title: Stress (Takotsubo) cardiomyopathy--a novel pathophysiological hypothesis to explain catecholamine-induced acute myocardial stunning.
abstract: Stress cardiomyopathy, also referred to as Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, is an increasingly recognized clinical syndrome characterized by acute reversible apical ventricular dysfunction. We hypothesize that stress cardiomyopathy is a form of myocardial stunning, but with different cellular mechanisms to those seen during transient episodes of ischemia secondary to coronary stenoses. In this syndrome, we believe that high levels of circulating epinephrine trigger a switch in intracellular signal trafficking in ventricular cardiomyocytes, from G(s) protein to G(i) protein signaling via the beta(2)-adrenoceptor. Although this switch to beta(2)-adrenoceptor-G(i) protein signaling protects against the proapoptotic effects of intense activation of beta(1)-adrenoceptors, it is also negatively inotropic. This effect is greatest at the apical myocardium, in which the beta-adrenoceptor density is greatest. Our hypothesis has implications for the use of drugs or devices in the treatment of patients with stress cardiomyopathy.
authors: Department of Cardiac Medicine, National Heart and Lung Institute, Dovehouse Street, London SW3 6LY, UK. a.lyon@ic.ac.uk
authors: Alexander R
authors: AR
authors: Lyon
authors: Paul S C
authors: PS
authors: Rees
authors: Sanjay
authors: S
authors: Prasad
authors: Philip A
authors: PA
authors: Poole-Wilson
authors: Sian E
authors: SE
authors: Harding
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D019206:GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gi-Go / Q000378:metabolism; D019205:GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gs / Q000378:metabolism; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009200:Myocardial Contraction; D017682:Myocardial Stunning / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism*; D032383:Myocytes, Cardiac / Q000378:metabolism; D018579:Patient Selection; D018342:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D018343:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D012737:Sex Factors; D015398:Signal Transduction; D054549:Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D016276:Ventricular Function
chemical_list: D018342:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-1; D018343:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-2; D019206:GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gi-Go; D019205:GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gs; D004837:Epinephrine