Background The activation of the beta-adrenergic system promotes G protein stimulation
that, via cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), alters the structure of
protein kinase A (PKA) and leads to phospholamban (PLB) phosphorylation.
This protein participates in the system that controls intracellular calcium
in muscle cells, and it is the primary regulator of sarcoplasmic reticulum
calcium pump activity. In obesity, the beta-adrenergic system is activated
by the influence of increased leptin, therefore, resulting in higher
myocardial phospholamban phosphorylation via cAMP-PKA. Objective To investigate the involvement of proteins which regulate the degree of PLB
phosphorylation due to beta-adrenergic activation in obesity. In the present
study, we hypothesized that there is an imbalance between phospholamban
phosphorylation and dephosphorylation, with prevalence of protein
phosphorylation. Methods Male Wistar rats were randomly distributed into two groups: control (n =
14), fed with normocaloric diet; and obese (n = 13), fed with a cycle of
four unsaturated high-fat diets. Obesity was determined by the adiposity
index, and protein expressions of phosphatase 1 (PP-1), PKA, PLB,
phosphorylated phospholamban at serine16 (PPLB-Ser16) were assessed by
Western blot. Results Obesity caused glucose intolerance, hyperinsulinemia, hypertriglyceridemia,
hyperleptinemia and did not alter the protein expression of PKA, PP-1, PLB,
PPLB-Ser16. Conclusion Obesity does not promote an imbalance between myocardial PLB phosphorylation
and dephosphorylation via beta-adrenergic system.