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. 2004 Jun 11;94(11):1474-82.
doi: 10.1161/01.RES.0000129179.66631.00. Epub 2004 Apr 22.

Small heat-shock protein Hsp20 phosphorylation inhibits beta-agonist-induced cardiac apoptosis

Guo-Chang Fan  1 , Guoxiang Chu, Bryan Mitton, Qiujing Song, Qunying Yuan, Evangelia G Kranias
Affiliations

Small heat-shock protein Hsp20 phosphorylation inhibits beta-agonist-induced cardiac apoptosis

Guo-Chang Fan et al. Circ Res. .

Abstract

Activation of the sympathetic nervous system is a common compensatory feature in heart failure, but sustained beta-adrenergic activation induces cardiomyocyte death, leading to cardiac remodeling and dysfunction. In mouse cardiomyocytes, we recently reported that prolonged exposure to beta-agonists is associated with transient increases in expression and phosphorylation of a small heat-shock protein, Hsp20. To determine the functional significance of Hsp20, we overexpressed this protein and its constitutively phosphorylated (S16D) or nonphosphorylated (S16A) mutant in adult rat cardiomyocytes. Hsp20 protected cardiomyocytes from apoptosis triggered by activation of the cAMP-PKA pathway, as indicated by decreases in the number of pyknotic nuclei, terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling, and DNA laddering, which were associated with inhibition of caspase-3 activity. These protective effects were further increased by the constitutively phosphorylated Hsp20 mutant (S16D), which conferred full protection from apoptosis. In contrast, the nonphosphorylatable mutant (S16A) exhibited no antiapoptotic properties. Immunostaining studies and immunoprecipitations with Hsp20 or actin antibodies demonstrated that Hsp20 translocated to cytoskeleton and associated with actin on isoproterenol stimulation. These findings suggest that Hsp20 and its phosphorylation at Ser16 may provide cardioprotection against beta-agonist-induced apoptosis. Thus, Hsp20 may represent a novel therapeutic target in the treatment of heart failure.

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