Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: UMLS:C0018801 (heart failure)
 72,216 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

gp130-dependent signaling is known to play a critical role in the onset of heart failure. In that regard, cardiotrophin-1 (CT-1) activates several signaling pathways via gp130, and induces hypertrophy in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes. Among the mediators activated by CT-1, STAT3 is thought to be important for induction of cell hypertrophy, though its precise function in the CT-1 signaling pathway is not fully understood. In the present study, therefore, to better understand the significance of STAT3 activity in CT-1 signaling, we infected cultured cardiomyocytes with adenoviral vectors harboring a dominant-negative STAT3 mutant or one of two endogenous negative regulators of cytokine signaling via the Janus kinase (JAK)-signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) pathways [suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS) 1 and 3] and then examined their effects on three indexes of CT-1-induced cell hypertrophy: protein synthesis, secretion of brain natriuretic peptide and changes in cell surface area. In control cells, CT-1-induced both STAT3 phosphorylation and cell hypertrophy. Overexpression of dominant-negative STAT3 mutant suppressed CT-1-induced STAT3 phosphorylation, but did not affect cell hypertrophy. On the other hand overexpression of SOCS1 or SOCS3 inhibited both CT-1-induced STAT3 phosphorylation and cell hypertrophy. CT-1 also induced phosphorylations of ERK1/2 and ERK5 in cardiomyocytes, and those, too, were suppressed by overexpression of SOCSs. CT-1-induced cell hypertrophy was suppressed by overexpression of a dominant-negative MEK5 mutant, and not by overexpression of a dominant-negative MEK1 mutant. These findings indicate that the major pathway responsible for the hypertrophic responses to CT-1 is not JAK-STAT3 pathway nor MEK1-ERK1/2 pathway, but MEK5-ERK5 pathway.
 ...
PMID:Hypertrophic responses to cardiotrophin-1 are not mediated by STAT3, but via a MEK5-ERK5 pathway in cultured cardiomyocytes. 1562 35

Sustained cardiac pressure overload induces hypertrophy and pathological remodeling, frequently leading to heart failure. Genetically engineered hyperstimulation of guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP) synthesis counters this response. Here, we show that blocking the intrinsic catabolism of cGMP with an oral phosphodiesterase-5A (PDE5A) inhibitor (sildenafil) suppresses chamber and myocyte hypertrophy, and improves in vivo heart function in mice exposed to chronic pressure overload induced by transverse aortic constriction. Sildenafil also reverses pre-established hypertrophy induced by pressure load while restoring chamber function to normal. cGMP catabolism by PDE5A increases in pressure-loaded hearts, leading to activation of cGMP-dependent protein kinase with inhibition of PDE5A. PDE5A inhibition deactivates multiple hypertrophy signaling pathways triggered by pressure load (the calcineurin/NFAT, phosphoinositide-3 kinase (PI3K)/Akt, and ERK1/2 signaling pathways). But it does not suppress hypertrophy induced by overexpression of calcineurin in vitro or Akt in vivo, suggesting upstream targeting of these pathways. PDE5A inhibition may provide a new treatment strategy for cardiac hypertrophy and remodeling.
 ...
PMID:Chronic inhibition of cyclic GMP phosphodiesterase 5A prevents and reverses cardiac hypertrophy. 1569 88

The current study investigated the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) as well as pro- and anti-apoptotic proteins in adriamycin (ADR)-induced cardiomyopathy (AIC) and heart failure in rats. Modulatory effects of antioxidant probucol on the activation of MAPKs were also examined. Male rats were administered with ADR (15 mg/kg body wt ip, over 2 wk) with and without probucol (120 mg/kg body wt for 4 wk ip). Hearts from these animals were studied at 1- to 24-h as well as at 3-wk posttreatment durations. In the 3-wk group, ADR depressed cardiac function, increased left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP), and caused dyspnea and mortality. These changes were prevented by probucol. Phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)1/2, in the early stage of AIC, showed a biphasic response, with a maximum increase to 513% seen at 4 h, followed by a decrease to 66.8% at 3 wk after the last injection of ADR. Phosphorylation of p38 and c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinases (JNKs) showed a steady increase through 2, 4, and 24 h and 3 wk (116% to 148%). In gene microarray analysis at 3 wk (heart failure stage), mRNA expression for both ERK1/2 and p38 kinases was decreased, whereas JNK mRNA was undetectable. Probucol completely prevented these MAPK changes. Activation of caspase-3 as well as the increase in the ratio of Bax to Bcl-xl were seen at early time points (1-24 h) as well as in the heart failure stage (3 wk). It is suggested that a transient increase in ERK1/2 at a shorter interval indicate an early adaptive response, and failure of this response corresponded with heart failure. In contrast, a gradual and persistent increase in p38 and JNK MAPKs as well as in caspase-3 and the Bax-to-Bcl-xl ratio may contribute in the initiation of apoptosis and progression of heart failure. Because probucol modulated changes in cellular signaling pathways and cardiac function, it is likely that oxidative stress plays a key role in AIC and heart failure.
 ...
PMID:Involvement of mitogen-activated protein kinases in adriamycin-induced cardiomyopathy. 1577 36

The nonreceptor protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) proline-rich tyrosine kinase 2 (PYK2) has been implicated in cell signaling pathways involved in left ventricular hypertrophy and heart failure, but its exact role has not been elucidated. In this study, replication-defective adenoviruses (Adv) encoding green fluorescent protein (GFP)-tagged, wild-type (WT), and mutant forms of PYK2 were used to determine whether PYK2 overexpression activates MAPKs, and downregulates SERCA2 mRNA levels in neonatal rat ventricular myocytes (NRVM). PYK2 overexpression significantly decreased SERCA2 mRNA (as determined by Northern blot analysis and real-time RT-PCR) to 54 +/- 4% of Adv-GFP-infected cells 48 h after Adv infection. Adv-encoding kinase-deficient (KD) and Y(402)F phosphorylation-deficient mutants of PYK2 also significantly reduced SERCA2 mRNA (WT>KD>Y(402)F). Conversely, the PTK inhibitor PP2 (which blocks PYK2 phosphorylation by Src-family PTKs) significantly increased SERCA2 mRNA levels. PYK2 overexpression had no effect on ERK1/2, but increased JNK1/2 and p38(MAPK) phosphorylation from fourfold to eightfold compared with GFP overexpression. Activation of both "stress-activated" protein kinase cascades appeared necessary to reduce SERCA2 mRNA levels. Adv-mediated overexpression of constitutively active (ca)MKK6 or caMKK7, which activated only p38(MAPK) or JNKs, respectively, was not sufficient, whereas combined infection with both Adv reduced SERCA2 mRNA levels to 45 +/- 12% of control. WTPYK2 overexpression also significantly reduced SERCA2 promoter activity, as determined by transient transfection of a 3.8-kb SERCA2 promoter-luciferase construct. Thus a PYK2-dependent signaling cascade may have a role in abnormal cardiac Ca(2+) handling in left ventricular hypertrophy and heart failure via downregulation of SERCA2 gene transcription.
 ...
PMID:PYK2 regulates SERCA2 gene expression in neonatal rat ventricular myocytes. 1582 61

Protein kinase C (PKC)-induced phosphorylation of cardiac troponin I (cTnI) depresses the acto-myosin interaction and may be important during the progression of heart failure. Although both PKCbetaII and PKCepsilon can phosphorylate cTnI, only PKCbeta expression and activity are elevated in failing human myocardium during end-stage heart failure. Furthermore, although increased cTnI phosphorylation was observed in mice with cardiac-specific PKCbeta II overexpression, no differences were observed in cTnI phosphorylation status between wild type and cardiac-specific PKCepsilon overexpression mice. A potentially important downstream effector of PKCs is p90 ribosomal S6 kinase (p90RSK), which plays an important role in cell growth by activating several transcription factors as well as Na+/H+ exchanger. Since both Ser23 and Ser24 of cTnI are contained in putative consensus sequences of p90RSK phosphorylation sites, we hypothesized that p90RSK is downstream from PKCbeta II and can be a cTnI (Ser(23/24)) kinase. p90RSK, but not ERK1/2 activation, was increased in PKCbetaII overexpression mice but not in PKCepsilon overexpression mice. p90RSK could phosphorylate cTnI in vitro with high substrate affinity but not cardiac troponin T (cTnT). To confirm the role of p90RSK in cTnI phosphorylation in vivo, we generated adenovirus containing a dominant negative form of p90RSK (Ad-DN-p90RSK). We found that the inhibition of p90RSK prevented H2O2-mediated cTnI (Ser(23/24)) phosphorylation but not ERK1/2 and PKCalpha/betaII activation. Next, we generated cardiac-specific p90RSK transgenic mice and observed that cTnI (Ser(23/24)) phosphorylation was significantly increased. LY333,531, a specific PKCbeta inhibitor, inhibited both p90RSK and cTnI (Ser(23/24)) phosphorylation by H2O2. Taken together, our data support a new redox-sensitive mechanism regulating cTnI phosphorylation in cardiomyocytes.
 ...
PMID:Role of p90 ribosomal S6 kinase (p90RSK) in reactive oxygen species and protein kinase C beta (PKC-beta)-mediated cardiac troponin I phosphorylation. 1584 May 86

We have previously shown that genetic ablation of melusin, a muscle specific beta 1 integrin interacting protein, accelerates left ventricle (LV) dilation and heart failure in response to pressure overload. Here we show that melusin expression was increased during compensated cardiac hypertrophy in mice subjected to 1 week pressure overload, but returned to basal levels in LV that have undergone dilation after 12 weeks of pressure overload. To better understand the role of melusin in cardiac remodeling, we overexpressed melusin in heart of transgenic mice. Echocardiography analysis indicated that melusin over-expression induced a mild cardiac hypertrophy in basal conditions (30% increase in interventricular septum thickness) with no obvious structural and functional alterations. After prolonged pressure overload (12 weeks), melusin overexpressing hearts underwent further hypertrophy retaining concentric LV remodeling and full contractile function, whereas wild-type LV showed pronounced chamber dilation with an impaired contractility. Analysis of signaling pathways indicated that melusin overexpression induced increased basal phosphorylation of GSK3beta and ERK1/2. Moreover, AKT, GSK3beta and ERK1/2 were hyper-phosphorylated on pressure overload in melusin overexpressing compared with wild-type mice. In addition, after 12 weeks of pressure overload LV of melusin overexpressing mice showed a very low level of cardiomyocyte apoptosis and stromal tissue deposition, as well as increased capillary density compared with wild-type. These results demonstrate that melusin overexpression allows prolonged concentric compensatory hypertrophy and protects against the transition toward cardiac dilation and failure in response to long-standing pressure overload.
 ...
PMID:Cardiac overexpression of melusin protects from dilated cardiomyopathy due to long-standing pressure overload. 1586 Jul 58

Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have shown potential for cardiac repair following myocardial injury, but this approach is limited by their poor viability after transplantation. To reduce cell loss after transplantation, we introduced the fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) gene ex vivo before transplantation. The isolated MSCs produced colonies with a fibroblast-like morphology in 2 weeks; over 95% expressed CD71, and 28% expressed the cardiomyocyte-specific transcription factor, Nkx2.5, as well as a-skeletal actin, Nkx2.5, and GATA4. In hypoxic culture, the FGF-2-transfected MSCs (FGF-2-MSCs) secreted increased levels of FGF-2 and displayed a threefold increase in viability, as well as increased expression of the anti-apoptotic gene, Bcl2, and reduced DNA laddering. They had functional adrenergic receptors, like cardiomyocytes, and exposure to norepinephrine led to phosphorylation of ERK1/2. Viable cells persisted 4 weeks after implantation of 5.0 yen 105 FGF-2-MSCs into infarcted myocardia. Expression of cardiac troponin T (CTn T) and a voltage-gated Ca2+ channel (CaV2.1) increased, and new blood vessels formed. These data suggest that genetic modification of MSCs before transplantation could be useful for treating myocardial infarction and end-stage cardiac failure.
 ...
PMID:Transfection of mesenchymal stem cells with the FGF-2 gene improves their survival under hypoxic conditions. 1599 58

Viral myocarditis can present as dramatic heart failure in the young, and chronic indolent cardiomyopathy in the older adult. The outcome of the disease is still poor, associated with high mortality during long-term follow-up. Enteroviral myocarditis serves as an excellent model to understand virus and host interactions. The virus enters the target cells via collaborating receptors, and this process triggers an inflammatory response in the host. The immune reaction is a two-edged sword, with appropriate activation of the immune system capable of clearing the virus, but excessive activation leads to a chronic inflammatory process that triggers the remodeling of the heart and consequent clinical heart failure. Through genetic dissection strategies, we have identified that the acquired immune system is activated through the T cell receptor and signaling amplification systems, such as the tyrosine kinase p56lck, phosphatase CD45 and downstream ERK1/2, and the family of cytokines. This signaling system not only promotes inflammatory cell clonal expansion but paradoxically also promotes viral proliferation. The innate immune system is now recognized as playing an ever-expanding role in coordinating the host immune response through the Toll-like receptors, triggering downstream signaling adaptors such as MyD88, IRAK, and TRIF/IRFs. These lead to activation of cytokines or interferons, depending on the balance of the signal contributions. The ongoing research in this area should help us to understand the immune response of the heart to viral infection, while identifying potential targets for therapy.
 ...
PMID:Recent insights into the role of host innate and acquired immunity responses. 1632 61

Alterations in cardiac G protein-mediated signaling, most prominently G(q/11) signaling, are centrally involved in hypertrophy and heart failure development. Several RGS proteins that can act as negative regulators of G protein signaling are expressed in the heart, but their functional roles are still poorly understood. RGS expression changes have been described in hypertrophic and failing hearts. In this study, we report a marked decrease in RGS2 (but not other major cardiac RGS proteins (RGS3-RGS5)) that occurs prior to hypertrophy development in different models with enhanced G(q/11) signaling (transgenic expression of activated Galpha(q)(*) and pressure overload due to aortic constriction). To assess functional consequences of selective down-regulation of endogenous RGS2, we identified targeting sequences for effective RGS2 RNA interference and used lipid-based transfection to achieve uptake of fluorescently labeled RGS2 small interfering RNA in >90% of neonatal and adult ventricular myocytes. Endogenous RGS2 expression was dose-dependently suppressed (up to 90%) with no major change in RGS3-RGS5. RGS2 knockdown increased phenylephrine- and endothelin-1-induced phospholipase Cbeta stimulation in both cell types and exacerbated the hypertrophic effect (increase in cell size and radiolabeled protein) in neonatal myocytes, with no major change in G(q/11)-mediated ERK1/2, p38, or JNK activation. Taken together, this study demonstrates that endogenous RGS2 exerts functionally important inhibitory restraint on G(q/11)-mediated phospholipase Cbeta activation and hypertrophy in ventricular myocytes. Our findings point toward a potential pathophysiological role of loss of fine tuning due to selective RGS2 down-regulation in G(q/11)-mediated remodeling. Furthermore, this study shows the feasibility of effective RNA interference in cardiomyocytes using lipid-based small interfering RNA transfection.
 ...
PMID:Selective loss of fine tuning of Gq/11 signaling by RGS2 protein exacerbates cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. 1638 Mar 88

Oxidative stress resulting from increased superoxide generation by NADPH oxidase is implicated in the pathophysiology of human heart failure. Downstream targets of NADPH oxidase remain undefined and available information is restricted to the left ventricle (LV). Thus, we aimed to assess the cascade of events triggered by increased NADPH oxidase activity (lipid peroxidation and activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases ERK1/2, JNK and p38) and their mutual relationship in right (RV) and (LV) of end-stage failing human hearts. When compared to control ventricles, diseased RV and LV showed a significant increase in NADPH oxidase superoxide production that positively correlated with p47(phox) membrane translocation (RV: r=0.76, P<0.001; LV: r=0.79, P<0.001). MDA content, a marker of lipid peroxidation, was also enhanced and ERK and p38, but not JNK, were activated. For all these relevant steps of the oxidative stress pathway, a significant correlation was observed between LV and RV from the same heart (NADPH-dependent superoxide production: r=0.678, P<0.0055; MDA: r=0.95, P<0.0001; p-p38/p38 ratio: r=0.926, P<0.0001; p-ERK/ERK ratio: r=0.913, P<0.0001). We concluded that in human heart failure, both ventricles are targets of NADPH oxidase superoxide generation which in turn may trigger the coordinated activation of downstream signaling components. This pathway may contribute to adverse remodeling of the LV and RV and subsequent progression toward end-stage heart failure, suggestive of new therapeutic targeting strategy.
 ...
PMID:NADPH oxidase-dependent redox signaling in human heart failure: relationship between the left and right ventricle. 1734 42


<< Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Next >>