Mechanisms Underlying Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Mediated Electrical Remodeling in Left Ventricular Myocytes
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Authors
Kim, Jeremy
Issue Date
1-Aug-11
Type
Dissertation
Language
en_US
Keywords
Alternative Title
Abstract
The angiotensin II type 1 (AT<sub>1</sub>) receptor is a G protein coupled receptor that is highly active in various cardiac disease states. Both the AT<sub>1</sub> receptor and its primary effector, angiotensin II (A2), are known to be expressed in cardiac tissue. AT<sub>1</sub> receptor activation leads to the transactivation of various intracellular signaling pathways that are known to be responsible for physiological and pathological changes in both cardiac structure and function. In particular, AT<sub>1</sub> receptors are involved in physiological adaptation to increased hemodynamic load, but they are also involved in the development of pathological cardiac hypertrophy, which is characterized by structural and electrical remodeling during the progression into heart failure. However, the AT<sub>1</sub> receptor-mediated mechanisms underlying these changes are unclear. Therefore, the overall aim of this study was to highlight the importance of AT<sub>1</sub> receptors in mechanical stress-induced electrical remodeling and to understand the mechanisms underlying AT<sub>1</sub> receptor-mediated regulation. The following is a summary of our findings. Using the whole-cell patch clamp technique on isolated left ventricular myocytes from a pressure overload-induced mouse model of cardiac hypertrophy, we measured the time dependence of reductions in two predominant repolarizing currents, the fast and slow components of the transient outward K+-current (I<sub>to,fast</sub> and I<sub>K,slow</sub>). These reductions preceded structural remodeling of the heart. We also present evidence supporting our hypothesis that AT<sub>1</sub> receptors mediate these reductions. Moreover, we present evidence supporting a novel hypothesis that AT<sub>1</sub> receptor-mediated downregulation of I<sub>to,fast</sub> and I<sub>K,slow</sub> does not involve G protein stimulation; rather, it appears to depend on receptor internalization, which leads to reductions in functional I<sub>to,fast</sub> and I<sub>K,slow</sub> channel densities. Finally, with the aid of a computational action potential model and multivariable linear regression, we quantified the relative significance of various electrophysiological parameters, including I<sub>to,fast</sub> and I<sub>K,slow</sub> properties, on the determination of the action potential morphology. The results presented in this work provide new insights into AT<sub>1</sub> receptor-mediated changes that are typically associated with heart failure.
Description
Citation
Publisher
The Graduate School, Stony Brook University: Stony Brook, NY.