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1 Pulmonary Diseases, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, Netherlands
2 Pulmonary Diseases, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, Netherlands; Institute for Fundamental and Clinical Human Movement Sciences, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, Netherlands
3 Intensive Care Medicine, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Netherlands; Pulmonary Diseases, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, Netherlands; Institute for Fundamental and Clinical Human Movement Sciences, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, Netherlands
4 Cardiology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, Netherlands
5 Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Netherlands
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: h.vanhees{at}long.umcn.nl.
Diaphragm weakness commonly occurs in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF) and is an independent predictor of mortality. However, the pathophysiology of diaphragm weakness is poorly understood. We hypothesized that CHF induces diaphragm weakness at the single fiber level by decreasing myosin content. In addition, we hypothesized that myofibrillar Ca2+ sensitivity is decreased and cross-bridge kinetics are slower in CHF diaphragm fibers. Finally, we hypothesized that loss of myosin in CHF diaphragm weakness is associated with increased proteolytic activities of caspase-3 and the proteasome. In skinned diaphragm single fibers of rats with CHF, induced by left coronary artery ligation, maximum force generation was reduced by ~35% (p<0.01) compared to sham, for slow, 2a and 2x fibers. In these CHF diaphragm fibers, myosin heavy chain content per half sarcomere was concomitantly decreased (p<0.01). Ca2+ sensitivity of force generation and the rate constant of tension redevelopment were significantly reduced in CHF diaphragm fibers compared to sham, for all fiber types. The cleavage activity of the proteolytic enzyme caspase-3 and the proteasome were respectively ~30% (p<0.05) and ~60% (p<0.05) higher in diaphragm homogenates from CHF rats than sham. The present study demonstrates diaphragm weakness at the single fiber level in a myocardial infarct model of CHF. The reduced maximal force generation can be explained by a loss of myosin content in all fiber types and is associated with activation of caspase-3 and the proteasome. Furthermore, CHF decreases myofibrillar Ca2+ sensitivity and slows cross-bridge cycling kinetics in diaphragm fibers.
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  H. W. H. van Hees, Y.-P. Li, C. A. C. Ottenheijm, B. Jin, C. J. C. Pigmans, M. Linkels, P. N. R. Dekhuijzen, and L. M. A. Heunks Proteasome inhibition improves diaphragm function in congestive heart failure rats Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol, June 1, 2008; 294(6): L1260 - L1268. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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 J. Ochala and L. Larsson Effects of a preferential myosin loss on Ca2+ activation of force generation in single human skeletal muscle fibres Exp Physiol, April 1, 2008; 93(4): 486 - 495. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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