BACKGROUND AND PURPOSEOmecamtiv mecarbil (OM) is a novel cardiac myosin activator drug for inotropic support in systolic heart failure. Here we have assessed the concentration-dependent mechanical effects of OM in permeabilized cardiomyocyte-sized preparations and single skeletal muscle fibres of Wistar-Kyoto rats under isometric conditions.
EXPERIMENTAL APPROACHES
Ca
2+-dependent active force production (Factive), its Ca 2+ sensitivity (pCa50), the kinetic characteristics of Ca
2+-regulated activation and relaxation, and Ca 2+ -independent passive force (Fpassive) were monitored in Triton X-100-skinned preparations with and without OM (3nM-10 μM).
KEY RESULTSIn permeabilized cardiomyocytes, OM increased the Ca 2+ sensitivity of force production (ΔpCa50: 0.11 or 0.34 at 0.1 or 1 μM respectively). The concentration-response relationship of the Ca 2+ sensitization was bell-shaped, with maximal effects at 0.3-1 μM OM (EC50: 0.08 ± 0.01 μM). The kinetics of force development and relaxation slowed progressively with increasing OM concentration. Moreover, OM increased Fpassive in the cardiomyocytes with an apparent EC50 value of 0.26 ± 0.11 μM. OM-evoked effects in the diaphragm muscle fibres with intrinsically slow kinetics were largely similar to those in cardiomyocytes, while they were less apparent in muscle fibres with fast kinetics.
CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS
OM acted as a Ca
2+-sensitizing agent with a downstream mechanism of action in both cardiomyocytes and diaphragm muscle fibres. The mechanism of action of OM is connected to slowed activation-relaxation kinetics and at higher OM concentrations increased Fpassive production. ]; ktr,max, rate constant of force redevelopment at pCa 4.75; LV, left ventricle; MHC, myosin heavy chain; nHill, Hill coefficient; OM, omecamtiv mecarbil; pCa, −log of calcium ion concentration; pCa50, −log of calcium ion concentration at half-maximal isometric force production; Pi, inorganic phosphate; trelax, relaxation time
BJP