Logo image
Ultrastructural uncoupling between T-tubules and sarcoplasmic reticulum in human heart failure
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Ultrastructural uncoupling between T-tubules and sarcoplasmic reticulum in human heart failure

Hai-Bo Zhang, Rong-Chang Li, Ming Xu, Shi-Ming Xu, Ying-Si Lai, Hao-Di Wu, Xian-Jin Xie, Wei Gao, Haihong Ye, You-Yi Zhang, …
Cardiovascular research, Vol.98(2), pp.269-276
05/01/2013
DOI: 10.1093/cvr/cvt030
PMID: 23405000
url
https://doi.org/10.1093/cvr/cvt030View
Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

Chronic heart failure is a complex clinical syndrome with impaired myocardial contractility. In failing cardiomyocytes, decreased signalling efficiency between the L-type Ca(2+) channels (LCCs) in the plasma membrane (including transverse tubules, TTs) and the ryanodine receptors (RyRs) in the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) underlies the defective excitation-contraction (E-C) coupling. It is therefore intriguing to know how the LCC-RyR signalling apparatus is remodelled in human heart failure. Stereological analysis of transmission electron microscopic images showed that the volume densities and the surface areas of TTs and junctional SRs were both decreased in heart failure specimens of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and ischaemic cardiomyopathy (ICM). The TT-SR junctions were reduced by ~60%, with the remaining displaced from the Z-line areas. Moreover, the spatial span of individual TT-SR junctions was reduced by ~17% in both DCM and ICM tissues. In accordance with these remodelling, junctophilin-2 (JP2), a structural protein anchoring SRs to TTs, was down-regulated, and miR-24, a microRNA that suppresses JP2 expression, was up-regulated in both heart failure tissues. Human heart failure of distinct causes shared similar physical uncoupling between TTs and SRs, which appeared attributable to the reduced expression of JP2 and increased expression of miR-24. Therapeutic strategy against JP2 down-regulation would be expected to protect patients from cardiac E-C uncoupling.
Cardiomyopathy, Dilated - pathology Excitation Contraction Coupling Membrane Proteins - physiology Humans Middle Aged Sarcoplasmic Reticulum - ultrastructure Aged Heart Failure - pathology MicroRNAs - physiology Myocytes, Cardiac - ultrastructure Calcium Signaling Myocardial Ischemia - pathology

Details

Metrics

Logo image