Immune System Diseases Commons^™

The Role Of Regulator Of G Protein Signaling 2 In Inflammatory Cytokine Release In Endotoxemia In Mice, Xin Tong Ma

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

In sepsis, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) activates toll-like receptor 4 to stimulate the release of inflammatory cytokines (e.g. tumor necrosis factor-alpha, TNF-α), leading to cardiac dysfunction. Regulator of G protein signaling 2 (RGS2) limits G protein-coupled receptor signaling by increasing the rate of G protein deactivation or inhibiting G protein-effector interactions. We hypothesized that RGS2 deficiency would enhance proinflammatory responses in endotoxemia. Adult wild-type and RGS2^-/- C57BL/6 mice and neonatal cardiomyocytes were treated with LPS and assessed for inflammatory responses and cardiac function. Myocardial TNF-α expression was higher in RGS2^-/- mice during endotoxemia. Additionally, cardiac function was impaired in …