Gene transfer of cGMP-dependent protein kinase I enhances the antihypertrophic effects of nitric oxide in cardiomyocytes

NO acting through soluble guanylyl cyclase and cGMP formation is a negative regulator of cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. Downstream targets mediating the inhibitory effects of NO/cGMP on cardiomyocyte hypertrophy have not been elucidated. In addition to its antihypertrophic effects, NO promotes apoptosis in cardiomyocytes, presumably through cGMP-independent pathways. We investigated the role of cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG) in the antihypertrophic and proapoptotic effects of NO. Incubation of neonatal rat cardiomyocytes with the NO donor S-nitroso-N-acetyl-D,L-penicillamine (SNAP) (250 mumol/L) or the PKG-selective cGMP analog 8-pCPT-cGMP (500 mumol/L) activated endogenous PKG type I, as shown by the site-specific phosphorylation of vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein, a well-characterized PKG substrate. SNAP (250 mumol/L) and 8-pCPT-cGMP (500 mumol/L) modestly attenuated the hypertrophic response to alpha(1)-adrenergic stimulation with phenylephrine. Although a high concentration of SNAP (1000 mumol/L) promoted apoptosis in cardiomyocytes, as evidenced by the formation of histone-associated DNA fragments, antihypertrophic concentrations of SNAP (250 mumol/L) and 8-pCPT-cGMP (500 mumol/L) did not promote cell death. Because chronic activation downregulated endogenous PKG I, we explored whether gene transfer of PKG I would enhance the sensitivity of cardiomyocytes to the antihypertrophic effects of NO/cGMP. Indeed, after adenoviral overexpression of PKG Ibeta, SNAP (250 mumol/L) and 8-pCPT-cGMP (500 mumol/L) completely suppressed the hypertrophic response to alpha(1)-adrenergic stimulation. As observed in noninfected cells, SNAP (250 mumol/L) and 8-pCPT-cGMP (500 mumol/L) did not promote apoptosis in cardiomyocytes overexpressing PKG Ibeta. Moreover, overexpression of PKG Ibeta did not enhance the proapoptotic effects of 1000 mumol/L SNAP, implying PKG-independent effects of NO on apoptosis. Endogenous PKG I mediates antihypertrophic but not proapoptotic effects of NO in a cell culture model of cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. Adenoviral gene transfer of PKG I selectively enhances the antihypertrophic effects of NO without increasing the susceptibility to apoptosis.