Yiqi Huoxue preserves heart function by upregulating the Sigma-1 receptor in rats with myocardial infarction

Sigma-1 Receptor Specific Biological Functions, Protective Role, and Therapeutic Potential in Cardiovascular Diseases

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, and there is an urgent need for efficient and cost-effective treatments to decrease the risk of CVD. The sigma-1 receptor (S1R) plays a role in the development of cardiac hypertrophy, heart failure, ventricular remodeling, and various other cardiac diseases. Preclinical studies have shown that S1R activation has considerable beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system, and this knowledge might contribute to informing clinical trials associated with the prevention and treatment of CVDs. Therefore, the objective of this review was to investigate the mechanisms of S1R in CVD and how modulation of pathways contributes to cardiovascular protection to facilitate the development of new therapeutic agents targeting the cardiovascular system.

Mitochondria-associated endoplasmic reticulum membranes as a therapeutic target for cardiovascular diseases

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are currently the leading cause of death worldwide. In 2022, the CVDs contributed to 19.8 million deaths globally, accounting for one-third of all global deaths. With an aging population and changing lifestyles, CVDs pose a major threat to human health. Mitochondria-associated endoplasmic reticulum membranes (MAMs) are communication platforms between cellular organelles and regulate cellular physiological functions, including apoptosis, autophagy, and programmed necrosis. Further research has shown that MAMs play a critical role in the pathogenesis of CVDs, including myocardial ischemia and reperfusion injury, heart failure, pulmonary hypertension, and coronary atherosclerosis. This suggests that MAMs could be an important therapeutic target for managing CVDs. The goal of this study is to summarize the protein complex of MAMs, discuss its role in the pathological mechanisms of CVDs in terms of its functions such as Ca2+ transport, apoptotic signaling, and lipid metabolism, and suggest the possibility of MAMs as a potential therapeutic approach.

Inhibition of adenylyl cyclase 1 by ST034307 inhibits IP3-evoked changes in sino-atrial node beat rate

Atrial arrhythmias, such as atrial fibrillation (AF), are a major mortality risk and a leading cause of stroke. The IP3 signalling pathway has been proposed as an atrial-specific target for AF therapy, and atrial IP3 signalling has been linked to the activation of calcium sensitive adenylyl cyclases AC1 and AC8. We investigated the involvement of AC1 in the response of intact mouse atrial tissue and isolated guinea pig atrial and sino-atrial node (SAN) cells to the α-adrenoceptor agonist phenylephrine (PE) using the selective AC1 inhibitor ST034307. The maximum rate change of spontaneously beating mouse right atrial tissue exposed to PE was reduced from 14.5% to 8.2% (p = 0.005) in the presence of 1 μM ST034307, whereas the increase in tension generated in paced left atrial tissue in the presence of PE was not inhibited by ST034307 (Control = 14.2%, ST034307 = 16.3%; p > 0.05). Experiments were performed using isolated guinea pig atrial and SAN cells loaded with Fluo-5F-AM to record changes in calcium transients (CaT) generated by 10 μM PE in the presence and absence of 1 μM ST034307. ST034307 significantly reduced the beating rate of SAN cells (0.34-fold decrease; p = 0.003) but did not inhibit changes in CaT amplitude in response to PE in atrial cells. The results presented here demonstrate pharmacologically the involvement of AC1 in the downstream response of atrial pacemaker activity to α-adrenoreceptor stimulation and IP3R calcium release.

Activation of the sigma-1 receptor exerts cardioprotection in a rodent model of chronic heart failure by stimulation of angiogenesis

Background

Angiogenesis plays a critical role on post-infarction heart failure (PIHF), the presence of which facilitates additional blood supply to maintain the survival of residual cardiomyocytes. The sigma-1 receptor (S1R) has been substantiated to stimulate angiogenesis, with the effect on a model of PIHF remaining unknown.

Aims

This study aims to investigate the effects of S1R on PIHF and the underlying mechanisms involved.

Methods

Rats were implemented left anterior descending artery ligation followed by rearing for 6 weeks to induce a phenotype of heart failure. Daily intraperitoneal injection of S1R agonist or antagonist for 5 weeks was applied from 2nd week after surgery. The effects exerted by S1R were detected by echocardiography, hemodynamic testing, western blot, Sirius red dyeing, ELISA, immunohistochemistry and fluorescence. We also cultured HUVECs to verify the mechanisms in vitro.

Results

Stimulation of S1R significantly ameliorated the cardiac function resulted from PIHF, in addition to the observation of reduced fibrosis in the peri-infarct region and the apoptosis of residual cardiomyocytes, which were associated with augmentation of microvascular density in peri-infarct region through activation of the JAK2/STAT3 pathway. We also indicated that suppression of JAK2/STAT3 pathway by specific inhibitor in vitro reversed the pro-angiogenic effects of S1R on HUVECs, which further confirmed that angiogenesis, responsible for PIHF amelioration, by S1R stimulation was in a JAK2/STAT3 pathway-dependent manner.

Conclusion

S1R stimulation improved PIHF-induced cardiac dysfunction and ventricular remodeling through promoting angiogenesis by activating the JAK2/STAT3 pathway.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s10020-022-00517-1.

Compositions and Functions of Mitochondria-Associated Endoplasmic Reticulum Membranes and Their Contribution to Cardioprotection by Exercise Preconditioning

Mitochondria-associated endoplasmic reticulum membranes (MAMs) are important components of intracellular signaling and contribute to the regulation of intracellular Ca²⁺/lipid homeostasis, mitochondrial dynamics, autophagy/mitophagy, apoptosis, and inflammation. Multiple studies have shown that proteins located on MAMs mediate cardioprotection. Exercise preconditioning (EP) has been shown to protect the myocardium from adverse stimuli, but these mechanisms are still being explored. Recently, a growing body of evidence points to MAMs, suggesting that exercise or EP may be involved in cardioprotection by modulating proteins on MAMs and subsequently affecting MAMs. In this review, we summarize the latest findings on MAMs, analyzing the structure and function of MAMs and the role of MAM-related proteins in cardioprotection. We focused on the possible mechanisms by which exercise or EP can modulate the involvement of MAMs in cardioprotection. We found that EP may affect MAMs by regulating changes in MFN2, MFN1, AMPK, FUNDC1, BECN1, VDAC1, GRP75, IP3R, CYPD, GSK3β, AKT, NLRP3, GRP78, and LC3, thus playing a cardioprotective role. We also provided direction for future studies that may be of interest so that more in-depth studies can be conducted to elucidate the relationship between EP and cardioprotection.

AMPK Activation Is Indispensable for the Protective Effects of Caloric Restriction on Left Ventricular Function in Postinfarct Myocardium

Background: Caloric restriction (CR) extends lifespan in many species, including mammals. CR is cardioprotective in senescent myocardium by correcting pre-existing mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptotic activation. Furthermore, it confers cardioprotection against acute ischemia-reperfusion injury. Here, we investigated the role of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in mediating the cardioprotective CR effects in failing, postinfarct myocardium. Methods: Ligation of the left coronary artery or sham operation was performed in rats and mice. Four weeks after surgery, left ventricular (LV) function was analyzed by echocardiography, and animals were assigned to different feeding groups (control diet or 40% CR, 8 weeks) as matched pairs. The role of AMPK was investigated with an AMPK inhibitor in rats or the use of alpha 2 AMPK knock-out mice. Results: CR resulted in a significant improvement in LV function, compared to postinfarct animals receiving control diet in both species. The improvement in LV function was accompanied by a reduction in serum BNP, decrease in LV proapoptotic activation, and increase in mitochondrial biogenesis in the LV. Inhibition or loss of AMPK prevented most of these changes. Conclusions: The failing, postischemic heart is protected from progressive loss of LV systolic function by CR. AMPK activation is indispensable for these protective effects.