title: Testosterone protects female embryonic heart H9c2 cells against severe metabolic stress by activating estrogen receptors and up-regulating IES SUR2B.
abstract: A recent clinical study demonstrated that a testosterone supplementation improves functional capacity in elderly female patients suffering from heart failure. These findings prompted us to consider possible mechanisms of testosterone-induced cardioprotection in females. To address this question we have used a pure female population of rat heart embryonic H9c2 cells. Pre-treatment of cells with testosterone for 24h significantly increased survival of H9c2 cells exposed to 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP), an inhibitor of oxidative phosphorylation. These cells expressed low level of androgen receptors and the effect of testosterone was not modified by hydroxyflutamide, an antagonist of androgen receptor. In contrast, cyclohexamide, an inhibitor of protein biosynthesis, and tamoxifene, a partial agonist of estrogen receptors, abolished cardioprotection afforded by testosterone. In addition, finasteride, an inhibitor of 5α-reductase, and anastrazole, an inhibitor of α-aromatase, also blocked testosterone-induced cytoprotection. Real time RT-PCR revealed that testosterone did not regulate the expression of nine subunits and accessory proteins of sarcolemmal ATP-sensitive K(+) (K(ATP)) channels. On the other hand, testosterone, as well as 17β-estradiol, up-regulated a putative mitochondrial K(ATP) channel subunit, mitochondrial sulfonylurea receptor 2B intraexonics splice variant (IES SUR2B), without affecting expression of IES SUR2A. Tamoxifene inhibited testosterone-induced up-regulation of IES SUR2B without affecting IES SUR2A. In conclusion, this study has shown that testosterone protect female embryonic heart H9c2 cells against severe metabolic stress by its conversion into metabolites that activate estrogen receptors and up-regulate IES SUR2B.
authors.affiliation: Medical Research Institute, Division of Cardiovascular & Diabetes Medicine, Ninewells Hospital & Medical School, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 9SY, Scotland, UK.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ballantyne
authors.forename: Qingyou
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Du
authors.forename: Sofija
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jovanović
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Neemo
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Holmes
authors.forename: Sharabh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sinha
authors.forename: Aleksandar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jovanović
mesh_terms: D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D016923:Cell Death; D019610:Cytoprotection; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D054086:KATP Channels / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009206:Myocardium / Q000166:cytology; D032383:Myocytes, Cardiac / Q000378:metabolism*; D024661:Potassium Channels, Inwardly Rectifying / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011955:Receptors, Drug / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000819:agonists* / Q000378:metabolism; D013312:Stress, Physiological; D064233:Sulfonylurea Receptors; D013739:Testosterone / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters; D054086:KATP Channels; D024661:Potassium Channels, Inwardly Rectifying; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D011955:Receptors, Drug; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D064233:Sulfonylurea Receptors; D013739:Testosterone