Knockout of the Na,K-ATPase α2-isoform in cardiac myocytes delays pressure overload-induced cardiac dysfunction

Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2013 Apr 15;304(8):H1147-58. doi: 10.1152/ajpheart.00594.2012. Epub 2013 Feb 22.

Abstract

The α2-isoform of the Na,K-ATPase (α2) is the minor isoform of the Na,K-ATPase expressed in the cardiovascular system and is thought to play a critical role in the regulation of cardiovascular hemodynamics. However, the organ system/cell type expressing α2 that is required for this regulation has not been fully defined. The present study uses a heart-specific knockout of α2 to further define the tissue-specific role of α2 in the regulation of cardiovascular hemodynamics. To accomplish this, we developed a mouse model using the Cre/loxP system to generate a tissue-specific knockout of α2 in the heart using β-myosin heavy chain Cre. We have achieved a 90% knockout of α2 expression in the heart of the knockout mice. Interestingly, the heart-specific knockout mice exhibit normal basal cardiac function and systolic blood pressure, and in addition, these mice develop ACTH-induced hypertension in response to ACTH treatment similar to control mice. Surprisingly, the heart-specific knockout mice display delayed onset of cardiac dysfunction compared with control mice in response to pressure overload induced by transverse aortic constriction; however, the heart-specific knockout mice deteriorated to control levels by 9 wk post-transverse aortic constriction. These results suggest that heart expression of α2 does not play a role in the regulation of basal cardiovascular function or blood pressure; however, heart expression of α2 plays a role in the hypertrophic response to pressure overload. This study further emphasizes that the tissue localization of α2 determines its unique roles in the regulation of cardiovascular function.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / adverse effects*
  • Animals
  • Atrial Natriuretic Factor / genetics
  • Atrial Natriuretic Factor / metabolism
  • Blood Pressure / genetics
  • Blood Pressure / physiology
  • Gene Knockout Techniques / methods
  • Hypertension / chemically induced
  • Hypertension / genetics
  • Hypertension / metabolism*
  • Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / diagnostic imaging
  • Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / genetics
  • Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / metabolism*
  • Integrases
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Myocardium / metabolism
  • Myocytes, Cardiac / metabolism
  • Myocytes, Cardiac / physiology*
  • Myosin Heavy Chains / genetics
  • Myosin Heavy Chains / metabolism
  • Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / genetics
  • Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / metabolism
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos / genetics
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos / metabolism
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun / genetics
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun / metabolism
  • RNA, Messenger / analysis
  • Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase / genetics
  • Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase / physiology*
  • Ultrasonography
  • Vasoconstriction
  • Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / diagnostic imaging
  • Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / genetics
  • Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / metabolism*

Substances

  • Myh7 protein, mouse
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Natriuretic Peptide, Brain
  • Atrial Natriuretic Factor
  • Adrenocorticotropic Hormone
  • Cre recombinase
  • Integrases
  • Atp1a2 protein, mouse
  • Myosin Heavy Chains
  • Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase