[Phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of serine 722 and serine 910 of focal adhesion kinase in hypertrophic cardiac myocytes of left ventricle of spontaneously hypertensive rats].

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the role of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) in cardiac hypertrophy induced by hypertension.

METHODS

Using immunofluorescent labeling, confocal microscopy and Western blot, the expression and subcellular location of FAK-pSer722 and FAK-pSer910 were determined in cardiac myocytes of the left ventricles from 2, 6, 12, and 18 month-old spontaneously hypertensive heart failure (SHHF) rats and age-matched Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) control rats, respectively.

RESULTS

There was no obvious difference in FAK-pSer722 and FAK-pSer910 expression between 2 month-old SHHF and WKY rats. In contrast with the control groups, the expression of FAK-pSer722 and FAK-pSer910 significantly increased in cardiac myocytes of the left ventricle, from 6, 12 and 18 month-old SHHF rats. Both FAK-pSer722 and FAK-pSer910 were translocated and acummulated in nuclei of cardiac myocytes from 6, 12, and 18 month-old SHHF rats.

CONCLUSION

Phosphorylation and translocation of serine 722 and serine 910 of phosphorylated FAK play an important role in the de-compensatory cardiac hypertrophy.