scholarly journals Agrin promotes coordinated therapeutic processes leading to improved cardiac repair in pigs

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Baehr ◽  
Kfir Baruch Umansky ◽  
Elad Bassat ◽  
Katharina Klett ◽  
Victoria Jurisch ◽  
...  

AbstractIschemic heart diseases are classified among the leading cause of death and reduced life quality worldwide. Although revascularization strategies significantly reduce mortality after acute myocardial infarction (MI), a significant number of MI patients develop chronic heart failure over time. We have recently reported that a fragment of the extra cellular matrix (ECM) protein Agrin promotes cardiac regeneration following MI in adult mice. Here, we tested the therapeutic potential of Agrin in a preclinical porcine model, comprising either 3 or 28 days (d) reperfusion period. We first demonstrate that local (antegrade) delivery of recombinant human Agrin (rhAgrin) to the infarcted pig heart can target the affected regions in an efficient and clinically-relevant manner. Single dose of rhAgrin resulted in significant improvement in heart function, infarct size, fibrosis and adverse remodeling parameters 28 days post MI. Short-term MI experiment along with complementary murine MI studies revealed myocardial protection, improved angiogenesis, inflammatory suppression and cell cycle re-entry, as Agrin’s mechanisms of action. We conclude that a single dose of Agrin is capable of reducing ischemia reperfusion injury and improving cardiac function, demonstrating that Agrin could serve as a therapy for patients with acute MI and potentially heart failure.

Circulation ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 142 (9) ◽  
pp. 868-881 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Baehr ◽  
Kfir Baruch Umansky ◽  
Elad Bassat ◽  
Victoria Jurisch ◽  
Katharina Klett ◽  
...  

Background: Ischemic heart diseases are leading causes of death and reduced life quality worldwide. Although revascularization strategies significantly reduce mortality after acute myocardial infarction (MI), a large number of patients with MI develop chronic heart failure over time. We previously reported that a fragment of the extracellular matrix protein agrin promotes cardiac regeneration after MI in adult mice. Methods: To test the therapeutic potential of agrin in a preclinical porcine model, we performed ischemia–reperfusion injuries using balloon occlusion for 60 minutes followed by a 3-, 7-, or 28-day reperfusion period. Results: We demonstrated that local (antegrade) delivery of recombinant human agrin to the infarcted pig heart can target the affected regions in an efficient and clinically relevant manner. A single dose of recombinant human agrin improved heart function, infarct size, fibrosis, and adverse remodeling parameters 28 days after MI. Short-term MI experiments along with complementary murine studies revealed myocardial protection, improved angiogenesis, inflammatory suppression, and cell cycle reentry as agrin’s mechanisms of action. Conclusions: A single dose of agrin is capable of reducing ischemia–reperfusion injury and improving heart function, demonstrating that agrin could serve as a therapy for patients with acute MI and potentially heart failure.


2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yaqi Shen ◽  
Zhuqing Shen ◽  
Shanshan Luo ◽  
Wei Guo ◽  
Yi Zhun Zhu

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is now recognized as a third gaseous mediator along with nitric oxide (NO) and carbon monoxide (CO), though it was originally considered as a malodorous and toxic gas. H2S is produced endogenously from cysteine by three enzymes in mammalian tissues. An increasing body of evidence suggests the involvement of H2S in different physiological and pathological processes. Recent studies have shown that H2S has the potential to protect the heart against myocardial infarction, arrhythmia, hypertrophy, fibrosis, ischemia-reperfusion injury, and heart failure. Some mechanisms, such as antioxidative action, preservation of mitochondrial function, reduction of apoptosis, anti-inflammatory responses, angiogenic actions, regulation of ion channel, and interaction with NO, could be responsible for the cardioprotective effect of H2S. Although several mechanisms have been identified, there is a need for further research to identify the specific molecular mechanism of cardioprotection in different cardiac diseases. Therefore, insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying H2S action in the heart may promote the understanding of pathophysiology of cardiac diseases and lead to new therapeutic targets based on modulation of H2S production.


Circulation ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 132 (suppl_3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xudong Liao ◽  
Mukesh Jain

Mitochondrial homeostasis is critical for heart function and mitochondrial dysfunction contributes to numerous heart diseases such as heart failure. Our previous work indicates that mice with cardiomyocyte-restricted deficiency of KLF4 develop heart failure precipitously in response to pressure-overload but the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. We hypothesized that KLF4 may regulate mitochondrial function in the heart. Here we show that KLF4 governs mitochondrial biogenesis, metabolic function, dynamics and autophagic clearance. Adult mice with cardiac-specific KLF4 deficiency develop cardiac dysfunction with aging or in response to pressure overload characterized by reduced myocardial ATP levels, elevated ROS, and marked alterations in mitochondrial heterogeneity and alignment. Studies in mitochondria isolated from KLF4-deficient hearts revealed reduced respiration rate likely due to defects in ETC Complex I. Further, embryonic cardiac KLF4 deletion resulted in postnatal premature mortality, impaired mitochondrial biogenesis, and altered mitochondrial maturation. Mechanistically, we show that KLF4 binds to, cooperates with, and is requisite for optimal function of the ERR/PGC-1 transcriptional regulatory module on metabolic and mitochondrial targets. Finally, KLF4 also regulates autophagy through transcriptional control of a broad array of autophagy genes in cardiomyocytes. Collectively, these findings identify KLF4 as a nodal transcriptional regulator of mitochondrial homeostasis.


2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heng Zhang ◽  
Meng Xiang ◽  
Dan Meng ◽  
Ning Sun ◽  
Sifeng Chen

Exosomes secreted by mesenchymal stem cells have shown great therapeutic potential in regenerative medicine. In this study, we performed meta-analysis to assess the clinical effectiveness of using exosomes in ischemia/reperfusion injury based on the reports published between January 2000 and September 2015 and indexed in the PUBMED and Web of Science databases. The effect of exosomes on heart function was evaluated according to the following parameters: the area at risk as a percentage of the left ventricle, infarct size as a percentage of the area at risk, infarct size as a percentage of the left ventricle, left ventricular ejection fraction, left ventricular fraction shortening, end-diastolic volume, and end-systolic volume. Our analysis indicated that the currently available evidence confirmed the therapeutic potential of mesenchymal stem cell-secreted exosomes in the improvement of heart function. However, further mechanistic studies, therapeutic safety, and clinical trials are required for optimization and validation of this approach to cardiac regeneration after ischemia/reperfusion injury.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 358 ◽  
Author(s):  
Branislav Kura ◽  
Barbara Szeiffova Bacova ◽  
Barbora Kalocayova ◽  
Matus Sykora ◽  
Jan Slezak

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are important molecules in the living organisms as a part of many signaling pathways. However, if overproduced, they also play a significant role in the development of cardiovascular diseases, such as arrhythmia, cardiomyopathy, ischemia/reperfusion injury (e.g., myocardial infarction and heart transplantation), and heart failure. As a result of oxidative stress action, apoptosis, hypertrophy, and fibrosis may occur. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) represent important endogenous nucleotides that regulate many biological processes, including those involved in heart damage caused by oxidative stress. Oxidative stress can alter the expression level of many miRNAs. These changes in miRNA expression occur mainly via modulation of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), sirtuins, calcineurin/nuclear factor of activated T cell (NFAT), or nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) pathways. Up until now, several circulating miRNAs have been reported to be potential biomarkers of ROS-related cardiac diseases, including myocardial infarction, hypertrophy, ischemia/reperfusion, and heart failure, such as miRNA-499, miRNA-199, miRNA-21, miRNA-144, miRNA-208a, miRNA-34a, etc. On the other hand, a lot of studies are aimed at using miRNAs for therapeutic purposes. This review points to the need for studying the role of redox-sensitive miRNAs, to identify more effective biomarkers and develop better therapeutic targets for oxidative-stress-related heart diseases.


2016 ◽  
Vol 119 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhongjie Sun ◽  
Kai Chen

Background & Objective: The heart function declines in the aged population. At age 80 years, LV contractile function is less than half of what it was at age 20 years. Aging is a recognized risk factor for heart diseases. For instance, the prevalence of heart disease increases with age. The mortality from heart diseases is higher in the aged than in the young population. Klotho is a recently discovered anti-aging gene that is primarily expressed in kidneys. The secreted Klotho is released into blood. The objective of this study is to investigate if a decline serum Klotho levels contributes to aging-related heart failure. Method & Results: The results showed that ejection fraction, stroke volume and cardiac output were decreased in aged mice (24 months) vs. the adult mice (10 months), indicating that aging impairs heart function. The serum level of Klotho was decreased significantly in aged mice. Interestingly, daily injection of recombinant Klotho protein rescued the aging-related decline in heart function. Mutation of Klotho gene ( KL -/- ) resulted in heart failure which was associated with a significant increase in serum phosphate levels (hyperphosphatemia). Low phosphate diet delayed but did not prevent the development of heart failure in male KL -/- mice, suggesting that hyperphosphatemia partially contributes to Klotho deficiency-induced heart failure. Unfortunately, low phosphate diet failed to improve heart failure in female KL -/- mice. Interestingly, administration of estrogen decreased hyperphosphatemia and delayed the development of heart failure in KL -/- although it did not prevent Klotho deficiency-induced heart failure. Therefore, Conclusion: Klotho deficiency contributes to aging-related heart failure. Hyperphosphatemia accelerated the development of Klotho deficiency-induced heart failure. Administration of recombinant Klotho protein is an effective therapeutic strategy for heart aging. (supported by NIH R01 HL118558, AG049780, DK093403).


2020 ◽  
Vol 26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samir Bolívar ◽  
Laura Noriega ◽  
Stefany Ortega ◽  
Estefanie Osorio ◽  
Wendy Rosales ◽  
...  

: Ischemic heart disease is the main cause of death globally. In the heart, the ischemia/reperfusion injury gives rise to a complex cascade of molecular signals, called cardiac remodeling, which generates harmful consequences for the contractile function of the myocardium and consequently heart failure. Metformin is the drug of choice in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Clinical data suggest the direct effects of this drug on cardiac metabolism and studies in animal models showed that metformin activates the classical pathway of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), generating cardioprotective effects during cardiac remodeling, hypertrophy and fibrosis. Furthermore, new studies have emerged about other targets of metformin with a potential role in cardioprotection. This state of the art review, shows the available scientific evidence of the cardioprotective potential of metformin and its possible effects beyond AMPK. Targeting of autophagy, mitochondrial function and miRNAs are also explored as cardioprotective approaches along with a therapeutic potential. Further advances related to the biological effects of metformin and cardioprotective approaches may provide new therapies to protect the heart and prevent cardiac remodeling and heart failure.


2022 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jianxia Wen ◽  
Mingjie Li ◽  
Wenwen Zhang ◽  
Haoyu Wang ◽  
Yan Bai ◽  
...  

Higenamine, a natural product with multiple targets in heart diseases, is originally derived from Aconitum, which has been traditionally used in China for the treatment of heart disease, including heart failure, arrhythmia, bradycardia, cardiac ischemia/reperfusion injury, cardiac fibrosis, etc. This study is aimed to clarify the role of higenamine in heart diseases. Higenamine has effects on improving energy metabolism of cardiomyocytes, anti-cardiac fibroblast activation, anti-oxidative stress and anti-apoptosis. Accumulating evidence from various studies has shown that higenamine exerts a wide range of cardiovascular pharmacological effects in vivo and in vitro, including alleviating heart failure, reducing cardiac ischemia/reperfusion injury, attenuating pathological cardiac fibrosis and dysfunction. In addition, several clinical studies have reported that higenamine could continuously increase the heart rate levels of healthy volunteers as well as patients with heart disease, but there are variable effects on systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure. Moreover, the heart protection and therapeutic effects of higenamine on heart disease are related to regulating LKB1/AMPKα/Sirt1, mediating the β2-AR/PI3K/AKT cascade, induction of heme oxygenase-1, suppressing TGF-β1/Smad signaling, and targeting ASK1/MAPK (ERK, P38)/NF-kB signaling pathway. However, the interventional effects of higenamine on heart disease and its underlying mechanisms based on experimental studies have not yet been systematically reviewed. This paper reviewed the potential pharmacological mechanisms of higenamine on the prevention, treatment, and diagnosis of heart disease and clarified its clinical applications. The literature shows that higenamine may have a potent effect on complex heart diseases, and proves the profound medicinal value of higenamine in heart disease.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 614
Author(s):  
Giandomenico Bisaccia ◽  
Fabrizio Ricci ◽  
Sabina Gallina ◽  
Angela Di Baldassarre ◽  
Barbara Ghinassi

The myocardium is among the most energy-consuming tissues in the body, burning from 6 to 30 kg of ATP per day within the mitochondria, the so-called powerhouse of the cardiomyocyte. Although mitochondrial genetic disorders account for a small portion of cardiomyopathies, mitochondrial dysfunction is commonly involved in a broad spectrum of heart diseases, and it has been implicated in the development of heart failure via maladaptive circuits producing and perpetuating mitochondrial stress and energy starvation. In this bench-to-bedside review, we aimed to (i) describe the key functions of the mitochondria within the myocardium, including their role in ischemia/reperfusion injury and intracellular calcium homeostasis; (ii) examine the contribution of mitochondrial dysfunction to multiple cardiac disease phenotypes and their transition to heart failure; and (iii) discuss the rationale and current evidence for targeting mitochondrial function for the treatment of heart failure, including via sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors.


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