Quantification of Gi alpha-proteins in the failing and nonfailing human myocardium

Heterotrimeric Gi-proteins play an important role in the regulation of cardiac adenylate cyclase. Besides a downregulation of beta-adrenoceptors with an accompanying reduction of the positive inotropic effects of cAMP-dependent positive inotropic agents, an increase of pertussis toxin substrates (Gi alpha-proteins) has been observed. The increase of Gi alpha has been reported to be associated with a reduced adenylate cyclase activity in dilated cardiomyopathy from hearts with heart failure class NYHA IV. Since the quantification of Gi alpha-proteins with the pertussis toxin labeling method is hampered by a number of biological and technical factors, Gi alpha-proteins were quantified radioimmunologically using the iodinated C-terminus 125I-KENLKDCGLF as tracer, purified retinal transducin alpha as standard, and an antiserum (DS 4) raised against the same peptide. With this technique Gi alpha-proteins were increased by 118% in dilated cardiomyopathy and 48% in ischemic cardiomyopathy, although pertussis toxin substrates were only increased by 40% in dilated cardiomyopathy and no change was observed in ischemic cardiomyopathy. In cardiomyopathic tissue, an inverse relationship was observed between the increase of Gi alpha and the positive inotropic effects of isoprenaline or milrinone. These data provide evidence for a functional role of Gi alpha in the reduced positive inotropic effects of cAMP-dependent positive inotropic agents. In addition, results obtained with pertussis toxin labeling for quantification of Gi alpha-proteins do not necessarily reflect the expression of Gi alpha-proteins in the human myocardium.