Featured Article: The loss of copper is associated with the increase in copper metabolism MURR domain 1 in ischemic hearts of mice

Abstract

The distribution of copper (Cu) in the biological system is regulated by Cu transporters and chaperones. It has been known for a long time that myocardial ischemia is accompanied by the loss of Cu from the heart, but the mechanism by which this occurs remains unknown. The present study was undertaken to understand the relationship between Cu loss and alterations in Cu transporters during the pathogenesis of myocardial ischemia. Male mice (C57 BL/6J) were subjected to left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery ligation to induce myocardial ischemia. Changes in Cu concentrations in serum and hearts were determined from blood and tissue samples harvested at different time points for a total of 28 days after the operation. Cu concentrations in the ischemic myocardium were continuously decreased starting at the fourth day after LAD artery ligation, gradually depleted by more than 80% of the normal level at the 10th day, and remained at the lowest level (about 20% of normal levels) thereafter. Serum Cu concentrations were correspondingly increased starting at the fourth day, reached to the highest level between day 7 and 10, and gradually recovered to the normal level until 21st day after the operation. Along with the same time course, the intracellular Cu exporter copper metabolism MURR domain 1 (COMMD1) was significantly and sustainably increased, but ATP7A and ATP7B were not significantly changed in the ischemic myocardium. These results suggest that during the pathogenesis of myocardial ischemia, COMMD1 would play a critical role in exporting Cu from the ischemic myocardium to the blood.

Impact statement

In this work, we found that copper efflux from the ischemic heart leads to the elevation of serum copper concentrations, addressing a long-term question related to serum copper elevation in myocardial ischemia patients. The efflux of copper from the ischemic heart results at least in part from the upregulation of copper metabolism MURR domain 1 (COMMD1) in the heart upon ischemic insult. This work provides a novel insight into copper homeostasis and alteration in cardiovascular system.