Analysis of Drosophila cardiac hypertrophy by micro-computerized tomography for genetic dissection of heart growth mechanisms

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Courtney E Petersen ◽  
Benjamin A Tripoli ◽  
Todd A Schoborg ◽  
Jeremy T Smyth
Keyword(s):  
Heart Failure ◽  
Cardiac Hypertrophy ◽  
Computerized Tomography ◽  
Genetic Model ◽  
Genetic Dissection ◽  
Molecular Signaling ◽  
Pathological Cardiac Hypertrophy ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms ◽  
Microct Analysis ◽  
Constitutively Active

Heart failure is often preceded by pathological cardiac hypertrophy, a thickening of the heart musculature driven by complex gene regulatory and signaling processes. The Drosophila heart has great potential as a genetic model for deciphering the underlying mechanisms of cardiac hypertrophy. However, current methods for evaluating hypertrophy of the Drosophila heart are laborious and difficult to carry out reproducibly. Here we demonstrate that micro-computerized tomography (microCT) is an accessible, highly reproducible method for non-destructive, quantitative analysis of Drosophila heart morphology and size. To validate our microCT approach for analyzing Drosophila cardiac hypertrophy, we show that expression of constitutively active Ras (Ras85DV12), previously shown to cause hypertrophy of the fly heart, results in significant thickening of both adult and larval heart walls when measured from microCT images. We then show using microCT analysis that genetic upregulation of store-operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE) driven by expression of constitutively active Stim (StimCA) or Orai (OraiCA) proteins also results in significant hypertrophy of the Drosophila heart, through a process that specifically depends on Orai Ca2+ influx channels. Intravital imaging of heart contractility revealed significantly reduced end diastolic and systolic dimensions in StimCA and OraiCA expressing hearts, consistent with the hypertrophic phenotype. These results demonstrate that increased SOCE activity is an important driver of hypertrophic cardiomyocyte growth, and demonstrate how microCT analysis combined with tractable genetic tools in Drosophila can be used to delineate molecular signaling processes that underlie cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure.

scholarly journals A novel micro-computerized tomography method reveals Drosophila cardiac hypertrophy caused by upregulated store-operated calcium entry

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Courtney E Petersen ◽  
Todd A Schoborg ◽  
Jeremy T Smyth
Keyword(s):  
Heart Failure ◽  
Cardiac Hypertrophy ◽  
Computerized Tomography ◽  
Genetic Model ◽  
Molecular Signaling ◽  
Pathological Cardiac Hypertrophy ◽  
Store Operated Calcium Entry ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms ◽  
Microct Analysis ◽  
Constitutively Active

ABSTRACTHeart failure is often preceded by pathological cardiac hypertrophy, a thickening of the heart musculature driven by complex gene regulatory and signaling processes. The Drosophila heart has great potential as a genetic model for deciphering the mechanisms that underlie cardiac hypertrophy. However, current methods for evaluating hypertrophy of the Drosophila heart are laborious and difficult to carry out reproducibly. Here we demonstrate that micro-computerized tomography (microCT) is an accessible, highly reproducible method for non-destructive, quantitative analysis of the morphology and size of the Drosophila heart. To validate our microCT approach for analyzing Drosophila cardiac hypertrophy, we show that expression of constitutively active Ras (Ras85DV12), previously shown to cause hypertrophy of the fly heart, results in significant thickening of both adult and larval heart walls when measured from microCT images. We then show using microCT analysis that genetic upregulation of store-operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE) driven by expression of constitutively active Stim (StimCA) or Orai (OraiCA) proteins also results in significant hypertrophy of the Drosophila heart, through a process that specifically depends on Ca2+ influx through Orai channels. Importantly, dysregulation of Ca2+ homeostasis in cardiomyocytes is a major driver of cardiac hypertrophy, but the underlying mechanisms are unclear. These results demonstrate that increased SOCE activity is an important driver of hypertrophic cardiomyocyte growth, and demonstrate how microCT analysis combined with tractable genetic tools in Drosophila can be used to delineate molecular signaling processes that underlie cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure.

Abstract 037: Transient Cardiac Expression Of Constitutively Active G alpha Q Activates Renin-angiotensin System, Leading To Progressive Heart Failure And Ventricular Arrhythmias In Transgenic Mice

2013 ◽  
Vol 113 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Naoko Matsushita ◽  
Masamichi hirose ◽  
Yasuchika Taeishi ◽  
Satoshi Suzuki ◽  
Toshihide Kashihara ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heart Failure ◽  
Transgenic Mice ◽  
Cardiac Hypertrophy ◽  
Ventricular Arrhythmias ◽  
Renin Angiotensin System ◽  
Gene Expressions ◽  
Angiotensin System ◽  
Renin Angiotensin ◽  
Progressive Heart Failure ◽  
Constitutively Active

Introduction: Transgenic mice with transient cardiac expression of constitutively active Galpha q (Gαq-TG) caused progressive heart failure and ventricular arrhythmias after the initiating stimulus becomes undetectable. However, the mechanisms are still unknown. Renin-angiotensin system plays a critical role in the development of cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure. We examined the effects of chronic administration of olmesartan on ventricular function, the number of premature ventricular contractions (PVC), and ventricular remodeling in Gαq-TG mice. Methods and Results: Olmesartan (1 mg/kg/day) or vehicle was chronically administered to Gαq-TG from 6 to 32 weeks of age, and all experiments were performed in mice at the age of 32 weeks. Chronic olmesartan treatment prevented the severe reduction of left ventricular fractional shortening and inhibited ventricular interstitial fibrosis and ventricular myocyte hypertrophy in Gαq-TG. Electrocardiogram demonstrated that premature ventricular contraction (PVC) was frequently (more than 20 beats/min) observed in 9 of 10 vehicle-treated Gαq-TG but in none of 10 olmesartan -treated Gαq-TG. The QT interval was significantly shorter in olmesartan-treated Gαq-TG than vehicle-treated Gαq-TG. CTGF, collagen type 1, ANP, BNP, and β-MHC gene expression was increased in vehicle-treated Gαq-TG. Olmesartan significantly decreased these gene expressions in Gαq-TG. Moreover, protein expressions of canonical transient receptor potential (TRPC) channels 3 and 6 increased in vehicle-treated Gαq-TG hearts. Olmesartan significantly decreased TRPC6 expressions in Gαq-TG. Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) 1 and 2 gene expressions were also increased in vehicle-treated Gαq-TG and was not decreased to the control level in olmesartan-treated Gαq-TG. Conclusions: These findings suggest that renin-angiotensin system has an important role in the development of cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure even if the initiating stimulus is different from the activation of renin-angiotensin system.

A gene therapeutic approach to inhibit calcium and integrin binding protein 1 ameliorates maladaptive remodelling in pressure overload

2018 ◽  
Vol 115 (1) ◽  
pp. 71-82 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Grund ◽  
Malgorzata Szaroszyk ◽  
Janina K Döppner ◽  
Mona Malek Mohammadi ◽  
Badder Kattih ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heart Failure ◽  
Cardiac Hypertrophy ◽  
Cardiac Function ◽  
Binding Protein ◽  
Treatment Strategies ◽  
Pressure Overload ◽  
Cellular Growth ◽  
Neonatal Rat ◽  
Rat Cardiomyocytes ◽  
Pathological Cardiac Hypertrophy

Abstract Aims Chronic heart failure is becoming increasingly prevalent and is still associated with a high mortality rate. Myocardial hypertrophy and fibrosis drive cardiac remodelling and heart failure, but they are not sufficiently inhibited by current treatment strategies. Furthermore, despite increasing knowledge on cardiomyocyte intracellular signalling proteins inducing pathological hypertrophy, therapeutic approaches to target these molecules are currently unavailable. In this study, we aimed to establish and test a therapeutic tool to counteract the 22 kDa calcium and integrin binding protein (CIB) 1, which we have previously identified as nodal regulator of pathological cardiac hypertrophy and as activator of the maladaptive calcineurin/NFAT axis. Methods and results Among three different sequences, we selected a shRNA construct (shCIB1) to specifically down-regulate CIB1 by 50% upon adenoviral overexpression in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes (NRCM), and upon overexpression by an adeno-associated-virus (AAV) 9 vector in mouse hearts. Overexpression of shCIB1 in NRCM markedly reduced cellular growth, improved contractility of bioartificial cardiac tissue and reduced calcineurin/NFAT activation in response to hypertrophic stimulation. In mice, administration of AAV-shCIB1 strongly ameliorated eccentric cardiac hypertrophy and cardiac dysfunction during 2 weeks of pressure overload by transverse aortic constriction (TAC). Ultrastructural and molecular analyses revealed markedly reduced myocardial fibrosis, inhibition of hypertrophy associated gene expression and calcineurin/NFAT as well as ERK MAP kinase activation after TAC in AAV-shCIB1 vs. AAV-shControl treated mice. During long-term exposure to pressure overload for 10 weeks, AAV-shCIB1 treatment maintained its anti-hypertrophic and anti-fibrotic effects, but cardiac function was no longer improved vs. AAV-shControl treatment, most likely resulting from a reduction in myocardial angiogenesis upon downregulation of CIB1. Conclusions Inhibition of CIB1 by a shRNA-mediated gene therapy potently inhibits pathological cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis during pressure overload. While cardiac function is initially improved by shCIB1, this cannot be kept up during persisting overload.

scholarly journals Sophoricoside ameliorates cardiac hypertrophy by activating AMPK/mTORC1-mediated autophagy

2020 ◽  
Vol 40 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maomao Gao ◽  
Fengjiao Hu ◽  
Manli Hu ◽  
Yufeng Hu ◽  
Hongjie Shi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heart Failure ◽  
Cardiac Hypertrophy ◽  
Cardiac Fibrosis ◽  
Neonatal Rat ◽  
Cardiomyocyte Hypertrophy ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Protective Effects ◽  
Rat Cardiomyocytes ◽  
Pathological Cardiac Hypertrophy ◽  
Compound C

Abstract Aim: The study aims to evaluate protective effects of sophoricoside (Sop) on cardiac hypertrophy. Meanwhile, the potential and significance of Sop should be broadened and it should be considered as an attractive drug for the treatment of pathological cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure. Methods: Using the phenylephrine (PE)-induced neonatal rat cardiomyocytes (NRCMs) enlargement model, the potent protection of Sop against cardiomyocytes enlargement was evaluated. The function of Sop was validated in mice received transverse aortic coarctation (TAC) or sham surgery. At 1 week after TAC surgery, mice were treated with Sop for the following 4 weeks, the hearts were harvested after echocardiography examination. Results: Our study revealed that Sop significantly mitigated TAC-induced heart dysfunction, cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and cardiac fibrosis. Mechanistically, Sop treatment induced a remarkable activation of AMPK/mTORC1-autophagy cascade following sustained hypertrophic stimulation. Importantly, the protective effect of Sop was largely abolished by the AMPKα inhibitor Compound C, suggesting an AMPK activation-dependent manner of Sop function on suppressing pathological cardiac hypertrophy. Conclusion: Sop ameliorates cardiac hypertrophy by activating AMPK/mTORC1-mediated autophagy. Hence, Sop might be an attractive candidate for the treatment of pathological cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure.

scholarly journals Loss of Endothelial HIF-Prolyl hydroxylase 2 (PHD2) Induces Cardiac Hypertrophy and Fibrosis

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhiyu Dai ◽  
Jianding Cheng ◽  
Bin Liu ◽  
Dan Yi ◽  
Anlin Feng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heart Failure ◽  
Cardiac Hypertrophy ◽  
Cardiac Fibrosis ◽  
Left Ventricular ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Adaptive Responses ◽  
Genetic Ablation ◽  
Pathological Cardiac Hypertrophy ◽  
And Function

Cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis are common adaptive responses to injury and stress, eventually leading to heart failure. Hypoxia signaling is important to the (patho)physiological process of cardiac remodeling. However, the role of endothelial Prolyl-4 hydroxylase 2 (PHD2)/hypoxia inducible factors (HIFs) signaling in the pathogenesis of heart failure remains elusive. We observed a marked decrease of PHD2 expression in heart tissues and cardiovascular endothelial cells from patients with cardiomyopathy. Mice with Tie2-Cre-mediated deletion of Egln1 (encoding PHD2) or tamoxifen-induced endothelial Egln1 deletion exhibited left ventricular hypertrophy and cardiac fibrosis. Genetic ablation and pharmacological inhibition of Hif2a but not Hif1a in endothelial Egln1 deficient mice normalized cardiac size and function. The present studies define for the first time an unexpected role of endothelial PHD2 deficiency in inducing cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis in a HIF-2α dependent manner. Targeting PHD2/HIF-2α signaling may represent a novel therapeutic approach for the treatment of pathological cardiac hypertrophy and failure.

scholarly journals Role of CyPA in cardiac hypertrophy and remodeling

2019 ◽  
Vol 39 (12) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mengfei Cao ◽  
Wei Yuan ◽  
Meiling Peng ◽  
Ziqi Mao ◽  
Qianru Zhao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oxidative Stress ◽  
Heart Failure ◽  
Cardiac Hypertrophy ◽  
Interstitial Fibrosis ◽  
Systolic Function ◽  
Cardiac Fibroblasts ◽  
Cardiomyocyte Hypertrophy ◽  
Pathological Cardiac Hypertrophy ◽  
Complex Process

Abstract Pathological cardiac hypertrophy is a complex process and eventually develops into heart failure, in which the heart responds to various intrinsic or external stress, involving increased interstitial fibrosis, cell death and cardiac dysfunction. Studies have shown that oxidative stress is an important mechanism for this maladaptation. Cyclophilin A (CyPA) is a member of the cyclophilin (CyPs) family. Many cells secrete CyPA to the outside of the cells in response to oxidative stress. CyPA from blood vessels and the heart itself participate in a variety of signaling pathways to regulate the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mediate inflammation, promote cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and proliferation of cardiac fibroblasts, stimulate endothelial injury and vascular smooth muscle hyperplasia, and promote the dissolution of extracellular matrix (ECM) by activating matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). The events triggered by CyPA cause a decline of diastolic and systolic function and finally lead to the occurrence of heart failure. This article aims to introduce the role and mechanism of CyPA in cardiac hypertrophy and remodeling, and highlights its potential role as a disease biomarker and therapeutic target.

scholarly journals Molecules linked to Ras signaling as therapeutic targets in cardiac pathologies

2021 ◽  
Vol 54 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Manuel Ramos-Kuri ◽  
Sri Harika Meka ◽  
Fabio Salamanca-Buentello ◽  
Roger J. Hajjar ◽  
Larissa Lipskaia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heart Failure ◽  
Protein Kinase ◽  
Cardiac Hypertrophy ◽  
Mapk Pathway ◽  
Therapeutic Targets ◽  
Cardiac Diseases ◽  
Ras Genes ◽  
Septal Defects ◽  
Pathological Cardiac Hypertrophy

Abstract The Ras family of small Guanosine Triphosphate (GTP)-binding proteins (G proteins) represents one of the main components of intracellular signal transduction required for normal cardiac growth, but is also critically involved in the development of cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure. The present review provides an update on the role of the H-, K- and N-Ras genes and their related pathways in cardiac diseases. We focus on cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure, where Ras has been studied the most. We also review other cardiac diseases, like genetic disorders related to Ras. The scope of the review extends from fundamental concepts to therapeutic applications. Although the three Ras genes have a nearly identical primary structure, there are important functional differences between them: H-Ras mainly regulates cardiomyocyte size, whereas K-Ras regulates cardiomyocyte proliferation. N-Ras is the least studied in cardiac cells and is less associated to cardiac defects. Clinically, oncogenic H-Ras causes Costello syndrome and facio-cutaneous-skeletal syndromes with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and arrhythmias. On the other hand, oncogenic K-Ras and alterations of other genes of the Ras-Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase (MAPK) pathway, like Raf, cause Noonan syndrome and cardio-facio-cutaneous syndromes characterized by cardiac hypertrophy and septal defects. We further review the modulation by Ras of key signaling pathways in the cardiomyocyte, including: (i) the classical Ras-Raf-MAPK pathway, which leads to a more physiological form of cardiac hypertrophy; as well as other pathways associated with pathological cardiac hypertrophy, like (ii) The SAPK (stress activated protein kinase) pathways p38 and JNK; and (iii) The alternative pathway Raf-Calcineurin-Nuclear Factor of Activated T cells (NFAT). Genetic alterations of Ras isoforms or of genes in the Ras-MAPK pathway result in Ras-opathies, conditions frequently associated with cardiac hypertrophy or septal defects among other cardiac diseases. Several studies underline the potential role of H- and K-Ras as a hinge between physiological and pathological cardiac hypertrophy, and as potential therapeutic targets in cardiac hypertrophy and failure. Graphic abstract

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