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Myocardial Alpha-Thrombin Receptor Activation Induces Hypertrophy And Increases Atrial Natriuretic Factor Gene Expression, C C. Glembotski, C E. Irons, K A. Krown, S F. Murray, A B. Sprenkle, C A. Sei
Myocardial Alpha-Thrombin Receptor Activation Induces Hypertrophy And Increases Atrial Natriuretic Factor Gene Expression, C C. Glembotski, C E. Irons, K A. Krown, S F. Murray, A B. Sprenkle, C A. Sei
Amy Sprenkle
The protease, a-thrombin (aTh), affects myocardial cell contractility, a feature common among agents that induce hypertrophy. However, it is not known whether cardiac myocytes possess aTh receptors (aTh-R), or if long term treatment with aTh can enhance growth and gene expression. In the present study primary neonatal rat ventricular myocytes expressed a 3.6-kilobase mRNA species that hybridized with a rat aTh-R-specific probe. After 48 h, aTh induced hypertrophy, sarcomeric organization, and enhanced atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) expression, all of which were blocked by the aTh-selective protease inhibitor, D-Phe-Pro-Argchloromethyl ketone. The aTh-R agonist peptide, SFLLRNPND, was a potent activator of ANF …