title: Adenoviral gene transfer of Akt enhances myocardial contractility and intracellular calcium handling.
abstract: The serine-threonine kinase Akt/PKB mediates stimuli from different classes of cardiomyocyte receptors, including the growth hormone/insulin like growth factor and the beta-adrenergic receptors. Whereas the growth-promoting and antiapoptotic properties of Akt activation are well established, little is known about the effects of Akt on myocardial contractility, intracellular calcium (Ca(2+)) handling, oxygen consumption, and beta-adrenergic pathway. To this aim, Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to a wild-type Akt in vivo adenoviral gene transfer using a catheter-based technique combined with aortopulmonary crossclamping. Left ventricular (LV) contractility and intracellular Ca(2+) handling were evaluated in an isolated isovolumic buffer-perfused, aequorin-loaded whole heart preparations 10 days after the surgery. The Ca(2+)-force relationship was obtained under steady-state conditions in tetanized muscles. No significant hypertrophy was detected in adenovirus with wild-type Akt (Ad.Akt) versus controls rats (LV-to-body weight ratio 2.6+/-0.2 versus 2.7+/-0.1 mg/g, controls versus Ad.Akt, P, NS). LV contractility, measured as developed pressure, increased by 41% in Ad.Akt. This was accounted for by both more systolic Ca(2+) available to the contractile machinery (+19% versus controls) and by enhanced myofilament Ca(2+) responsiveness, documented by an increased maximal Ca(2+)-activated pressure (+19% versus controls) and a shift to the left of the Ca(2+)-force relationship. Such increased contractility was paralleled by a slight increase of myocardial oxygen consumption (14%), while titrated dose of dobutamine providing similar inotropic effect augmented oxygen consumption by 39% (P<0.01). Phospholamban, calsequestrin, and ryanodine receptor LV mRNA and protein content were not different among the study groups, while sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+) ATPase protein levels were significantly increased in Ad.Akt rats. beta-Adrenergic receptor density, affinity, kinase-1 levels, and adenylyl cyclase activity were similar in the three animal groups. In conclusion, our results support an important role for Akt/PKB in the regulation of myocardial contractility and mechanoenergetics.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Medicine and Cardiovascular Sciences, University 'Federico II', Naples, Italy. cittadin@unina.it
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cittadini
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Monti
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Iaccarino
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Di Rella
authors.forename: P N
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Tsichlis
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Di Gianni
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Strömer
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sorriento
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Peschle
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Trimarco
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Saccà
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Condorelli
mesh_terms: D000256:Adenoviridae / Q000235:genetics; D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D000252:Calcium-Transporting ATPases / Q000378:metabolism; D004280:Dobutamine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004452:Echocardiography; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005822:Genetic Vectors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D009200:Myocardial Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D015428:Myocardial Reperfusion Injury / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism*; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester / Q000494:pharmacology; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000187:drug effects; D010477:Perfusion; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000235:genetics*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012519:Sarcoplasmic Reticulum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D014161:Transduction, Genetic / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists; D004280:Dobutamine; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D000252:Calcium-Transporting ATPases; D002118:Calcium; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester