Endothelin downregulates SERCA2 gene and protein expression in adult rat ventricular myocytes: regulation by pertussis toxin-sensitive Gi protein and cAMP.

Downregulation of the sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPase (SERCA2) is associated with diastolic dysfunction in the failing heart. Elevated plasma endothelin-1 (ET) levels are correlated with congestive heart failure suggesting that ET may play a pathophysiological role. We have investigated the ability of ET to regulate SERCA2 gene expression in isolated adult rat ventricular myocytes.

Lysophosphatidic acid induces hypertrophy of neonatal cardiac myocytes via activation of Gi and Rho.

The effect of the lysophospholipid, lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), on signaling and hypertrophy of neonatal rat ventricular cardiomyocytes was examined. Myocytes express mRNA for all three G-protein-coupled LPA receptor subtypes (LPA(1)/Edg-2, LPA(2)/Edg-4, and LPA(3)/Edg-7) as indicated by RT-PCR analysis. LPA inhibits isoproterenol-stimulated cyclic AMP accumulation with an IC(50) approximately 40 nM and promotes phosphorylation of ERK-1/2.

Interleukin-1 beta inhibits Na+-K+ ATPase activity and protein expression in cardiac myocytes.

Recent studies have shown that heart diseases are always accompanied with high levels of IL-1beta and a decrease in Na+-K+ ATPase concentrations. This work studies the involvement of the cytokine in the observed changes in the pump. Rats were injected intraperitoneally with 400 mg of IL-1beta and 4 h later, the heart was isolated and a crude homogenate of the right and left ventricles was prepared and tested for Na+-K+ ATPase activity and protein expression.