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Biomedical subjects

Martin J Lohse

Publications and source records attributed to Martin J Lohse.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2007

Real-time optical recording of beta1-adrenergic receptor activation reveals supersensitivity of the Arg389 variant to carvedilol.

Antagonists of beta-adrenergic receptors (beta-ARs) have become a main therapeutic regimen for the treatment of heart failure even though the mechanisms of their beneficial effects are still poorly understood. Here, we used fluorescent resonance energy transfer-based (FRET-based) approaches to directly monitor activation of the beta(1)-AR and downstream signaling. While the commonly used beta-AR antagonists metoprolol, bisoprolol, and carvedilol displayed varying degrees of inverse agonism on the Gly389 variant of the receptor (i.e., actively switching off the beta(1)-AR), surprisingly, only carvedilol showed very specific and marked inverse agonist effects on the more frequent Arg389 variant. These specific effects of carvedilol on the Arg389 variant of the beta(1)-AR were also seen for control of beating frequency in rat cardiac myocytes expressing the 2 receptor variants. This FRET sensor permitted direct observation of activation of the beta(1)-AR in living cells in real time. It revealed that beta(1)-AR variants dramatically differ in their responses to diverse beta blockers, with possible consequences for their clinical use.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗
PubMed2006

Interstitial remodeling in beta1-adrenergic receptor transgenic mice.

BACKGROUND: Inhibition of proteolytic MMP activity could be a therapeutic approach to prevent ventricular dilatation by diminishing collagen matrix turnover and interstitial fibrosis. We investigated the time-course of MMP/TIMP activity during transition from hypertrophy to ventricular dilatation in transgenic mice with myocyte overexpression of the human beta1-adrenergic receptor (beta1TG). These beta1TG mice were studied at 3 (normal function), 5 (hypertrophy) and 12 (ventricular dilatation) months of age compared to age-matched controls (WT). METHODS: Picro Sirius red staining and real-time PCR were performed for total collagen and for collagen type I and III quantification, respectively. MMP-activity assays (zymography), immunoblotting and real-time PCR experiments were done for gelatinase- (MMP-2, -9), collagenase- (MMP-1, -13), membrane-type MMP- (MT1- MMP; MMP-14) and TIMP expression measurements. To investigate beta1-integrin activity, integrin-linked kinase (ILK) expression was measured by immunoblotting. RESULTS: Compared to WT with normal cardiac function, interstitial collagen type I and III mRNA and protein expression increased 3.6-fold in beta1TG at 5 months of age with moderate fibrosis and cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and 17-fold in beta1TG at 12 months of age with severe fibrosis and ventricular dilatation. Protein expression of the collagenases MMP-1 and -13 as well as the gelatinase proMMP-2 increased in the beta1TG group with cardiac hypertrophy. Maximal activity of the gelatinase MMP-2 (3.5-fold vs.WT) was measured in beta1TG at 12 months of age with severe fibrosis and ventricular dilatation, accompanied by coexpression of MT1- MMP (3.8-fold vs.WT) colocalized to the cell membranes. CONCLUSION: These data provide evidence that sympathetic overactivation can trigger interstitial matrix remodeling and fibrosis by induction of MMP/TIMP activity. In particular gelatinolytic MMP-2 activity accompanies ventricular dilatation and the development of heart failure.

Aging↗
PubMed2006

Cyclic AMP imaging in adult cardiac myocytes reveals far-reaching beta1-adrenergic but locally confined beta2-adrenergic receptor-mediated signaling.

Beta(1)- and beta(2)-adrenergic receptors (betaARs) are known to differentially regulate cardiomyocyte contraction and growth. We tested the hypothesis that these differences are attributable to spatial compartmentation of the second messenger cAMP. Using a fluorescent resonance energy transfer (FRET)-based approach, we directly monitored the spatial and temporal distribution of cAMP in adult cardiomyocytes. We developed a new cAMP-FRET sensor (termed HCN2-camps) based on a single cAMP binding domain of the hyperpolarization activated cyclic nucleotide-gated potassium channel 2 (HCN2). Its cytosolic distribution, high dynamic range, and sensitivity make HCN2-camps particularly well suited to monitor subcellular localization of cardiomyocyte cAMP. We generated HCN2-camps transgenic mice and performed single-cell FRET imaging on freshly isolated cardiomyocytes. Whole-cell superfusion with isoproterenol showed a moderate elevation of cAMP. Application of various phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitors revealed stringent control of cAMP through PDE4>PDE2>PDE3. The beta(1)AR-mediated cAMP signals were entirely dependent on PDE4 activity, whereas beta(2)AR-mediated cAMP was under control of multiple PDE isoforms. beta(1)AR subtype-specific stimulation yielded approximately 2-fold greater cAMP responses compared with selective beta(2)-subtype stimulation, even on treatment with the nonselective PDE inhibitor 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX) (DeltaFRET, 17.3+/-1.3% [beta(1)AR] versus 8.8+/-0.4% [beta(2)AR]). Treatment with pertussis toxin to inactivate G(i) did not affect cAMP production. Localized beta(1)AR stimulation generated a cAMP gradient propagating throughout the cell, whereas local beta(2)AR stimulation did not elicit marked cAMP diffusion. Our data reveal that in adult cardiac myocytes, beta(1)ARs induce far-reaching cAMP signals, whereas beta(2)AR-induced cAMP remains locally confined.

Adrenergic beta-Agonists↗
PubMed2006

Simultaneous optical measurements of cytosolic Ca2+ and cAMP in single cells.

Understanding the temporal and spatial integration of the Ca2+ and adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP) signaling pathways requires concurrent measurements of both second messengers. Here, we describe an optical technique to simultaneously image cAMP and Ca2+ concentration gradients in MIN6 mouse insulinoma cells using Epac1-camps, a Förster (or fluorescence) resonance energy transfer (FRET)-based cAMP biosensor, and Fura-2, a fluorescent indicator of Ca2+. This real-time imaging method allows investigation of the dynamic organization and integration of multiple levels of signal processing in single living cells.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Cardiac myosin missense mutations cause dilated cardiomyopathy in mouse models and depress molecular motor function.

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) leads to heart failure, a leading cause of death in industrialized nations. Approximately 30% of DCM cases are genetic in origin, with some resulting from point mutations in cardiac myosin, the molecular motor of the heart. The effects of these mutations on myosin's molecular mechanics have not been determined. We have engineered two murine models characterizing the physiological, cellular, and molecular effects of DCM-causing missense mutations (S532P and F764L) in the alpha-cardiac myosin heavy chain and compared them with WT mice. Mutant mice developed morphological and functional characteristics of DCM consistent with the human phenotypes. Contractile function of isolated myocytes was depressed and preceded left ventricular dilation and reduced fractional shortening. In an in vitro motility assay, both mutant cardiac myosins exhibited a reduced ability to translocate actin (V(actin)) but had similar force-generating capacities. Actin-activated ATPase activities were also reduced. Single-molecule laser trap experiments revealed that the lower V(actin) in the S532P mutant was due to a reduced ability of the motor to generate a step displacement and an alteration of the kinetics of its chemomechanical cycle. These results suggest that the depressed molecular function in cardiac myosin may initiate the events that cause the heart to remodel and become pathologically dilated.

Actins↗
PubMed2006

Gs activation is time-limiting in initiating receptor-mediated signaling.

To analyze individual steps of G(S)-linked signaling in intact cells, we used fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET)-based assays for receptor-G protein interaction, G protein activation, and cAMP effector activation. To do so, we developed a FRET-based sensor to directly monitor G(S) activation in living cells. This was done by coexpressing a Galpha(s) mutant, in which a yellow fluorescent protein was inserted, together with cyan fluorescent protein-tagged Gbetagamma subunits and appropriate receptors in HEK293 cells. Together with assays for receptor activation and receptor-G protein interaction, it is possible to characterize large parts of the G(S) signaling cascade. When A(2A)-adenosine or beta(1)-adrenergic receptors are coexpressed with G(S) in HEK293T cells, the receptor-G(S) interaction was on the same time scale as A(2A) receptor activation with a time constant of <50 ms. G(S) activation was markedly slower and around 450 ms with similar kinetics following activation of A(2A)- or beta(1)-receptors. Taken together, our kinetic measurements demonstrate that the rate of G(S) activation limits initiation of G(S)-coupled receptor signaling.

Cell Line↗
PubMed2006

Beta 1-adrenergic receptor-directed autoimmunity as a cause of dilated cardiomyopathy in rats.

Progressive cardiac dilatation and pump failure of unknown etiology has been termed idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). During recent years a large body of data has accumulated indicating that functionally active antibodies or autoantibodies being able to recognize and to stimulate the cardiac beta(1)-adrenergic receptor (anti-beta(1)-AR) may play an important role in the initiation and/or clinical course of DCM. Recent experiments in rats even point towards a cause-and-effect relation between stimulatory anti-beta(1)-AR antibodies and DCM. Immunization of rats against the second extracellular loop of the human beta(1)-adrenergic receptor (100% sequence-identity between human and rat) resulted in both development of stimulatory anti-beta(1)-AR antibodies and development of progressive cardiac dilatation and dysfunction. Isogenic transfer of stimulatory anti-beta(1)-AR from cardiomyopathic into healthy inbred animals reproduced the disease, hence providing conclusive proof for a beta(1)-receptor-directed autoimmune attack as a possible cause of cardiomyopathy. This kind of cardiomyopathy is now referred to as anti-beta(1)-AR-induced dilated immune-cardiomyopathy (DiCM). The following article reviews recent evidence obtained from experimental animal-models implying a significant role of the cardiac beta(1)-adrenergic receptor as a pathophysiologically and clinically relevant autoantigen also in human DCM.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗
PubMed2006

Molecular basis of partial agonism at the neurotransmitter alpha2A-adrenergic receptor and Gi-protein heterotrimer.

To characterize the mechanism by which heterotrimeric G-proteins interpret the signals coming from various neurotransmitters of diverse efficacies (agonists and partial agonists) acting on alpha(2A)-adrenergic receptors, we used a fluorescent resonance energy transfer-based approach to study the effects of these partial agonists on the activation process of both the alpha(2A)-adrenergic receptor and its cognate G(i)-protein. We show that ligands of different efficacies switch the receptor into distinct conformational states, which in turn set the speed and extent of the G(i)-protein signaling. Thus, in cells the efficacy by which a receptor responds to diverse ligands is caused by the ability of the G-protein to differentiate between distinct receptor conformations. The data provide a new key characteristic underlying the mechanism of partial agonism at G-protein-coupled receptors.

Adrenergic alpha-2 Receptor Agonists↗
PubMed2006

SUMO-1 controls the protein stability and the biological function of phosducin.

Phosducin regulates Gbetagamma-stimulated signaling by binding to Gbetagamma subunits of heterotrimeric G-proteins. Control of phosducin activity by phosphorylation is well established. However, little is known about other mechanisms that may control phosducin activity. Here we report that phosducin is regulated at the posttranslational level by modification with the small ubiquitin-related modifier, SUMO. We demonstrate modification with SUMO for phosducin in vitro expressed in cells and for native phosducin purified from retina and the heart. A consensus motif for SUMOylation was identified in phosducin at amino acid positions 32-35. Mutation of the conserved lysine 33 to arginine in this motif abolished SUMOylation of phosducin, indicating that SUMO is attached to lysine 33 of phosducin. In transfected cells the steady-state levels of the K33R mutant protein were much lower compared with wild-type phosducin. The investigation of the stability of wild-type phosducin and of phosducinK33R showed a decreased protein stability of the SUMOylation-deficient mutant. The decreased protein stability correlated with increased ubiquitinylation of the SUMOylation-deficient mutant. These findings indicate that SUMOylation protects phosducin from proteasomal degradation. SUMOylation of phosducin decreased its ability to bind Gbetagamma. PhlP, a closely related member of the phosducin family, was not a target for SUMOylation, but its SUMOylation can be achieved by a single amino acid insertion in the conserved N terminus of PhlP. Together, these findings show that phosducin is a previously unrecognized target of SUMO modification and that SUMOylation controls phosducin stability in cells as well as its functional properties.

Amino Acid Motifs↗
PubMed2006

Stimulating autoantibodies directed against the cardiac beta1-adrenergic receptor predict increased mortality in idiopathic cardiomyopathy.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to estimate the independent and incremental prognostic value of the presence of stimulating autoantibodies directed against the human beta1-adrenergic receptor (anti-beta1-AR) in patients with chronic heart failure. METHODS: One hundred five antibody-typed chronic heart failure patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM, n = 65) or ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM, n = 40) were prospectively followed for 10.7 +/- 2.5 years. Information on all-cause and cardiovascular mortality was collected throughout the observation period. RESULTS: Stimulating anti-beta1-AR were prevalent in 26% (17/65) of patients with DCM and 13% (5/40) with ICM. All-cause mortality in antibody-positive patients was 65% in those with DCM and 80% in those with ICM, and in antibody-negative patients 44% and 49%, respectively. In univariate and multivariable Cox regression analysis (P < .05), presence of stimulating anti-beta1-AR was associated with increased all-cause and cardiovascular mortality risk in DCM but not in ICM. Information on antibody status improved the prognostic capacity in models containing already extensive information on clinical profile, Holter electrocardiography, and invasive hemodynamic measurements (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, 0.91; 95% confidence interval, 0.85-0.97; P < .05 for increase in receiver operating characteristic area). CONCLUSION: The presence of stimulating anti-beta1-AR autoantibodies independently predicts increased all-cause and cardiovascular mortality risk in DCM conferring incremental prognostic value in addition to established risk predictors. Our data indicate a clinical relevance of stimulating anti-beta1-AR in DCM and encourage further research into antibody-directed strategies as a therapeutic principle.

Aged↗
PubMed2006

beta(1)-Adrenergic receptor function, autoimmunity, and pathogenesis of dilated cardiomyopathy.

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a heart disease characterized by progressive depression of cardiac function and left ventricular dilatation of unknown etiology in the absence of coronary artery disease. Genetic causes and cardiotoxic substances account for about one third of the DCM cases, but the etiology of the remaining 60% to 70% is still unclear. Over the past two decades, evidence has accumulated continuously that functionally active antibodies or autoantibodies targeting cardiac beta(1)-adrenergic receptors (anti-beta(1)-AR antibodies) may play an important role in the initiation and/or clinical course of DCM. Recent experiments in rats indicate that such antibodies can actually cause DCM. This article reviews current knowledge and recent experimental and clinical findings focusing on the role of the beta(1)-adrenergic receptor as a self-antigen in the pathogenesis of DCM.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Fluorescent sensors for rapid monitoring of intracellular cGMP.

Sensors based on fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) are powerful tools to monitor signaling events in living mammalian cells. Here we describe development and use of new sensors for cyclic GMP (cGMP) based on cGMP binding domains from cGMP-dependent protein kinase I (GKI) and from phosphodiesterases (PDEs). The temporal and spatial resolution attained with the new sensors is superior to that of existing techniques, and permits direct recording and imaging of rapid cGMP-signaling events.

Biosensing Techniques↗
PubMed2006

Monitoring of cAMP synthesis and degradation in living cells.

cAMP is an important second messenger with a plethora of cellular effects and biological roles. To monitor and visualize cAMP in intact living cells, electrophysiological and fluorescent methods have been developed based on activation of all three types of cAMP effectors: protein kinase A, cyclic nucleotide-gated channels, and exchange protein directly activated by cAMP. In this review, we describe and compare these techniques in terms of their robustness, sensitivity and spatio-temporal resolution.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Dynamics of receptor/G protein coupling in living cells.

The interaction of activated G protein-coupled receptors with G proteins is a key event in signal transduction. Here, using a fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET)-based assay, we measure directly and in living cells the interaction of YFP-labeled alpha(2A)-adrenergic receptors with CFP-labeled G proteins. Upon agonist stimulation, a small, concentration-dependent increase in FRET was observed. No specific basal FRET was detected in the absence of agonist. Kinetics of the onset of receptor/G protein interaction were <100 ms and depended on expression levels of Galpha. Simultaneously recorded G protein-regulated inwardly rectifying K(+) channel currents revealed a maximal current response already at agonist concentrations producing submaximal FRET amplitudes. By analyzing FRET signals in the presence of a Galpha mutant, which dissociates more slowly from activated receptors, it was demonstrated that only a fraction of wild-type G proteins interacts with the activated receptor at any time. Our data suggest that alpha(2A)-adrenergic receptors and G proteins interact by rapid collision coupling and indicate that there is no significant precoupling between these receptors and G proteins.

Adrenergic alpha-2 Receptor Agonists↗
PubMed2005

Turn-on switch in parathyroid hormone receptor by a two-step parathyroid hormone binding mechanism.

Parathyroid hormone (PTH) and its related receptor (PTHR) are essential regulators of calcium homeostasis and bone physiology. PTH activates PTHR by interacting with a ligand-binding site localized within the N-terminal extracellular domain (the N-domain) and the domain comprising the seven transmembrane helices and the connecting extracellular loops (the J-domain). PTH binding triggers a conformational switch in the receptor, leading to receptor activation and subsequent cellular responses. The process of receptor activation occurs rapidly, within approximately 1 s, but the binding event preceding receptor activation is not understood. By recording FRET between tetramethyl-rhodamine in PTH(1-34) and GFP in the N-domain of the receptor, we measured the binding event in real time in living cells. We show that the association time course between PTH(1-34) and PTHR involves a two-step binding process where the agonist initially binds the receptor with a fast time constant (tau approximately 140 ms) and then with slower kinetics (tau approximately 1 s). The fast and slow phases were assigned to hormone association to the receptor N- and J domains, respectively. Our data indicate that the slow binding step to the J-domain coincides with a conformational switch in the receptor, also monitored by FRET between the enhanced cyan fluorescent protein and the enhanced yellow fluorescent protein in the PTHR sensor, PTHR enhanced cyan fluorescent protein/enhanced yellow fluorescent protein (PTHR(CFP/YFP)). These data suggest that the conformational change that switches the receptor into its active state proceeds in a sequential manner, with the first rapid binding step event preceding receptor activation by PTH(1-34).

Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer↗
PubMed2005

Peptide inhibitors of G protein-coupled receptor kinases.

G protein-coupled receptor kinases (GRKs) are regulatory enzymes involved in the modulation of seven-transmembrane-helix receptors. In order to develop specific inhibitors for these kinases, we synthesized and investigated peptide inhibitors derived from the sequence of the first intracellular loop of the beta2-adrenergic receptor. Introduction of changes in the sequence and truncation of N- and C-terminal amino acids increased the inhibitory potency by a factor of 40. These inhibitors not only inhibited the prototypical GRK2 but also GRK3 and GRK5. In contrast there was no inhibition of protein kinase C and protein kinase A even at the highest concentration tested. The peptide with the sequence AKFERLQTVTNYFITSE inhibited GRK2 with an IC50 of 0.6 microM, GRK3 with 2.6 microM and GRK5 with 1.6 microM. The peptide inhibitors were non-competitive for receptor and ATP. These findings demonstrate that specific peptides can inhibit GRKs in the submicromolar range and suggest that a further decrease in size is possible without losing the inhibitory potency.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2005

The transcriptional repressor Nab1 is a specific regulator of pathological cardiac hypertrophy.

Hypertrophy represents the major physiological response of the heart to adapt to chronically enhanced workload, but is also crucial in the development of heart failure. Although we know of numerous inducers of cardiac hypertrophy, little is known about mechanisms that limit cardiac hypertrophy. Here, we describe the transcriptional repressor NAB1 as an endogenous regulator of cardiac growth. We identified NAB1 as being upregulated in both mouse and human heart failure. Nab1 is highly expressed in mammalian cardiac myocytes and it inhibited cardiomyocyte hypertrophy through repression of its targets, transcription factor Egr. Transgenic mice with cardiac-specific overexpression of Nab1 showed that Nab1 is a potent inhibitor of cardiac growth in response to pathological stimuli in vivo. Nab1 overexpression suppressed adrenergically induced and pressure overload-induced hypertrophy, whereas physiological growth during development and in response to exercise was not affected. These findings implicate the Nab1-Egr1 axis as a crucial regulator of pathological cardiac growth.

Analysis of Variance↗