Ryanodine receptor: a novel therapeutic target in heart disease

In excitable cells such as skeletal and cardiac myocytes excitation-contraction coupling is an important intermediate step between initiation of the action potential and induction of contraction. This process is predominantly controlled by Ca(2+) release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum via the ryanodine receptor. This very large protein (MW 560 kDa) exists as a homotetramer (~2.2 MDa) and is expressed in three isoforms: RyR1, expressed in skeletal muscle; RyR2, expressed in cardiac muscle; and RyR3, expressed in various cells at lower levels than the other isoforms. Release of Ca(2+) via RyR2 is induced by Ca(2+) influx through L-type Ca(2+) channels and is modulated by multiple factors, including phosphorylation of RyR2 protein by protein kinase A, calmodulin kinase II and FKBP12.6, and stimulation via the beta-adrenergic receptor signaling pathway. Hyperphosphorylation of RyR2 induces Ca(2+) leak during diastole, which can cause fatal arrhythmias and lead to heart failure. This makes RyR2 an important therapeutic target. Although there are few commercially available drugs that inhibit Ca(2+) leak from RyR2, K201 (JTV-519), a benzothiazepine derivative, has emerged as a new ryanodine receptor-selective agent that prevents atrial fibrillation, ventricular arrhythmias, heart failure and exercise-induced sudden cardiac death. In this review, we discuss recent advances in our understanding of the basic structure and function of ryanodine receptors, their involvement in heart disease, and the development of drugs to prevent ryanodine receptor malfunction and recent patents.