PKC stimulate ANF- and TRE/AP- 1 -regulated-promoter activity in ventricular cardiomyocytes

Cultured neonatal rat ventricular myocytes were co‐transfected with expression plasmids encoding protein kinase C (PKC) isoforms from each of the PKC subfamilies (classical PKC‐α, novel PKC‐ε or atypical PKC‐ξ) together with an atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) reporter plasmid. Each PKC had been rendered constitutively active by a single Ala→Glu mutation or a small deletion in the inhibitory pseudosubstrate site. cPKC‐α, nPKC‐ε or aPKC‐ξ expression plasmids each stimulated ANF‐promoter activity and expression of a reporter gene under the control of a 12‐O‐tetradecanoylphorbol 13‐acetate‐response element (TRE). Upregulation of the ANF promoter is characteristic of the hypertrophic response in the heart ventricle and a TRE is present in the ANF promoter. Thus all subfamilies of PKC may have the potential to contribute to hypertrophic response in cardiomyocytes.

Oncogenic src, raf, and ras stimulate a hypertrophic pattern of gene expression and increase cell size in neonatal rat ventricular myocytes.

In response to hormones and growth factors, cultured neonatal ventricular myocytes increase in profile, exhibit myofibrillogenesis, and re-express genes whose expression is normally restricted to the fetal stage of ventricular development. These include atrial natriuretic factor (ANF), β-myosin heavy chain (β-MHC), and skeletal muscle (SkM)-α-actin. By using luciferase reporter plasmids, we examined whether oncogenes that activate the extracellular signal-regulated kinase cascade (src F527, Ha-ras V12, and v-raf) increased expression of “fetal” genes. Transfection of myocytes withsrc F527 stimulated expression of ANF, SkM-α-actin, and β-MHC by 62-, 6.7-, and 50-fold, respectively, but did not induce DNA synthesis. Stimulation of ANF expression bysrc F527 was greater than by Ha-ras V12, which in turn was greater than by v-raf. General gene expression was also increased but to a lesser extent. The response to src F527 was inhibited by dominant-negative Ha-ras N17. Myocyte area was increased by src F527, Ha-ras V12, and v-raf, and although it altered myocyte morphology by causing a pseudopodial appearance,src F527 did not detectably increase myofibrillogenesis either alone or in combination with Ha-ras V12. A kinase-dead src mutant increased myocyte size to a much lesser extent thansrc F527 and also did not inhibit ANF-luciferase expression in response to phenylephrine. We conclude that members of the Src family of tyrosine kinases may be important in mediating the transcriptional changes occurring during cardiac myocyte hypertrophy and that Ras and Raf may be downstream effectors.

Stimulation of adult rat ventricular myocyte protein synthesis and phosphoinositide hydrolysis by the endothelins

The effects of endothelin-1 (ET-1) on protein synthesis and phosphoinositide (PI) hydrolysis were investigated in ventricular myocytes isolated by collagenase digestion of adult rat hearts. The maximum stimulation of protein synthesis by ET-1 was about 35% and the EC50 value was about 0.3 nM. The stimulation was exerted at the translational stage since it was insensitive to inhibition by actinomycin D. The maximum stimulation of PI hydrolysis by ET-1 as measured by the formation of [3H]inositol phosphates was about 11-fold and the EC50 value was about 0.7 nM. The ET-1 analogue sarafotoxin-6b stimulated protein synthesis by a maximum of 27% and stimulated PI hydrolysis about 8- to 9-fold. The EC50 values were 1.6 nM and 0.6 nM, respectively. Other endothelins stimulated protein synthesis and PI hydrolysis in the following order of potency: ET-1 approximately ET-2 > ET-3. This order of potency suggests that the stimulation of both protein synthesis and PI hydrolysis is mediated through the ETA receptor. Although both angiotensin II and [Arg]vasopressin stimulated PI hydrolysis significantly, the stimulation was less than 60%, i.e., much less than the stimulation by ET-1 and its analogues. Neither insulin nor substance P stimulated PI hydrolysis. Stimulation of protein synthesis by ET-1 and its analogues correlated strongly with the stimulation of PI hydrolysis and we suggest that the stimulation of protein synthesis may be dependent on the stimulation of PI hydrolysis. We hypothesize that the mechanism may involve a protein kinase C-mediated increase in intracellular pH.

Temporal regulation of expression of immediate early and second phase transcripts by endothelin-1 in cardiomyocytes

BackgroundEndothelin-1 stimulates Gq protein-coupled receptors to promote proliferation in dividing cells or hypertrophy in terminally differentiated cardiomyocytes. In cardiomyocytes, endothelin-1 rapidly (within minutes) stimulates protein kinase signaling, including extracellular-signal regulated kinases 1/2 (ERK1/2; though not ERK5), with phenotypic/physiological changes developing from approximately 12 h. Hypertrophy is associated with changes in mRNA/protein expression, presumably consequent to protein kinase signaling, but the connections between early, transient signaling events and developed hypertrophy are unknown.ResultsUsing microarrays, we defined the early transcriptional responses of neonatal rat cardiomyocytes to endothelin-1 over 4 h, differentiating between immediate early gene (IEG) and second phase RNAs with cycloheximide. IEGs exhibited differential temporal and transient regulation, with expression of second phase RNAs within 1 h. Of transcripts upregulated at 30 minutes encoding established proteins, 28 were inhibited >50% by U0126 (which inhibits ERK1/2/5 signaling), with 9 inhibited 25-50%. Expression of only four transcripts was not inhibited. At 1 h, most RNAs (approximately 67%) were equally changed in total and polysomal RNA with approximately 17% of transcripts increased to a greater extent in polysomes. Thus, changes in expression of most protein-coding RNAs should be reflected in protein synthesis. However, approximately 16% of transcripts were essentially excluded from the polysomes, including some protein-coding mRNAs, presumably inefficiently translated.ConclusionThe phasic, temporal regulation of early transcriptional responses induced by endothelin-1 in cardiomyocytes indicates that, even in terminally differentiated cells, signals are propagated beyond the primary signaling pathways through transcriptional networks leading to phenotypic changes (that is, hypertrophy). Furthermore, ERK1/2 signaling plays a major role in this response.

MICAL-1 is a negative regulator of MST-NDR kinase signaling and apoptosis.

ABSTRACT MICALs (molecules interacting with CasL) are atypical multidomain flavoenzymes with diverse cellular functions. The molecular pathways employed by MICAL proteins to exert their cellular effects remain largely uncharacterized. Via an unbiased proteomics approach, we identify MICAL-1 as a binding partner of NDR (nuclear Dbf2-related) kinases. NDR1/2 kinases are known to mediate apoptosis downstream of the mammalian Ste-20-like kinase MST1, and ablation of NDR1 in mice predisposes the mice to cancer as a result of compromised apoptosis. MST1 phosphorylates NDR1/2 kinases at their hydrophobic motif, thereby facilitating full NDR kinase activity and function. However, if and how this key phosphorylation event is regulated are unknown. Here we show that MICAL-1 interacts with the hydrophobic motif of NDR1/2 and that overexpression or knockdown of MICAL-1 reduces or augments NDR kinase activation or activity, respectively. Surprisingly, MICAL-1 is a phosphoprotein but not an NDR or MST1 substrate. Rather, MICAL-1 competes with MST1 for NDR binding and thereby antagonizes MST1-induced NDR activation. In line with this inhibitory effect, overexpression or knockdown of MICAL-1 inhibits or enhances, respectively, NDR-dependent proapoptotic signaling induced by extrinsic stimuli. Our findings unveil a previously unknown biological role for MICAL-1 in apoptosis and define a novel negative regulatory mechanism of MST-NDR signaling.

Sp1 and Sp3 transcription factors are required for trans-activation of the human SERCA2 promoter in cardiomyocytes.

OBJECTIVES The sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca(2+) ATPase (SERCA) is essential to the removal of cytosolic calcium following cardiac contraction, and its abundance and activity are significantly altered during perinatal development and in failing myocardium. The objective of the current study was to identify cis regulatory elements and nuclear transcription factors responsible for transactivating SERCA2 gene expression in cardiomyocytes. METHODS Primary cultures of neonatal rat ventricular myocytes were transiently transfected with luciferase (LUX) reporter gene constructs containing deletions of the SERCA2 promoter or which harbored mutations in consensus Sp1 transcription factor binding sites. Cotransfection assays, electrophoretic mobility shift, and supershift assays were also performed to delineate the regulatory role of specific transcription factors. RESULTS We identified a putative AP-1-like element and a consensus Egr-1 binding site, but neither Egr-1 nor 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) significantly modified human SERCA2 promoter activity in vitro. Maximal activity of the SERCA2 promoter required the proximal 177 bp, and strong activation was observed with a 125-bp construct, within which an Sp1 site and a CAAT box were important. Mutation analysis also revealed the importance of two Sp1 sites between -125 and -200. Sp1 and Sp3 transcription factors were subsequently identified to bind to oligonucleotide probes corresponding to only the two most proximal Sp1 sites. CONCLUSIONS These studies provide direct evidence that regulation of human SERCA2 gene expression in cardiomyocytes depends on transactivation events elicited by Sp1 and Sp3 transcription factors.