title: The coordinated increased expression of biliverdin reductase and heme oxygenase-2 promotes cardiomyocyte survival: a reductase-based peptide counters β-adrenergic receptor ligand-mediated cardiac dysfunction.
abstract: HO-2 oxidizes heme to CO and biliverdin; the latter is reduced to bilirubin by biliverdin reductase (BVR). In addition, HO-2 is a redox-sensitive K/Ca(2)-associated protein, and BVR is an S/T/Y kinase. The two enzymes are components of cellular defense mechanisms. This is the first reporting of regulation of HO-2 by BVR and that their coordinated increase in isolated myocytes and intact heart protects against cardiotoxicity of β-adrenergic receptor activation by isoproterenol (ISO). The induction of BVR mRNA, protein, and activity and HO-2 protein was maintained for ≥ 96 h; increase in HO-1 was modest and transient. In isolated cardiomyocytes, experiments with cycloheximide, proteasome inhibitor MG-132, and siBVR suggested BVR-mediated stabilization of HO-2. In both models, activation of BVR offered protection against the ligand's stimulation of apoptosis. Two human BVR-based peptides known to inhibit and activate the reductase, KKRILHC(281) and KYCCSRK(296), respectively, were tested in the intact heart. Perfusion of the heart with the inhibitory peptide blocked ISO-mediated BVR activation and augmented apoptosis; conversely, perfusion with the activating peptide inhibited apoptosis. At the functional level, peptide-mediated inhibition of BVR was accompanied by dysfunction of the left ventricle and decrease in HO-2 protein levels. Perfusion of the organ with the activating peptide preserved the left ventricular contractile function and was accompanied by increased levels of HO-2 protein. Finding that BVR and HO-2 levels, myocyte apoptosis, and contractile function of the heart can be modulated by small human BVR-based peptides offers a promising therapeutic approach for treatment of cardiac dysfunctions.
authors.affiliation: University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Rochester, NY 14642, USA.
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Peter E M
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Gibbs
authors.forename: Paul S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Brookes
authors.forename: Mahin D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Maines
mesh_terms: D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002470:Cell Survival; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D017868:Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / Q000187:drug effects; D057809:HEK293 Cells; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D006419:Heme Oxygenase (Decyclizing) / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007545:Isoproterenol / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D009206:Myocardium / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D032383:Myocytes, Cardiac / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D044925:Oxidoreductases Acting on CH-CH Group Donors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D034622:RNA Interference; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists; D010455:Peptides; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta; D006419:Heme Oxygenase (Decyclizing); C105245:heme oxygenase-2; D044925:Oxidoreductases Acting on CH-CH Group Donors; C019789:biliverdin reductase; D017868:Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases; D007545:Isoproterenol