Abstract
Prolonged endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress causes apoptosis and is associated with heart failure. Whether CYP2J2 and its arachidonic acid metabolites [epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs)] have a protective influence on ER stress and heart failure has not been studied. Assays of myocardial samples from patients with end-stage heart failure showed evidence of ER stress. Chronic infusion of isoproterenol (ISO) or angiotensin II (AngII) by osmotic mini-pump induced cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure in mice as evaluated by hemodynamic measurements and echocardiography. Interestingly, transgenic (Tr) mice with cardiomyocyte-specific CYP2J2 expression were protected against heart failure compared with wild-type mice. ISO or AngII administration induced ER stress and apoptosis, and increased levels of intracellular Ca(2+). These phenotypes were abolished by CYP2J2 overexpression in vivo or exogenous EETs treatment of cardiomyocytes in vitro. ISO or AngII reduced sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPase (SERCA2a) expression in hearts or isolated cardiomyocytes; however, loss of SERCA2a expression was prevented in CYP2J2 Tr hearts in vivo or in cardiomyocytes treated with EETs in vitro. The reduction of SERCA2a activity was concomitant with increased oxidation of SERCA2a. EETs reversed SERCA2a oxidation through increased expression of antioxidant enzymes and reduced reactive oxygen species levels. Tempol, a membrane-permeable radical scavenger, similarly decreased oxidized SERCA2a levels, restored SERCA2a activity, and markedly reduced ER stress response in the mice treated with ISO. In conclusion, CYP2J2-derived EETs suppress ER stress response in the heart and protect against cardiac failure by maintaining intracellular Ca(2+) homeostasis and SERCA2a expression and activity.