Iterations in Ca 2+ and Mg 2+ balance accompany aldosteronism (inappropriate for dietary Na + intake). Increased Zn excretion and Zn translocation to injured tissues, including the heart, also occurs. Several causes and consequences of Zn dyshomeostasis in rats receiving aldosterone/salt treatment (ALDOST) were examined: 1) the role of urinary acidification in promoting hyperzincuria, acetazolamide (75 mg/kg), a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor, was used as cotreatment to raise urinary HCO 3 − excretion; 2) assess Zn levels in the heart, including cardiomyocyte cytosolic free [Zn 2+ ] i and mitochondrial Zn, the expression of metallothionein (MT-I), a Zn binding protein, and biomarkers of oxidative stress; and 3) monitor oxidative stress and cardiac pathology in response to ZnSO 4 supplement (40 mg/day). Compared to controls, at 4 wks ALDOST we found: an acidification of urine and metabolic alkalosis associated with increased urinary Zn excretion and hypozincemia, each of which were prevented by acetazolamide; a rise in cardiac Zn including increased [Zn 2+ ] i and mitochondrial Zn, associated with increased tissue MT-I, 8-isoprostane, malondialdehyde, and gp91 phox , coupled with oxidative stress in plasma and urine; and ZnSO 4 prevented hypozincemia, but not ionized hypocalcemia, and attenuated oxidative stress and microscopic scarring without preventing the vasculitis and perivascular fibrosis of intramural coronary arteries. Thus, the hyperzincuria seen with ALDOST is due to urinary acidification. The oxidative stress that appears in the heart is accompanied by increased tissue Zn serving as an antioxidant. Cotreatment with ZnSO 4 attenuated cardiomyocyte necrosis, however, polynutrient supplement may be required to counteract the dyshomeostasis of all 3 cations that accompanies aldosteronism and contribute to cardiac pathology.

Intracellular Ca(2+) overloading, coupled to induction of oxidative stress, is present at 4-wk aldosterone/salt treatment (ALDOST). This prooxidant reaction in cardiac myocytes and mitochondria accounts for necrotic cell death and subsequent myocardial scarring. It is intrinsically linked to increased intracellular zinc concentration ([Zn(2+)](i)) serving as an antioxidant. Herein, we addressed the temporal responses in coupled Ca(2+) and Zn(2+) dyshomeostasis, reflecting the prooxidant-antioxidant equilibrium, by examining preclinical (week 1) and pathological (week 4) stages of ALDOST to determine whether endogenous antioxidant defenses would be ultimately overwhelmed to account for this delay in cardiac remodeling. We compared responses in cardiomyocyte free [Ca(2+)](i) and [Zn(2+)](i) and mitochondrial total [Ca(2+)](m) and [Zn(2+)](m), together with biomarkers of oxidative stress and antioxidant defenses, during 1- and 4-wk ALDOST. At week 1 and compared with controls, we found: 1) elevations in [Ca(2+)](i) and [Ca(2+)](m) were coupled with [Zn(2+)](i) and [Zn(2+)](m); 2) increased mitochondrial H(2)O(2) production, cardiomyocyte xanthine oxidase activity, and cardiac and mitochondrial 8-isoprostane levels, counterbalanced by increased activity of antioxidant proteins, enzymes, and the nonenzymatic antioxidants that can be considered as cumulative antioxidant capacity; some of these enzymes and proteins (e.g., metallothionein-1, Cu/Zn-superoxide, glutathione synthase) are regulated by metal-responsive transcription factor-1; and 3) although these augmented antioxidant defenses were sustained at week 4, they fell short in combating the persistent intracellular Ca(2+) overloading and marked rise in cardiac tissue 8-isoprostane and mitochondrial transition pore opening. Thus a coupled Ca(2+) and Zn(2+) dyshomeostasis occurs early during ALDOST in cardiac myocytes and mitochondria that regulate redox equilibrium until week 4 when ongoing intracellular Ca(2+) overloading and prooxidants overwhelm antioxidant defenses.

Intracellular [Ca2+]i overloading in cardiomyocytes is a fundamental pathogenic event associated with chronic aldosterone/salt treatment (ALDOST) and accounts for an induction of oxidative stress that leads to necrotic cell death and consequent myocardial scarring. This prooxidant response to Ca2+ overloading in cardiac myocytes and mitochondria is intrinsically coupled to simultaneous increased Zn2+ entry serving as an antioxidant. Herein, we investigated whether Ca2+ and Zn2+ dyshomeostasis and prooxidant:antioxidant dysequilibrium seen at 4 wks, the pathologic stage of ALDOST, could be uncoupled in favor of antioxidants, using cotreatment with a ZnSO4 supplement, pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC), a Zn2+ ionophore, or ZnSO4 in combination with amlodipine (Amlod), a Ca2+ channel blocker. We monitored and compared responses in cardiomyocyte free [Ca2+]i and [Zn2+]i together with biomarkers of oxidative stress in cardiac myocytes and mitochondria. At wk 4 ALDOST and compared to controls, we found: i) an elevation in [Ca2+]i coupled with [Zn2+]i; and ii) increased mitochondrial H2O2 production, and increased mitochondrial and cardiac 8-isoprostane levels. Cotreatment with the ZnSO4 supplement alone, PDTC, or ZnSO4+Amlod augmented the rise in cardiomyocyte [Zn2+]i beyond that seen with ALDOST alone, while attenuating the rise in [Ca2+]i which together served to reduce oxidative stress. Thus, a coupled dyshomeostasis of intracellular Ca2+ and Zn2+ was demonstrated in cardiac myocytes and mitochondria during 4 wks ALDOST, where prooxidants overwhelm antioxidant defenses. This intrinsically coupled Ca2+ and Zn2+ dyshomeostasis could be uncoupled in favor of antioxidant defenses by selectively increasing free [Zn2+]i and/or reducing [Ca2+]i using cotreatment with ZnSO4 or PDTC alone or ZnSO4+Amlod in combination.

Fibrosis is a fundamental component of the adverse structural remodeling of myocardium present in the failing heart. Replacement fibrosis appears at sites of previous cardiomyocyte necrosis to preserve the structural integrity of the myocardium, but not without adverse functional consequences. The extensive nature of this microscopic scarring suggests cardiomyocyte necrosis is widespread and the loss of these contractile elements, combined with fibrous tissue deposition in the form of a stiff in-series and in-parallel elastic elements, contributes to the progressive failure of this normally efficient muscular pump. Cellular and molecular studies into the signaltransducer-effector pathway involved in cardiomyocyte necrosis have identified the crucial pathogenic role of intracellular Ca 2+ overloading and subsequent induction of oxidative stress, Correspondence to: Karl T. Weber, KTWeber@uthsc.edu. NIH Public Access Author ManuscriptHeart Fail Rev. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2012 January 1. Published in final edited form as:Heart Fail Rev. 2011 January ; 16(1): 23-34. doi:10.1007/s10741-010-9169-3. NIH-PA Author ManuscriptNIH-PA Author Manuscript NIH-PA Author Manuscript predominantly confined within its mitochondria, to be followed by the opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore that leads to the destruction of these organelles and cells. It is now further recognized that Ca 2+ overloading of cardiac myocytes and mitochondria serves as a prooxidant and which is counterbalanced by an intrinsically coupled Zn 2+ entry serving as antioxidant. The prospect of raising antioxidant defenses by increasing intracellular Zn 2+ with adjuvant nutriceuticals can, therefore, be preferentially exploited to uncouple this intrinsically coupled Ca 2+ -Zn 2+ dyshomeostasis. Hence, novel yet simple cardioprotective strategies may be at hand that deserve to be further explored.

Despite today's standard of care, aimed at containing homeostatic neurohormonal activation, 1 in every 5 patients recently hospitalized with congestive heart failure (CHF) will be readmitted within 30 days of discharge because of a recurrence of their symptoms and signs. In light of recent pathophysiologic insights, it is now propitious to revisit CHF with a view toward complementary and evolving management strategies. CHF is a progressive systemic illness. Its features include: oxidative stress in diverse tissues; an immunostimulatory state with circulating proinflammatory cytokines; a wasting of soft tissues; and a resorption of bone. Its origins are rooted in homeostatic mechanisms gone awry to beget dyshomeostasis. For example, marked excretory losses of Ca 2+ and Mg 2+ accompany renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) activation, causing ionized hypocalcemia and hypomagnesemia that lead to secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) with consequent bone resorption and a propensity to atraumatic fractures. Parathyroid hormone (PTH) accounts for paradoxical intracellular Ca 2+ overloading in diverse tissues and consequent systemic induction of oxidative stress. In cardiac myocytes and mitochondria these events orchestrate opening of the mitochondrial membrane permeability transition pore (mPTP) with an ensuing osmotic-based destruction of these organelles and resultant cardiomyocyte necrosis with myocardial scarring. Contemporaneous with Ca 2+ and Mg 2+ dyshomeostasis is hypozincemia and hyposelenemia, which compromise metalloenzyme-based antioxidant defenses while hypovitaminosis D threatens Ca 2+ stores needed to prevent SHPT. An intrinsically coupled dyshomeostasis of intracellular Ca 2+ and Zn 2+ , representing prooxidant and antioxidant, respectively, is integral to regulating mitochondrial redox state; it can be uncoupled by a Zn 2+ supplement in favor of antioxidant defenses. Hence, the complementary use of nutriceuticals to nullify dyshomeostatic responses involving macro-and micronutrients should be considered. Evolving strategies with mitochondria-targeted interventions interfering with their uptake of Ca 2+ or serving as selective antioxidant or mPTP inhibitor may also prove efficacious in the overall management of CHF.

Inappropriately (relative to dietary Na + ) elevated plasma aldosterone concentrations (PAC), or aldosteronism, have been incriminated in both the appearance of the cardiometabolic syndrome (CMS) and its progressive nature. The deleterious dual consequences of elevated PAC and dietary Na + have been linked to several components of the CMS, including salt-sensitive hypertension. Moreover, their adverse consequences are considered to be synergistic, culminating in a pro-oxidant phenotype with oxidative injury involving the heart and systemic tissues, including peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). Our experimental studies in rats receiving aldosterone/salt treatment have identified a common pathogenic event that links aldosteronism to the induction of oxidative stress. Herein, we review these findings and the important role of excessive intracellular Ca 2+ accumulation (EICA), or intracellular Ca 2+ overloading, which occurs in the heart and PBMC, leading to, respectively, cardiomyocyte necrosis with a replacement fibrosis and an immunostimulatory state with consequent coronary vasculopathy. The origin of EICA is based on elevations in plasma parathyroid hormone, which are integral to the genesis of secondary hyperparathyroidism that accompanies aldosteronism and occurs in response to plasma-ionized hypocalcemia and hypomagnesemia whose appearance is the consequence of marked urinary and fecal excretory losses of Ca 2+ and Mg 2+ . In addition, we found intracellular Ca 2+ overloading to be intrinsically coupled to a dyshomeostasis of intracellular Zn 2+ , which together regulate the redox state of cardiac myocytes and mitochondria via the induction of oxidative stress and generation of antioxidant defenses, respectively. To validate our hypothesis, a series of site-directed, sequential pharmacological and/or nutriceutical interventions targeted along cellular-molecular cascades were carried out to either block downstream events leading to the pro-oxidant phenotype or to enhance antioxidant defenses. In each case, the interventions were found to be cardioprotective. These cumulative salutary responses raise the prospect that pharmacological agents and nutriceuticals capable of influencing extra-and intracellular Ca 2+ and Zn 2+ equilibrium could prevent adverse cardiac remodeling and thereby enhance the management of aldosteronism.

Chronic aldosterone/salt treatment (ALDOST) is accompanied by an adverse structural remodeling of myocardium that includes multiple foci of microscopic scarring representing morphologic footprints of cardiomyocyte necrosis. Our previous studies suggested that signaltransducer-effector pathway leading to necrotic cell death during ALDOST includes intramitochondrial Ca 2+ overloading, together with an induction of oxidative stress and opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP). To further validate this concept, we hypothesized mitochondria-targeted interventions will prove cardioprotective. Accordingly, 8-wkold male Sprague-Dawley rats receiving 4 wks ALDOST were cotreated with either quercetin (Q), a flavonoid with mitochondrial antioxidant properties, or cyclosporine A (CsA), an mPTP inhibitor, and compared to ALDOST alone or untreated, age-/sex-matched controls. We monitored: mitochondrial free Ca 2+ and biomarkers of oxidative stress, including 8-isoprostane and H 2 O 2 production; mPTP opening; total Ca 2+ in cardiac tissue; collagen volume fraction (CVF) to quantify replacement fibrosis, a biomarker of cardiomyocyte necrosis; and employed TUNEL assay to address apoptosis in coronal sections of ventricular myocardium. Compared to controls, at 4 wks ALDOST we found: a marked increase in mitochondrial H 2 O 2 production and 8-isoprostane levels, an increased propensity for mPTP opening, and greater concentrations of mitochondrial free [Ca 2+ ] m and total tissue Ca 2+ , coupled with a 5-fold rise in CVF without any TUNEL-based evidence of cardiomyocyte apoptosis. Each of these pathophysiologic responses to ALDOST were prevented by Q or CsA cotreatment. Thus, mitochondria play a central role in initiating the cellular-molecular pathway that leads to necrotic cell death and myocardial scarring. This destructive cycle can be interrupted and myocardium salvaged with its structure preserved by mitochondria-targeted cardioprotective strategies.

Cardinal pathologic features of hypertensive heart disease (HHD) include not only hypertrophied cardiomyocytes and foci of scattered microscopic scarring, a footprint of prior necrosis, but also small myocytes ensnared by fibrillar collagen where disuse atrophy with protein degradation would be predicted. Whether atrophic signaling is concordant with the appearance of HHD and involves oxidative and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress remains unexplored. Herein, we examine these possibilities focusing on the left ventricle (LV) and cardiomyocytes harvested from hypertensive rats receiving 4 wks aldosterone/salt treatment (ALDOST) alone or together with ZnSO4, a nonvasoactive antioxidant, with the potential to attenuate atrophy and optimize hypertrophy. Compared to untreated age-/sex-/strain-matched controls, ALDOST was accompanied by: a) LV hypertrophy with preserved systolic function; b) concordant cardiomyocyte atrophy (<1000 μm2) found at sites bordering on fibrosis where they were re-expressing β-myosin heavy chain; and c) upregulation of ubiquitin ligases, MuRF1 and atrogin-1, and elevated 8-isoprostane and unfolded protein ER response with mRNA upregulation of stress markers. ZnSO4 cotreatment reduced lipid peroxidation, fibrosis and the number of atrophic myocytes, together with a further increase in cell area and width of atrophied and hypertrophied myocytes, and improved systolic function, but did not attenuate elevated blood pressure. We conclude that atrophic signaling, concordant with hypertrophy, occurs in the presence of a reparative fibrosis and induction of oxidative and ER stress at sites of scarring where myocytes are atrophied. ZnSO4 cotreatment in HHD with ALDOST attenuates the number of atrophic myocytes, optimizes size of atrophied and hypertrophied myocytes, and improves systolic function.