文摘
Echinochrome A (Ech A), a marine bio-product isolated from sea urchin eggs, is known to have cardioprotective effects through its strong antioxidant and ATP-sparing capabilities. However, the effects of Ech A on cardiac excitation–contraction (E-C) are not known. In this study, we investigated the effects of Ech A on cardiac contractility and Ca2+ handling in the rat heart. In ex vivo Langendorff hearts, Ech A (3 μM) decreased left ventricular developing pressure to 77.7?±-.5 % of basal level. In isolated ventricular myocytes, Ech A reduced the fractional cell shortening from 3.4 % at baseline to 2.1 %. Ech A increased both diastolic and peak systolic intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i). However, the ratio of peak [Ca]i to resting [Ca]i was significantly decreased. Ech A did not affect the L-type Ca2+ current. Inhibiting the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger with either NiCl2 or SEA400 did not affect the Ech A-dependent changes in Ca2+ handling. Our data demonstrate that treatment with Ech A results in a significant reduction in the phosphorylation of phospholamban at both serine 16 and threonine 17 leading to a significant inhibition of SR Ca2+-ATPase 2A (SERCA2A) and subsequent reduced Ca2+ uptake into the intracellular Ca2+ store. Taken together, our data show that Ech A negatively regulates cardiac contractility by inhibiting SERCA2A activity, which leads to a reduction in internal Ca2+ stores. Keywords Echinochrome A Negative inotropic effect SERCA2A inhibition Phospholamban phosphorylation