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Fan J, Wang Y, Chen YE. Genetically Modified Rabbits for Cardiovascular Research. Front Genet 2021; 12:614379. [PMID: 33603774 PMCID: PMC7885269 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.614379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2020] [Accepted: 01/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Rabbits are one of the most used experimental animals for investigating the mechanisms of human cardiovascular disease and lipid metabolism because they are phylogenetically closer to human than rodents (mice and rats). Cholesterol-fed wild-type rabbits were first used to study human atherosclerosis more than 100 years ago and are still playing an important role in cardiovascular research. Furthermore, transgenic rabbits generated by pronuclear microinjection provided another means to investigate many gene functions associated with human disease. Because of the lack of both rabbit embryonic stem cells and the genome information, for a long time, it has been a dream for scientists to obtain knockout rabbits generated by homologous recombination-based genomic manipulation as in mice. This obstacle has greatly hampered using genetically modified rabbits to disclose the molecular mechanisms of many human diseases. The advent of genome editing technologies has dramatically extended the applications of experimental animals including rabbits. In this review, we will update genetically modified rabbits, including transgenic, knock-out, and knock-in rabbits during the past decades regarding their use in cardiovascular research and point out the perspectives in future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianglin Fan
- Department of Pathology, Xi'an Medical University, Xi'an, China.,Department of Molecular Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Research, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi, Japan.,School of Biotechnology and Health Sciences, Wuyi University, Jiangmen, China
| | - Yanli Wang
- Department of Pathology, Xi'an Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Y Eugene Chen
- Center for Advanced Models for Translational Sciences and Therapeutics, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
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Treinys R, Kanaporis G, Fischmeister R, Jurevičius J. Metabolic Inhibition Induces Transient Increase of L-type Ca 2+ Current in Human and Rat Cardiac Myocytes. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20061501. [PMID: 30917498 PMCID: PMC6471217 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20061501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2019] [Revised: 03/15/2019] [Accepted: 03/23/2019] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Metabolic inhibition is a common condition observed during ischemic heart disease and heart failure. It is usually accompanied by a reduction in L-type Ca2+ channel (LTCC) activity. In this study, however, we show that metabolic inhibition results in a biphasic effect on LTCC current (ICaL) in human and rat cardiac myocytes: an initial increase of ICaL is observed in the early phase of metabolic inhibition which is followed by the more classical and strong inhibition. We studied the mechanism of the initial increase of ICaL in cardiac myocytes during β-adrenergic stimulation by isoprenaline, a non-selective agonist of β-adrenergic receptors. The whole-cell patch⁻clamp technique was used to record the ICaL in single cardiac myocytes. The initial increase of ICaL was induced by a wide range of metabolic inhibitors (FCCP, 2,4-DNP, rotenone, antimycin A). In rat cardiomyocytes, the initial increase of ICaL was eliminated when the cells were pre-treated with thapsigargin leading to the depletion of Ca2+ from the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR). Similar results were obtained when Ca2+ release from the SR was blocked with ryanodine. These data suggest that the increase of ICaL in the early phase of metabolic inhibition is due to a reduced calcium dependent inactivation (CDI) of LTCCs. This was further confirmed in human atrial myocytes where FCCP failed to induce the initial stimulation of ICaL when Ca2+ was replaced by Ba2+, eliminating CDI of LTCCs. We conclude that the initial increase in ICaL observed during the metabolic inhibition in human and rat cardiomyocytes is a consequence of an acute reduction of Ca2+ release from SR resulting in reduced CDI of LTCCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rimantas Treinys
- Institute of Cardiology, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas LT-50162, Lithuania.
| | - Giedrius Kanaporis
- Institute of Cardiology, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas LT-50162, Lithuania.
| | - Rodolphe Fischmeister
- INSERM UMR-S 1180, Univ Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, Châtenay-Malabry F-92296, France.
| | - Jonas Jurevičius
- Institute of Cardiology, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas LT-50162, Lithuania.
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3
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Choy L, Yeo JM, Tse V, Chan SP, Tse G. Cardiac disease and arrhythmogenesis: Mechanistic insights from mouse models. IJC HEART & VASCULATURE 2016; 12:1-10. [PMID: 27766308 PMCID: PMC5064289 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijcha.2016.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2016] [Accepted: 05/02/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The mouse is the second mammalian species, after the human, in which substantial amount of the genomic information has been analyzed. With advances in transgenic technology, mutagenesis is now much easier to carry out in mice. Consequently, an increasing number of transgenic mouse systems have been generated for the study of cardiac arrhythmias in ion channelopathies and cardiomyopathies. Mouse hearts are also amenable to physical manipulation such as coronary artery ligation and transverse aortic constriction to induce heart failure, radiofrequency ablation of the AV node to model complete AV block and even implantation of a miniature pacemaker to induce cardiac dyssynchrony. Last but not least, pharmacological models, despite being simplistic, have enabled us to understand the physiological mechanisms of arrhythmias and evaluate the anti-arrhythmic properties of experimental agents, such as gap junction modulators, that may be exert therapeutic effects in other cardiac diseases. In this article, we examine these in turn, demonstrating that primary inherited arrhythmic syndromes are now recognized to be more complex than abnormality in a particular ion channel, involving alterations in gene expression and structural remodelling. Conversely, in cardiomyopathies and heart failure, mutations in ion channels and proteins have been identified as underlying causes, and electrophysiological remodelling are recognized pathological features. Transgenic techniques causing mutagenesis in mice are extremely powerful in dissecting the relative contributions of different genes play in producing disease phenotypes. Mouse models can serve as useful systems in which to explore how protein defects contribute to arrhythmias and direct future therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lois Choy
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Jie Ming Yeo
- School of Medicine, Imperial College London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Vivian Tse
- Department of Physiology, McGill University, Canada
| | - Shing Po Chan
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Gary Tse
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
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Ning B, Wang X, Yu Y, Waqar AB, Yu Q, Koike T, Shiomi M, Liu E, Wang Y, Fan J. High-fructose and high-fat diet-induced insulin resistance enhances atherosclerosis in Watanabe heritable hyperlipidemic rabbits. Nutr Metab (Lond) 2015; 12:30. [PMID: 26265929 PMCID: PMC4531510 DOI: 10.1186/s12986-015-0024-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2015] [Accepted: 07/29/2015] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Individuals with insulin resistance and resulting impaired glucose tolerance along with type 2 diabetes showed an increased prevalence of atherosclerosis. Our aim in this study was to address whether diet-induced insulin resistance plays any roles in the development of aortic and coronary atherosclerosis in hyperlipidemic rabbits. Methods We fed Watanabe heritable hyperlipidemic (WHHL) rabbits with a high-fructose and high-fat diet (HFFD) with restricted normal calories and compared the lesions of both aortic and coronary atherosclerosis with those of control WHHL rabbits fed a normal chow diet. Results HFFD-fed WHHL rabbits showed insulin resistance and impaired glucose tolerance accompanied by elevated plasma lipid levels and accumulation of adipose tissue even though their body weight was unchanged compared to the control rabbits. At 8 weeks, the aortic gross lesion area of HFFD-fed WHHL rabbits was increased by 40 % over the controls and their lesions were characterized by increased number of macrophages and smooth muscle cells. At 16 weeks, the lesions of HFFD-fed WHHL rabbits showed more advanced lesions such as lipid core formation and calcification. In addition, coronary atherosclerosis was significantly increased in HFFD-fed WHHL rabbits. Conclusions These results suggest that insulin resistance accelerates lesion formation of atherosclerosis. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12986-015-0024-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Ning
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Medicine and Engineering, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi, Japan
| | - Xiaoyan Wang
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Medicine and Engineering, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi, Japan.,Biomedicine Research and Development Center, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ying Yu
- Institute for Experimental Animals, Kobe University School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan
| | - Ahmed Bilal Waqar
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Medicine and Engineering, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi, Japan
| | - Qi Yu
- Department of Pathology, Xi'an Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Tomonari Koike
- Institute for Experimental Animals, Kobe University School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan
| | - Masashi Shiomi
- Institute for Experimental Animals, Kobe University School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan
| | - Enqi Liu
- Research Institute of Atherosclerotic Disease and Laboratory Animal Center, Xi'an Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Xi'an, China
| | - Yifei Wang
- Biomedicine Research and Development Center, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jianglin Fan
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Medicine and Engineering, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi, Japan.,Department of Pathology, Xi'an Medical University, Xi'an, China
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5
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Nguyen PK, Wu JC. Large Animal Models of Ischemic Cardiomyopathy: Are They Enough to Bridge the Translational Gap? J Nucl Cardiol 2015; 22:666-72. [PMID: 25777782 DOI: 10.1007/s12350-015-0078-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Patricia K Nguyen
- Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, 300 Pasteur Drive, Grant Building S140, Stanford, CA, 94305-5111, USA,
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Moreau S, DaSilva JN, Valdivia A, Fernando P. N-[11C]-methyl-hydroxyfasudil is a potential biomarker of cardiac hypertrophy. Nucl Med Biol 2015; 42:192-7. [DOI: 10.1016/j.nucmedbio.2014.09.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2014] [Revised: 09/24/2014] [Accepted: 09/24/2014] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
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7
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Tang T, Hammond HK. Gene transfer for congestive heart failure: update 2013. Transl Res 2013; 161:313-20. [PMID: 23261978 PMCID: PMC3602385 DOI: 10.1016/j.trsl.2012.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2012] [Revised: 11/19/2012] [Accepted: 11/27/2012] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Congestive heart failure is a major cause of morbidity and mortality with increasing social and economic costs. There have been no new high impact therapeutic agents for this devastating disease for more than a decade. However, many pivotal regulators of cardiac function have been identified using cardiac-directed transgene expression and gene deletion in preclinical studies. Some of these increase function of the failing heart. Altering the expression of these pivotal regulators using gene transfer is now either being tested in clinical gene transfer trials, or soon will be. In this review, we summarize recent progress in cardiac gene transfer for clinical congestive heart failure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tong Tang
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, and VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, Calif., USA
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Tang T, Hammond HK, Firth A, Yang Y, Gao MH, Yuan JXJ, Lai NC. Adenylyl cyclase 6 improves calcium uptake and left ventricular function in aged hearts. J Am Coll Cardiol 2011; 57:1846-55. [PMID: 21527160 DOI: 10.1016/j.jacc.2010.11.052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2010] [Revised: 11/09/2010] [Accepted: 11/09/2010] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This study tested the hypothesis that activation of adenylyl cyclase 6 (AC6) expression in cardiac myocytes improves calcium uptake and left ventricular (LV) function in aging mice. BACKGROUND Aging hearts exhibit impaired β-adrenergic receptor signaling and LV dysfunction. METHODS Twenty-month-old mice with cardiac-directed and regulated AC6 expression were randomized into 2 groups, and AC6 expression was activated in 1 group (AC6-On) but not the other (AC6-Off). One month later, LV function and sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium uptake were assessed. RESULTS AC6 expression was associated with increased LV contractility, as reflected by ejection fraction (p = 0.02), rate of pressure development (p = 0.002), and slope of the LV end-systolic pressure-volume relationship (p = 0.04). No changes in LV weight to tibial length ratio, LV fibrosis, and expression of fetal genes (atrial natriuretic factor, α-skeletal muscle actin, and β-myosin heavy chain) and collagens were observed between AC6-On and AC6-Off groups. However, LV samples from AC6-On mice showed increases in: isoproterenol-stimulated cAMP production (p = 0.04), cAMP-dependent protein kinase activity (p < 0.0004), phosphorylation of phospholamban (at Ser16 site; p = 0.04) and cardiac troponin I (at Ser23/24 sites; p = 0.01), velocity of sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium uptake (p < 0.0001), and sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium-ATPase2a (SERCA2a) affinity for calcium (p < 0.0001). Finally, we found that AC6 expression increased sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium storage in cardiac myocytes isolated from 23-month-old rats. In contrast, AC6 expression in 7-month-old mice did not change LV function and calcium uptake. CONCLUSIONS These results indicate that activation of cardiac AC6 expression improves impaired function of aged hearts through improved calcium uptake.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tong Tang
- VA San Diego Healthcare System, 3350 La Jolla Village Drive, San Diego, CA 92161, USA.
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Falcao-Pires I, Fontes-Sousa AP, Lopes-Conceiçao L, Brás-Silva C, Leite-Moreira AF. Modulation of myocardial stiffness by β-adrenergic stimulation--its role in normal and failing heart. Physiol Res 2011; 60:599-609. [PMID: 21574754 DOI: 10.33549/physiolres.932088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The acute effects of beta-adrenergic stimulation on myocardial stiffness were evaluated. New-Zealand white rabbits were treated with saline (control group) or doxorubicin to induce heart failure (HF) (DOXO-HF group). Effects of isoprenaline (10(-10)-10(-5) M), a non-selective beta-adrenergic agonist, were tested in papillary muscles from both groups. In the control group, the effects of isoprenaline were also evaluated in the presence of a damaged endocardial endothelium, atenolol (beta(1)-adrenoceptor antagonist), ICI-118551 (beta(2)-adrenoceptor antagonist), KT-5720 (PKA inhibitor), L-NNA (NO-synthase inhibitor), or indomethacin (cyclooxygenase inhibitor). Passive length-tension relations were constructed before and after adding isoprenaline (10(-5) M). In the control group, isoprenaline increased resting muscle length up to 1.017+/-0.006 L/L(max). Correction of resting muscle length to its initial value resulted in a 28.5+/-3.1 % decrease of resting tension, indicating decreased muscle stiffness, as confirmed by the isoprenaline-induced right-downward shift of the passive length-tension relation. These effects were modulated by beta(1)- and beta(2)-adrenoceptors and PKA. In DOXO-HF group, the effect on myocardial stiffness was significantly decreased. We conclude that beta-adrenergic stimulation is a relevant mechanism of acute neurohumoral modulation of the diastolic function. Furthermore, this study clarifies the mechanisms by which myocardial stiffness is decreased.
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Affiliation(s)
- I Falcao-Pires
- Department of Physiology and Cardiothoracic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
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10
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Abstract
Increasing numbers of compounds, previously classified as antagonists, were shown to inhibit this spontaneous or constitutive receptor activity, instead of leave it unaffected as expected for a formal antagonist. In addition, some other antagonists did not have any effect by themselves, but prevented the inhibition of constitutive activity induced by thought-to-be antagonists. These thought-to-be antagonists with negative efficacy are now known as "inverse agonists." Inverse agonism at βAR has been evidenced for both subtypes in wild-type GPCRs systems and in engineered systems with high constitutive activity. It is important to mention that native systems are of particular importance for analyzing the in vivo relevance of constitutive activity because these systems have physiological expression levels of target receptors. Studies of inverse agonism of β blockers in physiological setting have also evidenced that pathophysiological conditions can affect pharmacodynamic properties of these ligands. To date, hundreds of clinically well-known drugs have been tested and classified for this property. Prominent examples include the beta-blockers propranolol, alprenolol, pindolol, and timolol used for treating hypertension, angina pectoris, and arrhythmia that act on the β₂ARs, metoprolol, and bisoprolol used for treating hypertension, coronary heart disease, and arrhythmias by acting on β₁ARs. Inverse agonists seem to be useful in the treatment of chronic disease characterized by harmful effects resulting from β₁AR and β₂AR overactivation, such as heart failure and asthma, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos A Taira
- Cátedra de Farmacología, Instituto de Fisiopatología y Bioquímica Clínica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, CONICET, Junín 956, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Barry SP, Townsend PA. What causes a broken heart--molecular insights into heart failure. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2011; 284:113-79. [PMID: 20875630 DOI: 10.1016/s1937-6448(10)84003-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Our understanding of the molecular processes which regulate cardiac function has grown immeasurably in recent years. Even with the advent of β-blockers, angiotensin inhibitors and calcium modulating agents, heart failure (HF) still remains a seriously debilitating and life-threatening condition. Here, we review the molecular changes which occur in the heart in response to increased load and the pathways which control cardiac hypertrophy, calcium homeostasis, and immune activation during HF. These can occur as a result of genetic mutation in the case of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) or as a result of ischemic or hypertensive heart disease. In the majority of cases, calcineurin and CaMK respond to dysregulated calcium signaling and adrenergic drive is increased, each of which has a role to play in controlling blood pressure, heart rate, and left ventricular function. Many major pathways for pathological remodeling converge on a set of transcriptional regulators such as myocyte enhancer factor 2 (MEF2), nuclear factors of activated T cells (NFAT), and GATA4 and these are opposed by the action of the natriuretic peptides ANP and BNP. Epigenetic modification has emerged in recent years as a major influence cardiac physiology and histone acetyl transferases (HATs) and histone deacetylases (HDACs) are now known to both induce and antagonize hypertrophic growth. The newly emerging roles of microRNAs in regulating left ventricular dysfunction and fibrosis also has great potential for novel therapeutic intervention. Finally, we discuss the role of the immune system in mediating left ventricular dysfunction and fibrosis and ways this can be targeted in the setting of viral myocarditis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seán P Barry
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, St. James's Hospital, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 8, Ireland
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Rohini A, Agrawal N, Koyani CN, Singh R. Molecular targets and regulators of cardiac hypertrophy. Pharmacol Res 2010; 61:269-80. [DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2009.11.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 203] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2009] [Revised: 11/29/2009] [Accepted: 11/30/2009] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
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Abstract
Heart failure is a common, complex condition with a poor prognosis and increasing incidence. The syndrome of heart failure comprises changes in electrophysiology, contraction and energy metabolism. This complexity, and the interaction of the clinical syndrome with very frequently concurrent medical conditions such as diabetes, means that animal modelling of heart failure is difficult. The current animal models of heart failure in common use do not address several important clinical problems. There have been major recent advances in the understanding of cardiac biology in the healthy and failing myocardium, but these are, as yet, unmatched by advances in therapeutics. Arguably, the development of new animal models of heart failure, or at least adaptation of existing models, will be necessary to fully translate scientific advances in this area into new drugs. This review outlines the mouse models of heart failure in common usage today, and discusses how adaptations in these models may allow easier translation of animal experimentation into the clinical arena.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ross Breckenridge
- MRC National Institute for Medical Research, The Ridgeway, Mill Hill, London, NW7 1AA, UK
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Deng H, Xie M, Wang X, Lv Q, Li S, Bao Y, Wang J, Lu X, Yang Y, Lu B. Quantitative analysis of myocardial perfusion in rabbits by transthoracic real-time myocardial contrast echocardiography. JOURNAL OF HUAZHONG UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY. MEDICAL SCIENCES = HUA ZHONG KE JI DA XUE XUE BAO. YI XUE YING DE WEN BAN = HUAZHONG KEJI DAXUE XUEBAO. YIXUE YINGDEWEN BAN 2009; 29:795-799. [PMID: 20037830 DOI: 10.1007/s11596-009-0625-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2008] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
To evaluate the feasibility of real-time myocardial contrast echocardiography (RTMCE) by quantitative analysis of myocardial perfusion in rabbits, transthoracic RTMCE was performed in 10 healthy rabbits by using continuous infusion of SonoVue into the auricular vein. The short axis view at the papillary muscle level was obtained. The duration of the time that the contrast took to appear in right heart, left heart and myocardium was recorded. The regional myocardial signal intensity (SI) versus refilling time plots were fitted to an exponential function: y(t) =A(1-e(-beta(t-t0))) + C, where y is SI at any given time, A is the SI plateau that reflects myocardial blood volume, and beta is the slope of the refilling curve that reflects myocardial microbubble velocity. The A, beta and Axbeta values at different infusion rate of SonoVue were analyzed and the A, beta and Axbeta values in each segment in the short axis view at the papillary muscle level were compared. All the animal experiments were successful and high-quality images were obtained. The best intravenous infusion rate for SonoVue was 30 mL/h. The contrast appeared in right heart, left heart and myocardium at 7.5+/-2.2 s, 9.1+/-2.4 s and 12.2+/-1.6 s respectively. After 16.6+/-2.3s, myocardial opacification reached a steady state. The mean A, beta and Axbeta value in the short axis view at the papillary muscle level were 9.8+/-3.0 dB, 1.4+/-0.5 s(-1) and 13.5+/-3.6 dBxs(-1) respectively. A, beta and Axbeta values showed no significant differences among 6 segments. It was suggested that RTMCE was feasible for quantitative analysis of myocardial perfusion in rabbits. It provides a non-invasive method to evaluate the myocardial perfusion in rabbit disease models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heping Deng
- Department of Ultrasonography, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Hubei Province Key Laboratary of Molecular Imaging, Wuhan 430022, China.
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15
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Chen G, Zhou X, Pathak A, Dorn GW, Kranias EG. The human G147D-protein phosphatase 1 inhibitor-1 polymorphism is not associated with altered clinical characteristics in heart failure. Cardiology 2008; 112:224-31. [PMID: 18698139 DOI: 10.1159/000151240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2008] [Accepted: 04/30/2008] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES A human protein phosphatase inhibitor-1 polymorphism, G147D (c.440G>A, p.147G>D), has been previously demonstrated to blunt the contractile responses of cardiomyocytes to beta-adrenergic agonists. The present study sought to examine whether the G147D inhibitor-1 polymorphism may be associated with specific clinical characteristics of heart failure carriers. METHODS Clinical information of 963 heart failure patients was analyzed according to race, inhibitor-1 genotype, treatment with beta-blockers and mortality patterns. RESULTS The G147D inhibitor-1 genetic variant was found almost exclusively in black subjects and its frequency was similar between normals and heart failure patients, indicating that it was not a primary risk factor for developing heart failure. Comparison of the major cardiac functional parameters and transplant-free survival patterns between carrier and noncarrier patients did not reveal any significant differences. Furthermore, echocardiographic evaluation showed similar outcomes of beta-blocker treatment between G147D carriers and noncarriers. CONCLUSIONS The present findings indicate that the human inhibitor-1 G147D polymorphism, found almost exclusively in blacks, may act as a modifier rather than risk factor in heart failure development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guoli Chen
- Department of Pharmacology and Cell Biophysics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio 45267-0575, USA
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Barry SP, Davidson SM, Townsend PA. Molecular regulation of cardiac hypertrophy. Int J Biochem Cell Biol 2008; 40:2023-39. [PMID: 18407781 DOI: 10.1016/j.biocel.2008.02.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 213] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2007] [Revised: 02/13/2008] [Accepted: 02/15/2008] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Heart failure is one of the leading causes of mortality in the western world and encompasses a wide spectrum of cardiac pathologies. When the heart experiences extended periods of elevated workload, it undergoes hypertrophic enlargement in response to the increased demand. Cardiovascular disease, such as that caused by myocardial infarction, obesity or drug abuse promotes cardiac myocyte hypertrophy and subsequent heart failure. A number of signalling modulators in the vasculature milieu are known to regulate heart mass including those that influence gene expression, apoptosis, cytokine release and growth factor signalling. Recent evidence using genetic and cellular models of cardiac hypertrophy suggests that pathological hypertrophy can be prevented or reversed and has promoted an enormous drive in drug discovery research aiming to identify novel and specific regulators of hypertrophy. In this review we describe the molecular characteristics of cardiac hypertrophy such as the aberrant re-expression of the fetal gene program. We discuss the various molecular pathways responsible for the co-ordinated control of the hypertrophic program including: natriuretic peptides, the adrenergic system, adhesion and cytoskeletal proteins, IL-6 cytokine family, MEK-ERK1/2 signalling, histone acetylation, calcium-mediated modulation and the exciting recent discovery of the role of microRNAs in controlling cardiac hypertrophy. Characterisation of the signalling pathways leading to cardiac hypertrophy has led to a wealth of knowledge about this condition both physiological and pathological. The challenge will be translating this knowledge into potential pharmacological therapies for the treatment of cardiac pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean P Barry
- Medical Molecular Biology Unit, Institute of Child Health, University College London, 30 Guilford Street, London WC1N IEH, United Kingdom.
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17
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Chen G, Zhou X, Nicolaou P, Rodriguez P, Song G, Mitton B, Pathak A, Zachariah A, Fan GC, Dorn GW, Kranias EG. A human polymorphism of protein phosphatase-1 inhibitor-1 is associated with attenuated contractile response of cardiomyocytes to beta-adrenergic stimulation. FASEB J 2008; 22:1790-6. [PMID: 18192322 DOI: 10.1096/fj.07-097428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Aberrant beta-adrenergic signaling and depressed calcium homeostasis, associated with an imbalance of protein kinase A and phosphatase-1 activities, are hallmarks of heart failure. Phosphatase-1 is restrained by its endogenous inhibitor, protein phosphatase inhibitor-1 (PPI-1). We assessed 352 normal subjects, along with 959 patients with heart failure and identified a polymorphism in PPI-1 (G147D) exclusively in black subjects. To determine whether the G147D variant could affect cardiac function, we infected adult cardiomyocytes with adenoviruses expressing D147 or wild-type (G147) PPI-1. Under basal conditions, there were no significant differences in fractional shortening or contraction or relaxation rates. However, the enhancement of contractile parameters after isoproterenol stimulation was significantly blunted in D147 compared with G147 and control myocytes. Similar findings were observed in calcium kinetics. The attenuated beta-agonist response was associated with decreased (50%) phosphorylation of phospholamban (PLN) at serine 16, whereas phosphorylation of troponin I and ryanodine receptor was unaltered. These findings suggest that the human G147D PPI-1 can attenuate responses of cardiomyocytes to beta-adrenergic agonists by decreasing PLN phosphorylation and therefore may contribute to deteriorated function in heart failure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guoli Chen
- Department of Pharmacology and Cell Biophysics, University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine, 231 Albert Sabin Way, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0575, USA
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