Showing papers by "Angelino Calderone published in 2006"

Scar myofibroblasts of the infarcted rat heart express natriuretic peptides.

Abstract: The present study examined whether natriuretic peptide expression in the scar of post-myocardial infarcted (MI) rats was derived at least in part by residing myofibroblasts. ANP and BNP mRNA levels were significantly increased in the non-infarcted left ventricle and scar of 1-week post-MI male rats, as compared to the left ventricle of normal rats. The infarct region contained myofibroblasts and contracted cardiac myocytes residing predominantly in the epicardial border zone. In primary passage scar-derived myofibroblasts, alpha-myosin heavy chain mRNA was undetectable, whereas ANP, BNP, as well as adrenomedullin and corin mRNA expression persisted. In 1-3 day cultured primary passage myofibroblasts, prepro-ANP, mature ANP, and BNP staining was observed in the cytoplasm/perinuclear region co-incident with unorganized alpha-smooth muscle actin. Following 4-7 days in culture, myofibroblasts expressed organized alpha-smooth muscle actin filaments. However, natriuretic peptides were predominantly detected in the nucleus and cytoplasm, and thin filaments occupying the perinuclear region were positive for prepro-ANP and BNP. Isoproterenol treatment of first passage scar myofibroblasts increased protein synthesis and induced BNP mRNA expression, whereas ANP mRNA levels remained unchanged. By contrast, neither ANP nor BNP mRNAs were induced following exposure to AII despite increased protein synthesis. These data highlight the novel observation that scar myofibroblasts synthesized ANP, BNP, adrenomedullin, and expressed the pro-convertase corin. Constitutive and sympathetic-driven natriuretic peptide synthesis by myofibroblasts may in part influence reparative fibrosis.

Modification of the pulmonary renin-angiotensin system and lung structural remodelling in congestive heart failure.

Abstract: Lung structural remodelling, characterized by myofibroblast proliferation and collagen deposition, contributes to impaired functional capacity in CHF (congestive heart failure). As the lung is the primary site for the formation of Ang II (angiotensin II), local modifications of this system could contribute to lung remodelling. Rats with CHF, induced following myocardial infarction (MI) via coronary artery ligation, were compared with sham-operated controls. The MI group developed lung remodelling as confirmed by morphometric measurements and immunohistochemistry. Pulmonary Ang II concentrations increased more than 6-fold (P<0.01), and AT1 (Ang II type 1) receptor expression was elevated by 3-fold (P<0.01) with evidence of distribution in myofibroblasts. AT2 (Ang II type 2) receptor expression was unchanged. In isolated lung myofibroblasts, AT1 and AT2 receptors were expressed, and Ang II stimulated proliferation as measured by [3H]thymidine incorporation. In normal rats, chronic intravenous infusion of Ang II (0.5 mg.kg(-1) of body weight.day(-1)) for 28 days significantly increased mean arterial pressure (P<0.05), without pulmonary hypertension, lung remodelling or a change in AT1 receptor expression. We conclude that there is a modification of the pulmonary renin-angiotensin system in CHF, with increased Ang II levels and AT1 receptor expression on myofibroblasts. Although this may contribute to lung remodelling, the lack of effect of increased plasma Ang II levels alone suggests the importance of local pulmonary Ang II levels combined with the effect of other factors activated in CHF.

Disparate regulation of signaling proteins after exercise and myocardial infarction.

Abstract: Introduction: The signaling proteins extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2) and protein kinase B (PKB) were implicated in the development of pathological cardiac hypertrophy. The present study examined whether the progression of physiological eccentric cardiac hypertrophy was associated with ERK1/2 and PKB recruitment. Methods and Results: Following 1 and 3 wk of voluntary exercise, female Sprague-Dawley rats ran a total distance of 55 +/- 10 and 195 +/- 19 km, respectively. Left ventricular hypertrophy was detected in 3-wk-exercised rats, albeit prepro-ANP protein expression was unchanged. ERK1/2 was not recruited in the left ventricle (LV) of either 1-wk-exercised rats or the hypertrophied LV of 3-wk-exercised rats. In 1-wk-exercised rats, PKB Thr308 and Ser473 phosphorylation were significantly reduced, whereas a selective increase of PKB Ser473 phosphorylation was observed in the hypertrophied LV of 3-wk-exercised rats. In both 1- and 3-wk-exercised rats, an upward electrophoretic mobility band shift of p70 ribosomal S6 kinase (p70 S6K) was detected. In 1-wk post-myocardial-infarcted (MI) female Sprague-Dawley rats, scar formation was associated with increased left ventricular end-diastolic pressure. In the hypertrophied noninfarcted left ventricle (NILV), ERK1/2, p70 S6K, PKB Ser473, and Thr308 phosphorylation were increased. Conclusions: These data support the premise that ERK1/2 and PKB were differentially regulated during the development of eccentric physiological and pathological cardiac hypertrophy. It remains to be determined whether the chronic activation of either ERK1/2 and/or PKB in the NILV of post-MI rats may contribute in part to maladaptive cardiac remodelling.

The rapid onset of hyperglycaemia in ZDF rats was associated with a widespread alteration of metabolic proteins implicated in glucose metabolism in the heart.

Abstract: The present study tested the hypothesis that the phosphorylation and regulation of metabolic proteins implicated in glucose homeostasis were impaired in the heart of the type 2 diabetic Zucker-diabetic-fatty (ZDF) rat model. The onset of hyperglycaemia in ZDF rats was not uniform, instead it either progressed rapidly (3–4 weeks) or was delayed (6–8 weeks). In both the early and late onset hyperglycaemic ZDF rats, AMPKα Thr172 phosphorylation in the heart was significantly decreased. In the early onset hyperglycaemic ZDF rats, PKB Ser473 phosphorylation was reduced, whereas Thr308 phosphorylation was significantly increased. In the late onset hyperglycaemic ZDF rats, PKB Ser473 phosphorylation was unchanged, but Thr308 phosphorylation remained elevated. Cardiac GLUT4 protein and mRNA expression were significantly reduced in the early onset hyperglycaemic ZDF rats, whereas increased protein expression was observed in the late onset hyperglycaemic ZDF rats. In conclusion, the present study has demonstrated t...