Abstract P471: Mechanisms Controlling Regression Of Cardiac Fibrosis By Removal Of Pressure Overload

2021 ◽  
Vol 129 (Suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lily Neff ◽  
An Van Laer ◽  
Catalin F Baicu ◽  
Michael R Zile ◽  
Amy Bradshaw

Background: Antecedent conditions, like aortic stenosis, can induce left ventricular pressure overload (LVPO), that can lead to Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction (HFpEF). Myocardial fibrosis and stiffness are key characteristics of HFpEF. Cardiac fibroblasts are the primary cell type regulating ECM production and deposition. In previous studies, biopsies isolated at the time of SAVR surgery, to correct stenosis, and then at 1-year and 5-years post-SAVR showed reductions in hypertrophy and fibrosis demonstrating these processes can regress. However, cellular mechanisms, including fibroblast activity, are poorly defined. Objective: Define mechanisms that contribute to remodeling of ECM before and after LVPO. Methods: LVPO was induced using transverse aortic constriction (TAC). LVPO was relieved by removal of the band (unTAC) at 4 wks. Cardiomyocyte cross-sectional area (CSA), collagen volume fraction (CVF), and protein production was measured by histology and immunoblot for five time points: nonTAC, 2wk TAC, 4wk TAC, 4wk TAC+2wk unTAC, and 4wk TAC+4wk unTAC. Results: In response to LVPO, myocyte CSA increased by 23% at 2wk TAC and by 47% at 4wk. CVF increased by 64% and 204% at 2wk and 4wk TAC, respectively, versus nonTAC. In 2wk TAC hearts, SMA, a marker of fibroblast activation was increased as was production of two collagen cross-linking enzymes, lysyl oxidase (LOX) and LOXL2, in the absence of significant increases in markers of ECM degradation. After unloading, myocyte CSA decreased by 20% in 2wk unTAC versus 4wk TAC and CVF decreased by 38% in 4wk unTAC versus 4wk TAC. Coincident with decreases in CVF, levels of pro-MMP2 increased at 2wk unTAC as did levels of degraded collagen measured by collagen hybridizing peptide reactivity. Whereas markers of ECM deposition, LOX and LOXL2, were not increased in unTAC myocardium, a resurgence of SMA production occurred in 2wk unTAC. Conclusions: In LVPO hearts, hypertrophy was characterized by increases in myocyte CSA, greater CVF, and fibroblast activation with increased production of pro-fibrotic ECM. After unloading, hypertrophy and fibrosis significantly decreased accompanied by increases in ECM degrading activity and reductions in proteins that contribute to collagen assembly.

2009 ◽  
Vol 297 (1) ◽  
pp. H76-H85 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qianli Yu ◽  
Randy Vazquez ◽  
Elham Vali Khojeini ◽  
Chirag Patel ◽  
Raj Venkataramani ◽  
...  

Osteopontin (OPN), a key component of the extracellular matrix, is associated with the fibrotic process during tissue remodeling. OPN and the cytokine interleukin (IL)-18 have been shown to be overexpressed in an array of human cardiac pathologies. In the present study, we determined the role of IL-18 in the regulation of cardiac OPN expression and the subsequent interstitial fibrosis and diastolic dysfunction. We demonstrated parallel increases in IL-18, OPN expression, and interstitial fibrosis in murine models of left ventricular pressure and volume overload. Exogenous recombinant (r)IL-18 administered for 2 wk increased cardiac OPN expression, interstitial fibrosis, and diastolic dysfunction. Stimulation of the T helper (Th)1 lymphocyte phenotype with a selective toll-like receptor (TLR)9 agonist induced cardiac IL-18 and OPN expression, which was associated with increased cardiac fibrillar collagen concentrations and interstitial fibrosis resulting in diastolic dysfunction. rIL-18 induced OPN expression and protein levels in primary of cardiac fibroblast cultures. Conditioned media from TLR9-stimulated T lymphocyte cultures induced IL-18 and OPN expression in cardiac fibroblasts, while blockade of the IL-18 receptor with a neutralizing antibody abolished the increase in OPN expression. Furthermore, a mutation in the transcriptional factor interferon regulatory factor (IRF)1 or IRF1 small interfering RNA (siRNA) resulted in the decreased expression of IL-18 and OPN in cardiac fibroblasts. With pressure overload, IRF1-mutant mice showed downregulation of IL-18 and OPN expression in cardiac tissue, reduced cardiac fibrotic development, and increased left ventricular function compared with wild type. These results provide direct evidence that the induction of IL-18 regulates OPN-mediated cardiac fibrosis and diastolic dysfunction.


2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 112-124
Author(s):  
K. Heinecke ◽  
A. Heuser ◽  
F. Blaschke ◽  
C. Jux ◽  
L. Thierfelder ◽  
...  

Intrauterine growth restriction in animal models reduces heart size and cardiomyocyte number at birth. Such incomplete cardiomyocyte endowment is believed to increase susceptibility toward cardiovascular disease in adulthood, a phenomenon referred to as developmental programming. We have previously described a mouse model of impaired myocardial development leading to a 25% reduction of cardiomyocyte number in neonates. This study investigated the response of these hypoplastic hearts to pressure overload in adulthood, applied by abdominal aortic constriction (AAC). Echocardiography revealed a similar hypertrophic response in hypoplastic hearts compared with controls over the first 2 weeks. Subsequently, control mice develop mild left ventricular (LV) dilation, wall thinning and contractile dysfunction 4 weeks after AAC, whereas hypoplastic hearts fully maintain LV dimensions, wall thickness and contractility. At the cellular level, controls exhibit increased cardiomyocyte cross-sectional area after 4 weeks pressure overload compared with sham operated animals, but this hypertrophic response is markedly attenuated in hypoplastic hearts. AAC mediated induction of fibrosis, apoptosis or cell cycle activity was not different between groups. Expression of fetal genes, indicative of pathological conditions, was similar in hypoplastic and control hearts after AAC. Among various signaling pathways involved in cardiac hypertrophy, pressure overload induces p38 MAP-kinase activity in hypoplastic hearts but not controls compared with the respective sham operated animals. In summary, based on the mouse model used in this study, our data indicates that adult hearts after neonatal cardiac hypoplasia show an altered growth response to pressure overload, eventually resulting in better functional outcome compared with controls.


2017 ◽  
Vol 121 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Suresh K Verma ◽  
Venkata N Girikipathi ◽  
Maria Cimini ◽  
Zhongjian Cheng ◽  
Moshin Khan ◽  
...  

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.


2016 ◽  
Vol 119 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Elke Dworatzek ◽  
Shokoufeh Mahmoodzadeh ◽  
Christina Westphal ◽  
Daniela Fliegner ◽  
Vera Regitz-Zagrosek

Objectives: Female pressure-overloaded hearts show less fibrosis compared with males. 17β-Estradiol (E2) attenuates cardiac fibrosis in female mice. Whether this is mediated by direct E2-effects on collagen synthesis is still unknown. Therefore, we investigated the role of E2 and estrogen receptors (ER) on collagen I and III expression and analyzed involved mechanisms. Methods: Female C57BL/6J mice (7 weeks) underwent sham operation, ovariectomy (OVX), OVX with E2-supplementation (390mg E2-containing pellets) or placebo. After 2 weeks, animals underwent transverse aortic constriction (TAC) or sham surgery. Mice were sacrificed after 9 weeks. Collagen amount, collagen I and III protein in left ventricular tissue were detected by Sirius Red and antibody staining, respectively. Gene and protein expression were determined by quantitative Real-Time PCR and Western blot. Adult female rat cardiac fibroblasts were treated with E2 (10 -8 M), vehicle, ERα- and β-agonists (10 -7 M) for 24h or pre-treated with PD98059 for 1h. ER binding to the collagen I and III promoter was analyzed by chromatin immunoprecipitation assays. Findings: In female OVX mice, undergoing TAC surgery, E2-supplementation significantly reduced collagen deposition, collagen I and III mRNA and protein levels in comparison with mice without E2. In female rat cardiac fibroblasts, E2 significantly down-regulated collagen I and III mRNA and protein level. Specific ER-agonist-treatment showed that E2-mediated regulation of collagen I and III expression was mediated via activation of ERα, but not ERβ. Further, upon E2-treatment, ERα was phosphorylated at Ser118, which occurred by E2-induced activation of ERK1/2 signaling. Furthermore, we could show that ERα and ERβ bind to two putative half-palindromic estrogen response elements within the collagen I and III promoter in female cardiac fibroblasts. Conclusion: E2 inhibits cardiac collagen I and III mRNA and protein in female mice under pressure overload. Data from rat female cardiac fibroblasts suggest that this is mediated via E2-activated ERK1/2 signaling and ERα, which binds with ERβ to the collagen I and III promoter. Understanding of how E2/ER attenuate collagen I and III expression in pathological hypertrophy may improve therapy.


2013 ◽  
Vol 114 (8) ◽  
pp. 988-997 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristin V. T. Engebretsen ◽  
Anne Waehre ◽  
Johannes L. Bjørnstad ◽  
Biljana Skrbic ◽  
Ivar Sjaastad ◽  
...  

On the basis of the role of small, leucine-rich proteoglycans (SLRPs) in fibrogenesis and inflammation, we hypothesized that they could be involved in cardiac remodeling and reverse remodeling as occurs during aortic stenosis and after aortic valve replacement. Thus, in a well-characterized aortic banding-debanding mouse model, we examined the SLRPs decorin and lumican and enzymes responsible for synthesis of their glycosaminoglycan (GAG) chains. Four weeks after banding of the ascending aorta, mice were subjected to a debanding operation (DB) and were subsequently followed for 3 or 14 days. Sham-operated mice served as controls. Western blotting revealed a 2.5-fold increase in the protein levels of glycosylated decorin in mice with left ventricular pressure overload after aortic banding (AB) with a gradual decrease after DB. Interestingly, protein levels of three key enzymes responsible for decorin GAG chain synthesis were also increased after AB, two of them gradually declining after DB. The inflammatory chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 16 (CXCL16) was increased after AB but was not significantly altered following DB. In cardiac fibroblasts CXCL16 increased the expression of the GAG-synthesizing enzyme chondroitin polymerizing factor (CHPF). The protein levels of lumican core protein with N-linked oligosaccharides increased by sevenfold after AB and decreased again 14 days after DB. Lumican with keratan sulfate chains was not regulated. In conclusion, this study shows alterations in glycosylated decorin and lumican core protein that might be implicated in myocardial remodeling and reverse remodeling, with a potential important role for CS/DS GAG chain-synthesizing enzymes.


2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (Supplement_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
K.M Herum ◽  
G Gilles ◽  
A Romaine ◽  
A.O Melleby ◽  
G Christensen ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction Activation of cardiac fibroblasts (CFB) is a key step in development of fibrosis in the heart. It was recently shown that, in addition to the well-studied myofibroblast (myoFB) phenotype, activated cardiac fibroblasts can adopt a newly defined matrifibrocyte phenotype, characterized by expression of extracellular matrix (ECM) genes associated with bone, cartilage and tendon development. However, it is unknown whether matrifibrocytes exists in the pressure-overloaded fibrotic and failing heart, and whether substrate stiffness drives differentiation. Hypothesis Matrifibrocyte differentiation occurs in vitro during culturing of primary cardiac fibroblasts, and in vivo in response to left ventricular pressure overload. Methods Left ventricular pressure overload induced by o-ring aortic banding (ORAB) induced cardiac phenotypes of concentric hypertrophic remodelling and congestive heart failure. Primary CFB from adult mice were cultured on plastic or soft polyacrylamide hydrogels (4.5 kPa) for various times. mRNA expression of phenotypic markers were measured by RT-PCR. Presence of smooth muscle α-actin (SMA) fibers was determined by immunocytochemistry. Results ECM genes normally expressed in bone and cartilage (COMP, CILP-2, OPG and SCX) were upregulated in hypertrophic left ventricles of mice with congestive heart failure. The myoFB marker acta2 was increased 2 weeks after ORAB, returned to baseline at 4 weeks and increased again at 20 weeks when the left ventricle was dilating and failing, indicating that the myoFB phenotype is not permanent. In vitro, primary CFB upregulated bone/cartilage-associated ECM genes after 12 days of culturing on plastic. Acta2 mRNA and SMA protein levels peaked after 9 days in culture whereafter they declined, indicating a shift in phenotype. Culturing primary CFB on soft (4.5 kPa) hydrogels delayed, but did not prevent, myoFB differentiation while expression of bone/cartilage ECM genes was absent or low, indicating that high stiffness is a driver of the matrifibrocyte phenotype. Blockers of mechanotransduction, SB431542 (TGFβRI inhibitor), Y27623 (ROCK inhibitor) and cyclosporine A (calcineurin inhibitor), completely inhibited myoFB differentiation but upregulated several matrifibrocyte markers, indicating that distinct signaling pathways regulate myoFB and matrifibrocyte differentiation. Removing inhibitors re-induced myofibroblast markers in cells on plastic but not on soft gels consistent with high stiffness promoting myofibroblast differentiation. Conclusion Primary cardiac fibroblasts acquire characteristics of matrifibrocytes in vitro when cultured for long time on plastic and in vivo in left ventricles of mice with pressure overload-induced congestive heart failure. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: Public grant(s) – EU funding. Main funding source(s): Marie Sklodowska-Curie Individual Fellowship


2014 ◽  
Vol 76 ◽  
pp. 148-157 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristin V.T. Engebretsen ◽  
Kristine Skårdal ◽  
Sigrid Bjørnstad ◽  
Henriette S. Marstein ◽  
Biljana Skrbic ◽  
...  

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 204589401984865 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stine Andersen ◽  
Julie Birkmose Axelsen ◽  
Steffen Ringgaard ◽  
Jens Randel Nyengaard ◽  
Signe Holm Nielsen ◽  
...  

Cardiac fibrosis contributes to the development of heart failure in pulmonary hypertension. We aimed to assess the development of fibrosis and the effects of treatment with the anti-fibrotic agent pirfenidone in pressure overload induced right ventricular (RV) failure. Wistar rat weanlings were randomized to pulmonary trunk banding (PTB) or sham surgery. One week after the procedure, PTB rats were randomized into two groups with either six weeks on standard chow or treatment with pirfenidone mixed in chow (700 mg/kg/day). RV hemodynamic effects were evaluated by echocardiography, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and pressure-volume measurements. Sections from the isolated RV, left ventricle, and septum were sampled systematically; stereological point grids and the nucleator were used to estimate volume of fibrosis and cardiac hypertrophy, respectively. PTB caused RV failure in all rats subjected to the procedure. The volume fraction of fibrosis in the RV increased threefold in PTB rats corresponding to a sixfold increase in total volume of RV fibrosis. Volume fraction of fibrosis and total volume of fibrosis also increased in the septum and in the left ventricle. Pirfenidone reduced body weight but did not improve RV hemodynamics or reduce cardiac fibrosis. RV cardiomyocyte profile area was increased twofold in PTB rats without any effect of pirfenidone. RV pressure overload after PTB induced not only RV but also septal and left ventricular fibrosis assessed by stereology. Treatment with pirfenidone reduced body weight but did not reduce the development of cardiac fibrosis or delay the progression of RV failure.


2016 ◽  
Vol 119 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Masataka Nishiga ◽  
Takahiro Horie ◽  
Yasuhide Kuwabara ◽  
Osamu Baba ◽  
Tetsushi Nakao ◽  
...  

Background: A highly conserved microRNA, miR-33 is considered as a potential therapeutic target for atherosclerosis, because recent reports, including ours, indicated miR-33 has atherogenic effects by reducing HDL-C. However, the functions of miR-33 in heart failure remain to be elucidated. Methods and results: To clarify the functions of miR-33 involved in cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis in vivo, we investigated the responses to pressure overload by transverse aortic constriction (TAC) in miR-33 deficient (KO) mice. When subjected to TAC, miR-33 expression level was significantly up-regulated in wild-type (WT) left ventricles, whereas miR-33 KO hearts displayed no less hypertrophic responses than WT hearts. However, interestingly, histological and gene expression analyses showed ameliorated cardiac fibrosis in miR-33 KO hearts compared to WT hearts. Furthermore, we generated cardiac fibroblast specific miR-33 deficient mice, which also showed ameliorated cardiac fibrosis when they were subjected to TAC. We also found that cardiac fibroblasts were mainly responsible for miR-33 expression in the heart, because its expression was about 4-folds higher in isolated primary cardiac fibroblasts than cardiomyocytes. Deficiency of miR-33 impaired cell proliferation in primary fibroblasts, which was considered due to altered lipid raft cholesterol content by up-regulated ATP-binding cassette transporter A1/G1. Conclusion: Deficiency of miR-33 impaired fibroblast proliferation in vitro, and ameliorated cardiac fibrosis induced by pressure overload in vivo.


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