Patients with acute decompensated heart failure have diminished left ventricular systolic and/or diastolic functioning.[4] Impaired ventricular function can be a consequence of decreased sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ cycling and a corresponding decline in cardiomyocyte contraction.[2] Reduced ventricular functioning limits the ability of the ventricles to fill with blood and pump blood to the rest of the body.
Sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ Cycling
There are two mechanisms through which CXL 1020 is able to enhance the movement of Ca2+ in and out of the sarcoplasmic reticulum. Sarcoplasmic reticulum CaATPase (SERCA) is an energy-dependent ion pump found the sarcoplasmic reticulum of cardiac myocytes that is responsible for transporting Ca2+ within the cytosol back in to the lumen of the sarcoplasmic reticulum.[2] The nitroxyl group that is donated by CXL 1020 initiates glutathiolation of SERCA at the cysteine 674 site, which in turn activates ATP-dependent Ca2+ transport.[5] Therefore, stimulation of SERCA leads to accelerated uptake of Ca2+ from the cytosol of the cardiac myocyte.
Secondly, the nitroxyl group from CXL 1020 interacts with ryanodine receptors (RyR), specifically RyR2, which is the predominant form found in cardiac tissue.[6] Ryanodine receptors are located within the membrane of the sarcoplasmic reticulum and function to release Ca2+ required for myofilament activation (Guyton, 2006). Nitroxyl interacts with RyR2 to increase the probability of Ryanodine receptor opening, thereby enhancing Ca2+ release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum. It is thought that nitroxyl modifies RyR2 function through its interaction with thiol groups present in the receptor, although the exact mechanism is unknown.[6]
Cardiac myocyte contractility
Nitroxyl has also been shown to increase the sensitivity to cardiac myocytes to Ca2+, which in turn enhances the force of contraction. Its hypothesized that nitroxyl interacts with thiol groups present in myofilament proteins to increase the maximal Ca2+ activated force of the myofilament, although the exact effect of nitroxyl on the myofilament is unknown.[3]