Cardiac remodeling caused by transgenic overexpression of a corn Rac gene

2011 ◽  
Vol 301 (3) ◽  
pp. H868-H880 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad T. Elnakish ◽  
Mohamed M. Awad ◽  
Mohamed D. H. Hassona ◽  
Mazin A. Alhaj ◽  
Aditi Kulkarni ◽  
...  

Rac1-GTPase activation plays a key role in the development and progression of cardiac remodeling. Therefore, we engineered a transgenic mouse model by overexpressing cDNA of a constitutively active form of Zea maize Rac gene (ZmRacD) specifically in the hearts of FVB/N mice. Echocardiography and MRI analyses showed cardiac hypertrophy in old transgenic mice, as evidenced by increased left ventricular (LV) mass and LV mass-to-body weight ratio, which are associated with relative ventricular chamber dilation and systolic dysfunction. LV hypertrophy in the hearts of old transgenic mice was further confirmed by an increased heart weight-to-body weight ratio and histopathology analysis. The cardiac remodeling in old transgenic mice was coupled with increased myocardial Rac-GTPase activity (372%) and ROS production (462%). There were also increases in α1-integrin (224%) and β1-integrin (240%) expression. This led to the activation of hypertrophic signaling pathways, e.g., ERK1/2 (295%) and JNK (223%). Pravastatin treatment led to inhibition of Rac-GTPase activity and integrin signaling. Interestingly, activation of ZmRacD expression with thyroxin led to cardiac dilation and systolic dysfunction in adult transgenic mice within 2 wk. In conclusion, this is the first study to show the conservation of Rho/Rac proteins between plant and animal kingdoms in vivo. Additionally, ZmRacD is a novel transgenic model that gradually develops a cardiac phenotype with aging. Furthermore, the shift from cardiac hypertrophy to dilated hearts via thyroxin treatment will provide us with an excellent system to study the temporal changes in cardiac signaling from adaptive to maladaptive hypertrophy and heart failure.

Circulation ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 142 (Suppl_3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kisuk Min ◽  
Yan Huang ◽  
Frank J Giordano ◽  
Sudip Bajpeyi ◽  
Anton M Bennett

Introduction: Cardiac remodeling occurs in response to pathological stimuli including chronic pressure overload, subsequently leading to heart failure. Despite considerable research efforts, the molecular mechanisms responsible for heart failure have yet to be fully elucidated. One of the prominent signaling pathways involved in the development of pathological cardiac hypertrophy is the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) pathways. The MAPKs are inactivated by the MAPK phosphatases (MKPs) through direct dephosphorylation. Growing evidence suggests the importance of MKP-5 signaling mechanisms in physiological and pathological processes. However, the role of MKP-5 has not been explored in cardiac muscle. The objective of this study is to investigate how MKP-5-mediated MAPK activity contributes to mechanisms responsible for pressure overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy. Hypothesis: We tested the hypothesis that MKP-5 serves as a central regulator of MAPKs in pressure overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy. Methods: To investigate the role of MKP-5 in cardiac muscle, we caused pressure overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy in wild type (mkp-5 +/+ ) mice and MKP-5 deficient mice (mkp-5 -/- ) through transverse aortic constriction (TAC). Cardiac function was evaluated by echocardiographic analysis at 4 weeks after TAC. Cardiac hypertrophy was measured by heart-to-body weight ratio. Interstitial myocardial fibrosis was evaluated by Sirius red stains and expression of fibrogenic genes was determined by quantitative PCR. Results: Echocardiographic analysis showed that the ejection fraction and fractional shortening of mkp-5 +/+ mice significantly decreased by at 4 weeks after TAC. Heart-to-body weight ratio increased in mkp-5 +/+ mice. However, MKP-5-deficient heart was protected from cardiac dysfunction and cardiac hypertrophy induced by TAC. Importantly, the fibrogenic genes were markedly reduced in mkp-5 -/- mice as compared with mkp-5 +/+ mice at 4 weeks after TAC. Conclusions: Collectively, our study demonstrates that MKP-5 deficiency prevents the heart from pressure overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy and suggests that MKP-5 may serve as a novel therapeutic target for treatment of heart disease.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaoying Zhang ◽  
Zhiying Zhang ◽  
Pengxiang Wang ◽  
Yiwei Han ◽  
Lijun Liu ◽  
...  

Bawei Chenxiang Wan (BCW), a well-known traditional Chinese Tibetan medicine formula, is effective for the treatment of acute and chronic cardiovascular diseases. In the present study, we investigated the effect of BCW in cardiac hypertrophy and underlying mechanisms. The dose of 0.2, 0.4, and 0.8 g/kg BCW treated cardiac hypertrophy in SD rat model induced by isoprenaline (ISO). Our results showed that BCW (0.4 g/kg) could repress cardiac hypertrophy, indicated by macro morphology, heart weight to body weight ratio (HW/BW), left ventricle heart weight to body weight ratio (LVW/BW), hypertrophy markers, heart function, pathological structure, cross-sectional area (CSA) of myocardial cells, and the myocardial enzymes. Furthermore, we declared the mechanism of BCW anti-hypertrophy effect was associated with activating adenosine 5'-monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK)/peroxisome proliferator–activated receptor-α (PPAR-α) signals, which regulate carnitine palmitoyltransferase1β (CPT-1β) and glucose transport-4 (GLUT-4) to ameliorate glycolipid metabolism. Moreover, BCW also elevated mitochondrial DNA-encoded genes of NADH dehydrogenase subunit 1(ND1), cytochrome b (Cytb), and mitochondrially encoded cytochrome coxidase I (mt-co1) expression, which was associated with mitochondria function and oxidative phosphorylation. Subsequently, knocking down AMPK by siRNA significantly can reverse the anti-hypertrophy effect of BCW indicated by hypertrophy markers and cell surface of cardiomyocytes. In conclusion, BCW prevents ISO-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy by activating AMPK/PPAR-α to alleviate the disturbance in energy metabolism. Therefore, BCW can be used as an alternative drug for the treatment of cardiac hypertrophy.


Circulation ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 118 (suppl_18) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hui Zhao ◽  
Yulin Liao ◽  
Tetsuo Minamino ◽  
Yoshihiro Asano ◽  
Masanori Asakura ◽  
...  

Background We previously reported that prolonged endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress contributes to progression from cardiac hypertrophy to heart failure. Statins have an inhibitory effect on cholesterol synthesis, oxidative stresses, protein synthesis and production of inflammatory cytokines, all of which could be associated with ER stress. However, it is unknown whether statins can ameliorate ER stress in heart disease. This study was designed to investigate whether pravastatin could inhibit cardiac remodeling and ameliorate ER stress caused by pressure overload or tumor necrosis factor α (TNF α ). Methods and Results Cardiac hypertrophy was induced by transverse aortic constriction (TAC) for four weeks in C57BL/6 male mice. Either pravastatin (5 mg/kg/d, n=20, TAC+prava group) or its vehicle (n=20) was orally administered to mice. The ER stress signaling pathway was also studied in pressure-overloaded mice hearts and in cultured cardiomyocytes treated with TNF α (10ng/ml) for 24 hours. Four weeks after TAC, both heart-to-body weight ratio (8.68 ± 1.23 in TAC group, 6.92 ± 1.11 in TAC+prava group) and lung-to-body weight ratio (11.08 ± 2.58 in TAC group, 7.92± 3.56 in TAC+prava group) became significantly lower in pravastatin-treated mice than in the TAC group. Left ventricular fractional shortening and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVFS and LVEF) were larger in TAC+prava group (48.0±1.9 % and 80±1.9% respectively) compared with TAC group (LVFS and LVEF, 34.8 ±1.4% and 65 ±3%; P<0.01 VS TAC group each). Markers of ER stress such as an increase in ER chaperones and CHOP expressions and enhanced phosphorylation of eIF2 α were observed in the hearts of TAC mice, while pravastatin treatment significantly blunted these changes. Pravastatin-treated TAC mice also showed a decrease of cardiac apoptosis. Cardiac expression of TNF α was increased in TAC mice, and TNF α induced ER stress in cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes, either of which was significantly inhibited by pravastatin. Conclusions These findings indicate that pravastatin inhibits cardiac remodeling in mice subjected to pressure overload, and this action is associated with inhibition of the ER stress signaling pathway.


2019 ◽  
Vol 116 (1) ◽  
pp. 101-113 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hairuo Lin ◽  
Yang Li ◽  
Hailin Zhu ◽  
Qiancheng Wang ◽  
Zhenhuan Chen ◽  
...  

Abstract Aims Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are widely used in patients receiving percutaneous coronary intervention to prevent gastric bleeding, but whether PPIs are beneficial for the heart is controversial. Here, we investigated the effects of lansoprazole on cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure, as well as the underlying mechanisms. Methods and results Adult male C57 mice were subjected to transverse aortic constriction (TAC) or sham surgery and then were treated with lansoprazole or vehicle for 5 weeks. In addition, cultured neonatal rat ventricular cardiomyocytes and fibroblasts were exposed to angiotensin II in the presence or absence of lansoprazole. At 5 weeks after TAC, the heart weight/body weight ratio was lower in lansoprazole-treated mice than in untreated mice, as was the lung weight/body weight ratio, while left ventricular (LV) fractional shortening and the maximum and minimum rates of change of the LV pressure were higher in lansoprazole-treated mice, along with less cardiac fibrosis. In cultured cardiomyocytes, lansoprazole inhibited angiotensin II-induced protein synthesis and hypertrophy, as well as inhibiting proliferation of fibroblasts. Lansoprazole decreased myocardial levels of phosphorylated Akt, phosphorylated glycogen synthase kinase 3β, and active β-catenin in TAC mice and in angiotensin II-stimulated cardiomyocytes. After overexpression of active β-catenin or knockdown of H+/K+-ATPase α-subunit, lansoprazole still significantly attenuated myocyte hypertrophy. Conclusion Lansoprazole inhibits cardiac remodelling by suppressing activation of the Akt/GSK3β/β-catenin pathway independent of H+/K+-ATPase inhibition, and these findings may provide a novel insight into the pharmacological effects of PPIs with regard to alleviation of cardiac remodelling.


1995 ◽  
Vol 269 (3) ◽  
pp. H1003-H1008 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Younes ◽  
M. O. Boluyt ◽  
L. O'Neill ◽  
A. L. Meredith ◽  
M. T. Crow ◽  
...  

Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), a cardiac-specific hormone, is stored in the atria and released in response to atrial stretch. During cardiac hypertrophy, ANP gene expression is markedly upregulated in the left ventricle (LV). Because the hearts of normotensive senescent rats exhibit left atrial (LA) and left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy and dilatation, we examined ANP mRNA levels by Northern blot analysis and ANP peptide concentrations by radioimmunoassay in atria, LVs, and plasma of rats at 2, 6, 18, and 22-24 mo of age. Compared with LVs of 6-mo-old rats, the LV-to-body weight ratio was elevated 30% by 18 mo of age, whereas levels of ANP mRNA were elevated twofold (not significant) and sevenfold (P < 0.05) in the LV of 18- and 22- to 24-mo-old rats, respectively. The concentration of immunoreactive ANP (ir-ANP) exhibited a four- to fivefold increase in LVs of 18- and 22- to 24-mo-old rats compared with values for 6-mo-old rats (43 +/- 4 pmol/g wet wt; means +/- SE). Among 18-and 22- to 24-mo-old rats a significant correlation was observed between ANP peptide concentration and LV hypertrophy (r 2 = 0.64). Levels of ANP mRNA and ir-ANP in the atria exhibited only modest changes with aging.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


Circulation ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 118 (suppl_18) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kimio Satoh ◽  
Liam Casey ◽  
Michael R O’Dell ◽  
Patrizia Nigro ◽  
Amy Mohan ◽  
...  

Background - Cyclophilin A (CyPA) is a chaperone protein secreted from vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) in response to reactive oxygen species (ROS). We have recently demonstrated that extracellular CyPA stimulates at least 3 signaling pathways (ERK1/2, Akt and JAK) and mediates numerous cellular effects of ROS. Angiotensin II (Ang II) induces ROS through NADPH oxidases and activates matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) in VSMC. ROS and MMPs have been demonstrated to mediate cardiac hypertrophy and remodeling. We hypothesized that VSMC-derived CyPA contributes to AngII-induced cardiovascular hypertrophy in vivo due to its proinflammatory properties. Methods and Results - ApoE −/− and ApoE −/− CyPA −/− mice were treated with AngII (1000 ng/min/kg for 4 weeks) to induce cardiac hypertrophy. Long-term infusion of AngII significantly increased heart/body weight ratio in ApoE −/− mice, which was significantly less in ApoE −/− CyPA −/− mice (6.6±1.0 vs. 4.8±0.7, P <0.01). Echocar-diography confirmed a significantly greater increase in LV mass in ApoE −/− mice compared to ApoE −/− CyPA −/− mice (112% vs. 47%). Perivascular accumulation of inflammatory cells and cardiac myofibroblasts in ApoE −/− mice was significantly greater than in ApoE −/− CyPA −/− mice. Consequently, coronary artery ROS production (DHE fluorescence) and MMP activation (in situ zymography) were markedly increased by AngII in ApoE −/− mice compared to ApoE −/− CyPA −/− mice. To determine the source of CyPA, bone marrow cells (BMCs) transplantation was performed. The heart/body weight ratio was still higher in ApoE −/− mice compared with ApoE −/− CyPA −/− mice after reconstitution with GFP + CyPA +/+ BMCs (6.7±0.6 vs. 5.6±0.9, P <0.01). Recruitment of GFP + BMCs to the heart in chimeric ApoE −/− mice was significantly greater than the chimeric ApoE −/− CyPA −/− mice (count/area; 218±63 vs. 109±43, P <0.01). To prove a vascular source of CyPA was essential, VSMC-specific CyPA overexpressing mice were generated. In these mice there was a significant increase in cardiac MMP activity after AngII infusion (VSMC-Tg > WT > CyPA −/− ). Conclusion - CyPA is a novel mediator of AngII-induced cardiac hypertrophy by stimulating vascular ROS production, MMP activation, and inflammatory cell recruitment. This research has received full or partial funding support from the American Heart Association, AHA Founders Affiliate (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont).


2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Man Zhu ◽  
Lijun Shi

Objective The type II calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase IIδ (CaMKIIδ) signal plays a key role in the development of cardiac hypertrophy. This study used CaMKIIδ as an entry point to investigate the mechanism of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise affecting myocardial function. Methods Male spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) and Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKYs), 12 weeks age, were randomly divided into aerobic exercise group (SHR-EX/WKY-EX) and sedentary control group (SHR-SED/WKY-SED), with 12 rats in each group. The aerobic exercise group conducted an 8-week treadmill exercise training with a slope of 0°, 20m/min (about 55-65% of maximal aerobic velocity), 60min/day, and 5d/wk. The control group did not exercise. The body weight of each group of rats was measured weekly and the blood pressure of the rats was measured non-invasively. After 8 weeks, the hearts of SHR-EX group, WKY-EX group, SHR-SED group and WKY-SED group were weighed, and then myocardial tissue sections were taken for HE staining to observe the thickness of the ventricular wall and the morphology of myocardial cells. The expression of CaMKIIδ and MEF2 in each group was determined by Western blotting. Results (1) The body weight of SHR-SED group was significantly higher than that of SHR-EX group (p<0.01), and the heart weight of rats in exercise group changed significantly. The WKY-EX group had greater heart weight than the WKY-SED group, and the SHR-SED group was heavier than the SHR-EX group (p<0.05). The heart weight/body weight ratio of the WKY-EX group was significantly higher than that of the WKY-SED group (p<0.01). The heart weight/body weight ratio of SHR-EX group and SHR-SED group was higher than that of WKY-EX group and WKY-SED group (p<0.01). (2) Compared with the WKY-SED group, the SHR-SED group had loose interstitial cells and increased single cell area. The SHR-EX group is more compact than the SHR-SED group, and the cell cross-sectional area is reduced. (3) The expression of CaMKIIδ protein in SHR-EX group was significantly lower than that in SHR-SED group (p<0.01), but the expression level of CaMKIIδ in WKY-EX group was significantly higher than that in WKY-SED group (p<0.01). The expression level of CaMKIIδ was significantly higher in the SHR-SED group than in the WKY-SED group. In addition, the expression of MEF2 protein in SHR-EX group and WKY-SED group was significantly lower than that in SHR-SED group (p<0.01), while the MEF2 expression level in WKY-EX group was higher than WKY-SED group and SHR-EX group (p<0.05). Conclusions There is an interaction between aerobic exercise and hypertension. Aerobic exercise can effectively delay the development of hypertensive cardiac hypertrophy by regulating the expression of CaMKIIδ and MEF2 protein in the myocardium, but it can also cause cardiac hypertrophy in normal heart. It is one of the important mechanisms affecting the myocardial morphology and function.    


1994 ◽  
Vol 266 (6) ◽  
pp. H2468-H2475 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. A. Rockman ◽  
S. P. Wachhorst ◽  
L. Mao ◽  
J. Ross

There is increasing evidence that the renin-angiotensin system may play a important role in cardiac hypertrophy. To assess the role of angiotensin II in the induction of cardiac hypertrophy, three groups of adult mice were subjected to left ventricular pressure overload by transverse aortic constriction (TAC). For the next 7 days the groups received either the specific angiotensin II subtype 1 receptor (AT1) antagonist (losartan, 1.05 g/l; n = 17), an angiotensin enzyme inhibitor (captopril, 2 g/l; n = 17), or no treatment (n = 22) administered in the drinking water and compared with three similarly treated sham-operated groups (n = 7 each). TAC resulted in a significant increase in heart weight-to-body weight ratio (0.634 +/- 0.087 vs. 0.525 +/- 0.039, g/g x 100, P < 0.05), which was prevented by losartan (0.506 +/- 0.069, g/g x 100, P < 0.0001) despite similar hemodynamic load (proximal systolic pressure 146 +/- 31 vs. 136 +/- 32 mmHg, untreated vs. losartan, P = NS). Proximal systolic pressure was positively correlated with the development of ventricular hypertrophy. In the presence of AT1-receptor blockade, the increase in heart weight-to-body weight ratio at any given systolic pressure was significantly attenuated compared with untreated TAC mice. The increase in heart weight-to-body weight ratio was also significantly attenuated by captopril compared with untreated banded controls (0.542 +/- 0.091, g/g x 100, P = 0.01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


2013 ◽  
Vol 305 (1) ◽  
pp. H86-H94 ◽  
Author(s):  
Naohiro Yamaguchi ◽  
Asima Chakraborty ◽  
Tai-Qin Huang ◽  
Le Xu ◽  
Angela C. Gomez ◽  
...  

The cardiac ryanodine receptor (RyR2) is inhibited by calmodulin (CaM) and S100A1. Simultaneous substitution of three amino acid residues (W3587A, L3591D, F3603A; RyR2ADA) in the CaM binding domain of RyR2 results in loss of CaM inhibition at submicromolar (diastolic) and micromolar (systolic) Ca2+, cardiac hypertrophy, and heart failure in Ryr2 ADA/ADA mice. To address whether cardiac hypertrophy results from the elimination of CaM and S100A1 inhibition at diastolic or systolic Ca2+, a mutant mouse was generated with a single RyR2 amino acid substitution (L3591D; RyR2D). Here we report that in single-channel measurements RyR2-L3591D isolated from Ryr2 D/D hearts lost CaM inhibition at diastolic Ca2+ only, whereas S100A1 regulation was eliminated at both diastolic and systolic Ca2+. In contrast to the ∼2-wk life span of Ryr2 ADA/ADA mice, Ryr2 D/D mice lived longer than 1 yr. Six-month-old Ryr2 D/D mice showed a 9% increase in heart weight-to-body weight ratio, modest changes in cardiac morphology, and a twofold increase in atrial natriuretic peptide mRNA levels compared with wild type. After 4-wk pressure overload with transverse aortic constriction, heart weight-to-body weight ratio and atrial natriuretic peptide mRNA levels increased and echocardiography showed changes in heart morphology of Ryr2 D/D mice compared with sham-operated mice. Collectively, the findings indicate that the single RyR2-L3591D mutation, which distinguishes the effects of diastolic and systolic Ca2+, alters heart size and cardiac function to a lesser extent in Ryr2 D/D mice than the triple mutation in Ryr2 ADA/ADA mice. They further suggest that CaM inhibition of RyR2 at systolic Ca2+ is important for maintaining normal cardiac function.


Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 41
Author(s):  
Nouf Aljobaily ◽  
Michael J. Viereckl ◽  
David S. Hydock ◽  
Hend Aljobaily ◽  
Tsung-Yen Wu ◽  
...  

Background: Treatment with the chemotherapy drug doxorubicin (DOX) may lead to toxicities that affect non-cancer cells including the liver. Supplementing the diet with creatine (Cr) has been suggested as a potential intervention to minimize DOX-induced side effects, but its effect in alleviating DOX-induced hepatoxicity is currently unknown. Therefore, we aimed to examine the effects of Cr supplementation on DOX-induced liver damage. Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed a diet supplemented with 2% Cr for four weeks, 4% Cr for one week followed by 2% Cr for three more weeks, or control diet for four weeks. Animals then received either a bolus i.p. injection of DOX (15 mg/kg) or saline as a placebo. Animals were then sacrificed five days-post injection and markers of hepatoxicity were analyzed using the liver-to-body weight ratio, aspartate transaminase (AST)-to- alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ratio, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lipemia, and T-Bilirubin. In addition, hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining, Picro-Sirius Red staining, and immunofluorescence staining for CD45, 8-OHdG, and β-galactosidase were performed to evaluate liver morphology, fibrosis, inflammation, oxidative stress, and cellular senescence, respectively. The mRNA levels for biomarkers of liver fibrosis, inflammation, oxidative stress, and senescence-related genes were measured in liver tissues. Chromosomal stability was evaluated using global DNA methylation ELISA. Results: The ALT/AST ratio and liver to body weight ratio tended to increase in the DOX group, and Cr supplementation tended to attenuate this increase. Furthermore, elevated levels of liver fibrosis, inflammation, oxidative stress, and senescence were observed with DOX treatment, and Cr supplementation prior to DOX treatment ameliorated this hepatoxicity. Moreover, DOX treatment resulted in chromosomal instability (i.e., altered DNA methylation profile), and Cr supplementation showed a tendency to restore chromosomal stability with DOX treatment. Conclusion: The data suggest that Cr protected against DOX-induced hepatotoxicity by attenuating fibrosis, inflammation, oxidative stress, and senescence.


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