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Circulation Research. 2000;87:1180-1187

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(Circulation Research. 2000;87:1180.)
© 2000 American Heart Association, Inc.


Cellular Biology

Cardiomyocyte Apoptosis Induced by G{alpha}q Signaling Is Mediated by Permeability Transition Pore Formation and Activation of the Mitochondrial Death Pathway

John W. Adams, Amy L. Pagel, Christopher K. Means, Donna Oksenberg, Robert C. Armstrong, Joan Heller Brown

From the Department of Pharmacology (J.W.A., A.P., C.K.M., J.H.B.), University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, Calif; Idun Pharmaceuticals, Inc (R.C.A.), La Jolla, Calif; and COR Therapeutics, Inc (D.O.), South San Francisco, Calif.

Correspondence to Joan Heller Brown, Department of Pharmacology, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr, La Jolla, CA 92093-0636. E-mail jhbrown{at}ucsd.edu

Abstract—Expression of the wild-type {alpha} subunit of Gq stimulates phospholipase C and induces hypertrophy in cardiomyocytes. Addition of Gq-coupled receptor agonists additionally activates phospholipase C, as does expression of a constitutively active mutant form of G{alpha}q. Under these conditions, hypertrophy is rapidly succeeded by apoptotic cellular and molecular changes, including myofilament disorganization, loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, alterations in Bcl-2 family protein levels, DNA fragmentation, increased caspase activity ({approx}4-fold), cytochrome c redistribution, and nuclear chromatin condensation in {approx}12% of the cells. We used various interventions to define the molecular relationships between these events and identify potential sites at which these features of apoptosis could be rescued. Treatment with caspase inhibitors prevented DNA fragmentation and promoted myocyte survival; however, cytochrome c release and loss of mitochondrial membrane potential still occurred. In contrast, treatment with bongkrekic acid, an inhibitor of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore, not only prevented DNA fragmentation and reduced nuclear chromatin condensation but also preserved mitochondrial membrane potential and limited cytochrome c redistribution to only {approx}2% of cells. These data demonstrate the central role of mitochondrial membrane potential in initiation of caspase activation and downstream apoptotic events and suggest that preservation of mitochondrial integrity is crucial for prolonging the life and function of cardiomyocytes exposed to pathological levels of stress.


Key Words: cardiomyocyte • apoptosis • mitochondria • G proteins




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