Galpha(i2), Galpha(i3)and Galpha(o) are all required for normal muscarinic inhibition of the cardiac calcium channels in nodal/atrial-like cultured cardiocytes.
The cardiac L-type calcium current (I(Ca,L)) is an important regulator of myocardial contractility. It is activated by sympathetic stimulation and inhibited by parasympathetic activity via muscarinic acetylcholine receptors. Muscarinic inhibition of I(Ca,L) occurs via activation of pertussis toxin (PTX)-sensitive heterotrimeric G-proteins. Although recent studies have shown that expression of G(oalpha) is important for this effect in adult mouse ventricular cells, two other PTX-sensitive G-proteins (G(i2) and G(i3)) are also expressed in cardiocytes and are activated. Their role in the regulation of I(Ca,L) has not been examined. In addition, it is not known whether nodal/atrial cardiac cells use the same G-proteins. We show that gene inactivation of each of the three PTX-sensitive Galpha-proteins (alpha(i2), alpha(i3), and alpha(o)) affects muscarinic inhibition of cardiac I(Ca,L) in embryonic stem (ES) cell-derived cardiocytes. Inactivation of either alpha(i2) or alpha(i3) markedly slows the time course of muscarinic inhibition of I(Ca,L), and in cells where both alpha(i2) and alpha(i3) are inactivated the effects are not additive. We also establish an essential role for alpha(o)in this atrial/nodal-like cardiocyte system and show that alpha(o)acts proximal to NO generation. NO generation plays a critical role in I(Ca,L) regulation since the nitric oxide synthase (NOS) antagonist, l -NMMA, blocked the inhibition of I(Ca,L) in WT and in alpha(i2)/alpha(i3)-null cells. In WT cells, the NO generating agent SIN-1 inhibited I(Ca,L) and the addition of carbachol resulted in faster inhibition, suggesting that pathways in addition to NO are also activated. This study shows that alpha(i2) and alpha(i3) play a critical role in the normal inhibition of cardiocyte I(Ca,L). Thus, all muscarinic receptor activated G-proteins (G(i2), G(i3) and G(o)) are necessary for normal inhibition and act through both NO and non-NO signaling pathways.
Ye
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Endocrine-Hypertension Division, Department of Medicine, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Sowell
M O
MO
Vassilev
P M
PM
Milstone
D S
DS
Mortensen
R M
RM
D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D020746:Calcium Channels, L-Type; D002217:Carbachol / Q000494:pharmacology; D002460:Cell Line; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000172:deficiency / Q000378:metabolism*; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects*; D006352:Heart Ventricles; D007545:Isoproterenol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051379:Mice; D008955:Models, Cardiovascular; D008981:Molsidomine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D018727:Muscarinic Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D009206:Myocardium / Q000166:cytology*; D009543:Nifedipine / Q000494:pharmacology; D020030:Nitric Oxide Donors / Q000494:pharmacology; D037342:Pertussis Toxin; D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic / Q000502:physiology*; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology; D010566:Virulence Factors, Bordetella / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019323:omega-N-Methylarginine / Q000494:pharmacology
D015220:Calcium Channels; D020746:Calcium Channels, L-Type; D018727:Muscarinic Antagonists; D020030:Nitric Oxide Donors; D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic; D010566:Virulence Factors, Bordetella; D019323:omega-N-Methylarginine; C002385:linsidomine; D002217:Carbachol; D008981:Molsidomine; D037342:Pertussis Toxin; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins; D009543:Nifedipine; D007545:Isoproterenol