钙调神经磷酸酶信号通路在心肌肥厚中的作用

心肌肥厚是许多心血管病的病理结果,可引起心力衰竭,增加猝死发生率。因此,探讨心肌肥厚发生机制,寻求延缓和治疗心肌肥厚的新途径,早已引起人们的重视。近年来,研究发现钙调神经磷酸酶(Ca2 /钙调素调节的丝氨酸/苏氨酸蛋白磷酸酶)可通过多种信号通路参与心肌肥厚的形成。现综述钙调神经磷酸酶信号通路在心肌肥厚发展中的作用。     

钙调神经磷酸酶信号通路与心肌重构

心肌重构是心脏对缺氧或压力负荷过重的一种适应性反应。心肌细胞适应不良性肥大和心肌细胞坏死或凋亡是心肌重构的基础改变因素。已知细胞内钙超载与心肌重构有关 ,但对其作用机制还不清楚。最近研究表明 ,由Ca2 + 活化的钙调神经磷酸酶 (CaN)在心肌重构的信号传导中起重要作用 ,其可能是Ca2 + 信号导致肥大基因活化的偶联环节。同时 ,CaN通过影响其他信号通路对细胞凋亡有调节作用 ,但对其作用机制还不清楚。应用抑制CaN活性的药物CsA及FK5 0 6可以阻滞心肌肥大的发生发展 ,提示Ca2 + CaN依赖的信号传递通路可能是介导心肌重构的一条新的、重要的通路     

钙介导的信号转导途径与心肌肥厚

心肌肥厚是临床上许多心血管疾病共有的病理过程，晚期可导致严重的心律失常和心衰。其发病机制与压力负荷增加、神经内分泌因素、钙超载、原癌基因等密切相关。其中细胞内Ca^2＋浓度升高是心肌肥厚信号转导发生、发展的中心环节。目前认为有两种钙介导的信号转导机制参与了心肌肥厚的发生与发展：一是钙调神经磷酸酶（CaN）介导途径；二是钙调素依赖性蛋白激酶Ⅱ（CaMKⅡ）信号转导途径。     

钙调神经磷酸酶对心肌细胞离子通道的调节

钙调神经磷酸酶（calcineurin，CaN），是迄今所知的惟一一种受Ca^2＋／钙调蛋白（calmodulin，CaM）调节的丝氨酸／苏氨酸蛋白磷酸酶。CaN广泛分布于机体内各种组织中，新近研究表明CaN介导的信号通路在心血管系统的病理生理变化中发挥着重要的调节作用，如参与心肌肥大、血管平滑肌细胞增殖以及心肌离子通道功能的调节等。目前CaN在心血管系统中的作用也越来越引起人们的关注，本文就CaN的结构和功能以及其对心肌离子通道的调节作用做一概述。     

三磷酸肌醇受体/钙调神经磷酸酶信号通路激活致心肌肥厚的研究

目的 研究激活心肌细胞三磷酸肌醇受体（IP3R）是否触发钙调神经磷酸酶（CaN)介导的心肌肥厚信号通路。方法 培养Wistar乳鼠心肌细胞检测心肌细胞蛋白和核酸合成，细胞内钙变化，CaN，活化T细胞核因子3（NFAT3）及锌指转录因子（GATA4），胚胎基因（α-actin,β-MHC）及即刻早期基因（c-fos,c-myc)表达。结果 给予IP3能时间和剂量依赖性也增加心肌细胞蛋白和核酸合成，能明显致心肌细胞内钙增加；IP3刺激心肌细胞IP3受体，能明显激活心肌细胞CaN/NFAT3/GATA4信号通路，促使心肌细胞的早期即刻基因和胚胎基因表达。结论 激活IP3R介导的CaN/NFAT3/GATA4信号通路能显地促使心肌细胞肥大，这条信号通路不同于已知的G蛋白偶联受体介导的心肌肥厚信号转导途径。     

CaN/NFAT3信号通路与心血管疾病研究进展

正钙调神经磷酸酶(CaN)-T细胞活化核因子(NFAT)3在心血管系统表达丰富,在心血管疾病发生发展中发挥重要作用[1],关于CaN/NFAT3信号通路在心肌损伤过程中作用机制的研究愈发明确。本文对CaN/NFAT3信号通路与心血管疾病研究进展进行综述。1CaNCaN是普遍存在的丝氨酸/苏氨酸磷酸化酶家族中一员,钙调神经磷酸酶全酶是一种异源二聚体,包含     

钙／钙调神经磷酸酶-活化T细胞核因子信号通路与T细胞活化及支气管哮喘关系的研究进展

钙／钙调神经磷酸酶-活化T细胞核凼子信号通路作为T细胞内重要的生物信号转导通路,在T细胞活化中起到调节枢纽的作用,与Th细胞的分化及多种细胞闵子的产生有密切关系;而T细胞的浸润和活化在支气管哮喘（简称哮喘）气道慢性炎症及气道重塑的发生、发展过程中具有重要的意义,因此,钙／钙调神经磷酸酶-活化T细胞核因子信号通路可能与哮喘的发生有密切关系,其在哮喘T细胞活化机制中的研究对于揭示哮喘的发病机制和治疗有重要的意义。     

Ca^2＋／钙调蛋白依赖性蛋白激酶Ⅱ在心脏重构中的信号转导作用

心脏重构是多种心血管疾病的共有病理过程,包括心肌结构重构和电重构,两者互相联系。目前研究认为,Ca^2＋／钙调蛋白依赖性蛋白激酶Ⅱ在心肌肥大和凋亡所致心脏重构、心律失常和心力衰竭的发生发展中起着关键信号转导作用,现就该领域近几年来的研究进展结合自己的研究结果进行扼要概述。     

钙/钙调神经磷酸酶-活化T细胞核因子信号通路与T细胞活化及支气管哮喘关系的研究进展

钙/钙调神经磷酸酶-活化T细胞核因子信号通路作为T细胞内重要的生物信号转导通路,在T细胞活化中起到调节枢纽的作用,与Th细胞的分化及多种细胞因子的产生有密切关系;而T细胞的浸润和活化在支气管哮喘(简称哮喘)气道慢性炎症及气道重塑的发生、发展过程中具有重要的意义,因此,钙/钙调神经磷酸酶-活化T细胞核因子信号通路可能与哮喘的发生有密切关系,其在哮喘T细胞活化机制中的研究对于揭示哮喘的发病机制和治疗有重要的意义.     

钙蛋白酶参与心力衰竭患者心肌重构的信号传导

目的 探讨钙敏感的信号物质钙蛋白酶(calpain)对心力衰竭(心衰)患心肌重构信号传导的调控。方法选择因二尖瓣狭窄伴关闭不全心脏病接受二尖瓣置换术的心衰患39例,正常对照38例(其中8例来自意外伤亡的器官捐献)。彩色多普勒超声心动图检测心功能参数,放免法检测心衰患血浆及心肌组织血管紧张素Ⅱ含量,免疫印迹法检测心肌组织calpain、钙调神经磷酸酶(CaN)的抑制蛋白(cain/cabin 1),cain／cabin 1降解产物(cain／cabin 1△)蛋白表达、CaN磷酸化。结果心衰患血浆及心肌组织血管紧张素Ⅱ浓度、心肌组织u-calpain、m-calpain、cain／cabin 1降解产物cain／cabin 1△蛋白表达及CaN磷酸化明显高于对照组,且随心功能恶化逐渐增加,cain／cabin 1蛋白表达随心功能恶化逐渐降低。结论心衰患通过calpain降解cain／cabin 1进而激活CaN信号通路,提示其在肾素一血管紧张素系统等介导的心肌重构中起一定作用。     

Angiotensin and cytoskeletal proteins: Role in vascular remodeling

Vascular remodeling occurs during normal development and is involved in various physiologic events. However, the adaptive structural changes of the vasculature can also be pathologic, leading to vascular disease such as hypertension, atherosclerosis, and vein graft disease. Preeclampsia may develop as a consequence of inappropriate vascular remodeling during pregnancy. Angiotensin II contributes to vascular remodeling by activating signal transduction cascades that promote vasoconstriction, growth, and inflammation. The cytoskeleton also participates in structural adaptation responses of the vasculature; cytoskeletal filaments may mediate vasoactive responses, transduce mechanical stimuli, and are involved in pharmacologic signal transduction. It has become clear that many of the cytoskeletal changes during vascular remodeling can be induced by angiotensin II. Recently, the small Gprotein Rho has attracted much attention. The Rho/Rhokinase system is activated by angiotensin II, is a prominent regulator of the cytoskeleton, and is involved in pathologic vascular remodeling.     

Effects of the calcineurin dependent signaling pathway inhibition by cyclosporin A on early and late cardiac remodeling following myocardial infarction

BACKGROUND: The calcineurin-mediated signaling pathway has been implicated as one of the crucial pathways in cardiac hypertrophy. However, the role of calcineurin pathway on cardiac remodeling after myocardial infarction (MI) has not been well defined. METHODS: Infarcted rats (n = 45) were randomized into calcineurin inhibitor, cyclosporin A (CsA) or vehicle groups, 3 days after MI and treated for 2 weeks (early post-MI cardiac remodeling stage), or randomized 17 days after MI and treated for 2 weeks (late remodeling stage). RESULTS: Calcineurin pathway inhibition during the early cardiac remodeling stage attenuated the myocardial hypertrophy after MI (P < 0.05). However, left ventricular dimensions were further increased and fractional shortening deteriorated with calcineurin inhibition during this stage (P < 0.05, each). During late remodeling stage, CsA treatment did not affect myocardial hypertrophy and cardiac dilation following MI. CONCLUSION: Our results strongly support the hypothesis that calcineurin pathway mediates compensatory myocardial hypertrophy during the early remodeling stage after MI. However, the calcineurin pathway does not seem to affect the late remodeling after MI.     

Calcineurin and beyond: cardiac hypertrophic signaling

In response to increased ventricular wall tension or neurohumoral stimuli, the myocardium undergoes an adaptive hypertrophy response that temporarily augments pump function. Although initially beneficial, sustained cardiac hypertrophy can lead to decompensation and cardiomyopathy. Recent studies have focused on characterizing the molecular mechanisms that underlie cardiac hypertrophy. An increasing number of signal transduction pathways have been identified as important regulators of the hypertrophic response, including the low-molecular weight GTPases (Ras, RhoA, and Rac), mitogen-activated protein kinases, protein kinase C, and calcineurin. This review will discuss an emerging body of evidence that implicates the calcium-calmodulin-activated protein phosphatase calcineurin as a physiological regulator of the cardiac hypertrophic response. Although the sufficiency of calcineurin to promote cardiomyocyte hypertrophy in vivo and in vitro is established, its overall necessity as a hypertrophic mediator is currently an area of ongoing debate. The use of the calcineurin-inhibitory agents cyclosporine A and FK506 have suggested a necessary role for calcineurin in many, but not all, animal models of hypertrophy or cardiomyopathy. The evidence implicating a role for calcineurin signaling in the heart will be weighed against a growing body of literature suggesting necessary roles for a diverse array of intracellular signaling pathways, highlighting the multifactorial nature of the hypertrophic program.     

Calcineurin and electrical remodeling in pathologic cardiac hypertrophy

Calcineurin is a cytoplasmic Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent protein phosphatase that contributes to cardiac hypertrophy. Numerous studies have demonstrated that calcineurin/nuclear factor of activated T cell pathway affects the architecture of the heart under pathologic conditions, and the effects of calcineurin/nuclear factor of activated T cell pathway on cardiac hypertrophy have been well reviewed. Cardiac electrical remodeling is generally accompanied with the cardiac hypertrophy, and alteration of cardiac ion channel activity also leads to the changes of calcineurin activity and cardiac hypertrophy. Many studies have linked calcineurin with changes of a variety of ion channels, but the therapeutic approaches to target calcineurin for correcting cardiac electrical disturbance have not been formulated. Here, we review the recent progress in calcineurin and electrical remodeling in pathologic cardiac hypertrophy.     

Dual roles of modulatory calcineurin-interacting protein 1 in cardiac hypertrophy

The calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein phosphatase calcineurin stimulates cardiac hypertrophy in response to numerous stimuli. Calcineurin activity is suppressed by association with modulatory calcineurin-interacting protein (MCIP)1DSCR1, which is up-regulated by calcineurin signaling and has been proposed to function in a negative feedback loop to modulate calcineurin activity. To investigate the involvement of MCIP1 in cardiac hypertrophy in vivo, we generated MCIP1 null mice and subjected them to a variety of stress stimuli that induce cardiac hypertrophy. In the absence of stress, MCIP1(-/-) animals exhibited no overt phenotype. However, the lack of MCIP1 exacerbated the hypertrophic response to activated calcineurin expressed from a muscle-specific transgene, consistent with a role of MCIP1 as a negative regulator of calcineurin signaling. Paradoxically, however, cardiac hypertrophy in response to pressure overload or chronic adrenergic stimulation was blunted in MCIP1(-/-) mice. These findings suggest that MCIP1 can facilitate or suppress cardiac calcineurin signaling depending on the nature of the hypertrophic stimulus. These opposing roles of MCIP have important implications for therapeutic strategies to regulate cardiac hypertrophy through modulation of calcineurin-MCIP activity.     

Old and new tools to dissect calcineurin's role in pressure-overload cardiac hypertrophy

In the last several years, a number of experiments have implicated a pivotal role of the calcium/calmodulin-calcineurin dependent pathway as a final common signaling mechanism by which diverse hypertrophic stimuli converge to mediate hypertrophic responses in cardiomyocytes. Calcineurin inhibitors, i.e. cyclosporine A (CsA) and FK506, can interrupt the pathway, thereby preventing cardiac hypertrophy. The data that convincingly support this novel hypothesis were derived either from in vitro studies in cultured cardiomyocytes or from in vivo studies in transgenic mice. However, when the hypothesis was tested in clinically relevant animal models of cardiac hypertrophy, controversial results and conclusions emerged. In conventional models of cardiac hypertrophy, two questions remain to be answered: (1) whether calcineurin is activated in hypertrophied cardiac muscle, and (2) whether calcineurin inhibitors prevent cardiac hypertrophy. In addition, clinical observations have revealed that calcineurin inhibitors appear to exert pro-hypertrophic effects in organ transplant recipients. The controversies suggest that current calcineurin inhibitors are blunt tools for testing the hypothesis in pressure-overload hypertrophy in vivo, because there are so many confounding effects that are associated with systemic administration of the drugs. As such, new genetic approaches may overcome some of the problems associated with pharmacological inhibitors. This invited review will focus on the controversies surrounding the ability of calcineurin inhibition to prevent conventional (pressure-overload) cardiac hypertrophy and the new genetic approaches to address the question.