Lysosomal and nonlysosomal proteolytic activities in experimental diabetic cardiomyopathy

The role of cardiac lysosomal and nonlysosomal protease alterations in the development of the cardiomyopathy that occurs in genetically diabetic C57BL/KsJ db/db mice has been examined. The db/db mice and age-matched controls were sacrificed between 7 and 24 weeks of age. Cathepsin D activity, myofibrillar alkaline protease (MAP) activity (including serine protease activity), and Ca2+-activated protease activity were determined by using [3H]acetyl-casein as substrate. There is a significant decrease in cathepsin D, MAP, and serine protease activities in the myocardium of 7- to 20-week old diabetic mice with a rebound of these activities toward normal levels by 24 weeks of age. Cathepsin D and MAP activities are inversely related to heart weight in diabetic mice with the higher levels being recorded in association with the most pronounced decrease in heart weight. In contrast, Ca2+-activated protease activity in the hearts of diabetic mice does not differ significantly from controls throughout the period of observation. The results suggest that both lysosomal cathepsin D and nonlysosomal MAP may mediate the accelerated cardiac muscle degradation that occurs in the late stage of diabetic cardiomyopathy in the db/db mice.