Background
We investigated the contribution of inositol(1,4,5)trisphosphate (Ins(1,4,5)P3, IP3) receptors (IP3-R) to disease progression in mouse models of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and pressure overload hypertrophy. Mice expressing mammalian sterile 20 like kinase and dominant negative phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase in heart (Mst1 x dn-PI3K-2Tg; DCM-2Tg) develop severe DCM and conduction block, associated with increased expression of IP3-R(2) and heightened generation of Ins(1,4,5)P3. Similar increases in Ins(1,4,5)P3 and IP3-R(2) are caused by thoracic aortic constriction (TAC).
Methods and Results
To evaluate the contribution of IP3-R(2) to disease progression, the DCM-2Tg mice were further crossed with mice in which the type 2 IP3-R (IP3-R(2)−/−) had been deleted (DCM-2Tg x IP3-R(2) −/−) and TAC was performed on IP3-R(2) −/−mice. Hearts from DCM-2Tg mice and DCM-2Tg x IP3-R(2) −/− were similar in terms of chamber dilatation, atrial enlargement and ventricular wall thinning. Electrophysiological changes were also similar in the DCM-2Tg mice, with and without IP3-R(2). Deletion of IP3-R(2) did not alter the progression of heart failure, as DCM-2Tg mice with and without IP3-R(2) had similarly reduced contractility, increased lung congestion, atrial thrombus and both strains died between 10 and 12 weeks of age. Loss of IP3-R(2) did not alter the progression of hypertrophy following TAC.
Conclusions
We conclude that IP3-R(2) do not contribute to the progression of DCM or pressure overload hypertrophy despite increased expression and heightened generation of the ligand, Ins(1,4,5)P3.