title: Effects of A1 adenosine receptor stimulation on the expression of genes involved in calcium homeostasis.
abstract: We investigated whether A(1) adenosine receptor stimulation affects expression of genes involved in calcium homeostasis, including sarcolemmal L-type Ca(2+) channel, Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchanger, sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca(2+)-ATPase, phospholamban, or ryanodine receptor. Three models of A(1) stimulation were used: i) an acute model, i.e. isolated perfused rat hearts treated for 120 min with 15 nM R-phenylisopropyladenosine (R-PIA), an A(1) receptor agonist; ii) a subacute model, i.e. rats treated with 1.5 mg/kg R-PIA e.v. and sacrificed after 24 h; iii) a transgenic model, i.e. mice overexpressing A(1) adenosine receptors. In all models gene expression was determined by RT-PCR, and oxalate-supported Ca(2+) uptake, representing SR Ca(2+) uptake, was measured in the crude homogenate. Significant increase in the expression of the phospholamban gene was observed in each model of A(1) stimulation, while the expression of the other four genes was not significantly modified. In the acute model, SR Ca(2+) uptake was unaffected, however in the subacute and transgenic models uptake rate was significantly reduced. In parallel experiments, hearts obtained from the subacute model demonstrated a significant reduction in irreversible tissue injury from 30 min of ischemia and 120 min of reperfusion. Increased resistance to ischemia has already been reported also in our transgenic model. In conclusion, A(1) adenosine receptor stimulation up-regulates phospholamban gene expression, which leads within 24 h to a reduced rate of SR Ca(2+) uptake. Changes in Ca(2+) homeostasis might contribute to the delayed cardioprotective effect of adenosine.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze dell'Uomo e dell'Ambiente, Sezione di Biochimica, University of Pisa, via Roma 55, I-56126 Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ghelardoni
authors.forename: Vittoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Carnicelli
authors.forename: Sabina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Frascarelli
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lankford
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Masala
authors.forename: Simonetta
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ronca-Testoni
authors.forename: G Paul
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Matherne
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zucchi
mesh_terms: D000241:Adenosine / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000235:genetics*; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D023421:Models, Animal; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism*; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D010477:Perfusion; D051381:Rats; D043682:Receptor, Adenosine A1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012519:Sarcoplasmic Reticulum / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D043682:Receptor, Adenosine A1; D000241:Adenosine; D002118:Calcium