Vincenzo Panagia

Subcellular remodeling and heart dysfunction in chronic diabetes

Heart dysfunction in chronic diabetes has been observed to be associated with depressed myofibrillar adenosine triphosphatase activities as well as abnormalities in the sarcoplasmic reticular and sarcolemmal calcium transport processes. The evidence has been presented to show that alterations in the expression of myosin isozymes and regulatory proteins as well as myosin phosphorylation contribute to the development of myofibrillar remodeling in the diabetic heart. Defects in sarcoplasmic reticular and sarcolemmal calcium transport appear to be due to the accumulation of lipid metabolites in the membrane. Different agents, such as calcium-antagonists, beta-adrenoceptor blockers, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, metabolic interventions and antioxidants, have been reported to exert beneficial effects in preventing subcellular remodeling and cardiac dysfunction in chronic diabetes. Clinical and experimental investigations have suggested that increased sympathetic activity, activated cardiac renin-angiotensin system, myocardial ischemia/functional hypoxia and elevated levels of glucose for a prolonged period, due to insulin deficiency, result in oxidative stress. It is proposed that oxidative stress associated with a deficit in the status of the antioxidant defense system may play a critical role in subcellular remodeling, calcium-handling abnormalities and subsequent diabetic cardiomyopathy.

Calcium movements in relation to heart function

SummaryIt is widely recognized that calcium is of singular importance in the viability of the myocardial cell, nonetheless little is known concerning the precise nature of the action of calcium in myocardium as to how it maintains the life of the cell and how it may dictate the death of the cell. However, recent advances in research involved with the study of calcium movement in the heart have been highly valuable for the formulation of new concepts with respect to the physiological and pathological aspects of calcium metabolism in the myocardium. It is becoming clear that calcium movements are closely related to cardiac electrophysiological events, contractile function, membrane integrity and energy metabolism. In particular, a novel theory involving phosphatidylinositol turnover and Ca2+-dependent ATPase activation has been advanced regarding the mechanism and control of calcium entry into the cardiac cell upon excitation. Alterations in the regulation of calcium metabolism through the interaction of a number of separate, elements may affect calcium distribution in the cell and thereby may change cardiac function and metabolism. The part calcium plays in the genesis of pathological states in the myocardium is discussed in the light of research employing various experimental protocols. Intracellular calcium overload and deficiency are postulated to contribute to cardiac contractile failure and cell death through a number of distinct mechanisms. It is now a real challenge to understand the precise nature of processes associated with the occurrence of intracellular calcium overload or intracellular calcium deficiency in order to achieve proper management of cardiac disorders.ZusammenfassungEs ist allgemein anerkannt, daß Calcium von besonderer Bedeutung für die Funktion der Myokardzelle ist. Trotzdem ist über die genaue Natur der Calcium-Wirkung sowie auch über die mögliche Bedeutung von Calcium für das Absterben einer Myokardzelle wenig bekannt. Fortschritte in der Erforschung der Calcium-Bewegungen im Herzen ermöglichen neue Vorstellungen über die Rolle des Calciums unter physiologischen und pathophysiologischen Bedingungen. Offensichtlich bestehen enge Beziehungen zwischen Calcium-Bewegungen und elektrophysiologischen Abläufen, kontraktiler Funktion, Membranintegrität und Energiemetabolismus. Insbesondere wurde eine neue Theorie entwickelt, die den giemetabolismus. Insbesondere wurde eine neue Theorie entwickelt, die den Inositphosphatid-Umsatz und die Aktivierung der Ca-abhängigen ATPase berücksichtigt im Hinblick auf die Mechanismen und die Kontrolle des Calcium-Eintritts in die Zelle bei Erregung. Änderungen in der Regulierung des Calcium-Stoffwechsels können die Ca-Verteilung in der Zelle beeinflussen und dadruch Herzfunktion und Stoffwechsel verändern. Die Rolle, die Calcium bei der Entwicklung pathologischer Zustände im Myokard spielt, wird im Lichte der Forschungsergebnisse bei Verwendung unterschiedlicher experimenteller Ansätze diskutiert. Es wird postuliert, daß Überladung der Zelle mit Calcium und Calcium-Mangel der Zelle zum kontraktilen Versagen des Herzens und zum Zelltod beitragen durch eine Anzahl definierter Mechanismen. Im Hinblick auf eine sachgerechte Behandlung kardialer Störungen stellt sich daher die Aufgabe, die genaue Natur der Prozesse zu klären, die mit Calcium-Überbeladung oder Calcium-Mangel einhergehen.

Expression of Gqα and PLC-β in Scar and Border Tissue in Heart Failure Due to Myocardial Infarction

Background—Large transmural myocardial infarction (MI) leads to maladaptive cardiac remodeling and places patients at increased risk of congestive heart failure. Angiotensin II, endothelin, and α1-adrenergic receptor agonists are implicated in the development of cardiac hypertrophy, interstitial fibrosis, and heart failure after MI. Because these agonists are coupled to and activate Gqα protein in the heart, the aim of the present study was to investigate Gqα expression and function in cardiac remodeling and heart failure after MI. Methods and Results—MI was produced in rats by ligation of the left coronary artery, and Gqα protein concentration, localization, and mRNA abundance were noted in surviving left ventricle remote from the infarct and in border and scar tissues from 8-week post-MI hearts with moderate heart failure. Immunohistochemical staining localized elevated Gqα expression in the scar and border tissues. Western analysis confirmed significant upregulation of Gqα proteins in these regions ver...

Alterations in heart membrane calcium transport during the development of ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Global ischemia in guinea-pig hearts for 60 to 90 min depressed microsomal and mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake activities. Reperfusion of the 60 min ischemic hearts resulted in incomplete recovery of contractile function and calcium uptake activities of both mitochondrial and microsomal fractions. On the other hand, reperfusion of the 90 min ischemic hearts further depressed the microsomal Ca2+ uptake activity. Coronary occlusion for 90 min in dog hearts was found to decrease microsomal Ca2+-pump and sarcolemmal Na+-K+ ATPase activities. Reperfusion of these regional ischemic hearts further depressed the microsomal Ca2+ uptake and Ca2+-stimulated ATPase as well as sarcolemmal Na+-K+ ATPase activities whereas mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake was increased. Perfusion of rat hearts for 60 min with hypoxic medium resulted in depression of the sarcolemmal Na+-dependent Ca2+ uptake and ATP-dependent Ca2+ uptake activities. Reperfusion of these hypoxic hearts failed to recover the sarcolemmal Na+-Ca2+ exchange and Ca2+-pump activities. These results demonstrate that membrane defects with respect to Ca2+ transport processes in ischemic/hypoxic hearts may be associated with irreversible injury.

ALTERATIONS IN CARDIAC MEMBRANE CA2+ TRANSPORT DURING OXIDATIVE STRESS

Although cardiac dysfunction due to ischemia-reperfusion injury is considered to involve oxygen free radicals, the exact manner by which this oxidative stress affects the myocardium is not clear. As the occurrence of intracellular Ca2+ overload has been shown to play a critical role in the genesis of cellular damage due to ischemia-reperfusion, this study was undertaken to examine whether oxygen free radicals are involved in altering the sarcolemmal Ca2+-transport activities due to reperfusion injury. When isolated rat hearts were made globally ischemic for 30 min and then reperfused for 5 min, the Ca2+ -pump and Na+-Ca2+ exchange activities were depressed in the purified sarcolemmal fraction; these alterations were prevented when a free radical scavenger enzymes (superoxide dismutase plus catalase) were added to the reperfusion medium. Both the Ca2+- pump and Na+- Ca2+ exchange activities in control heart sarcolemmal preparations were depressed by activated oxygen-generating systems containing xanthine plus xanthine oxidase and H2O2; these changes were prevented by the inclusion of superoxide dismutase and catalase in the incubation medium. These results support the view that oxidative stress during ischemia-reperfusion may contribute towards the occurrence of intracellular Ca2+ overload and subsequent cell damage by depressing the sarcolemmal mechanisms governing the efflux of Ca2+ from the cardiac cell.

Changes in cardiac protein kinase C activities and isozymes in streptozotocin-induced diabetes.

To understand cardiac dysfunction in diabetes, the activity of protein kinase C (PKC) and protein contents of its isozymes (PKC-alpha, -beta, -epsilon, and -zeta) were examined in diabetic rats upon injection of streptozotocin (65 mg/kg iv). The hearts were removed at 1, 2, 4, and 8 wk, and some of the 6-wk diabetic animals had been injected with insulin (3 U/day) for 2 wk. The Ca(2+)-dependent PKC activity was increased by 43 and 51% in the homogenate fraction and 31 and 70% in the cytosolic fraction from the 4- and 8-wk diabetic hearts, respectively, in comparison with control values. The Ca(2+)-independent PKC activity was increased by 24 and 32% in the homogenate fraction and 52 and 89% in the cytosolic fraction from the 4- and 8-wk diabetic hearts, respectively, in comparison with control values. The relative protein contents of PKC-alpha, -beta, -epsilon, and -zeta isozymes were increased by 43, 31, 48, and 38%, respectively, in the homogenate fraction and by 126, 119, 148, and 129%, respectively, in the cytosolic fraction of the 8-wk diabetic heart. The observed changes in heart homogenate and cytosolic fractions were partially reversible upon treatment of the diabetic rats with insulin. The results suggest that the increased myocardial PKC activity and increased protein contents of the cytosolic PKC isozymes are associated with subcellular alterations and cardiac dysfunction in the diabetic heart.To understand cardiac dysfunction in diabetes, the activity of protein kinase C (PKC) and protein contents of its isozymes (PKC-α, -β, -ε, and -ζ) were examined in diabetic rats upon injection of streptozotocin (65 mg/kg iv). The hearts were removed at 1, 2, 4, and 8 wk, and some of the 6-wk diabetic animals had been injected with insulin (3 U/day) for 2 wk. The Ca2+-dependent PKC activity was increased by 43 and 51% in the homogenate fraction and 31 and 70% in the cytosolic fraction from the 4- and 8-wk diabetic hearts, respectively, in comparison with control values. The Ca2+-independent PKC activity was increased by 24 and 32% in the homogenate fraction and 52 and 89% in the cytosolic fraction from the 4- and 8-wk diabetic hearts, respectively, in comparison with control values. The relative protein contents of PKC-α, -β, -ε, and -ζ isozymes were increased by 43, 31, 48, and 38%, respectively, in the homogenate fraction and by 126, 119, 148, and 129%, respectively, in the cytosolic fraction of the 8-wk diabetic heart. The observed changes in heart homogenate and cytosolic fractions were partially reversible upon treatment of the diabetic rats with insulin. The results suggest that the increased myocardial PKC activity and increased protein contents of the cytosolic PKC isozymes are associated with subcellular alterations and cardiac dysfunction in the diabetic heart.

Sarcolemmal phosphatidylethanolamine N-methylation in diabetic cardiomyopathy.

Phosphatidylethanolamine N-methylation was studied in cardiac sarcolemma 8 weeks after the induction of chronic experimental diabetes in rats by a streptozotocin injection (65 mg/kg, iv). Incorporation of radiolabeled methyl groups from S-adenosyl-L-methionine into intramembranal phosphatidylethanolamine, assayed under optimal conditions, confirmed the existence of three catalytic sites involved in the sequential methyl transfer reactions. Total methyl group incorporation at all three sites was significantly depressed in diabetic myocardium, but this change was reversible by a 14-day insulin therapy to the diabetic animals. Measurements of phospholipid N-methylation activity at different times indicated that the depression was evident at 6 weeks after the induction of diabetes. This defect was also seen for the individual methylated lipid products (monomethyl-, dimethylphosphatidylethanolamine, and phosphatidylcholine) specifically formed at each catalytic site. Experiments with different concentrations of S-adenosyl-L-methionine revealed that, for all three sites, the apparent affinity for the methyl donor did not change, whereas the apparent Vmax values were significantly lowered in diabetes. The results of this study identify a defect in the sarcolemmal phosphatidylethanolamine N-methylation in diabetic cardiomyopathy.

Phospholipase D activity in subcellular membranes of rat ventricular myocardium

The phospholipase D (PL D), which catalyzes the formation of phosphatidic acid (PA), was studied in rat myocardium using 14C-labelled phosphatidylcholine (PC) as an exogenous substrate. Subcellular distribution experiments indicated the presence of PL D in particulate fractions only. Different procedures for the isolation of purified cardiac subcellular organelles showed the presence of PL D in sarcolemma (SL), sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) and mitochondria with 14-, 11- and 5-fold enrichment when compared to the homogenate value, respectively. The activity of SL PL D was observed over a narrow acid pH range with an optimum at 6.5, and it showed a high specificity for PC while phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylinositol showed a low rate of hydrolysis. Under optimal conditions, PA formation was linear for a 90-min period of incubation and the reaction rate was constant for 10 to 100 micrograms SL protein in the assay medium. The SR PL D displayed properties similar to those seen with the SL PL D. In membrane fractions PL D was also found to catalyze a transphosphatidylation reaction for the synthesis of phosphatidylglycerol. Assessment of the intramembranal levels of radioactive 1,2-diacylglycerol (DAG) in the absence or presence of KF suggested the presence of an active PA phosphohydrolase activity. This study indicates that a PC-specific PL D activity is localized in different membrane systems of the myocardium and may be associated with PA phosphohydrolase to act in a coordinated manner. The functional significance of PL D-dependent formation of PA in cardiac membranes is discussed.

Changes in sarcolemmal PLC isoenzymes in postinfarct congestive heart failure: partial correction by imidapril

We have examined the changes in quantity and activity of cardiac sarcolemmal (SL) phosphoinositide-phospholipase C (PLC)-beta(1), -gamma(1), and -delta(1) in a model of congestive heart failure (CHF) secondary to large transmural myocardial infarction (MI). We also instituted a late in vivo monotherapy with imidapril, an ANG-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, to test the hypothesis that its therapeutic action is associated with the functional correction of PLC isoenzymes. SL membranes were purified from the surviving left ventricle of rats in a moderate stage of CHF at 8 wk after occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery. SL PLC isoenzymes were examined in terms of protein mass and hydrolytic activity. CHF resulted in a striking reduction (to 6-17% of controls) of the mass and activity of gamma(1)- and delta(1)-isoforms in combination with a significant increase of both PLC beta(1) parameters. In vivo treatment with imidapril (1 mg/kg body wt, daily, initiated 4 wk after coronary occlusion) improved the contractile function and induced a partial correction of PLCs. The mass of SL phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate and the activities of the enzymes responsible for its synthesis were significantly reduced in post-MI CHF and partially corrected by imidapril. The results indicate that profound changes in the profile of heart SL PLC-beta(1), -gamma(1), and -delta(1) occur in CHF, which could alter the complex second messenger responses of these isoforms, whereas their partial correction by imidapril may be related to the mechanism of action of this ACE inhibitor.We have examined the changes in quantity and activity of cardiac sarcolemmal (SL) phosphoinositide-phospholipase C (PLC)-β1, -γ1, and -δ1 in a model of congestive heart failure (CHF) secondary to large transmural myocardial infarction (MI). We also instituted a late in vivo monotherapy with imidapril, an ANG-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, to test the hypothesis that its therapeutic action is associated with the functional correction of PLC isoenzymes. SL membranes were purified from the surviving left ventricle of rats in a moderate stage of CHF at 8 wk after occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery. SL PLC isoenzymes were examined in terms of protein mass and hydrolytic activity. CHF resulted in a striking reduction (to 6-17% of controls) of the mass and activity of γ1- and δ1-isoforms in combination with a significant increase of both PLC β1 parameters. In vivo treatment with imidapril (1 mg/kg body wt, daily, initiated 4 wk after coronary occlusion) improved the contractile function and induced a partial correction of PLCs. The mass of SL phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate and the activities of the enzymes responsible for its synthesis were significantly reduced in post-MI CHF and partially corrected by imidapril. The results indicate that profound changes in the profile of heart SL PLC-β1, -γ1, and -δ1 occur in CHF, which could alter the complex second messenger responses of these isoforms, whereas their partial correction by imidapril may be related to the mechanism of action of this ACE inhibitor.

Stimulation of Ca2+-pump in rat heart sarcolemma by phosphatidylethanolamine N-methylation.

Incubation of purified cardiac sarcolemmal vesicles (SL) in the presence of S-adenosyl-L-methionine, a methyl donor for the enzymatic N-methylation of phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), increased the Ca2+-stimulated ATPase and ATP-dependent Ca2+ accumulation activities. Quantitative analysis of the methylated phospholipids revealed that maximal increase of Ca2+-pump activities was associated with predominant synthesis and intramembranal accumulation of phosphatidyl-N,N-dimethylethanolamine. The stimulation of SL Ca2+-pump activities was prevented by inhibitors of PE N-methylation such as S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine and methyl acetimidate hydrochloride. The results suggest a possible role of PE N-methylation in the regulation of Ca2+-transport across the heart SL membrane.