Orphan nuclear receptor Nur77 affects cardiomyocyte calcium homeostasis and adverse cardiac remodelling

Sci Rep. 2015 Oct 21:5:15404. doi: 10.1038/srep15404.

Abstract

Distinct stressors may induce heart failure. As compensation, β-adrenergic stimulation enhances myocardial contractility by elevating cardiomyocyte intracellular Ca(2+) ([Ca(2+)]i). However, chronic β-adrenergic stimulation promotes adverse cardiac remodelling. Cardiac expression of nuclear receptor Nur77 is enhanced by β-adrenergic stimulation, but its role in cardiac remodelling is still unclear. We show high and rapid Nur77 upregulation in cardiomyocytes stimulated with β-adrenergic agonist isoproterenol. Nur77 knockdown in culture resulted in hypertrophic cardiomyocytes. Ventricular cardiomyocytes from Nur77-deficient (Nur77-KO) mice exhibited elevated diastolic and systolic [Ca(2+)]i and prolonged action potentials compared to wild type (WT). In vivo, these differences resulted in larger cardiomyocytes, increased expression of hypertrophic genes, and more cardiac fibrosis in Nur77-KO mice upon chronic isoproterenol stimulation. In line with the observed elevated [Ca(2+)]i, Ca(2+)-activated phosphatase calcineurin was more active in Nur77-KO mice compared to WT. In contrast, after cardiac pressure overload by aortic constriction, Nur77-KO mice exhibited attenuated remodelling compared to WT. Concluding, Nur77-deficiency results in significantly altered cardiac Ca(2+) homeostasis and distinct remodelling outcome depending on the type of insult. Detailed knowledge on the role of Nur77 in maintaining cardiomyocyte Ca(2+) homeostasis and the dual role Nur77 plays in cardiac remodelling will aid in developing personalized therapies against heart failure.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adrenergic beta-Agonists / administration & dosage
  • Animals
  • Calcium / metabolism
  • Heart Failure / genetics*
  • Heart Failure / physiopathology
  • Homeostasis
  • Humans
  • Isoproterenol / administration & dosage
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Myocardial Contraction / drug effects
  • Myocardial Contraction / genetics*
  • Myocytes, Cardiac / metabolism
  • Myocytes, Cardiac / pathology
  • Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 4, Group A, Member 1 / genetics*
  • Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 4, Group A, Member 1 / metabolism
  • Ventricular Remodeling / genetics*
  • Ventricular Remodeling / physiology

Substances

  • Adrenergic beta-Agonists
  • NR4A1 protein, human
  • Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 4, Group A, Member 1
  • Isoproterenol
  • Calcium