Ameliorated stress related proteins are associated with improved cardiac function by sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPase gene transfer in heart failure

Background Previous studies showed that overexpression of sarco-endoplasmic retieulum calcium ATPase （SERCA2a） in a variety of heart failure （HF） models was associated with greatly enhanced cardiac performance. However, it still undefined the effect of SERCA2a overexpression on the systemic inflammatory response and neuro-hormonal factors. Methods A rapid right ventricular pacing model of experimental HF was used in beagles. Then the animals underwent recombinant adeno-associated vires 1 （rAAV1） mediated gene trans- fection by direct intra-myocardium injection. HF animals were randomized to receive the SERCA2a gene, enhanced green fluorescent protein （control） gene, or equivalent phosphate buffered saline. Thirty days after gene delivery, the cardiac function was evaluated by echocardiographic testing. The protein level of SERCA2a was measured by western blotting. The proteomic analysis of left ventricular （LV） sample was determined using two-dimensional （2-D） gel el^ctrophoresis and MALDI-TOF-MS. The serum levels of the systemic inflammatory and neuro-hormonal factors were assayed using radioimmunoassay kits. Results The cardiac function improved after SERCA- 2a gene transfer due to the significantly increased SERCA2a protein level. Beagles treated with SERCA2a had significantly decreased serum levels of the inflammatory markers （interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-a） and neuro-hormonal factors （brain natriuretic peptide, endothelin-1 and angiotensin II） compared with HF animals. The myocardial proteomic analysis showed that haptoglobin heavy chain, heat shock protein （alpha-crystallin-related, B6） were down-regulated, and galectin-1 was up-regulated in SERCA2a group compared with HF group, companied by up-regulated contractile proteins and NADH dehydrogenase. Conclusions These findings demonstrate that regional intramyocardial injections of rAAV 1-SERCA2a vectors may improve global LV function, correlating with reverse activation of the systemic inflammatory, excessive neuroendocrine factors and the stress-associated myocardial proteins, suggesting that the beneficial effects of SERCA2a gene transfer may involve the attenuation of stress-associated reaction.

Molecular Cloning and Distribution of a Plasma Membrane Calcium ATPase Homolog from the Pearl Oyster Pinctada fucata

Plasma membrane calcium ATPase （PMCA） plays a critical role in transporting Ca^2＋ out of the cytosol across the plasma membrane which is essential both in keeping intracellular Ca^2＋ homeostasis and in biomineralization. In this paper we cloned and localized a gene encoding PMCA from the pearl oyster Pinctada fucata. This PMCA shares similarity with other published PMCAs within the functional domains. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis shows that it is expressed ubiquitously. Furthermore, in situ hybridization reveals that it is expressed in the inner epithelial cells of the outer fold and in the outer epithelial cells of the middle fold, as well as the edge near the shell, which suggests that PMCA may be involved in calcified layer formation. The identification and characterization of oyster PMCA can help to further understand the structural and functional properties of molluscan PMCA, as well as the mechanism of maintaining Ca^2＋ homeostasis and the mechanism of mineralization in pearl oyster.

Plasma membrane calcium ATPase 4b inhibits nitric oxide generation through calcium-induced dynamic interaction with neuronal nitric oxide synthase

The activation and deactivation of Ca^(2+)- and calmodulindependent neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) in the central nervous system must be tightly controlled to prevent excessive nitric oxide (NO) generation. Considering plasma membrane calcium ATPase (PMCA) is a key deactivator of nNOS, the present investigation aims to determine the key events involved in nNOS deactivation of by PMCA in living cells to maintain its cellular context. Using time-resolved Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET), we determined the occurrence of Ca^(2+)-induced protein-protein interactions between plasma membrane calcium ATPase 4b (PMCA4b) and nNOS in living cells. PMCA activation significantly decreased the intracellular Ca 2+ concentrations ([Ca^(2+)]_(i)), which deactivates nNOS and slowdowns NO synthesis. Under the basal [Ca^(2+)]_(i) caused by PMCA activation, no protein-protein interactions were observed between PMCA4b and nNOS. Furthermore, both the PDZ domain of nNOS and the PDZ-binding motif of PMCA4b were essential for the protein-protein interaction. The involvement of lipid raft microdomains on the activity of PMCA4b and nNOS was also investigated. Unlike other PMCA isoforms, PMCA4 was relatively more concentrated in the raft fractions. Disruption of lipid rafts altered the intracellular localization of PMCA4b and affected the interaction between PMCA4b and nNOS, which suggest that the unique lipid raft distribution of PMCA4 may be responsible for its regulation of nNOS activity. In summary, lipid rafts may act as platforms for the PMCA4b regulation of nNOS activity and the transient tethering of nNOS to PMCA4b is responsible for rapid nNOS deactivation.

Improvement in cardiac function after sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca^2＋-ATPase gene transfer in a beagle heart failure model

Background Heart failure （HF） is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, but current treatment modalities cannot reverse the underlying pathological state of the heart. Gene-based therapies are emerging as promising therapeutic modalities in HF patients. Our previous studies have shown that recombinant adeno-associated viral （rAAV） gene transfer of Sarco-endoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPase （SERCA2a） can be effective in treating rats with chronic heart failure （CHF）. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of SERCA2a gene transfer in a large HF animal model. Methods HF was induced in beagles by rapid right ventricular pacing （230 beats/min） for 30 days. A reduced rate ventricular pacing （180 beats/min） was continued for another 30 days. The beagles were assigned to four groups： （a） control group （n=4）; （b） HF group （n=4）; （c） enhanced green fluorescent protein group （n=4）; and （d） SERCA2a group （n=4）. rAAV1-EGFP （1×10^12 μg） and rAAV1-SERCA2a （1×10^12 μg） were delivered intramyocardially. SERCA2a expression was assessed by Western blotting and immunohistochemistry. Results Following 30 days of SERCA2a gene transfer in HF beagles its protein expression was significantly higher than in the HF group than in the control group （P 〈0.05）. Heart function improved along with the increase in SERCA2a expression. Left ventricular systolic function significantly improved, including the ejection fraction, left ventricular systolic pressure, maximal rate of rise of left ventricular pressure （＋dp/dtmax）, and the maximal rate of decline of left ventricular pressure （-dp/dtmax） （P 〈0.05）. Left ventricular end-diastole pressure significantly decreased （P 〈0.05）. The expression of SERCA2a in the myocardial tissue was higher in the SERCA2a group than in the HF group （P〈0.05）. Conclusions Intramyocardial injection of rAAV1-SERCA2a can improve the cardiac function in beagles induced with HE We expect further studies on SERCA2a＇s long-term safety, efficacy, dosage and the optimization before using it in humans with HF.

From contraction to gene expression:nanojunctions of the sarco/endoplasmic reticulum deliver site-and function-specific calcium signals

Calcium signals determine, for example, smooth muscle contraction and changes in gene expression. How calcium signals select for these processes is enigmatic. We build on the "panjunctional sarcoplasmic reticulum" hypothesis, describing our view that different calcium pumps and release channels, with different kinetics and affinities for calcium, are strategically positioned within nanojunctions of the SR and help demarcate their respective cytoplasmic nanodomains. SERCA2 b and Ry R1 are preferentially targeted to the sarcoplasmic reticulum(SR) proximal to the plasma membrane(PM), i.e., to the superficial buffer barrier formed by PM-SR nanojunctions, and support vasodilation. In marked contrast, SERCA2 a may be entirely restricted to the deep, perinuclear SR and may supply calcium to this sub-compartment in support of vasoconstriction. Ry R3 is also preferentially targeted to the perinuclear SR, where its clusters associate with lysosome-SR nanojunctions. The distribution of Ry R2 is more widespread and extends from this region to the wider cell. Therefore, perinuclear Ry R3 s most likely support the initiation of global calcium waves at L-SR junctions, which subsequently propagate by calcium-induced calcium release via Ry R2 in order to elicit contraction. Data also suggest that unique SERCA and Ry R are preferentially targeted to invaginations of the nuclear membrane. Site- and function-specific calcium signals may thus arise to modulate stimulus-response coupling and transcriptional cascades.

The plasma membrane calcium pump in the hearing process:physiology and pathology

Mammalian cells express four different plasma membrane Ca2+ ATPases.Two of them(PMCA1 and PMCA4) are expressed ubiquitously,and are considered housekeeping isoforms.Two(PMCA2 and PMCA4) have tissue restricted distribution.They are abundantly expressed in the brain and in nervous tissue-derived cell types.The primary transcripts of all PMCAs undergo alternative splicing,generating a large number of additional isoforms.Splicing occurs at site A,in the N-terminal moiety of the pump,and at site C,within the C-terminal calmodulin binding domain:The pumps are canonical targets of calmodulin stimu-lation.The site C insertion leads to a truncation of the pump about 50 residues short of the original C-terminal.One of the pumps(PMCA2) has special properties:It displays high activity even in the absence of the natural activator calmodulin,and has a particularly complex pattern of alternative splicing at both sites A and C.A variant of the PMCA2 pump containing an insert at site A and truncated C-terminally is the resident isoform of the pump in the stereocilia of hair cells of the inner ear.It exports Ca2+to the endolymph that bathes the stereocilia less efficiently than the full length,non-inserted PMCA2 pump.The proper functioning of hair cells demands the precise maintenance of the Ca2+balance between hair cells and the endolymph. Disturbances in the balance affect the process of mechano-electrical transduction,which depends on the ability of the stereo-ciliar bundle to deflect in response to sound waves.The tip links that organize the bundle are formed by the Ca2+binding pro-tein cadherin 23 and by protocadherin 15:Disturbances of the Ca2+binding by cadherin 23 and/or of the ability of the PMCA2 variant of the stereocilia to export Ca2+to the endolymph generate hearing loss phenotypes.Such phenotypes have now been described in mice and humans.In some cases they are linked to mutations of both cadherin 23 and the PMCA2 pump,but in other cases they may be generated by mutations of particular severity in only one of the two proteins.The PMCA2 defect that leads to deafness has now been analyzed molecularly:It affects the long range,unstimulated ability of PMCA2 to export Ca2+.

Ca^(2+) signalling in cardiovascular disease:the role of the plasma membrane calcium pumps

The plasma membrane calcium ATPases(PMCA) are a family of genes which extrude Ca2+from the cell and are involved in the maintenance of intracellular free calcium levels and/or with Ca2+signalling,depending on the cell type.In the cardiovascular system,Ca2+ is not only essential for contraction and relaxation but also has a vital role as a second messenger in signal transduction pathways.A complex array of mechanisms regulate intracellular free calcium levels in the heart and vasculature and a failure in these systems to maintain normal Ca2+homeostasis has been linked to both heart failure and hypertension.This article focuses on the functions of PMCA,in particular isoform 4(PMCA4) ,in the heart and vasculature and the reported links between PMCAs and contractile function,cardiac hypertrophy,cardiac rhythm and sudden cardiac death,and blood pressure control and hypertension.It is becoming clear that this family of calcium extrusion pumps have essential roles in both cardiovascular health and disease.

The Involvement of Ca^2＋ Signal Pathways in Distal Colonic Myocytes in a Rat Model of Dextran Sulfate Sodium-induced Colitis

Background： Disrupted Ca2＋ homeostasis contributes to the development of colonic dysmotility in ulcerative colitis （UC）, but the underlying mechanisms are unknown. This study aimed to examine the alteration of colonic smooth muscle （SM） Ca2＋ signaling and Ca2＋ handling proteins in a rat model of dextran sulfate sodium （DSS）-induced UC. Methods： Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into control （n = 18） and DSS （n = 17） groups. Acute colitis was induced by 5% DSS in the drinking water for 7 days. Contractility of colonic SM strips （controls, n = 8 and DSS, n = 7） was measured in an organ bath. Cytosolic resting Ca2＋ levels （n = 3 in each group） and Ca2＋ transients （n = 3 in each group） were measured in single colonic SM cells. Ca2＋ handling protein expression was determined by Western blotting （n = 4 in each group）. Differences between control and DSS groups were analyzed by a two-sample independent t-test. Results： Average tension and amplitude of spontaneous contractions of colonic muscle strips were significantly enhanced in DSS-treated rats compared with controls （1.25 ± 0.08 g vs. 0.96 - 0.05 g, P = 0.007; and 2.67 - 0.62 g vs. 0.52 ±0.10 g, P= 0.013）. Average tensions of carbachol-evoked contractions were much weaker in the DSS group （1.08 ±0.10 g vs. 1.80 ±0.19 g, P = 0.006）. Spontaneous Ca2＋ transients were observed in more SM cells from DSS-treated rats （15/30 cells） than from controls （5/36 cells）. Peak caffeine-induced intracellular Ca2＋ release was lower in SM cells of DSS-treated rats than controls （0.413 ±0.046 vs. 0.548 ±0.041, P = 0.033）. Finally, several Ca2＋ handling proteins in colonic SM were altered by DSS treatment, including sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium-transporting ATPase 2a downregulation and phospholamban and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor 1 upregulation. Conclusions： Impaired intracellular Ca2＋ signaling of colonic SM, caused by alteration of Ca2＋ handing proteins, contribute to colonic dysmotility in DSS-induced UC.