Changes in gene expression of phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase in the transplanted human heart

Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences
Eva GoncalvesovaR Kvetnansky

Abstract

Heart transplantation (HTx) is an accepted treatment for precisely defined patients with chronic congestive heart failure; however, as a result of the procedure, the graft is completely denervated. Our study focused on the catecholamine biosynthetic pathway, that is, the production of epinephrine, which is known to have positive chronotropic and inotropic effects on the heart. mRNA levels of the phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase (PNMT), the enzyme catalyzing epinephrine synthesis in myocardial tissue, were determined in 18 patients (0 to 10 yr after HTx). Samples of myocardium were obtained from the right ventricle at the time of a routine endomyocardial biopsy performed for the diagnosis of graft rejection. Results were correlated with the following clinical parameters: heart rate, heart rate variability, blood pressure, graft systolic function, and the presence of the rejection. We observed that heart PNMT mRNA levels were significantly higher during the first 3 yr as compared to longer periods after HTx. Also, a decrease in the average heart rate and an increase in the heart rate variability were documented. Levels of the PNMT mRNA do not correlate with blood pressure, left ventricular systolic function at rest, and rej...Continue Reading

References

Sep 15, 1996·The Journal of Clinical Investigation·M H HuangT W Smith
Dec 1, 1996·Pacing and Clinical Electrophysiology : PACE·D RamaekersF van de Werf
Mar 14, 2000·The Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation : the Official Publication of the International Society for Heart Transplantation·E C KeeleyA D Goldberg
Aug 22, 2001·American Journal of Physiology. Heart and Circulatory Physiology·O KrizanováR Kvetnanský

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Citations

Jun 14, 2016·Stress : the International Journal on the Biology of Stress·Richard McCarty
Nov 3, 2016·Journal of the American Heart Association·Morcos AwadJon A Kobashigawa
May 22, 2007·Stress : the International Journal on the Biology of Stress·O KrizanovaL Kubovcakova
Apr 4, 2009·Physiological Reviews·Richard KvetnanskyMiklos Palkovits

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