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

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.

Cancers ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 571 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joshua R. Huot ◽  
Alyson L. Essex ◽  
Maya Gutierrez ◽  
Rafael Barreto ◽  
Meijing Wang ◽  
...  

Despite recent progress, chemotherapy remains the preferred treatment for cancer. We have shown a link between anticancer drugs and the development of cachexia, i.e., body wasting accompanied by muscle loss. The multi-kinase inhibitors (MKIs) regorafenib and sorafenib, used as second-line treatment for solid tumors, are frequently accompanied by several side effects, including loss of muscle mass and strength. In the present study we aimed to investigate the molecular mechanisms associated with the occurrence of muscle toxicities in in vivo conditions. Hence, we treated 8-week old healthy CD2F1 male mice with MKIs for up to six weeks and observed decreased skeletal and cardiac muscle mass, consistent with muscle weakness. Modulation of ERK1/2 and GSK3β, as well as increased expression of markers of autophagy, previously associated with muscle atrophy conditions, were shown in skeletal muscle upon treatment with either drug. MKIs also promoted cardiac abnormalities consistent with reduced left ventricular mass, internal diameter, posterior wall thickness and stroke volume, despite unchanged overall function. Notably, different signaling pathways were affected in the heart, including reduced expression of mitochondrial proteins, and elevated AKT, GSK3β, mTOR, MEK1/2 and ERK1/2 phosphorylation. Combined, our data demonstrate detrimental effects on skeletal and cardiac muscle in association with chronic administration of MKIs, although different mechanisms would seem to contribute to the cachectic phenotype in the two tissues.


2015 ◽  
Vol 309 (7) ◽  
pp. C470-C479 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dieu Hung Lao ◽  
Mary C. Esparza ◽  
Shannon N. Bremner ◽  
Indroneal Banerjee ◽  
Jianlin Zhang ◽  
...  

Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy (EDMD) is a degenerative disease primarily affecting skeletal muscles in early childhood as well as cardiac muscle at later stages. EDMD is caused by a number of mutations in genes encoding proteins associated with the nuclear envelope (e.g., Emerin, Lamin A/C, and Nesprin). Recently, a novel protein, Lim-domain only 7 ( lmo7) has been reported to play a role in the molecular pathogenesis of EDMD. Prior in vitro and in vivo studies suggested the intriguing possibility that Lmo7 plays a role in skeletal or cardiac muscle pathophysiology. To further understand the in vivo role of Lmo7 in striated muscles, we generated a novel Lmo7-null ( lmo7−/−) mouse line. Using this mouse line, we examined skeletal and cardiac muscle physiology, as well as the role of Lmo7 in a model of muscular dystrophy and regeneration using the dystrophin-deficient mdx mouse model. Our results demonstrated that lmo7−/− mice had no abnormalities in skeletal muscle morphology, physiological function, or regeneration. Cardiac function was also unaffected. Moreover, we found that ablation of lmo7 in mdx mice had no effect on the observed myopathy and muscular regeneration exhibited by mdx mice. Molecular analyses also showed no changes in dystrophin complex factors, MAPK pathway components, and Emerin levels in lmo7 knockout mice. Taken together, we conclude that Lmo7 is dispensable for skeletal muscle and cardiac physiology and pathophysiology.


2013 ◽  
Vol 135 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kelly Elizabeth Sullivan ◽  
Lauren Deems Black

The extracellular matrix is no longer considered a static support structure for cells but a dynamic signaling network with the power to influence cell, tissue, and whole organ physiology. In the myocardium, cardiac fibroblasts are the primary cell type responsible for the synthesis, deposition, and degradation of matrix proteins, and they therefore play a critical role in the development and maintenance of functional heart tissue. This review will summarize the extensive research conducted in vivo and in vitro, demonstrating the influence of both physical and chemical stimuli on cardiac fibroblasts and how these interactions impact both the extracellular matrix and, by extension, cardiomyocytes. This work is of considerable significance, given that cardiovascular diseases are marked by extensive remodeling of the extracellular matrix, which ultimately impairs the functional capacity of the heart. We seek to summarize the unique role of cardiac fibroblasts in normal cardiac development and the most prevalent cardiac pathologies, including congenital heart defects, hypertension, hypertrophy, and the remodeled heart following myocardial infarction. We will conclude by identifying existing holes in the research that, if answered, have the potential to dramatically improve current therapeutic strategies for the repair and regeneration of damaged myocardium via mechanotransductive signaling.


2020 ◽  
Vol 127 (Suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tousif Sultan ◽  
Anand P Singh ◽  
Prachi Umbarkar ◽  
QinKun Zhang ◽  
Hind Lal

Objective: Heart failure (HF) is a major and growing public health problem worldwide. Recently our lab has identified HIPK2 as an essential kinase to maintain basal cardiac function. However, the role of cardiomyocytes specific HIPK2 (CM-HIPK2) in myocardial inflammation is unknown. Methods: α-MHC promoter-driven, Cre mice were crossed with HIPK2 fl/fl mice to generate CM-HIPK2 KO. Echocardiography was performed to assess cardiac function. Immunoblotting assays were performed to determine the expression of HIPK2, CD39, CD73, and other signaling pathway . Flow cytometry and ELISA were performed to study the dynamics of inflammation. Results: Consistent with our previous report , echocardiography confirmed an impaired cardiac function in 3 months old CM-HIPK2 KO as compared to their littermate controls. Importantly, cardiac function in the KOs starts to deteriorate at ~2.5 months of age, thus, at two months of age, the cardiac function of KO and littermate control was comparable. Comprehensive immune profiling of CM-HIPK2 KO and littermate control hearts were performed at two months of age. We observed an increased frequency of infiltrated CD45 + leukocytes, CCR2 + pro-inflammatory macrophages, Th17 + , Th9 + , CD45 + TNFα + , CD45 + IL1β + , CD45 + Ki67 + cells but diminished frequency of Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), TCRαβ + CTLA-4 + and TCRαβ + PD-1 + in the CM-HIPK2 KO hearts. Mechanistically, we observed a significantly reduced expression of CD39 and CD73 over HIPK2 deleted cardiomyocytes. Indeed, CD39 and CD73 are the key players of purinergic signaling regulated inflammation response. In-vitro studies with neonatal rat ventricular cardiomyocytes (NRVMs) corroborated the in-vivo findings. Specifically, adenovirus-mediated overexpression of HIPK2 significantly increased CD39 expression. Consistently, Ad-shRNA-HIPK2 expression suppressed the CD39 expression. Taken together, our findings suggest a critical role of CM-HIPK2 in purinergic signaling mediated myocardial inflammation. Conclusions: CM-HIPK2 maintains basal cardiac function by controlling purinergic signaling regulated myocardial inflammation. Future work will explore the underlying mechanism of HIPK2 mediated regulation of CD39 and CD73.


2020 ◽  
Vol 127 (Suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rajika Roy ◽  
Santhanam Shanmughapriya ◽  
Xueqian Zhang ◽  
Jianliang Song ◽  
Dhanendra Tomar ◽  
...  

Cardiac contractility is regulated by the intracellular Ca 2+ concentration fluxes which are actively regulated by multiple channels and transporters. Ca 2+ uptake into the mitochondrial matrix is precisely controlled by the highly Ca 2+ selective channel, Mitochondrial Calcium Uniporter (MCU). Earlier studies on the cardiac-specific acute MCU knockout and a transgenic dominant-negative MCU mice have demonstrated that mitochondrial Ca 2+ ( m Ca 2+ ) signaling is necessary for cardiac ‘‘fight-or-flight’’ contractile response, however, the role of m Ca 2+ buffering to shape global cytosolic Ca 2+ levels and affect E-C coupling, particularly the Ca 2+ transient, on a beat-to-beat basis still remains to be solved. Our earlier studies have demonstrated that loss of MCU Regulator 1 (MCUR1) in cardiomyocytes results in the impaired m Ca 2+ uptake. We have now employed the cardiac-specific MCUR1 knockout mouse to dissect the precise role of MCU in regulating cytosolic Ca 2+ transients associated with excitation-contraction (E-C) coupling and cardiac function. Results from our studies including the in vivo analyses of cardiac physiology during normal and pressure-overloaded mouse models and in vitro experiments including single-cell cardiac contractility, calcium transients, and electrophysiology measurements demonstrate that MCUR1/MCU regulated m Ca 2+ buffering in cardiomyocytes, although insignificant under basal condition, becomes critical in stress induced conditions and actively participates in regulating the c Ca 2+ transients. Also, the ablation of MCUR1 in cardiomyocytes during stress conditions prevents m Ca 2+ overload and subsequent mROS overproduction. Our data indicate that MCUR1 ablation offers protection against pressure-overload cardiac hypertrophy. In summary, our results provide critical insights into the mechanisms by which the MCU channel contributes in regulating the contractile function of the cardiomyocytes and the role of m Ca 2+ in the development and progression of heart failure.


2016 ◽  
Vol 131 (2) ◽  
pp. 141-154 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei-ming Li ◽  
Yi-fan Zhao ◽  
Guo-fu Zhu ◽  
Wen-hui Peng ◽  
Meng-yun Zhu ◽  
...  

Pathological cardiac hypertrophy is an independent risk factor of heart failure. However, we still lack effective methods to reverse cardiac hypertrophy. DUSP12 is a member of the dual specific phosphatase (DUSP) family, which is characterized by its DUSP activity to dephosphorylate both tyrosine and serine/threonine residues on one substrate. Some DUSPs have been identified as being involved in the regulation of cardiac hypertrophy. However, the role of DUSP12 during pathological cardiac hypertrophy is still unclear. In the present study, we observed a significant decrease in DUSP12 expression in hypertrophic hearts and cardiomyocytes. Using a genetic loss-of-function murine model, we demonstrated that DUSP12 deficiency apparently aggravated pressure overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis as well as impaired cardiac function, whereas cardiac-specific overexpression of DUPS12 was capable of reversing this hypertrophic and fibrotic phenotype and improving contractile function. Furthermore, we demonstrated that JNK1/2 activity but neither ERK1/2 nor p38 activity was increased in the DUSP12 deficient group and decreased in the DUSP12 overexpression group both in vitro and in vivo under hypertrophic stress conditions. Pharmacological inhibition of JNK1/2 activity (SP600125) is capable of reversing the hypertrophic phenotype in DUSP12 knockout (KO) mice. DUSP12 protects against pathological cardiac hypertrophy and related pathologies. This regulatory role of DUSP12 is primarily through c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) inhibition. DUSP12 could be a promising therapeutic target of pathological cardiac hypertrophy. DUSP12 is down-regulated in hypertrophic hearts. An absence of DUSP12 aggravated cardiac hypertrophy, whereas cardiomyocyte-specific DUSP12 overexpression can alleviate this hypertrophic phenotype with improved cardiac function. Further study demonstrated that DUSP12 inhibited JNK activity to attenuate pathological cardiac hypertrophy.


2015 ◽  
Vol 117 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathryn M Spitler ◽  
Jessica M Ponce ◽  
Duane D Hall ◽  
Chad E Grueter

Alterations in gene transcription are commonly associated with cardiovascular disease pathogenesis characterized by cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. The phenotypic responses result in diminished cardiac contractility, ventricular dilation, fibrosis and ultimately sudden death. The mediator complex is a crucial facilitator of gene transcription; however, few studies have investigated the role of mediator in cardiovascular disease initiation and progression. A key subunit of the Mediator complex, MED1, interacts with nuclear receptors to target gene-specific transcription. To determine the role of MED1 in regulating cardiac function, we generated a heart specific knockout of MED1 (cMED1KO). Postnatal deletion of MED1 in mice results in lethality between 3 to 6 weeks of age. The cMED1KO mice display a marked increase in heart mass compared to floxed controls. Furthermore, echocardiography and histological analysis of hearts taken at 3 weeks showed that the cMED1KO animals had decreased cardiac function, increased fibrosis and a dilated left ventricle. Transcriptional changes were observed for key markers of cardiac disease including MYH7, ANF, ACTIN1. We performed RNAseq analysis to identify changes in the transciptome between cMED1KO and floxed control hearts. The analysis unveiled changes in expression of genes regulating cardiac development, metabolism and function. Taken together these results reveal a critical role for MED1 in postnatal cardiac growth and development due to altered gene expression in adult cardiomyocytes.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Brianna J. Klein ◽  
Anagha Deshpande ◽  
Khan L. Cox ◽  
Fan Xuan ◽  
Mohamad Zandian ◽  
...  

AbstractChromosomal translocations of the AF10 (or MLLT10) gene are frequently found in acute leukemias. Here, we show that the PZP domain of AF10 (AF10PZP), which is consistently impaired or deleted in leukemogenic AF10 translocations, plays a critical role in blocking malignant transformation. Incorporation of functional AF10PZP into the leukemogenic CALM-AF10 fusion prevents the transforming activity of the fusion in bone marrow-derived hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells in vitro and in vivo and abrogates CALM-AF10-mediated leukemogenesis in vivo. Crystallographic, biochemical and mutagenesis studies reveal that AF10PZP binds to the nucleosome core particle through multivalent contacts with the histone H3 tail and DNA and associates with chromatin in cells, colocalizing with active methylation marks and discriminating against the repressive H3K27me3 mark. AF10PZP promotes nuclear localization of CALM-AF10 and is required for association with chromatin. Our data indicate that the disruption of AF10PZP function in the CALM-AF10 fusion directly leads to transformation, whereas the inclusion of AF10PZP downregulates Hoxa genes and reverses cellular transformation. Our findings highlight the molecular mechanism by which AF10 targets chromatin and suggest a model for the AF10PZP-dependent CALM-AF10-mediated leukemogenesis.


2006 ◽  
Vol 203 (7) ◽  
pp. 1795-1803 ◽  
Author(s):  
Himanshu Kumar ◽  
Taro Kawai ◽  
Hiroki Kato ◽  
Shintaro Sato ◽  
Ken Takahashi ◽  
...  

IFN-β promoter stimulator (IPS)-1 was recently identified as an adapter for retinoic acid–inducible gene I (RIG-I) and melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (Mda5), which recognize distinct RNA viruses. Here we show the critical role of IPS-1 in antiviral responses in vivo. IPS-1–deficient mice showed severe defects in both RIG-I– and Mda5-mediated induction of type I interferon and inflammatory cytokines and were susceptible to RNA virus infection. RNA virus–induced interferon regulatory factor-3 and nuclear factor κB activation was also impaired in IPS-1–deficient cells. IPS-1, however, was not essential for the responses to either DNA virus or double-stranded B-DNA. Thus, IPS-1 is the sole adapter in both RIG-I and Mda5 signaling that mediates effective responses against a variety of RNA viruses.


2009 ◽  
Vol 297 (2) ◽  
pp. H576-H582 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qibin Jiao ◽  
Yunzhe Bai ◽  
Toru Akaike ◽  
Hiroshi Takeshima ◽  
Yoshihiro Ishikawa ◽  
...  

Sarcalumenin (SAR), a Ca2+-binding protein located in the longitudinal sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR), regulates Ca2+ reuptake into the SR by interacting with cardiac sarco(endo)plasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase 2a (SERCA2a). We have previously demonstrated that SAR deficiency induced progressive heart failure in response to pressure overload, despite mild cardiac dysfunction in sham-operated SAR knockout (SARKO) mice ( 26 ). Since responses to physiological stresses often differ from those to pathological stresses, we examined the effects of endurance exercise on cardiac function in SARKO mice. Wild-type (WT) and SARKO mice were subjected to endurance treadmill exercise training (∼65% of maximal exercise ability for 60 min/day) for 12 wk. After exercise training, maximal exercise ability was significantly increased by 5% in WT mice ( n = 6), whereas it was significantly decreased by 37% in SARKO mice ( n = 5). Cardiac function assessed by echocardiographic examination was significantly decreased in accordance with upregulation of biomarkers of cardiac stress in SARKO mice after training. After training, expression levels of SERCA2a protein were significantly downregulated by 30% in SARKO hearts, whereas they were significantly upregulated by 59% in WT hearts. Consequently, SERCA2 activity was significantly decreased in SARKO hearts after training. Furthermore, the expression levels of other Ca2+-handling proteins, including phospholamban, ryanodine receptor 2, calsequestrin 2, and sodium/calcium exchanger 1, were significantly decreased in SARKO hearts after training. These results indicate that SAR plays a critical role in maintaining cardiac function under physiological stresses, such as endurance exercise, by regulating Ca2+ transport activity into the SR. SAR may be a primary target for exercise-related adaptation of the Ca2+ storage system in the SR to preserve cardiac function.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document