Cardiac effects of 3-iodothyronamine: A new aminergic system modulating cardiac function

3-iodothyronamine T₁AM is a novel endogenous thyroid hormone derivative that activates the G protein-coupled receptor known as trace anime-associated receptor 1 (TAAR1). In the isolated working rat heart and in rat cardiomyocytes, T₁AM produced a reversible, dose-dependent negative inotropic effect (e.g., 27±5, 51±3, and 65±2% decrease in cardiac output at 19, 25, and 38 μM concentration, respectively). An independent negative chronotropic effect was also observed. The hemodynamic effects of T₁AM were remarkably increased in the presence of the tyrosine kinase inhibitor genistein, whereas they were attenuated in the presence of the tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor vanadate. No effect was produced by inhibitors of protein kinase A, protein kinase C, calciumcalmodulin kinase II, phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase, or MAP kinases. Tissue cAMP levels were unchanged. In rat ventricular tissue, Western blot experiments with antiphosphotyrosine antibodies showed reduced phosphorylation of microsomal and cytosolic proteins after perfusion with synthetic T₁AM; reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction experiments revealed the presence of transcripts for at least 5 TAAR subtypes; specific and saturable binding of [¹²⁵I]T₁AM was observed, with a dissociation constant in the low micromolar range (5 μM); and endogenous T₁AM was detectable by tandem mass spectrometry. In conclusion, our findings provide evidence for the existence of a novel aminergic system modulating cardiac function.