BMP-2 regulates cardiomyocyte contractility in a phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase-dependent manner

Nandini Ghosh-Choudhury, Sherry L. Abboud, Bysani Chandrasekar, Goutam Ghosh Choudhury

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

35 Scopus citations

Abstract

Bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) regulates development of heart during vertebrate embryogenesis. In vitro BMP-2 induces differentiation of precardiac cells into mature cardiomyocytes by inducing the expression of cardiac-specific genes. However, the role of BMP-2 and its signaling in other cardiac functions have not been studied. We examined the action of phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3 kinase in isolated adult rat cardiomyocytes. Incubation of rat ventricular cardiomyocytes with BMP-2 increased the PI 3 kinase activity. Ly294002, a pharmacological inhibitor of PI 3 kinase, blocked BMP-2-induced PI 3 kinase activity completely. To investigate the contractility of isolated cardiomyocytes, fractional shortening was examined. BMP-2 significantly increased the percent fractional shortening of the cardiomyocytes. Inhibition of PI 3 kinase activity completely abolished this action of BMP-2. These data indicate that PI 3 kinase regulates BMP-2-induced myocyte contractility. To further confirm this observation, we used adenovirus-mediated gene transfer to express a constitutively active myristoylated catalytic subunit of PI 3 kinase in rat cardiomyocytes. Infection of cardiomyocytes with the adenovirus vector increased the expression of constitutively active PI 3 kinase within 24 h. Expression of constitutively active PI 3 kinase significantly increased cardiomyocyte contractility. Together, these data show for the first time that the growth and differentiation factor, BMP-2, stimulates cardiomyocyte contractility. Also we provide the first evidence that BMP-2-induced PI 3 kinase activity regulates this cardiomyocyte function.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)181-184
Number of pages4
JournalFEBS Letters
Volume544
Issue number1-3
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 5 2003

Keywords

  • Bone morphogenetic protein-2
  • Cardiomyocyte contraction
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biophysics
  • Structural Biology
  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics
  • Cell Biology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'BMP-2 regulates cardiomyocyte contractility in a phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase-dependent manner'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this