Calreticulin inhibits the MEK1,2-ERK1,2 pathway in alpha 1-adrenergic receptor/Gh-stimulated hypertrophy of neonatal rat cardiomyocytes.

Abstract

In cardiac myocytes, stimulation of α1-adrenoceptor (AR) leads to a hypertrophic phenotype. The Gh protein (transglutaminase II, TGII) is tissue type transglutaminase and transmits the α1B-adrenoceptor signal with GTPase activity. Recently, it has been shown that the calreticulin (CRT) down-regulates both GTP binding and transglutaminase activities of TGII. To elucidate whether Gh mediates norepinephrine-stimulated intracellular signal transductions leading to activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs) and neonatal rat cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, we examined the effects of Gh on the activation of ERKs and inhibitory effects of CRT on α1-adrenoceptor/Gh signaling. In neonatal rat cardiomyocytes, norepinephrine-induced ERKs activation was inhibited by an α1-adrenoceptor blocker (prazosin), but not by an β-adrenoceptor blocker (propranolol). Overexpression of the Gh protein stimulated norepinephrine-induced ERKs activation, which was inhibited by α-adrenoceptor blocker (prazosin). Co-overexpression of Gh and CRT abolished norepinephrine-induced ERKs activation. Taken together, norepinephrine induces hypertrophy in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes through α1-AR stimulation and Gh is partly involved in norepinephrine-induced MEK1,2/ERKs activation. Activation of Gh-mediated MEK1,2/ERKs was completely inhibited by CRT.