Reduction of phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate mass in heart sarcolemma during diabetic cardiomyopathy

Phospholipase C as a potential target for cardioprotection during oxidative stressThis review is one of a selection of papers published in a Special Issue on Oxidative Stress in Health and Disease

Cardiac dysfunction due to ischemia–reperfusion (I/R) is associated with marked changes in membrane function and subsequent Ca2+-handling abnormalities in cardiomyocytes. The membrane abnormalities in hearts subjected to I/R arise primarily from oxidative stress as a consequence of increased formation of reactive oxygen species and other oxidants, as well as reduced antioxidant defenses. Little is known, however, about the nature and mechanisms of the sarcolemmal membrane changes with respect to phospholipase C (PLC)-related signaling events. In addition, the mechanisms involved in protection of the postischemic myocardium and in ischemic preconditioning with respect to PLC function need to be established. Accordingly, this article reviews the historical and current information on PLC-mediated signal transduction mechanisms in I/R, as well as outlining future directions that should be addressed. Such information will extend our knowledge of ischemic heart disease and help improve its therapy.

Phospholipid-mediated signaling and heart disease

Cardiac hypertrophy, congestive heart failure, diabetic cardiomyopathy and myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury are associated with a disturbance in cardiac sarcolemmal membrane phospholipid homeostasis. The contribution of the different phospholipases and their related signaling mechanisms to altered function of the diseased myocardium is not completely understood. Resolution of this issue is essential for both the understanding of the pathophysiology of heart disease and for determining if components of the phospholipid signaling pathways could serve as appropriate therapeutic targets. This review provides an outline of the role of phospholipase A2, C and D and subsequent signal transduction mechanisms in different cardiac pathologies with a discussion of their potential as targets for drug development for the prevention/treatment of heart disease.

Phospholipid-mediated signaling systems as novel targets for treatment of heart disease

The phospholipases associated with the cardiac sarcolemmal (SL) membrane hydrolyze specific membrane phospholipids to generate important lipid signaling molecules, which are known to influence normal cardiac function. However, impairment of the phospholipases and their related signaling events may be contributory factors in altering cardiac function of the diseased myocardium. The identification of the changes in such signaling systems as well as understanding the contribution of phospholipid-signaling pathways to the pathophysiology of heart disease are rapidly emerging areas of research in this field. In this paper, I provide an overview of the role of phospholipid-mediated signal transduction processes in cardiac hypertrophy and congestive heart failure, diabetic cardiomyopathy, as well as in ischemia-reperfusion. From the cumulative evidence presented, it is suggested that phospholipid-mediated signal transduction processes could serve as novel targets for the treatment of the different types of heart disease.

Defective sarcolemmal phospholipase C signaling in diabetic cardiomyopathy

Phospholipase C (PLC) activity is known to influence cardiac function. This study was undertaken to examine the status of PLC beta3 in the cardiac cell plasma membrane (sarcolemma, SL) in an experimental model of chronic diabetes. SL membrane was isolated from diabetic rat hearts at 8 weeks after a single i.v. injection of streptozotocin (65 mg/kg body weight). The total SL PLC was decreased in diabetes and was associated with a decrease in SL PLC beta3 activity, which immunofluorescence in frozen diabetic left ventricular tissue sections revealed to be due to a decrease in PLC beta3 protein abundance. In contrast, the SL abundance of Gqalpha was significantly increased during diabetes. These changes were associated with a loss of contractile function (+/- dP/dt). A 2-week insulin treatment of 6-week diabetic animals partially normalized all of these parameters. These findings suggest a defect in PLC beta3-mediated signaling processes may contribute to the cardiac dysfunction seen during diabetes.

Defective phosphatidic acid–phospholipase C signaling in diabetic cardiomyopathy

The effects of exogenous phosphatidic acid (PA) on Ca2+ transients and contractile activity were studied in cardiomyocytes isolated from chronic streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. In control cells, 25 microM PA induced a significant increase in active cell shortening and Ca2+ transients. PA increased IP3 generation in the control cardiomyocytes and its inotropic effects were blocked by a phospholipase C inhibitor. In cardiomyocytes from diabetic rats, PA induced a 25% decrease in active cell shortening and no significant effect on Ca2+ transients. Basal and PA-induced IP3 generation in diabetic rat cardiomyocytes was 3-fold lower as compared to control cells. Sarcolemmal membrane PLC activity was impaired. Insulin treatment of the diabetic animals resulted in a partial recovery of PA responses. Our results, therefore, identify an important defect in the PA-PLC signaling pathway in diabetic rat cardiomyocytes, which may have significant implications for heart dysfunction during diabetes.