Diabetic cardiomyopathy is a significant contributor to the morbidity and mortality associated with diabetes and metabolic syndrome. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms that lead to its development have not been fully elucidated. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is an endogenously produced signaling molecule that is critical for the regulation of cardiovascular homeostasis. Recently, therapeutic strategies aimed at increasing its levels have proven cardioprotective in models of acute myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury and heart failure. The precise role of H2S in the pathogenesis of diabetic cardiomyopathy has not yet been established. Therefore, the goal of the present study was to evaluate circulating and cardiac H2S levels in a murine model of high fat diet (HFD)-induced cardiomyopathy. Diabetic cardiomyopathy was produced by feeding mice HFD (60% fat) chow for 24 weeks. HFD feeding reduced both circulating and cardiac H2S and induced hallmark features of type-2 diabetes. We also observed marked cardiac dysfunction, evidence of cardiac enlargement, cardiac hypertrophy, and fibrosis. H2S therapy (SG-1002, an orally active H2S donor) restored sulfide levels, improved some of the metabolic perturbations stemming from HFD feeding, and attenuated HFD-induced cardiac dysfunction. Additional analysis revealed that H2S therapy restored adiponectin levels and suppressed cardiac ER stress stemming from HFD feeding. These results suggest that diminished circulating and cardiac H2S levels play a role in the pathophysiology of HFD-induced cardiomyopathy. Additionally, these results suggest that H2S therapy may be of clinical importance in the treatment of cardiovascular complications stemming from diabetes.
Common cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension and myocardial infarction require that myocytes develop greater than normal force to maintain cardiac pump function. This requires increases in [Ca2+]. These diseases induce cardiac hypertrophy and increases in [Ca2+] are known to be an essential proximal signal for activation of hypertrophic genes. However, the source of “hypertrophic” [Ca2+] is not known and is the topic of this study. The role of Ca2+ influx through L-type Ca2+ channels (LTCC), T-type Ca2+ channels (TTCC) and transient receptor potential (TRP) channels on the activation of Calcineurin (Cn) – Nuclear Factor of Activated T cells (NFAT) signaling and myocyte hypertrophy was studied. Neonatal rat (NRVMs) and adult feline (AFVM) ventricular myocytes were infected with an adenovirus containing NFAT-GFP, to determine factors that could induce NFAT nuclear translocation. Four millimolar Ca2+ or pacing induced NFAT nuclear translocation. This effect was blocked by Cn inhibitors. In NRVMs Nifedipine (Nif, LTCC antagonist) blocked high Ca2+-induced NFAT nuclear translocation while SKF-96365 (TRP channel antagonist) and Nickel (Ni, TTCC antagonist) were less effective. The relative potency of these antagonists against Ca2+ induced NFAT nuclear translocation (Nif>SKF-96365>Ni) was similar to their effects on Ca2+ transients and the LTCC current. Infection of NRVM with viruses containing TRP channels also activated NFAT-GFP nuclear translocation and caused myocyte hypertrophy. TRP effects were reduced by SKF-96365, but were more effectively antagonized by Nif. These experiments suggest that Ca2+ influx through LTCCs is the primary source of Ca2+ to activate Cn-NFAT signaling in NRVMs and AFVMs. While TRP channels cause hypertrophy, they appear to do so through a mechanism involving Ca2+ entry via LTCCs.
Background Enhanced arginine vasopressin (AVP) levels are associated with increased mortality during end-stage human heart failure (HF), and cardiac AVP type 1A receptor (V1AR) expression becomes increased. Additionally, mice with cardiac-restricted V1AR overexpression develop cardiomyopathy and decreased β-adrenergic receptor (βAR) responsiveness. This led us to hypothesize that V1AR signaling regulated βAR responsiveness and in doing so contributes to HF development. Methods and Results Transaortic constriction resulted in decreased cardiac function and βAR density and increased cardiac V1AR expression, effects reversed by a V1AR-selective antagonist. Molecularly, V1AR stimulation led to decreased βAR ligand affinity, as well as βAR-induced Ca2+ mobilization and cAMP generation in isolated adult cardiomyocytes, effects recapitulated via ex vivo Langendorff analysis. V1AR-mediated regulation of βAR responsiveness was demonstrated to occur in a previously unrecognized Gq protein-independent/GRK-dependent manner. Conclusions This newly discovered relationship between cardiac V1AR and βAR may be informative for the treatment of patients with acute decompensated HF and elevated AVP.
Background Therapeutic strategies aimed at increasing hydrogen sulfide (H2S) levels exert cytoprotective effects in various models of cardiovascular injury. However, the underlying mechanism(s) responsible for this protection remain to be fully elucidated. Nuclear-factor-E2-related factor-2 (Nrf2) is a cellular target of H2S and facilitator of H2S-mediated cardioprotection following acute myocardial infarction. Here, we tested the hypothesis that Nrf2 mediates the cardioprotective effects of H2S therapy in the setting of heart failure (HF). Methods and Results Mice (12 weeks of age) deficient in Nrf2 (Nrf2 KO; C57BL/6J background) and wild-type (WT) littermates were subjected to ischemic-induced HF. WT mice treated with H2S in the form of sodium sulfide (Na2S) displayed enhanced Nrf2 signaling, improved left-ventricular function, and less cardiac hypertrophy following the induction of HF. In contrast, Na2S therapy failed to provide protection against HF in Nrf2 KO mice. Studies aimed at evaluating the underlying cardioprotective mechanisms found that Na2S increased the expression of proteasome subunits, resulting in an increase proteasome activity and a reduction in the accumulation of damaged proteins. In contrast, Na2S therapy failed to enhance the proteasome and failed to attenuate the accumulation of damaged proteins in Nrf2 KO mice. Additionally, Na2S failed to improve cardiac function when the proteasome was inhibited. Conclusions These findings indicate that Na2S therapy enhances proteasomal activity and function during the development of heart failure in an Nrf2-dependent manner and that this enhancement leads to attenuation in cardiac dysfunction.
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