TY - JOUR
T1 - Cardiac overexpression of the human 5-HT4 receptor in mice
AU - Gergs, U
AU - Baumann, M
AU - Bockler, A
AU - Buchwalow, IB
AU - Ebelt, H
AU - Fabritz, Larissa
AU - Hauptmann, S
AU - Keller, N
AU - Kirchhof, Paulus
AU - Klockner, U
AU - Ponicke, K
AU - Rueckschloss, U
AU - Schmitz, W
AU - Werner, F
AU - Neumann, J
PY - 2010/7/16
Y1 - 2010/7/16
N2 - Serotonin (5-HT) exerts pleiotropic effects in the human cardiovascular system. Some of the effects are thought to be mediated via 5-HT(4) receptors, which are expressed in the human atrium and in ventricular tissue. However, a true animal model to study these receptors in more detail has been hitherto lacking. Therefore, we generated, for the first time, a transgenic (TG) mouse with cardiac myocyte-specific expression of the human 5-HT(4) receptor. RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry revealed expression of the receptor at the mRNA and protein levels. Stimulation of isolated cardiac preparations by isoproterenol increased phospholamban phosphorylation at Ser(16) and Thr(17) sites. 5-HT increased phosphorylation only in TG mice but not in wild-type (WT) mice. Furthermore, 5-HT increased contractility in isolated perfused hearts from TG mice but not WT mice. These effects of 5-HT could be blocked by the 5-HT(4) receptor-selective antagonist GR-125487. An intravenous infusion of 5-HT increased left ventricular contractility in TG mice but not in WT mice. Similarly, the increase in contractility by 5-HT in isolated cardiomyocytes from TG mice was accompanied by and probably mediated through an increase in L-type Ca(2+) channel current and in Ca(2+) transients. In intact animals, echocardiography revealed an inotropic and chronotropic effect of subcutaneously injected 5-HT in TG mice but not in WT mice. In isolated hearts from TG mice, spontaneous polymorphic atrial arrhythmias were noted. These findings demonstrate the functional expression of 5-HT(4) receptors in the heart of TG mice, and a potential proarrhythmic effect in the atrium. Therefore, 5-HT(4) receptor-expressing mice might be a useful model to mimic the human heart, where 5-HT(4) receptors are present and functional in the atrium and ventricle of the healthy and failing heart, and to investigate the influence of 5-HT in the development of cardiac arrhythmias and heart failure.
AB - Serotonin (5-HT) exerts pleiotropic effects in the human cardiovascular system. Some of the effects are thought to be mediated via 5-HT(4) receptors, which are expressed in the human atrium and in ventricular tissue. However, a true animal model to study these receptors in more detail has been hitherto lacking. Therefore, we generated, for the first time, a transgenic (TG) mouse with cardiac myocyte-specific expression of the human 5-HT(4) receptor. RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry revealed expression of the receptor at the mRNA and protein levels. Stimulation of isolated cardiac preparations by isoproterenol increased phospholamban phosphorylation at Ser(16) and Thr(17) sites. 5-HT increased phosphorylation only in TG mice but not in wild-type (WT) mice. Furthermore, 5-HT increased contractility in isolated perfused hearts from TG mice but not WT mice. These effects of 5-HT could be blocked by the 5-HT(4) receptor-selective antagonist GR-125487. An intravenous infusion of 5-HT increased left ventricular contractility in TG mice but not in WT mice. Similarly, the increase in contractility by 5-HT in isolated cardiomyocytes from TG mice was accompanied by and probably mediated through an increase in L-type Ca(2+) channel current and in Ca(2+) transients. In intact animals, echocardiography revealed an inotropic and chronotropic effect of subcutaneously injected 5-HT in TG mice but not in WT mice. In isolated hearts from TG mice, spontaneous polymorphic atrial arrhythmias were noted. These findings demonstrate the functional expression of 5-HT(4) receptors in the heart of TG mice, and a potential proarrhythmic effect in the atrium. Therefore, 5-HT(4) receptor-expressing mice might be a useful model to mimic the human heart, where 5-HT(4) receptors are present and functional in the atrium and ventricle of the healthy and failing heart, and to investigate the influence of 5-HT in the development of cardiac arrhythmias and heart failure.
U2 - 10.1152/ajpheart.00691.2009
DO - 10.1152/ajpheart.00691.2009
M3 - Article
C2 - 20639221
VL - 299
SP - H788-H798
JO - American Journal of Physiology. Heart and Circulatory Physiology
JF - American Journal of Physiology. Heart and Circulatory Physiology
IS - 3
ER -