Increased CaMKII activation and contrast changes of cardiac β1-and β3-Adrenergic signaling pathways in a humanized angiotensinogen model of hypertension

AIMS: Upregulation of Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) contributes to the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease, including hypertension. Transgenic rats expressing the human angiotensinogen gene [TGR (hAGT)L1623] are a new novel humanized model of hypertension that associates with declines in cardiac contractile function and β-adrenergic receptor (AR) reserve. The molecular mechanisms are unclear. We tested the hypothesis that in TGR (hAGT)L1623 rats, left ventricular (LV) myocyte CaMKIIδ and β(3)-AR are upregulated, but β(1)-AR is down-regulated, which are important causes of cardiac dysfunction and β-AR desensitization. MAIN METHODS: We compared LV myocyte CaMKIIδ, CaMKIIδ phosphorylation (at Thr287) (pCaMKIIδ), and β(1)-and β(3)-AR expressions and determined myocyte functional and [Ca(2+)](I) transient ([Ca(2+)](iT)) responses to β-AR stimulation with and without pretreatment of myocytes using an inhibitor of CaMKII, KN-93 (10(−6) M, 30 min) in male Sprague Dawley (SD; N = 10) control and TGR (hAGT)L1623 (N = 10) adult rats. KEY FINDINGS: Hypertension in TGR (hAGT)L1623 rats was accompanied by significantly increased LV myocyte β(3)-AR protein levels and reduced β(1)-AR protein levels. CaMKIIδ phosphorylation (at Thr287), pCaMKIIδ was significantly increased by 35%. These changes were followed by significantly reduced basal cell contraction (dL/dt(max)), relaxation (dR/dt(max)), and [Ca(2+)](iT). Isoproterenol (10(−8) M) produced significantly smaller increases in dL/dt(max), dR/dt(max), and [Ca(2+)](iT). Moreover, only in TGR (hAGT)L1623 rats, pretreatment of LV myocytes with KN-93 (10(−6) M, 30 min) fully restored normal basal and isoproterenol-stimulated myocyte contraction, relaxation, and [Ca(2+)](iT). SIGNIFICANCE: LV myocyte CaMKIIδ overactivation with associated contrast changes in β(3)-AR and β(1)-AR may be the key molecular mechanism for the abnormal contractile phenotype and β-AR desensitization in this humanized model of hypertension.