Autoantibodies enhance agonist action and binding to cardiac muscarinic receptors in chronic Chagas' disease.

Chronic Chagasic patient immunoglobulins (CChP-IgGs) recognize an acidic amino acid cluster at the second extracellular loop (el2) of cardiac M(2)-muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (M(2)AChRs). These residues correspond to a common binding site for various allosteric agents. We characterized the nature of the M(2)AChR/CChP-IgG interaction in functional and radioligand binding experiments applying the same mainstream strategies previously used for the characterization of other allosteric agents. Dose-response curves of acetylcholine effect on heart rate were constructed with data from isolated heart experiments in the presence of CChP or normal blood donor (NBD) sera. In these experiments, CChP sera but not NBD sera increased the efficacy of agonist action by augmenting the onset of bradyarrhythmias and inducing a Hill slope of 2.5. This effect was blocked by gallamine, an M(2)AChR allosteric antagonist. Correspondingly, CChP-IgGs increased acetylcholine affinity twofold and showed negative cooperativity for [(3)H]-N-methyl scopolamine ([(3)H]-NMS) in allosterism binding assays. A peptide corresponding to the M(2)AChR-el2 blocked this effect. Furthermore, dissociation assays showed that the effect of gallamine on the [(3)H]-NMS off-rate was reverted by CChP-IgGs. Finally, concentration-effect curves for the allosteric delay of W84 on [(3)H]-NMS dissociation right shifted from an IC(50) of 33 nmol/L to 78 nmol/L, 992 nmol/L, and 1670 nmol/L in the presence of 6.7 x 10(- 8), 1.33 x 10(- 7), and 2.0 x 10(- 7) mol/L of anti-el2 affinity-purified CChP-IgGs. Taken together, these findings confirmed a competitive interplay of these ligands at the common allosteric site and revealed the novel allosteric nature of the interaction of CChP-IgGs at the M(2)AChRs as a positive cooperativity effect on acetylcholine action.

Antibodies with beta-adrenergic activity from chronic chagasic patients modulate the QT interval and M cell action potential duration.

AIMS: The aim of this study was to investigate whether the sera from chronic chagasic patients (CChPs) with beta-1 adrenergic activity (Ab-beta) can modulate ventricular repolarization. Beta-adrenergic activity has been described in CChP. It increases the L-type calcium current and heart rate in isolated hearts, but its effects on ventricular repolarization has not been described. METHODS AND RESULTS: In isolated rabbit hearts, under pacing condition, QT interval was measured under Ab-beta perfusion. Beta-adrenergic activity was also tested in guinea pig ventricular M cells. Furthermore, the immunoglobulin fraction (IgG-beta) of the Ab-beta was tested on Ito, ICa, and Iks currents in rat, rabbit, and guinea pig myocytes, respectively. Beta-adrenergic activity shortened the QT interval. This effect was abolished in the presence of propranolol. In addition, sera from CChP without beta-adrenergic activity (Ab-beta) did not modulate QT interval. The M cell action potential duration (APD) was reversibly shortened by Ab-beta. Atenolol inhibited this effect of Ab-beta, and Ab- did not modulate the AP of M cells. Ito was not modulated by isoproterenol nor by IgG-beta. However, IgG-beta increased ICa and IKs. CONCLUSION: The shortening of the QT interval and APD in M cells and the increase of IKs and ICa induced by IgG-beta contribute to repolarization changes that may trigger malignant ventricular arrhythmias observed in patients with chronic chagasic or idiopathic cardiomyopathy.

Thyroid function disturbance and type 3 iodothyronine deiodinase induction after myocardial infarction in rats a time course study.

In humans, there is a significant decrease in serum T(3) and increase in rT(3) at different time points after myocardial infarction, whereas serum TSH and T(4) remain unaltered. We report here a time course study of pituitary-thyroid function and thyroid hormone metabolism in rats subjected to myocardial infarction by left coronary ligation (INF). INF- and sham-operated animals were followed by serial deiodination assays and thyroid function tests, just before, and 1, 4, 8, and 12 wk after surgery. At 4 and 12 wk after INF, liver type 1 deiodinase activity was significantly lower, confirming tissue hypothyroidism. Type 3 deiodinase (D3) activity was robustly induced 1 wk after INF only in the infarcted myocardium. Reminiscent of the consumptive hypothyroidism observed in patients with large D3-expressing tumors, this induction of cardiac D3 activity was associated with a decrease in both serum T(4) ( approximately 50% decrease) and T(3) (37% decrease), despite compensatory stimulation of the thyroid. Thyroid stimulation was documented by both hyperthyrotropinemia and radioiodine uptake. Serum TSH increased by 4.3-fold in the first and 3.1-fold in the fourth weeks (P < 0.01), returning to the basal levels thereafter. Thyroid sodium/iodide-symporter function increased 1 wk after INF, accompanying the increased serum TSH. We conclude that the acute decrease in serum T(4) and T(3) after INF is due to increased thyroid hormone catabolism from ectopic D3 expression in the heart.

Human antibodies with muscarinic activity modulate ventricular repolarization: basis for electrical disturbance.

INTRODUCTION: In chronic chagasic patients sudden death has been reported when QT interval dispersion is increased and antibodies with muscarinic-like activity have been demonstrated to trigger arrhythmias. The aims were to investigate, in vivo and in vitro, relation between these antibodies and heterogeneity of ventricular repolarization and to identify predictors of cardiac death in chronic chagasic patients. METHODS AND RESULTS: Clinical, electrocardiograph and echocardiograph variables from 32 chronic chagasic patients with moderate to severe left ventricular dysfunction, followed-up for 10 years were analyzed. Sera from chronic chagasic patients with or without muscarinic activity were tested in isolated rabbit hearts to study ventricular repolarization. Stepwise multivariate logistic analysis was applied to identify independent predictors of cardiac death. QT interval dispersion of patients with muscarinic activity (75.9+/-5.5 ms) was larger than that of patients without muscarinic activity (51.3+/-4.0 ms, p<0.001). Maximum uncorrected and corrected QT intervals were not significantly different between groups of patients. Sera from patients with muscarinic activity significantly and reversibly increased QT interval in isolated rabbit hearts (p=0.002). This effect was abolished in the presence of the muscarinic antagonist atropine. Multivariate analysis identified maximum corrected QT intervals and left ventricular end diastolic index as independent predictors of cardiac death (p=0.03 and p=0.02, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Sera with muscarinic activity from chagasic patients have a strong contribution to evoke ventricular repolarization rhythm disorder. In these patients, ventricular repolarization heterogeneity is increased significantly. In vitro, muscarinic sera reversibly increased repolarization duration. Maximum corrected QT intervals and left ventricular end diastolic index are independent predictors of cardiac death.

Regulation of intracellular calcium by bupivacaine isomers in cardiac myocytes from Wistar rats.

In this study we investigated the effects of a racemic mixture of bupivacaine (RS(+/-)bupivacaine) and its isomers (S(-)bupivacaine and R(+)bupivacaine) on the Ca2+ handling by ventricular myocytes from Wistar rats. Single ventricular myocytes were enzymatically isolated and loaded with the fluorescent Ca2+ indicator fura 2-am to estimate intracellular Ca2+ concentration during contraction and relaxation cycles. S(-)bupivacaine (10 muM) significantly increased peak amplitude and the rate of increase of Ca2+ transients in 155% +/- 54% (P < 0.05) and 194% +/- 94% (P < 0.01) of control. However, exposure to R(+)bupivacaine had no effect on either peak amplitude or rate of increase at any concentration tested. Saponin-skinned ventricular fibers were used to investigate the effect of bupivacaine on the intracellular Ca2+ regulation by sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) and on the Ca2+ sensitivity of contractile system. S(-), R(+), and RS(+/-)bupivacaine induced Ca2+ release from SR (P < 0.01). In SR-disrupted skinned ventricular cells, bupivacaine and its isomers (5 mM) increased the sensitivity of contractile system to Ca(2+). S(-), RS(+/-), and R(+)bupivacaine significantly increased pCa50 from 5.8 +/- 0.1, 5.8 +/- 0.1, and 5.8 +/- 0.1, to 6.1 +/- 0.1 (P < 0.05), 6.0 +/- 0.1 (P < 0.05), and 6.1 +/- 0.1 (P < 0.05). Ca2+ release from SR through RyR2 activation could explain the increase of Ca2+ transients in cardiac cells. Increased intracellular Ca2+ in cardiac myocytes display a stereoselectivity to S(-)bupivacaine.

Cardiac autonomic dysfunction in rats chronically treated with anabolic steroid.

To date no published data exist regarding the effects of chronic high-dose anabolic-androgenic steroid administration on tonic cardiac autonomic control. The aim of this study was to evaluate, by power spectral analysis of heart rate variability (HRV), the effects of chronic treatment with supraphysiological doses of nandrolone decanoate (DECA) on tonic cardiac autonomic regulation in sedentary rats. Male Wistar rats were treated weekly with 10 mg kg(-1) of DECA (n=7) or vehicle (CONTROL, n=7) for 10 weeks. At the 8th week of treatment, electrocardiogram was recorded in the conscious state, for time- and frequency-domain HRV analysis. Parasympathetic indexes were reduced in DECA group: high-frequency power (CONTROL=11.1+/-3.0 ms2 vs. DECA=3.8+/-0.6 ms2, P<0.05), RMSSD (CONTROL=5.9+/-0.9 ms vs. DECA 3.5+/-0.3 ms; P<0.05) and pNN5 (CONTROL=31.5+/-7.5 ms vs. DECA=13.2+/-2.6 ms; P<0.05). The sympathetic index LF/HF tended to be higher in DECA group (CONTROL=0.65+/-0.15 vs. DECA=1.17+/-0.26, P=0.0546). In conclusion, chronic treatment with DECA, in rats, impairs tonic cardiac autonomic regulation, which may provide a key mechanism for anabolic steroid-induced arrhythmia and sudden cardiac death.

Method for diagnosis and control of aerobic training in rats based on lactate threshold.

We propose a protocol for determination of lactate threshold (LT) and test the validity of one aerobic training based on LT in rats. In group I, V(LTi) (velocity at LT before training) was determined in all rats (n=10), each rat training at its own V(LTi) and in group II, animals (n=7) ran at 15 m min(-1), the mean V(LTi) of group I. The training consisted of daily runs at V(LTi) for 50 min, 5 days/week, for 4 weeks. In group I, this program increased V(LT) (V(LTi) 14.90+/-1.49 m min(-1) and V(LTf), after training, 22.60+/-1.17 m min(-1)) and the velocity at exhaustion (19.50+/-1.63 m min(-1) and 27.60+/-1.17 m min(-1)). [Lactate] at LT (2.62+/-0.43 mmol L(-1) versus 2.11+/-0.15 mmol L(-1)) and relative values of LT (76+/-3% versus 82+/-2%) stayed unaltered. In group II the V(LTf) was 20+/-1.8 m.mim(-1), the [lactate] at the LT, 2.02+/-0.17 mmol.L(-1); the exhaustion speed, 23.57+/-2.11 m.mim(-1) and relative value of LT, 82.71+/-2.29%. There were no significant differences in these parameters between groups I and II. Thus, this protocol based on LT is effective and the mean V(LT) determined in a small number of healthy untrained rats can be used for aerobic training in a larger group of healthy animals of same gender and age.

Trypanosoma cruzi-cardiomyocytes: new contributions regarding a better understanding of this interaction

The present paper summarizes new approaches regarding the progress done to the understanding of the interaction of Trypanosoma cruzi-cardiomyocytes. Mannose receptors localized at the surface of heart muscle cell are involved in binding and uptake of the parasite. One of the most striking events in the parasite-heart muscle cells interaction is the disruption of the actin cytoskeleton. We have investigated the regulation of the actin mRNA during the cytopathology induced in myocardial cells by the parasite. T. cruzi invasion increases calcium resting levels in cardiomyocytes. We have previously shown that Ca2+ ATPase of the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SERCA) is involved in the invasion of T. cruzi in cardiomyocytes. Treating the cells with thapsigargin, a drug that binds to all SERCA ATPases and causes depletion of intracellular calcium stores, we found a 75 per cent inhibition in the T. cruzi-cardiomyocytes invasion.