Myofibrillar calcium sensitivity of isometric tension is increased in human dilated cardiomyopathies: role of altered beta-adrenergically mediated protein phosphorylation.
To examine the role of alterations in myofibrillar function in human dilated cardiomyopathies, we determined isometric tension-calcium relations in permeabilized myocytesized myofibrillar preparations (n = 16) obtained from left ventricular biopsies from nine patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) during cardiac transplantation or left ventricular assist device implantation. Similar preparations (n = 10) were obtained from six normal hearts used for cardiac transplantation. Passive and maximal Ca2+-activated tensions were similar for the two groups. However, the calcium sensitivity of isometric tension was increased in DCM compared to nonfailing preparations ([Ca2+]50=2.46+/-0.49 microM vs 3.24+/-0.51 microM, P < 0.001). In vitro treatment with the catalytic subunit of protein kinase A (PKA) decreased calcium sensitivity of tension to a greater degree in failing than in normal preparations. Further, isometric tension-calcium relations in failing and normal myofibrillar preparations were similar after PKA treatment. These findings suggest that the increased calcium sensitivity of isometric tension in DCM may be due at least in part to a reduction of the beta-adrenergically mediated (PKA-dependent) phosphorylation of myofibrillar regulatory proteins such as troponin I and/or C-protein.
Wolff
M R
MR
Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison 53792, USA. mrw@parc.medicine.wisc.edu
Buck
S H
SH
Stoker
S W
SW
Greaser
M L
ML
Mentzer
R M
RM
D000293:Adolescent; D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists; D000328:Adult; D002118:Calcium / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002311:Cardiomyopathy, Dilated; D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability; D002469:Cell Separation; D017868:Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000166:cytology; D006801:Humans; D007537:Isometric Contraction / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009129:Muscle Tonus / Q000187:drug effects*; D009210:Myofibrils / Q000187:drug effects*; D010766:Phosphorylation
D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists; D017868:Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases; D002118:Calcium