Sarcoplasmic reticulum dysfunction: phospholipid alterations induced by lysosomal phospholipase C

Previous work has demonstrated that myocardial ischemia results in a breakdown of the excitation-contraction coupling system of cardiac muscle associated with lysosomal activation. It has been hypothesized that lysosomal activation during the course of myocardial ischemia is mediated by the production of oxygen free radicals. We have tested the hypothesis that myocardial ischemia results in the activation of lysosomal phospholipase C and disruption of calcium transport in sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) mediated by oxygen free radicals. Three groups of dogs were studied: sham-operated controls (n = 6); normothermic global ischemia of 30-min duration (n = 6); and 30 min of normothermic global ischemia pretreated with intracoronary superoxide dismutase (SOD, 10 micrograms/ml) plus catalase (25 micrograms/ml). In vitro, isolated SR demonstrated a significant depression of calcium uptake rates and Ca2+-stimulated, Mg2+-dependent ATPase activity at both pH 7.0 and 6.4 with the depression at pH 6.4 greater than 7.0. This depression of SR function was significantly inhibited in hearts pretreated with SOD plus catalase. In sham-operated controls, acid-induced dysfunction was associated with substantial loss of phospholipid phosphorus and major changes in phospholipid composition. SR contained an extremely active, ion-independent sphingomyelinase-phospholipase C (SM-PLC) that had maximal activity at pH 4.5-5.0. This SM-PLC was activated when control SR was incubated at acid pH and the specific activity of SM-PLC was decreased 50% in SR isolated from normothermic global ischemia. Activity remained at control levels in hearts pretreated with SOD plus catalase.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)