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Objective— Vascular smooth muscle cell (SMC) migration is regulated by cytoskeletal remodeling as well as by certain transient receptor potential (TRP) channels, nonselective cation channels that modulate calcium influx. Proper function of multiple subfamily C TRP (TRPC) channels requires the scaffolding protein Homer 1, which associates with the actin-binding protein Drebrin. We found that SMC Drebrin expression is upregulated in atherosclerosis and in response to injury and investigated whether Drebrin inhibits SMC activation, either through regulation of TRP channel function via Homer or through a direct effect on the actin cytoskeleton. Approach and Results— Wild-type (WT) and congenic Dbn −/+ mice were subjected to wire-mediated carotid endothelial denudation. Subsequent neointimal hyperplasia was 2.4±0.3-fold greater in Dbn −/+ than in WT mice. Levels of globular actin were equivalent in Dbn −/+ and WT SMCs, but there was a 2.4±0.5-fold decrease in filamentous actin in Dbn −/+ SMCs compared with WT. Filamentous actin was restored to WT levels in Dbn −/+ SMCs by adenoviral-mediated rescue expression of Drebrin. Compared with WT SMCs, Dbn −/+ SMCs exhibited increased TRP channel activity in response to platelet-derived growth factor, increased migration assessed in Boyden chambers, and increased proliferation. Enhanced TRP channel activity and migration in Dbn −/+ SMCs were normalized to WT levels by rescue expression of not only WT Drebrin but also a mutant Drebrin isoform that binds actin but fails to bind Homer. Conclusions— Drebrin reduces SMC activation through its interaction with the actin cytoskeleton but independently of its interaction with Homer scaffolds.

The oncoprotein Mdm2 is a RING domain-containing E3 ubiquitin ligase that ubiquitinates G protein-coupled receptor kinase 2 (GRK2) and β-arrestin2, thereby regulating β-adrenergic receptor (βAR) signaling and endocytosis. Previous studies showed that cardiac Mdm2 expression is critical for controlling p53-dependent apoptosis during early embryonic development, but the role of Mdm2 in the developed adult heart is unknown. We aimed to identify if Mdm2 affects βAR signaling and cardiac function in adult mice. Using Mdm2/p53-KO mice, which survive for 9-12 months, we identified a critical and potentially novel role for Mdm2 in the adult mouse heart through its regulation of cardiac β1AR signaling. While baseline cardiac function was mostly similar in both Mdm2/p53-KO and wild-type (WT) mice, isoproterenol-induced cardiac contractility in Mdm2/p53-KO was significantly blunted compared with WT mice. Isoproterenol increased cAMP in left ventricles of WT but not of Mdm2/p53-KO mice. Additionally, while basal and forskolin-induced calcium handling in isolated Mdm2/p53-KO and WT cardiomyocytes were equivalent, isoproterenol-induced calcium handling in Mdm2/p53-KO was impaired. Mdm2/p53-KO hearts expressed 2-fold more GRK2 than WT. GRK2 polyubiquitination via lysine-48 linkages was significantly reduced in Mdm2/p53-KO hearts. Tamoxifen-inducible cardiomyocyte-specific deletion of Mdm2 in adult mice also led to a significant increase in GRK2, and resulted in severely impaired cardiac function, high mortality, and no detectable βAR responsiveness. Gene delivery of either Mdm2 or GRK2-CT in vivo using adeno-associated virus 9 (AAV9) effectively rescued β1AR-induced cardiac contractility in Mdm2/p53-KO. These findings reveal a critical p53-independent physiological role of Mdm2 in adult hearts, namely, regulation of GRK2-mediated desensitization of βAR signaling.

AIMS: The actin-binding protein Drebrin is up-regulated in response to arterial injury and reduces smooth muscle cell (SMC) migration and proliferation through its interaction with the actin cytoskeleton. We, therefore, tested the hypothesis that SMC Drebrin inhibits angiotensin II-induced remodelling of the proximal aorta. METHODS AND RESULTS: Angiotensin II was administered via osmotic minipumps at 1000 ng/kg/min continuously for 28 days in SM22-Cre(+)/Dbn(flox/flox) (SMC-Dbn(−/−)) and control mice. Blood pressure responses to angiotensin II were assessed by telemetry. After angiotensin II infusion, we assessed remodelling in the proximal ascending aorta by echocardiography and planimetry of histological cross sections. Although the degree of hypertension was equivalent in SMC-Dbn(−/−) and control mice, SMC-Dbn(−/−) mice nonetheless exhibited 60% more proximal aortic medial thickening and two-fold more outward aortic remodelling than control mice in response to angiotensin II. Proximal aortas demonstrated greater cellular proliferation and matrix deposition in SMC-Dbn(−/−) mice than in control mice, as evidenced by a higher prevalence of proliferating cell nuclear antigen-positive nuclei and higher levels of collagen I. Compared with control mouse aortas, SMC-Dbn(−/−) aortas demonstrated greater angiotensin II-induced NADPH oxidase activation and inflammation, evidenced by higher levels of Ser-536-phosphorylated NFκB p65 subunits and higher levels of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, matrix metalloproteinase-9, and adventitial macrophages. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that SMC Drebrin deficiency augments angiotensin II-induced inflammation and adverse aortic remodelling.

Sinus bradycardia is frequently observed in patients treated with crizotinib, a receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor used for the treatment of anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-rearranged non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We investigated whether crizotinib could influence heart rate (HR) through direct cardiac effects. The direct effect of crizotinib on HR was studied using ECG analysis of Langendorff-perfused mouse hearts. The whole-cell patch clamp technique was used to measure the effects of crizotinib on the hyperpolarization-activated funny current, If, in mouse sinoatrial node cells (SANCs) and hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated channel 4 (HCN4) activity in HEK-293 cells stably expressing human HCN4. Crizotinib resulted in a dose-dependent reduction in HR in isolated intact mouse hearts with a half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 1.7 ± 0.4 μmol/L. Because ECG analysis revealed that crizotinib (0–5 μmol/L) resulted in significant reductions in HR in isolated mouse hearts without changes in PR, QRS, or QT intervals, we performed whole-cell patch clamp recordings of SANCs which showed that crizotinib inhibited If which regulates cardiac pacemaker activity. Crizotinib resulted in diminished current density of HCN4, the major molecular determinant of If, with an IC50 of 1.4 ± 0.3 μmol/L. Crizotinib also slowed HCN4 activation and shifted the activation curve to the left towards more hyperpolarized potentials. Our results suggest that crizotinib’s effects on HCN4 channels play a significant role in mediating its observed effects on HR.

Mutations in the canonical transient receptor potential cation channel 6 (TRPC6) are responsible for familial forms of adult onset focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). The mechanisms by which TRPC6 mutations cause kidney disease are not well understood. We used TRPC6-deficient mice to examine the function of TRPC6 in the kidney. We found that adult TRPC6-deficient mice had BP and albumin excretion rates similar to wild-type animals. Glomerular histomorphology revealed no abnormalities on both light and electron microscopy. To determine whether the absence of TRPC6 would alter susceptibility to hypertension and renal injury, we infused mice with angiotensin II continuously for 28 days. Although both groups developed similar levels of hypertension, TRPC6-deficient mice had significantly less albuminuria, especially during the early phase of the infusion; this suggested that TRPC6 adversely influences the glomerular filter. We used whole-cell patch-clamp recording to measure cell-membrane currents in primary cultures of podocytes from both wild-type and TRPC6-deficient mice. In podocytes from wild-type mice, angiotensin II and a direct activator of TRPC6 both augmented cell-membrane currents; TRPC6 deficiency abrogated these increases in current magnitude. Our findings suggest that TRPC6 promotes albuminuria, perhaps by promoting angiotensin II-dependent increases in Ca(2+), suggesting that TRPC6 blockade may be therapeutically beneficial in proteinuric kidney disease.

Rationale: Cardiac muscle adapts to increase workload by altering cardiomyocyte size and function resulting in cardiac hypertrophy. G protein–coupled receptor signaling is known to govern the hypertrophic response through the regulation of ion channel activity and downstream signaling in failing cardiomyocytes. Objective: Transient receptor potential canonical (TRPC) channels are G protein–coupled receptor operated channels previously implicated in cardiac hypertrophy. Our objective of this study is to better understand how TRPC channels influence cardiomyocyte calcium signaling. Methods and Results: Here, we used whole cell patch clamp of adult cardiomyocytes to show upregulation of a nonselective cation current reminiscent of TRPC channels subjected to pressure overload. This TRPC current corresponds to the increased TRPC channel expression noted in hearts of mice subjected to pressure overload. Importantly, we show that mice lacking TRPC1 channels are missing this putative TRPC current. Moreover, Trpc1 − / − mice fail to manifest evidence of maladaptive cardiac hypertrophy and maintain preserved cardiac function when subjected to hemodynamic stress and neurohormonal excess. In addition, we provide a mechanistic basis for the protection conferred to Trpc1 − / − mice as mechanosensitive signaling through calcineurin/NFAT, mTOR and Akt is altered in Trpc1 − / − mice. Conclusions: From these studies, we suggest that TRPC1 channels are critical for the adaptation to biomechanical stress and TRPC dysregulation leads to maladaptive cardiac hypertrophy and failure.

Transient receptor potential (TRP) channels are nonselective cation channels, several of which are expressed in striated muscle. Because the scaffolding protein Homer 1 has been implicated in TRP channel regulation, we hypothesized that Homer proteins play a significant role in skeletal muscle function. Mice lacking Homer 1 exhibited a myopathy characterized by decreased muscle fiber cross-sectional area and decreased skeletal muscle force generation. Homer 1 knockout myotubes displayed increased basal current density and spontaneous cation influx. This spontaneous cation influx in Homer 1 knockout myotubes was blocked by reexpression of Homer 1b, but not Homer 1a, and by gene silencing of TRPC1. Moreover, diminished Homer 1 expression in mouse models of Duchenne's muscular dystrophy suggests that loss of Homer 1 scaffolding of TRP channels may contribute to the increased stretch-activated channel activity observed in mdx myofibers. These findings provide direct evidence that Homer 1 functions as an important scaffold for TRP channels and regulates mechanotransduction in skeletal muscle.

Some mutations of the sodium channel gene NaV1.5 are multifunctional, causing combinations of LQTS, Brugada syndrome and progressive cardiac conduction system disease (PCCD). The combination of Brugada syndrome and PCCD is uncommon, although they both result from a reduction in the sodium current. We hypothesize that slow conduction is sufficient to cause S-T segment elevation and undertook a combined experimental and theoretical study to determine whether conduction slowing alone can produce the Brugada phenotype. Deletion of lysine 1479 in one of two positively charged clusters in the III/IV inter-domain linker causes both syndromes. We have examined the functional effects of this mutation using heterologous expression of the wild-type and mutant sodium channel in HEK-293-EBNA cells. We show that ΔK1479 shifts the potential of half-activation, V1/2m, to more positive potentials ( V1/2m = −36.8 ± 0.8 and −24.5 ± 1.3 mV for the wild-type and ΔK1479 mutant respectively, n = 11, 10). The depolarizing shift increases the extent of depolarization required for activation. The potential of half-inactivation, V1/2h, is also shifted to more positive potentials ( V1/2h = −85 ± 1.1 and −79.4 ± 1.2 mV for wild-type and ΔK1479 mutant respectively), increasing the fraction of channels available for activation. These shifts are quantitatively the same as a mutation that produces PCCD only, G514C. We incorporated experimentally derived parameters into a model of the cardiac action potential and its propagation in a one dimensional cable (simulating endo-, mid-myocardial and epicardial regions). The simulations show that action potential and ECG changes consistent with Brugada syndrome may result from conduction slowing alone; marked repolarization heterogeneity is not required. The findings also suggest how Brugada syndrome and PCCD which both result from loss of sodium channel function are sometimes present alone and at other times in combination.

The new myofilament Ca2+ sensitizer levosimendan (LSM) is a positive inotropic and vasodilatory agent. Its beneficial effects have been demonstrated at rest in congestive heart failure (CHF). However, its effect during exercise (Ex) in CHF is unknown. We assessed the effects of LSM on left ventricular (LV) dynamics at rest and during Ex in eight conscious, instrumented dogs with pacing-induced CHF. After CHF, with dogs at rest, LSM decreased arterial elastance ( Ea) and increased LV contractile performance as assessed by the slope of LV pressure-volume (P-V) relation. LSM caused a >60% increase in the peak rate of mitral flow (dV/d tmax) due to decreases in minimal LV pressure and the time constant of LV relaxation (τ). LV arterial coupling, quantified as the ratio of end-systolic elastance ( Ees) to Ea, was increased from 0.47 to 0.85%. LV mechanical efficiency, determined as the ratio of stroke work to total P-V area, was improved from 0.54 ± 0.09 to 0.61 ± 0.07. These beneficial effects persisted during Ex after CHF. Compared with CHF Ex dogs, treatment with LSM prevented Ex-induced abnormal increases in mean left atrial pressure and end-diastolic pressure and decreased Ees/ Ea. With LSM treatment during CHF Ex, the early diastolic portion of the LV P-V loop was shifted downward with decreased minimal LV pressure and τ values and a further augmented dV/d tmax. Ees/ Ea improved, and mechanical efficiency further increased from 0.61 ± 0.07 to 0.67 ± 0.07, which was close to the value reached during normal Ex. After CHF, LSM produced arterial vasodilatation; improved LV relaxation and diastolic filling; increased contractility, LV arterial coupling, and mechanical efficiency; and normalized the response to Ex.

Abstract— Altered expression and functional responses to cardiac β 3 -adrenergic receptors (ARs) may contribute to progressive cardiac dysfunction in heart failure (CHF). We compared myocyte β 3 -AR mRNA and protein levels and myocyte contractile, [Ca 2+ ] i transient, and Ca 2+ current ( I Ca,L ) responses to BRL-37344 (BRL, 10 −8 mol/L), a selective β 3 -AR agonist, in 9 instrumented dogs before and after pacing-induced CHF. Myocytes were isolated from left ventricular myocardium biopsy tissues. Using reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction, we detected β 3 -AR mRNA from myocyte total RNA in each animal. Using a cloned canine β 3 -AR cDNA probe and myocyte poly A + RNA, we detected a single band about 3.4 kb in normal and CHF myocytes. β 3 -AR protein was detected by Western blot. β 3 -AR mRNA and protein levels were significantly greater in CHF myocytes than in normal myocytes. Importantly, these changes were associated with enhanced β 3 -AR–mediated negative modulation on myocyte contractile response and [Ca 2+ ] i regulation. Compared with normal myocytes, CHF myocytes had much greater decreases in the velocity of shortening and relengthening with BRL accompanied by larger reductions in the peak systolic [Ca 2+ ] i transient and I Ca,L . These responses were not modified by pretreating myocytes with metoprolol (a β 1 -AR antagonist) or nadolol (a β 1 - and β 2 -AR antagonist), but were nearly prevented by bupranolol or L-748,337 (β 3 -AR antagonists). We conclude that in dogs with pacing-induced CHF, β 3 -AR gene expression and protein levels are upregulated, and the functional response to β 3 -AR stimulation is increased. This may contribute to progression of cardiac dysfunction in CHF.

Background —Superoxide (O 2 − ) generated by enhanced xanthine oxidase (XO) activity may contribute to the increased myocardial oxidative stress in heart failure (CHF). Because blocking XO with allopurinol augments myofilament Ca 2+ sensitivity in reperfusion injury and CHF, we hypothesized that it may improve adrenergic inotropic responsiveness in CHF. Methods and Results —We studied the effect of allopurinol on the contractile response to dobutamine and exercise in 7 chronically instrumented conscious dogs before and after producing CHF by rapid pacing. Left ventricular (LV) contractile performance was measured by the slopes of the LV end-systolic pressure-volume relation (E ES ) and stroke work–end-diastolic volume relation (M SW ). Before CHF, allopurinol produced no change in LV contractile performance and did not alter the response to dobutamine or exercise. After CHF, allopurinol produced significant ( P ES (5.0±0.6 versus 3.3±0.6 mm Hg/mL) and M SW . Dobutamine and allopurinol produced greater increases in E ES (5.4±0.6 versus 7.4±0.6 mm Hg/mL) and M SW (60.1±7.4 versus 73.7±4.4 mm Hg) than did dobutamine alone. After allopurinol, dP/dt max , stroke volume, and M SW were higher during CHF exercise. LV diastolic pressures were lower during CHF exercise after allopurinol. Conclusions —Allopurinol has no discernable effects on LV contractile function or adrenergic responsiveness in normal, conscious animals. In pacing-induced CHF, however, allopurinol improves LV systolic function at rest and during adrenergic stimulation and exercise.

The homeodomain transcription factor Pdx-1 has important roles in pancreatic development and β-cell function and survival. In the present study, we demonstrate that adenovirus-mediated overexpression of Pdx-1 in rat or human islets also stimulates cell replication. Moreover, cooverexpression of Pdx-1 with another homeodomain transcription factor, Nkx6.1, has an additive effect on proliferation compared to either factor alone, implying discrete activating mechanisms. Consistent with this, Nkx6.1 stimulates mainly β-cell proliferation, whereas Pdx-1 stimulates both α- and β-cell proliferation. Furthermore, cyclins D1/D2 are upregulated by Pdx-1 but not by Nkx6.1, and inhibition of cdk4 blocks Pdx-1-stimulated but not Nkx6.1-stimulated islet cell proliferation. Genes regulated by Pdx-1 but not Nkx6.1 were identified by microarray analysis. Two members of the transient receptor potential cation (TRPC) channel family, TRPC3 and TRPC6, are upregulated by Pdx-1 overexpression, and small interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated knockdown of TRPC3/6 or TRPC6 alone inhibits Pdx-1-induced but not Nkx6.1-induced islet cell proliferation. Pdx-1 also stimulates extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) phosphorylation, an effect partially blocked by knockdown of TRPC3/6, and blockade of ERK1/2 activation with a MEK1/2 inhibitor partially impairs Pdx-1-stimulated proliferation. These studies define a pathway by which overexpression of Pdx-1 activates islet cell proliferation that is distinct from and additive to a pathway activated by Nkx6.1.

Immediately after birth, skeletal muscle must undergo an enormous period of growth and differentiation that is coordinated by several intertwined growth signaling pathways. How these pathways are integrated remains unclear but is likely to involve skeletal muscle contractile activity and calcium (Ca(2+)) signaling. Here, we show that Ca(2+) signaling governed by stromal interaction molecule 1 (STIM1) plays a central role in the integration of signaling and, therefore, muscle growth and differentiation. Conditional deletion of STIM1 from the skeletal muscle of mice (mSTIM1(-/-) mice) leads to profound growth delay, reduced myonuclear proliferation, and perinatal lethality. We show that muscle fibers of neonatal mSTIM1(-/-) mice cannot support the activity-dependent Ca(2+) transients evoked by tonic neurostimulation, even though excitation contraction coupling (ECC) remains unperturbed. In addition, disruption of tonic Ca(2+) signaling in muscle fibers attenuates downstream muscle growth signaling, such as that of calcineurin, mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases, extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 and 2 (ERK1/2), and AKT. Based on our findings, we propose a model wherein STIM1-mediated store-operated calcium entry (SOCE) governs the Ca(2+) signaling required for cellular processes that are necessary for neonatal muscle growth and differentiation.

Ventricular fibrillation threshold (VFT) was measured in anesthetized dogs, while cardiac work was altered by changing arterial pressure (pressure work) or by opening an aorta to left atrial shunt (flow work). When VFT during pressure work was compared with that during flow work, at a constant heart rate, it was found that there was a negative correlation (a lower threshold for fibrillation) between VFT and flow work but not pressure work. VFT also had negative correlations with the rate of contraction and relaxation indexes; maximal +/- dp/dt and negative dp/dt were the most significant variables. On the other hand, coronary flow, oxygen consumption, end diastolic pressure, and tension time index were not correlated with VFTs. Thus, VFT depended on mechanical factors not necessarily correlated to alterations in myocardial perfusion.

It is now well established that stromal interaction molecule 1 (STIM1) is the calcium sensor of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stores required to activate store-operated calcium entry (SOC) channels at the surface of non-excitable cells. Yet little is known about STIM1 in excitable cells such as striated muscle where the complement of calcium regulatory molecules is rather disparate from that of non-excitable cells. Here, we show that STIM1 is expressed in both myotubes and adult skeletal muscle. Myotubes lacking functional STIM1 fail to exhibit SOC and fatigue rapidly. Moreover, mice lacking functional STIM1 die perinatally from a skeletal myopathy. In addition, STIM1 haploinsufficiency confers a contractile defect only under conditions where rapid refilling of stores would be needed. These findings provide novel insight to the role of STIM1 in skeletal muscle and suggest that STIM1 has a universal role as an ER/SR calcium sensor in both excitable and non-excitable cells.

Transient receptor potential canonical (TRPC) channels are non-selective cation channels that are activated in response to G-protein coupled receptor activation, depletion of internal stores and mechanical stretch. Recent reports suggest that cardiac TRPC channels mediate calcineurin dependent cardiac hypertrophy, yet few details exist as to the mechanism for activation of these channels. Here, we provide evidence that TRPC1 channels are the dominant TRPC channel in mouse cardiomyocytes and cardiac TRPC1 protein expression is augmented by seven fold following thoracic aortic banding (TAC). In addition, we provide the first loss of function studies to show that mice lacking TRPC1 channels developed significantly less cardiac hypertrophy following pressure overload induced by thoracic aortic banding suggesting that TRPC1 may confer deleterious calcium entry. Whole cell voltage clamp studies of isolated adult cardiomyocytes reveal a non-selective cation current that is induced by pressure overload that is absent in TRPC1−/− cardiomyocytes and in which TRP blockers such as gadolinium, 2-amino biphenyl boric acid and SKF96365 inhibit the TAC induced current. Finally, neonatal cardiomyocytes lacking functional TRPC1 display reduced TRPC current in response to cell stretch or angiotensin-II; the functional consequence of which includes reduced calcium oscillation frequency and reduced BNP expression. These results provide the first loss of function evidence for TRPC1 channels in cardiac hypertrophy and implicate TRPC1 as a stretch activated channel.

Background. Chronic alcohol ingestion is accompanied by sustained renin-angiotensin system (RAS) activation followed by progressive left ventricular (LV) myocyte dysfunction. This suggests a role for angiotensin II (AII) in the development of alcoholic cardiomyopathy (ACM). We tested the hypothesis that chronic alcohol intake may cause upregulation of AII AT 1 receptors and altered cardiac inotropic response to AII stimulation, thus contributing to the development of ACM. Methods. We compared LV myocyte AT 1 - and AT 2 -receptor mRNA and protein levels, myocyte contractile function, [Ca 2+ ] i transients ([Ca 2+ ] iT ), and Ca 2+ current (I Ca,L ) in response to AII (10 −6 M) in 16 instrumented dogs over 6 months. Eight animals received alcohol (once per day orally, providing 33% of total daily caloric intake), and eight were controls. Myocytes were isolated from LV myocardial biopsy tissues. Results . Compared with controls, the alcoholic myocytes showed increased AT 1 mRNA (0.69 vs 0.33) and protein levels (0.79 vs 0.37) ( p 2 mRNA (0.18 vs 0.16) and protein concentration (0.16 vs 0.14) were relatively unchanged. Importantly, in alcoholic myocytes, the increased AT 1 receptors were associated with altered myocyte inotropic response to AII. In control myocytes, superfusion of AII (10 −6 M) increased myocyte systolic amplitude (SA, 14.9 vs 12.4%) and the maximum rate of shortening (dL/dt max , 203.1 vs 153.9 μm/s) accompanied by significant increases in [Ca 2+ ] iT (1.52 vs 1.21) and I Ca,L (4.0 vs 3.3 pA/pF). In alcoholic myocytes, this positive response was reversed. AII caused significant decreases in SA (3.4 vs 5.8 %), dL/dt max (50.5 vs 78.9 μm/s), and the maximum rate of relaxation (dR/dt max, 37.5 vs 59.6 μm/s) associated with reduced [Ca 2+ ] iT (0.86 vs 1.12) and I Ca,L (1.5 vs 2.1 pA/pF) ( p 1 receptor blocker, losartan (10 −5 M), or pretreatment with a G i inhibitor, PTX (2 μg/ml, 36°C, 5h). Conclusions. In a canine model, chronic alcohol consumption produces upregulation of LV myocyte AII AT 1 receptors and alters myocyte functional response to AII stimulation, which may promote the development of ACM.

Nicotine is an alkaloid that is used by large numbers of people. When taken into the body, it produces a myriad of physiological actions that occur primarily through the activation of neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). We have explored its ability to modulate TRPV1 receptors and voltage-gated sodium channels. The reason for investigating nicotine's effect on sodium channels is to obtain a better understanding of its anti-nociceptive properties. The reasons for investigating its effects on capsaicin-activated TRPV1 channels are to understand how it may modulate this channel that is involved in pain, inflammation, and gustatory physiology. Whole cell patch-clamp recordings from rat trigeminal ganglion (TG) nociceptors revealed that nicotine exhibited anesthetic properties by decreasing the number of evoked action potentials and by inhibiting tetrodotoxin-resistant sodium currents. This anesthetic property can be produced without the necessity of activating nAChRs. Nicotine also modulates TRPV1 receptors inducing a several-fold increase in capsaicin-activated currents in both TG neurons and in cells with heterologously expressed TRPV1 receptors. This sensitizing effect does not require the activation of nAChRs. Nicotine did not alter the threshold temperature (approximately 41 degrees C) of heat-activated currents in TG neurons that were attributed to arise from the activation of TRPV1 receptors. In this regard, its effect on TRPV1 receptors differs from those of ethanol that has been shown to increase the capsaicin-activated current but decrease the threshold temperature. These studies document several new effects of nicotine on channels involved in nociception and indicate how they may impact physiological processes involving pain and gustation.

The diastolic dysfunction present at rest in congestive heart failure (CHF) is exacerbated during exercise (Ex). Increases in circulating ANG II and endothelin-1 (ET-1) during Ex may contribute to this response. We assessed the effect of Ex on circulating plasma levels of ANG II and ET-1 and left ventricular (LV) dynamics before and after pacing-induced CHF at rest and during Ex in nine conscious, instrumented dogs. Before CHF, there were modest increases in circulating levels of ANG II (but not ET-1) during Ex. LV diastolic performance was enhanced during Ex with decreases in the time constant of LV relaxation (τ), LV end-systolic volume (VES), and LV minimum pressure with a downward shift of the LV early diastolic portion of the pressure-volume (P-V) loop. This produced an increase in peak LV filling rate without an increase in mean left atrial (LA) pressure. After CHF, the resting values of ANG II and ET-1 were elevated and increased to very high levels during Ex. After CHF, mean LA pressure, τ, and LV minimum pressure were elevated at rest and increased further during Ex. Treatment with L-754,142, a potent ET-1 antagonist, or losartan, an ANG II AT1-receptor blocker, decreased these abnormal Ex responses in CHF more effectively than an equally vasodilatory dose of sodium nitroprusside. Combined treatment with both ANG II- and ET-1-receptor blockers was more effective than either agent alone. We conclude that in CHF, circulating ANG II and ET-1 increase to very high levels during Ex and exacerbate the diastolic dysfunction present at rest.