Circulation research
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Circulation research · Oct 2000
Sinoatrial node pacemaker activity requires Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II activation.
Cardiac beating arises from the spontaneous rhythmic excitation of sinoatrial (SA) node cells. Here we report that SA node pacemaker activity is critically dependent on Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII). In freshly dissociated rabbit single SA node cells, inhibition of CaMKII by a specific peptide inhibitor, autocamtide-2 inhibitory peptide (AIP, 10 micromol/L), or by KN-93 (0.1 to 3.0 micromol/L), but not its inactive analog, KN-92, depressed the rate and amplitude of spontaneous action potentials (APs) in a dose-dependent manner. ⋯ Similar results were observed using the fast Ca(2+) chelator BAPTA, whereas the slow Ca(2+) chelator EGTA had no significant effect, which suggests that CaMKII activity is preferentially regulated by local Ca(2+) transients. Indeed, confocal immunocytochemical imaging showed that active CaMKII is highly localized beneath the surface membrane in the vicinity of L-type channels and that AIP and KN-93 significantly reduced CaMKII activity. Thus, we conclude that CaMKII plays a vital role in regulating cardiac pacemaker activity mainly via modulating I(Ca, L) inactivation and reactivation, and local Ca(2+) is critically involved in these processes.
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Circulation research · Jul 2000
ReviewSustained inward current during pacemaker depolarization in mammalian sinoatrial node cells.
Several time- and voltage-dependent ionic currents have been identified in cardiac pacemaker cells, including Na(+) current, L- and T-type Ca(2+) currents, hyperpolarization-activated cation current, and various types of delayed rectifier K(+) currents. Mathematical models have demonstrated that spontaneous action potentials can be reconstructed by incorporating these currents, but relative contributions of individual currents vary widely between different models. In 1995, the presence of a novel inward current that was activated by depolarization to the potential range of the slow diastolic depolarization in rabbit sinoatrial (SA) node cells was reported. ⋯ Recently, single-channel analysis has revealed a nicardipine-sensitive, 13-pS Na(+) current, which is activated by depolarization to the diastolic potential range in guinea pig SA node cells. This channel differs from rapid voltage-gated Na(+) or L-type Ca(2+) channels both in unitary conductance and gating kinetics. Because I(st) was observed only in spontaneously beating SA node cells, ie, it was absent in quiescent cells dissociated from the same SA or atrioventricular node, an important role of I(st) for generation of intrinsic cardiac automaticity was suggested.
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Circulation research · Mar 2000
The antianginal drug trimetazidine shifts cardiac energy metabolism from fatty acid oxidation to glucose oxidation by inhibiting mitochondrial long-chain 3-ketoacyl coenzyme A thiolase.
Trimetazidine is a clinically effective antianginal agent that has no negative inotropic or vasodilator properties. Although it is thought to have direct cytoprotective actions on the myocardium, the mechanism(s) by which this occurs is as yet undefined. In this study, we determined what effects trimetazidine has on both fatty acid and glucose metabolism in isolated working rat hearts and on the activities of various enzymes involved in fatty acid oxidation. ⋯ In contrast, concentrations of trimetazidine in excess of 10 and 100 micromol/L were needed to inhibit the medium- and short-chain forms of 3-ketoacyl CoA thiolase, respectively. Previous studies have shown that inhibition of fatty acid oxidation and stimulation of glucose oxidation can protect the ischemic heart. Therefore, our data suggest that the antianginal effects of trimetazidine may occur because of an inhibition of long-chain 3-ketoacyl CoA thiolase activity, which results in a reduction in fatty acid oxidation and a stimulation of glucose oxidation.
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Circulation research · Jul 1999
Mechanical stretch and angiotensin II differentially upregulate the renin-angiotensin system in cardiac myocytes In vitro.
Pressure overload in vivo results in left ventricular hypertrophy and activation of the renin-angiotensin system in the heart. Mechanical stretch of neonatal rat cardiac myocytes in vitro causes secretion of angiotensin II (Ang II), which in turn plays a pivotal role in mechanical stretch-induced hypertrophy. Although in vivo data suggest that the stimulus of hemodynamic overload serves as an important modulator of cardiac renin-angiotensin system (RAS) activity, it is not clear whether observed upregulation of RAS genes is a direct effect of hemodynamic stress or is secondary to neurohumoral effects in response to hemodynamic overload. ⋯ Interestingly, stretch of cardiac fibroblasts did not result in any discernible increases in the expression of RAS genes. Our results indicate that mechanical stretch in vitro upregulates both mRNA and protein expression of RAS components specifically in cardiac myocytes. Furthermore, components of the cardiac RAS are independently and differentially regulated by mechanical stretch and Ang II in neonatal rat cardiac myocytes.
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Circulation research · Jul 1999
A dual inhibitor of platelet-derived growth factor beta-receptor and Src kinase activity potently interferes with motogenic and mitogenic responses to PDGF in vascular smooth muscle cells. A novel candidate for prevention of vascular remodeling.
PP1 has previously been described as an inhibitor of the Src-family kinases p56(Lck) and FynT. We have therefore decided to use PP1 to determine the functional role of Src in platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-induced proliferation and migration of human coronary artery smooth muscle cells (HCASMCs). A synthetic protocol for PP1/AGL1872 has been developed, and the inhibitory activity of PP1/AGL1872 against Src was examined. ⋯ These data suggest that the previously described tyrosine kinase inhibitor PP1/AGL1872 is not selective for the Src family of tyrosine kinases. It is also a potent inhibitor of the PDGF beta-receptor kinase but is not a ubiquitous tyrosine kinase inhibitor. PP1/AGL1872 inhibits migration and proliferation of HCASMCs probably by interference with 2 distinct tyrosine phosphorylation events, creating a novel and potent inhibitory principle with possible relevance for the treatment of pathological HCASMC activity, such as vascular remodeling and restenosis.