title: Calcium channel blockade limits transcriptional, translational and functional up-regulation of the cardiac calpain system after myocardial infarction.
abstract: Abnormal Ca(2+) inward current through cardiac Ca(2+) channels during ischemia has been shown to be an initial signal for activation of myocardial Ca(2+)-dependent enzymes. This study investigated the contribution of cardiac L- and T-type Ca(2+) channels in the calpain-mediated myocardial damage following myocardial infarction. Myocardial infarction was induced by permanent ligation of the left coronary artery. Infarcted rats were orally treated with placebo, amlodipine (L-channel blockade; 4 mg/kg/day) or mibefradil (L-/T-channel blockade; 10 mg/kg/day) beginning 7 days before induction of myocardial infarction. Gene expression, protein levels and enzyme activity of calpains I and II were measured 1, 3, 7 and 14 days postcoronary occlusion in the noninfarcted and infarcted myocardium. Infarct size, left ventricular dilation and interstitial collagen volume fraction were determined in picrosirius red-stained hearts. Myocardial infarction induced an up-regulation of calpain I mRNA, protein and activity in the noninfarcted myocardium (maximum 14 days postinfarction), whereas mRNA, protein and activity of calpain II were maximally increased in the infarcted myocardium 3 days postinfarction. Fourteen days postinfarction, infarct size was 49%, the left ventricle was dilated and interstitial collagen volume fraction was increased. Amlodipine-inhibited mRNA, protein and activity up-regulation of calpain I decreased interstitial collagen volume fraction and infarct size. Mibefradil-attenuated mRNA, protein and activity up-regulation of calpain II at all four time points measured and of calpain I at 7 and 14 days postinfarction reduced infarct size and prevented left ventricular dilation. Infarction-induced cardiac hypertrophy was accompanied by an up-regulation of calpain I, whereas calpain II was up-regulated in the infarcted myocardium. Cardiac L- and T-type Ca(2+) channel blockade differentially reduced postinfarction remodeling associated with selective inhibition of cardiac calpains I and II, respectively.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pharmacology, Christian Albrechts University of Kiel, Hospitalstrasse 4, 24105 Kiel, Germany. s.sandmann@pharmakologie.uni-kiel.de
authors.forename: Steffen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sandmann
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Spormann
authors.forename: Freerk
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Prenzel
authors.forename: Lee
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Shaw
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Unger
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002154:Calpain / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics; D009206:Myocardium / Q000201:enzymology; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D002154:Calpain