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Recent studies indicate that members of the multidrug-resistance protein (MRP) family belonging to ATP binding cassette type C (ABCC) membrane proteins extrude cyclic nucleotides from various cell types. This study aimed to determine whether MRP proteins regulate cardiac cAMP homeostasis. Here, we demonstrate that MRP4 is the predominant isoform present at the plasma membrane of cardiacmyocytes and that it mediates the efflux of cAMP in these cells. MRP4-deficient mice displayed enhanced cardiac myocyte cAMP formation, contractility, and cardiac hypertrophy at 9 mo of age, an effect that was compensated transiently by increased phosphodiesterase expression at young age. These findings suggest that cAMP extrusion via MRP4 acts together with phosphodiesterases to control cAMP levels in cardiac myocytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigates the role of the sodium+/calcium2+ exchange current in whole cell patch-clamped human atrial myocytes. Factors in the activation of the exchange; Enhancement during cardiomyopathy; Development of action potentials and role in delayed afterdepolarization.

Examines whether the two components of the voltage-activated outward K+ current in human atrial myocytes are distinct curernts differentially regulated. Behavior during serum-induced growth of cultured myocytes. Cell yield and Ca2+ tolerance; Passive membrane properties; Myocyte isolation and culture; Current measurements; Patient characteristics.

Abstract: In blood vessels, tone is maintained by agonist-induced cytosolic Ca2+ oscillations of quiescent/contractile vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). However, in synthetic/proliferative VSMCs, Gq/phosphoinositide receptor-coupled agonists trigger a steady-state increase in cytosolic Ca2+ followed by a Store Operated Calcium Entry (SOCE) which translates into activation of the proliferation-associated transcription factor NFAT. Here, we report that in human coronary artery smooth muscle cells (hCASMCs), the sarco/endoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPase type 2a (SERCA2a) expressed in the contractile form of the hCASMCs, controls the nature of the agonist-induced Ca2+ transient and the resulting down-stream signaling pathway. Indeed, restoring SERCA2a expression by gene transfer in synthetic hCASMCs 1) increased Ca2+ storage capacity; 2) modified agonist-induced IP3R Ca2+ release from steady-state to oscillatory mode (the frequency of agonist-induced IP3R Ca2+ signal was 11.66±1.40/100s in SERCA2a-expressing cells (n=39) vs 1.37±0.20/100 s in control cells (n=45), p<0.01); 3) suppressed SOCE by preventing interactions between SR calcium sensor STIM1 and pore forming unit ORAI1; 4) inhibited calcium regulated transcription factor NFAT and its down-stream physiological function such as proliferation and migration. This study provides evidence for the first time that oscillatory and steady-state patterns of Ca2+ transients have different effects on calcium-dependent physiological functions in smooth muscle cells. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]