Modulation Of Contractile Function Research Articles

Protein Composition of Endurance Trained Human Skeletal Muscle

Evidence suggests that myofibers from endurance trained skeletal muscle display unique contractile parameters. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. To further elucidate the influence of endurance training on myofiber contractile function, we examined factors that may impact myofilament interactions (i. e., water content, concentration of specific protein fractions, actin and myosin content) or directly modulate myosin heavy chain (MHC) function (i. e., myosin light chain (MLC) composition) in muscle biopsy samples from highly-trained competitive (RUN) and recreational (REC) runners. Muscle water content was lower (P<0.05) in RUN (73±1%) compared to REC (75±1%) and total muscle and myofibrillar protein concentration was higher (P<0.05) in RUN, which may indicate differences in myofilament spacing. Content of the primary contractile proteins, myosin (0.99±0.08 and 1.01±0.07 AU) and actin (1.33±0.09 and 1.27±0.09 AU) in addition to the myosin to actin ratio (0.75±0.04 and 0.80±0.06 AU) was not different between REC and RUN, respectively, when expressed relative to the amount of myofibrillar protein. At the single-fiber level, slow-twitch MHC I myofibers from RUN contained less (P<0.05) MLC 1 and greater (P<0.05) amounts of MLC 3 than REC, while MLC composition was similar in fast-twitch MHC IIa myofibers between REC and RUN. These data suggest that the distinctive myofiber contractile profile in highly-trained runners may be partially explained by differences in the content of the primary contractile proteins and provides unique insight into the modulation of contractile function with extreme loading -patterns.

PKCβII modulation of myocyte contractile performance

Significant up-regulation of the protein kinase Cβ(II) (PKCβ(II)) develops during heart failure and yet divergent functional outcomes are reported in animal models. The goal here is to investigate PKCβ(II) modulation of contractile function and gain insights into downstream targets in adult cardiac myocytes. Increased PKCβ(II) protein expression and phosphorylation developed after gene transfer into adult myocytes while expression remained undetectable in controls. The PKCβ(II) was distributed in a peri-nuclear pattern and this expression resulted in diminished rates and amplitude of shortening and re-lengthening compared to controls and myocytes expressing dominant negative PKCβ(II) (PKCβDN). Similar decreases were observed in the Ca(2+) transient and the Ca(2+) decay rate slowed in response to caffeine in PKCβ(II)-expressing myocytes. Parallel phosphorylation studies indicated PKCβ(II) targets phosphatase activity to reduce phospholamban (PLB) phosphorylation at residue Thr17 (pThr17-PLB). The PKCβ inhibitor, LY379196 (LY) restored pThr17-PLB to control levels. In contrast, myofilament protein phosphorylation was enhanced by PKCβ(II) expression, and individually, LY and the phosphatase inhibitor, calyculin A each failed to block this response. Further work showed PKCβ(II) increased Ca(2+)-activated, calmodulin-dependent kinase IIδ (CaMKIIδ) expression and enhanced both CaMKIIδ and protein kinase D (PKD) phosphorylation. Phosphorylation of both signaling targets also was resistant to acute inhibition by LY. These later results provide evidence PKCβ(II) modulates contractile function via intermediate downstream pathway(s) in cardiac myocytes.

S1682 Role of the Gasotransmitter Hydrogen Sulfide in Modulation of Contractile Function in Longitudinal Muscle of Rat Jejunum

Background: HDC catalyzes the conversion of histidine to histamine, a bioamine which plays an important role in allergy, inflammation, neurotransmission, gastric acid secretion and etc. Regulation of HDC expression occurs at both the transcriptional and posttranslational level. While extensive studies have been performed to study the posttranslational regulation of HDC, an adequate In Vivo model to study HDC gene expression at the transcriptional level has not been reported. Aim: To establish an In Vivomodel to study HDC gene expression at the transcriptional level. Methods: A mouse bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) clone that contains the entire HDC gene locus was used to generate an HDC/EGFP construct where EGFP gene expression is controlled by ~113 kb of HDC 5' flanking and 75 kb of 3' flanking DNA. An EGFP cassette was inserted into translational start codon (ATG) of mouse HDC gene. The transgene was pronuclearly injected into fertilized mouse oocytes (B6/CBA mixed background), and potential founders were screened by tail DNA PCR. Positive founders were backcrossed to B6 mice. HDC/EGFP mice were infected with H. felis for 3 months or intraperitoneally injected of omeprazole for 2 weeks (350 μmol/kg). Results: Three potential founder mice were obtained, and specific EGFP fluorescence was observed in epithelial cells residing in the lower third of the gastric corpus glands in all F1 mice from three lines. QRT-PCR confirmed that F1 mice from three founders expressed EGFP mRNA in the stomach at a level similar to that of endogenous HDC. Specificity of EGFP fluorescence was also confirmed by immunostaining for EGFP. Expression of EGFP in ECL cells was confirmed by co-immunostaining with HDC and chromogranin A antibodies. EGFP positive cells were also found in small intestine, colon, spleen, lung, and olfactory neurons in brain, while not found in other tissues including liver, pancreas, heart, kidney, skin, testis and thymus. FACS analysis detected EGFP expression in a subpopulation of bone marrow cells. Q-RT-PCR showed that EGFP mRNA expression in the stomach and small intestine was significantly increased after 3 months H. felis infection. EGFP positive cells in the stomach were also increased after omeprazole treatment. Conclusions: Expression of the HDC/EGFP transgene accurately reflects expression of the endogenous HDC gene. With H. felis infection, HDC/ EGFP expression is enhanced in both stomach and small intestine. The HDC/EGFP transgene model offers a robust way to track HDC expression under diverse physiological and pathological conditions and to potentially isolate HDC expression cells for further studies.

Calcium Cycling and Signaling in Cardiac Myocytes

Calcium (Ca) is a universal intracellular second messenger. In muscle, Ca is best known for its role in contractile activation. However, in recent years the critical role of Ca in other myocyte processes has become increasingly clear. This review focuses on Ca signaling in cardiac myocytes as pertaining to electrophysiology (including action potentials and arrhythmias), excitation-contraction coupling, modulation of contractile function, energy supply-demand balance (including mitochondrial function), cell death, and transcription regulation. Importantly, although such diverse Ca-dependent regulations occur simultaneously in a cell, the cell can distinguish distinct signals by local Ca or protein complexes and differential Ca signal integration.

Modulation of Contractile Function through Neuropeptide Y Receptors during Development of Cardiomyocyte Hypertrophy

Severity of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) correlates with elevated plasma levels of neuropeptide Y (NPY) in hypertension. NPY elicits positive and negative contractile effects in cardiomyocytes through Y(1) and Y(2) receptors, respectively. This study tested the hypothesis that NPY receptor-mediated contraction is altered during progression of LVH. Ventricular cardiomyocytes were isolated from spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) pre-LVH (12 weeks), during development (16 weeks), and at established LVH (20 weeks) and age-matched normotensive Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats. Electrically stimulated (60 V, 0.5 Hz) cell shortening was measured using edge detection and receptor expression determined at mRNA and protein level. The NPY and Y(1) receptor-selective agonist, Leu(31)Pro(34)NPY, stimulated increases in contractile amplitude, which were abolished by the Y(1) receptor-selective antagonist, BIBP3226 [R-N(2)-(diphenyl-acetyl)-N-(4-hydroxyphenyl)methyl-argininamide)], confirming Y(1) receptor involvement. Potencies of both agonists were enhanced in SHR cardiomyocytes at 20 weeks (2300- and 380-fold versus controls). Maximal responses were not attenuated. BIBP3226 unmasked a negative contraction effect of NPY, elicited over the concentration range (10(-12) to 3 x 10(-9) M) in which NPY and PYY(3-36) attenuated the positive contraction effects of isoproterenol, the potencies of which were increased in cardiomyocytes from SHRs at 20 weeks (175- and 145-fold versus controls); maximal responses were not altered. Expression of NPY-Y(1) and NPY-Y(2) receptor mRNAs was decreased (55 and 69%) in left ventricular cardiomyocytes from 20-week-old SHRs versus age-matched WKY rats; parallel decreases (32 and 80%) were observed at protein level. Enhancement of NPY potency, producing (opposing) contractile effects on cardiomyocytes together with unchanged maximal response despite reduced receptor number, enables NPY to contribute to regulating cardiac performance during compensatory LVH.

Modulation of Striated Muscle Function is Reflected by Thick Filament Structure.

Abstract In mammalian skeletal and cardiac muscles, regulation of activity occurs when calcium binds to troponin on thin filaments, which ultimately results in exposure of myosin-binding sites on actin. However, modulation of contractile function, affecting such parameters as calcium sensitivity, the rate of rise of tension, the expression of maximum tension and/or the rate of onset of relaxation, is also calcium dependent. It is, in part, a property of the thick filament itself and its component myosin and/or accessory proteins. Among these are phosphorylation of myosin regulatory light chains or light chain 2 (RLCs; LC2) and in cardiac, but not skeletal fibers, phosphorylation of myosin-binding protein C (MyBP-C). Gentle methods of separating thick filaments from small tissue specimens, subjected to various experimental protocols designed to explore the functional parameters of such modulatory activities, allow examination of any accompanying structural changes.

Effect of hydrogen peroxide and dithiothreitol on contractile function of single skeletal muscle fibres from the mouse.

1. We used intact single fibres from a mouse foot muscle to study the role of oxidation-reduction in the modulation of contractile function. 2. The oxidant hydrogen peroxide (H2O2, 100-300 microM) for brief periods did not change myoplasmic Ca2+ concentrations ([Ca2+]i) during submaximal tetani. However, force increased by 27 % during the same contractions. 3. The effects of H2O2 were time dependent. Prolonged exposures resulted in increased resting and tetanic [Ca2+]i, while force was significantly diminished. The force decline was mainly due to reduced myofibrillar Ca2+ sensitivity. There was also evidence of altered sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) function: passive Ca2+ leak was increased and Ca2+ uptake was decreased. 4. The reductant dithiothreitol (DTT, 0.5-1 mM) did not change tetanic [Ca2+]i, but decreased force by over 40 %. This was completely reversed by subsequent incubations with H2O2. The force decline induced by prolonged exposure to H2O2 was reversed by subsequent exposure to DTT. 5. These results show that the elements of the contractile machinery are differentially responsive to changes in the oxidation-reduction balance of the muscle fibres. Myofibrillar Ca2+ sensitivity appears to be especially susceptible, while the SR functions (Ca2+ leak and uptake) are less so.

Interaction between taurine and angiotensin II: Modulation of calcium transport and myocardial contractile function

Angiotensin II modulates several aspects of cardiac function, including myocardial contractility, heart rate and myocyte growth. Most of these actions are intimately associated with alterations in calcium transport. Since taurine also modulates calcium transport, we examined possible interactions between taurine and angiotensin II at the level of the major cellular extruder of calcium, the Na−-Ca2+ exchanger. Over a concentration range of 0.5–25 mM, Turne served as an effective inhibitor of angiotensin II-mediated stimulation of the exchanger. An Arrhenius plot of Na+-Ca2+ exchange activity revealed that angiotensin II (2 nM) increased transporter activity by reducing the activation energy of the transport process. Taurine (25 mM) inhibited the angiotensin II effect by partially preventing the reduction in activation energy. However, neither agent significantly altered the transition temperature, ruling out a change in membrane fluidity or an alteration in the rate limiting step of the transporter as a cause of the observed effects. Since the Na+-Ca2+ exchanger plays an important role in the handling of [Ca2+]i by the myocardium, the effect of taurine on angiotensin II's modulation of contractile function was also examined. Hearts perfused with buffer containing angiotensin 11 experienced a slight positive isotropic effect in the absence of taurine but this was converted to a negative inotropic effect in the presence of taurine. The data suggest that Turine inhibits some, but not all of the actions of angiotensin II. The possibility that a phosphorylation event is the site of the angiotensin II-taurine interaction is discussed.

Beta 1-and beta 2-adrenergic receptors exhibit differing susceptibility to muscarinic accentuated antagonism.

Neonatal rat ventricular myocytes express both beta 1-and beta 2-adrenergic receptors linked to enhanced intracellular adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) accumulation and the modulation of contractile function. This study tests the hypothesis that muscarinic agonists act via distinct mechanisms to interfere with beta 1-and beta 2-adrenergic receptor actions. The beta 2-selective agonist zinterol (10(-7) M) elicits approximately a fourfold increase in cAMP accumulation, which is mimicked, both in magnitude and kinetics, by 10(-9) M of the mixed beta 1-receptor agonist/beta 2-receptor agonist isoproterenol. At these concentrations, isoproterenol and zinterol elicit equivalent inotropic and lusitropic (i.e., enhanced relaxation) responses. Carbachol inhibits all three responses (cAMP, inotropic, and lusitropic) elicited by isoproterenol. In contrast, carbachol does not interfere with the effect of zinterol to augment cAMP accumulation or to induce a positive inotropic response. However, carbachol inhibits the lusitropic response to zinterol via an action at an M2-muscarinic receptor linked to a pertussis toxin-sensitive pathway. Additional studies indicate that beta 2-receptor-dependent phosphorylation of troponin I and phospholamban is substantially attenuated by carbachol. We conclude that carbachol interferes with beta 1-receptor actions by reducing cAMP accumulation. In contrast, the anti-beta 2-receptor actions of carbachol are mediated by a mechanism that is distinct from inhibition of cAMP accumulation, involving an M2-muscarinic receptor coupled to a pertussis toxin-sensitive G protein, which leads to inhibition of troponin I and phospholamban phosphorylation and inhibition of the beta 2-receptor-dependent lusitropic response.