Regulation of cardiomyocyte mechanotransduction by the cardiac cycle

Overloading the left ventricle in systole (pressure overload) is associated with a distinct morphological response compared with overload in diastole (volume overload).

We designed a novel computer-controlled experimental system that interfaces biaxially uniform strain with electrical pacing, so that cellular deformation can be imposed during a specified phase of the cardiac cycle. Cardiomyocytes were exposed to strain (4%) during either the first third (systolic phase) or last third (diastolic phase) of the cardiac cycle. Strain imposed during the systolic phase selectively activated p44/42 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and MAPK/extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase kinase (MEK1/2, an activator of p44/42 MAPK) compared with strain imposed during the diastolic phase. In contrast, there was no difference in activation of p38 and c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinases induced by strain imposed during the systolic phase (5.8- and 3.3-fold versus control, n=4) compared with the diastolic phase (5.5- and 3.1-fold). Induction of both brain natriuretic peptide (5.8-fold versus control, P:<0.05, n=3) and tenascin-C (7.0-fold, P:<0.02) mRNA expression by strain imposed during the systolic phase was greater than during the diastolic phase (3.9- and 3.6-fold, respectively). [(3)H]leucine incorporation induced by strain imposed during the systolic phase (4.0-fold versus control) was greater than during the diastolic phase (2.7-fold, P:<0.02, n=4); a selective inhibitor of MEK1/2 inhibited this difference.

Mechanical activation of p44/42 MAPK and MEK1/2, gene expression, and protein synthesis is regulated by the cardiac cycle, suggesting that mechanotransduction at the cellular level may underlie differences between pressure and volume overload of the heart.