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Objective: Protein phosphatase 1 (PP1) has been implicated in the control of cardiac function. Cardiac specific overexpression of the catalytic subunit, PP1c, results in hypertrophy and depressed contractility. Methods: To further address the role of PP1, transgenic mice (TG) were generated that overexpress in heart a functional COOH-terminally truncated form (amino acids 1-140) of the PP1 inhibitor-2 (I-2¹⁴⁰). Results: The TG hearts show increased levels of I-2¹⁴⁰ mRNA as well as protein and activity. No increase in absolute or relative heart weight was observed, nor any changes in gross pathology or increase in morbidity or mortality in the TG mice. Immunohistochemical and biochemical analyses revealed that expression of the I-2¹⁴⁰ protein is confined to cardiomyocytes where it is mainly localized in the cytosol. The total protein phosphatase (PP) activity was reduced by 80% in TG hearts as compared to wild-type littermates (WT). The PP1c mRNA level was the same in TG and WT, while the protein level was increased by∼7-fold in TG animals. The maximal rates of contraction (+dP / dt) and of relaxation (-dP / dt) were increased by 32% and 40%, respectively, in the intact catheterized TG mice compared to WT. However, the maximal contractile response to β-adrenergic agonists was comparable in hearts from TG and WT mice. In isolated cardiomyocytes of TG mice, Ca²⁺transient amplitude was increased by 50% under basal conditions and by 60% upon rapid caffeine application. The phospholamban (PLB) protein level was unchanged whereas the basal phosphorylation of PLB at Ser¹⁶ was significantly increased in TG hearts. Conclusion: These results indicate that I-2¹⁴⁰ overexpression results in decreased PP1 activity and enhanced contractility in the heart, underscoring the fundamental role of PP1 in cardiac function. © 2005 European Society of Cardiology. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Increases in type 1 phosphatase (PP1) activity have been observed in end stage human heart failure, but the role of this enzyme in cardiac function is unknown. To elucidate the functional significance of increased PP1 activity, we generated models with (i) overexpression of the catalytic subunit of PP1 in murine hearts and (ii) ablation of the PP1-specific inhibitor. Overexpression of PP1 (threefold) was associated with depressed cardiac function, dilated cardiomyopathy, and premature mortality, consistent with heart failure. Ablation of the inhibitor was associated with moderate increases in PP1 activity (23%) and impaired beta-adrenergic contractile responses. Extension of these findings to human heart failure indicated that the increased PP1 activity may be partially due to dephosphorylation or inactivation of its inhibitor. Indeed, expression of a constitutively active inhibitor was associated with rescue of beta-adrenergic responsiveness in failing human myocytes. Thus, PP1 is an important regulator of cardiac function, and inhibition of its activity may represent a novel therapeutic target in heart failure.