title: The delta-opioid receptor agonist DADLE at reperfusion protects the heart through activation of pro-survival kinases via EGF receptor transactivation.
abstract: The specific delta-opioid receptor agonist [D-Ala(2)-D-Leu(5)]enkephalin (DADLE) protects against infarction in the heart when given before ischemia. In rabbit, this protection leads to phosphorylation of the pro-survival kinases Akt and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and is dependent on transactivation of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). DADLE reportedly protects rat hearts at reperfusion. We therefore tested whether DADLE at reperfusion could protect isolated rabbit hearts subjected to 30 min of regional ischemia and 120 min of reperfusion and whether this protection is dependent on Akt, ERK, and EGFR. DADLE (40 nM) was infused for 1 h starting 5 min before reperfusion and reduced infarct size from 31.0 +/- 2.3% in the control group to 14.6 +/- 1.6% (P = 0.01). This protection was abolished by cotreatment of the metalloproteinase inhibitor (MPI) and the EGFR inhibitor AG1478. In contrast, 20 nM DADLE, although known to be protective before ischemia, failed to protect. Western blotting revealed that DADLE's protection was correlated to increase in phosphorylation of the kinases Akt and ERK1 and -2 in reperfused hearts (2.5 +/- 0.5, 1.6 +/- 0.2, and 2.3 +/- 0.7-fold of baseline levels, P < 0.05 vs. control). The DADLE-dependent increases in Akt and ERK1/2 phosphorylation were abolished by either MPI or AG1478, confirming a signaling through the EGFR pathway. Additionally, DADLE treatment increased phosphorylation of EGFR (1.4 +/- 0.2-fold, P = 0.03 vs. control). Thus the delta-opioid agonist DADLE protects rabbit hearts at reperfusion through activation of the pro-survival kinases Akt and ERK and is dependent on the transactivation of the EGFR.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Ernst-Moritz-Arndt University, Loefflerstr. 23, 17487 Greifswald, Germany.
authors.forename: Karina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Förster
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kuno
authors.forename: Natalia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Solenkova
authors.forename: Stephan B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Felix
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Krieg
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016308:Enkephalin, Leucine-2-Alanine / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control; D051058:Oncogene Protein v-akt / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D011817:Rabbits; D017465:Receptors, Opioid, delta / Q000819:agonists* / Q000502:physiology; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015533:Transcriptional Activation / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D017465:Receptors, Opioid, delta; D016308:Enkephalin, Leucine-2-Alanine; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D051058:Oncogene Protein v-akt; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3