scholarly journals Overexpression of SERCA2a Alleviates Cardiac Microvascular Ischemic Injury by Suppressing Mfn2-Mediated ER/Mitochondrial Calcium Tethering

Author(s):  
Feng Tian ◽  
Ying Zhang

Our previous research has shown that type-2a Sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase (SERCA2a) undergoes posttranscriptional oxidative modifications in cardiac microvascular endothelial cells (CMECs) in the context of excessive cardiac oxidative injury. However, whether SERCA2a inactivity induces cytosolic Ca2+ imbalance in mitochondrial homeostasis is far from clear. Mitofusin2 (Mfn2) is well known as an important protein involved in endoplasmic reticulum (ER)/mitochondrial Ca2+ tethering and the regulation of mitochondrial quality. Therefore, the aim of our study was to elucidate the specific mechanism of SERCA2a-mediated Ca2+ overload in the mitochondria via Mfn2 tethering and the survival rate of the heart under conditions of cardiac microvascular ischemic injury. In vitro, CMECs extracted from mice were subjected to 6 h of hypoxic injury to mimic ischemic heart injury. C57-WT and Mfn2KO mice were subjected to a 1 h ischemia procedure via ligation of the left anterior descending branch to establish an in vivo cardiac ischemic injury model. TTC staining, immunohistochemistry and echocardiography were used to assess the myocardial infarct size, microvascular damage, and heart function. In vitro, ischemic injury induced irreversible oxidative modification of SERCA2a, including sulfonylation at cysteine 674 and nitration at tyrosine 294/295, and inactivation of SERCA2a, which initiated calcium overload. In addition, ischemic injury-triggered [Ca2+]c overload and subsequent [Ca2+]m overload led to mPTP opening and ΔΨm dissipation compared with the control. Furthermore, ablation of Mfn2 alleviated SERCA2a-induced mitochondrial calcium overload and subsequent mito-apoptosis in the context of CMEC hypoxic injury. In vivo, compared with that in wild-type mice, the myocardial infarct size in Mfn2KO mice was significantly decreased. In addition, the findings revealed that Mfn2KO mice had better heart contractile function, decreased myocardial infarction indicators, and improved mitochondrial morphology. Taken together, the results of our study suggested that SERCA2a-dependent [Ca2+]c overload led to mitochondrial dysfunction and activation of Mfn2-mediated [Ca2+]m overload. Overexpression of SERCA2a or ablation of Mfn2 expression mitigated mitochondrial morphological and functional damage by modifying the SERCA2a/Ca2+-Mfn2 pathway. Overall, these pathways are promising therapeutic targets for acute cardiac microvascular ischemic injury.

2018 ◽  
Vol 45 (3) ◽  
pp. 883-898 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yinping Du ◽  
Ping Liu ◽  
Tongda Xu ◽  
Defeng Pan ◽  
Hong Zhu ◽  
...  

Background/Aims: The myocardial sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPase (SERCA2a) is a pivotal pump responsible for calcium cycling in cardiomyocytes. The present study investigated the effect of luteolin (Lut) on restoring SERCA2a protein level and stability reduced by myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. We verified a hypothesis that Lut protected against myocardial I/R injury by regulating SERCA2a SUMOylation. Methods: The hemodynamic data, myocardial infarct size of intact hearts, apoptotic analysis, mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm), the level of SERCA2a SUMOylation, and the activity and expression of SERCA2a were examined in vivo and in vitro to clarify the cardioprotective effects of Lut after SUMO1 was knocked down or over-expressed. The putative SUMO conjugation sites in mouse SERCA2a were investigated as the possible regulatory mechanism of Lut. Results: Initially, we found that Lut reversed the SUMOylation and stability of SERCA2a as well as the expression of SUMO1, which were reduced by I/R injury in vitro. Furthermore, Lut increased the expression and activity of SERCA2a partly through SUMO1, thus improving ΔΨm and reducing apoptotic cells in vitro and promoting the recovery of heart function and reducing infarct size in vivo. We also demonstrated that SUMO acceptor sites in mouse SERCA2a involving lysine 585, 480 and 571. Among the three acceptor sites, Lut enhanced SERCA2a stability via lysine 585. Conclusions: Our results suggest that Lut regulates SERCA2a through SUMOylation at lysine 585 to attenuate myocardial I/R injury.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tao Liang ◽  
Weijian Hang ◽  
Jiehui Chen ◽  
Yue Wu ◽  
Bin Wen ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Apolipoprotein E4 (apoE4) is a major genetic risk factor of Alzheimer’s disease. Its C-terminal-truncated apoE4 (Δ272–299) has neurotoxicity by affecting mitochondrial respiratory function. However, the molecular mechanism(s) underlying the action of apoE4 (Δ272–299) in mitochondrial function remain poorly understood. Methods The impact of neuronal apoE4 (Δ272–299) expression on ER stress, mitochondrial-associated membrane (MAM) formation, GRP75, calcium transport and mitochondrial impairment was determined in vivo and in vitro. Furthermore, the importance of ER stress or GRP75 activity in the apoE4 (Δ272–299)-promoted mitochondrial dysfunction in neuron was investigated. Results Neuronal apoE4 (Δ272–299) expression induced mitochondrial impairment by inducing ER stress and mitochondrial-associated membrane (MAM) formation in vivo and in vitro. Furthermore, apoE4 (Δ272–299) expression promoted GRP75 expression, mitochondrial dysfunction and calcium transport into the mitochondria in neuron, which were significantly mitigated by treatment with PBA (an inhibitor of ER stress), MKT077 (a specific GRP75 inhibitor) or GRP75 silencing. Conclusions ApoE4 (Δ272–299) significantly impaired neuron mitochondrial function by triggering ER stress, up-regulating GRP75 expression to increase MAM formation, and mitochondrial calcium overload. Our findings may provide new insights into the neurotoxicity of apoE4 (Δ272–299) against mitochondrial function and uncover new therapeutic targets for the intervention of Alzheimer’s disease.


2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Changsheng Nai ◽  
Haochen Xuan ◽  
Yingying Zhang ◽  
Mengxiao Shen ◽  
Tongda Xu ◽  
...  

The flavonoid luteolin exists in many types of fruits, vegetables, and medicinal herbs. Our previous studies have demonstrated that luteolin reduced ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in vitro, which was related with sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase (SERCA2a) activity. However, the effects of luteolin on SERCA2a activity during I/R in vivo remain unclear. To investigate whether luteolin exerts cardioprotective effects and to monitor changes in SERCA2a expression and activity levels in vivo during I/R, we created a myocardial I/R rat model by ligating the coronary artery. We demonstrated that luteolin could reduce the myocardial infarct size, lactate dehydrogenase release, and apoptosis during I/R injury in vivo. Furthermore, we found that luteolin inhibited the I/R-induced decrease in SERCA2a activity in vivo. However, neither I/R nor luteolin altered SERCA2a expression levels in myocardiocytes. Moreover, the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway played a vital role in this mechanism. In conclusion, the present study has confirmed for the first time that luteolin yields cardioprotective effects against I/R injury by inhibiting the I/R-induced decrease in SERCA2a activity partially via the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in vivo, independent of SERCA2a protein level regulation. SERCA2a activity presents a novel biomarker to assess the progress of I/R injury in experimental research and clinical applications.


1997 ◽  
Vol 87 (2) ◽  
pp. 361-370 ◽  
Author(s):  
Judy R. Kersten ◽  
Todd J. Schmeling ◽  
Paul S. Pagel ◽  
Garrett J. Gross ◽  
David C. Warltier

Background The authors tested the hypothesis that isoflurane directly preconditions myocardium against infarction via activation of K(ATP) channels and that the protection afforded by isoflurane is associated with an acute memory phase similar to that of ischemic preconditioning. Methods Barbiturate-anesthetized dogs (n = 71) were instrumented for measurement of systemic hemodynamics. Myocardial infarct size was assessed by triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining. All dogs were subjected to a single prolonged (60 min) left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) occlusion followed by 3 h of reperfusion. Ischemic preconditioning was produced by four 5-min LAD occlusions interspersed with 5-min periods of reperfusion before the prolonged LAD occlusion and reperfusion. The actions of isoflurane to decrease infarct size were examined in dogs receiving 1 minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) isoflurane that was discontinued 5 min before prolonged LAD occlusion. The interaction between isoflurane and ischemic preconditioning on infarct size was evaluated in dogs receiving isoflurane before and during preconditioning LAD occlusions and reperfusions. To test whether the cardioprotection produced by isoflurane can mimic the acute memory of ischemic preconditioning, isoflurane was discontinued 30 min before prolonged LAD occlusion and reperfusion. The mechanism of isoflurane-induced cardioprotection was evaluated in two final groups of dogs pretreated with glyburide in the presence or absence of isoflurane. Results Myocardial infarct size was 25.3 +/- 2.9% of the area at risk during control conditions. Isoflurane and ischemic preconditioning produced significant (P < 0.05) and equivalent reductions in infarct size (ischemic preconditioning alone, 9.6 +/- 2.0; isoflurane alone, 11.8 +/- 2.7; isoflurane and ischemic preconditioning, 5.1 +/- 1.9%). Isoflurane-induced reduction of infarct size also persisted 30 min after discontinuation of the anesthetic (13.9 +/- 1.5%), independent of hemodynamic effects during LAD occlusion. Glyburide alone had no effect on infarct size (28.3 +/- 3.9%), but it abolished the protective effects of isoflurane (27.1 +/- 4.6%). Conclusions Isoflurane directly preconditions myocardium against infarction via activation of K(ATP) channels in the absence of hemodynamic effects and exhibits acute memory of preconditioning in vivo.


Blood ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 112 (11) ◽  
pp. 1365-1365
Author(s):  
Maria Paula Alfaro ◽  
Matthew Pagni ◽  
Alicia Vincent ◽  
Michael F. Hill ◽  
Ethan Lee ◽  
...  

Abstract Cell-based therapies using bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for organ regeneration are being pursued for cardiac disease, orthopedic injuries and biomaterial fabrication. The molecular pathways that regulate MSC-mediated regeneration or enhance their therapeutic efficacy are, however, poorly understood. In an attempt to elucidate a way to strengthen the regenerative potential of MSCs, preliminary studies in our lab were performed comparing MSCs isolated from wildtype and regenerative mouse strains. The MRL/MpJ mouse has been described as a “super healer” mouse that is able to repair soft tissue with minimal scaring. MSCs were isolated from the MRL/MpJ mouse (MRL-MSCs) and from C57/Bl6 mice (WT-MSCs) and their differing qualities assessed. Compared to WT-MSCs, MRL-MSCs demonstrated increased proliferation in vitro. We utilized a Poly-vinyl alcohol (PVA) sponge model of repair stimulation to assess their capacity to generate wound repair tissue. We observed that the MRL-MSCs demonstrated increased in vivo engraftment, experimental granulation tissue reconstitution, and tissue vascularity. The MRL-MSCs also reduced infarct size and improved cardiac function as compared to WT-MSCs in a murine acute myocardial infarct model. Genomic and functional analyses indicated a downregulation of the canonical Wnt pathway in MRL-MSCs characterized specifically by upregulation of secreted frizzled related proteins (sFRPs). In vitro proliferation studies confirmed that recombinant sFRP2 mediated enhanced proliferation of both mouse and human MSCs. Based on these observations, we hypothesized that sFRP2 served an important role in MSC-mediated repair and regeneration. We generated WT-MSCs overexpressing sFRP2 (sFRP2-MSCs) by retroviral transduction to test this hypothesis. sFRP2-MSCs maintained their ability for multilineage differentiation in vitro and proliferated faster than the vector only control MSCs (GFP-MSCs). When implanted in vivo in the PVA sponge model, the sFRP2-MSCs recapitulated the MRL phenotype by mediating greater, more vascularized granulation tissue. Moreover, periinfarct intramyocardial injection of sFRP2-MSCs resulted in reduced infarct size, favorable remodeling and better preserved left ventricular function following acute myocardial infarct in mice. These findings implicate sFRP2 as a key molecule for the biogenesis of a superior regenerative phenotype of MSCs.


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