Title:Salvaging the Ischemic Heart: Gi-Coupled Receptors in Mast Cells Activate a PKCε/ALDH2 Pathway Providing Anti-RAS Cardioprotection
Volume: 25
Issue: 34
Author(s): Alice Marino and Roberto Levi*
Affiliation:
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10065,United States
Keywords:
Aldehyde Dehydrogenase type 2, Gi-coupled proteins, Ischemia/Reperfusion, Ischemic
Preconditioning, Mast cells, Norepinephrine.
Abstract: Background: Excessive norepinephrine (NE) release in the ischemic heart elicits severe and
often lethal arrhythmias. Resident cardiac mast cells synthesize and store active renin, which is released
upon degranulation, causing the activation of a local cardiac renin-angiotensin system (RAS) responsible
for NE release and consequent arrhythmias. Toxic aldehydes, known to be formed by lipid peroxidation in
ischemia/reperfusion (I/R), have been shown to degranulate mast cells and activate a local RAS.
Objective: To provide an up-to-date description of the roles of ischemic preconditioning (IPC) and Gicoupled
receptors in anti-RAS cardioprotection.
Methods: Ex-vivo I/R models in cavian and murine hearts, and human and murine mast cell lines in vitro.
Results: IPC not only drastically reduces the injury subsequent to a prolonged ischemic event, but also
decreases mast cell renin release, thus affording anti-RAS cardioprotection. Similarly, activation of Gicoupled
receptors, such as histamine-H4, adenosine-A3 and sphingosine-1-phosphate-S1P1 receptors, all
expressed at the mast cell surface, mimic the cardioprotective anti-RAS effects of IPC. The mechanism of
this action depends on the sequential activation of a specific isoform of protein kinase C, PKCε, and mitochondrial
aldehyde dehydrogenase-type 2 (ALDH2). Increased ALDH2 enzymatic activity exerts a pivotal
role in the sequential inhibition of aldehyde-induced mast-cell renin release, prevention of RAS activation,
reduction of NE release and alleviation of reperfusion arrhythmias.
Conclusion: These recently discovered protective pathways indicate that activation of mast-cell Gicoupled
receptors and subsequent ALDH2 phosphorylation/activation represent a novel therapeutic target
for the alleviation of RAS-induced cardiac dysfunctions, including ischemic heart disease and congestive
heart failure.
