Transient receptor potential channels contribute to pathological structural and functional remodeling after myocardial infarction

Rationale: The cellular and molecular basis for post-myocardial infarction (MI) structural and functional remodeling is not well understood.

Objective: Our aim was to determine if Ca2+ influx through transient receptor potential canonical (TRPC) channels contributes to post-MI structural and functional remodeling.

Methods and results: TRPC1/3/4/6 channel mRNA increased after MI in mice and was associated with TRPC-mediated Ca2+ entry. Cardiac myocyte-specific expression of a dominant-negative (loss-of-function) TRPC4 channel increased basal myocyte contractility and reduced hypertrophy and cardiac structural and functional remodeling after MI while increasing survival in mice. We used adenovirus-mediated expression of TRPC3/4/6 channels in cultured adult feline myocytes to define mechanistic aspects of these TRPC-related effects. TRPC3/4/6 overexpression in adult feline myocytes induced calcineurin (Cn)-nuclear factor of activated T-cells (NFAT)-mediated hypertrophic signaling, which was reliant on caveolae targeting of TRPCs. TRPC3/4/6 expression in adult feline myocytes increased rested state contractions and increased spontaneous sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ sparks mediated by enhanced phosphorylation of the ryanodine receptor. TRPC3/4/6 expression was associated with reduced contractility and response to catecholamines during steady-state pacing, likely because of enhanced sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ leak.

Conclusions: Ca2+ influx through TRPC channels expressed after MI activates pathological cardiac hypertrophy and reduces contractility reserve. Blocking post-MI TRPC activity improved post-MI cardiac structure and function.