Attenuated β-adrenergic response in calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase IV-knockout mice

PLoS One. 2021 Apr 15;16(4):e0249932. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0249932. eCollection 2021.

Abstract

In the present study, we examined the importance of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase IV (CaMKIV) in the regulation of cardiac function using genetically modified CaMKIV-null mice. RT-PCR analysis revealed decreased expression of voltage-dependent calcium channels in the cardiac myocytes of CaMKIV-null mice compared with wild-type mice. CaMKIV-null mice showed shortened QT time on electrocardiograms. Pharmacological analysis revealed decreased responsiveness to the β-adrenergic blocker propranolol in CaMKIV-null mice, whereas the plasma norepinephrine level was not affected. CaMKIV-null mice showed decreased baroreflex on electrocardiograms. Heart rate variability analysis showed unstable R-R intervals, a decreased low frequency power/high frequency power (LF/HF) ratio, and increased standard deviation of the normal to normal R-R intervals (SDNN) in CaMKIV-null mice, suggesting decreased responsiveness to β-adrenergic stimulation in CaMKIV-null mice. Atrial contraction analysis and cardiac action potential recording showed a decreased response to the β-adrenoceptor agonist isoproterenol in CaMKIV-null mice. Furthermore, fluorescence imaging in a CRE-hrGFP assay revealed a decreased response to isoproterenol in CaMKIV-null cardiac myocytes. Taken together, our data strongly suggest a significant effect of CaMKIV gene ablation on cardiac β-adrenergic signal transduction.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Action Potentials / drug effects
  • Adrenergic beta-Agonists / pharmacology*
  • Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / pharmacology*
  • Animals
  • Baroreflex / drug effects
  • Calcium Channels / genetics
  • Calcium Channels / metabolism
  • Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 4 / genetics*
  • Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 4 / metabolism
  • Heart / diagnostic imaging
  • Heart Rate / drug effects
  • Isoproterenol / pharmacology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Myocytes, Cardiac / metabolism*
  • Myocytes, Cardiac / pathology
  • Optical Imaging
  • Propranolol / pharmacology
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects*
  • Transcriptome / drug effects

Substances

  • Adrenergic beta-Agonists
  • Adrenergic beta-Antagonists
  • Calcium Channels
  • Propranolol
  • Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 4
  • Isoproterenol

Grants and funding

This research was sponsored in part by Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research from JSPS, KAKENHI (25460293 (MM), 17K08527 (KH), and 17H04319(MM)). There was no additional external funding received for this study.