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Stress-induced differential gene expression in cardiac tissue.
Ana Elisa T S de Carvalho1, Marco A Cordeiro2, Luana S Rodrigues2
1Laboratory of Stress Biology, Department of Biosciences, Institute of Health and Society, Campus Baixada Santista, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), Rua Silva Jardim,136, sala 310, Santos, São Paulo, 11020-015, Brazil. aetscarvalho@unifesp.br.
Stress alters heart gene expression, with beta-2 adrenoceptors (β2-AR) playing a key role. Blocking these receptors during stress significantly changes the cardiac gene expression profile, suggesting an adaptive response.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Physiology
- Molecular Biology
- Stress Physiology
Background:
- The stress response is vital for survival but chronic stress can lead to pathology.
- Catecholamines, released during stress, activate beta adrenoceptors (β-AR) in the heart.
- The impact of stress on intracellular cardiac gene expression remains largely unknown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how stress affects gene expression in the rat left ventricle.
- To determine the role of beta-2 adrenoceptors (β2-AR) in stress-induced cardiac gene expression changes.
Main Methods:
- Gene expression analysis using microarray.
- Comparison of gene expression profiles in rat left ventricle under different stress and pharmacological conditions.
- Utilized foot shock stress and a selective β2-AR antagonist (ICI118,551).
Main Results:
- Stress significantly alters gene expression in the heart.
- Beta-2 adrenoceptors (β2-AR) are involved in mediating stress-induced gene expression changes.
- Gene expression profiles differ substantially when β2-AR is active versus blocked during stress.
Conclusions:
- Stress induces widespread changes in cardiac gene expression.
- β2-AR signaling plays a critical role in the heart's response to stress.
- These extensive gene expression alterations are likely part of a stress-adaptive mechanism.
