Restoration of Diastolic Function in Senescent Rat Hearts Through Adenoviral Gene Transfer of Sarcoplasmic Reticulum Ca-ATPase

Background—Senescent hearts are characterized by diastolic dysfunction and a decrease in sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca-ATPase protein (SERCA2a). Methods and Results—To test the hypothesis that an increase in SERCA2a could improve cardiac function in senescent rats (age 26 months), we used a catheter-based technique of adenoviral gene transfer to achieve global myocardial transduction of SERCA2a in vivo. Adult rat hearts aged 6 months and senescent rat hearts infected with an adenovirus containing the reporter gene b-galactosidase were used as controls. Two days after infection, parameters of systolic and diastolic function were measured in open-chest rats. Cardiac SERCA2a protein and ATPase activity were significantly decreased in senescent hearts compared with adult rats (D 23064% and 24965%) and were restored to adult levels after infection with Ad.SERCA2a. At baseline, left ventricular systolic pressure and 1dP/dt were unaltered in senescent hearts; however, diastolic parameters were adversely affected with an increase in the left ventricular time constant of isovolumic relaxation and diastolic pressure (D 12969% and 138612%) and a decrease in 2dP/dt (D 226611%). Overexpression of SERCA2a did not significantly affect left ventricular systolic pressure but did increase 1dP/dt (D 128610%) in the senescent heart. Overexpression of SERCA2a restored the left ventricular time constant of isovolumic relaxation and 2dP/dt to adult levels. Infection of senescent hearts with Ad.SERCA2a markedly improved rate-dependent contractility and diastolic function in senescent hearts. Conclusions—These results support the hypothesis that decreased Ca-ATPase activity contributes to the functional abnormalities observed in senescent hearts and demonstrates that Ca cycling proteins can be targeted in the senescent heart to improve cardiac function. (Circulation. 2000;101:790-796.)