β-Adrenergic receptor antagonists ameliorate myocyte T-tubule remodeling following myocardial infarction

FASEB J. 2012 Jun;26(6):2531-7. doi: 10.1096/fj.11-199505. Epub 2012 Feb 28.

Abstract

β-Adrenergic receptor (AR) blockers provide substantial clinical benefits, including improving overall survival and left ventricular (LV) function following myocardial infarction (MI), though the mechanisms remain incompletely defined. The transverse-tubule (T-tubule) system of ventricular myocytes is an important determinant of cardiac excitation-contraction function. T-tubule remodeling occurs early during LV failure. We hypothesized that β-AR blockers prevent T-tubule remodeling and thereby provide therapeutic benefits. A murine model of MI was utilized to examine the effect of β-AR blockers on T-tubule remodeling following LV MI. We applied the in situ imaging of T-tubule structure from Langendorff-perfused intact hearts with laser scanning confocal microscopy. We found that MI caused remarkable T-tubule remodeling near the infarction border zone and moderate LV remodeling remote from the MI. Metoprolol and carvedilol administered 6 d after MI for 4 wk each increased the T-tubule integrity at the remote and border zones. At the molecular level, both β-AR blockers restored border and remote zone expression of junctophilin-2 (JP-2), which is involved in T-tubule organization and formation of the T-tubule/sarcoplasmic reticulum junctions. In contrast, β-AR blockers had no significant effects on caveolin-3 expression. In summary, our data show that β-AR antagonists can protect against T-tubule remodeling after MI, suggesting a novel therapeutic mechanism of action for this drug class. Preservation of JP-2 expression may contribute to the beneficial effects of metoprolol and carvedilol on T-tubule remodeling.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / pharmacology*
  • Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / therapeutic use
  • Animals
  • Carbazoles / pharmacology
  • Carvedilol
  • Caveolin 3 / biosynthesis
  • Male
  • Membrane Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Metoprolol / pharmacology
  • Mice
  • Myocardial Infarction / drug therapy
  • Myocardial Infarction / physiopathology*
  • Myocytes, Cardiac / drug effects*
  • Myocytes, Cardiac / physiology*
  • Propanolamines / pharmacology
  • Ventricular Remodeling / drug effects*
  • Ventricular Remodeling / physiology

Substances

  • Adrenergic beta-Antagonists
  • Carbazoles
  • Caveolin 3
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Propanolamines
  • junctophilin
  • Carvedilol
  • Metoprolol