Dysregulation Of Amp-Activated Protein Kinase-Alpha Isoforms In Left Ventricular Myocardium Of Dogs With Chronic Heart Failure

Background: The adenosine 5′-monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK) plays critical roles in regulating cellular growth and metabolism and is activated when cellular ATP levels decrease. The heterotrimeric structure of AMPK consists of a catalytic alpha (α) subunit and regulatory beta (β) and gamma (γ) subunits. The two isoforms of the catalytic α subunit have different cellular localization: AMPKα1 is predominantly found in the non-nuclear fraction and AMPKα2 is found in both the nuclear and the non-nuclear fractions. Both AMPKα isoforms reside in cardiomyocytes, increased expression of AMPKα1 during stress can trigger an increased inflammatory state whereas AMPKα2 has recently been recognized as a regulator of mitophagy, the selective degradation of damaged mitochondria by autophagy. Dysregulation in AMPKα1 and AMPKα2 has been reported in explanted failed human hearts. This study tested the hypothesis that mRNA and protein expression levels of AMPKα1 increase and that of AMPKα2 decrease in LV myocardium of dogs with chronic heart failure (HF) produced by microembolization. Methods: RNA was extracted and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-extract homogenate prepared from LV tissue of 6 dogs with microembolization-induced HF and 6 normal (NL) dogs. mRNA expression of AMPKα1 and AMPKα2 was measured using real-time PCR and normalized to GAPDH. Protein expression of AMPKα1 and AMPKα2 was measured by Western blotting and normalized to GAPDH. Bands were quantified in densitometric units (du). Results: mRNA and protein levels of GAPDH, used as internal control, were similar between NL and HF dogs. In HF dogs, mRNA expression of AMPKα2 was reduced by 5.09 fold and protein levels were reduced by 2.08 fold (1.02 ± 0.09 vs. 2.12 ± 0.18 du, p<0.05) compared to NL dogs. In HF dogs, AMPKa1 mRNA and protein levels were increased 5.67 fold and 2.09 fold (0.67 ± 0.10 vs. 0.32 ± 0.03 du, p<0.05), respectively compared to NL dogs. Conclusions: The results indicate that in LV myocardium of dogs with chronic HF, mRNA and protein levels for AMPKα1 are upregulated while AMPKα2 levels are downregulated compared to NL dogs. This AMPK isoform shift can trigger abnormalities of mitochondrial respiration and turnover that contribute to an abnormal energetic state characteristic of the failing heart.