原发性心肌病的分子遗传学特性

心肌病(cardiomyopathy)是由心脏心室的结构改变和心肌壁功能受损导致的心脏病变,具体表现为心脏肌小节蛋白结构和功能的改变、离子通道结构和功能的改变、能量供给和调控受到影响、细胞膜成分的改变等。原发性心肌病是心肌病的主要种类,病变部位主要局限于心肌,包括肥厚型心肌病、扩张型心肌病、限制型心肌病、致心律失常型右心室心肌病和无类别心肌病5大类。心肌病的发生主要与多种基因的变异有关,这些基因主要编码肌节蛋白、桥粒蛋白、膜蛋白、钙结合蛋白和与线粒体氧化磷酸化有关的蛋白等。对原发性心肌病的分子遗传学特性的研究进行概述,为该病的诊断、筛查、预防和治疗提供参考。     

STAT蛋白在心脏疾病中作用的研究进展

细胞信号转导途径JAK-STAT通路是细胞因子由细胞膜外向细胞核内传递信号的主要途径,参与了介导细胞生长,增殖分化,炎症反应,细胞凋亡等多种病理生理过程。STAT蛋白是JAK-STAT通路的核心分子,且所有的STAT蛋白在心脏中均有表达,改变其分子结构能调节STAT蛋白的生物学活性。目前,已有大量文献报道了STAT1、STAT3在心脏疾病中的作用,缺血性心脏疾病、缺血再灌注引起心肌损伤、心肌肥大、心肌梗塞后的心脏衰竭以及缺血预/后处理介导的心脏保护作用等均与STAT蛋白密切相关。本文主要就近年来STAT蛋白在心脏疾病中作用的研究进展进行了综述。     

心肌细胞膜与肌质网膜的结构功能耦联及其病理重塑机制

心脏的收缩功能依赖心肌细胞膜（包括横管）与肌质网的结构耦联以及其中L型钙通道与肌质网钙释放通道之间的钙致钙释放过程。在一些病理条件下,细胞膜与肌质网的耦联结构发生重塑,钙致钙释放机制受损,心肌细胞收缩力下降。其中,junctophilin-2等蛋白分子表达量减少是心力衰竭疾病中心肌细胞收缩能力下降的关键因素。     

Apelin：心肺疾病的一种新的血浆标志分子

呼吸困难是肺实质疾病和慢性心衰共同的主要症状。心功能不全可以通过检测血浆中的心脏来源的脑钠肽（BNP）或其前体来评估,但是迄今尚没有特异的反映肺实质疾病的内分泌的标志分子。Apelin是新发现的G蛋白偶联受体一血管紧张素受体AT1相关的受体蛋白（putative receptor protein related to the angiotensin receptor AT1,APJ）的天然配体,具有增强心肌收缩力和舒张血管、降低血压的作用,而且在肺组织高表达。     

心肌细胞过表达miR-27b导致小鼠发生心肌纤维化和线粒体损伤

以往的miRNA芯片研究结果显示, miR-27b在人类心脏疾病标本和压力负荷引起的小鼠心肌肥厚模型中表达水平明显升高, 提示其在心脏疾病发生过程中发挥了重要功能。为研究miR-27b在心脏组织中的功能, 文章建立了在心肌细胞特异性 a-肌球蛋白重链(a-MHC)启动子(5.5 kb)控制下过表达miR-27b的转基因小鼠。通过Real-time PCR检测, 发现miR-27b前体和成熟体表达水平在转基因小鼠心脏组织中明显升高。miR-27b转基因小鼠不仅出现心肌肥厚, 还表现出明显的心肌纤维化。进一步研究表明心肌纤维化的关键调节分子金属基质蛋白酶13(MMP13)是miR-27b的靶分子, 在miR-27b转基因小鼠中MMP13显著下调, 胶原分子I和 III则显著上调。此外, 还发现miR-27b转基因小鼠会出现心脏超微结构的损伤。以上研究结果表明, miR-27b可能通过抑制MMP13促进心肌纤维化。     

非编码RNA在心脏稳态维持中的功能和机制

心脏的稳态维持依赖动态重塑来实现。心脏重塑异常是多种心血管疾病的主要病理生理基础,它能引起心肌肥厚、间质纤维化和心脏功能受损等结构和功能的改变,并最终导致心力衰竭。非编码RNA(ncRNA)是指不编码蛋白质的RNA分子。微小RNA (miRNA)和长链非编码RNA (lncRNA)是非编码RNA的两种主要类型,在基因转录、RNA成熟和蛋白质翻译等水平调控基因表达,参与许多重要的生命过程。近年来的研究表明,这两种非编码RNA参与心脏重塑和心脏疾病发生。该文将介绍miRNA和lncRNA在心脏稳态维持中功能及其机制的最新研究进展,以及它们作为心脏疾病诊断分子标志物及治疗靶标的前景。     

心肌细胞过表达miR-27b导致小鼠发生心肌纤维化和线粒体损伤

以往的miRNA芯片研究结果显示, miR-27b在人类心脏疾病标本和压力负荷引起的小鼠心肌肥厚模型中表达水平明显升高, 提示其在心脏疾病发生过程中发挥了重要功能。为研究miR-27b在心脏组织中的功能, 文章建立了在心肌细胞特异性 a-肌球蛋白重链(a-MHC)启动子(5.5 kb)控制下过表达miR-27b的转基因小鼠。通过Real-time PCR检测, 发现miR-27b前体和成熟体表达水平在转基因小鼠心脏组织中明显升高。miR-27b转基因小鼠不仅出现心肌肥厚, 还表现出明显的心肌纤维化。进一步研究表明心肌纤维化的关键调节分子金属基质蛋白酶13(MMP13)是miR-27b的靶分子, 在miR-27b转基因小鼠中MMP13显著下调, 胶原分子I和 III则显著上调。此外, 还发现miR-27b转基因小鼠会出现心脏超微结构的损伤。以上研究结果表明, miR-27b可能通过抑制MMP13促进心肌纤维化。     

低氧适应对缺氧性心功能损伤的保护作用及其机制探讨

缺氧对心脏功能的影响与缺氧的严重程度、发生速度及时程有关。本实检比较了急性缺氧与阶梯适应性缺氧对Ｗｉｓｔａｒ大鼠心脏功能及心肌收缩蛋白Ｃａ２＋,Ｍｇ２＋－ＡＴＰ酶的不同影响,结果表明,低氧适应组与急性缺氧组比较,左右心室的±ｄｐ／ｄｔｍａｘ、收缩指数等心功能指标均有显著的改善,心肌收缩蛋白Ｃａ２＋,Ｍｇ２＋－ＡＴＰ酶活性也显著高于急性缺氧组。从而说明,动物经低氧适应后,心脏的代偿功能得到充分发挥,从面减轻缺氧对心脏的损伤。心肌收缩蛋白Ｃａ２＋,Ｍｇ２＋－ＡＴＰ酶的改善可能是心脏代偿机制的生物化学基础之一。     

EZH2在心脏与血管发育中的作用

Zeste基因增强子人类同源物2(enhancer of zeste homolog 2, EZH2)是多梳蛋白抑制复合物2(polycomb repressive complex 2, PRC2)的主要元件之一，利用组蛋白甲基化酶活性发挥经典作用，抑制靶基因的表达。此外，EZH2通过甲基化其他蛋白，作为蛋白支架分子募集转录相关分子介导转录激活，与lncRNA及miRNA相互作用等非经典途径调控各项生命活动，与干细胞分化和组织器官发育关系密切。EZH2及其功能相关分子在心脏发育、血管发生等过程中发挥着至关重要的作用。靶向敲除小鼠心脏Ezh2基因会影响心肌组织及内皮源性组织的正常发育，造成广泛性的心脏发育缺陷。EZH2参与调控正常组织和肿瘤组织的血管生成，维持新生血管完整性，并参与调控内皮间质化和内皮造血转化。本文探讨了EZH2在心脏和血管发生领域的影响效应、调控机制，及其与相关疾病的关系。     

GTP结合蛋白有多种调节亚单位

GTP 结合蛋白(G 蛋白)有三个亚单位:α,β和γ,其中α链有多种分子形式,β和γ链变化较小,二者偶联构成βγ复合体。一般认为,α链是 G 蛋白的调节亚基,介导神经递质和激素的受体后效应。但 Lo-gothetis 等最近证明了βγ复合体能使心肌胆碱型钾离子通道开放,而α链则无此功能,说明α链不是 G     

Identification of three novel proteins (SGSM1, 2, 3) which modulate small G protein (RAP and RAB)-mediated signaling pathway

We report a novel protein family consisting of three members, each of which contains RUN and TBC motifs and appears to be associated with small G protein-mediated signal transduction pathway. We named these proteins as small G protein signaling modulators (SGSM1/2/3). Northern blot analysis revealed that human SGSM2/3 are expressed ubiquitously in various tissues, whereas SGSM1 is expressed mainly in brain, heart, and testis. Mouse possessed the same protein family genes, and the in situ hybridization and immunohistochemical staining of tissue sections revealed that mouse Sgsm1/2/3 are expressed in the neurons of central nervous system, indicating the strong association of Sgsm family with neuronal function. Furthermore, endogenous Sgsm1 protein was localized in the trans-Golgi network of mouse Neuro2a cells by immunofluorescence microscopy. Expression of various cDNA constructs followed by immunoprecipitation assay revealed that human SGSM1/2/3 proteins are coprecipitated with RAP and RAB subfamily members of the small G protein superfamily. Based on these results, we postulated that the SGSM family members function as modulators of the small G protein RAP and RAB-mediated neuronal signal transduction and vesicular transportation pathways.     

Whither goest the RGS proteins?

Studies of the desensitization of G protein-coupled signal transduction have led to the discovery of a family of guanosine triphosphatase-activating proteins (GAPs) for heterotrimeric G protein alpha subunits - the "regulator of G protein signaling" or RGS proteins. In considering both documented and potential functions of several RGS protein family members with demonstrable multidomain compositions (p115RhoGEF, PDZRhoGEF, Axin, Axil/Conductin, D-AKAP2, the G protein-coupled receptor kinases [GRKs], the DEP/GGL/RGS subfamily [RGS6, RGS7, RGS9, RGS11], and RGS12), this review explores the shift in our appreciation of the RGS proteins from unidimensional desensitizing agents to multifocal signal transduction regulators.     

Whither Goest the RGS Proteins?

Studies of the desensitization of G protein-coupled signal transduction have led to the discovery of a family of guanosine triphosphatase-activating proteins (GAPs) for heterotrimeric G protein alpha subunits — the “regulator of G protein signaling” or RGS proteins. In considering both documented and potential functions of several RGS protein family members with demonstrable multidomain compositions (p115RhoGEF, PDZRhoGEF, Axin, Axil/Conductin, D-AKAP2, the G protein-coupled receptor kinases [GRKs], the DEP/GGL/RGS subfamily [RGS6, RGS7, RGS9, RGS11], and RGS12), this review explores the shift in our appreciation of the RGS proteins from unidimensional desensitizing agents to multifocal signal transduction regulators.     

Pleiotropic phenotype of a genomic knock-in of an RGS-insensitive G184S Gnai2 allele

Signal transduction via guanine nucleotide binding proteins (G proteins) is involved in cardiovascular, neural, endocrine, and immune cell function. Regulators of G protein signaling (RGS proteins) speed the turn-off of G protein signals and inhibit signal transduction, but the in vivo roles of RGS proteins remain poorly defined. To overcome the redundancy of RGS functions and reveal the total contribution of RGS regulation at the Galpha(i2) subunit, we prepared a genomic knock-in of the RGS-insensitive G184S Gnai2 allele. The Galpha(i2)(G184S) knock-in mice show a dramatic and complex phenotype affecting multiple organ systems (heart, myeloid, skeletal, and central nervous system). Both homozygotes and heterozygotes demonstrate reduced viability and decreased body weight. Other phenotypes include shortened long bones, a markedly enlarged spleen, elevated neutrophil counts, an enlarged heart, and behavioral hyperactivity. Heterozygous Galpha(i2)(+/G184S) mice show some but not all of these abnormalities. Thus, loss of RGS actions at Galpha(i2) produces a dramatic and pleiotropic phenotype which is more evident than the phenotype seen for individual RGS protein knockouts.     

Modification of beta-adrenoceptor signal transduction pathway by genetic manipulation and heart failure

The beta-adrenoceptor (beta-AR) mediated signal transduction pathway in cardiomyocytes is known to involve beta1- and beta2-ARs, stimulatory (Gs) and inhibitory (Gi) guanine nucleotide binding proteins, adenylyl cyclase (AC) and cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA). The activation of beta1- and beta2-ARs has been shown to increase heart function by increasing Ca2+ -movements across the sarcolemmal membrane and sarcoplasmic reticulum through the stimulation of Gs-proteins, activation of AC and PKA enzymes and phosphorylation of the target sites. The activation of PKA has also been reported to increase phosphorylation of some myofibrillar proteins (for promoting cardiac relaxation) and nuclear proteins (for cardiac hypertrophy). The activation of beta2-AR has also been shown to affect Gi-proteins, stimulate mitogen activated protein kinase and increase protein synthesis by enhancing gene expression. Beta1- and beta2-ARs as well as AC are considered to be regulated by PKA- and protein kinase C (PKC)-mediated phosphorylations directly; both PKA and PKC also regulate beta-AR indirectly through the involvement of beta-AR kinase (betaARK), beta-arrestins and Gbeta gamma-protein subunits. Genetic manipulation of different components and regulators of beta-AR signal transduction pathway by employing transgenic and knockout mouse models has provided insight into their functional and regulatory characteristics in cardiomyocytes. The genetic studies have also helped in understanding the pathophysiological role of PARK in heart dysfunction and therapeutic role of betaARK inhibitors in the treatment of heart failure. Varying degrees of defects in the beta-AR signal transduction system have been identified in different types of heart failure to explain the attenuated response of the failing heart to sympathetic stimulation or catecholamine infusion. A decrease in beta1-AR density, an increase in the level of G1-proteins and overexpression of betaARK are usually associated with heart failure; however, these attenuations have been shown to be dependent upon the type and stage of heart failure as well as region of the heart. Both local and circulating renin-angiotensin systems, sympathetic nervous system and endothelial cell function appears to regulate the status of beta-AR signal transduction pathway in the failing heart. Thus different components and regulators of the beta-AR signal transduction pathway appears to represent important targets for the development of therapeutic interventions for the treatment of heart failure.     

The role of the CGRP-receptor component protein (RCP) in adrenomedullin receptor signal transduction.

G protein-coupled receptors are usually thought to act as monomer receptors that bind ligand and then interact with G proteins to initiate signal transduction. In this study we report an intracellular peripheral membrane protein named the calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)-receptor component protein (RCP) required for signal transduction at the G protein-coupled receptor for adrenomedullin. Cell lines were made that expressed an antisense construct of the RCP cDNA, and in these cells diminished RCP expression correlated with loss of adrenomedullin signal transduction. In contrast, loss of RCP did not diminish receptor density or affinity, therefore RCP does not appear to act as a chaperone protein. Instead, RCP represents a novel class of protein required to couple the adrenomedullin receptor to the cellular signal transduction pathway. A candidate adrenomedullin receptor named the calcitonin receptor-like receptor (CRLR) has been described, which forms high affinity adrenomedullin receptors when co-expressed with the accessory protein receptor-activity modifying protein 2 (RAMP2). RCP co-immunoprecipitated with CRLR and RAMP2, indicating that a functional adrenomedullin receptor is composed of at least three proteins: the ligand binding protein (CRLR), an accessory protein (RAMP2), and a coupling protein for signal transduction (RCP).     

Heterotrimeric G protein activation by G-protein-coupled receptors

Heterotrimeric G proteins have a crucial role as molecular switches in signal transduction pathways mediated by G-protein-coupled receptors. Extracellular stimuli activate these receptors, which then catalyse GTP-GDP exchange on the G protein alpha-subunit. The complex series of interactions and conformational changes that connect agonist binding to G protein activation raise various interesting questions about the structure, biomechanics, kinetics and specificity of signal transduction across the plasma membrane.     

C. elegans G protein regulator RGS-3 controls sensitivity to sensory stimuli

Signal transduction through heterotrimeric G proteins is critical for sensory response across species. Regulator of G protein signaling (RGS) proteins are negative regulators of signal transduction. Herein we describe a role for C. elegans RGS-3 in the regulation of sensory behaviors. rgs-3 mutant animals fail to respond to intense sensory stimuli but respond normally to low concentrations of specific odorants. We find that loss of RGS-3 leads to aberrantly increased G protein-coupled calcium signaling but decreased synaptic output, ultimately leading to behavioral defects. Thus, rgs-3 responses are restored by decreasing G protein-coupled signal transduction, either genetically or by exogenous dopamine, by expressing a calcium-binding protein to buffer calcium levels in sensory neurons or by enhancing glutamatergic synaptic transmission from sensory neurons. Therefore, while RGS proteins generally act to downregulate signaling, loss of a specific RGS protein in sensory neurons can lead to defective responses to external stimuli.     

G protein-coupled receptor kinase function is essential for chemosensation in C. elegans

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) mediate diverse signaling processes, including olfaction. G protein-coupled receptor kinases (GRKs) are important regulators of G protein signal transduction that specifically phosphorylate activated GPCRs to terminate signaling. Despite previously described roles for GRKs in GPCR signal downregulation, animals lacking C. elegans G protein-coupled receptor kinase-2 (Ce-grk-2) function are not hypersensitive to odorants. Instead, decreased Ce-grk-2 function in adult sensory neurons profoundly disrupts chemosensation, based on both behavioral analysis and Ca(2+) imaging. Although mammalian arrestin proteins cooperate with GRKs in receptor desensitization, loss of C. elegans arrestin-1 (arr-1) does not disrupt chemosensation. Either overexpression of the C. elegans Galpha subunit odr-3 or loss of eat-16, which encodes a regulator of G protein signaling (RGS) protein, restores chemosensation in Ce-grk-2 mutants. These results demonstrate that loss of GRK function can lead to reduced GPCR signal transduction and suggest an important role for RGS proteins in the regulation of chemosensation.     

Proteomic analysis of membrane microdomains derived from both failing and non-failing human hearts

Eukaryotic cells plasma membranes are organized into microdomains of specialized function such as lipid rafts and caveolae, with a specific lipid composition highly enriched in cholesterol and glycosphingolipids. In addition to their role in regulating signal transduction, multiple functions have been proposed, such as anchorage of receptors, trafficking of cholesterol, and regulation of permeability. However, an extensive understanding of their protein composition in human heart, both in failing and non-failing conditions, is not yet available. Membrane microdomains were isolated from left ventricular tissue of both failing (n = 15) and non-failing (n = 15) human hearts. Protein composition and differential protein expression was explored by comparing series of 2-D maps and subsequent identification by LC-MS/MS analysis. Data indicated that heart membrane microdomains are enriched in chaperones, cytoskeletal-associated proteins, enzymes and protein involved in signal transduction pathway. In addition, differential protein expression profile revealed that 30 proteins were specifically up- or down-regulated in human heart failure membrane microdomains. This study resulted in the identification of human heart membrane microdomain protein composition, which was not previously available. Moreover, it allowed the identification of multiple proteins whose expression is altered in heart failure, thus opening new perspectives to determine which role they may play in this disease.