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

G proteins serve as transducers between cell surface receptors and intracellular effectors. They consist of three subunits, termed alpha, beta, and gamma. Recently, it has been recognized that the beta gamma subunits play an active role such as activation of beta-adrenergic receptor kinase (beta ARK). The desensitization and down-regulation of beta-adrenergic receptors have been observed in the heart failure. beta ARK is one of the components involved in desensitization of beta-adrenergic receptor and it is reported, recently, that G protein beta gamma subunits bind beta ARK through the pleckstrin homology domain. Therefore, we investigated the effects of beta-adrenergic receptor stimulation on steady-state level of G protein beta subunits (G beta) in the rat heart. The whole rat heart was preliminarily perfused for 10 min by Langendorff's technique at 60 mmHg of hydrostatic pressure with Krebs-Henseleit bicarbonate buffer, and then perfused for 30 min in the same buffer with or without 10 microM isoproterenol (ISO), 0.1mM epinephrine (EPI), 10 microM ISO with 0.1mM propranolol (PROP), or 10 microM ISO with 10 microM CGP20712A (CGP). Immunoblotting using isoform-specific antisera against G protein beta subunits revealed that the rat heart contains at least three G protein beta subunits, beta 1, beta 2 and beta 3 at molecular weight of between 35,000 and 37,000. The level of G beta 3 in the cytosol dramatically decreased in the presence of ISO alone or ISO with CGP. G beta 3 decreased in the presence of EPI as well. Propranolol could block ISO-induced decrease of G beta 3 in the cytosol. In contrast, the levels of G beta 1 and G beta 2 didn't change in the presence of ISO or EPI. On the other hand, in membrane fractions the level of G beta 3 significantly increased in the presence of ISO or EPI. ISO with PROP or ISO with CGP did not change the level of G beta 3 in membrane fractions. The levels of G beta 1 and G beta 2 did not change in the presence of ISO or EPI in membrane fractions. Taken together, beta-adrenoceptor agonist might induce isoform-specific translocation of G beta 3 from the cytosol to the membrane.
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PMID:[Beta-adrenergic receptor-mediated changes in subcellular localization of G protein beta subunits in perfused rat hearts]. 759 Jun

Significant advances are emerging in what concerns the newer inotropic agents. Despite the ideal agent, whose sole action is to increase the sensitivity of contractile proteins to calcium is yet to be found, the identification of specific receptors of dopamine in the CNS and peripheral circulation, had stimulated the pharmacological research of dopaminergic receptors agonists, selective for the subtypes DA1 and DA2, selective DA1 and DA2 antagonists and the dopamine beta-hidroxilase inhibitors and represent an unequivocal value. Beta-adrenergic agonists have been extensively evaluated as positive inotropic agents in the patients with congestive heart failure. Although norepinephrine, epinephrine and isoproterenol are potent stimulators of myocardial beta-adrenergic receptors, the clinical use of these agents has been limited by their positive chronotropic actions and their tendency to exacerbate cardiac arrhythmias (epinephrine and isoproterenol); their potent effects on vascular alpha 1-adrenergic receptors, which cause vasoconstriction (norepinephrine); and their effects on vascular beta 2 receptors, which cause vasodilation (isoproterenol). Dopamine, endogenous precursor of norepinephrine, is a sympathomimetic amine that has been widely used clinically as a cardiac stimulant. The effects of this drug are due to a combination of its actions on alpha, beta, and dopaminergic receptors, as well as a tyramine-like effect that causes the release of endogenous norepinephrine. Dopamine's positive inotropic effects are due principally to stimulation of cardiac beta-adrenergic receptors. At low doses it also stimulates renal dopaminergic receptors, thereby increasing renal cortical blood flow and promotion diuresis; higher doses causes stimulation of alpha 1-adrenergic receptors, resulting in increasing systemic arterial and venous pressures and, potentially, decrease renal blood flow. This vasoconstrictor action is frequently undesirable in patients with severe heart failure, and limits the drug's usefulness as a positive inotropic agent. Despite this risk, the use of synthetically derived catecholamines, i.e. dobutamine, has gained wide acceptance for the treatment of low output state associated with systemic hypotension. Despite the well reported down regulation of beta 1-adrenergic receptors in patients with chronic congestive heart failure, dobutamine consistently exerts hemodynamic benefits in this clinical situation. An attenuation of these benefits may be observed at times, although new tachyphylaxis very rarely occurs. Since dobutamine does not preferentially dilate the renal vasculature, concomitant administration of dopamine, at a dose which only stimulates the dopaminergic receptors in the renal artery, had the advantage of increasing renal perfusion and improving renal function. Administration of dopamine is often prolonged after that of dobutamine, and may help the wearing off of dobutamine.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
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PMID:[New inotropic agents in the treatment of congestive heart failure]. 790 58

Protein kinase C (PKC) is activated by alpha-adrenergic stimulation. Molecular analysis showed that PKC consists of a family of at least 12 isozymes. Studies of their distribution in the heart showed conflicting results. The first goal of our study was thus to characterize cardiac PKC in normal rabbits. PKC plays an important role in gene expression, cell growth, and differentiation and is involved in the hypertrophy phase of cardiac overload, but since its expression has never been evaluated in heart failure, the second goal of our study was to evaluate PKC activity and isoform expression in rabbits with heart failure induced by a double hemodynamic overload (aortic insufficiency followed by an aortic stenosis). In the first part of the study, PKC isoform expression analyzed in normal rabbits by immunoblotting showed that isoforms alpha, beta, epsilon, and zeta were expressed along with PKC gamma, which had never been detected in the heart. PKC gamma expression was also identified by polymerase chain reaction, and immunofluorescence techniques showed a localization on intercalated disks associated with the membrane localization observed with the other isoforms. In the second part of the study, PKC activity, content, and isoform expression showed a decrease of 37% in the failing group. PKC immunodetection with a monoclonal antibody (Mab 1.9) recognizing the catalytic domain of all PKC isoforms revealed a 20% decrease in the failing ventricles compared with normal left ventricles. Expressed PKC isoforms quantified by Western blot showed, in the failing heart group compared with the control group, a decrease of 27%, 32%, 16%, and 9% of PKC alpha, PKC beta 1, PKC gamma, and PKC epsilon, respectively, whereas PKC zeta was not significantly modified. These results show that, in heart failure, PKC activity and expression of Ca(2+)-dependent PKC isoforms are decreased. This may lead to alterations of PKC-induced phosphorylations.
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PMID:Protein kinase C isoform expression in normal and failing rabbit hearts. 875 91

Two families of nuclear receptors for retinoic acid (RA) have been characterized. Members of the RAR family (types alpha, beta and gamma and their isoforms alpha 1, alpha 2, beta 1 to beta 4, and gamma 1 and gamma 2) are activated by most physiologically occurring retinoids (all-trans RA, 9-cis RA, 4oxo RA and 3,4 dihyroRA). In contrast, members of the RXR family (types alpha, beta and gamma and their isoforms) are activated by 9cis-RA only. In addition to the multiplicity of receptors, the complexity of retinoid signalling is further increased by the fact that, at least in vitro, RARs bind to their cognate response elements as heterodimers with RXRs. Moreover, RXRs can also bind, in vitro, to some DNA elements as homodimers, and are heterodimeric partners for other nuclear receptors, including TRs, VDR, PPARs and a number of orphan nuclear receptors. To evaluate the functions of the different RARs and RXRs types and isoforms, we have generated null mutant mice by targeted gene disruption in ES cells. As to the functions of RARs, we found that RAR alpha 1 and RAR gamma 2 null mutant mice are apparently normal. Mice deficient in RAR alpha or RAR gamma (i.e., all alpha or gamma isoforms disrupted) show aspects of the post-natal vitamin A deficiency (VAD) syndrome which can be cured or prevented by RA, including post-natal lethality, poor weight gain and male sterility. RAR beta 2 (and RAR beta) null mutants display a retrolenticular membrane which represents the most frequent defect of the fetal VAD syndrome. That these abnormalities were restricted to a small subset of the tissues normally expressing these receptors suggested that some degree of functional redundancy should exist in the RAR family. To test this hypothesis we then generated RAR double null mutants. RAR alpha beta, RAR alpha gamma and RAR beta gamma compound mutants exhibit all the malformations of the fetal VAD syndrome, thus demonstrating that RA is the vitamin A derivative which plays a crucial role at many different stages and in different structures during organogenesis. Interestingly, almost all the structures derived from mesenchymal neural crests cells (NCC) are affected in RAR compound mutants. As to the functions of RXRs, RXR gamma null mutants are viable, fertile and morphologically normal. In contrast, RXR alpha null fetuses display a thin ventricular wall and die in utero from cardiac failure. A myocardial hypoplasia has also been observed in some RAR compound mutants as well as in VAD fetuses. Thus, RXR alpha seems to act as an inhibitor of ventricular cardiocyte differentiation and/or as a positive regulator of their proliferation, and these functions might involve heterodimerization with RARs and activation by RA. RXR beta null mutants are viable but the males are sterile, most probably because of an abnormal lipid metabolism in the Sertoli cells. New abnormalities, absent in RXR alpha mutants, are generated in RXR alpha/RAR (alpha, beta or gamma) compound mutants. All these abnormalities are also seen in RAR double mutants as well as in VAD fetuses. In contrast, such manifestations of synergism are not observed between the RXR beta or RXR gamma and the RAR (alpha, beta or gamma) null mutations. These data strongly support the conclusion that RXR alpha/RAR heterodimers represent the main functional units of the RA signalling pathway during embryonic development. Moreover, since RXR gamma-/-/RXR beta-/-/RXR alpha +/-mutants are viable, a single allele of RXR alpha can perform most of the developmental RXR functions.
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PMID:[Genetic control of the development by retinoic acid]. 918 Nov 29

Currently at least 11 protein kinase C (PKC) isoforms have been identified and may play different roles in cell signaling pathways leading to changes in cardiac contractility, the hypertrophic response, and tolerance to myocardial ischemia. The purpose of the present study was to test the hypothesis that responses of individual PKC isoforms to distinct pathological stimuli were differentially regulated in the adult guinea pig heart. Isolated hearts were perfused by the Langendorff method and were exposed to ischemia, hypoxia, H(2)O(2), or angiotensin II. Hypoxia and ischemia induced translocation of PKC isoforms alpha, beta(2), gamma, and zeta, and H(2)O(2) translocated PKC isoforms alpha, beta(2), and zeta. Angiotensin II produced translocation of alpha, beta(2), epsilon, gamma, and zeta isoforms. Inhibition of phospholipase C with tricyclodecan-9-yl-xanthogenate (D609) blocked hypoxia-induced (alpha, beta(2), and zeta) and angiotensin II-induced (alpha, beta(2), gamma, and zeta) translocation of PKC isoforms. Inhibition of tyrosine kinase with genistein blocked translocation of PKC isoforms by hypoxia (beta(2) and zeta) and by angiotensin II (beta(2)). By contrast, neither D609 nor genistein blocked H(2)O(2)-induced translocation of any PKC isoform. We conclude that hypoxia-induced activation of PKC isoforms is mediated through pathways involving phospholipase C and tyrosine kinase, but oxidative stress may activate PKC isoforms independently of Galphaq-phospholipase C coupling and tyrosine kinase signaling. Because oxidative stress may directly activate PKC, and PKC activation appears to be involved in human heart failure, selective inhibition of the PKC isoforms may provide a novel therapeutic strategy for the prevention and treatment of this pathological process.
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PMID:Responses of cardiac protein kinase C isoforms to distinct pathological stimuli are differentially regulated. 1043 69

To determine if pulmonary oedema fluid (EF) alters ion and fluid transport of distal lung epithelium (DLE), EF was collected from rats in acute heart failure. EF, but not plasma, increased amiloride-insensitive short circuit current (I(sc)) and Na(+)-K(+) ATPase protein content and pump activity of DLE grown in primary culture. Inhibitors of Cl(-) transport or cGMP-gated cation channels had a significant (P < 0.05), but limited ability to block the increased I(sc). EF increased amiloride-insensitive, but not amiloride-sensitive, DLE apical membrane Na(+) conductance. The level of mRNA encoding epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) subunits was unchanged (alpha, beta), or decreased (gamma, P < 0.05) in EF-exposed DLE. EF also induced an amiloride-insensitive increase in the potential difference across murine tracheal cysts. Distal lung explants from late gestation wild-type and alpha-ENaC-deficient fetal mice, which normally expand due to liquid secretion, decreased in size due to liquid absorption when exposed to EF. Trypsin digestion or heat treatment of EF abrogated the ability of EF to increase amiloride-insensitive I(sc) in DLE and liquid absorption by distal lung explants. Thus proteins or protein-dependent factors within cardiogenic EF induce an alpha-ENaC-independent and amiloride-insensitive apical membrane Na(+) conductance and liquid absorption in the distal lung.
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PMID:Pulmonary oedema fluid induces non-alpha-ENaC-dependent Na(+) transport and fluid absorption in the distal lung. 1238 7

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are transcription factors belonging to the nuclear receptor superfamily. PPARs have three isoforms, alpha, beta (or delta) and gamma. It has been conceived that PPARgamma is expressed predominantly in adipose tissue and promotes adipocyte differentiation and glucose homeostasis. Recently, synthetic antidiabetic thiazolidinediones and natural prostaglandin D(2) (PGD(2)) metabolite, 15-deoxy-Delta(12,14)-prostaglandin J(2) (15d-PGJ(2)), have been identified as ligands for PPARgamma. Following demonstration that PPARgamma is present in a variety of cell types, further study of PPARgamma has been conducted. Although activation of PPARgamma appears to have beneficial effects on atherosclerosis and heart failure, it is still largely uncertain whether PPARgamma ligands prevent the development of cardiovascular diseases. Recent evidence suggests that some benefit from the antidiabetic agents known as thiazolidinediones may occur through PPARgamma-independent mechanisms. In this review, we report on the latest developments concerning the study of PPARs and summarize the roles of the PPARgamma-dependent pathway in cardiovascular diseases.
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PMID:The role of PPARgamma-dependent pathway in the development of cardiac hypertrophy. 1286 48

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are transcription factors belonging to the nuclear receptor superfamily and form heterodimers with retinoid X receptor. To date, three PPARs isoforms have been isolated and termed alpha, beta (or delta), and gamma. Although PPAR gamma is expressed predominantly in adipose tissue and associated with adipocyte differentiation and glucose homeostasis, it has been recently demonstrated that PPAR gamma is present in a variety of cell types. Synthetic antidiabetic thiazolidinediones (TZDs) and natural prostaglandin D(2) (PGD(2)) metabolite, 15-deoxy-Delta(12, 14)-prostaglandin J(2) (15d-PGJ(2)), are well-known as ligands for PPAR gamma. After it has been reported that activation of PPAR gamma suppresses production of proinflammatory cytokines in activated macrophages, medical interest in PPAR gamma have grown and a huge research effort has been concentrated. PPAR gamma, is currently known to be implicated in various human chronic diseases such as diabetes mellitus, atherosclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, and Alzheimer's disease. Moreover, PPAR gamma ligands have potent tumor modulatory effects against colorectal, prostate, and breast cancers. Recent studies suggest that TZDs not only ameliorate insulin sensitivity but also have pleiotropic effects on many tissues and cell types. Although activation of PPAR gamma seems to have beneficial effects on atherosclerosis and heart failure, the mechanisms by which PPAR gamma ligands prevent the development of cardiovascular diseases are not fully understood. This review will focus on the latest developments in the PPAR gamma field and the roles of PPAR gamma-dependent pathway in cardiovascular diseases.
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PMID:Pleiotropic actions of PPAR gamma activators thiazolidinediones in cardiovascular diseases. 1532 Jul 43

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are nuclear receptors that heterodimerize with the retinoid X receptor and then modulate the function of many target genes. Three PPARs are known: alpha, beta/delta, and gamma. The better known are PPAR-alpha and PPAR-gamma, which may be activated by different synthetic agonists, although the endogenous ligands are unknown. PPAR-alpha is involved in fatty acid oxidation and expressed in the liver, kidney, and skeletal muscle, whereas PPAR-gamma is involved in fat cell differentiation, lipid storage, and insulin sensitivity. However, both have been shown to be present in variable amounts in cardiovascular tissues, including endothelium, smooth muscle cells, macrophages, and the heart. The activators of PPAR-alpha (fibrates) and PPAR-gamma (thiazolidinediones or glitazones) antagonized the actions of angiotensin II in vivo and in vitro and exerted cardiovascular antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. PPAR activators lowered blood pressure, induced favorable effects on the heart, and corrected vascular structure and endothelial dysfunction in several rodent models of hypertension. Activators of PPARs may become therapeutic agents useful in the prevention of cardiovascular disease beyond their effects on carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. Some side effects, such as weight gain, as well as documented aggravation of advanced heart failure through fluid retention by glitazones, may, however, limit their therapeutic application in prevention of cardiovascular disease.
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PMID:Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors and cardiovascular remodeling. 1537 28

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are transcription factors belonging to the nuclear receptor superfamily. PPARs have three isoforms, alpha, beta (or delta) and gamma. It has been conceived that PPARgamma is expressed predominantly in adipose tissue and promotes adipocyte differentiation and glucose homeostasis. Recently, synthetic antidiabetic thiazolidinediones and natural prostaglandin D2 (PGD2) metabolite, 15-deoxy-Delta12,14-prostaglandin J2 (15d-PGJ2), have been identified as ligands for PPARgamma. Following demonstration that PPARgamma is present in a variety of cell types, further study of PPARgamma has been conducted. Although activation of PPARgamma appears to have beneficial effects on atherosclerosis and heart failure, it is still largely uncertain whether PPARgamma ligands prevent the development of cardiovascular diseases. Recent evidence suggests that some benefit from the antidiabetic agents known as thiazolidinediones may occur through PPARgamma-independent mechanisms. In this review, we report on the latest developments concerning the study of PPARs and summarize the roles of the PPARgamma-dependent pathway in cardiovascular diseases.
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PMID:The role of PPARgamma-dependent pathway in the development of cardiac hypertrophy. 1583 32


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