Cardiomyocyte-specific overexpression of nitric oxide synthase 3 prevents myocardial dysfunction in murine models of septic shock

Circ Res. 2007 Jan 5;100(1):130-9. doi: 10.1161/01.RES.0000253888.09574.7a. Epub 2006 Nov 30.

Abstract

Myocardial dysfunction contributes to the high mortality of patients with endotoxemia. Although nitric oxide (NO) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of septic cardiovascular dysfunction, the role of myocardial NO synthase 3 (NOS3) remains incompletely defined. Here we show that mice with cardiomyocyte-specific NOS3 overexpression (NOS3TG) are protected from myocardial dysfunction and death associated with endotoxemia. Endotoxin induced more marked impairment of Ca(2+) transients and cellular contraction in wild-type than in NOS3TG cardiomyocytes, in part, because of greater total sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+) load and myofilament sensitivity to Ca(2+) in the latter during endotoxemia. Endotoxin increased reactive oxygen species production in wild-type but not NOS3TG hearts, in part, because of increased xanthine oxidase activity. Inhibition of NOS by N(G)-nitro-l-arginine-methyl ester restored the ability of endotoxin to increase reactive oxygen species production and xanthine oxidase activity in NOS3TG hearts to the levels measured in endotoxin-challenged wild-type hearts. Allopurinol, a xanthine oxidase inhibitor, attenuated endotoxin-induced reactive oxygen species accumulation and myocardial dysfunction in wild-type mice. The protective effects of cardiomyocyte NOS3 on myocardial function and survival were further confirmed in a murine model of polymicrobial sepsis. These results suggest that increased myocardial NO levels attenuate endotoxin-induced reactive oxygen species production and increase total sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+) load and myofilament sensitivity to Ca(2+), thereby reducing myocardial dysfunction and mortality in murine models of septic shock.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Actin Cytoskeleton
  • Allopurinol / pharmacology
  • Animals
  • Calcium / metabolism
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Cardiotonic Agents / metabolism*
  • Endotoxemia / enzymology
  • Endotoxemia / physiopathology
  • Endotoxins / pharmacology
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Heart / drug effects
  • Heart / physiopathology*
  • Heart Diseases / prevention & control
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Myocardial Contraction / drug effects
  • Myocardium / enzymology
  • Myocytes, Cardiac / enzymology*
  • Nitric Oxide / metabolism
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / metabolism
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III / metabolism*
  • Phosphorylation / drug effects
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism
  • Sarcoplasmic Reticulum / metabolism
  • Shock, Septic / chemically induced
  • Shock, Septic / mortality
  • Shock, Septic / physiopathology*
  • Xanthine Oxidase / metabolism

Substances

  • Calcium-Binding Proteins
  • Cardiotonic Agents
  • Endotoxins
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • phospholamban
  • Nitric Oxide
  • Allopurinol
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III
  • Xanthine Oxidase
  • Calcium