scholarly journals Cardiac Fibrosis: Cellular Effectors, Molecular Pathways, and Exosomal Roles

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wenyang Jiang ◽  
Yuyan Xiong ◽  
Xiaosong Li ◽  
Yuejin Yang
Keyword(s):  
Cardiac Dysfunction ◽  
Essential Role ◽  
Therapeutic Strategy ◽  
Cardiac Fibrosis ◽  
Cardiac Fibroblasts ◽  
Heart Diseases ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Cellular Communications ◽  
Molecular Pathways ◽  
Free System

Cardiac fibrosis, a common pathophysiologic process in most heart diseases, refers to an excess of extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition by cardiac fibroblasts (CFs), which can lead to cardiac dysfunction and heart failure subsequently. Not only CFs but also several other cell types including macrophages and endothelial cells participate in the process of cardiac fibrosis via different molecular pathways. Exosomes, ranging in 30–150 nm of size, have been confirmed to play an essential role in cellular communications by their bioactive contents, which are currently a hot area to explore pathobiology and therapeutic strategy in multiple pathophysiologic processes including cardiac fibrosis. Cardioprotective factors such as RNAs and proteins packaged in exosomes make them an excellent cell-free system to improve cardiac function without significant immune response. Emerging evidence indicates that targeting selective molecules in cell-derived exosomes could be appealing therapeutic treatments in cardiac fibrosis. In this review, we summarize the current understandings of cellular effectors, molecular pathways, and exosomal roles in cardiac fibrosis.

scholarly journals Ca2+ Signaling in Cardiac Fibroblasts and Fibrosis-Associated Heart Diseases

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 34 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jianlin Feng ◽  
Maria K. Armillei ◽  
Albert S. Yu ◽  
Bruce T. Liang ◽  
Loren W. Runnels ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ion Channels ◽  
Cardiac Fibrosis ◽  
Transient Receptor Potential ◽  
Trp Channels ◽  
Cardiac Fibroblasts ◽  
Heart Diseases ◽  
Receptor Potential ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
Pathological Process

Cardiac fibrosis is the excessive deposition of extracellular matrix proteins by cardiac fibroblasts and myofibroblasts, and is a hallmark feature of most heart diseases, including arrhythmia, hypertrophy, and heart failure. This maladaptive process occurs in response to a variety of stimuli, including myocardial injury, inflammation, and mechanical overload. There are multiple signaling pathways and various cell types that influence the fibrogenesis cascade. Fibroblasts and myofibroblasts are central effectors. Although it is clear that Ca2+ signaling plays a vital role in this pathological process, what contributes to Ca2+ signaling in fibroblasts and myofibroblasts is still not wholly understood, chiefly because of the large and diverse number of receptors, transporters, and ion channels that influence intracellular Ca2+ signaling. Intracellular Ca2+ signals are generated by Ca2+ release from intracellular Ca2+ stores and by Ca2+ entry through a multitude of Ca2+-permeable ion channels in the plasma membrane. Over the past decade, the transient receptor potential (TRP) channels have emerged as one of the most important families of ion channels mediating Ca2+ signaling in cardiac fibroblasts. TRP channels are a superfamily of non-voltage-gated, Ca2+-permeable non-selective cation channels. Their ability to respond to various stimulating cues makes TRP channels effective sensors of the many different pathophysiological events that stimulate cardiac fibrogenesis. This review focuses on the mechanisms of Ca2+ signaling in fibroblast differentiation and fibrosis-associated heart diseases and will highlight recent advances in the understanding of the roles that TRP and other Ca2+-permeable channels play in cardiac fibrosis.

scholarly journals Up-Regulating Relaxin Expression by G-Quadruplex Interactive Ligand to Achieve Antifibrotic Action

Endocrinology ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 153 (8) ◽  
pp. 3692-3700 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hui-Ping Gu ◽  
Sen Lin ◽  
Ming Xu ◽  
Hai-Yi Yu ◽  
Xiao-Jun Du ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rna Polymerase Ii ◽  
Cardiac Fibrosis ◽  
Cardiac Fibroblasts ◽  
Heart Diseases ◽  
Gene Promoter ◽  
Binding Motif ◽  
Endogenous Expression ◽  
G Quadruplex

Myocardial fibrosis is a key pathological change in a variety of heart diseases contributing to the development of heart failure, arrhythmias, and sudden death. Recent studies have shown that relaxin prevents and reverses cardiac fibrosis. Endogenous expression of relaxin was elevated in the setting of heart disease; the extent of such up-regulation, however, is insufficient to exert compensatory actions, and the mechanism regulating relaxin expression is poorly defined. In the rat relaxin-1 (RLN1, Chr1) gene promoter region we found presence of repeated guanine (G)-rich sequences, which allowed formation and stabilization of G-quadruplexes with the addition of a G-quadruplex interactive ligand berberine. The G-rich sequences and the G-quadruplexes were localized adjacent to the binding motif of signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)3, which negatively regulates relaxin expression. Thus, we hypothesized that the formation and stabilization of G-quadruplexes by berberine could influence relaxin expression. We found that berberine-induced formation of G-quadruplexes did increase relaxin gene expression measured at mRNA and protein levels. Formation of G-quadruplexes significantly reduced STAT3 binding to the promoter of relaxin gene. This was associated with consequent increase in the binding of RNA polymerase II and STAT5a to relaxin gene promoter. In cardiac fibroblasts and rats treated with angiotensin II, berberine was found to suppress fibroblast activation, collagen synthesis, and extent of cardiac fibrosis through up-regulating relaxin. The antifibrotic action of berberine in vitro and in vivo was similar to that by exogenous relaxin. Our findings document a novel therapeutic strategy for fibrosis through up-regulating expression of endogenous relaxin.

Abstract 13837: Adrenergic Receptors β2 and β3 Transduce Differential Signals in Cardiac Fibroblasts

Circulation ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 132 (suppl_3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kota Tonegawa ◽  
Hiroyuki Nakayama ◽  
Hiromi Igarashi ◽  
Sachi Matsunami ◽  
Nao Hayamizu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heart Failure ◽  
Cardiac Fibrosis ◽  
Cardiac Fibroblasts ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Neonatal Rat ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Β Blocker ◽  
Selective Agonists ◽  
Selective Blocker ◽  
Camkii Activation

Background: Cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) are the most prevalent cell types in heart and play important roles in cardiac remodeling. While the roles of β-adrenergic receptor (βAR) signaling in cardiomyocytes (CMs) are well characterized, those in CFs remain to be elusive due to lack of convenient method to assess those signaling. There are three subtypes of, βAR β1, β2, β3 and β2AR is reported to be expressed in CFs by which enhances cell proliferation and production of inflammatory cytokines. Clinical efficacy of non-selective β blocker carvedilol for heart failure (HF) surpasses that of β1 selective blocker metoprolol, suggesting critical roles of β2 and β3AR in the pathogenesis of HF. Objective: To elucidate the signaling downstream βARs in CFs in heart. Methods and Results: Caveolae is an important microdomain for signal transduction, such as βAR, present in CMs or CFs. To elucidate βAR signaling of caveolae in CFs, we generated a fusion protein composed of phospholamban (PLN) and caveolin3 (Cav3) representing PKA activation as phosphorylation at S16 of PLN and CaMKII as that at T17 in caveolae. Thus, activation of PKA or CaMKII is detectable by anti-phospho-S16 or T17 antibody, respectively. In neonatal rat CFs (NRCFs) infected PLN-Cav3 adenovirus, stimulation by isoproterenol (ISO) led to enhanced phosphorylation of both S16 and T17, suggesting PKA and CaMKII activation in caveolae of CFs. RT-PCR analyses showed β2AR and β3AR were present in NRCFs. Stimulation with β2AR selective agonists activated both PKA and CaMKII, while β3AR elicited solely PKA activation, analyzed by using β3AR selective agonist/antagonist. In addition, in order to examine the significance of βAR stimulation for heart failure, we administered ISO continuously for two weeks in β2ARKO mice. As a result, fibrosis was suppressed in β2ARKO mice compared with wild-type mice (0.35% vs 2.37%, p<0.05) suggesting critical roles of β2AR in development of cardiac fibrosis caused by βAR stimulation in mice. Conclusions: Both β2 and β3AR are expressed in NRCFs and transduce distinct signaling and β2AR selective stimulation elicit development of cardiac fibrosis via activation of CaMKII signaling. Thus, selective βAR regulation could be potential novel anti-fibrotic therapeutics in HF.

Abstract P153: Role of Nonreceptor Tyrosine Kinases in Cardiac Fibrosis in a Mouse Model of Pressure Overload Hypertrophy

2011 ◽  
Vol 109 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sundaravadivel Balasubramanian ◽  
Harinath Kasiganesan ◽  
Lakeya Quinones ◽  
Yuhua Zhang ◽  
Amy Bradshaw ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tyrosine Kinases ◽  
Cardiac Fibrosis ◽  
Cardiac Fibroblasts ◽  
Heart Diseases ◽  
Pressure Overload ◽  
In Vivo Studies ◽  
Survival Pathways ◽  
And Function ◽  
Nonreceptor Tyrosine Kinases

During prolonged hypertrophic insult to the myocardium, while the function of cardiomyocytes needs to be protected, the hyperactivation of cardiac fibroblasts has to be curbed to prevent fibrosis. Previously, we showed that integrin-mediated non-receptor tyrosine kinase (NRTK) activation is required for normal functioning of both cardiac fibroblasts and cardiomyocytes. We hypothesized that inhibition of NRTKs in cardiac fibroblasts without affecting cardiomyocytes would be beneficial to the stressed myocardium. Our initial studies using kinase inactive forms of Src, Pyk2 and FAK expressed adenovirally in isolated primary cardiac fibroblasts showed that the pro-fibrotic signaling events as studied by fibronectin and collagen deposition are downregulated. Our in vivo studies in mouse transverse aortic constriction (TAC) model suggest that dasatinib, a multikinase NRTK inhibitor administration via a peritoneally implanted mini-osmotic pump is able to preserve ventricular geometry and function and reduce the accumulation of fibrotic extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins upon 4 wk pressure overload. Data obtained from cell culture experiments with kinase inactive NRTKs and dasatinib suggest that NRTK inhibition is able to reduce the proliferation, migration and mitogenic signaling in cardiac fibroblasts without affecting the cell survival pathways in cardiomyocytes. These data indicate that NRTKs play a significant pro-fibrotic role in cardiac fibroblasts and curbing the activity of NRTKs could be a potential therapeutic approach to treat fibrosis in hypertrophic heart diseases.

Abstract 92: Platelet Derived Growth Factor Receptor Alpha Signaling is Required for Cardiac Fibroblast Survival and Proliferation

2016 ◽  
Vol 119 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Malina J Ivey ◽  
Michelle D Tallquist
Keyword(s):  
Preliminary Data ◽  
Cardiac Fibrosis ◽  
Heart Function ◽  
Cardiac Fibroblasts ◽  
Growth Factor Receptor ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Fibroblast Proliferation ◽  
Artery Ligation ◽  
Developing Heart ◽  
Factor Receptor Alpha

Cardiac fibrosis contributes significantly to heart disease and is a hallmark of decreased cardiac function. Currently, there are no treatments that attenuate fibrosis, but identification of signaling pathways required for fibroblast function would provide some potential targets. PDGFRα is a receptor tyrosine kinase that is required for fibroblast formation in the developing heart, and preliminary data indicates that it is also required for maintenance of resident fibroblasts and expansion of activated fibroblasts after injury. Preliminary experiments demonstrate that loss of PDGFRα expression in adult cardiac fibroblasts results in 50% reduction in the number of the resident fibroblasts by 4 days after gene deletion. This was further validated using an independent fibroblast marker, collagen1a1GFP. Based on the low basal level of fibroblast proliferation, we hypothesize that PDGFRα signaling is essential for fibroblast survival and that fibroblasts undergo rapid turnover in the absence of PDGFRα signaling. Future studies will determine the exact mechanism of this loss. We have also begun to elucidate which PDGFRα downstream signals promote fibroblast maintenance. Using a PDGFRα-dependent-PI3K-deficient mouse model, preliminary data indicates that PDGFRα-dependent PI3K signaling is essential for cell survival. We are also investigating the role of PDGFRα signaling after myocardial infarction. Using recently described genetic tools to follow fibroblasts after injury, we have determined that fibroblasts reach their peak of proliferation within a week after permanent left anterior descending artery ligation. This injury-induced proliferation is reduced by 50% after deletion of PDGFRα. Therefore, we have demonstrated that PDGFRα has a role in fibroblast maintenance in the healthy heart, as well as a role in fibroblast proliferation after injury. Our studies will continue to illuminate additional roles for PDGFRα in the fibroblast, as well as the implications of fibroblast loss on other cell types and overall heart function.

Abstract 380: Resident Cardiac Fibroblasts Give Rise to Periostin+ Myofibroblasts Which are the Primary Mediators of Cardiac Fibrosis

2015 ◽  
Vol 117 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Onur Kanisicak ◽  
Hadi Khalil ◽  
Jason Karch ◽  
Matthew Brody ◽  
Suh-Chin Lin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bone Marrow ◽  
Cardiac Fibrosis ◽  
Bone Marrow Cells ◽  
Cardiac Fibroblasts ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Lineage Tracing ◽  
Matricellular Protein ◽  
Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Activated Fibroblasts

Resident cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) are potential therapeutic targets in treating or preventing heart failure since they play a critical role in cardiac remodeling and fibrosis after injury or with prolonged stress stimulation. Heterogeneity among activated fibroblasts within the heart has been noted by a number of previous studies in the literature. In addition to resident CFs, many cell types such as endothelial, perivascular and bone marrow cells have been suggested to go through a mesenchymal transition and acquire a myofibroblast-like phenotype during disease conditions. Hence, the cellular origin of the activated myofibroblast within the heart remains uncertain, in part because of a lack in reliable genetic strategies to define cellular lineage. Recent studies suggest that epicardial precursor cells expressing transcription factor 21 (Tcf21) give rise to resident CFs in the adult heart. In addition, the secreted matricellular protein periostin (Postn), appears to be expressed only within activated fibroblasts (myofibroblasts) within the heart. Here we used Tcf21-MerCreMer (Tcf21MCM) knockin mice and Postn-MerCreMer (PostnMCM) knock-in (KI) mice to lineage trace resident CFs and myofibroblasts with injury stimulation. To account for other potential cellular lineages giving rise to fibroblasts in the heart we also performed lineage tracing with the mouse genetic models including LysM-Cre (macrophage), ckit-Cre (bone marrow), Tie2CreERT2 (endothelial) and Myh11-CreERT2 (smooth muscle) in conjunction ROSA26 (R26) locus based loxP inactivated reporter alleles. Results of this study indicate that the Tcf21+ resident CFs are the predominant source for the activated periostin+ MFs which are the key mediators of extracellular matrix (ECM) production and ECM stability in heart whereas the contribution of other lineages to MFs are minimal. Additionally, we have performed single cell RNA sequencing on TCF21+ and Postn+ isolated CFs pre and post myocardial injury in order to define the fibroblast lineage itself at greater molecular depth.

Abstract 250: Elucidating the Role of Platelet Derived Growth Factor Receptor Alpha Signaling in Cardiac Fibroblasts

2015 ◽  
Vol 117 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Malina J Ivey ◽  
Michelle Tallquist
Keyword(s):  
Preliminary Data ◽  
Time Course ◽  
Cardiac Fibrosis ◽  
Cardiac Fibroblasts ◽  
Growth Factor Receptor ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Cardiac Fibroblast ◽  
Proliferating Cells ◽  
Time Course Experiment

Cardiac fibrosis is a major component of heart disease and is a hallmark of decreased cardiac function. Currently, there are no treatments that attenuate fibrosis directly. This major hurdle can be overcome by targeting the resident fibroblast. Preliminary data demonstrates that loss of PDGFRα expression in the adult cardiac fibroblast lineage results in loss of over half of resident fibroblasts. A time course experiment revealed that in as little as 4 days after PDGFRα gene deletion fibroblast loss can observed. Based on the basal level of fibroblast proliferation (0.8%+/-0.9, i.e. 4 of 398 cells), we hypothesize that PDGFRα signaling is essential for fibroblast maintenance and that fibroblasts undergo rapid turnover. We have begun to elucidate which downstream signals of PDGFRα are involved the different roles of the fibroblast. Using a PDGFRα-dependent-PI3K-deficient mouse model, preliminary data indicates that PDGFRα-dependent PI3K signaling is involved in this cell survival response. Future studies will investigate cardiac fibroblast maintenance signals by determining which cell types secrete PDGF ligands. We will also investigate the role of PDGFRα signaling after myocardial infarction. Our lab has genetic tools that enable us to follow fibroblasts after injury, and we have determined both the number of proliferating fibroblasts at different time points, as well as the fraction of fibroblasts that make up the total population of proliferating cells after LAD ligation. Our preliminary data in control hearts shows that fibroblasts reach their peak of proliferation within a week after infarction, although they remain one of the most proliferative cell types as long as three weeks after induction. Our studies will illuminate the role of the fibroblast in tissue homeostasis and after infarction and identify how these cells contribute to overall cardiovascular function and delineate the fine balance between the essential and detrimental functions of the fibroblast.

scholarly journals P300/CBP-Associated Factor Activates Cardiac Fibroblasts by SMAD2 Acetylation

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (18) ◽  
pp. 9944
Author(s):  
Yongwoon Lim ◽  
Anna Jeong ◽  
Duk-Hwa Kwon ◽  
Yeong-Un Lee ◽  
Young-Kook Kim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cardiac Fibrosis ◽  
Transforming Growth Factor ◽  
Cardiac Fibroblasts ◽  
Heart Diseases ◽  
High Dose ◽  
Mouse Heart ◽  
Associated Factor ◽  
Tgf Β1

Various heart diseases cause cardiac remodeling, which in turn leads to ineffective contraction. Although it is an adaptive response to injury, cardiac fibrosis contributes to this remodeling, for which the reactivation of quiescent myofibroblasts is a key feature. In the present study, we investigated the role of the p300/CBP-associated factor (PCAF), a histone acetyltransferase, in the activation of cardiac fibroblasts. An intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of a high dose (160 mg/kg) of isoproterenol (ISP) induced cardiac fibrosis and reduced the amount of the PCAF in cardiac fibroblasts in the mouse heart. However, the PCAF activity was significantly increased in cardiac fibroblasts, but not in cardiomyocytes, obtained from ISP-administered mice. An in vitro study using human cardiac fibroblast cells recapitulated the in vivo results; an treatment with transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) reduced the PCAF, whereas it activated the PCAF in the fibroblasts. PCAF siRNA attenuated the TGF-β1-induced increase in and translocation of fibrosis marker proteins. PCAF siRNA blocked TGF-β1-mediated gel contraction and cell migration. The PCAF directly interacted with and acetylated mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 2 (SMAD2). PCAF siRNA prevented TGF-β1-induced phosphorylation and the nuclear localization of SMAD2. These results suggest that the increase in PCAF activity during cardiac fibrosis may participate in SMAD2 acetylation and thereby in its activation.

scholarly journals Prevention of Fibrosis and Pathological Cardiac Remodeling by Salinomycin

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryan M Burke ◽  
Ronald A Dirkx, Jr. ◽  
Pearl Quijada ◽  
Janet K Lighthouse ◽  
Amy Mohan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heart Failure ◽  
Mouse Models ◽  
Cardiac Remodeling ◽  
Cardiac Fibrosis ◽  
Cardiac Fibroblasts ◽  
Functional Decline ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Ischemic Heart ◽  
Interventional Treatment ◽  
Heart Failure Patients

Rationale: Cardiomyopathy is characterized by the deposition of extracellular matrix by activated resident cardiac fibroblasts, called myofibroblasts. There are currently no therapeutic approaches to blunt the development of pathological fibrosis and ventricle chamber stiffening that ultimately leads to heart failure. Objective: We undertook a high-throughput screen to identify small molecule inhibitors of myofibroblast activation that might limit the progression of heart failure. We evaluated the therapeutic efficacy of the polyether ionophore salinomycin in patient derived cardiac fibroblasts and pre-clinical mouse models of ischemic and non-ischemic heart failure. Methods and Results: Here, we demonstrate that salinomycin displays potent anti-fibrotic activity in cardiac fibroblasts obtained from heart failure patients. In pre-clinical studies, salinomycin prevents cardiac fibrosis and functional decline in mouse models of ischemic and non-ischemic heart disease. Remarkably, interventional treatment with salinomycin attenuates pre-established pathological cardiac remodeling secondary to hypertension, and limits scar expansion when administered after a severe myocardial infarction. Mechanistically, salinomycin inhibits cardiac fibroblast activation by preventing p38/MAPK and Rho signaling. Salinomycin also promotes cardiomyocyte survival and improves coronary vessel density, suggesting that cardioprotection conferred by salinomycin occurs via the integration of multiple mechanisms in multiple relevant cardiac cell types. Conclusions: These data establish salinomycin as an anti-fibrotic agent that targets multiple cardioprotection pathways, thereby holding promise for the treatment of heart failure patients.

scholarly journals Fenofibrate Induced Cardiac Fibrosis in Mice Deficient in the Protein Quality Control Regulator, CHIP

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saranya Ravi ◽  
Traci L. Parry ◽  
Monte S. Willis ◽  
Pamela Lockyer ◽  
Cam Patterson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Energy Demand ◽  
Cardiac Fibrosis ◽  
Protein Quality ◽  
Cardiac Fibroblasts ◽  
Pressure Overload ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Cardiac Metabolism ◽  
Peroxisome Proliferator ◽  
Loss Of Function ◽  
Peroxisome Proliferator Activated Receptor

We previously reported how the loss of CHIP expression (Carboxyl terminus of Hsc70-Interacting Protein) during pressure overload resulted in robust cardiac dysfunction, accompanied by a failure to maintain ATP levels in the face of increased energy demand. In this study, we analyzed the cardiac metabolome after seven days of pressure overload and found an increase in long- and medium-chain fatty acid metabolites in wild-type hearts, a response that was attenuated in mice that lack expression of CHIP (CHIP-/-). These findings suggest that CHIP may play an essential role in regulating oxidative metabolism, pathways that are regulated in part by the nuclear receptor PPAR&alpha; (Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor alpha). Next, we challenged CHIP-/- mice with the PPAR&alpha; agonist, fenofibrate. Surprisingly, treating CHIP-/- mice with fenofibrate for five weeks under non-pressure overload conditions resulted in a loss of skeletal muscle mass and a marked increase in cardiac fibrosis, accompanied by a decrease in cardiac function. Isolated CHIP-/- cardiac fibroblasts treated with fenofibrate did not increase synthesis of collagen or TGF&beta;, suggesting that the fibrosis observed in CHIP-/- hearts likely depends on signaling from other cell types or circulating factors. In conclusion, in the absence of functional CHIP expression, fenofibrate results in unexpected cardiac pathologies. These findings are particularly relevant to patients harboring loss-of-function mutations in CHIP and are consistent with a prominent role for CHIP in regulating cardiac metabolism.

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