title: Calcineurin blockade prevents cardiac mitogen-activated protein kinase activation and hypertrophy in renovascular hypertension.
abstract: Chronic stimulation of the renin-angiotensin system induces an elevation of blood pressure and the development of cardiac hypertrophy via the actions of its effector, angiotensin II. In cardiomyocytes, mitogen-activated protein kinases as well as protein kinase C isoforms have been shown to be important in the transduction of trophic signals. The Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent phosphatase calcineurin has also been suggested to play a role in cardiac growth. In the present report, we investigate possible cross-talks between calcineurin, protein kinase C, and mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways in controlling angiotensin II-induced hypertrophy. Angiotensin II-stimulated cardiomyocytes and mice with angiotensin II-dependent renovascular hypertension were treated with the calcineurin inhibitor cyclosporin A. Calcineurin, protein kinase C, and mitogen-activated protein kinase activations were determined. We show that cyclosporin A blocks angiotensin II-induced mitogen-activated protein kinase activation in cultured primary cardiomyocytes and in the heart of hypertensive mice. Cyclosporin A also inhibits specific protein kinase C isoforms. In vivo, cyclosporin A prevents the development of cardiac hypertrophy, and this effect appears to be independent of hemodynamic changes. These data suggest cross-talks between the calcineurin pathway, the protein kinase C, and the mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling cascades in transducing angiotensin II-mediated stimuli in cardiomyocytes and could provide the basis for an integrated model of cardiac hypertrophy.
authors.affiliation: Division of Hypertension, University of Lausanne Medical School, CH-1011 Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Murat
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pellieux
authors.forename: H R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Brunner
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pedrazzini
mesh_terms: D000804:Angiotensin II / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D019703:Calcineurin / Q000502:physiology*; D065095:Calcineurin Inhibitors; D006332:Cardiomegaly / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000494:pharmacology; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D006978:Hypertension, Renovascular / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D009206:Myocardium / Q000201:enzymology*; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D065095:Calcineurin Inhibitors; D000804:Angiotensin II; D016572:Cyclosporine; D011493:Protein Kinase C; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D019703:Calcineurin