Yuji Hisamatsu

Altered Stoichiometry of FKBP12.6 Versus Ryanodine Receptor as a Cause of Abnormal Ca2+ Leak Through Ryanodine Receptor in Heart Failure

BackgroundIn the pathogenesis of cardiac dysfunction in heart failure, a decrease in the activity of the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+-ATPase is believed to be a major determinant. Here, we report a novel mechanism of cardiac dysfunction revealed by assessing the functional interaction of FK506–binding protein (FKBP12.6) with the cardiac ryanodine receptor (RyR) in a canine model of pacing-induced heart failure. Methods and ResultsSR vesicles were isolated from left ventricular muscles (normal and heart failure). The stoichiometry of FKBP12.6 per RyR was significantly decreased in failing SR, as assessed by the ratio of the Bmax values for [3H]dihydro-FK506 to those for [3H]ryanodine binding. In normal SR, the molar ratio was 3.6 (≈1 FKBP12.6 for each RyR monomer), whereas it was 1.6 in failing SR. In normal SR, FK506 caused a dose-dependent Ca2+ leak that showed a close parallelism with the conformational change in RyR. In failing SR, a prominent Ca2+ leak was observed even in the absence of FK506, and FK506 produced little or no further increase in Ca2+ leak and only a slight conformational change in RyR. The level of protein expression of FKBP12.6 was indeed found to be significantly decreased in failing SR. ConclusionsAn abnormal Ca2+ leak through the RyR is present in heart failure, and this leak is presumably caused by a partial loss of RyR-bound FKBP12.6 and the resultant conformational change in RyR. This abnormal Ca2+ leak might possibly cause Ca2+ overload and consequent diastolic dysfunction, as well as systolic dysfunction.

Influence of Aortic Impedance on the Development of Pressure-Overload Left Ventricular Hypertrophy in Rats

BACKGROUND Aortic input impedance, which represents LV afterload, is considered to be a major determinant for the development of pressure-overload left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy. METHODS AND RESULTS To test whether the sustained change in aortic input impedance might affect the mode of development of LV hypertrophy, coarctation of either the ascending aorta (G1, n = 13) or suprarenal abdominal aorta (G2, n = 12) was performed over 4 weeks in 6-weeks-old Wistar rats. Although peak LV pressure and total systemic resistance were increased similarly in G1 and G2, time to peak LV pressure was decreased by 24% (P < .01) in G1 compared with G2. The aortic input impedance spectra revealed that the early systolic loading in G1 was characterized by an increase in characteristic impedance, whereas the late systolic loading in G2 was by an augmented arterial wave reflection. G1 showed a smaller increase (P < .01) in either the ratio of LV weight (mg) to body weight (g) or LV wall thickness than G2 after aortic banding. Myocyte diameter was also smaller (P < .05) in G1 (14.3 +/- 0.7 mm) than in G2 (16.1 +/- 1.2 mm). The ex vivo passive pressure-volume relation had a rightward shift in G1 compared with G2, suggesting less concentric LV hypertrophy in G1. CONCLUSIONS The sustained early systolic loading due to the increase in characteristic impedance was accompanied by less concentric, reduced hypertrophy, whereas the sustained late systolic loading due to the augmented arterial wave reflection was accompanied by concentric, adequate hypertrophy.

Comparison of expression of connexin in right atrial myocardium in patients with chronic atrial fibrillation versus those in sinus rhythm

An abnormal distribution of the gap junction occurs in chronic atrial fibrillation (AF). There are conflicting data regarding changes in connexins (Cxs) in experimental models of AF. We examined whether patients with chronic AF have alterations in atrial Cxs. We analyzed the expression of Cx40 and Cx43 in the right atrial myocardium from 10 patients with mitral valvular disease (MVD) who had AF (MVD/AF), 10 patients with MVD who were in normal sinus rhythm (MVD/NSR), and 10 control patients in NSR (tissue obtained during coronary artery bypass surgery). Hemodynamic and echocardiographic data were obtained before surgery, and an electrophysiologic examination was performed during the operation. An immunohistochemical study was performed on atrial tissue. The relative expression level of Cx40 protein was significantly lower in MVD/AF patients (6.5 +/- 4.6) than in either MVD/NSR patients (17.7 +/- 8.9, p <0.05) or controls (24.7 +/- 11.1, p <0.01). The relative expression level of Cx40 messenger ribonucleic acid was also significantly lower in MVD/AF patients (0.23 +/- 0.13) than in MVD/NSR patients (0.47 +/- 0.26, p <0.01) or controls (0.47 +/- 0.17, p <0.01). For Cx43 protein and messenger ribonucleic acid, there was no significant difference in relative expression levels among the 3 groups. Interestingly, the level of serine-phosphorylated Cx40 was approximately 52% greater in MVD/AF patients than in controls. In MVD/AF patients, the immunoreactive signal of Cx40 was significantly lower than in controls. There was no significant difference in the connective tissue-volume fraction among the groups. Thus, downregulation of Cx40 and abnormal phosphorylation of Cx40 may result in abnormal cell-to-cell communication and alteration in the electrophysiologic properties of the atrium, leading to the initiation and/or perpetuation of AF.

Sorcin interacts with sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+–ATPase and modulates excitation–contraction coupling in the heart

Abstract Sorcin is a 21.6–kDa Ca2+ binding protein of the penta–EF hand family. Several studies have shown that sorcin modulates multiple proteins involved in excitation–contraction (E–C) coupling in the heart, such as the cardiac ryanodine receptor (RyR2), L–type Ca2+ channel, and Na+–Ca2+ exchanger, while it has also been shown to be phosphorylated by cAMP–dependent protein kinase (PKA). To elucidate the effects of sorcin and its PKA–dependent regulation on E–C coupling in the heart, we identified the PKA–phosphorylation site of sorcin, and found that serine178 was preferentially phosphorylated by PKA and dephosphorylated by protein phosphatase– 1. Isoproterenol allowed sorcin to translocate to the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR). In addition, adenovirus–mediated overexpression of sorcin in adult rat cardiomyocytes significantly increased both the rate of decay of the Ca2+ transient and the SR Ca2+ load. An assay of oxalate–facilitated Ca2+ uptake showed that recombinant sorcin increased Ca2+ uptake in a dose–dependent manner. These data suggest that sorcin activates the Ca2+–uptake function in the SR. In UM–X7. 1 cardiomyopathic hamster hearts, the relative amount of sorcin was significantly increased in the SR fraction, whereas it was significantly decreased in whole–heart homogenates. In failing hearts, PKA–phosphorylated sorcin was markedly increased, as assessed using a back–phosphorylation assay with immunoprecipitated sorcin. Our results suggest that sorcin activates Ca2+–ATPase–mediated Ca2+ uptake and restores SR Ca2+ content, and may play critical roles in compensatory mechanisms in both Ca2+ homeostasis and cardiac dysfunction in failing hearts.

Alterations in cardiac SR Ca2+-release channels during development of heart failure in cardiomyopathic hamsters

The cardiomyopathic Syrian hamster develops a progressive cardiomyopathy characterized by cellular necrosis, hypertrophy, cardiac dilatation, and congestive heart failure. This study aimed to identify alterations in cardiac mechanical function and in the cellular content of sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+-release channels (ryanodine receptors, RyR) in the heart of the UM-X7.1 cardiomyopathic hamster during the development of heart failure. Experimental and healthy control hamsters were examined at 8, 18, and 28 wk of age. The UM-X7.1 hamsters had developed left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy at 8 wk and a marked LV dilatation at 18-28 wk. During the latter stage, the UM-X7.1 hamster hearts showed global hypokinesis. Equilibrium binding assays of high-affinity sites for [3H]ryanodine were performed in ventricular homogenate preparations. There was no significant difference between the two groups in the maximum number of [3H]ryanodine binding sites (Bmax) at either 8 or 18 wk of age, although the cardiac pump function was impaired in UM-X7.1 hamsters at 18 wk of age. By 28 wk, Bmax was significantly lower in the UM-X7.1 hamsters. Quantitative immunoblot assay revealed that the content of RyR protein in cardiomyopathic hearts, which was increased at the early stage, declined to below normal as heart failure advanced. These results suggest that the number of RyR in the UM-X7.1 cardiomyopathic hamsters was preserved at both the hypertrophic and early stages of heart failure with a possibly compensatory increase in the level of protein expression, although the cardiac function already showed a tendency to be impaired.The cardiomyopathic Syrian hamster develops a progressive cardiomyopathy characterized by cellular necrosis, hypertrophy, cardiac dilatation, and congestive heart failure. This study aimed to identify alterations in cardiac mechanical function and in the cellular content of sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca(2+)-release channels (ryanodine receptors, RyR) in the heart of the UM-X7.1 cardiomyopathic hamster during the development of heart failure. Experimental and healthy control hamsters were examined at 8, 18, and 28 wk of age. The UM-X7.1 hamsters had developed left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy at 8 wk and a marked LV dilatation at 18-28 wk. During the latter stage, the UM-X7.1 hamster hearts showed global hypokinesis. Equilibrium binding assays of high-affinity sites for [3H]ryanodine were performed in ventricular homogenate preparations. There was no significant difference between the two groups in the maximum number of [3H]ryanodine binding sites (Bmax) at either 8 or 18 wk of age, although the cardiac pump function was impaired in UM-X7.1 hamsters at 18 wk of age. By 28 wk, Bmax was significantly lower in the UM-X7.1 hamsters. Quantitative immunoblot assay revealed that the content of RyR protein in cardiomyopathic hearts, which was increased at the early stage, declined to below normal as heart failure advanced. These results suggest that the number of RyR in the UM-X7.1 cardiomyopathic hamsters was preserved at both the hypertrophic and early stages of heart failure with a possibly compensatory increase in the level of protein expression, although the cardiac function already showed a tendency to be impaired.

Importance of left anterior descending coronary artery curvature in determining cross-sectional plaque distribution assessed by intravascular ultrasound

We assessed the relation between the circumferential distribution of coronary atherosclerotic plaques and the structure of the epicardial coronary arteries in patients with coronary artery disease using intravascular ultrasound in vivo. Coronary atherosclerosis preferentially formed at the inner arc of the curved coronary vessels, and greater vessel curvatures were associated with greater distributions of atherosclerotic lesions along the inner coronary artery wall.

Differences in sarcoplasmic reticulum gene expression in myocardium from patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Quantification of steady-state levels of messenger RNA using the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction

SummaryLittle is known about any alterations in sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) gene expression associated with cardiac diseases of varying degrees of severity. We assessed, using the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique, SR Ca2+ transport protein gene expression in small tissue samples from failing hearts in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Total RNA was extracted from 30- to 50-mg samples from the hearts of 13 patients with coronary artery disease, congenital heart disease, or valvular heart disease. We used RT-PCR to synthesize and amplify cDNA encoding cardiac SR Ca2+-ATPase, ryanodine receptor (RYR), and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH). The amount of each mRNA in the sample was expressed relative to the amount of GAPDH mRNA. The expression level of each mRNA was correlated with the cardiac functional index. The mRNA levels for Ca2+-ATPase and RYR varied between heart samples, but showed a positive correlation with left ventricular ejection fraction. Ca2+-ATPase mRNA levels showed an inverse relationship with plasma brain natriuretic peptide. In addition, we isolated partial cDNA encoding a human cardiac RYR. The cDNA consisted of 487 nucleotides, and the nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences showed 93% and 99% homology, respectively, to those of rabbit cardiac RYR. These results suggest that decreased levels of mRNA for SR Ca2+ transport protein could be related to abnormal cardiac function, regardless of the etiology of the heart disease. RT-PCR provides a rapid and economical way of quantifying the expression of multiple genes in small specimens and may, therefore, aid understanding of the pathophysiology and treatment of heart disease.

Effects of Dantrolene Sodium on Progression of Left Ventricular Hypertrophy Induced by Pressure Overload in Rats

We studied the long-term effects of dantrolene sodium (D), a specific sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+-release inhibitor, on the progression of left ventricular pressure-overloaded hypertrophy in rats. We treated abdominal aorta-constricted rats with one of two doses of D for 4 weeks. The extent of hypertrophy was expressed as the ratio of left ventricle to body weight. Hemodynamic parameters were measured by using a microtip catheter manometer. Although a low dose of D (500 mg/L in drinking water) decreased blood pressure to normal levels, the progression of cardiac hypertrophy was not inhibited. In contrast, a high dose of D (5 mg/kg, i.p.) also reduced blood pressure and inhibited the progression of cardiac hypertrophy. Dantrolene sodium had no effect on cardiac function in sham-operated rats. Thus control of Ca2+ release from the SR might be crucial in regulating the progression of cardiac hypertrophy, the final mediator possibly being intracellular Ca2+ concentration.