September 18, 2003Open Access
View Full PaperSarcoplasmic Reticulum Ca 2+ and Heart Failure
Key Result
Reduced sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ content is a central factor limiting Ca2+ transient amplitude and contractility in heart failure, though the reasons for this reduction remain controversial.
Structured PICO
P
Population
Heart failure (focus on molecular and cellular mechanisms of decreased cardiac contractility)
This review highlights the central role of reduced sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ content in the contractile deficit observed in heart failure.
Abstract
eart failure (HF) is a leading cause of death and enormous effort has focused at understanding the molecular and cellular mechanisms of the decreased cardiac contractility. While changes of other components contribute, it is generally agreed that much of the contractile deficit is due to reduced myocyte Ca 2 transients. Alterations in Ca 2 current (I Ca ) and action potential characteristics are also seen in HF, but a central factor limiting Ca 2 transient amplitude is a decrease of sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca 2 content. 3-6 HF is extremely complex, but it is easy to appreciate how reduced SR Ca 2 content would reduce SR Ca 2 release, myofilament activation, and contractility. Despite agreement that SR Ca 2 content is reduced in HF, controversy exists about why SR content is low.