The role of skeletal muscle in nonshivering thermogenesis (NST) is not well understood. Here we show that sarcolipin (Sln), a newly identified regulator of the sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase (Serca) pump1–5, is necessary for muscle-based thermogenesis. When challenged to acute cold (4 °C), Sln−/− mice were not able to maintain their core body temperature (37 °C) and developed hypothermia. Surgical ablation of brown adipose tissue and functional knockdown of Ucp1 allowed us to highlight the role of muscle in NST. Overexpression of Sln in the Sln-null background fully restored muscle-based thermogenesis, suggesting that Sln is the basis for Serca-mediated heat production. We show that ryanodine receptor 1 (Ryr1)-mediated Ca2+ leak is an important mechanism for Serca-activated heat generation. Here we present data to suggest that Sln can continue to interact with Serca in the presence of Ca2+, which can promote uncoupling of the Serca pump and cause futile cycling. We further show that loss of Sln predisposes mice to diet-induced obesity, which suggests that Sln-mediated NST is recruited during metabolic overload. These data collectively suggest that SLN is an important mediator of muscle thermogenesis and whole-body energy metabolism.

The sarcoendoplasmic reticulum (SR) calcium transport ATPase (SERCA) is a pump that transports calcium ions from the cytoplasm into the SR. It is present in both animal and plant cells, although knowledge of SERCA in the latter is scant. The pump shares the catalytic properties of ion-motive ATPases of the P-type family, but has distinctive regulation properties. The SERCA pump is encoded by a family of three genes, SERCA1, 2, and 3, that are highly conserved but localized on different chromosomes. The SERCA isoform diversity is dramatically enhanced by alternative splicing of the transcripts, occurring mainly at the COOH-terminal. At present, more than 10 different SERCA isoforms have been detected at the protein level. These isoforms exhibit both tissue and developmental specificity, suggesting that they contribute to unique physiological properties of the tissue in which they are expressed. The function of the SERCA pump is modulated by the endogenous molecules phospholamban (PLB) and sarcolipin (SLN), expressed in cardiac and skeletal muscles. The mechanism of action of PLB on SERCA is well characterized, whereas that of SLN is only beginning to be understood. Because the SERCA pump plays a major role in muscle contraction, a number of investigations have focused on understanding its role in cardiac and skeletal muscle disease. These studies document that SERCA pump expression and activity are decreased in aging and in a variety of pathophysiological conditions including heart failure. Recently, SERCA pump gene transfer was shown to be effective in restoring contractile function in failing heart muscle, thus emphasizing its importance in muscle physiology and its potential use as a therapeutic agent.

We cloned a portion of the mouse smooth muscle myosin heavy chain (SM-MHC) cDNA and analyzed its mRNA expression in adult tissues, several cell lines, and developing mouse embryos to determine the suitability of the SM-MHC promoter as a tool for identifying smooth musclespecific transcription factors and to define the spatial and temporal pattern of smooth muscle differentiation during mouse development. RNase protection assays showed SM-MHC mRNA in adult aorta, intestine, lung, stomach, and uterus, with little or no signal in brain, heart, kidney, liver, skeletal muscle, spleen, and testes. From an analysis of 14 different cell lines, including endothelial cells, fibroblasts, and rhabdomyosarcomas, we failed to detect any SM-MHC mRNA; all of the cell lines induced to differentiate also showed no detectable SM-MHC. In situ hybridization of staged mouse embryos first revealed SM-MHC transcripts in the early developing aorta at 10.5 days post coitum (dpc). No hybridization signal was demonstrated beyond the aorta and its arches until 12.5 to 13.5 dpc, when SM-MHC mRNA appeared in smooth muscle cells (SMCs) of the developing gut and lungs as well as peripheral blood vessels. By 17.5 dpc, SM-MHC transcripts had accumulated in esophagus, bladder, and ureters. Except for blood vessels, no SM-MHC transcripts were ever observed in developing brain, heart, or skeletal muscle. These results indicate that smooth muscle myogenesis begins by 10.5 days of embryonic development in the mouse and establish SM-MHC as a highly specific marker for the SMC lineage. The SM-MHC promoter should therefore serve as a useful model for defining the mechanisms that govern SMC transcription during development and disease. (Circ Res. 1994;75:803-812.)

Smooth muscle myosin heavy chains (MHCs) exist in multiple isoforms. Rabbit smooth muscles contain at least three types of MHC isoforms: SM1 (204 kD), SM2 (200 kD), and SMemb (200 kD). SM1 and SM2 are specific to smooth muscles, but SMemb is a nonmuscle-type MHC abundantly expressed in the embryonic aorta. We recently reported that these three MHC isoforms are differentially expressed in rabbit during normal vascular development and in experimental arteriosclerosis and atherosclerosis. The purpose of this study was to clarify whether expression of human smooth muscle MHC isoforms is regulated in developing arteries and in atherosclerotic lesions. To accomplish this, we have isolated and characterized three cDNA clones from human smooth muscle: SMHC94 (SM1), SMHC93 (SM2), and HSME6 (SMemb). The expression of SM2 mRNA in the fetal aorta was significantly lower as compared with SM1 mRNA, but the ratio of SM2 to SM1 mRNA was increased after birth. SMemb mRNA in the aorta was decreased after birth but appeared to be increased in the aged. To further examine the MHC expression at the histological level, we have developed three antibodies against human SMI, SM2, and SMemb using the isoform-specific sequences of the carboxyl terminal end. Immunohistologically, SMI was constitutively positive from the fetal stage to adulthood in the apparently normal media of the aorta and coronary arteries, whereas SM2 was negative in fetal arteries of the early gestational stage. In human, unlike rabbit, aorta or coronary arteries, SMemb was detected even in the adult. However, smaller-sized arteries, like the vasa vasorum of the aorta or intramyocardial coronary arterioles, were negative for SMemb. Diffuse intimal thickening in the major coronary arteries was found to be composed of smooth muscles, reacting equally to three antibodies for MHC isoforms, but reactivities with anti-SM2 antibody were reduced with aging. With progression of atherosclerosis, intimal smooth muscles diminished the expression of not only SM2 but also SM1, whereas cr-smooth muscle actin was well preserved. We conclude from these results that smooth muscle MHC isoforms are important molecular markers for studying human vascular smooth muscle cell differentiation as well as the cellular mechanisms of atherosclerosis. (Circ Res. 1993;73:1000-1012

Recent studies have shown that intracellular Ca2' handling is abnormal in the myocardium of patients with end-stage heart failure. Muscles from the failing hearts showed a prolonged Ca2' transient and a diminished capacity to restore a low resting Ca2' level during diastole. Accordingly, we examined whether this defect in Ca2+ transport function is due to alterations in sarcoplasmic reticulum gene expression. We determined the messenger RNA (mRNA) levels of sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca21 transport proteins in failing human hearts from 17 cardiac transplant recipients with a diagnosis of dilated cardiomyopathy, primary pulmonary hypertension, or ischemic heart disease. The expression levels of each mRNA were compared with each other and then correlated with that of atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) mRNA in the failing ventricle. The mRNA levels for the calcium release channel (ryanodine receptor, RYR2), Ca2' uptake pump (Ca2+-ATPase, SERCA2 isoform), and phospholamban differed significantly between heart samples but showed an inverse relation with that of ventricular ANF mRNA. In contrast, calsequestrin mRNA levels remained unchanged in these failing hearts. In addition, f-myosin and a-cardiac actin mRNA levels also showed an inverse relation with ANF mRNA levels. These changes were observed in both right and left ventricles of hearts with congestive heart failure due to dilated cardiomyopathy, primary pulmonary hypertension, or ischemic heart disease. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that abnormal calcium handling in the sarcoplasmic reticulum of failing hearts is due to the altered expression of the genes encoding sarcoplasmic reticulum proteins. (Circulation Research 1993;72:463-469) KEY WoRDs * ryanodine receptor * phospholamban * calsequestrin * sarcoplasmic reticulum * Ca2'-ATPase H eart failure is a low cardiac output syndrome characterized by both systolic and diastolic dysfunction. The velocity and extent of ventricular contraction and the rate of pressure development are decreased in heart failure.1-3 The left ventricular (LV) relaxation rates, assessed by maximum rates of LV pressure decline, and the mean velocity of circumferential fiber length shortening in early diastole are also decreased, suggesting an impairment of early diastolic LV relaxation.4 The contraction and relaxation of cardiocytes are regulated by intracellular calcium (Ca'+) concentrations, which, in turn, are controlled

The sarco(endo)plasmic reticulum Ca 2؉ -ATPase isoform 2 (SERCA2) gene encodes both SERCA2a, the cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca 2؉ pump, and SERCA2b, which is expressed in all tissues. To gain a better understanding of the physiological functions of SERCA2, we used gene targeting to develop a mouse in which the promoter and 5 end of the gene were eliminated. Mating of heterozygous mutant mice yielded wild-type and heterozygous offspring; homozygous mutants were not observed. RNase protection, Western blotting, and biochemical analysis of heart samples showed that SERCA2 mRNA was reduced by ϳ45% in heterozygous mutant hearts and that SERCA2 protein and maximal velocity of Ca 2؉ uptake into the sarcoplasmic reticulum were reduced by ϳ35%. Measurements of cardiovascular performance via transducers in the left ventricle and right femoral artery of the anesthetized mouse revealed reductions in mean arterial pressure, systolic ventricular pressure, and the absolute values of both positive and negative dP/dt in heterozygous mutants. These results demonstrate that two functional copies of the SERCA2 gene are required to maintain normal levels of SERCA2 mRNA, protein, and Ca 2؉ sequestering activity, and that the deficit in Ca 2؉ sequestering activity due to the loss of one copy of the SERCA2 gene impairs cardiac contractility and relaxation. The SERCA21 gene encodes two Ca 2ϩ -transporting ATPases, SERCA2a and SERCA2b, which differ in their C-terminal sequences as a result of alternative splicing (1-3). SERCA2a is expressed at highest levels in heart, where it plays a central role in cardiomyocyte Ca 2ϩ handling required for excitation/ contraction coupling (reviewed in Ref. 4). Contraction is initiated by an increase in Ca 2ϩ concentrations around the myofibrils, which occurs as Ca 2ϩ is released from the SR or enters the cell via channels in the sarcolemma. SERCA2a pumps Ca 2ϩ out of the cytosol and into the SR, thereby contributing to the low diastolic Ca 2ϩ levels required for relaxation and replenishing Ca 2ϩ stores needed for the next contraction. SERCA2a serves a similar function in slow twitch skeletal muscle and is also expressed in some smooth muscles (5). In contrast to the limited tissue distribution and organ-specific function of SERCA2a, SERCA2b is expressed in all tissues and it has been suggested that it plays an essential housekeeping role (1), although it undoubtedly serves some organ-specific functions as well.An important role for SERCA2a in cardiac function is well established. Recent studies have shown that the levels of SERCA2a are decreased in several animal models of cardiac hypertrophy and human heart failure (reviewed in Refs. 6 and 7). However, it is currently unknown whether, and to what extent, the reductions in SERCA2a levels contribute to altered contractile function. In addition, it is unclear whether there are homeostatic mechanisms within the cardiac myocyte that are capable of sensing perturbations in the levels of pump activity and adjusting its expression accordingly. These are i...

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Small conductance Ca2+ -activated K + channels (SK channels) have been reported in excitable cells, where they aid in integrating changes in intracellular Ca 2+ (Ca 2+ i ) with membrane potential. We have recently reported the functional existence of SK2 channels in human and mouse cardiac myocytes. Moreover, we have found that the channel is predominantly expressed in atria compared to the ventricular myocytes. We hypothesize that knockout of SK2 channels may be sufficient to disrupt the intricate balance of the inward and outward currents during repolarization in atrial myocytes. We further predict that knockout of SK2 channels may predispose the atria to tachy-arrhythmias due to the fact that the late phase of the cardiac action potential is highly susceptible to aberrant excitation. We take advantage of a mouse model with genetic knockout of the SK2 channel gene. In vivo and in vitro electrophysiological studies were performed to probe the functional roles of SK2 channels in the heart. Whole-cell patch-clamp techniques show a significant prolongation of the action potential duration prominently in late cardiac repolarization in atrial myocytes from the heterozygous and homozygous null mutant animals. Morover, in vivo electrophysiological recordings show inducible atrial fibrillation in the null mutant mice but not wild-type animals. No ventricular arrhythmias are detected in the null mutant mice or wild-type animals. In summary, our data support the important functional roles of SK2 channels in cardiac repolarization in atrial myocytes. Genetic knockout of the SK2 channels results in the delay in cardiac repolarization and atrial arrhythmias.