Cellular mechanisms of ischemia-reperfusion injury H.Michael Piper, MD, PhD, Karsten Meuter, MD, Claudia Schäfer, PhD The Annals of Thoracic Surgery Volume 75, Issue 2, Pages S644-S648 (February 2003) DOI: 10.1016/S0003-4975(02)04686-6
Fig 1 Reversible changes in cytosolic cation control in ischemia-reperfusion. In ischemia, cardiomyocytes accumulate Na+ by means of (1) the Na+/H+ exchanger, (2) the Na+/HCO3− symporter, and (3) other routes. With reduction of the Na+ gradient and membrane depolarization, the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger is turned into its “reverse mode,” which leads to cytosolic accumulation of Ca2+. In reperfusion, energy recovery reactivates Na+-K+-ATPase (4) and restores the Na+ gradient and the membrane potential. The “forward mode” of the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger eventually extrudes excess cytosolic Ca2+. ATP = adenosine triphosphate; NCE = Na+/H+ exchanger. The Annals of Thoracic Surgery 2003 75, S644-S648DOI: (10.1016/S0003-4975(02)04686-6)
Fig 2 Cause of cytosolic Ca2+ oscillations and Ca2+-induced contracture in cardiomyocytes. After ischemia, cardiomyocytes contain an excessive cytosolic Ca2+ overload. In the early phase of reoxygenation, this may still be aggravated by a reverse mode action of the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger. Reoxygenation causes a reenergization of the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR). This starts to accumulate Ca2+ and, once full, releases Ca2+. These Ca2+ movements lead to oscillatory cytosolic Ca2+ elevations, which provoke uncontrolled myofibrillar activation. ATP = adenosine triphosphate; NCE = Na+/H+ exchanger. The Annals of Thoracic Surgery 2003 75, S644-S648DOI: (10.1016/S0003-4975(02)04686-6)
Fig 3 Characteristic changes in cytosolic Ca2+ and cell length in a single cardiomyocyte under simulated ischemia-reperfusion conditions. (Left panel) Cells are elongated in normoxia, become rigor-shortened in ischemia, and become hypercontracted upon reperfusion. (Upper panel) Rise of cytosolic Ca2+ (monitored by fluorescence of the indicator Fura-2, continuous trace) and cell shortening (open circles). During simulated ischemia, Ca2+ rises and rigor contracture develops. Upon reoxygenation Ca2+ declines and the cell hypercontracts. (Lower panel) Early reperfusion, in higher time resolution. Ca2+ level declines but starts to oscillate. During oscillations, extensive contracture develops. The Annals of Thoracic Surgery 2003 75, S644-S648DOI: (10.1016/S0003-4975(02)04686-6)
Fig 4 Importance of the rapidity of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) recovery for reoxygenation-induced contracture. Cardiomyocytes with rapid ATP recovery quickly pass through the critical window of rigor contracture and may develop Ca2+ contracture if they have a cytosolic Ca2+ overload. Cardiomyocytes with slow ATP recovery creep slowly through the critical window and develop rigor contracture. The Annals of Thoracic Surgery 2003 75, S644-S648DOI: (10.1016/S0003-4975(02)04686-6)
Fig 5 Relationship between cytosolic Ca2+ overload and reoxygenation-induced contracture. In cells with very slow energy recovery (mitochondrial damage, long ischemic exposure), contracture develops by a rigor-type mechanism that is essentially Ca2+-independent. In cells with fast energy recovery (intact mitochondria, brief ischemic exposure), contracture develops only at high cytosolic Ca2+ overload. States between these extremes are possible. The Annals of Thoracic Surgery 2003 75, S644-S648DOI: (10.1016/S0003-4975(02)04686-6)