Expression of sarco (endo) plasmic reticulum calcium ATPase (SERCA) system in normal mouse cardiovascular tissues, heart failure and atherosclerosis

In conclusion: 1) SERCA2a is the major isoform in both cardiac and vascular myocytes; 2) the expression of SERCA2a mRNA is ~ 30 fold higher in the heart compared to vascular tissues; and 3) nearly half the amount of SERCA2a mRNA is measured in both failing cardiomyocytes and synthetic VSMCs compared to healthy tissues, with a relocation of SERCA2a in failing cardiomyocytes. Thus, SERCA2a is the principal regulator of excitation-contraction coupling in both CMs and contractile VSMCs.