A peptide of the N terminus of GRK5 attenuates pressure-overload hypertrophy and heart failure

Aberrant changes in gene expression underlie the pathogenesis and progression of pressure-overload heart failure, leading to maladaptive cardiac hypertrophy, ventricular remodeling, and contractile dysfunction. Signaling through the G protein G_q triggers maladaptation and heart failure, in part through the activation of G protein-coupled receptor kinase 5 (GRK5). Hypertrophic stimuli induce the accumulation of GRK5 in the nuclei of cardiomyocytes, where it regulates pathological gene expression through multiple transcription factors including NFAT. The nuclear targeting of GRK5 is mediated by an amino-terminal (NT) domain that binds to calmodulin (CaM). Here, we sought to prevent GRK5-mediated pathology in pressure-overload maladaptation and heart failure by expressing in cardiomyocytes a peptide encoding the GRK5 NT (GRK5nt) that encompasses the CaM binding domain. In cultured cardiomyocytes, GRK5nt expression abrogated G_q-coupled receptor-mediated hypertrophy, including attenuation of pathological gene expression and the transcriptional activity of NFAT and NF-κB. We confirmed that GRK5nt bound to and blocked Ca²⁺-CaM from associating with endogenous GRK5, thereby preventing GRK5 nuclear accumulation after pressure overload. We generated mice that expressed GRKnt in a cardiac-specific fashion (TgGRK5nt mice), which exhibited reduced cardiac hypertrophy, ventricular dysfunction, pulmonary congestion, and cardiac fibrosis after chronic transverse aortic constriction. Together, our data support a role for GRK5nt as an inhibitor of pathological GRK5 signaling that prevents heart failure.

Genomic Binding Patterns of Forkhead Box Protein O1 Reveal Its Unique Role in Cardiac Hypertrophy

BACKGROUND

Cardiac hypertrophic growth is mediated by robust changes in gene expression and changes that underlie the increase in cardiomyocyte size. The former is regulated by RNA polymerase II (pol II) de novo recruitment or loss; the latter involves incremental increases in the transcriptional elongation activity of pol II that is preassembled at the transcription start site. The differential regulation of these distinct processes by transcription factors remains unknown. Forkhead box protein O1 (FoxO1) is an insulin-sensitive transcription factor that is also regulated by hypertrophic stimuli in the heart. However, the scope of its gene regulation remains unexplored.

METHODS

To address this, we performed FoxO1 chromatin immunoprecipitation-deep sequencing in mouse hearts after 7 days of isoproterenol injections (3 mg·kg^-1·mg^-1), transverse aortic constriction, or vehicle injection/sham surgery.

RESULTS

Our data demonstrate increases in FoxO1 chromatin binding during cardiac hypertrophic growth, which positively correlate with extent of hypertrophy. To assess the role of FoxO1 on pol II dynamics and gene expression, the FoxO1 chromatin immunoprecipitation-deep sequencing results were aligned with those of pol II chromatin immunoprecipitation-deep sequencing across the chromosomal coordinates of sham- or transverse aortic constriction-operated mouse hearts. This uncovered that FoxO1 binds to the promoters of 60% of cardiac-expressed genes at baseline and 91% after transverse aortic constriction. FoxO1 binding is increased in genes regulated by pol II de novo recruitment, loss, or pause-release. In vitro, endothelin-1- and, in vivo, pressure overload-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophic growth is prevented with FoxO1 knockdown or deletion, which was accompanied by reductions in inducible genes, including Comtd1 in vitro and Fstl1 and Uck2 in vivo.

CONCLUSIONS

Together, our data suggest that FoxO1 may mediate cardiac hypertrophic growth via regulation of pol II de novo recruitment and pause-release; the latter represents the majority (59%) of FoxO1-bound, pol II-regulated genes after pressure overload. These findings demonstrate the breadth of transcriptional regulation by FoxO1 during cardiac hypertrophy, information that is essential for its therapeutic targeting.

The expanding GRK interactome: Implications in cardiovascular disease and potential for therapeutic development

Heart failure (HF) is a global epidemic with the highest degree of mortality and morbidity of any disease presently studied. G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are prominent regulators of cardiovascular function. Activated GPCRs are "turned off" by GPCR kinases (GRKs) in a process known as "desensitization". GRKs 2 and 5 are highly expressed in the heart, and known to be upregulated in HF. Over the last 20 years, both GRK2 and GRK5 have been demonstrated to be critical mediators of the molecular alterations that occur in the failing heart. In the present review, we will highlight recent findings that further characterize "non-canonical" GRK signaling observed in HF. Further, we will also present potential therapeutic strategies (i.e. small molecule inhibition, microRNAs, gene therapy) that may have potential in combating the deleterious effects of GRKs in HF.

Decreased levels of BAG3 in a family with a rare variant and in idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy

The most common cause of dilated cardiomyopathy and heart failure (HF) is ischemic heart disease; however, in a third of all patients the cause remains undefined and patients are diagnosed as having idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDC). Recent studies suggest that many patients with IDC have a family history of HF and rare genetic variants in over 35 genes have been shown to be causative of disease. We employed whole-exome sequencing to identify the causative variant in a large family with autosomal dominant transmission of dilated cardiomyopathy. Sequencing and subsequent informatics revealed a novel 10-nucleotide deletion in the BCL2-associated athanogene 3 (BAG3) gene (Ch10:del 121436332_12143641: del. 1266_1275 [NM 004281]) that segregated with all affected individuals. The deletion predicted a shift in the reading frame with the resultant deletion of 135 amino acids from the C-terminal end of the protein. Consistent with genetic variants in genes encoding other sarcomeric proteins there was a considerable amount of genetic heterogeneity in the affected family members. Interestingly, we also found that the levels of BAG3 protein were significantly reduced in the hearts from unrelated patients with end-stage HF undergoing cardiac transplantation when compared with non-failing controls. Diminished levels of BAG3 protein may be associated with both familial and non-familial forms of dilated cardiomyopathy.

β-adrenergic receptor-mediated cardiac contractility is inhibited via vasopressin type 1A-receptor-dependent signaling

BACKGROUND

Enhanced arginine vasopressin levels are associated with increased mortality during end-stage human heart failure, and cardiac arginine vasopressin 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 regulates βAR responsiveness and in doing so contributes to development of heart failure.

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 Ca(2+) 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/G protein receptor kinase-dependent manner.

CONCLUSIONS

This newly discovered relationship between cardiac V1AR and βAR may be informative for the treatment of patients with acute decompensated heart failure and elevated arginine vasopressin.

Estimation of body weight and development of a body weight score for adult equids using morphometric measurements

Excessive BW has become a major health issue in the equine (Equus caballus) industry. The objectives were to determine if the addition of neck circumference and height improved existing BW estimation equations, to develop an equation for estimation of ideal BW, and to develop a method for assessing the likelihood of being overweight in adult equids. Six hundred and twenty-nine adult horses and ponies who met the following criteria were measured and weighed at 2 horse shows in September 2011 in Minnesota: age ≥ 3 yr, height ≥ 112 cm, and nonpregnant. Personnel assessed BCS on a scale of 1 to 9 and measured wither height at the third thoracic vertebra, body length from the point of shoulder to the point of the buttock, neck and girth circumference, and weight using a portable livestock scale. Individuals were grouped into breed types on the basis of existing knowledge and were confirmed with multivariate ANOVA analysis of morphometric measurements. Equations for estimated and ideal BW were developed using linear regression modeling. For estimated BW, the model was fit using all individuals and all morphometric measurements. For ideal BW, the model was fit using individuals with a BCS of 5; breed type, height, and body length were considered as these measurements are not affected by adiposity. A BW score to assess the likelihood of being overweight was developed by fitting a proportional odds logistic regression model on BCS using the difference between ideal and estimated BW, the neck to height ratio, and the girth to height ratio as predictors; this score was then standardized using the data from individuals with a BCS of 5. Breed types included Arabian, stock, and pony. Mean (± SD) BCS was 5.6 ± 0.9. BW (kg) was estimated by taking [girth (cm)(1.48)6 × length (cm)(0.554) × height (cm)(0.599) × neck (cm)(0.173)]/3,596, 3,606, and 3,441 for Arabians, ponies, and stock horses, respectively (R(2) = 0.92; mean-squared error (MSE) = 22 kg). Ideal BW (kg) was estimated by taking [length (cm) × 2.8] + [height (cm) × 4.2] - 611, 606, and 577 for Arabians, ponies, and stock horses, respectively (R(2) = 0.86; MSE = 24). Equids with a BCS of ≥ 7 had a greater likelihood of being overweight, and the model suggested cutoffs at the 48th and 83rd percentiles for underweight and overweight individuals, respectively. Morphometric measurements were successfully used to develop equid BW-related equations.

Arginine vasopressin enhances cell survival via a G protein-coupled receptor kinase 2/β-arrestin1/extracellular-regulated kinase 1/2-dependent pathway in H9c2 cells

Circulating levels of arginine vasopressin (AVP) are elevated during hypovolemia and during cardiac stress. AVP activates arginine vasopressin type 1A (V(1A))/Gα(q)-coupled receptors in the heart and vasculature and V(2)/Gα(s)-coupled receptors in the kidney. However, little is known regarding the signaling pathways that influence the effects of V(1A) receptor (V(1A)R) activation during cellular injury. Using hypoxia-reoxygenation (H/R) as a cell injury model, we evaluated cell survival and caspase 3/7 activity in H9c2 myoblasts after treatment with AVP. Pretreatment of H9c2 cells with AVP significantly reduced H/R-induced cell death and caspase 3/7 activity, effects that were blocked via both selective V(1A)R inhibition and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MEK1/2) inhibition. AVP increased extracellular-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) phosphorylation in a concentration-dependent manner that was sensitive to MEK1/2 inhibition and V(1A)R inhibition, but not V(1B)R or V(2)R inhibition. Discrete elements of the V(1A)/Gα(q)-protein kinase C (PKC) and V(1A)/G protein-coupled receptor kinase (GRK)/β-arrestin signaling cascades were inhibited to dissect the pathways responsible for the protective effects of V(1A)R signaling: Gα(q) (overexpression of Gq-I-ires-green fluorescent protein), PKC (administration of Ro 31-82425; 2-[8-(aminomethyl)-6,7,8,9-tetrahydropyrido[1,2-a]indol-3-yl]-3-(1-methyl-1H-indol-3-yl)maleimide, HCl, bisindolylmaleimide X, HCl), GRK2 [C-terminal GRK2 peptide overexpression and small interfering RNA (siRNA) knockdown], GRK5 (siRNA knockdown), and β-arrestin1 (siRNA knockdown). These studies demonstrated that both Gα(q)/PKC- and GRK2/β-arrestin1-dependent V(1A)R signaling were capable of inducing ERK1/2 phosphorylation in response to AVP stimulation. However, AVP-mediated protection against H/R was elicited only via GRK2- and β-arrestin1-dependent signaling. These results suggest that activation of the V(1A)R in H9c2 cells mediates protective signaling via a GRK2/β-arrestin1/ERK1/2-dependent mechanism that leads to decreased caspase 3/7 activity and enhanced survival under conditions of ischemic stress.

Measurement of Bovine IgG by Indirect Competitive ELISA as a Means of Detecting Milk Adulteration

The aim of this work was to develop an assay capable of detecting adulteration of high premium milk with milk from cheaper sources. An indirect, competitive ELISA was developed for the rapid detection of cows' milk in the milk of goat, sheep, and buffalo. The assay uses a monoclonal antibody produced against bovine IgG. This antibody recognizes a species-specific epitope on the heavy chain of both bovine IgG1 and IgG2. A peroxidase-conjugated anti-mouse IgG antibody was used to detect bound monoclonal antibody and subsequent enzymatic conversion of substrate resulted in clear differences in absorbance when assaying different mixtures of milks adulterated with cows' milk. Once optimized, the ELISA was found to be highly specific. Detection limits of the assay are 1.0 microg/mL of bovine IgG, or 0.1% (vol/vol) adulteration with cows' milk. The assay was highly reproducible (CV < 10%) and performed equally well when used to detect bovine IgG in mixtures with the 3 types of milk tested. The ELISA performance makes it suitable for development as a kit, for use in the field as a high throughput screening ELISA.

Sonographic appearance of the ventriculus terminalis cyst in the neonatal spinal cord

The ventriculus terminalis or "fifth ventricle" is an ependyma-lined residual lumen of the caudal portion of the spinal cord (the conus medullaris). We present the cases of three neonates with asymptomatic cystic dilatation of the ventriculus terminalis as seen on spinal sonography. Over a 4 year period (1996-1999), we prospectively found three cases in which spinal sonograms demonstrated cystic dilatation of the ventriculus terminalis of the conus medullaris in normal term neonates. Sonograms of the lumbosacral spine of two of the infants demonstrated cystic dilatation of the ventriculus terminalis of the conus medullaris. The third infant had cystic dilatation at the distal tip of the conus medullaris at the origin of the filum terminale. No other abnormalities were noted. The three infants have remained asymptomatic during clinical follow-up periods of up to 3 years. Cystic dilatation of the ventriculus terminalis is an unusual but normal anatomic variant of the conus medullaris that can be visualized on spinal sonograms in neonates.

Enlarged photon-deficient area in expected site of renal allograft on Tc-99m DTPA study. A sign of renal vein thrombosis

Tc-99m DTPA renal imaging has been routinely used in postrenal transplant evaluation. A patient's Tc-99m DTPA studies after transplantation are presented, showing a large photon-deficient area in the region of the allograft on the third postoperative day. The photon-deficient area is two to three times larger than that seen in the original, functioning allograft on the first postoperative day. Enlarged to a weight of 530 g, the allograft on gross and microscopic examination confirmed renal vein thrombosis. Enlargement of the photon-deficient area at the anatomic site of the allograft indicates a scintigraphic pattern of renal vein occlusion incompatible with a viable allograft.