Focal adhesion kinase is activated and mediates the early hypertrophic response to stretch in cardiac myocytes

Previously we reported that the rapid activation of the Fak/Src multicomponent signaling complex mediates load-induced activation of growth and survival signaling pathways in adult rat heart. In this study, we report that 5% to 20% (10-minute) cyclic stretch (1 Hz) of neonatal rat ventricular myocytes (NRVMs) was paralleled by increases of Fak phosphorylation at Tyr-397 (from 1.5- to 2.8-fold), as detected by anti-Fak-pY397 phosphospecific antibody. Moreover, 15% cyclic stretch lasting from 10 to 120 minutes increased Fak phosphorylation at Tyr-397 by 2.5- to 3.5-fold. This activation was accompanied by a dramatic change in Fak localization in NRVMs from densely concentrated in the perinuclear regions in nonstretched cells to aggregates regularly distributed along the myofilaments in stretched cells. Furthermore, a 4-hour cyclic stretch enhanced the activity of an atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) promoter-luciferase reporter gene by 2.7-fold. Disrupting endogenous Fak/Src signaling either by expression of a dominant-negative Fak mutant with phenylalanine substituted for Tyr-397 or by treatment with a c-Src pharmacological inhibitor (PP-2) markedly attenuated stretch-induced Fak activation and clustering at myofilaments and inhibited stretch-induced ANF gene activation. On the other hand, overexpression of wild-type Fak potentiated the stretch-induced Fak phosphorylation but did not enhance either baseline or stretch-induced ANF promoter-luciferase reporter gene activity compared with the responses of nontransfected NRVMs. These findings identify Fak as an important element in the early responses induced by stretch in cardiac myocytes, indicating that it may coordinate the cellular signaling machinery that controls gene expression program associated with load-induced cardiac myocyte hypertrophy.     

Focal adhesion kinase governs cardiac concentric hypertrophic growth by activating the AKT and mTOR pathways

The heart responds to sustained overload by hypertrophic growth in which the myocytes distinctly thicken or elongate on increases in systolic or diastolic stress. Though potentially adaptive, hypertrophy itself may predispose to cardiac dysfunction in pathological settings. The mechanisms underlying the diverse morphology and outcomes of hypertrophy are uncertain. Here we used a focal adhesion kinase (FAK) cardiac-specific transgenic mice model (FAK-Tg) to explore the function of this non-receptor tyrosine kinase on the regulation of myocyte growth. FAK-Tg mice displayed a phenocopy of concentric cardiac hypertrophy, reflecting the relative thickening of the individual myocytes. Moreover, FAK-Tg mice showed structural, functional and molecular features of a compensated hypertrophic growth, and preserved responses to chronic pressure overload. Mechanistically, FAK overexpression resulted in enhanced myocardial FAK activity, which was proven by treatment with a selective FAK inhibitor to be required for the cardiac hypertrophy in this model. Our results indicate that upregulation of FAK does not affect the activity of Src/ERK1/2 pathway, but stimulated signaling by a cascade that encompasses PI3K, AKT, mTOR, S6K and rpS6. Moreover, inhibition of the mTOR complex by rapamycin extinguished the cardiac hypertrophy of the transgenic FAK mice. These findings uncover a unique role for FAK in regulating the signaling mechanisms that governs the selective myocyte growth in width, likely controlling the activity of PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway, and suggest that FAK activation could be important for the adaptive response to increases in cardiac afterload. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled "Local Signaling in Myocytes".     

Focal adhesion kinase -- the basis of local hypertrophic signaling domains

Focal adhesion kinase (FAK), a broadly expressed non-receptor tyrosine kinase which transduces signals from integrins, growth and hormonal factors, is a key player in many fundamental biological processes and functions, including cell adhesion, migration, proliferation and survival. The involvement of FAK in this range of functions supports its role in important aspects of organismal development and disease, such as central nervous system and cardiovascular development, cancer, cardiac hypertrophy and tissue fibrosis. Many functions of FAK are correlated with its tyrosine kinase activity, which is temporally and spatially controlled by complex intra-molecular autoinhibitory conformation and inter-molecular interactions with protein and lipid partners. The inactivation of FAK in mice results in embryonic lethality attributed to the lack of proper development and function of the heart. Accordingly, embryonic FAK myocyte-specific knockout mice display lethal cardiac defects such as thin ventricle wall and ventricular septum defects. Emerging data also support a role for FAK in the reactive hypertrophy and failure of adult hearts. Moreover, the mechanisms that regulate FAK in differentiated cardiac myocytes to biomechanical stress and soluble factors are beginning to be revealed and are discussed here together with data that connect FAK to its downstream effectors. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled "Local Signaling in Myocytes".     

c-Jun N-terminal kinase activation mediates downregulation of connexin43 in cardiomyocytes

Loss of gap junctions and impaired intercellular communication are characteristic features of pathological remodeling in heart failure as a result of stress or injury, yet the underlying regulatory mechanism has not been identified. Here, we report that in cultured myocytes, rapid loss of the gap junction protein connexin43 (Cx43) occurs in conjunction with the activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), a stress-activated protein kinase, on stress stimulation. To investigate the specific role of JNK activation in the regulation of connexin in cardiomyocytes, an activated mutant of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 7 (mutant D), a JNK-specific upstream activator, was expressed in myocytes by adenovirus-mediated gene transfer. JNK activation in infected cardiomyocytes resulted in significant reduction of Cx43 expression at both mRNA and protein levels and impaired cell-cell communication. To evaluate the role of JNK in the regulation of Cx43 expression and gap junction structure in vivo, a Cre-LoxP-mediated gene-switch system was used to establish a transgenic animal model with targeted activation of JNK in ventricular myocardium. The transgenic hearts exhibited significant downregulation of Cx43 expression and loss of gap junctions in myocardium that may contribute to the cardiac dysfunction and premature death phenotype. Our report represents the first evidence, both in vitro and in vivo, implicating JNK as an important mediator of stress-induced Cx43 downregulation and impaired intercellular communication in the failing heart.     

Important role of angiotensin II-mediated c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinase activation in cardiac hypertrophy in hypertensive rats

In vitro studies on the role of the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase family (extracellular signal-regulated kinase [ERK], c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinase [JNK], and p38) in cardiac hypertrophic response have produced confusing and contradictory results. We examined the in vivo role of the angiotensin II type 1 (AT(1)) receptor in cardiac MAP kinase activities during both the onset and development of cardiac hypertrophy in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP). In both the acute and chronic phases of cardiac hypertrophy in SHRSP, cardiac JNK activities were significantly increased compared with those in normotensive rats, whereas there was no prominent increase in cardiac ERK or p38 activities in SHRSP. Losartan, an AT(1) receptor antagonist, prevented the onset of cardiac hypertrophy and regressed the progression of cardiac hypertrophy in SHRSP, being accompanied by the reduction of JNK activity and activator protein-1 (AP-1) activity in SHRSP. However, in spite of the normalization of blood pressure, hydralazine did not prevent or regress cardiac hypertrophy and did not decrease JNK or AP-1 activity in SHRSP. Inversely, hydralazine significantly increased the cardiac ERK activity in SHRSP by enhancing its phosphorylation. In conclusion, we have obtained the first evidence that the AT(1) receptor is involved in the enhanced cardiac JNK activity in both the onset and development of cardiac hypertrophy of hypertensive rats. We propose that JNK is involved in AT(1) receptor-mediated cardiac hypertrophy in vivo, in part mediated by the activation of AP-1.     

Focal adhesion kinase activation by calcium-dependent calpain is involved in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia cell aggressiveness

Signalling events downstream the B-cell receptor (BCR) are central for the survival and progression of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) cells. Focal adhesion kinase (FAK), regulated through calpain, interacts with molecules of BCR signalling, cytoskeletal modelling and disease progression, such as Src/Lyn, cortactin and HS1. Hypothesizing that FAK might play a key role in CLL pathogenesis, we observed a down-modulation of FAK whole form, associated with FAK cleavage due to calpain activity upon BCR stimulation. Patients, whose cells were able to release Ca⁺⁺ after BCR stimulation, had less amount of full-length FAK, which translated into a higher presence of cleaved/activated form of the protein phosphorylated at Y397, these features being mostly shown by immunoglobulin heavy chain (IGHV)-unmutated poor-prognosis patients. Moreover, we found that cortactin and HS1 proteins were overexpressed in those cells, suggesting a possible interplay with FAK. Treatment with the FAK inhibitor Defactinib was able to induce apoptosis in CLL cells. In conclusion, the malignant phenotype in unfavourable-prognosis patients seems to be encouraged by the overexpression of cortactin and HS1, that, together with FAK, may be involved in a druggable pathogenetic pathway in CLL.     

Stretch-induced MAP kinase activation in cardiac myocytes: differential regulation through beta1-integrin and focal adhesion kinase

Mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases have been implicated in hemodynamic load induced heart failure. Both angiotensin II (Ang II) and mechanical stretch activate MAP kinases in cardiac myocytes. In this study, we used a neonatal rat ventricular myocyte (NRVM) model to determine the role of focal-adhesion kinase (FAK) in beta1 integrin mediated MAP kinase activation in response to mechanical stretch in presence and absence of Ang II receptor blockade (ATB). NRVM plated on deformable membranes coated with collagen IV were exposed to 20% equiaxial static-stretch. beta1 integrin signaling was blocked by adenovirus-mediated expression of a dominant-negative form of beta1D integrin (tac-beta1D). FAK signaling was disrupted by infecting NRVM with adenovirus expressing FAK-related non-kinase (FRNK). Western blot analysis was used to assess the phosphorylation of MAP kinases. In the presence and absence of ATB, mechanical stretch caused maximal phosphorylation of ERK, p38 and JNK at 5 min, which was significantly attenuated in NRVM expressing tac-beta1D. In the presence of ATB, FRNK overexpression significantly increased basal phosphorylation of ERK (40.2+/-8.6% P<0.05), p38 (39.5+/-11.7%, P<0.05), JNK (86+/-29.4%, P<0.05) and stretch-induced p38 (48.1+/-8.7%, P<0.05) and JNK (85.0+/-19.4%, P<0.05) phosphorylation. However, in the absence of ATB, FRNK overexpression significantly reduced basal and stretch-induced phosphorylation of only ERK. Examination of FAK activation revealed that beta1 integrin was required for stretch-induced phosphorylation of FAK at Y397 and Y925, but not Y861. In summary, mechanical stretch-activated ERK1/2, p38 and JNK through FAK independent and dependent mechanisms. Beta1 integrin was required for FAK independent activation of all three MAP kinases, whereas cross-talk between beta1 integrin and Ang II receptors mediated FAK dependent regulation of ERK1/2.     

微管蛋白在体外牵张刺激诱导心肌细胞肥大反应中的作用

目的　探讨细胞骨架微管蛋白在牵张刺激心肌细胞肥大反应中的作用。方法　通过体外牵张培养的心肌细胞 ,采用3H 亮氨酸掺入法和四甲基偶氮唑盐微量酶反应比色法反映心肌细胞肥大指标和活心肌细胞数目 ,激光共聚焦定性、定量微管蛋白的合成和分布情况。结果　 2 0 %的持续性牵张引起心肌细胞的3H 亮氨酸掺入量 [12h为 (1870 0± 112 5 )cpm ,2 4h为 (2 0 15 5± 193 7)cpm],与对照组 [12h为 (112 2 7± 12 6 5 )cpm ,2 4h为 (12 10 7± 2 2 2 7)cpm]比较显著增加 ,微管解聚剂秋水仙素 (4μmol L)可以明显抑制3H 亮氨酸掺入量 [12h为 (12 92 7± 14 2 6 )cpm ,2 4h为 (132 7 8± 97 4 )cpm]。牵张 12h即可见微管蛋白荧光强度增强 ,2 4h部分细胞呈现微管蛋白结构坍塌 ,纹理模糊 ,荧光强度分布不均 ,微管蛋白最高光密度值 16 0 0 (任意单位 ) ,可被 4 μmol L秋水仙素抑制。 结论　细胞骨架微管蛋白系统是牵张刺激诱导心肌细胞肥大反应的细胞内信号传递途径之一。     

Activation of cell adhesion kinase beta by mechanical stretch in vascular smooth muscle cells

We have studied whether activation of cell adhesion kinase beta (CAKbeta) is involved in stretch-induced signaling pathway in cultured rat vascular smooth muscle cells. Cyclic stretch (1 Hz) induced a rapid (within 1 min) phosphorylation of CAKbeta, whose effect was time and strength dependent. Both Ca(2+) and Na(+) ionophores (A23187 and monensin) stimulated phosphorylation of CAKbeta in a similar fashion to mechanical stretch. The stretch-induced phosphorylation of CAKbeta was inhibited completely by an intracellular Ca(2+) chelator [1,2-bis(2-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid tetrakis(acetoxymethyl ester)] and largely by gadolinium, but only partially by an extracellular Ca(2+) chelator (EGTA). An angiotensin type 1 receptor antagonist (CV11974) abolished the phosphorylation of CAKbeta stimulated by angiotensin II, but not by mechanical stretch. Mechanical stretch rapidly (within 1 min) increased the association of CAKbeta with c-Src, but not pp125(focal adhesion kinase). Stretch-induced phosphorylation of ERK1/2 was inhibited by EGTA and an inhibitor of the Src kinase family [4-amino-5-(4-chlorophenyl)-7-(t-butyl)pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine], but not by cytochalasin D, to disrupt actin polymerization. 4-amino-5-(4-chlorophenyl)-7-(t-butyl)pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine or cytochalasin D did not affect stretch-induced phosphorylation of CAKbeta. These data suggest that mechanical stretch stimulates activation of CAKbeta, followed by its association with c-Src, which requires ion influx mainly via stretch-activated nonselective ion channels, thereby leading to activation of the p21(Ras)/ERK1/2 cascade in vascular smooth muscle cells.     

Protein kinase C epsilon mediates angiotensin II-induced activation of beta1-integrins in cardiac fibroblasts

OBJECTIVE: Angiotensin II (AII) promotes cardiac fibrosis by increased extracellular matrix production and enhanced interaction of matrix proteins with their cellular receptors, including integrins. AII and other growth factors augment beta(1)-integrin-dependent adhesion and spreading by "inside-out signaling" without affecting the total number of integrin receptors. "Inside-out signaling" involves specific signaling pathways, including protein kinase C (PKC), leading to activation of beta1-integrins. In the present study we investigated the mechanisms involved in AII-increased adhesion of adult rat cardiac fibroblasts (CFBs), obtained from Sprague-Dawley rats, to collagen I mediated by beta1-integrin. METHODS AND RESULTS: Treatment of CFBs with AII induced a concentration-dependent increase in adhesion to collagen I (2.2-fold, p<0.01) within 3-6 h of treatment. This effect was mediated by beta1-integrin via the angiotensin AT1 receptor and was significantly reduced by protein kinase C inhibition. AII significantly induced phosphorylation of PKC epsilon (PKCepsilon), which is involved in beta1-integrin-dependent adhesion and motility, and phosphorylation of the cytoplasmatic tail of beta1-integrin at threonine 788/789, required for adhesion. Phosphorylation of beta1-integrin and an increase in adhesion was also induced by l-alpha-phosphatidylinositol-3,4,5-triphosphate (l-alpha-PIP3), an activator of endogenous PKCepsilon. AII failed to increase adhesion in myofibroblasts obtained from PKCepsilon (-/-) mice, but not in cells obtained from control mice. Co-immunoprecipitation and double immunofluorescence demonstrated that AII induced a close association of PKCepsilon with beta1-integrin in CFBs. CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrates that AII increased beta1-integrin-dependent adhesion to collagen I in cardiac fibroblasts by inside-out signaling via PKCepsilon and phosphorylation of the cytoplasmatic tail of the beta1-integrin.     

黏着斑激酶对血小板源性生长因子刺激的血管平滑肌细胞迁移和黏附的调控

目的探讨黏着斑激酶(FAK)信号分子在雷帕霉素抑制血小板源性生长因子(PDGF)诱导血管平滑肌细胞(VSMC)迁移、黏附中的调控作用。方法将培养的大鼠VSMC分为对照组、PDGF组、雷帕霉素+PDGF组(雷帕霉素组)和FAK反义寡核苷酸+PDGF组(FAK组)。用PDGF诱导VSMC的迁移和黏附,计数贴壁细胞;采用Boyden检测细胞迁移;采用RT-PCR、Western blot、免疫沉淀方法分别检测FAK基因、蛋白及蛋白磷酸化表达量。将FAK反义寡核苷酸经脂质体转染VSMC,观察FAK mRNA及蛋白磷酸化、细胞迁移和黏附的变化。结果与对照组比较,PDGF组明显诱导细胞迁移和黏附,上调FAK mRNA的表达,提高FAK蛋白和磷酸化FAK表达,差异有统计学意义(P0.05),与PDGF组比较,FAK组和雷帕霉素组细胞迁移、黏附能力减弱,FAK mRNA、FAK蛋白和磷酸化FAK表达水平明显降低,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论 PDGF诱导细胞迁移和黏附可能是FAK介导的,雷帕霉素可能是通过抑制FAK蛋白和磷酸化FAK来抑制VSMC的迁移和黏附。     

Mechanisms of cardiac hypertrophy and injury--possible role of protein kinase C activation.

To examine the molecular mechanisms by which mechanical stimuli induced cardiac hypertrophy and injury, we cultured rat neonatal cardiocytes in deformable dishes and imposed an in vitro mechanical load by stretching the adherent cells. Myocyte stretching increased total cell RNA content and mRNA levels of c-fos. Marked accumulation of c-fos mRNA followed increases in intracellular Na+ and protein kinase C activation. The accumulation of c-fos mRNA by cardiocyte stretching was suppressed by protein kinase C inhibitors but not by stretch channel blockers. Moreover, myocyte stretching increased inositol phosphate levels, and activation of protein kinase C by phorbolesters stumulated the expression of c-fos. We also examined TGF beta expression in the heart. TGF beta is known to be stimulated by protein kinase C activation, and the mRNA level of TGF beta was increased in in vivo heart by pressure overload. Furthermore, collagen synthesis was stimulated by TGF beta in cultured fibroblasts from hearts. These findings suggest that hemodynamic overload may stimulate cardiac hypertrophy and induce cardiac injury (fibrosis) through protein kinase C activation.     

Src and multiple MAP kinase activation in cardiac hypertrophy and congestive heart failure under chronic pressure-overload: comparison with acute mechanical stretch

Activation of members of the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase family and their downstream effectors has been proposed to play a key role in the pathogenesis of cell survival, ischaemic preconditioning, cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure. This study investigated the responses of Src kinase and multiple MAP kinases during the transition from compensated pressure-overload hypertrophy to decompensated congestive heart failure. Extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) 1/2, p38, and Src were activated by chronic pressure-overload and their activity was sustained for 8 weeks after aortic banding. In contrast, while p90 ribosomal S6 kinase (90RSK) and big MAP kinase 1 (BMK1) were activated in compensated hypertrophy, their activities were significantly decreased in hearts with heart failure. No changes were found in C-Jun NH2 terminal kinase (JNK) activity after aortic banding. These data suggest that differential activation of MAP kinase family members may contribute to the transition from compensated to decompensated hypertrophy. We also examined acute effects of mechanical stretch on the activation of these kinases in normal and hypertrophied hearts. In the isolated coronary-perfused heart, a balloon in the left ventricle was inflated to achieve minimum end-diastolic pressure of 25 mmHg for 10-20 min. In normal guinea pig hearts, stretch activated ERK1/2, p90RSK, p38, Src, and BMK1 but not JNK. However in hypertrophied hearts, further activation of these kinases was not observed by acute mechanical stretch. Mechanical stretch-induced activation of ERK1/2 and p38 kinase in normal hearts was attenuated significantly by a protein kinase C inhibitor, chelerythrine. We demonstrate that ERK1/2, p90RSK, p38, Src, and BMK1 are activated by chronic pressure-overload and by acute mechanical stretch. These data suggest that Src, BMK1 and p90RSK play a role as novel signal transduction pathways leading to cardiac hypertrophy. In addition, the differential inhibition of p90RSK and BMK1 in hearts with congestive heart failure suggests the specific role of these two kinases to maintain cardiac function under chronic pressure-overload.