siRNA对神经肽Y诱导的大鼠心肌细胞肥大Ca2+/CaM-CaN通路的影响

采用差速贴壁法体外原代培养大鼠心肌细胞;NPY刺激培养的心肌细胞增殖;RNA干涉特异性抑制CaN的活性,阻断NPY刺激的心肌细胞中Ca2 /CaM-CaN信号转导通路;观察对CaN活性、表达水平和心肌细胞蛋白合成速率的变化.实验结果显示NPY可增加心肌细胞的CaN活性和表达,加快细胞内蛋白合成速率.RNA干涉抑制CaN活性后,明显降低NPY刺激的蛋白合成速率.CaN参与了NPY刺激的心肌细胞增殖,RNA干涉通过抑制CaN的活性可阻断N PY诱导的心肌细胞肥大Ca2 /CaM-CaN通路.     

肿瘤坏死因子-α诱导心肌肥大中CaN信号通路的作用

目的:研究钙调神经磷酸酶(CaN)信号通路在肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)诱导心肌细胞肥大中的作用。方法:Lowry法测心肌细胞蛋白含量;计算机图象分析系统测心肌细胞体积;[3H]-亮氨酸掺入法测心肌细胞蛋白合成;Till阳离子测定系统观察胞内[Ca2+]i瞬变;Western blot法测定CaN的表达。结果:①CaN特异性抑制剂CsA(0.2μmol/L)明显抑制TNF-α(100μg/L)诱导的心肌细胞蛋白含量、蛋白合成和细胞体积增大,但对正常心肌细胞生长无影响。②CaN特异性抑制剂CsA(0.2μmol/L)明显降低TNF-α诱导的心肌细胞内钙离子浓度([Ca2+]i)瞬变幅度增高。③TNF-α明显增强心肌细胞内CaN的表达。结论:TNF-α可能通过引起心肌细胞[Ca2+]i升高,促进CaN表达诱导心肌细胞肥大。     

H2S对大鼠心肌肥大与miRNA-133a和Ca2+/CaN/NFATc4信号通路的影响

目的：研究硫化氢（H₂S）对心肌细胞肥大的负性调控作用与miRNA-133a介导Ca²⁺/CaN/NFATc4信号通路的关系。方法：异丙肾上腺素（ISO）诱导体外培养的大鼠心肌细胞肥大模型;Leica图像分析软件测量心肌细胞表面积;qRT-PCR检测脑钠尿肽（BNP）、β-肌球蛋白重链（β-MHC）、H₂S合酶（CSE）、miRNA-133a和钙调神经磷酸酶（CaN） mRNA表达;Western blot检测CaN、活化T细胞核因子c4（NFATc4）蛋白表达;Elisa方法检测心肌细胞H₂S含量;激光共聚焦显微镜检测心肌细胞钙离子浓度;细胞免疫荧光检测NFATc4核转位变化。结果：①心肌细胞肥大时,CSE/H₂S水平、miRNA-133a mRNA表达均显著下降。应用NaHS预处理,能上调心肌细胞CSE/H₂S水平,增加H₂S含量和miRNA-133a mRNA表达,并明显抑制心肌细胞肥大。②心肌细胞肥大时,细胞内钙离子浓度明显增加,CaN表达和NFATc4胞核蛋白表达增加,NFATc4核转位明显增强;应用NaHS预处理能明显抑制ISO诱导的上述效应。③应用antagomir-133a能逆转H₂S抑制心肌细胞肥大的作用,使心肌细胞内钙离子浓度、CaN表达和NFATc4胞核蛋白表达增加,NFATc4核转位增强。结论：H₂S通过负性调控作用抑制心肌细胞肥大,该作用可能与H₂S上调miRNA-133a的表达,抑制其下游的Ca²⁺/CaN/NFATc4信号通路的激活有关。     

钙调神经磷酸酶依赖的信号通路参与血管紧张素Ⅱ刺激的心肌细胞肥大

本研究观察了钙调神经磷酸酶依赖的信号通路在血管紧张素Ⅱ诱导的大鼠心肌细胞肥大中的作用。在ＡｎｇⅡ刺激的大鼠心肌细胞肥大模型上,应用环孢素Ａ（ＣｓＡ）阻断ＣａＮ通路,观察心肌细胞＾３Ｈ－亮氨酸掺入,ＣａＮ,ＭＡＰＫ及ＰＫＣ活性的变化。结果表明,ＡｎｇⅡ（１０＾－７ｍｏｌ／Ｌ）刺激大鼠心肌细胞＾３Ｈ－亮氨酸掺入较对照组增高４６％（Ｐ〈０．０１）,ＣｓＡ（０．５－５μｇ／ｍｌ）可以浓度依赖性方式抑制Ａｎ     

Involvement of calcium-sensing receptor in cardiac hypertrophy-induced by angiotensinII through calcineurin pathway in cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes

Cardiac hypertrophy is a common pathological change accompanying cardiovascular disease. Recently, some evidence indicated that calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) expressed in the cardiovascular tissue. However, the functional involvement of CaSR in cardiac hypertrophy remains unclear. Previous studies have shown that CaSR caused accumulation of inositol phosphate to increase the release of intracellular calcium. Moreover, Ca²⁺-dependent phosphatase calcineurin (CaN) played a vital role in the development of cardiac hypertrophy. Therefore, we investigated the expression of CaSR in cardiac hypertrophy-induced by angiotensin II (AngII) and the effects of CaSR activated by GdCl₃ on the related signaling transduction pathways. The results showed that AngII induced cardiac hypertrophy and up-regulated the expression of CaSR, meanwhile increased the intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca²⁺]_i) and activated CaN hypertrophic signaling pathway. Compared with AngII alone, the above changes were further obvious when adding GdCl₃. But the effects of GdCl₃ on the cardiac hypertrophy were attenuated by CsA, a specific inhibitor of CaN. In conclusion, these results suggest that CaSR is involved in cardiac hypertrophy-induced by AngII through CaN pathway in cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes.     

Eicosapentaenoic acid prevents endothelin-1-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy in vitro through the suppression of TGF-beta 1 and phosphorylated JNK

The cardiovascular benefit of fish oil in humans and experimental animals has been reported. Endothelin (ET)-1 is a well-known cardiac hypertrophic factor. However, although many studies link a fish oil extract, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), to cardiac protection, the effects of EPA on cardiac hypertrophy and underlying mechanism(s) are unclear. The present study investigated whether EPA prevents ET-1-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy; the potential pathways likely to underlie such an effect were also investigated. Cardiomyocytes were isolated from neonatal rat heart, cultured for 3 days, and then treated for 24 h with vehicle only (control), treated with 0.1 nM ET-1 only, or pretreated with 10 microM EPA and then treated with 0.1 nM ET-1. The cells were harvested, and changes in cell surface area, protein synthesis, expression of a cytoskeletal (alpha-actinin) protein, and cell signaling were analyzed. ET-1 induced a 97% increase in cardiomyocyte surface area, a 72% increase in protein synthesis rate, and an increase in expression of alpha-actinin and signaling molecule [transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1), c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK), and c-Jun]. Development of these ET-1-induced cellular changes was attenuated by EPA. Moreover, the hypertrophied cardiomyocytes showed a 1.5- and a 1.7-fold increase in mRNA expression of atrial and brain natriuretic peptides, the classical molecular markers of cardiac hypertrophy, respectively; these changes were also suppressed by EPA. Here we show that ET-1 induces cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and expression of hypertrophic markers, possibly mediated by JNK and TGF-beta 1 signaling pathways. These ET-1-induced effects were blocked by EPA, a major fish oil ingredient, suggesting that fish oil may have beneficial protective effects on cardiac hypertrophy.     

ACE inhibition prevents diastolic Ca2+ overload and loss of myofilament Ca2+ sensitivity after myocardial infarction

Prevention of adverse cardiac remodeling after myocardial infarction (MI) remains a therapeutic challenge. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE-I) are a well-established first-line treatment. ACE-I delay fibrosis, but little is known about their molecular effects on cardiomyocytes. We investigated the effects of the ACE-I delapril on cardiomyocytes in a mouse model of heart failure (HF) after MI. Mice were randomly assigned to three groups: Sham, MI, and MI-D (6 weeks of treatment with a non-hypotensive dose of delapril started 24h after MI). Echocardiography and pressure-volume loops revealed that MI induced hypertrophy and dilation, and altered both contraction and relaxation of the left ventricle. At the cellular level, MI cardiomyocytes exhibited reduced contraction, slowed relaxation, increased diastolic Ca2+ levels, decreased Ca2+-transient amplitude, and diminished Ca2+ sensitivity of myofilaments. In MI-D mice, however, both mortality and cardiac remodeling were decreased when compared to non-treated MI mice. Delapril maintained cardiomyocyte contraction and relaxation, prevented diastolic Ca2+ overload and retained the normal Ca2+ sensitivity of contractile proteins. Delapril maintained SERCA2a activity through normalization of P-PLB/PLB (for both Ser16- PLB and Thr17-PLB) and PLB/SERCA2a ratios in cardiomyocytes, favoring normal reuptake of Ca2+ in the sarcoplasmic reticulum. In addition, delapril prevented defective cTnI function by normalizing the expression of PKC, enhanced in MI mice. In conclusion, early therapy with delapril after MI preserved the normal contraction/relaxation cycle of surviving cardiomyocytes with multiple direct effects on key intracellular mechanisms contributing to preserve cardiac function.     

Calcium sensing receptor regulates cardiomyocyte function through nuclear calcium

Nuclear Ca2+ plays a pivotal role in the regulation of gene expression. IP3 (inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate) is an important regulator of nuclear Ca2+. We hypothesized that the CaR (calcium sensing receptor) stimulates nuclear Ca2+ release through IICR (IP3-induced calcium release) from perinuclear stores. Spontaneous Ca2+ oscillations and the spark frequency of nuclear Ca2+ were measured simultaneously in NRVMs (neonatal rat ventricular myocytes) using confocal imaging. CaR-induced nuclear Ca2+ release through IICR was abolished by inhibition of CaR and IP3Rs (IP3 receptors). However, no effect on the inhibition of RyRs (ryanodine receptors) was detected. The results suggest that CaR specifically modulates nuclear Ca2+ signalling through the IP3R pathway. Interestingly, nuclear Ca2+ was released from perinuclear stores by CaR activator-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy through the Ca2+-dependent phosphatase CaN (calcineurin)/NFAT (nuclear factor of activated T-cells) pathway. We have also demonstrated that the activation of the CaR increased the NRVM protein content, enlarged cell size and stimulated CaN expression and NFAT nuclear translocation in NRVMs. Thus, CaR enhances the nuclear Ca2+ transient in NRVMs by increasing fractional Ca2+ release from perinuclear stores, which is involved in cardiac hypertrophy through the CaN/NFAT pathway.     

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。     

Urotensin II induces hypertrophic responses in cultured cardiomyocytes from neonatal rats.

Urotensin II (UII), a cyclic neuropeptide, functions not only in the central nervous system but also in non-neural systems including cardiovascular systems. In the present study we examined whether UII regulates hypertrophy in cardiomyocytes. The exposure of cultured cardiomyocytes from neonatal rats to UII dose-dependently activated extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs), important molecules in the development of cardiac hypertrophy. ERK activation by UII at 100 nM peaked at 8 min after stimulation. UII markedly induced expression of specific genes encoding atrial natriuretic peptide and brain natriuretic peptide, and significantly increased amino acid incorporation into proteins. Incubation of cardiomyocytes with UII increased cell size and myofibril organisation. UII, then, might participate in cardiomyocyte hypertrophy.     

钙调神经磷酸酶在血管紧张素Ⅱ刺激的心脏成纤维细胞增殖中的作用

本研究观察了钙调神经磷酸酶（ＣａＮ）在血管坚张素Ⅱ（ＡｎｇⅡ）刺激的大鼠心脏成纤维细胞增殖中的作用。在培养的大鼠心脏成纤维细胞上,应用双波长荧光 计检测Ｆｕｒａ－２标记的细胞游离Ｃａ＾２＋浓度;应用对硝基苯磷酸（ＰＮＰＰ）作底物测定钙调神经磷酸酶（ＣａＮ）活性;根据＾３Ｈ－胸腺嘧啶掺入法评估ＣａＮ特异性抑制剂环胞素Ａ（ＣｓＡ）对ＡｎｇⅡ刺激的心脏成纤维细胞ＤＮＡ合成的影响。结果表明,ＡｎｇⅡ（１０     

Na(+)/H(+) exchanger 1 directly binds to calcineurin A and activates downstream NFAT signaling, leading to cardiomyocyte hypertrophy

The calcineurin A (CaNA) subunit was identified as a novel binding partner of plasma membrane Na(+)/H(+) exchanger 1 (NHE1). CaN is a Ca(2+)-dependent phosphatase involved in many cellular functions, including cardiac hypertrophy. Direct binding of CaN to the (715)PVITID(720) sequence of NHE1, which resembles the consensus CaN-binding motif (PXIXIT), was observed. Overexpression of NHE1 promoted serum-induced CaN/nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) signaling in fibroblasts, as indicated by enhancement of NFAT promoter activity and nuclear translocation, which was attenuated by NHE1 inhibitor. In neonatal rat cardiomyocytes, NHE1 stimulated hypertrophic gene expression and the NFAT pathway, which were inhibited by a CaN inhibitor, FK506. Importantly, CaN activity was strongly enhanced with increasing pH, so NHE1 may promote CaN/NFAT signaling via increased intracellular pH. Indeed, Na(+)/H(+) exchange activity was required for NHE1-dependent NFAT signaling. Moreover, interaction of CaN with NHE1 and clustering of NHE1 to lipid rafts were also required for this response. Based on these results, we propose that NHE1 activity may generate a localized membrane microdomain with higher pH, thereby sensitizing CaN to activation and promoting NFAT signaling. In cardiomyocytes, such signaling can be a pathway of NHE1-dependent hypertrophy.     

血管钠肽对中度低氧诱导的心肌细胞蛋白合成有抑制作用

实验探讨了心房钠尿肽家族新成员血管钠肽（vasonatrin peptide,VNP)对中度低氧诱导的心肌细胞蛋白合成的影响,在培养的新生大鼠心肌细胞上,用四唑盐（MTT）比色实验,总蛋白含量测定和^3H-亮氨酸掺入实验等方法观察细胞数和蛋白合成情况,并用放免法测定VNP对细胞内环鸟苷酸（cGMP)和环腺苷酸（cAMP)以及培养上清液中内皮素含理的影响,探讨VNP的作用机制,结果显示,重度低氧24h,心肌细胞数和蛋白合成均降低,而中度低氧显著增加蛋白的合成,具有促心肌细胞肥大的作用,VNP浓度依赖性地抑制中度低氧诱导的心肌细胞蛋白合成增加,并且升高细胞内cGMP水平,降低低氧诱导的培养上清液中内皮素的含量,结果提示,VNP抑制中度低氧诱导的新生大鼠心肌细胞蛋白合成增加,该作用与其升高细胞内cGMP浓度、降低低氧诱导的内皮素合成和/或释放增加有关。     

大鼠骨髓间充质干细胞条件培养液促进心肌细胞肥大

体外模拟心肌缺血微环境,研究骨髓间充质干细胞(MSCs)的旁分泌作用对心肌细胞的影响。以大鼠MSCs各时间点的条件培养液刺激心肌细胞,观察心肌细胞蛋白含量、[3H]-Leu掺入、ANF-荧光素酶(luciferase)表达和心肌细胞面积的变化。MSCs条件培养液处理心肌细胞后,与对照组相比较6h及9h时间点的条件培养液可明显增加心肌细胞蛋白含量、[3H]-Leu掺入、ANF-荧光素酶表达以及心肌细胞面积,其中以6h时间点条件培养液的作用最为显著(P<0.01)。MSCs条件培养液能够通过旁分泌作用刺激心肌细胞肥大,此现象提示移植入心肌缺血区MSCs可能通过旁分泌作用影响心肌细胞,从而参与细胞移植后心功能的改善。     

CaMKII activates ASK1 and NF-kappaB to induce cardiomyocyte hypertrophy

Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (CaMK) is an important downstream target of Ca2+ in the hypertrophic signaling pathways. We previously showed that the activation of apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 (ASK1) or NF-kappaB is sufficient for cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. Infection of isolated neonatal cardiomyocytes with an adenoviral vector expressing CaMKIIdelta3 (AdCaMKIIdelta3) induced the activation of ASK1, while KN93, an inhibitor of CaMKII, inhibited phenylephrine-induced ASK1 activation. Overexpression of CaMKIIdelta3 induced characteristic features of in vitro cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. Infection of cardiomyocytes with an adenoviral vector expressing a dominant negative mutant of ASK1 (AdASK(KM)) inhibited the CaMKIIdelta3-induced hypertrophic responses. Overexpression of CaMKIIdelta3 increased the kappaB-dependent promoter/luciferase activity and induced IkappaBalpha degradation. Coinfection with AdCaMKIIdelta3 and AdASK(KM), and pre-incubation with KN93 attenuated CaMKIIdelta3- and phenylephrine-induced NF-kappaB activation, respectively. Expression of a degradation resistant mutant of IkappaBalpha inhibited CaMKIIdelta3-induced hypertrophic responses. These results indicate that CaMKIIdelta3 induces cardiomyocyte hypertrophy mediated through ASK1-NF-kappaB signal transduction pathway.     

Fructose diet treatment in mice induces fundamental disturbance of cardiomyocyte Ca2+ handling and myofilament responsiveness

High fructose intake has been linked to insulin resistance and cardiac pathology. Dietary fructose-induced myocardial signaling and morphological alterations have been described, but whether cardiomyocyte function is influenced by chronic high fructose intake is yet to be elucidated. The goal of this study was to evaluate the cardiomyocyte excitation-contraction coupling effects of high dietary fructose and determine the capacity for murine cardiomyocyte fructose transport. Male C57Bl/6J mice were fed a high fructose diet for 12 wk. Fructose- and control-fed mouse cardiomyocytes were isolated and loaded with the fura 2 Ca(2+) fluorescent dye for analysis of twitch and Ca(2+) transient characteristics (4 Hz stimulation, 37°C, 2 mM Ca(2+)). Myocardial Ca(2+)-handling protein expression was determined by Western blot. Gene expression of the fructose-specific transporter, GLUT5, in adult mouse cardiomyocytes was detected by real-time and conventional RT-PCR techniques. Diastolic Ca(2+) and Ca(2+) transient amplitude were decreased in isolated cardiomyocytes from fructose-fed mice relative to control (16 and 42%, respectively), coincident with an increase in the time constant of Ca(2+) transient decay (24%). Dietary fructose increased the myofilament response to Ca(2+) (as evidenced by a left shift in the shortening-Ca(2+) phase loop). Protein expression of sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase (SERCA2a), phosphorylated (P) phospholamban (Ser(16)), and P-phospholamban (Thr(17)) was reduced, and protein phosphatase 2A expression increased, in fructose-fed mouse hearts. Hypertension and cardiac hypertrophy were not evident. These findings demonstrate that fructose diet-associated myocardial insulin resistance induces profound disturbance of cardiomyocyte Ca(2+) handling and responsiveness in the absence of altered systemic loading conditions.     

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。     

Modelling of myocardial hypertrophy in vitro for solving problems of medicinal correction

The work has been done on primary heart culture from neonatal rat ventricle. Cardiomyocyte hypertrophy was modelled using noradrenaline (NA), angiotensin II (AII) and fetal serum, respectively. Cell hypertrophy of primary heart cultures was assessed by measuring the surface area, the scope of protein synthesis estimated by 3H-leucine autoradiography and the contents of nucleic acids in gallocyanin-chromalum stained cardiomyocytes. The structure of myofibrillar apparatus was studied by rhodamine-conjugated phalloidin and indirect immunofluorescence of muscle alpha-actinin. Treatment with 10(-6) M NA increased 3H-leucine incorporation in 9-day old heart culture by 42% without changing cell size. AII in a dose 1 microM stimulated protein synthesis activity by 1.3 fold and the surface area by 1.7 fold, both in 2- and 9-day old primary heart cultures. The maximum stimulation of cell hypertrophy was provided by the medium supplemented with fetal serum. RNA contents in the cytoplasm of cardiomyocytes increased by 7.8 fold and the myocardial cell size by 2.9 fold in serum-supplemented culture by 9 days of cultivation. In the medium with fetal serum, amounts of cardiomyocytes with tetraploid nuclei reached 33%, against 14% in control. Coculturing of myocardiocytes and fibroblasts rendered effects of fetal serum on the growth of myocardiocytes. Cultivation in the presence of 1 microM enalapril, an ACE inhibitor, suppressed the development of cardiac muscle cells hypertrophy. The effect of enalapril depended on the degree of cellular hypertrophy. Addition of 10 microM amiloride to the medium lowered the protein synthesis by 29% independently on the initial cellular hypertrophy.     

Involvement of peptidyl-prolyl isomerase Pin1 in the inhibitory effect of fluvastatin on endothelin-1-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy

Aims

Cardiac hypertrophy is elicited by endothelin (ET)-1 as well as other neurohumoral factors, hemodynamic overload, and oxidative stress; HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) were shown to inhibit cardiac hypertrophy partly via the anti-oxidative stress. One of their common intracellular pathways is the phosphorylation cascade of MEK signaling. Pin1 specifically isomerizes the phosphorylated protein with Ser/Thr-Pro bonds and regulates their activity through conformational changes. There is no report whether the Pin1 activation contributes to ET-1-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and whether the Pin1 inactivation contributes to the inhibitory effect of statins. The aim of this study was to reveal these questions.

Main methods

We assessed neonatal rat cardiomyocyte hypertrophy using ET-1 and fluvastatin by the cell surface area, ANP mRNA expression, JNK and c-Jun phosphorylation, and [³H]-leucine incorporation.

Key findings

Fluvastatin inhibited ET-1-induced increase in the cell surface area, ANP expression, and [³H]-leucine incorporation; and it suppressed the signaling cascade from JNK to c-Jun. The phosphorylated Pin1 level, an inactive form, was decreased by ET-1; however, it reached basal level by fluvastatin. Furthermore, Pin1 overexpression clearly elicited cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, which was inhibited by fluvastatin.

Significance

This is the first report that ET-1-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy is mediated through the Pin1 activation and that the inhibitory effect of fluvastatin on cardiomyocyte hypertrophy would partly be attributed to the suppression of the Pin1 function. This study firstly suggests that Pin1 determines the size of hypertrophied cardiomyocyte by regulating the activity of phosphorylated molecules and that statins exert their pleiotropic effects partly via Pin1 inactivation.