scholarly journals The Critical Role of Scleraxis in Pressure Overload‐Induced Cardiac Fibrosis

2018 ◽  
Vol 32 (S1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Raghu Sundaresan Nagalingam ◽  
David Yat‐Chung Cheung ◽  
Nina Aroutiounova ◽  
Davinder S. Jassal ◽  
Michael Paul Czubryt
Keyword(s):  
Cardiac Fibrosis ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Pressure Overload

Abstract P317: Cardiac Fibroblast GSK3α Promotes Myocardial Fibrotic Remodeling Through GSK3α-ERK-IL11 Signaling Circuit

2021 ◽  
Vol 129 (Suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Prachi Umbarkar ◽  
Sultan Tousif ◽  
Anand P Singh ◽  
Joshua C Anderson ◽  
qinkun zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Myocardial Fibrosis ◽  
Cardiac Fibrosis ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Flow Cytometric Analysis ◽  
Collagen Gel ◽  
Pressure Overload ◽  
Negative Regulator ◽  
Post Injury

Background: Myocardial fibrosis contributes significantly to heart failure (HF). Fibroblasts are among the predominant cell type in the heart and are primary drivers of fibrosis. To identify the kinases involved in fibrosis, we analyzed the kinome of mouse cardiac fibroblasts (CF) isolated from normal and failing hearts. This unbiased screening revealed the critical role of the GSK-3 family-centric pathways in fibrosis. Previously we have shown that among two isoforms of GSK3, CF-GSK3β acts as a negative regulator of fibrosis in the injured heart. However, the role of CF-GSK3α in the pathogenesis of cardiac diseases is completely unknown. Methods and Results: To define the role of CF-GSK3α in HF, we employed two novel fibroblast-specific KO mouse models. Specifically, GSK3α was deleted from fibroblasts or myofibroblasts with tamoxifen-inducible Tcf21- or periostin- promoter-driven Cre recombinase. In both models, GSK3α deletion restricted pressure overload-induced cardiac fibrosis and preserved cardiac function. We examined the effect of GSK3α deletion on myofibroblast transformation and pro-fibrotic TGFβ1-SMAD3 signaling in vitro . A significant reduction in cell migration, collagen gel contraction, and α-SMA expression in TGFβ1-treated KO CFs confirmed that GSK3α is required for myofibroblast transformation. Surprisingly, GSK3α deletion did not affect SMAD3 activation, indicating the pro-fibrotic role of GSK3α is SMAD3 independent. To further delineate the underlying mechanisms, proteins were isolated from CFs of WT and KO mice at 4 weeks post-injury, and kinome profiling was performed. The kinome analysis identified the downregulation of RAF family kinase activity in KO CFs. Moreover, mapping of significantly altered kinases against literature annotated interactions generated ERK-centric networks. Consistently, flow cytometric analysis of CFs confirmed significantly low levels of pERK in KO mice. Additionally, our in vitro studies demonstrated that GSK3α deletion prevents TGFβ1-induced ERK activation. Interestingly, IL-11, a pro-fibrotic downstream effector of TGFβ1, was remarkably reduced in KO CFs and ERK inhibition further decreased IL-11 expression. Taken together, herein, we discovered the GSK3α-ERK-IL-11 signaling as a critical pro-fibrotic pathway in the heart. Strategies to inhibit this pro-fibrotic network could prevent adverse fibrosis and HF. Conclusion: CF-GSK3α plays a causal role in myocardial fibrosis that could be therapeutically targeted for future clinical applications.

Abstract 791: A Critical Role for Bmper (BMP-binding Endothelial cell precursor-derived Regulator) in Cardiac Muscle Mass Regulation during Development and Pressure Overload Induced Hypertrophy

Circulation ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 116 (suppl_16) ◽  
Author(s):  
Monte Willis ◽  
Rongqin Ren ◽  
Cam Patterson
Keyword(s):  
Cardiac Function ◽  
Cardiac Muscle ◽  
Muscle Mass ◽  
Cardiac Development ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Pressure Overload ◽  
Posterior Wall ◽  
Fractional Shortening

Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) of the TGF-beta superfamily, have been implicated in multiple processes during cardiac development. Our laboratory recently described an unprecedented role for Bmper in antagonizing BMP-2, BMP-4, and BMP-6. To determine the role of Bmper on cardiac development in vivo, we created Bmper null (Bmper −/−) mice by replacing exons 1 and 2 with GFP. Since Bmper −/− mice are perinatally lethal, we determined pre-natal cardiac function of Bmper −/− mice in utero just before birth. By echocardiography, E18.5 Bmper −/− embryos had decreased cardiac function (24.2 +/− 8.1% fractional shortening) compared to Bmper +/− and Bmper +/+ siblings (52.2 +/− 1.6% fractional shortening) (N=4/group). To further characterize the role of Bmper on cardiac function in adult mice, we performed echocardiography on 8-week old male and female Bmper +/− and littermate control Bmper +/+. Bmper +/− mice had an approximately 15% decrease in anterior and posterior wall thickness compared to sibling Bmper +/+ mice at baseline (n=10/group). Cross-sectional areas of Bmper +/− cardiomyocytes were approximately 20% less than wild type controls, indicating cardiomyocyte hypoplasia in adult Bmper +/− mice at baseline. Histologically, no significant differences were identified in representative H&E and trichrome stained adult Bmper +/− and Bmper +/+ cardiac sections at baseline. To determine the effects of Bmper expression on the development of cardiac hypertrophy, both Bmper +/− and Bmper +/+ sibling controls underwent transaortic constriction (TAC), followed by weekly echocardiography. While a deficit was identified in Bmper +/− mice at baseline, both anterior and posterior wall thicknesses increased after TAC, such that identical wall thicknesses were identified in Bmper +/− and Bmper +/+ mice 1–4 weeks after TAC. Notably, cardiac function (fractional shortening %) and histological evaluation revealed no differences between Bmper +/− and Bmper +/+ any time after TAC. These studies identify for the first time that Bmper expression plays a critical role in regulating cardiac muscle mass during development, and that Bmper regulates the development of hypertrophy in response to pressure overload in vivo.

scholarly journals MicroRNAs in Cardiac Autophagy: Small Molecules and Big Role

Cells ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (8) ◽  
pp. 104 ◽  
Author(s):  
Teng Sun ◽  
Meng-Yang Li ◽  
Pei-Feng Li ◽  
Ji-Min Cao
Keyword(s):  
Cardiac Fibrosis ◽  
Heart Diseases ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Transcriptional Gene Silencing ◽  
Close Link ◽  
Post Transcriptional Gene Silencing ◽  
Evolutionarily Conserved ◽  
Cardiac Disorders ◽  
Cellular Components

Autophagy, which is an evolutionarily conserved process according to the lysosomal degradation of cellular components, plays a critical role in maintaining cell homeostasis. Autophagy and mitochondria autophagy (mitophagy) contribute to the preservation of cardiac homeostasis in physiological settings. However, impaired or excessive autophagy is related to a variety of diseases. Recently, a close link between autophagy and cardiac disorders, including myocardial infarction, cardiac hypertrophy, cardiomyopathy, cardiac fibrosis, and heart failure, has been demonstrated. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small non-coding RNAs with a length of approximately 21–22 nucleotides (nt), which are distributed widely in viruses, plants, protists, and animals. They function in mediating the post-transcriptional gene silencing. A growing number of studies have demonstrated that miRNAs regulate cardiac autophagy by suppressing the expression of autophagy-related genes in a targeted manner, which are involved in the pathogenesis of heart diseases. This review summarizes the role of microRNAs in cardiac autophagy and related cardiac disorders. Furthermore, we mainly focused on the autophagy regulation pathways, which consisted of miRNAs and their targeted genes.

Abstract 353: Bone Marrow Fibroblast Progenitor Cell-derived Exosomes Activate Resident Fibroblast and Augment Pressure Overload Induced Cardiac Fibrosis in IL10KO Mice

2017 ◽  
Vol 121 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Suresh K Verma ◽  
Venkata N Girikipathi ◽  
Maria Cimini ◽  
Zhongjian Cheng ◽  
Moshin Khan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bone Marrow ◽  
Cardiac Fibrosis ◽  
Culture Media ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Pressure Overload ◽  
Left Ventricular ◽  
Cardiac Fibroblast ◽  
Paracrine Factors ◽  
Fibroblast Activation ◽  
Resident Fibroblast

Background: Activated fibroblasts (myoFBs) play critical role in cardiac fibrosis, however, their origin in diseased heart remains uncertain. Previous studies suggest the contribution of bone marrow fibroblasts progenitor cells (FPC) in pressure overload (PO)-induced cardiac fibrosis and inflammation acts as catalyst in this process. Recently others and we have shown that paracrine mediators packaged in exosomes play important role in cardiac pathophysiology. Thus, we hypothesized that exosome-derived from IL10KO-FPC augments PO-induced resident cardiac fibroblast activation and therefore, aggravate cardiac fibrosis. Methods and Results: Cardiac fibrosis was induced in Wild-type (WT) and IL10-knockout (IL10KO) mice by transverse aortic constriction (TAC). TAC-induced left ventricular (LV) dysfunction and fibrosis were further exaggerated in IL10KO mice. PO-enhanced FPC (Prominin1 + cells) mobilization and homing in IL10KO mice compared to WT mice. To establish the IL10KO-FPC paracrine signaling, exosomes were isolated from WT and IL10KO BM-FPC culture media and characterized for proteins/miRNA. IL10 KO FPC-exosomes showed altered packaging of signature fibrotic miR and proteins. To explore whether FPC-exosomes modulate resident fibroblast activation, adult cardiac fibroblasts were treated with WT and IL10KO FPC-derived exosomes. IL10KO-FPC-derived exosomes exaggerate TGFβ 2 -induced activation of adult fibroblasts. These data suggest that fibrotic remodeling factors (miRs and/or proteins) packaged in IL10KO-FPC exosomes are sufficient to enhance the resident cardiac fibroblast activation and mediate cardiac fibrotic remodeling IL10 treatment significantly inhibits TGFβ 2 -induced FPC to myoFBs transition. Conclusion: Taken together, our findings suggest that paracrine factors secreted by BM-FPC augment resident cardiac fibroblast activation and fibrosis in pressure overloaded myocardium and IL10 negatively regulates this process. Ongoing investigations using molecular approaches will provide a better understanding on the mechanistic and therapeutic aspects of IL10 on PO-induced cardiac fibrosis and heart failure.

Abstract 282: Role of a Disintegrin and Metalloproteinase 15 in Cardiac Hypertrophy and Fibrosis Following Pressure Overload

2020 ◽  
Vol 127 (Suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Priya Aujla ◽  
Sayantan Jana ◽  
Michael Chute ◽  
Zamaneh Kassiri
Keyword(s):  
Cardiac Hypertrophy ◽  
Cardiac Fibrosis ◽  
Cell Function ◽  
Systolic Function ◽  
Mechanical Strain ◽  
Pressure Overload ◽  
Compensatory Hypertrophy ◽  
Hypertrophic Response ◽  
A Disintegrin And Metalloproteinase

Introduction: Disintegrin and metalloproteinases (ADAMs) are membrane-bound cell surface enzymes that are capable of both proteolytic functions (via the metalloproteinase domain) and adhesive functions (via the disintegrin domain), whereby they can influence cell function and extracellular matrix (ECM) remodelling in the heart. ADAM15 is unique among the ADAMs, as it is also capable of degrading ECM proteins. ADAM12 and ADAM17 have been reported to regulate cardiac hypertrophy, but the role of ADAM15 in cardiac hypertrophy is not known. This study investigates the role of ADAM15 in cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis following pressure overload. Methods & Results: Genetically modified male ADAM15-deficient ( Adam15 -/- ) and wildtype (WT) mice were subjected to cardiac pressure overload by transverse aortic constriction (TAC). Cardiac function and structural remodelling were assessed using echocardiography at 2-, and 6-wks post-TAC. Hearts were excised at 2-, or 6-wks post-TAC. Adam15 -/- hearts presented greater hypertrophy and decreased cardiac systolic function at 6wks post-TAC, but no difference at 2wks post-TAC compared to WT-TAC mice. Adam15 -/- hearts also showed exacerbated fibrosis at 6wks post-TAC, but not at 2wks post-TAC, compared to WT. Mechanical strain (i.e. pressure overload) triggers two temporally activated pathways leading to an initial compensatory hypertrophy, which can culminate to decompensation and dilated cardiomyopathy. Consistent with the greater hypertrophy, phosphorylation of ERK1/2, JNK1/2/3, and GSK3β was increased in Adam15 -/- mice. The calcineurin-NFAT pathways can mediate pressure overload-induced hypertrophy, but we found that Adam15-deficiency did not impact this pathway. The mechanism responsible for this function of ADAM15 requires further investigation. Conclusion: This study reports a novel cardioprotective function for ADAM15 in pressure overload, where loss of ADAM15 promotes cardiac fibrosis and decompensated cardiac hypertrophy but does not alter the compensated hypertrophic response.

scholarly journals Sex-specific regulation of collagen I and III expression by 17β-Estradiol in cardiac fibroblasts: role of estrogen receptors

2018 ◽  
Vol 115 (2) ◽  
pp. 315-327 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elke Dworatzek ◽  
Shokoufeh Mahmoodzadeh ◽  
Cindy Schriever ◽  
Kana Kusumoto ◽  
Lisa Kramer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Estrogen Receptor Alpha ◽  
Cardiac Fibrosis ◽  
Cardiac Fibroblasts ◽  
Pressure Overload ◽  
Collagen I ◽  
Female Rat ◽  
17Β Estradiol ◽  
Specific Regulation

Abstract Aims Sex differences in cardiac fibrosis point to the regulatory role of 17β-Estradiol (E2) in cardiac fibroblasts (CF). We, therefore, asked whether male and female CF in rodent and human models are differentially susceptible to E2, and whether this is related to sex-specific activation of estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) and beta (ERβ). Methods and results In female rat CF (rCF), 24 h E2-treatment (10−8  M) led to a significant down-regulation of collagen I and III expression, whereas both collagens were up-regulated in male rCF. E2-induced sex-specific collagen regulation was also detected in human CF, indicating that this regulation is conserved across species. Using specific ERα- and ERβ-agonists (10−7 M) for 24 h, we identified ERα as repressive and ERβ as inducing factor in female and male rCF, respectively. In addition, E2-induced ERα phosphorylation at Ser118 only in female rCF, whereas Ser105 phosphorylation of ERβ was exclusively found in male rCF. Further, in female rCF we found both ER bound to the collagen I and III promoters using chromatin immunoprecipitation assays. In contrast, in male rCF only ERβ bound to both promoters. In engineered connective tissues (ECT) from rCF, collagen I and III mRNA were down-regulated in female ECT and up-regulated in male ECT by E2. This was accompanied by an impaired condensation of female ECT, whereas male ECT showed an increased condensation and stiffness upon E2-treatment, analysed by rheological measurements. Finally, we confirmed the E2-effect on both collagens in an in vivo mouse model with ovariectomy for E2 depletion, E2 substitution, and pressure overload by transverse aortic constriction. Conclusion The mechanism underlying the sex-specific regulation of collagen I and III in the heart appears to involve E2-mediated differential ERα and ERβ signaling in CFs.

scholarly journals The Cell Surface Receptors Ror1/2 Control Cardiac Myofibroblast Differentiation

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas W. Chavkin ◽  
Soichi Sano ◽  
Ying Wang ◽  
Kosei Oshima ◽  
Hayato Ogawa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heart Failure ◽  
Planar Cell Polarity ◽  
Cardiac Fibrosis ◽  
Cardiac Fibroblasts ◽  
Cardiac Injury ◽  
Pressure Overload ◽  
Orphan Receptor ◽  
Myofibroblast Differentiation ◽  
Cultured Fibroblasts

AbstractBackgroundA hallmark of heart failure is cardiac fibrosis, which results from the injury-induced differentiation response of resident fibroblasts to myofibroblasts that deposit extracellular matrix. During myofibroblast differentiation, fibroblasts progress through polarization stages of early pro-inflammation, intermediate proliferation, and late maturation, but the regulators of this progression are poorly understood. Planar cell polarity receptors, receptor tyrosine kinase like orphan receptor 1 and 2 (Ror1/2), can function to promote cell differentiation and transformation. In this study, we investigated the role of the Ror1/2 in a model of heart failure with emphasis on myofibroblast differentiation.Methods and ResultsThe role of Ror1/2 during cardiac myofibroblast differentiation was studied in cell culture models of primary murine cardiac fibroblast activation and in knockout mouse models that underwent transverse aortic constriction (TAC) surgery to induce cardiac injury by pressure overload. Expression of Ror1 and Ror2 were robustly and exclusively induced in fibroblasts in hearts after TAC surgery, and both were rapidly upregulated after early activation of primary murine cardiac fibroblasts in culture. Cultured fibroblasts isolated from Ror1/2-KO mice displayed a pro-inflammatory phenotype indicative of impaired myofibroblast differentiation. Although the combined ablation of Ror1/2 in mice did not result in a detectable baseline phenotype, TAC surgery led to the death of all mice by day 6 that was associated with myocardial hyper-inflammation and vascular leakage.ConclusionsTogether, these results show that Ror1/2 are essential for the progression of myofibroblast differentiation and for the adaptive remodeling of the heart in response to pressure overload.

scholarly journals The Cell Surface Receptors Ror1/2 Control Cardiac Myofibroblast Differentiation

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas W. Chavkin ◽  
Soichi Sano ◽  
Ying Wang ◽  
Kosei Oshima ◽  
Hayato Ogawa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heart Failure ◽  
Cardiac Fibrosis ◽  
Cardiac Injury ◽  
Pressure Overload ◽  
Orphan Receptor ◽  
Myofibroblast Differentiation ◽  
Transverse Aortic Constriction ◽  
Aortic Constriction ◽  
Cultured Fibroblasts

Background A hallmark of heart failure is cardiac fibrosis, which results from the injury‐induced differentiation response of resident fibroblasts to myofibroblasts that deposit extracellular matrix. During myofibroblast differentiation, fibroblasts progress through polarization stages of early proinflammation, intermediate proliferation, and late maturation, but the regulators of this progression are poorly understood. Planar cell polarity receptors, receptor tyrosine kinase–like orphan receptor 1 and 2 (Ror1/2), can function to promote cell differentiation and transformation. In this study, we investigated the role of the Ror1/2 in a model of heart failure with emphasis on myofibroblast differentiation. Methods and Results The role of Ror1/2 during cardiac myofibroblast differentiation was studied in cell culture models of primary murine cardiac fibroblast activation and in knockout mouse models that underwent transverse aortic constriction surgery to induce cardiac injury by pressure overload. Expression of Ror1 and Ror2 were robustly and exclusively induced in fibroblasts in hearts after transverse aortic constriction surgery, and both were rapidly upregulated after early activation of primary murine cardiac fibroblasts in culture. Cultured fibroblasts isolated from Ror1/2 knockout mice displayed a proinflammatory phenotype indicative of impaired myofibroblast differentiation. Although the combined ablation of Ror1/2 in mice did not result in a detectable baseline phenotype, transverse aortic constriction surgery led to the death of all mice by day 6 that was associated with myocardial hyperinflammation and vascular leakage. Conclusions Together, these results show that Ror1/2 are essential for the progression of myofibroblast differentiation and for the adaptive remodeling of the heart in response to pressure overload.

scholarly journals MicroRNA-21–Dependent Macrophage-to-Fibroblast Signaling Determines the Cardiac Response to Pressure Overload

Circulation ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 143 (15) ◽  
pp. 1513-1525
Author(s):  
Deepak Ramanujam ◽  
Anna Patricia Schön ◽  
Christina Beck ◽  
Paula Vaccarello ◽  
Giulia Felician ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Single Cell ◽  
Noncoding Rna ◽  
Interstitial Fibrosis ◽  
Cardiac Fibroblasts ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Pressure Overload ◽  
Cardiac Response ◽  
Small Rna Sequencing ◽  
Single Cell Sequencing

Background: Cardiac macrophages (cMPs) are increasingly recognized as important regulators of myocardial homeostasis and disease, yet the role of noncoding RNA in these cells is largely unknown. Small RNA sequencing of the entire miRNomes of the major cardiac cell fractions revealed microRNA-21 (miR-21) as the single highest expressed microRNA in cMPs, both in health and disease (25% and 43% of all microRNA reads, respectively). MiR-21 has been previously reported as a key microRNA driving tissue fibrosis. Here, we aimed to determine the function of macrophage miR-21 on myocardial homeostasis and disease-associated remodeling. Methods: Macrophage-specific ablation of miR-21 in mice driven by Cx3cr1-Cre was used to determine the function of miR-21 in this cell type. As a disease model, mice were subjected to pressure overload for 6 and 28 days. Cardiac function was assessed in vivo by echocardiography, followed by histological analyses and single-cell sequencing. Cocultures of macrophages and cardiac fibroblasts were used to study macrophage-to-fibroblast signaling. Results: Mice with macrophage-specific genetic deletion of miR-21 were protected from interstitial fibrosis and cardiac dysfunction when subjected to pressure overload of the left ventricle. Single-cell sequencing of pressure-overloaded hearts from these mice revealed that miR-21 in macrophages is essential for their polarization toward a M1-like phenotype. Systematic quantification of intercellular communication mediated by ligand-receptor interactions across all cell types revealed that miR-21 primarily determined macrophage-fibroblast communication, promoting the transition from quiescent fibroblasts to myofibroblasts. Polarization of isolated macrophages in vitro toward a proinflammatory (M1-like) phenotype activated myofibroblast transdifferentiation of cardiac fibroblasts in a paracrine manner and was dependent on miR-21 in cMPs. Conclusions: Our data indicate a critical role of cMPs in pressure overload–induced cardiac fibrosis and dysfunction and reveal macrophage miR-21 as a key molecule for the profibrotic role of cMPs.

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