内皮素-1与PGF2α单独或联合作用对心肌细胞的影响

目的:观测ET-1与PGF2α单独或联合作用对新生大鼠心肌细胞面积与凋亡率的影响,以探讨心肌细胞肥大与凋亡的关系.方法:分离培养新生大鼠心肌细胞,采用鬼笔环肽(phalloidin)荧光染色(定性)与细胞面积测量(定量)两种方法检测心肌细胞肥大;以Hoechst 33258荧光染色检测心肌细胞凋亡.结果:Phlloidin荧光染色显示ET-1或PGF2α单独处理组,心肌细胞肌原纤维纹理清晰,纤维增多且沿细胞长轴方向排列.而ET-1与PGF2α联合处理48 h组的肌原纤维出现纹理模糊与断裂现象.ET-1与PGF2α诱导心肌细胞肥大呈现一定的量-效关系:10nmol/L ET-1处理24 h组心肌细胞面积较对照组增加68%,100 nmol/L ET-1组增加84%.10 nmol/L PGF2α组增加28%,100 nmol/L PGF2α组增加106%.ET-1与PGF2α可协同引起心肌细胞肥大,但缺乏叠加效应:10nmol/LET-1与10 nmol/L PGF2α联合作用组增加80%;10 nmol/L ET-1与100 nmol/L PGF2α组增加122%;而100 nmol/LET-1与10 nmol/L PGF2α组增加96%;100 nmol/LET-1与100 nmol/L PGF2α组增加199%.ET-1与PGF2α单独作用缺乏明显的促心肌细胞凋亡作用.ET-1与PGF2α联合作用24 h对心肌细胞凋亡率亦无明显影响,作用48 h则使心肌细胞凋亡率呈显著性增加.ET-1或PGF2α先引起心肌细胞肥大后,促肥大因子亦可诱导心肌细胞凋亡,且心肌细胞凋亡率与其肥大程度呈正相关.结论:ET-1与PGF2α单独作用仅可促心肌细胞肥大,联合作用48 h则可促心肌细胞凋亡.     

活性氧介导内皮素-1诱导的培养新生大鼠心肌细胞肥大

实验在原代培养的新生大鼠心肌细胞中进行,检测内皮素-1(endothelin-1,ET-1)及其他药物对心肌细胞活性氧(reactiveoxygen species,ROS)产生和心肌细胞肥大的作用,以探讨ROS在ET-1诱导的心肌细胞肥大信号通路中的作用及ROS与蛋白激酶C(protein kinase C,PKC)活化的关系。细胞内ROS水平用ROS敏感的荧光探针2,7-dichlorofluorescin dictate(DCF-DA)反映,心肌细胞肥大通过细胞内RNA含量、细胞内蛋白质含量、细胞表面积大小来确定。实验结果如下:单独使用ET-1后,心肌细胞内反应ROS含量的DCF-DA荧光值比对照组增加77%,反应心肌肥大的PI荧光值、细胞内蛋白质含量、细胞表面积也分别比对照组增加128%、87%和151%。ET-1合用内皮素受体A亚型(ET_A)受体拮抗剂ABT-627、PKC抑制剂CC或过氧化氢酶后,DCF-DA的增加分别减弱62%、60%和51%,同时心肌细胞肥大也被抑制,单独使用PKC激动剂佛波醇脂(PMA)也能使DCF-DA的产生比对照组增加74%。因此,在ET-1诱导心肌细胞肥大的过程中,ET-1能够使心肌细胞产生ROS和诱导ROS依赖的心肌细胞肥大,这一作用依赖于ET_A受体的激活和PKC的活化,·ROS在ET-1诱导心肌细胞肥大中起信号传递的作用。     

缺氧复氧时肥大心肌细胞凋亡及其与能量代谢途径转换的关系

心肌细胞凋亡是心肌肥大向心力衰竭转化的重要机制,因此,抑制肥大心肌细胞凋亡可能是防治心力衰竭的有 效药物靶点之一。本研究以0．1μmol／L血管紧张素Ⅱ和1 μmol／L去甲肾上腺素刺激培养心肌细胞,复制心肌细胞肥大模 型,用三气孵箱培养。缺氧条件是95％N2和5％CO2,控制氧分压低于5 mmHg以下,8 h后常氧培养,液闪计数法测 定丙酮酸脱氢酶(pyruvate dehydrogenase,PDH)和肉碱脂酰转移酶-1(carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1,CPT-1)活性,糖氧化、 糖酵解、脂肪酸氧化率,以及细胞凋亡百分率,分析肥大心肌细胞能量代谢变化与细胞凋亡间的关系。结果如下:(1)与 常氧培养比较,缺氧8 h后,活化型丙酮酸脱氢酶(PDHa)和CPT-1活性均有显著下降,但复氧早期肥大心肌细胞PDHa活 性有轻度进一步降低(P>0．05),而CPT-1活性却较快恢复。(2)缺氧时,正常和肥大心肌细胞葡萄糖氧化代谢率均有降低[分 别下降(16±0．9)％、(48±1．1)％];复氧时,正常心肌细胞糖氧化代谢较快恢复,而肥大心肌细胞在复氧早期,糖氧化 率进一步降低,此后才逐渐恢复。(3)在缺氧时,肥大心肌细胞糖酵解率仅轻度下降,但在复氧后糖酵解率迅速升高,呈 爆发样达峰值后又逐渐恢复到缺氧前水平。(4)肥大心肌细胞在缺氧后脂肪酸代谢明显降低,但复氧后脂肪酸代谢呈爆发式 上升,并大大高于缺血前的代谢水平。(5)缺氧时肥大心肌细胞凋亡率即显著增加,在复氧早期细胞凋亡率继续大幅度上 升,此后逐渐减少。(6)预先用二氯乙酸处理肥大心肌细胞,可显著逆转缺氧复氧导致的细胞糖氧化受抑、糖酵解和脂肪 酸代谢活化,同时,抑制细胞凋亡的发生。上述结果提示,缺氧复氧后的肥大心肌细胞能量代谢途径转换是导致细胞凋 亡的重要原因。     

G蛋白、蛋白激酶C和Na+-H+交换在内皮素-1诱导培养心肌细胞肥大反应中的作用

内皮素-1(ET-1)是一种强的生长因子,并诱导心肌细胞肥大反应.在本实验中,我们探讨了G蛋白、蛋白激酶C(PKC)和Na+-H+交换在ET-1诱导的培养新生大鼠心肌细胞肥大反应中的作用.ET-1(10-10～10-7 mol/L)促进3H-亮氨酸掺入,增加细胞蛋白质的含量和心肌细胞的表面积,且呈剂量依赖性,它们的EC50分别为5.2×10-10,5.2×10-10和7.3×10-10mol/L.用蛋白激酶C(PKC)抑制剂,Staurosporin(2 nmol/L)预处理心肌细胞,可完全阻断ET-1诱导的心肌细胞的这些肥大反应,而蛋白激酶C激动剂,佛波醇酯(PMA)(10-8～10-6mol/L)呈剂量依赖性促进心肌细胞的肥大反应.用Na+-H+交换抑制剂,氨氯吡咪(10-4mol/L)预处理心肌细胞,可抑制ET-1诱导的心肌细胞肥大反应,但不影响PMA诱导的心肌细胞肥大反应.百日咳毒素(150ng/ml)预处理心肌细胞,可明显抑制ET-1诱导的心肌细胞肥大反应.这些结果提示,ET-1诱导的培养新生大鼠心肌细胞肥大反应是与百日咳毒素敏感的G蛋白相耦联,蛋白激酶C和Na+-H+交换可能在ET-1诱导的心肌细胞肥大反应中是重要的细胞内信使转导途径.     

蛋白激酶C在血管紧张素Ⅱ抑制心肌细胞一氧化氮合成中的作用

实验用硝酸还原酶法测定培养新生大鼠心肌细胞亚硝酸盐 (NO 2 )和硝酸盐 (NO 3)总量 (NO 2 /NO 3) ,反映心肌细胞一氧化氮 (NO)生成情况 ,观察血管紧张素Ⅱ (AngⅡ )对心肌细胞NO生成的影响及其蛋白激酶C (PKC)在该效应中的作用。结果显示 :AngⅡ可减少心肌细胞NO的含量 ,并具有明显的剂量 效应关系 ;AngⅡ受体拮抗剂saralasin可明显抑制AngⅡ对NO生成的影响 ;L 精氨酸 (L Arg)明显增加心肌细胞NO的浓度 ,此效应可被一氧化氮合酶 (NOS)抑制剂L NAME所抑制 ,L Arg未能消除AngⅡ抑制NO的作用 ;用佛波酯 (PMA)处理心肌细胞 ,其NO的生成明显减少 ,L NAME可加强此抑制效应 ;PKC抑制剂staurosporine (Stau)可明显削弱AngⅡ抑制心肌细胞NO生成的效应。结果提示 :AngⅡ具有抑制心肌细胞NO生成的作用 ,此作用可能是通过抑制心肌细胞NOS的活性而实现的 ;AngⅡ受体介导AngⅡ抑制心肌细胞NO生成的作用 ;激活PKC可使新生大鼠心肌细胞NO生成减少 ,NOS参与此抑制效应 ,新生大鼠心肌细胞NO生成过程的信号转导通路可能与PKC有关 ;PKC参与AngⅡ抑制心肌细胞NO的生成。     

G蛋白,蛋白激酶C和Na^＋—H^＋交换在内皮素—1诱导培养心肌细胞肥大反应中的

内皮系-1（ET-1）是一种强的生长因子,并诱导心肌细胞肥大反应。在本实验中,我们探讨了G蛋白、蛋白激酶C（PKC）和Na＋－H＋交换在ET-1诱导的培养新生大鼠心肌细胞肥大反应中的作用。ET-1（10－10～10－7mol／L）促进3H－亮氨酸掺入,增加细胞蛋白质的含量和心肌细胞的表面积,且呈剂量依赖性,它们的EC50分别为5．2×10-10,5．2×10－10和7．3×10－10mol／L。用蛋白激酶C（PKC）抑制剂,Staurosporin（2nmol／L）预处理心肌细胞,可完全阻断ET-1诱导的心肌细胞的这些肥大反应,而蛋白激酶C激动剂,佛波酸酯（PMA）（10－8～10－6mol／L）呈剂量依赖性促进心肌细胞的肥大反应。用Na＋－H＋交换抑制剂,氨氯毗咪（10-4mol／L）预处理心肌细胞,可抑制ET－1诱导的心肌细胞肥大反应,但不影响PMA诱导的心肌细胞肥大反应。百日咳毒素（150ng／ml）预处理心肌细胞,可明显抑制ET－1诱导的心肌细胞肥大反应。这些结果提示,ET-1诱导的培养新生大鼠心肌细胞肥大反应是与百日咳毒素敏感的G蛋白相耦联,蛋白激酶C和Na＋．H＋交换可能在ET-1诱导的心肌细胞肥大反应中是重要的细胞内信使转导途径。     

非诺贝特通过FoxO1 抑制心肌肥大

目的:探讨非诺贝特(fenofibrate)对血管紧张素Ⅱ(AngⅡ)诱导的肥大心肌细胞的抑制作用及对FoxO1表达的影响。方法:首先采用AngⅡ诱导心肌细胞肥大,将细胞分为三组:对照组:未给予任何干预;心肌细胞肥大组:AngⅡ(10-7mol/L)刺激细胞;治疗组:先给予fenofibrate(10-5mol/L),30min后AngⅡ(10-7mol/L)刺激细胞。应用蛋白免疫印迹法(western-blotting)和实时定量PCR法(real time PCR)检测各组细胞中转录因子FoxO1的蛋白质及mRNA含量,心肌细胞肥大的判断使用脑钠肽(brain natriuret icpepide BNP)。结果:心肌细胞肥大组的FoxO1表达较对照组明显降低,而治疗组的FoxO1表达较心肌肥大组明显升高。结论:非诺贝特可能通过上调FoxO1表达,从而抑制心肌细胞肥大。     

甲状腺素对大鼠心脏细胞蛋白激酶C信号途径的影响

目的 :探讨甲状腺素对新生大鼠心脏细胞中蛋白激酶C(proteinkinaseC ,PKC)信号途径的影响。 方法 :培养新生大鼠心肌细胞及成纤维细胞 ,用 1%血清培养基或血管紧张素Ⅱ(angiotensinⅡ ,AngⅡ)处理细胞 2 4h后 ,加入甲状腺素(三碘甲状腺素原氨酸 ,triiodothyronine,T3 )继续培养 4 8h后 ,用PKC活性检测试剂盒检测细胞中PKC活性 ,用West ernblot的方法检测细胞中PKCα及PKCε的表达。结果 :在 1%血清培养基中 ,T3 能明显抑制心肌细胞中PKC活性 ,使心肌细胞中PKCε表达下降 ,对PKCα的表达却没有显著的影响 ;在心肌成纤维细胞中 ,无论是PKC活性还是PKCα及PKCε的表达均未观察到T3 的调控作用。预先用AngⅡ处理 2 4h后 ,心肌细胞及心肌成纤维细胞中PKC活性明显增加 ,PKCε的表达显著增加 ,随后用T3 处理后 ,心肌细胞中PKC活性及PKCε的表达明显降低 ;而心肌成纤维细胞中PKC活性没有发生显著性的变化。结论 :甲状腺素能明显抑制心肌细胞中PKC活性及PKCε亚型的表达 ,其对心肌细胞中PKC信号途径的调控作用可能在心肌的多种病理生理过程中起着重要的作用。     

PKCδ与JNK共同调控喜树碱诱导的白血病细胞凋亡

采用流式细胞术、蛋白质免疫印迹法检测了喜树碱诱导白血病细胞凋亡过程中蛋白激酶Cδ(protein kinase Cδ,PKCδ)与c-Jun氨基末端激酶(c-Jun N-termital kinase,JNK)的作用。结果发现,50 nmol/L喜树碱诱导处理U937细胞24、36或48 h后,细胞发生明显凋亡,并且PKCδ和JNK均被激活。用化学抑制剂rottlerin抑制PKCδ的活化可以降低喜树碱诱导细胞凋亡过程中JNK的磷酸化,进而抑制细胞凋亡;而用化学抑制剂SP600125抑制JNK的磷酸化也会降低PKCδ的剪切活化,进而一定程度地阻断细胞凋亡;同时,JNK抑制剂SP600125也可以阻断过表达PKCδ活性片段诱导的细胞凋亡。这些结果提示,PKCδ和JNK介导的信号通路可以相互调控,共同促进细胞凋亡。该研究对理解细胞凋亡的精细调控机制以及肿瘤的治疗都有一定的借鉴意义。     

MKP-1在血管紧张素Ⅱ导致心肌肥大反应中的调控作用

本研究主要从丝裂原活化蛋白激酶磷酸酶 1(MKP 1)角度 ,研究丝裂原活化蛋白激酶 (MAPK)信号途径在血管紧张素Ⅱ介导的新生大鼠心肌细胞肥大反应中的作用及调控机制。实验以心肌细胞蛋白合成速率、蛋白含量及细胞表面积作为心肌肥大反应的指标 ,以凝胶内MBP原位磷酸化测定MAPK活性 ,以免疫印迹法 (Westernboltting)分别测定MKP 1及磷酸化p44MAPK、p42MAPK蛋白表达。结果发现 :(1)AngⅡ (10 -7mol/L)处理 48h ,心肌细胞 3H 亮氨酸掺入率、蛋白含量及细胞表面积明显增加 ,AngⅡ增加 3H 亮氨酸掺入的作用可被血管紧张素Ⅱ 1型受体 (AT1受体 )拮抗剂CV11974(10 -6mol/L)明显抑制 (抑制 85 % ) ,被MAPK激酶 (MEK)特异性抑制剂PD0 980 5 9(5× 10 -5mol/L)部分抑制 (抑制 32 5 % ) ;(2 )CV11974或PD0 980 5 9可明显抑制AngⅡ介导的磷酸化MAPK蛋白表达及MAPK酶活性 (以γ 32 P ATP掺入表示 ) ;(3)以磷酸化MAPK蛋白表达反映MAPK活性 ,可见AngⅡ处理心肌细胞5min ,MAPK活性即开始增加 ,30min左右达到高峰 ,2h后基本恢复正常 ;而MKP 1蛋白表达 30min即见增加 ,持续 2h以上 ;(4 )用放线菌素D (actinomycinD)处理心肌细胞 30min可明显抑制MKP 1的表达 ,同时使AngⅡ致磷酸化MAPK蛋白表达时间延长至 2h以上。以上结果     

一氧化氮在防止心肌肥厚反应中的作用及其机制

本工作从整体和细胞水平探讨一氧化氮（ＮＯ）在防止心肌肥厚反应中的作用及其机制。压力超负荷心肌肥厚大鼠左心室肌ＮＯ含量减少。内源性ＮＯ可能通过非ｃＧＭＰ依赖机制减轻压力超负荷引起的心肌肥厚。在培养的新生大鼠心肌细胞中血管紧张素Ⅱ（ＡⅡ）、内皮素－１（ＥＴ－１）和去甲肾上腺素（ＮＥ）通过各自的受体和偶连的Ｇ蛋白,一方面引起心肌细胞肥大;另一方面抑制一氧化氮合酶（ＮＯＳ）活性和ＮＯ生成。心肌细胞和非心肌     

Negative inotropic effects of angiotensin II, endothelin-1 and phenylephrine in indo-1 loaded adult mouse ventricular myocytes

Angiotensin II (Ang II). endothelin-1 (ET-1) and phenylephrine are receptor agonists that share the signal transduction acting through acceleration of phosphoinositide hydrolysis in the heart. Because the regulation of myocardial contractility induced by these receptor agonists shows a wide range of species-dependent variation among experimental animals, we carried out experiments to elucidate the mechanism of contractile regulation induced by these agents in mice which are employed currently more as transgenic models. Effects of Ang II, ET-1 and phenylephrine on cell shortening and Ca2+ transients were investigated in single ventricular myocytes loaded with indo-1/AM. Ang II (10(-8), 10(-7) M), ET-1 (10(-10), 10(-9) M) and phenylephrine (10(-6), 10(-5) M in the presence of the beta-adrenoceptor antagonist timolol) decreased the cell shortening [Ang II: 58.4+/-9.03 (n = 8), 50.3+/-11.90% (n = 6); ET-1: 48.4+/-8.27, 31.2+/-6.45% (n = 5); phenylephrine: 45.7+/-11.60, 28.7+/-5.89% (n = 5)]. By contrast, the amplitude of Ca2+ transients was not significantly influenced by these agonists. The selective protein kinase C inhibitor chelerythrine at 10(-6) M significantly inhibited the decrease in cell shortening induced by these receptor agonists. These results indicate that Ang II, ET-1 and phenylephrine elicit a negative inotropic effect with insignificant alteration of Ca2+ transients, which may be mainly mediated by activation of protein kinase C in mouse ventricular cardiomyocytes.     

A rapid and strong apoptotic process is triggered by hyperosmotic stress in cultured rat cardiac myocytes

In all cell types, the maintenance of normal cell volume is an essential homeostatic function. Relatively little is known about the induction of apoptosis by hyperosmotic stress and its molecular mechanism in terminally differentiated cardiac myocytes. We compared the apoptotic response of cultured neonatal rat cardiomyoctes to hyperosmotic stress by sorbitol (SOR) with those induced by doxorubicin (Doxo) or angiotensin II (Ang II). We also examined the apoptotic-signaling pathway stimulated by the hyperosmotic stress. Apoptosis was assessed by the observation of: (1) cell viability, (2) DNA fragmentation detected by the TUNEL method and by agarose gel electrophoresis, and (3) poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase (PARP) degradation, and Bcl-XS and Bcl-XL levels by Western blot analysis. Exposure of cardiomyocytes to 0.3 M SOR for 24 h resulted in decreased cell viability and increased generation of oligosomal DNA fragments (2.5-fold of controls). At this time, 83 +/- 5% of SOR-treated myocytes were TUNEL-positive (vs 23.7 +/- 6.8% in controls; P<0.01). PARP levels also decreased by approximately 42% when cardiac myocytes were exposed to SOR. Hyperosmotic stress induced a more rapid and stronger apoptotic response in cardiomyocytes than Doxo or Ang II. In addition, SOR increased 3.2-fold Bcl-XS proapoptotic protein without changes in Bcl-XL antiapoptotic protein levels and in the p53-transactivating activity. Taken together, these results strongly suggest that hyperosmotic stress triggers cardiac myocyte apoptosis in a p53-independent manner, being earlier and stronger than apoptosis induced by Doxo and Ang II.     

Extracellular signal-regulated kinase plays an essential role in hypertrophic agonists, endothelin-1 and phenylephrine-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy

The extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway is activated by hypertrophic stimuli in cardiomyocytes. However, whether ERK plays an essential role or is implicated in all major components of cardiac hypertrophy remains controversial. Using a selective MEK inhibitor, U0126, and a selective Raf inhibitor, SB-386023, to block the ERK signaling pathway at two different levels and adenovirus-mediated transfection of dominant-negative Raf, we studied the role of ERK signaling in response of cultured rat cardiomyocytes to hypertrophic agonists, endothelin-1 (ET-1), and phenylephrine (PE). U0126 and SB-386023 blocked ET-1 and PE-induced ERK but not p38 and JNK activation in cardiomyocytes. Both compounds inhibited ET-1 and PE-induced protein synthesis and increased cell size, sarcomeric reorganization, and expression of beta-myosin heavy chain in myocytes with IC(50) values of 1-2 microm. Furthermore, both inhibitors significantly reduced ET-1- and PE-induced expression of atrial natriuretic factor. In cardiomyocytes transfected with a dominant-negative Raf, ET-1- and PE-induced increase in cell size, sarcomeric reorganization, and atrial natriuretic factor production were remarkably attenuated compared with the cells infected with an adenovirus-expressing green fluorescence protein. Taken together, our data strongly support the notion that the ERK signal pathway plays an essential role in ET-1- and PE-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy.     

Antagonism of endothelin-1 inhibits hypoxia-induced apoptosis in cardiomyocytes

Apoptosis is well documented to be a common feature of many pathological processes of the heart. Exogenous endothelin-1 (ET-1) has been shown to be proapoptotic or antiapoptotic, depending on ET-1 concentration, cell type, and the ratio of ETA/ETB receptor subtypes. The role of endogenous ET-1 in cardiomyocyte apoptosis, however, is not clarified. This study observed the effects of the ETA-receptor antagonists BQ610 and BQ123 and the ETB-receptor antagonist BQ788 on hypoxia-induced apoptosis in primary cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes. Hypoxic apoptosis was induced by incubating cardiomyocytes in serum-free medium under 3% O2 and 5% CO2 for 24 h and evaluated by TUNEL analysis and flow cytometry. TUNEL analysis showed that the apoptotic cardiomyocytes constituted 24.2% +/- 2.2% of the total cells under hypoxic conditions. Treatment with BQ610 (5 micromol/L) significantly reduced the apoptosis rate to 13.2% +/- 3.7% (data from 4 independent experiments, p < 0.01 vs. hypoxia). Flow cytometry showed that the percentage of apoptotic cells positively stained with annexin V and propidium iodide was 42.76% +/- 4.44% (n = 12) in cultures subjected to hypoxia. BQ123 at 0.04, 0.2, and 1.0 micromol/L dose-dependently reduced the apoptosis rate to 34.00% +/- 10.35% (n = 6, p < 0.05), 30.38% +/- 8.28% (n = 6, p < 0.01), and 22.89% +/- 4.19% (n = 6, p < 0.01), respectively. In contrast, BQ788 did not affect hypoxic apoptosis. These findings suggested that endogenous ET-1 contributed to hypoxia-induced apoptosis in cultured cardiomyocytes, which was mediated by ETA receptors, but not by ETB receptors.     

Angiotensin II modulates gene expression of adrenomedullin receptor components in rat cardiomyocytes

Both adrenomedullin (AM) and angiotensin II (Ang II) are locally-acting hormones in the cardiac ventricles. Previously we reported that AM inhibits Ang II-induced hypertrophy of cultured rat neonatal cardiomyocytes. In this study, we examined whether Ang II affects the gene expression of the AM receptor components of calcitonin-receptor-like receptor (CRLR) and receptor-activity-modifying protein (RAMP) in rat cardiomyocytes. The mRNA levels of RAMP1 and RAMP3 were significantly elevated following 24-h treatment with Ang II without a change of those of RAMP2 and CRLR. AM increased the intracellular cAMP level and the cAMP accumulation by AM was significantly amplified by the 24-h preincubation with Ang II. The effects of Ang II on RAMP1 and RAMP3 expression were abolished by an Ang II type 1 (AT1) receptor antagonist, but not by an AT2 receptor antagonist. Thus, Ang II modulates gene expression of the AM receptor components via AT1 receptor, suggesting alteration of AM actions by Ang II in cultured rat cardiomyocytes.     

Differential signaling and hypertrophic responses in cyclically stretched vs endothelin-1 stimulated neonatal rat cardiomyocytes

Numerous neurohumoral factors such as endothelin (ET)-1 and angiotensin (Ang) II as well as the stretch stimulus act concertedly in the in vivo overloaded heart in inducing hypertrophy and failure. The primary culture of rat neonatal cardiomyocytes is the only in vitro model that allows the comparative analysis of growth responses and signaling events in response to different stimuli. In the present study, we examined stretched rat cardiomyocytes grown on flexible bottomed cultured plates for hypertrophic growth responses (protein synthesis, protein/DNA ratio, and cell volume), F-actin filaments rearrangement (by confocal, laser scanning microscopy), and for signaling events (activation of phospholipase C [PLC-β, protein kinase C [PKC], mitogenactivated protein [MAP] kinases] and compared these responses with ET-1 (10⁻⁸ M)-stimulated cells. Cyclic stretch for 48 h induced hypertrophic growth in cardiomyocytes indicated by increases in the rate of protein synthesis, cell volume, and diameter, which were less pronounced in comparison to stimulation by ET-1. During cyclic stretch, we observed disoriented F-actin, particularly stress-fibers whereas during ET-1 stimulation, F-actins rearranged clearly in alignment with sarcomeres and fibers. The upstream part of signaling by cyclic stretch did not follow the PLCβ-PKC cascade, which, in contrast, was strongly activated during ET-1 stimulation. Cyclic stretch and, to greater extent, ET-1 stimulated downstream signaling through ERK, p38 MAP kinase, and JNK pathways, but the, involvement of tyrosine kinase and PI3 kinase-Akt signaling during cyclic stretch could not be proven. Taken together, our results demonstrate that both cyclic stretch and ET-1 induce hypertrophic responses in cardiomyocytes with different effects on organization of F-actin stress fibers in case of stretch. Furthermore, on the short-term basis, cyclical stretch, unlike ET-1, mediates its hypertrophic response not through activation of PLC-β and PKC but more likely through integrin-linked pathways, which both lead to downstream activation of the MAP kinase family.