1
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Torimoto K, Elliott K, Nakayama Y, Yanagisawa H, Eguchi S. Cardiac and perivascular myofibroblasts, matrifibrocytes, and immune fibrocytes in hypertension; commonalities and differences with other cardiovascular diseases. Cardiovasc Res 2024; 120:567-580. [PMID: 38395029 DOI: 10.1093/cvr/cvae044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2023] [Revised: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Hypertension is a major cause of cardiovascular diseases such as myocardial infarction and stroke. Cardiovascular fibrosis occurs with hypertension and contributes to vascular resistance, aortic stiffness, and cardiac hypertrophy. However, the molecular mechanisms leading to fibroblast activation in hypertension remain largely unknown. There are two types of fibrosis: replacement fibrosis and reactive fibrosis. Replacement fibrosis occurs in response to the loss of viable tissue to form a scar. Reactive fibrosis occurs in response to an increase in mechanical and neurohormonal stress. Although both types of fibrosis are considered adaptive processes, they become maladaptive when the tissue loss is too large, or the stress persists. Myofibroblasts represent a subpopulation of activated fibroblasts that have gained contractile function to promote wound healing. Therefore, myofibroblasts are a critical cell type that promotes replacement fibrosis. Although myofibroblasts were recognized as the fibroblasts participating in reactive fibrosis, recent experimental evidence indicated there are distinct fibroblast populations in cardiovascular reactive fibrosis. Accordingly, we will discuss the updated definition of fibroblast subpopulations, the regulatory mechanisms, and their potential roles in cardiovascular pathophysiology utilizing new knowledge from various lineage tracing and single-cell RNA sequencing studies. Among the fibroblast subpopulations, we will highlight the novel roles of matrifibrocytes and immune fibrocytes in cardiovascular fibrosis including experimental models of hypertension, pressure overload, myocardial infarction, atherosclerosis, aortic aneurysm, and nephrosclerosis. Exploration into the molecular mechanisms involved in the differentiation and activation of those fibroblast subpopulations may lead to novel treatments for end-organ damage associated with hypertension and other cardiovascular diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keiichi Torimoto
- Department of Cardiovascular Science, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Katherine Elliott
- Department of Cardiovascular Science, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Sol Sherry Thrombosis Research Center, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Yuki Nakayama
- Department of Cardiovascular Science, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Sol Sherry Thrombosis Research Center, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Hiromi Yanagisawa
- Life Science Center for Survival Dynamics, Tsukuba Advanced Research Alliance (TARA), University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Satoru Eguchi
- Department of Cardiovascular Science, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Sol Sherry Thrombosis Research Center, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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2
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Yang B, Qiao Y, Yan D, Meng Q. Targeting Interactions between Fibroblasts and Macrophages to Treat Cardiac Fibrosis. Cells 2024; 13:764. [PMID: 38727300 PMCID: PMC11082988 DOI: 10.3390/cells13090764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Revised: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Excessive extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition is a defining feature of cardiac fibrosis. Most notably, it is characterized by a significant change in the concentration and volume fraction of collagen I, a disproportionate deposition of collagen subtypes, and a disturbed ECM network arrangement, which directly affect the systolic and diastolic functions of the heart. Immune cells that reside within or infiltrate the myocardium, including macrophages, play important roles in fibroblast activation and consequent ECM remodeling. Through both direct and indirect connections to fibroblasts, monocyte-derived macrophages and resident cardiac macrophages play complex, bidirectional, regulatory roles in cardiac fibrosis. In this review, we discuss emerging interactions between fibroblasts and macrophages in physiology and pathologic conditions, providing insights for future research aimed at targeting macrophages to combat cardiac fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Yang
- Center for Organoid and Regeneration Medicine, Greater Bay Area Institute of Precision Medicine (Guangzhou), School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Guangzhou 511466, China;
| | - Yan Qiao
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland Livestock, School of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot 010021, China;
| | - Dong Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China;
| | - Qinghang Meng
- Center for Organoid and Regeneration Medicine, Greater Bay Area Institute of Precision Medicine (Guangzhou), School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Guangzhou 511466, China;
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3
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Goldsmith R, Tsan YC, Scissors R, Helms A, Brody M. In Vitro Assessment of Cardiac Fibroblast Activation at Physiologic Stiffness. Curr Protoc 2024; 4:e1025. [PMID: 38600839 PMCID: PMC11013569 DOI: 10.1002/cpz1.1025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/12/2024]
Abstract
Cardiac fibroblasts (CF) are an essential cell type in cardiac physiology, playing diverse roles in maintaining structural integrity, extracellular matrix (ECM) synthesis, and tissue repair. Under normal conditions, these cells reside in the interstitium in a quiescent state poised to sense and respond to injury by synthesizing and secreting collagen, vimentin, hyaluronan, and other ECM components. In response to mechanical and chemical stimuli, these "resident" fibroblasts can undergo a transformation through a continuum of activation states into what is commonly known as a "myofibroblast," in a process critical for injury response. Despite progress in understanding the contribution of fibroblasts to cardiac health and disease, much remains unknown about the signaling mediating this activation, in part owing to technical challenges in evaluating CF function and activation status in vitro. Given their role in monitoring the ECM, CFs are acutely sensitive to stiffness and pressure. High basal activation of isolated CFs is common due to the super-physiologic stiffness of traditional cell culture substrates, making assays dependent on quiescent cells challenging. To overcome this problem, cell culture parameters must be tightly controlled, and the use of dishes coated with biocompatible reduced-stiffness substrates, such as 8-kPa polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), has shown promise in reducing basal activation of fibroblasts. Here, we describe cell culture protocol for maintaining CF quiescence in vitro to enable a dynamic range for the assessment of activation status in response to fibrogenic stimuli using PDMS-coated coverslips. Our protocol provides a cost-effective tool to study fibroblast signaling and activity, allowing researchers to better understand the underlying mechanisms involved in cardiac fibrosis. © 2024 The Authors. Current Protocols published by Wiley Periodicals LLC. Basic Protocol 1: Generation of 8-kPa polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)/gelatin-coated coverslips for cardiac fibroblast cell culture Basic Protocol 2: Isolation of adult cardiac fibroblasts and plating onto PDMS coverslips Basic Protocol 3: Assessment of cardiac fibroblast activation by α smooth muscle actin (αSMA) immunocytochemistry.
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Affiliation(s)
- R.S. Goldsmith
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
| | - Y-C Tsan
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
| | - R.E. Scissors
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
| | - A.S. Helms
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
| | - M.J. Brody
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
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4
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Delaunay M, Paterek A, Gautschi I, Scherler G, Diviani D. AKAP2-anchored extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 (ERK1) regulates cardiac myofibroblast migration. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA. MOLECULAR CELL RESEARCH 2024; 1871:119674. [PMID: 38242328 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamcr.2024.119674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 01/21/2024]
Abstract
Cardiac fibrosis is a major cause of dysfunctions and arrhythmias in failing hearts. At the cellular level fibrosis is mediated by cardiac myofibroblasts, which display an increased migratory capacity and secrete large amounts of extracellular matrix. These properties allow myofibroblasts to invade, remodel and stiffen the myocardium and eventually alter cardiac function. While the enhanced ability of cardiac myofibroblasts to migrate has been proposed to contribute to the initiation of the fibrotic process, the molecular mechanisms controlling their motile function have been poorly defined. In this context, our current findings indicate that A-kinase anchoring protein 2 (AKAP2) associates with actin at the leading edge of migrating cardiac myofibroblasts. Proteomic analysis of the AKAP2 interactome revealed that this anchoring protein assembles a signaling complex composed of the extracellular regulated kinase 1 (ERK1) and its upstream activator Grb2 that mediates the activation of ERK in cardiac myofibroblasts. Silencing AKAP2 expression results in a significant reduction in the phosphorylation of ERK1 and its downstream effector WAVE2, a protein involved in actin polymerization, and impairs the ability of cardiac myofibroblasts to migrate. Importantly, disruption of the interaction between AKAP2 and F-actin using cell-permeant competitor peptides, inhibits the activation of the ERK-WAVE2 signaling axis, resulting in a reduction of the translocation of Arp2 to the leading-edge membrane and in inhibition of cardiac myofibroblast migration. Collectively, these findings suggest that AKAP2 functions as an F-actin bound molecular scaffold mediating the activation of an ERK1-dependent promigratory transduction pathway in cardiac myofibroblasts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marion Delaunay
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Biology et Medicine, University of Lausanne, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Aleksandra Paterek
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Biology et Medicine, University of Lausanne, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Ivan Gautschi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Biology et Medicine, University of Lausanne, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Greta Scherler
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Biology et Medicine, University of Lausanne, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Dario Diviani
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Biology et Medicine, University of Lausanne, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland.
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5
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Kerr CM, Silver SE, Choi YS, Floy ME, Bradshaw AD, Cho SW, Palecek SP, Mei Y. Decellularized heart extracellular matrix alleviates activation of hiPSC-derived cardiac fibroblasts. Bioact Mater 2024; 31:463-474. [PMID: 37701451 PMCID: PMC10493503 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2023.08.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Revised: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Human induced pluripotent stem cell derived cardiac fibroblasts (hiPSC-CFs) play a critical role in modeling human cardiovascular diseases in vitro. However, current culture substrates used for hiPSC-CF differentiation and expansion, such as Matrigel and tissue culture plastic (TCPs), are tissue mismatched and may provide pathogenic cues. Here, we report that hiPSC-CFs differentiated on Matrigel and expanded on tissue culture plastic (M-TCP-iCFs) exhibit transcriptomic hallmarks of activated fibroblasts limiting their translational potential. To alleviate pathogenic activation of hiPSC-CFs, we utilized decellularized extracellular matrix derived from porcine heart extracellular matrix (HEM) to provide a biomimetic substrate for improving hiPSC-CF phenotypes. We show that hiPSC-CFs differentiated and expanded on HEM (HEM-iCFs) exhibited reduced expression of hallmark activated fibroblast markers versus M-TCP-iCFs while retaining their cardiac fibroblast phenotype. HEM-iCFs also maintained a reduction in expression of hallmark genes associated with pathogenic fibroblasts when seeded onto TCPs. Further, HEM-iCFs more homogenously integrated into an hiPSC-derived cardiac organoid model, resulting in improved cardiomyocyte sarcomere development. In conclusion, HEM provides an improved substrate for the differentiation and propagation of hiPSC-CFs for disease modeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles M. Kerr
- Molecular Cell Biology and Pathobiology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | | | - Yi Sun Choi
- Department of Biotechnology, Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Martha E. Floy
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Amy D. Bradshaw
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
- Ralph H. Johnson Veterans Affairs Medical Center, SC, USA
| | - Seung-Woo Cho
- Department of Biotechnology, Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Sean P. Palecek
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Ying Mei
- Bioengineering Department, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, USA
- Department of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
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6
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Dyck C, Isaac KV, Edelstein-Keshet L. Models for Implant-Induced Capsular Contracture Post Breast Cancer Surgery. Bull Math Biol 2023; 86:7. [PMID: 38091110 PMCID: PMC10719149 DOI: 10.1007/s11538-023-01236-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
Capsular contracture is a painful deformation of scar-tissue that may form around an implant in post-breast cancer reconstruction or cosmetic surgery. Inflammation due to surgical trauma or contamination in the tissue around the implant could account for recruitment of immune cells, and transdifferentiation of resident fibroblasts into cells that deposit abnormally thick collagen. Here we examine this hypothesis using a mathematical model for interacting macrophages, fibroblasts, myofibroblasts, and collagen. Our model demonstrates that cellular response can, together with inflammatory cell recruitment, account for prognoses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheryl Dyck
- Insight Math Unincorporated, Port Moody, BC, Canada
| | - Kathryn V Isaac
- Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Leah Edelstein-Keshet
- Department of Mathematics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z2, Canada.
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7
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Song Q, Alvarez-Laviada A, Schrup SE, Reilly-O'Donnell B, Entcheva E, Gorelik J. Opto-SICM framework combines optogenetics with scanning ion conductance microscopy for probing cell-to-cell contacts. Commun Biol 2023; 6:1131. [PMID: 37938652 PMCID: PMC10632396 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05509-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023] Open
Abstract
We present a novel framework, Opto-SICM, for studies of cellular interactions in live cells with high spatiotemporal resolution. The approach combines scanning ion conductance microscopy, SICM, and cell-type-specific optogenetic interrogation. Light-excitable cardiac fibroblasts (FB) and myofibroblasts (myoFB) were plated together with non-modified cardiomyocytes (CM) and then paced with periodic illumination. Opto-SICM reveals the extent of FB/myoFB-CM cell-cell contacts and the dynamic changes over time not visible by optical microscopy. FB-CM pairs have lower gap junctional expression of connexin-43 and higher contact dynamism compared to myoFB-CM pairs. The responsiveness of CM to pacing via FB/myoFB depends on the dynamics of the contact but not on the area. The non-responding pairs have higher net cell-cell movement at the contact. These findings are relevant to cardiac disease states, where adverse remodeling leads to abnormal electrical excitation of CM. The Opto-SICM framework can be deployed to offer new insights on cellular and subcellular interactions in various cell types, in real-time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qianqian Song
- Imperial College London, Du Cane road, W12 0NN, London, UK
| | | | - Sarah E Schrup
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | | | - Emilia Entcheva
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.
| | - Julia Gorelik
- Imperial College London, Du Cane road, W12 0NN, London, UK.
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8
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Garvin AM, Katwa LC. Primary cardiac fibroblast cell culture: methodological considerations for physiologically relevant conditions. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2023; 325:H869-H881. [PMID: 37624100 DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00224.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2023] [Revised: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023]
Abstract
Primary cardiac fibroblast (CF) tissue culture is a necessary tool for interrogating specific signaling mechanisms that dictate the phenotypic heterogeneity observed in vivo in different disease states. Traditional approaches that use tissue culture plastic and nutrient-rich medium have been shown to induce CF activation and, therefore, alter CF subpopulation composition. This shift away from in vivo phenotypes complicate the interpretation of results through the lens of the animal model. As the field works to identify CF diversity, these methodological flaws have begun to be addressed and more studies are focused on the dynamic interaction of CFs with their environment. This review focuses on the aspects of tissue culture that impact CF activation and, therefore, require consideration when designing in vitro experiments. The complexity of CF biology overlaid onto diverse model systems highlight the need for study-specific optimization and validation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra M Garvin
- Department of Physiology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, United States
| | - Laxmansa C Katwa
- Department of Physiology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, United States
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9
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Cattaneo M, Aleksova A, Malovini A, Avolio E, Thomas A, Alvino VV, Kilcooley M, Pieronne-Deperrois M, Ouvrard-Pascaud A, Maciag A, Spinetti G, Kussauer S, Lemcke H, Skorska A, Vasudevan P, Castiglione S, Raucci A, David R, Richard V, Beltrami AP, Madeddu P, Puca AA. BPIFB4 and its longevity-associated haplotype protect from cardiac ischemia in humans and mice. Cell Death Dis 2023; 14:523. [PMID: 37582912 PMCID: PMC10427721 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-023-06011-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2023] [Revised: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/17/2023]
Abstract
Long-living individuals (LLIs) escape age-related cardiovascular complications until the very last stage of life. Previous studies have shown that a Longevity-Associated Variant (LAV) of the BPI Fold Containing Family B Member 4 (BPIFB4) gene correlates with an extraordinarily prolonged life span. Moreover, delivery of the LAV-BPIFB4 gene exerted therapeutic action in murine models of atherosclerosis, limb ischemia, diabetic cardiomyopathy, and aging. We hypothesize that downregulation of BPIFB4 expression marks the severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) in human subjects, and supplementation of the LAV-BPIFB4 protects the heart from ischemia. In an elderly cohort with acute myocardial infarction (MI), patients with three-vessel CAD were characterized by lower levels of the natural logarithm (Ln) of peripheral blood BPIFB4 (p = 0.0077). The inverse association between Ln BPIFB4 and three-vessel CAD was confirmed by logistic regression adjusting for confounders (Odds Ratio = 0.81, p = 0.0054). Moreover, in infarcted mice, a single administration of LAV-BPIFB4 rescued cardiac function and vascularization. In vitro studies showed that LAV-BPIFB4 protein supplementation exerted chronotropic and inotropic actions on induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived cardiomyocytes. In addition, LAV-BPIFB4 inhibited the pro-fibrotic phenotype in human cardiac fibroblasts. These findings provide a strong rationale and proof of concept evidence for treating CAD with the longevity BPIFB4 gene/protein.
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Grants
- PG/18/66/33838 British Heart Foundation
- British Heart Foundation (BHF)
- Ministery of health RF-2016-02364864 IRCCS MultiMedica
- the Italian Ministry of Health, Ricerca Corrente to the Centro Cardiologico Monzino IRCCS
- EU structural Fund (ESF/14-BM-A55-0024/18), the DFG (DA1296/6-1), the German Heart Foundation (F/01/12), the FORUN Program of Rostock University Medical Centre (889001 and 889003),the Josef and Käthe Klinz Foundation (T319/29737/2017), the DAMP Foundation and the BMBF (VIP+ 00240).
- Regione Friuli Venezia Giulia, within the framework of “legge regionale 17/2004: Contributi per la ricerca clinica, traslazionale, di base, epidemiologica e organizzativa”; Project HEARTzheimer"
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Aneta Aleksova
- Cardiothoracovascular Department, Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Giuliano Isontina, Trieste, Italy
| | - Alberto Malovini
- Laboratory of Informatics and Systems Engineering for Clinical Research, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, Pavia, Italy
| | - Elisa Avolio
- Translational Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Anita Thomas
- Translational Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | | | - Michael Kilcooley
- Translational Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | | | | | - Anna Maciag
- Cardiovascular Department, IRCCS MultiMedica, Milan, Italy
| | - Gaia Spinetti
- Cardiovascular Department, IRCCS MultiMedica, Milan, Italy
| | - Sophie Kussauer
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany
- Faculty of Interdisciplinary Research, Department Life, Light & Matter, University Rostock, Rostock, Germany
| | - Heiko Lemcke
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany
- Faculty of Interdisciplinary Research, Department Life, Light & Matter, University Rostock, Rostock, Germany
| | - Anna Skorska
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany
- Faculty of Interdisciplinary Research, Department Life, Light & Matter, University Rostock, Rostock, Germany
| | - Praveen Vasudevan
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany
- Faculty of Interdisciplinary Research, Department Life, Light & Matter, University Rostock, Rostock, Germany
| | - Stefania Castiglione
- Experimental Cardio-oncology and Cardiovascular Aging Unit Centro Cardiologico Monzino, Milan, Italy
| | - Angela Raucci
- Experimental Cardio-oncology and Cardiovascular Aging Unit Centro Cardiologico Monzino, Milan, Italy
| | - Robert David
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany
- Faculty of Interdisciplinary Research, Department Life, Light & Matter, University Rostock, Rostock, Germany
| | | | - Antonio Paolo Beltrami
- Department of Medicine, University of Udine, Academic Hospital of Udine, ASUFC, Udine, Italy
| | - Paolo Madeddu
- Translational Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
| | - Annibale Alessandro Puca
- Cardiovascular Department, IRCCS MultiMedica, Milan, Italy.
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy.
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10
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Hall C, Law JP, Reyat JS, Cumberland MJ, Hang S, Vo NTN, Raniga K, Weston CJ, O'Shea C, Townend JN, Gehmlich K, Ferro CJ, Denning C, Pavlovic D. Chronic activation of human cardiac fibroblasts in vitro attenuates the reversibility of the myofibroblast phenotype. Sci Rep 2023; 13:12137. [PMID: 37495732 PMCID: PMC10372150 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-39369-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2022] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 07/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Activation of cardiac fibroblasts and differentiation to myofibroblasts underlies development of pathological cardiac fibrosis, leading to arrhythmias and heart failure. Myofibroblasts are characterised by increased α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) fibre expression, secretion of collagens and changes in proliferation. Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) and increased mechanical stress can initiate myofibroblast activation. Reversibility of the myofibroblast phenotype has been observed in murine cells but has not been explored in human cardiac fibroblasts. In this study, chronically activated adult primary human ventricular cardiac fibroblasts and human induced pluripotent stem cell derived cFbs (hiPSC-cFbs) were used to investigate the potential for reversal of the myofibroblast phenotype using either subculture on soft substrates or TGF-β receptor inhibition. Culture on softer plates (25 or 2 kPa Young's modulus) did not alter proliferation or reduce expression of α-SMA and collagen 1. Similarly, culture of myofibroblasts in the presence of TGF-β inhibitor did not reverse myofibroblasts back to a quiescent phenotype. Chronically activated hiPSC-cFbs also showed attenuated response to TGF-β receptor inhibition and inability to reverse to quiescent fibroblast phenotype. Our data demonstrate substantial loss of TGF-β signalling plasticity as well as a loss of feedback from the surrounding mechanical environment in chronically activated human myofibroblasts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caitlin Hall
- Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
| | - Jonathan P Law
- Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
| | - Jasmeet S Reyat
- Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
| | - Max J Cumberland
- Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
| | - Shaun Hang
- Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
| | - Nguyen T N Vo
- Department of Stem Cell Biology, Biodiscovery Institute, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK
| | - Kavita Raniga
- Department of Stem Cell Biology, Biodiscovery Institute, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK
| | - Chris J Weston
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
| | - Christopher O'Shea
- Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
| | - Jonathan N Townend
- Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
- Department of Cardiology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2GW, UK
| | - Katja Gehmlich
- Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
| | - Charles J Ferro
- Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
- Department of Renal Medicine, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2GW, UK
| | - Chris Denning
- Department of Stem Cell Biology, Biodiscovery Institute, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK.
| | - Davor Pavlovic
- Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK.
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11
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Sun C, Bai M, Jia Y, Tian X, Guo Y, Xu X, Guo Z. mRNA sequencing reveals the distinct gene expression and biological functions in cardiac fibroblasts regulated by recombinant fibroblast growth factor 2. PeerJ 2023; 11:e15736. [PMID: 37483983 PMCID: PMC10362857 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.15736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023] Open
Abstract
After myocardial injury, cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) differentiate into myofibroblasts, which express and secrete extracellular matrix (ECM) components for myocardial repair, but also promote myocardial fibrosis. Recombinant fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) protein drug with low molecular weight can promote cell survival and angiogenesis, and it was found that FGF2 could inhibit the activation of CFs, suggesting FGF2 has great potential in myocardial repair. However, the regulatory role of FGF2 on CFs has not been fully elucidated. Here, we found that recombinant FGF2 significantly suppressed the expression of alpha smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) in CFs. Through RNA sequencing, we analyzed mRNA expression in CFs and the differently expressed genes regulated by FGF2, including 430 up-regulated genes and 391 down-regulated genes. Gene ontology analysis revealed that the differentially expressed genes were strongly enriched in multiple biological functions, including ECM organization, cell adhesion, actin filament organization and axon guidance. The results of gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) show that ECM organization and actin filament organization are down-regulated, while axon guidance is up-regulated. Further cellular experiments indicate that the regulatory functions of FGF2 are consistent with the findings of the gene enrichment analysis. This study provides valuable insights into the potential therapeutic role of FGF2 in treating cardiac fibrosis and establishes a foundation for further research to uncover the underlying mechanisms of CFs gene expression regulated by FGF2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changye Sun
- Henan Key Laboratory of Medical Tissue Regeneration, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan, China
| | - Mengru Bai
- Henan Key Laboratory of Medical Tissue Regeneration, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan, China
| | - Yangyang Jia
- Henan Key Laboratory of Medical Tissue Regeneration, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan, China
| | - Xiangqin Tian
- Henan Key Laboratory of Medical Tissue Regeneration, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan, China
| | - Yonglong Guo
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan, China
| | - Xinhui Xu
- Henan Key Laboratory of Medical Tissue Regeneration, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan, China
| | - Zhikun Guo
- Henan Key Laboratory of Medical Tissue Regeneration, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan, China
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12
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Tsuru H, Yoshihara C, Suginobe H, Matsumoto M, Ishii Y, Narita J, Ishii R, Wang R, Ueyama A, Ueda K, Hirose M, Hashimoto K, Nagano H, Tanaka R, Okajima T, Ozono K, Ishida H. Pathogenic Roles of Cardiac Fibroblasts in Pediatric Dilated Cardiomyopathy. J Am Heart Assoc 2023; 12:e029676. [PMID: 37345811 PMCID: PMC10356057 DOI: 10.1161/jaha.123.029676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023]
Abstract
Background Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a major cause of heart failure in children. Despite intensive genetic analyses, pathogenic gene variants have not been identified in most patients with DCM, which suggests that cardiomyocytes are not solely responsible for DCM. Cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) are the most abundant cell type in the heart. They have several roles in maintaining cardiac function; however, the pathological role of CFs in DCM remains unknown. Methods and Results Four primary cultured CF cell lines were established from pediatric patients with DCM and compared with 3 CF lines from healthy controls. There were no significant differences in cellular proliferation, adhesion, migration, apoptosis, or myofibroblast activation between DCM CFs compared with healthy CFs. Atomic force microscopy revealed that cellular stiffness, fluidity, and viscosity were not significantly changed in DCM CFs. However, when DCM CFs were cocultured with healthy cardiomyocytes, they deteriorated the contractile and diastolic functions of cardiomyocytes. RNA sequencing revealed markedly different comprehensive gene expression profiles in DCM CFs compared with healthy CFs. Several humoral factors and the extracellular matrix were significantly upregulated or downregulated in DCM CFs. The pathway analysis revealed that extracellular matrix receptor interactions, focal adhesion signaling, Hippo signaling, and transforming growth factor-β signaling pathways were significantly affected in DCM CFs. In contrast, single-cell RNA sequencing revealed that there was no specific subpopulation in the DCM CFs that contributed to the alterations in gene expression. Conclusions Although cellular physiological behavior was not altered in DCM CFs, they deteriorated the contractile and diastolic functions of healthy cardiomyocytes through humoral factors and direct cell-cell contact.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hirofumi Tsuru
- Department of PediatricsOsaka University Graduate School of MedicineOsakaJapan
- Department of PediatricsNiigata University School of MedicineNiigataJapan
| | - Chika Yoshihara
- Department of PediatricsOsaka University Graduate School of MedicineOsakaJapan
| | - Hidehiro Suginobe
- Department of PediatricsOsaka University Graduate School of MedicineOsakaJapan
| | - Mizuki Matsumoto
- Graduate School of Information Science and TechnologyHokkaido UniversitySapporoJapan
| | - Yoichiro Ishii
- Department of Pediatric CardiologyOsaka Medical Center for Maternal and Child HealthOsakaJapan
| | - Jun Narita
- Department of PediatricsOsaka University Graduate School of MedicineOsakaJapan
| | - Ryo Ishii
- Department of PediatricsOsaka University Graduate School of MedicineOsakaJapan
| | - Renjie Wang
- Department of PediatricsOsaka University Graduate School of MedicineOsakaJapan
| | - Atsuko Ueyama
- Department of PediatricsOsaka University Graduate School of MedicineOsakaJapan
| | - Kazutoshi Ueda
- Department of PediatricsOsaka University Graduate School of MedicineOsakaJapan
| | - Masaki Hirose
- Department of PediatricsOsaka University Graduate School of MedicineOsakaJapan
| | - Kazuhisa Hashimoto
- Department of PediatricsOsaka University Graduate School of MedicineOsakaJapan
| | - Hiroki Nagano
- Department of PediatricsOsaka University Graduate School of MedicineOsakaJapan
| | - Ryosuke Tanaka
- Graduate School of Information Science and TechnologyHokkaido UniversitySapporoJapan
| | - Takaharu Okajima
- Graduate School of Information Science and TechnologyHokkaido UniversitySapporoJapan
| | - Keiichi Ozono
- Department of PediatricsOsaka University Graduate School of MedicineOsakaJapan
| | - Hidekazu Ishida
- Department of PediatricsOsaka University Graduate School of MedicineOsakaJapan
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13
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Papini G, Furini G, Matteucci M, Biemmi V, Casieri V, Di Lascio N, Milano G, Chincoli LR, Faita F, Barile L, Lionetti V. Cardiomyocyte-targeting exosomes from sulforaphane-treated fibroblasts affords cardioprotection in infarcted rats. J Transl Med 2023; 21:313. [PMID: 37161563 PMCID: PMC10169450 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-023-04155-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/11/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Exosomes (EXOs), tiny extracellular vesicles that facilitate cell-cell communication, are being explored as a heart failure treatment, although the features of the cell source restrict their efficacy. Fibroblasts the most prevalent non-myocyte heart cells, release poor cardioprotective EXOs. A noninvasive method for manufacturing fibroblast-derived exosomes (F-EXOs) that target cardiomyocytes and slow cardiac remodeling is expected. As a cardioprotective isothiocyanate, sulforaphane (SFN)-induced F-EXOs (SFN-F-EXOs) should recapitulate its anti-remodeling properties. METHODS Exosomes from low-dose SFN (3 μM/7 days)-treated NIH/3T3 murine cells were examined for number, size, and protein composition. Fluorescence microscopy, RT-qPCR, and western blot assessed cell size, oxidative stress, AcH4 levels, hypertrophic gene expression, and caspase-3 activation in angiotensin II (AngII)-stressed HL-1 murine cardiomyocytes 12 h-treated with various EXOs. The uptake of fluorescently-labeled EXOs was also measured in cardiomyocytes. The cardiac function of infarcted male Wistar rats intramyocardially injected with different EXOs (1·1012) was examined by echocardiography. Left ventricular infarct size, hypertrophy, and capillary density were measured. RESULTS Sustained treatment of NIH/3T3 with non-toxic SFN concentration significantly enhances the release of CD81 + EXOs rich in TSG101 (Tumor susceptibility gene 101) and Hsp70 (Heat Shock Protein 70), and containing maspin, an endogenous histone deacetylase 1 inhibitor. SFN-F-EXOs counteract angiotensin II (AngII)-induced hypertrophy and apoptosis in murine HL-1 cardiomyocytes enhancing SERCA2a (sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ ATPase 2a) levels more effectively than F-EXOs. In stressed cardiomyocytes, SFN-F-EXOs boost AcH4 levels by 30% (p < 0.05) and significantly reduce oxidative stress more than F-EXOs. Fluorescence microscopy showed that mouse cardiomyocytes take in SFN-F-EXOs ~ threefold more than F-EXOs. Compared to vehicle-injected infarcted hearts, SFN-F-EXOs reduce hypertrophy, scar size, and improve contractility. CONCLUSIONS Long-term low-dose SFN treatment of fibroblasts enhances the release of anti-remodeling cardiomyocyte-targeted F-EXOs, which effectively prevent the onset of HF. The proposed method opens a new avenue for large-scale production of cardioprotective exosomes for clinical application using allogeneic fibroblasts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaia Papini
- Unit of Translational Critical Care Medicine, Laboratory of Basic and Applied Medical Sciences, The Interdisciplinary Research Center "Health Science", Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Via G. Moruzzi, 1, 56124, Pisa, Italy
| | - Giulia Furini
- Unit of Translational Critical Care Medicine, Laboratory of Basic and Applied Medical Sciences, The Interdisciplinary Research Center "Health Science", Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Via G. Moruzzi, 1, 56124, Pisa, Italy
- Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, UOSVD, Fondazione Toscana G. Monasterio, Pisa, Italy
| | - Marco Matteucci
- Unit of Translational Critical Care Medicine, Laboratory of Basic and Applied Medical Sciences, The Interdisciplinary Research Center "Health Science", Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Via G. Moruzzi, 1, 56124, Pisa, Italy
| | - Vanessa Biemmi
- Cardiovascular Theranostics, Istituto Cardiocentro Ticino, Laboratories for Translational Research, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Bellinzona, Switzerland
- Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Università Svizzera Italiana, 6900, Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Valentina Casieri
- Unit of Translational Critical Care Medicine, Laboratory of Basic and Applied Medical Sciences, The Interdisciplinary Research Center "Health Science", Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Via G. Moruzzi, 1, 56124, Pisa, Italy
| | - Nicole Di Lascio
- Unit of Translational Critical Care Medicine, Laboratory of Basic and Applied Medical Sciences, The Interdisciplinary Research Center "Health Science", Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Via G. Moruzzi, 1, 56124, Pisa, Italy
| | - Giuseppina Milano
- Cardiovascular Theranostics, Istituto Cardiocentro Ticino, Laboratories for Translational Research, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Bellinzona, Switzerland
| | - Lucia Rosa Chincoli
- Unit of Translational Critical Care Medicine, Laboratory of Basic and Applied Medical Sciences, The Interdisciplinary Research Center "Health Science", Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Via G. Moruzzi, 1, 56124, Pisa, Italy
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | | | - Lucio Barile
- Unit of Translational Critical Care Medicine, Laboratory of Basic and Applied Medical Sciences, The Interdisciplinary Research Center "Health Science", Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Via G. Moruzzi, 1, 56124, Pisa, Italy
- Cardiovascular Theranostics, Istituto Cardiocentro Ticino, Laboratories for Translational Research, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Bellinzona, Switzerland
- Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Università Svizzera Italiana, 6900, Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Vincenzo Lionetti
- Unit of Translational Critical Care Medicine, Laboratory of Basic and Applied Medical Sciences, The Interdisciplinary Research Center "Health Science", Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Via G. Moruzzi, 1, 56124, Pisa, Italy.
- Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, UOSVD, Fondazione Toscana G. Monasterio, Pisa, Italy.
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14
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Cruz-Soca M, Faundez-Contreras J, Córdova-Casanova A, Gallardo FS, Bock-Pereda A, Chun J, Casar JC, Brandan E. Activation of skeletal muscle FAPs by LPA requires the Hippo signaling via the FAK pathway. Matrix Biol 2023; 119:57-81. [PMID: 37137584 DOI: 10.1016/j.matbio.2023.03.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2023] [Revised: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2023]
Abstract
Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is a lysophospholipid that signals through six G-protein coupled receptors (LPARs), LPA1 to LPA6. LPA has been described as a potent modulator of fibrosis in different pathologies. In skeletal muscle, LPA increases fibrosis-related proteins and the number of fibro/adipogenic progenitors (FAPs). FAPs are the primary source of ECM-secreting myofibroblasts in acute and chronic damage. However, the effect of LPA on FAPs activation in vitro has not been explored. This study aimed to investigate FAPs' response to LPA and the downstream signaling mediators involved. Here, we demonstrated that LPA mediates FAPs activation by increasing their proliferation, expression of myofibroblasts markers, and upregulation of fibrosis-related proteins. Pretreatment with the LPA1/LPA3 antagonist Ki16425 or genetic deletion of LPA1 attenuated the LPA-induced FAPs activation, resulting in decreased expression of cyclin e1, α-SMA, and fibronectin. We also evaluated the activation of the focal adhesion kinase (FAK) in response to LPA. Our results showed that LPA induces FAK phosphorylation in FAPs. Treatment with the P-FAK inhibitor PF-228 partially prevented the induction of cell responses involved in FAPs activation, suggesting that this pathway mediates LPA signaling. FAK activation controls downstream cell signaling within the cytoplasm, such as the Hippo pathway. LPA induced the dephosphorylation of the transcriptional coactivator YAP (Yes-associated protein) and promoted direct expression of target pathway genes such as Ctgf/Ccn2 and Ccn1. The blockage of YAP transcriptional activity with Super-TDU further confirmed the role of YAP in LPA-induced FAPs activation. Finally, we demonstrated that FAK is required for LPA-dependent YAP dephosphorylation and the induction of Hippo pathway target genes. In conclusion, LPA signals through LPA1 to regulate FAPs activation by activating FAK to control the Hippo pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meilyn Cruz-Soca
- Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Centro de Envejecimiento y Regeneración (CARE), Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago 8330025, Chile; Centro Científico y Tecnológico de Excelencia Ciencia & Vida, Santiago, Chile
| | - Jennifer Faundez-Contreras
- Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Centro de Envejecimiento y Regeneración (CARE), Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago 8330025, Chile; Centro Científico y Tecnológico de Excelencia Ciencia & Vida, Santiago, Chile
| | - Adriana Córdova-Casanova
- Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Centro de Envejecimiento y Regeneración (CARE), Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago 8330025, Chile; Centro Científico y Tecnológico de Excelencia Ciencia & Vida, Santiago, Chile
| | - Felipe S Gallardo
- Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Centro de Envejecimiento y Regeneración (CARE), Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago 8330025, Chile; Centro Científico y Tecnológico de Excelencia Ciencia & Vida, Santiago, Chile
| | - Alexia Bock-Pereda
- Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Centro de Envejecimiento y Regeneración (CARE), Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago 8330025, Chile; Centro Científico y Tecnológico de Excelencia Ciencia & Vida, Santiago, Chile
| | - Jerold Chun
- Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Juan Carlos Casar
- Departamento de Neurología, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Enrique Brandan
- Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Centro de Envejecimiento y Regeneración (CARE), Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago 8330025, Chile; Centro Científico y Tecnológico de Excelencia Ciencia & Vida, Santiago, Chile; Facultad de Medicina y Ciencia, Universidad San Sebastián, Santiago, Chile.
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15
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Calcitriol Suppressed Isoproterenol-induced Proliferation of Cardiac Fibroblasts via Integrin β3/FAK/Akt Pathway. Curr Med Sci 2023; 43:48-57. [PMID: 36680686 DOI: 10.1007/s11596-022-2681-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2021] [Accepted: 11/24/2022] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) proliferation and extracellular matrix deposition are important features of cardiac fibrosis. Various studies have indicated that vitamin D displays an anti-fibrotic property in chronic heart diseases. This study explored the role of vitamin D in the growth of CFs via an integrin signaling pathway. METHODS MTT and 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine assays were performed to determine cell viability. Western blotting was performed to detect the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and integrin signaling pathway. The fibronectin was observed by ELISA. Immunohistochemical staining was employed to evaluate the expression of integrin β3. RESULTS The PCNA expression in the CFs was enhanced after isoproterenol (ISO) stimulation accompanied by an elevated expression of integrin beta-3 (β3). The blockade of the integrin β3 with a specific integrin β3 antibody reduced the PCNA expression induced by the ISO. Decreasing the integrin β3 by siRNA reduced the ISO-triggered phosphorylation of FAK and Akt. Both the FAK inhibitor and Akt inhibitor suppressed the PCNA expression induced by the ISO in the CFs. Calcitriol (CAL), an active form of vitamin D, attenuated the ISO-induced CFs proliferation by downregulating the integrin β3 expression, and phosphorylation of FAK and Akt. Moreover, CAL reduced the increased levels of fibronectin and hydroxyproline in the CFs culture medium triggered by the ISO. The administration of calcitriol decreased the integrin β3 expression in the ISO-induced myocardial injury model. CONCLUSION These findings revealed a novel role for CAL in suppressing the CFs growth by the downregulation of the integrin β3/FAK/Akt pathway.
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16
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Li R, Frangogiannis NG. Integrins in cardiac fibrosis. J Mol Cell Cardiol 2022; 172:1-13. [PMID: 35872324 DOI: 10.1016/j.yjmcc.2022.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2022] [Revised: 07/10/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Cells sense mechanical stress and changes in their matrix environment through the integrins, a family of heterodimeric surface receptors that bind to extracellular matrix ligands and trigger cytoskeletal remodeling, while transducing a wide range of intracellular signals. Integrins have been extensively implicated in regulation of inflammation, repair and fibrosis in many different tissues. This review manuscript discusses the role of integrin-mediated cascades in myocardial fibrosis. In vitro studies have demonstrated that β1 and αv integrins play an important role in fibrogenic conversion of cardiac fibroblast, acting through direct stimulation of FAK/Src cascades, or via accentuation of growth factor signaling. Fibrogenic actions of αv integrins may be mediated, at least in part, through pericellular activation of latent TGF-β stores. In vivo evidence supporting the role of integrin heterodimers in fibrotic cardiac remodeling is limited to associative evidence, and to experiments using pharmacologic inhibitors, or global loss-of-function approaches. Studies documenting in vivo actions of integrins on fibroblasts using cell-specific strategies are lacking. Integrin effects on leukocytes may also contribute to the pathogenesis of fibrotic myocardial responses by mediating recruitment and activation of fibrogenic macrophages. The profile and role of integrins in cardiac fibrosis may be dependent on the underlying pathologic condition. Considering their cell surface localization and the availability of small molecule inhibitors, integrins may be attractive therapeutic targets for patients with heart failure associated with prominent fibrotic remodeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruoshui Li
- The Wilf Family Cardiovascular Research Institute, Department of Medicine (Cardiology), Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, United States of America
| | - Nikolaos G Frangogiannis
- The Wilf Family Cardiovascular Research Institute, Department of Medicine (Cardiology), Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, United States of America.
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17
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Ebrahimighaei R, Sala-Newby GB, Hudson C, Kimura TE, Hathway T, Hawkins J, McNeill MC, Richardson R, Newby AC, Bond M. Combined role for YAP-TEAD and YAP-RUNX2 signalling in substrate-stiffness regulation of cardiac fibroblast proliferation. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA. MOLECULAR CELL RESEARCH 2022; 1869:119329. [PMID: 35905788 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamcr.2022.119329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2022] [Revised: 07/16/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Cardiac fibrosis is associated with increased stiffness of the myocardial extracellular matrix (ECM) in part mediated by increased cardiac fibroblast proliferation However, our understanding of the mechanisms regulating cardiac fibroblast proliferation are incomplete. Here we characterise a novel mechanism involving a combined activation of Yes-associated protein (YAP) targets RUNX Family Transcription Factor 2 (RUNX2) and TEA Domain Transcription Factor (TEAD). We demonstrate that cardiac fibroblast proliferation is enhanced by interaction with a stiff ECM compared to a soft ECM. This is associated with activation of the transcriptional co-factor, YAP. We demonstrate that this stiffness induced activation of YAP enhances the transcriptional activity of both TEAD and RUNX2 transcription factors. Inhibition of either TEAD or RUNX2, using gene silencing, expression of dominant-negative mutants or pharmacological inhibition, reduces cardiac fibroblast proliferation. Using mutants of YAP, defective in TEAD or RUNX2 activation ability, we demonstrate a dual role of YAP-mediated activation of TEAD and RUNX2 for substrate stiffness induced cardiac fibroblast proliferation. Our data highlights a previously unrecognised role of YAP mediated RUNX2 activation for cardiac fibroblast proliferation in response to increased ECM stiffness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reza Ebrahimighaei
- School of Translational Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Research Floor Level 7, Bristol Royal Infirmary, Bristol BS2 8HW, UK
| | - Graciela B Sala-Newby
- School of Translational Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Research Floor Level 7, Bristol Royal Infirmary, Bristol BS2 8HW, UK
| | - Claire Hudson
- School of Translational Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Research Floor Level 7, Bristol Royal Infirmary, Bristol BS2 8HW, UK
| | - Tomomi E Kimura
- School of Translational Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Research Floor Level 7, Bristol Royal Infirmary, Bristol BS2 8HW, UK
| | - Tom Hathway
- School of Translational Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Research Floor Level 7, Bristol Royal Infirmary, Bristol BS2 8HW, UK
| | - Joseph Hawkins
- School of Translational Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Research Floor Level 7, Bristol Royal Infirmary, Bristol BS2 8HW, UK
| | - Madeleine C McNeill
- School of Translational Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Research Floor Level 7, Bristol Royal Infirmary, Bristol BS2 8HW, UK
| | - Rebecca Richardson
- School of Translational Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Research Floor Level 7, Bristol Royal Infirmary, Bristol BS2 8HW, UK
| | - Andrew C Newby
- School of Translational Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Research Floor Level 7, Bristol Royal Infirmary, Bristol BS2 8HW, UK
| | - Mark Bond
- School of Translational Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Research Floor Level 7, Bristol Royal Infirmary, Bristol BS2 8HW, UK.
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18
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Culturing of Cardiac Fibroblasts in Engineered Heart Matrix Reduces Myofibroblast Differentiation but Maintains Their Response to Cyclic Stretch and Transforming Growth Factor β1. BIOENGINEERING (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 9:bioengineering9100551. [PMID: 36290519 PMCID: PMC9598692 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering9100551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2022] [Revised: 10/06/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Isolation and culturing of cardiac fibroblasts (CF) induces rapid differentiation toward a myofibroblast phenotype, which is partly mediated by the high substrate stiffness of the culture plates. In the present study, a 3D model of Engineered Heart Matrix (EHM) of physiological stiffness (Youngs modulus ~15 kPa) was developed using primary adult rat CF and a natural hydrogel collagen type 1 matrix. CF were equally distributed, viable and quiescent for at least 13 days in EHM and the baseline gene expression of myofibroblast-markers alfa-smooth muscle actin (Acta2), and connective tissue growth factor (Ctgf) was significantly lower, compared to CF cultured in 2D monolayers. CF baseline gene expression of transforming growth factor-beta1 (Tgfβ1) and brain natriuretic peptide (Nppb) was higher in EHM-fibers compared to the monolayers. EHM stimulation by 10% cyclic stretch (1 Hz) increased the gene expression of Nppb (3.0-fold), Ctgf (2.1-fold) and Tgfβ1 (2.3-fold) after 24 h. Stimulation of EHM with TGFβ1 (1 ng/mL, 24 h) induced Tgfβ1 (1.6-fold) and Ctgf (1.6-fold). In conclusion, culturing CF in EHM of physiological stiffness reduced myofibroblast marker gene expression, while the CF response to stretch or TGFβ1 was maintained, indicating that our novel EHM structure provides a good physiological model to study CF function and myofibroblast differentiation.
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19
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Zhang H, Ren L, Shivnaraine RV. Targeting GPCRs to treat cardiac fibrosis. Front Cardiovasc Med 2022; 9:1011176. [PMID: 36277752 PMCID: PMC9582444 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2022.1011176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cardiac fibrosis occurs ubiquitously in ischemic heart failure, genetic cardiomyopathies, diabetes mellitus, and aging. It triggers myocardial stiffness, which impairs cardiac function, ultimately progressing to end-stage heart failure and increased mortality. Although several targets for anti-fibrotic therapies have been identified, including TGF-β and receptor tyrosine kinase, there is currently no FDA-approved drug specifically targeting cardiac fibrosis. G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are integral, multipass membrane-bound receptors that exhibit diverse and cell-specific expression, offering novel and unrealized therapeutic targets for cardiac fibrosis. This review highlights the emerging roles of several GPCRs and briefly explores their downstream pathways that are crucial in cardiac fibrosis. We will not only provide an overview of the GPCRs expressed on cardiac fibroblasts that are directly involved in myofibroblast activation but also describe those GPCRs which contribute to cardiac fibrosis via indirect crosstalk mechanisms. We also discuss the challenges of identifying novel effective therapies for cardiac fibrosis and offer strategies to circumvent these challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Zhang
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States,*Correspondence: Hao Zhang
| | - Lu Ren
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
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20
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Liu SF, Nambiar Veetil N, Li Q, Kucherenko MM, Knosalla C, Kuebler WM. Pulmonary hypertension: Linking inflammation and pulmonary arterial stiffening. Front Immunol 2022; 13:959209. [PMID: 36275740 PMCID: PMC9579293 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.959209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a progressive disease that arises from multiple etiologies and ultimately leads to right heart failure as the predominant cause of morbidity and mortality. In patients, distinct inflammatory responses are a prominent feature in different types of PH, and various immunomodulatory interventions have been shown to modulate disease development and progression in animal models. Specifically, PH-associated inflammation comprises infiltration of both innate and adaptive immune cells into the vascular wall of the pulmonary vasculature—specifically in pulmonary vascular lesions—as well as increased levels of cytokines and chemokines in circulating blood and in the perivascular tissue of pulmonary arteries (PAs). Previous studies suggest that altered hemodynamic forces cause lung endothelial dysfunction and, in turn, adherence of immune cells and release of inflammatory mediators, while the resulting perivascular inflammation, in turn, promotes vascular remodeling and the progression of PH. As such, a vicious cycle of endothelial activation, inflammation, and vascular remodeling may develop and drive the disease process. PA stiffening constitutes an emerging research area in PH, with relevance in PH diagnostics, prognostics, and as a therapeutic target. With respect to its prognostic value, PA stiffness rivals the well-established measurement of pulmonary vascular resistance as a predictor of disease outcome. Vascular remodeling of the arterial extracellular matrix (ECM) as well as vascular calcification, smooth muscle cell stiffening, vascular wall thickening, and tissue fibrosis contribute to PA stiffening. While associations between inflammation and vascular stiffening are well-established in systemic vascular diseases such as atherosclerosis or the vascular manifestations of systemic sclerosis, a similar connection between inflammatory processes and PA stiffening has so far not been addressed in the context of PH. In this review, we discuss potential links between inflammation and PA stiffening with a specific focus on vascular calcification and ECM remodeling in PH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shao-Fei Liu
- Institute of Physiology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Berlin, Germany
| | - Netra Nambiar Veetil
- Institute of Physiology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Berlin, Germany
- Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, German Heart Center, Berlin, Germany
| | - Qiuhua Li
- Institute of Physiology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Berlin, Germany
| | - Mariya M. Kucherenko
- Institute of Physiology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Berlin, Germany
- Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, German Heart Center, Berlin, Germany
- *Correspondence: Mariya M. Kucherenko,
| | - Christoph Knosalla
- German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Berlin, Germany
- Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, German Heart Center, Berlin, Germany
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Wolfgang M. Kuebler
- Institute of Physiology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Berlin, Germany
- German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Gießen, Germany
- The Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science, St. Michael’s Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Surgery and Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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21
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Sartiani L, Bartolucci G, Pallecchi M, Spinelli V, Cerbai E. Pharmacological basis of the antifibrotic effects of pirfenidone: Mechanistic insights from cardiac in-vitro and in-vivo models. Front Cardiovasc Med 2022; 9:751499. [PMID: 36204580 PMCID: PMC9530045 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2022.751499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2021] [Accepted: 08/19/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Pirfenidone is a small drug with marked antifibrotic activity approved for the treatment of Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Recently, its peculiar pharmacological profile has attracted attention for its potential therapeutic benefit for extra-pulmonary disorders characterized by pathological fibrosis, such as kidney, liver, and cardiac failure. A major pitfall of pirfenidone is the lack of consistent understanding of its mechanism of action, regardless of the target. In addition to the increasing attention to the role of inflammation and its mediators in several processes, a better knowledge of the variety of fibroblasts' population, of signals controlling their activation and trans-differentiation, and of crosstalk with other cell resident and non-resident cell types is needed for prevention, treatment and possibly reverse of fibrosis. This review will focus on pirfenidone's pharmacological profile and its effects on cardiac fibroblasts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Sartiani
- Section of Pharmacology, Department of Neurosciences, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Gianluca Bartolucci
- Section of Medicinal Chemistry, Department of Neurosciences, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Marco Pallecchi
- Section of Medicinal Chemistry, Department of Neurosciences, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Valentina Spinelli
- Section of Pharmacology, Department of Neurosciences, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Cerbai
- Section of Pharmacology, Department of Neurosciences, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, Florence, Italy
- *Correspondence: Elisabetta Cerbai
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22
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New Insights into the Functions of MicroRNAs in Cardiac Fibrosis: From Mechanisms to Therapeutic Strategies. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:genes13081390. [PMID: 36011301 PMCID: PMC9407613 DOI: 10.3390/genes13081390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2022] [Revised: 07/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Cardiac fibrosis is a significant global health problem associated with almost all types of heart disease. Extensive cardiac fibrosis reduces tissue compliance and contributes to adverse outcomes, such as cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, cardiomyocyte apoptosis, and even heart failure. It is mainly associated with pathological myocardial remodeling, characterized by the excessive deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins in cardiac parenchymal tissues. In recent years, a growing body of evidence demonstrated that microRNAs (miRNAs) have a crucial role in the pathological development of cardiac fibrosis. More than sixty miRNAs have been associated with the progression of cardiac fibrosis. In this review, we summarized potential miRNAs and miRNAs-related regulatory mechanisms for cardiac fibrosis and discussed the potential clinical application of miRNAs in cardiac fibrosis.
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23
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Targeting Myocardial Fibrosis—A Magic Pill in Cardiovascular Medicine? Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:pharmaceutics14081599. [PMID: 36015225 PMCID: PMC9414721 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14081599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2022] [Revised: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Fibrosis, characterized by an excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix, has long been seen as an adaptive process that contributes to tissue healing and regeneration. More recently, however, cardiac fibrosis has been shown to be a central element in many cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), contributing to the alteration of cardiac electrical and mechanical functions in a wide range of clinical settings. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive review of cardiac fibrosis, with a focus on the main pathophysiological pathways involved in its onset and progression, its role in various cardiovascular conditions, and on the potential of currently available and emerging therapeutic strategies to counteract the development and/or progression of fibrosis in CVDs. We also emphasize a number of questions that remain to be answered, and we identify hotspots for future research.
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24
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Canadian Contributions in Fibroblast Biology. Cells 2022; 11:cells11152272. [PMID: 35892569 PMCID: PMC9331635 DOI: 10.3390/cells11152272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Revised: 07/18/2022] [Accepted: 07/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Fibroblasts are stromal cells found in virtually every tissue and organ of the body. For many years, these cells were often considered to be secondary in functional importance to parenchymal cells. Over the past 2 decades, focused research into the roles of fibroblasts has revealed important roles for these cells in the homeostasis of healthy tissue, and has demonstrated that activation of fibroblasts to myofibroblasts is a key step in disease initiation and progression in many tissues, with fibrosis now recognized as not only an outcome of disease, but also a central contributor to tissue dysfunction, particularly in the heart and lungs. With a growing understanding of both fibroblast and myofibroblast heterogeneity, and the deciphering of the humoral and mechanical cues that impact the phenotype of these cells, fibroblast biology is rapidly becoming a major focus in biomedical research. In this review, we provide an overview of fibroblast and myofibroblast biology, particularly in the heart, and including a discussion of pathophysiological processes such as fibrosis and scarring. We then discuss the central role of Canadian researchers in moving this field forwards, particularly in cardiac fibrosis, and highlight some of the major contributions of these individuals to our understanding of fibroblast and myofibroblast biology in health and disease.
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25
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Smooth muscle protein 22α-Cre recombination in resting cardiac fibroblasts and hematopoietic precursors. Sci Rep 2022; 12:11564. [PMID: 35798848 PMCID: PMC9263136 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-15957-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2022] [Accepted: 07/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
The Cre-loxP system has been widely used for cell- or organ-specific gene manipulation, but it is important to precisely understand what kind of cells the recombination takes place in. Smooth muscle 22α (SM22α)-Cre mice have been utilized to alter genes in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), activated fibroblasts or cardiomyocytes (CMs). Moreover, previous reports indicated that SM22α-Cre is expressed in adipocytes, platelets or myeloid cells. However, there have been no report of whether SM22α-Cre recombination takes place in nonCMs in hearts. Thus, we used the double-fluorescent Cre reporter mouse in which GFP is expressed when recombination occurs. Immunofluorescence analysis demonstrated that recombination occurred in resting cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) or macrophages, as well as VSMCs and CMs. Flow cytometry showed that some CFs, resident macrophages, neutrophils, T cells, and B cells were positive for GFP. These results prompted us to analyze bone marrow cells, and we observed GFP-positive hematopoietic precursor cells (HPCs). Taken together, these results indicated that SM22α-Cre-mediated recombination occurs in resting CFs and hematopoietic cell lineages, including HPCs, which is a cautionary point when using SM22α-Cre mice.
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26
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Huang X, Lin X, Wang L, Xie Y, Que Y, Li S, Hu P, Tong X. Substitution of SERCA2 Cys 674 aggravates cardiac fibrosis by promoting the transformation of cardiac fibroblasts to cardiac myofibroblasts. Biochem Pharmacol 2022; 203:115164. [PMID: 35809651 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2022.115164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Revised: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ ATPase 2 (SERCA2) is vital to maintain intracellular calcium homeostasis, and its redox Cys674 (C674) is the key to regulating activity. Our goal was to investigate whether the redox state of SERCA2 C674 is critical for cardiac fibrosis and the mechanisms involved. Heterozygous SERCA2 C674S knock-in (SKI) mice, in which half of C674 was substituted by serine, were used to mimic the partial loss of the reactive C674 thiol in pathological conditions. In cardiac fibroblasts, the substitution of C674 thiol increased Ca2+ levels in cytoplasm and mitochondria, and intracellular ROS levels, and activated calcineurin/nuclear factor of activated T-lymphocytes (NFAT) pathway, increased the protein expression of profibrotic factors TGF beta 1 (TGF-β1), alpha smooth muscle actin, collagen I and collagen III, and promoted the transformation of cardiac fibroblasts to cardiac myofibroblasts, which could be reversed by calcineurin/NFAT inhibitor, SERCA2 agonist, or ROS scavenger. Activation of SERCA2 or scavenging ROS is beneficial to alleviate cardiac fibrosis caused by the substitution of C674. In conclusion, the partial loss of the reactive C674 thiol in the SERCA2 exacerbates cardiac fibrosis by activating the calcineurin/NFAT/TGF-β1 pathway to promote the transformation of cardiac fibroblasts to cardiac myofibroblasts, which highlights the importance of C674 redox state in maintaining the homeostasis of cardiac fibroblasts. SERCA2 is a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of cardiac fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyang Huang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing 401331, China
| | - Xiaojuan Lin
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing 401331, China
| | - Langtao Wang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing 401331, China
| | - Yufei Xie
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing 401331, China
| | - Yumei Que
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing 401331, China
| | - Siqi Li
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing 401331, China
| | - Pingping Hu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing 401331, China
| | - Xiaoyong Tong
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing 401331, China.
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27
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Damanik FR, Rothuizen CT, Lalai R, Khoenkhoen S, van Blitterswijk C, Rotmans JI, Moroni L. Long-Term Controlled Growth Factor Release Using Layer-by-Layer Assembly for the Development of In Vivo Tissue-Engineered Blood Vessels. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2022; 14:28591-28603. [PMID: 35696386 PMCID: PMC9247980 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.2c05988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
The development of a well-designed tissue-engineered blood vessel (TEBV) still remains a challenge. In recent years, approaches in which the host response to implanted biomaterials is used to generate vascular constructs within the patient's body have gained increasing interest. The delivery of growth factors to these in situ-engineered vascular grafts might enhance myofibroblast recruitment and the secretion of essential extracellular matrix proteins, thereby optimizing their functional properties. Layer-by-layer (LbL) coating has emerged as an innovative technology for the controlled delivery of growth factors in tissue engineering applications. In this study, we combined the use of surface-etched polymeric rods with LbL coatings to control the delivery of TGF-β1, PDGF-BB, and IGF-1 and steer the foreign body response toward the formation of a functional vascular graft. Results showed that the regenerated tissue is composed of elastin, glycosaminoglycans, and circumferentially oriented collagen fibers, without calcification or systemic spill of the released growth factors. Functional controlled delivery was observed, whereas myofibroblast-rich tissue capsules were formed with enhanced collagen and elastin syntheses using TGF-β1 and TGF-β1/PDGF-BB releasing rods, when compared to control rods that were solely surface-engineered by chloroform etching. By combining our optimized LbL method and surface-engineered rods in an in vivo bioreactor approach, we could regulate the fate and ECM composition of in situ-engineered vascular grafts to create a successful in vivo vascular tissue-engineered replacement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Febriyani
F. R. Damanik
- Tissue
Regeneration Department, MIRA Institute for Biomedical Technology
and Technical Medicine, University of Twente, Drienerlolaan 5, Zuidhorst 145, 7522 NB Enschede, The Netherlands
- Faculty
of Science, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Carolien T. Rothuizen
- Department
of Internal Medicine, Leiden University
Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Reshma Lalai
- Department
of Internal Medicine, Leiden University
Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Sandhia Khoenkhoen
- Faculty
of Science, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Clemens van Blitterswijk
- Tissue
Regeneration Department, MIRA Institute for Biomedical Technology
and Technical Medicine, University of Twente, Drienerlolaan 5, Zuidhorst 145, 7522 NB Enschede, The Netherlands
- Complex
Tissue Regeneration Department, MERLN Institute for Technology Inspired
Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Joris I. Rotmans
- Department
of Internal Medicine, Leiden University
Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Lorenzo Moroni
- Tissue
Regeneration Department, MIRA Institute for Biomedical Technology
and Technical Medicine, University of Twente, Drienerlolaan 5, Zuidhorst 145, 7522 NB Enschede, The Netherlands
- Complex
Tissue Regeneration Department, MERLN Institute for Technology Inspired
Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
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28
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Therapeutic Benefit in Rheumatoid Cachexia Illustrated Using a Novel Primary Human Triple Cell Coculture Model. Int J Inflam 2022; 2022:1524913. [PMID: 35693848 PMCID: PMC9184217 DOI: 10.1155/2022/1524913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Revised: 05/05/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The loss of muscle mass in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), termed rheumatoid cachexia, is predicted to result from the complex interactions between different cell types involved in the maintenance of skeletal muscle mass, namely, myoblasts, fibroblasts, and macrophages. The complexity within the muscle is further highlighted by the incidence of nonresponsiveness to current RA treatment strategies. Method This study aimed at determining differences in the cellular responses in a novel human primary cell triple coculture model exposed to serum collected from nonarthritic controls (NC), RA treatment naïve (RATN), and RA treatment-nonresponding (RATNR) patients. Bone morphogenetic protein-7 (BMP-7) was investigated as a treatment option. Results Plasma analysis indicated that samples were indeed representative of healthy and RA patients—notably, the RATNR patients additionally exhibited dysregulated IL-6/IL-10 correlations. Coculture exposure to serum from RATNR patients demonstrated increased cellular growth (p < 0.001), while both hepatocyte growth factor (p < 0.01) and follistatin (p < 0.001) were reduced when compared to NC. Furthermore, decreased concentration of markers of extracellular matrix formation, transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β; p < 0.05) and fibronectin (p < 0.001), but increased collagen IV (p < 0.01) was observed following RATNR serum exposure. Under healthy conditions, BMP-7 exhibited potentially beneficial results in reducing fibrosis-generating TGF-β (p < 0.05) and fibronectin (p < 0.05). BMP-7 further exhibited protective potential in the RA groups through reversing the aberrant tendencies observed especially in the RATNR serum-exposed group. Conclusion Exposure of the triple coculture to RATN and RATNR serum resulted in dysregulated myoblast proliferation and growth, and ECM impairment, which was reversed by BMP-7 treatment.
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29
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Ostrowska-Podhorodecka Z, Ding I, Norouzi M, McCulloch CA. Impact of Vimentin on Regulation of Cell Signaling and Matrix Remodeling. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:869069. [PMID: 35359446 PMCID: PMC8961691 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.869069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2022] [Accepted: 02/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Vimentin expression contributes to cellular mechanoprotection and is a widely recognized marker of fibroblasts and of epithelial-mesenchymal transition. But it is not understood how vimentin affects signaling that controls cell migration and extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling. Recent data indicate that vimentin controls collagen deposition and ECM structure by regulating contractile force application to the ECM and through post-transcriptional regulation of ECM related genes. Binding of cells to the ECM promotes the association of vimentin with cytoplasmic domains of adhesion receptors such as integrins. After initial adhesion, cell-generated, myosin-dependent forces and signals that impact vimentin structure can affect cell migration. Post-translational modifications of vimentin determine its adaptor functions, including binding to cell adhesion proteins like paxillin and talin. Accordingly, vimentin regulates the growth, maturation and adhesive strength of integrin-dependent adhesions, which enables cells to tune their attachment to collagen, regulate the formation of cell extensions and control cell migration through connective tissues. Thus, vimentin tunes signaling cascades that regulate cell migration and ECM remodeling. Here we consider how specific properties of vimentin serve to control cell attachment to the underlying ECM and to regulate mesenchymal cell migration and remodeling of the ECM by resident fibroblasts.
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30
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Bone morphogenetic protein 1.3 inhibition decreases scar formation and supports cardiomyocyte survival after myocardial infarction. Nat Commun 2022; 13:81. [PMID: 35013172 PMCID: PMC8748453 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-27622-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2021] [Accepted: 11/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the high prevalence of ischemic heart diseases worldwide, no antibody-based treatment currently exists. Starting from the evidence that a specific isoform of the Bone Morphogenetic Protein 1 (BMP1.3) is particularly elevated in both patients and animal models of myocardial infarction, here we assess whether its inhibition by a specific monoclonal antibody reduces cardiac fibrosis. We find that this treatment reduces collagen deposition and cross-linking, paralleled by enhanced cardiomyocyte survival, both in vivo and in primary cultures of cardiac cells. Mechanistically, we show that the anti-BMP1.3 monoclonal antibody inhibits Transforming Growth Factor β pathway, thus reducing myofibroblast activation and inducing cardioprotection through BMP5. Collectively, these data support the therapeutic use of anti-BMP1.3 antibodies to prevent cardiomyocyte apoptosis, reduce collagen deposition and preserve cardiac function after ischemia. Here the authors show that a monoclonal antibody against a soluble isoform of Bone Morphogenetic Protein 1 prevents cardiac cell death, reducing fibrosis and preserving cardiac function after myocardial ischemia.
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31
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Zhang QJ, He Y, Li Y, Shen H, Lin L, Zhu M, Wang Z, Luo X, Hill JA, Cao D, Luo RL, Zou R, McAnally J, Liao J, Bajona P, Zang QS, Yu Y, Liu ZP. Matricellular Protein Cilp1 Promotes Myocardial Fibrosis in Response to Myocardial Infarction. Circ Res 2021; 129:1021-1035. [PMID: 34610755 DOI: 10.1161/circresaha.121.319482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
[Figure: see text].
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing-Jun Zhang
- Internal Medicine-Cardiology Division (Q.-J.Z., M.Z., X.L., J.A.H., D.C., R.L.L., R.Z., Z.-P.L.), UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
| | - Yu He
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, First Affiliated hospital of Guangxi Medical University, China (Y.H.)
| | - Yongnan Li
- The Sixth General Surgery, Biliary & Vascular surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, China (Y.L.)
| | - Huali Shen
- Institutes of Biochemical Science, Fudan University, China (H.S., L.L.)
| | - Ling Lin
- Institutes of Biochemical Science, Fudan University, China (H.S., L.L.)
| | - Min Zhu
- Internal Medicine-Cardiology Division (Q.-J.Z., M.Z., X.L., J.A.H., D.C., R.L.L., R.Z., Z.-P.L.), UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
| | - Zhaoning Wang
- Department of Molecular Biology (Z.W., J.A.H., J.M., Z.-P.L.), UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
| | - Xiang Luo
- Internal Medicine-Cardiology Division (Q.-J.Z., M.Z., X.L., J.A.H., D.C., R.L.L., R.Z., Z.-P.L.), UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
| | - Joseph A Hill
- Internal Medicine-Cardiology Division (Q.-J.Z., M.Z., X.L., J.A.H., D.C., R.L.L., R.Z., Z.-P.L.), UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX.,Department of Molecular Biology (Z.W., J.A.H., J.M., Z.-P.L.), UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
| | - Dian Cao
- Internal Medicine-Cardiology Division (Q.-J.Z., M.Z., X.L., J.A.H., D.C., R.L.L., R.Z., Z.-P.L.), UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
| | - Richard L Luo
- Internal Medicine-Cardiology Division (Q.-J.Z., M.Z., X.L., J.A.H., D.C., R.L.L., R.Z., Z.-P.L.), UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
| | - Raymond Zou
- Internal Medicine-Cardiology Division (Q.-J.Z., M.Z., X.L., J.A.H., D.C., R.L.L., R.Z., Z.-P.L.), UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
| | - John McAnally
- Department of Molecular Biology (Z.W., J.A.H., J.M., Z.-P.L.), UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
| | - Jun Liao
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Texas at Arlington (J.L.)
| | - Pietro Bajona
- Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery (P.B.), UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX.,Allegheny Health Network-Drexel University College of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA (P.B.)
| | - Qun S Zang
- Department of Surgery, Stritch School of Medicine, Burn & Shock Trauma Research Institute, Loyola University, Maywood, IL (Q.S.Z.)
| | - Yonghao Yu
- Department of Biochemistry (Y.Y.), UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
| | - Zhi-Ping Liu
- Internal Medicine-Cardiology Division (Q.-J.Z., M.Z., X.L., J.A.H., D.C., R.L.L., R.Z., Z.-P.L.), UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX.,Department of Molecular Biology (Z.W., J.A.H., J.M., Z.-P.L.), UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
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32
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Raj P, Thandapilly SJ, Wigle J, Zieroth S, Netticadan T. A Comprehensive Analysis of the Efficacy of Resveratrol in Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease, Myocardial Infarction and Heart Failure. Molecules 2021; 26:6600. [PMID: 34771008 PMCID: PMC8587649 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26216600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2021] [Revised: 10/17/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction (MI) and heart failure (HF) are the main causes of mortality and morbidity around the globe. New therapies are needed to better manage ischemic heart disease and HF as existing strategies are not curative. Resveratrol is a stilbene polyphenolic compound with favorable biological effects that counter chronic diseases. Current evidence suggests that resveratrol is cardioprotective in animal models of atherosclerosis, ischemic heart disease, and HF. Though clinical studies for resveratrol have been promising, evidence remains inadequate to introduce it to the clinical setting. In this narrative review, we have comprehensively discussed the relevant compelling evidence regarding the efficacy of resveratrol as a new therapeutic agent for the management of atherosclerosis, MI and HF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pema Raj
- Canadian Centre for Agri-Food Research in Health and Medicine, Winnipeg, MB R2H 2A6, Canada;
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Winnipeg, MB R3C 1B2, Canada;
| | | | - Jeffrey Wigle
- Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0J9, Canada;
- Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, St. Boniface Hospital Albrechtsen Research Centre, Winnipeg, MB R2H 2A6, Canada
| | - Shelley Zieroth
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0J9, Canada;
- Section of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada
| | - Thomas Netticadan
- Canadian Centre for Agri-Food Research in Health and Medicine, Winnipeg, MB R2H 2A6, Canada;
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Winnipeg, MB R3C 1B2, Canada;
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0J9, Canada;
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Ulloa LS, Perissinotto F, Rago I, Goldoni A, Santoro R, Pesce M, Casalis L, Scaini D. Carbon Nanotubes Substrates Alleviate Pro-Calcific Evolution in Porcine Valve Interstitial Cells. NANOMATERIALS 2021; 11:nano11102724. [PMID: 34685165 PMCID: PMC8538037 DOI: 10.3390/nano11102724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2021] [Revised: 10/11/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
The quest for surfaces able to interface cells and modulate their functionality has raised, in recent years, the development of biomaterials endowed with nanocues capable of mimicking the natural extracellular matrix (ECM), especially for tissue regeneration purposes. In this context, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are optimal candidates, showing dimensions and a morphology comparable to fibril ECM constituents. Moreover, when immobilized onto surfaces, they demonstrated outstanding cytocompatibility and ease of chemical modification with ad hoc functionalities. In this study, we interface porcine aortic valve interstitial cells (pVICs) to multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWNT) carpets, investigating the impact of surface nano-morphology on cell properties. The results obtained indicate that CNTs significantly affect cell behavior in terms of cell morphology, cytoskeleton organization, and mechanical properties. We discovered that CNT carpets appear to maintain interfaced pVICs in a sort of “quiescent state”, hampering cell activation into a myofibroblasts-like phenotype morphology, a cellular evolution prodromal to Calcific Aortic Valve Disease (CAVD) and characterized by valve interstitial tissue stiffening. We found that this phenomenon is linked to CNTs’ ability to alter cell tensional homeostasis, interacting with cell plasma membranes, stabilizing focal adhesions and enabling a better strain distribution within cells. Our discovery contributes to shedding new light on the ECM contribution in modulating cell behavior and will open the door to new criteria for designing nanostructured scaffolds to drive cell functionality for tissue engineering applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luisa Severino Ulloa
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Trieste, Piazzale Europa 1, 34127 Trieste, Italy; (L.S.U.); (F.P.); (I.R.)
| | - Fabio Perissinotto
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Trieste, Piazzale Europa 1, 34127 Trieste, Italy; (L.S.U.); (F.P.); (I.R.)
| | - Ilaria Rago
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Trieste, Piazzale Europa 1, 34127 Trieste, Italy; (L.S.U.); (F.P.); (I.R.)
| | - Andrea Goldoni
- Elettra-Sincrotrone Trieste S.C.p.A., Basovizza, 34149 Trieste, Italy;
| | - Rosaria Santoro
- Unità di Ingegneria Tissutale Cardiovascolare, Centro Cardiologico Monzino, IRCCS, 20138 Milan, Italy; (R.S.); (M.P.)
| | - Maurizio Pesce
- Unità di Ingegneria Tissutale Cardiovascolare, Centro Cardiologico Monzino, IRCCS, 20138 Milan, Italy; (R.S.); (M.P.)
| | - Loredana Casalis
- Elettra-Sincrotrone Trieste S.C.p.A., Basovizza, 34149 Trieste, Italy;
- Correspondence: (L.C.); (D.S.)
| | - Denis Scaini
- Area di Neuroscienze, Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati, Via Bonomea 265, 34136 Trieste, Italy
- Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, UK
- Correspondence: (L.C.); (D.S.)
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Jelemenský M, Kovácsházi C, Ferenczyová K, Hofbauerová M, Kiss B, Pállinger É, Kittel Á, Sayour VN, Görbe A, Pelyhe C, Hambalkó S, Kindernay L, Barančík M, Ferdinandy P, Barteková M, Giricz Z. Helium Conditioning Increases Cardiac Fibroblast Migration Which Effect Is Not Propagated via Soluble Factors or Extracellular Vesicles. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:10504. [PMID: 34638845 PMCID: PMC8508629 DOI: 10.3390/ijms221910504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2021] [Revised: 09/21/2021] [Accepted: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Helium inhalation induces cardioprotection against ischemia/reperfusion injury, the cellular mechanism of which remains not fully elucidated. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are cell-derived, nano-sized membrane vesicles which play a role in cardioprotective mechanisms, but their function in helium conditioning (HeC) has not been studied so far. We hypothesized that HeC induces fibroblast-mediated cardioprotection via EVs. We isolated neonatal rat cardiac fibroblasts (NRCFs) and exposed them to glucose deprivation and HeC rendered by four cycles of 95% helium + 5% CO2 for 1 h, followed by 1 h under normoxic condition. After 40 h of HeC, NRCF activation was analyzed with a Western blot (WB) and migration assay. From the cell supernatant, medium extracellular vesicles (mEVs) were isolated with differential centrifugation and analyzed with WB and nanoparticle tracking analysis. The supernatant from HeC-treated NRCFs was transferred to naïve NRCFs or immortalized human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC-TERT2), and a migration and angiogenesis assay was performed. We found that HeC accelerated the migration of NRCFs and did not increase the expression of fibroblast activation markers. HeC tended to decrease mEV secretion of NRCFs, but the supernatant of HeC or the control NRCFs did not accelerate the migration of naïve NRCFs or affect the angiogenic potential of HUVEC-TERT2. In conclusion, HeC may contribute to cardioprotection by increasing fibroblast migration but not by releasing protective mEVs or soluble factors from cardiac fibroblasts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marek Jelemenský
- Institute for Heart Research, Centre of Experimental Medicine, Slovak Academy of Sciences, 84104 Bratislava, Slovakia; (M.J.); (K.F.); (L.K.); (M.B.)
| | - Csenger Kovácsházi
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Semmelweis University, 1089 Budapest, Hungary; (C.K.); (B.K.); (V.N.S.); (A.G.); (C.P.); (S.H.); (P.F.)
| | - Kristína Ferenczyová
- Institute for Heart Research, Centre of Experimental Medicine, Slovak Academy of Sciences, 84104 Bratislava, Slovakia; (M.J.); (K.F.); (L.K.); (M.B.)
| | - Monika Hofbauerová
- Institute of Physics, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská Cesta 9, 84511 Bratislava, Slovakia;
- Centre for Advanced Materials Application, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská Cesta 9, 84511 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Bernadett Kiss
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Semmelweis University, 1089 Budapest, Hungary; (C.K.); (B.K.); (V.N.S.); (A.G.); (C.P.); (S.H.); (P.F.)
- MTA-SE System Pharmacology Research Group, Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Semmelweis University, 1089 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Éva Pállinger
- Department of Genetics, Cell and Immunobiology, Semmelweis University, 1089 Budapest, Hungary;
| | - Ágnes Kittel
- Institute of Experimental Medicine, Eötvös Loránd Research Network, 1083 Budapest, Hungary;
| | - Viktor Nabil Sayour
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Semmelweis University, 1089 Budapest, Hungary; (C.K.); (B.K.); (V.N.S.); (A.G.); (C.P.); (S.H.); (P.F.)
| | - Anikó Görbe
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Semmelweis University, 1089 Budapest, Hungary; (C.K.); (B.K.); (V.N.S.); (A.G.); (C.P.); (S.H.); (P.F.)
- MTA-SE System Pharmacology Research Group, Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Semmelweis University, 1089 Budapest, Hungary
- Pharmahungary Group, 6722 Szeged, Hungary
| | - Csilla Pelyhe
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Semmelweis University, 1089 Budapest, Hungary; (C.K.); (B.K.); (V.N.S.); (A.G.); (C.P.); (S.H.); (P.F.)
| | - Szabolcs Hambalkó
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Semmelweis University, 1089 Budapest, Hungary; (C.K.); (B.K.); (V.N.S.); (A.G.); (C.P.); (S.H.); (P.F.)
| | - Lucia Kindernay
- Institute for Heart Research, Centre of Experimental Medicine, Slovak Academy of Sciences, 84104 Bratislava, Slovakia; (M.J.); (K.F.); (L.K.); (M.B.)
| | - Miroslav Barančík
- Institute for Heart Research, Centre of Experimental Medicine, Slovak Academy of Sciences, 84104 Bratislava, Slovakia; (M.J.); (K.F.); (L.K.); (M.B.)
| | - Péter Ferdinandy
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Semmelweis University, 1089 Budapest, Hungary; (C.K.); (B.K.); (V.N.S.); (A.G.); (C.P.); (S.H.); (P.F.)
- MTA-SE System Pharmacology Research Group, Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Semmelweis University, 1089 Budapest, Hungary
- Pharmahungary Group, 6722 Szeged, Hungary
| | - Monika Barteková
- Institute for Heart Research, Centre of Experimental Medicine, Slovak Academy of Sciences, 84104 Bratislava, Slovakia; (M.J.); (K.F.); (L.K.); (M.B.)
- Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava, 81372 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Zoltán Giricz
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Semmelweis University, 1089 Budapest, Hungary; (C.K.); (B.K.); (V.N.S.); (A.G.); (C.P.); (S.H.); (P.F.)
- Pharmahungary Group, 6722 Szeged, Hungary
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Insight into the Characteristics of Novel Desmin-Immunopositive Perivascular Cells of the Anterior Pituitary Gland Using Transmission and Focused Ion Beam Scanning Electron Microscopy. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22168630. [PMID: 34445338 PMCID: PMC8395444 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22168630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2021] [Revised: 07/27/2021] [Accepted: 08/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Recently, another new cell type was found in the perivascular space called a novel desmin-immunopositive perivascular (DIP) cell. However, the differences between this novel cell type and other nonhormone-producing cells have not been clarified. Therefore, we introduced several microscopic techniques to gain insight into the morphological characteristics of this novel DIP cell. We succeeded in identifying novel DIP cells under light microscopy using desmin immunocryosection, combining resin embedding blocks and immunoelectron microscopy. In conventional transmission electron microscopy, folliculostellate cells, capsular fibroblasts, macrophages, and pericytes presented a flat cisternae of rough endoplasmic reticulum, whereas those of novel DIP cells had a dilated pattern. The number of novel DIP cells was greatest in the intact rats, though nearly disappeared under prolactinoma conditions. Additionally, focused ion beam scanning electron microscopy showed that these novel DIP cells had multidirectional processes and some processes reached the capillary, but these processes did not tightly wrap the vessel, as is the case with pericytes. Interestingly, we found that the rough endoplasmic reticulum was globular and dispersed throughout the cytoplasmic processes after three-dimensional reconstruction. This study clearly confirms that novel DIP cells are a new cell type in the rat anterior pituitary gland, with unique characteristics.
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Li X, Li L, Lei W, Chua HZ, Li Z, Huang X, Wang Q, Li N, Zhang H. Traditional Chinese medicine as a therapeutic option for cardiac fibrosis: Pharmacology and mechanisms. Biomed Pharmacother 2021; 142:111979. [PMID: 34358754 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2021.111979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2021] [Revised: 07/05/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Cardiovascular diseases are one of the leading causes of death worldwide and cardiac fibrosis is a common pathological process for cardiac remodeling in cardiovascular diseases. Cardiac fibrosis not only accelerates the deterioration progress of diseases but also becomes a pivotal contributor for futile treatment in clinical cardiovascular trials. Although cardiac fibrosis is common and prevalent, effective medicines to provide sufficient clinical intervention for cardiac fibrosis are still unavailable. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is the natural essence experienced boiling, fry, and other processing methods, including active ingredients, extracts, and herbal formulas, which have been applied to treat human diseases for a long history. Recently, research has increasingly focused on the great potential of TCM for the prevention and treatment of cardiac fibrosis. Here, we aim to clarify the identified pro-fibrotic mechanisms and intensively summarize the application of TCM in improving cardiac fibrosis by working on these mechanisms. Through comprehensively analyzing, TCM mainly regulates the following pathways during ameliorating cardiac fibrosis: attenuation of inflammation and oxidative stress, inhibition of cardiac fibroblasts activation, reduction of extracellular matrix accumulation, modulation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, modulation of autophagy, regulation of metabolic-dependent mechanisms, and targeting microRNAs. We also discussed the deficiencies and the development direction of anti-fibrotic therapies on cardiac fibrosis. The data reviewed here demonstrates that TCM shows a robust effect on alleviating cardiac fibrosis, which provides us a rich source of new drugs or drug candidates. Besides, we also hope this review may give some enlightenment for treating cardiac fibrosis in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Li
- State Key Laboratory of Component-based Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, China; Key Laboratory of Pharmacology of Traditional Chinese Medical Formulae, Ministry of Education, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, China; Innovation Team of Research on Compound Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, China; Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, China.
| | - Lin Li
- State Key Laboratory of Component-based Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, China; Key Laboratory of Pharmacology of Traditional Chinese Medical Formulae, Ministry of Education, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, China; Innovation Team of Research on Compound Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, China; Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, China.
| | - Wei Lei
- State Key Laboratory of Component-based Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, China; Key Laboratory of Pharmacology of Traditional Chinese Medical Formulae, Ministry of Education, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, China; Innovation Team of Research on Compound Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, China; Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, China.
| | - Hui Zi Chua
- Evidence-Based Medicine Center, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, China.
| | - Zining Li
- State Key Laboratory of Component-based Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, China; Key Laboratory of Pharmacology of Traditional Chinese Medical Formulae, Ministry of Education, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, China; Innovation Team of Research on Compound Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, China; Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, China.
| | - Xianglong Huang
- First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 300381, China.
| | - Qilong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Component-based Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, China; Key Laboratory of Pharmacology of Traditional Chinese Medical Formulae, Ministry of Education, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, China; Innovation Team of Research on Compound Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, China; Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, China.
| | - Nan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Component-based Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, China; Key Laboratory of Pharmacology of Traditional Chinese Medical Formulae, Ministry of Education, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, China; Innovation Team of Research on Compound Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, China; Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, China.
| | - Han Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Component-based Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, China; Key Laboratory of Pharmacology of Traditional Chinese Medical Formulae, Ministry of Education, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, China; Innovation Team of Research on Compound Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, China; Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, China.
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Davis AM, Rapley A, Dawson CW, Young LS, Morris MA. The EBV-Encoded Oncoprotein, LMP1, Recruits and Transforms Fibroblasts via an ERK-MAPK-Dependent Mechanism. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10080982. [PMID: 34451446 PMCID: PMC8400670 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10080982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Revised: 07/22/2021] [Accepted: 07/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1), the major oncoprotein encoded by Epstein–Barr virus (EBV), is expressed at widely variable levels in undifferentiated nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) biopsies, fueling intense debate in the field as to the importance of this oncogenic protein in disease pathogenesis. LMP1-positive NPCs are reportedly more aggressive, and in a similar vein, the presence of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) surrounding “nests” of tumour cells in NPC serve as indicators of poor prognosis. However, there is currently no evidence linking LMP1 expression and the presence of CAFs in NPC. In this study, we demonstrate the ability of LMP1 to recruit fibroblasts in vitro in an ERK-MAPK-dependent mechanism, along with enhanced viability, invasiveness and transformation to a myofibroblast-like phenotype. Taken together, these findings support a putative role for LMP1 in recruiting CAFs to the tumour microenvironment in NPC, ultimately contributing to metastatic disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra M Davis
- Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, De Montfort University, Leicester LE1 9BH, UK; (A.M.D.); (A.R.)
| | - Abigail Rapley
- Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, De Montfort University, Leicester LE1 9BH, UK; (A.M.D.); (A.R.)
| | - Christopher W Dawson
- Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 8UW, UK; (C.W.D.); (L.S.Y.)
| | - Lawrence S Young
- Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 8UW, UK; (C.W.D.); (L.S.Y.)
| | - Mhairi A Morris
- School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough LE11 3TU, UK
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +44-(0)1509-226345
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SAHA could inhibit TGF-β1/p38 pathway in MI-induced cardiac fibrosis through DUSP4 overexpression. Heart Vessels 2021; 37:152-160. [PMID: 34236463 PMCID: PMC8732849 DOI: 10.1007/s00380-021-01900-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2021] [Accepted: 07/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Abstract
Growing evidences have revealed that a histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi), suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA) has anti-fibrotic effect in different diseases. In this study, we first evaluated whether SAHA could suppress cardiac fibrosis. Mice with MI-induced cardiac fibrosis were treated with SAHA by intraperitoneal injection and their cardiac function was improved after SAHA treatment. Results of western blotting and qRT-PCR in heart tissues suggested that TGFβ1/P38 pathway was activated in MI mice, and this effect was reversed by SAHA. Cell proliferation assay suggested that SAHA could suppress TGF-β1-induced cardiac fibroblasts proliferation. Furthermore, results of western blotting and qRT-PCR in cardiac fibroblasts depicted that SAHA may exert its anti-fibrotic effect through inhibiting TGF-β1-induced P38 phosphorylation by promoting DUSP4 expression. Our findings may substantiate SAHA as a promising treatment for MI-induced cardiac fibrosis.
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Palano G, Foinquinos A, Müllers E. In vitro Assays and Imaging Methods for Drug Discovery for Cardiac Fibrosis. Front Physiol 2021; 12:697270. [PMID: 34305651 PMCID: PMC8298031 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.697270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2021] [Accepted: 06/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
As a result of stress, injury, or aging, cardiac fibrosis is characterized by excessive deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM) components resulting in pathological remodeling, tissue stiffening, ventricular dilatation, and cardiac dysfunction that contribute to heart failure (HF) and eventually death. Currently, there are no effective therapies specifically targeting cardiac fibrosis, partially due to limited understanding of the pathological mechanisms and the lack of predictive in vitro models for high-throughput screening of antifibrotic compounds. The use of more relevant cell models, three-dimensional (3D) models, and coculture systems, together with high-content imaging (HCI) and machine learning (ML)-based image analysis, is expected to improve predictivity and throughput of in vitro models for cardiac fibrosis. In this review, we present an overview of available in vitro assays for cardiac fibrosis. We highlight the potential of more physiological 3D cardiac organoids and coculture systems and discuss HCI and automated artificial intelligence (AI)-based image analysis as key methods able to capture the complexity of cardiac fibrosis in vitro. As 3D and coculture models will soon be sufficiently mature for application in large-scale preclinical drug discovery, we expect the combination of more relevant models and high-content analysis to greatly increase translation from in vitro to in vivo models and facilitate the discovery of novel targets and drugs against cardiac fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giorgia Palano
- Division of Physiological Chemistry I, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ariana Foinquinos
- Bioscience Cardiovascular, Research and Early Development, Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Erik Müllers
- Bioscience Cardiovascular, Research and Early Development, Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Sweden
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Bektik E, Sun Y, Dennis AT, Sakon P, Yang D, Deschênes I, Fu JD. Inhibition of CREB-CBP Signaling Improves Fibroblast Plasticity for Direct Cardiac Reprogramming. Cells 2021; 10:cells10071572. [PMID: 34206684 PMCID: PMC8307124 DOI: 10.3390/cells10071572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2021] [Revised: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 06/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Direct cardiac reprogramming of fibroblasts into induced cardiomyocytes (iCMs) is a promising approach but remains a challenge in heart regeneration. Efforts have focused on improving the efficiency by understanding fundamental mechanisms. One major challenge is that the plasticity of cultured fibroblast varies batch to batch with unknown mechanisms. Here, we noticed a portion of in vitro cultured fibroblasts have been activated to differentiate into myofibroblasts, marked by the expression of αSMA, even in primary cell cultures. Both forskolin, which increases cAMP levels, and TGFβ inhibitor SB431542 can efficiently suppress myofibroblast differentiation of cultured fibroblasts. However, SB431542 improved but forskolin blocked iCM reprogramming of fibroblasts that were infected with retroviruses of Gata4, Mef2c, and Tbx5 (GMT). Moreover, inhibitors of cAMP downstream signaling pathways, PKA or CREB-CBP, significantly improved the efficiency of reprogramming. Consistently, inhibition of p38/MAPK, another upstream regulator of CREB-CBP, also improved reprogramming efficiency. We then investigated if inhibition of these signaling pathways in primary cultured fibroblasts could improve their plasticity for reprogramming and found that preconditioning of cultured fibroblasts with CREB-CBP inhibitor significantly improved the cellular plasticity of fibroblasts to be reprogrammed, yielding ~2-fold more iCMs than untreated control cells. In conclusion, suppression of CREB-CBP signaling improves fibroblast plasticity for direct cardiac reprogramming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emre Bektik
- Department of Physiology, Cell Biology College of Medicine, Ohio State University, 333 W 10th Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; (E.B.); (D.Y.); (I.D.)
- Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA;
| | - Yu Sun
- Heart and Vascular Research Center, Department of Medicine, MetroHealth Campus, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44109, USA; (Y.S.); (A.T.D.)
| | - Adrienne T. Dennis
- Heart and Vascular Research Center, Department of Medicine, MetroHealth Campus, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44109, USA; (Y.S.); (A.T.D.)
| | - Phraew Sakon
- Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA;
| | - Dandan Yang
- Department of Physiology, Cell Biology College of Medicine, Ohio State University, 333 W 10th Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; (E.B.); (D.Y.); (I.D.)
| | - Isabelle Deschênes
- Department of Physiology, Cell Biology College of Medicine, Ohio State University, 333 W 10th Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; (E.B.); (D.Y.); (I.D.)
- Heart and Vascular Research Center, Department of Medicine, MetroHealth Campus, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44109, USA; (Y.S.); (A.T.D.)
| | - Ji-Dong Fu
- Department of Physiology, Cell Biology College of Medicine, Ohio State University, 333 W 10th Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; (E.B.); (D.Y.); (I.D.)
- Heart and Vascular Research Center, Department of Medicine, MetroHealth Campus, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44109, USA; (Y.S.); (A.T.D.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-(614)-685-0657
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de Oliveira Camargo R, Abual'anaz B, Rattan SG, Filomeno KL, Dixon IMC. Novel factors that activate and deactivate cardiac fibroblasts: A new perspective for treatment of cardiac fibrosis. Wound Repair Regen 2021; 29:667-677. [PMID: 34076932 DOI: 10.1111/wrr.12947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2021] [Revised: 04/06/2021] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Heart disease with attendant cardiac fibrosis kills more patients in developed countries than any other disease, including cancer. We highlight the recent literature on factors that activate and also deactivate cardiac fibroblasts. Activation of cardiac fibroblasts results in myofibroblasts phenotype which incorporates aSMA to stress fibres, express ED-A fibronectin, elevated PDGFRα and are hypersecretory ECM components. These cells facilitate both acute wound healing (infarct site) and chronic cardiac fibrosis. Quiescent fibroblasts are associated with normal myocardial tissue and provide relatively slow turnover of the ECM. Deactivation of activated myofibroblasts is a much less studied phenomenon. In this context, SKI is a known negative regulator of TGFb1 /Smad signalling, and thus may share functional similarity to PPARγ activation. The discovery of SKI's potent anti-fibrotic role, and its ability to deactivate and/or myofibroblasts is featured and contrasted with PPARγ. While myofibroblasts are typically recruited from pools of potential precursor cells in a variety of organs, the importance of activation of resident cardiac fibroblasts has been recently emphasised. Myofibroblasts deposit ECM components at an elevated rate and contribute to both systolic and diastolic dysfunction with attendant cardiac fibrosis. A major knowledge gap exists as to specific proteins that may signal for fibroblast deactivation. As SKI may be a functionally pluripotent protein, we suggest that it serves as a scaffold to proteins other than R-Smads and associated Smad signal proteins, and thus its anti-fibrotic effects may extend beyond binding R-Smads. While cardiac fibrosis is causal to heart failure, the treatment of cardiac fibrosis is hampered by the lack of availability of effective pharmacological anti-fibrotic agents. The current review will provide an overview of work highlighting novel factors which cause fibroblast activation and deactivation to underscore putative therapeutic avenues for improving disease outcomes in cardiac patients with fibrosed hearts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebeca de Oliveira Camargo
- Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, Albrechtsen Research Centre, Winnipeg, Canada.,Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada.,Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, Max Rady College of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Besher Abual'anaz
- Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, Albrechtsen Research Centre, Winnipeg, Canada.,Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada.,Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, Max Rady College of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Sunil G Rattan
- Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, Albrechtsen Research Centre, Winnipeg, Canada.,Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada.,Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, Max Rady College of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Krista L Filomeno
- Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, Albrechtsen Research Centre, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Ian M C Dixon
- Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, Albrechtsen Research Centre, Winnipeg, Canada.,Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada.,Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, Max Rady College of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
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42
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Childers RC, Lucchesi PA, Gooch KJ. Decreased Substrate Stiffness Promotes a Hypofibrotic Phenotype in Cardiac Fibroblasts. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22126231. [PMID: 34207723 PMCID: PMC8230133 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22126231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Revised: 05/20/2021] [Accepted: 05/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
A hypofibrotic phenotype has been observed in cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) isolated from a volume overload heart failure model, aortocaval fistula (ACF). This paradoxical phenotype results in decreased ECM synthesis despite increased TGF-β presence. Since ACF results in decreased tissue stiffness relative to control (sham) hearts, this study investigates whether the effects of substrate stiffness could account for the observed hypofibrotic phenotype in CFs isolated from ACF. CFs isolated from ACF and sham hearts were plated on polyacrylamide gels of a range of stiffness (2 kPa to 50 kPa). Markers related to cytoskeletal and fibrotic proteins were measured. Aspects of the hypofibrotic phenotype observed in ACF CFs were recapitulated by sham CFs on soft substrates. For instance, sham CFs on the softest gels compared to ACF CFs on the stiffest gels results in similar CTGF (0.80 vs. 0.76) and transgelin (0.44 vs. 0.57) mRNA expression. The changes due to stiffness may be explained by the observed decreased nuclear translocation of transcriptional regulators, MRTF-A and YAP. ACF CFs appear to have a mechanical memory of a softer environment, supported by a hypofibrotic phenotype overall compared to sham with less YAP detected in the nucleus, and less CTGF and transgelin on all stiffnesses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel C. Childers
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA;
| | - Pamela A. Lucchesi
- Department of Pharmacology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY 10595, USA
- Correspondence: (P.A.L.); (K.J.G.)
| | - Keith J. Gooch
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA;
- Correspondence: (P.A.L.); (K.J.G.)
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43
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Yeganeh A, Alibhai FJ, Tobin SW, Lim F, Wu J, Li S, Weisel RD, Li RK. Age-related defects in autophagy alter the secretion of paracrine factors from bone marrow mononuclear cells. Aging (Albany NY) 2021; 13:14687-14708. [PMID: 34088884 PMCID: PMC8221303 DOI: 10.18632/aging.203127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 05/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Bone marrow mononuclear cell therapy improves cardiac repair after myocardial infarction (MI), in-part through signaling to resident cardiac cells, such as fibroblasts, which regulate scar formation. The efficacy of cell therapy declines with age, as aging of both donor and recipient cells decreases repair responses. Autophagy regulates the microenvironment by both extracellular vesicle (EV)-dependent and independent secretion pathways. We hypothesized that age-related autophagy changes in bone marrow cells (BMCs) alter paracrine signaling, contributing to lower cell therapy efficacy. Here, we demonstrate that young Sca-1+ BMCs exhibited a higher LC3II/LC3I ratio compared to old Sca-1+ BMCs, which was accentuated when BMCs were cultured under hypoxia. To examine the effect on paracrine signaling, old cardiac fibroblasts were cultured with conditioned medium (CM) from young and old Sca-1+ BMCs. Young, but not old CM, enhanced fibroblast proliferation, migration, and differentiation, plus reduced senescence. These beneficial effects were lost when autophagy or EV secretion in BMCs was blocked pharmacologically, or by siRNA knockdown of Atg7. Therefore, both EV-dependent and -independent paracrine signaling from young BMCs is responsible for paracrine stimulation of old cardiac fibroblasts. In vivo, bone marrow chimerism of old mice with young BMCs increased the number of LC3b+ cells in the heart compared to old mice reconstituted with old BMCs. These data suggest that the deterioration of autophagy with aging negatively impacts the paracrine effects of BMCs, and provide mechanistic insight into the age-related decline in cell therapy efficacy that could be targeted to improve the function of old donor cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Azadeh Yeganeh
- Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada
| | - Faisal J. Alibhai
- Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada
| | - Stephanie W. Tobin
- Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada
| | - Fievel Lim
- Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada
| | - Jun Wu
- Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada
| | - Shuhong Li
- Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada
| | - Richard D. Weisel
- Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada
- Department of Surgery, Division of Cardiac Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Ren-Ke Li
- Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada
- Department of Surgery, Division of Cardiac Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
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44
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Ostrowska-Podhorodecka Z, McCulloch CA. Vimentin regulates the assembly and function of matrix adhesions. Wound Repair Regen 2021; 29:602-612. [PMID: 33887795 DOI: 10.1111/wrr.12920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2021] [Revised: 03/25/2021] [Accepted: 03/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The intermediate filament protein vimentin is a widely used phenotypic marker for identifying cells of the mesenchymal linkage such as fibroblasts and myofibroblasts, but the full repertoire of vimentin's functional attributes has not been fully explored. Here we consider how vimentin, in addition to its contributions to mechanical stabilization of cell structure, also helps to control the assembly of cell adhesions and migration through collagen matrices. While the assembly and function of matrix adhesions are critical for the differentiation of myofibroblasts and many other types of adherent cells, a potential mechanism that explains how vimentin affects the recruitment and abundance of centrally important proteins in cell adhesions has been elusive. Here we review recent data indicating that vimentin plays a central regulatory role in the assembly of focal adhesions which form in response to the attachment to collagen. We show that in particular, vimentin is a key organizer of the β1 integrin adhesive machinery, which affects cell migration through collagen. This review provides a comprehensive picture of the surprisingly broad array of processes and molecules with which vimentin interacts to affect cell function in the context of fibroblast and myofibroblast adhesion and migration on collagen.
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45
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Sahadevan P, Allen BG. Isolation and culture of adult murine cardiac atrial and ventricular fibroblasts and myofibroblasts. Methods 2021; 203:187-195. [PMID: 33838270 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymeth.2021.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2021] [Revised: 04/02/2021] [Accepted: 04/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Cardiac fibroblasts play a critical role in extracellular matrix homeostasis, wound healing, and cardiac interstitial fibrosis: the latter being a pathophysiological response to a chronic increase in afterload. Using a standard protocol to isolate cardiac fibroblasts and maintain them in their quiescent phenotype in vitro will enable a better understanding of cardiac fibroblast biology and their role in the response to profibrotic stimuli. Here, we describe an enzymatic method for isolating cardiac fibroblasts. The resulting cells are maintained on either a collagen-coated hydrogel-bound polystyrene (compliant) substrate or standard polystyrene culture dishes (non-compliant) to obtain quiescent fibroblasts and activated fibroblasts (myofibroblasts), respectively. Fibroblasts maintained on a non-compliant substrate developed a myofibroblast phenotype, in which the αSMA immunoreactivity was markedly elevated and incorporated into the stress fibers. In contrast, ventricular and atrial fibroblasts retain their quiescent phenotype for up to 3 passages when maintained on a compliant substrate. Hence, the methodology described herein provides a simple and reproducible way to isolate adult murine atrial and ventricular cardiac fibroblasts from a single animal and, by selecting a substrate with the appropriate compliance, examine the mediators of fibroblast activation or inactivation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pramod Sahadevan
- Montreal Heart Institute, 5000 Belanger St., Montréal, Québec H1T 1C8, Canada.
| | - Bruce G Allen
- Montreal Heart Institute, 5000 Belanger St., Montréal, Québec H1T 1C8, Canada; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec H3C 3J7, Canada; Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec H3C 3J7, Canada; Department of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec H3C 3J7, Canada.
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46
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Lang J, Li Y, Ye Z, Yang Y, Xu F, Huang G, Zhang J, Li F. Investigating the Effect of Substrate Stiffness on the Redox State of Cardiac Fibroblasts Using Scanning Electrochemical Microscopy. Anal Chem 2021; 93:5797-5804. [PMID: 33797232 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.0c05284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Cardiac fibrosis, in which cardiac fibroblasts differentiate into myofibroblasts, leads to oversecretion of the extracellular matrix, results in increased stiffness, and facilitates disequilibrium of cellular redox state, further leading to oxidative stress and various degrees of cell death. However, the relationship between the matrix stiffness and the redox status of cardiac fibroblasts remains unclear. In this work, we constructed an in vitro cardiac fibrosis model by culturing cardiac fibroblasts on polyacrylamide gels with tunable stiffness and characterized the differentiation of cardiac fibroblasts to myofibroblasts by immunofluorescence staining of α-smooth muscle actin. We then applied scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) with a depth scan mode to in situ and quantitatively assess the redox status by monitoring the glutathione (GSH) efflux rate (k) through the redox reaction between GSH (a typical indicator of cellular redox level) released from cardiac fibroblasts and SECM probe-oxidized ferrocenecarboxylic acid ([FcCOOH]+). The SECM results demonstrate that the GSH efflux from the cardiac fibroblasts decreased with increasing substrate stiffness (i.e., mimicking the increased fibrosis degree), indicating that a more oxidizing microenvironment facilitates the cell differentiation and GSH may serve as a biomarker to predict the degree of cardiac fibrosis. This work provides an SECM approach to quantify the redox state of cardiac fibroblasts by recording the GSH efflux rate. In addition, the newly established relationship between the redox balance and the substrate stiffness would help to better understand the redox state of cardiac fibroblasts during cardiac fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinxin Lang
- School of Chemistry, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, P. R. China.,Bioinspired Engineering and Biomechanics Center (BEBC), Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, P. R. China
| | - Yabei Li
- School of Chemistry, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, P. R. China.,Bioinspired Engineering and Biomechanics Center (BEBC), Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, P. R. China
| | - Zhaoyang Ye
- Bioinspired Engineering and Biomechanics Center (BEBC), Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, P. R. China.,The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, P. R. China
| | - Yaowei Yang
- Bioinspired Engineering and Biomechanics Center (BEBC), Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, P. R. China.,The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, P. R. China
| | - Feng Xu
- Bioinspired Engineering and Biomechanics Center (BEBC), Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, P. R. China.,The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, P. R. China
| | - Guoyou Huang
- Department of Engineering Mechanics, School of Civil Engineering, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, P. R. China
| | - Junjie Zhang
- School of Chemistry, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, P. R. China
| | - Fei Li
- Bioinspired Engineering and Biomechanics Center (BEBC), Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, P. R. China.,The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, P. R. China
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47
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Lee J, Mehrotra S, Zare-Eelanjegh E, Rodrigues RO, Akbarinejad A, Ge D, Amato L, Kiaee K, Fang Y, Rosenkranz A, Keung W, Mandal BB, Li RA, Zhang T, Lee H, Dokmeci MR, Zhang YS, Khademhosseini A, Shin SR. A Heart-Breast Cancer-on-a-Chip Platform for Disease Modeling and Monitoring of Cardiotoxicity Induced by Cancer Chemotherapy. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2021; 17:e2004258. [PMID: 33094918 PMCID: PMC8049959 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202004258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2020] [Revised: 09/12/2020] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Cardiotoxicity is one of the most serious side effects of cancer chemotherapy. Current approaches to monitoring of chemotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity (CIC) as well as model systems that develop in vivo or in vitro CIC platforms fail to notice early signs of CIC. Moreover, breast cancer (BC) patients with preexisting cardiac dysfunctions may lead to different incident levels of CIC. Here, a model is presented for investigating CIC where not only induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived cardiac tissues are interacted with BC tissues on a dual-organ platform, but electrochemical immuno-aptasensors can also monitor cell-secreted multiple biomarkers. Fibrotic stages of iPSC-derived cardiac tissues are promoted with a supplement of transforming growth factor-β 1 to assess the differential functionality in healthy and fibrotic cardiac tissues after treatment with doxorubicin (DOX). The production trend of biomarkers evaluated by using the immuno-aptasensors well-matches the outcomes from conventional enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, demonstrating the accuracy of the authors' sensing platform with much higher sensitivity and lower detection limits for early monitoring of CIC and BC progression. Furthermore, the versatility of this platform is demonstrated by applying a nanoparticle-based DOX-delivery system. The proposed platform would potentially help allow early detection and prediction of CIC in individual patients in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junmin Lee
- Division of Engineering in Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
- Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
- Center for Minimally Invasive Therapeutics (C-MIT), University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation, Los Angeles, CA, 90064, USA
| | - Shreya Mehrotra
- Division of Engineering in Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
- Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, Assam, 781039, India
| | - Elaheh Zare-Eelanjegh
- Division of Engineering in Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
- Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Raquel O Rodrigues
- Division of Engineering in Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
- Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
- Center for MicroElectromechanical Systems (CMEMS-UMinho), University of Minho, Campus de Azurém, Guimarães, 4800-058, Portugal
| | - Alireza Akbarinejad
- Division of Engineering in Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
- Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, 14115-175, Iran
| | - David Ge
- Division of Engineering in Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
- Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Luca Amato
- Division of Engineering in Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
- Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Kiavash Kiaee
- Division of Engineering in Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
- Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, NJ, 07030, USA
| | - YongCong Fang
- Division of Engineering in Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
- Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Aliza Rosenkranz
- Division of Engineering in Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
- Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Wendy Keung
- Dr. Li Dak Sum Research Centre, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
| | - Biman B Mandal
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, Assam, 781039, India
- Centre for Nanotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, Assam, 781039, India
| | - Ronald A Li
- Dr. Li Dak Sum Research Centre, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
- Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
- Ming Wai Lau Centre for Reparative Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Ting Zhang
- Division of Engineering in Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
- Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - HeaYeon Lee
- Division of Engineering in Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
- Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
- MARA Nanotech New York, inc., New York, NY, 10031-9101, USA
| | - Mehmet Remzi Dokmeci
- Division of Engineering in Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
- Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
- Center for Minimally Invasive Therapeutics (C-MIT), University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation, Los Angeles, CA, 90064, USA
- Department of Radiology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Yu Shrike Zhang
- Division of Engineering in Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
- Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Ali Khademhosseini
- Division of Engineering in Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
- Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
- Center for Minimally Invasive Therapeutics (C-MIT), University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation, Los Angeles, CA, 90064, USA
- Department of Radiology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Su Ryon Shin
- Division of Engineering in Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
- Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
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48
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Damanik FFR, Verkoelen N, van Blitterswijk C, Rotmans J, Moroni L. Control Delivery of Multiple Growth Factors to Actively Steer Differentiation and Extracellular Matrix Protein Production. Adv Biol (Weinh) 2021; 5:e2000205. [PMID: 33751850 DOI: 10.1002/adbi.202000205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2020] [Revised: 02/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
In tissue engineering, biomaterials have been used to steer the host response. This determines the outcome of tissue regeneration, which is modulated by multiple growth factors (GFs). Hence, a sustainable delivery system for GFs is necessary to control tissue regeneration actively. A delivery technique of single and multiple GF combinations, using a layer-by-layer (LBL) procedure to improve tissue remodeling, is developed. TGF-β1, PDGF-ββ, and IGF-1 are incorporated on tailor-made polymeric rods, which could be used as a tool for potential tissue engineering applications, such as templates to induce the formation of in situ tissue engineered blood vessels (TEBVs). Cell response is analyzed in vitro using rat and human dermal fibroblasts for cellular proliferation, fibroblast differentiation, and extracellular matrix (ECM) protein synthesis. Results revealed a higher loading efficiency and control release of GFs incorporated on chloroform and oxygen plasma-activated (COX) rods. Single PDGF-ββ and IGF-1 release, and dual release with TGF-β1 from COX rods, showed higher cell proliferation when compared to COX rods alone. A substantial increase in α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) is also observed in GF releasing COX rods, with TGF-β1 COX rods providing the most pronounced differentiation. A significant increase in collagen and elastin synthesis is observed on all GF releasing COX rods compared to control, with COX rods releasing TGF-β1 and IGF-1 providing the highest secretion. TGF-β1 and IGF-1 releasing COX rods induced higher Glycosaminoglycan (GAG)/DNA amounts than the other GF releasing COX rods. As PDGF-ββ and TGF-β1/PDGF-ββ COX rods displayed the highest fibroblast attachment, these rods provided the highest total collagen and elastin production. The attractive results from efficiently incorporating single and multiple GFs on COX rods and their sustainable release to steer cellular behavior suggest a promising route to enrich the formation of in situ engineered tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Febriyani F R Damanik
- Tissue Regeneration Department, MIRA Institute for Biomedical Technology and Technical Medicine, University of Twente, Drienerlolaan 5, Zuidhorst 145, Enschede, NB, 7522, The Netherlands.,Complex Tissue Regeneration Department, Maastricht University, MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Universiteitsingel 40, Maastricht, 6229 ER, The Netherlands
| | - Niels Verkoelen
- Complex Tissue Regeneration Department, Maastricht University, MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Universiteitsingel 40, Maastricht, 6229 ER, The Netherlands
| | - Clemens van Blitterswijk
- Tissue Regeneration Department, MIRA Institute for Biomedical Technology and Technical Medicine, University of Twente, Drienerlolaan 5, Zuidhorst 145, Enschede, NB, 7522, The Netherlands.,Complex Tissue Regeneration Department, Maastricht University, MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Universiteitsingel 40, Maastricht, 6229 ER, The Netherlands
| | - Joris Rotmans
- Department of Nephrology, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, Leiden, 2333 ZA, The Netherlands
| | - Lorenzo Moroni
- Tissue Regeneration Department, MIRA Institute for Biomedical Technology and Technical Medicine, University of Twente, Drienerlolaan 5, Zuidhorst 145, Enschede, NB, 7522, The Netherlands.,Complex Tissue Regeneration Department, Maastricht University, MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Universiteitsingel 40, Maastricht, 6229 ER, The Netherlands
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49
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Scalise RFM, De Sarro R, Caracciolo A, Lauro R, Squadrito F, Carerj S, Bitto A, Micari A, Bella GD, Costa F, Irrera N. Fibrosis after Myocardial Infarction: An Overview on Cellular Processes, Molecular Pathways, Clinical Evaluation and Prognostic Value. Med Sci (Basel) 2021; 9:medsci9010016. [PMID: 33804308 PMCID: PMC7931027 DOI: 10.3390/medsci9010016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2020] [Revised: 02/17/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The ischemic injury caused by myocardial infarction activates a complex healing process wherein a powerful inflammatory response and a reparative phase follow and balance each other. An intricate network of mediators finely orchestrate a large variety of cellular subtypes throughout molecular signaling pathways that determine the intensity and duration of each phase. At the end of this process, the necrotic tissue is replaced with a fibrotic scar whose quality strictly depends on the delicate balance resulting from the interaction between multiple actors involved in fibrogenesis. An inflammatory or reparative dysregulation, both in term of excess and deficiency, may cause ventricular dysfunction and life-threatening arrhythmias that heavily affect clinical outcome. This review discusses cellular process and molecular signaling pathways that determine fibrosis and the imaging technique that can characterize the clinical impact of this process in-vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renato Francesco Maria Scalise
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Policlinic “G. Martino”, University of Messina, 98100 Messina, Italy; (R.F.M.S.); (R.D.S.); (A.C.); (S.C.); (G.D.B.); (N.I.)
| | - Rosalba De Sarro
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Policlinic “G. Martino”, University of Messina, 98100 Messina, Italy; (R.F.M.S.); (R.D.S.); (A.C.); (S.C.); (G.D.B.); (N.I.)
| | - Alessandro Caracciolo
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Policlinic “G. Martino”, University of Messina, 98100 Messina, Italy; (R.F.M.S.); (R.D.S.); (A.C.); (S.C.); (G.D.B.); (N.I.)
| | - Rita Lauro
- Section of Pharmacology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, 98100 Messina, Italy; (R.L.); (F.S.); (A.B.)
| | - Francesco Squadrito
- Section of Pharmacology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, 98100 Messina, Italy; (R.L.); (F.S.); (A.B.)
| | - Scipione Carerj
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Policlinic “G. Martino”, University of Messina, 98100 Messina, Italy; (R.F.M.S.); (R.D.S.); (A.C.); (S.C.); (G.D.B.); (N.I.)
| | - Alessandra Bitto
- Section of Pharmacology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, 98100 Messina, Italy; (R.L.); (F.S.); (A.B.)
| | - Antonio Micari
- Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphological and Functional Imaging, University of Messina, A.O.U. Policlinico “G. Martino”, 98100 Messina, Italy;
| | - Gianluca Di Bella
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Policlinic “G. Martino”, University of Messina, 98100 Messina, Italy; (R.F.M.S.); (R.D.S.); (A.C.); (S.C.); (G.D.B.); (N.I.)
| | - Francesco Costa
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Policlinic “G. Martino”, University of Messina, 98100 Messina, Italy; (R.F.M.S.); (R.D.S.); (A.C.); (S.C.); (G.D.B.); (N.I.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-090-221-23-41; Fax: +39-090-221-23-81
| | - Natasha Irrera
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Policlinic “G. Martino”, University of Messina, 98100 Messina, Italy; (R.F.M.S.); (R.D.S.); (A.C.); (S.C.); (G.D.B.); (N.I.)
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Li X, Garcia-Elias A, Benito B, Nattel S. The effects of cardiac stretch on atrial fibroblasts: Analysis of the evidence and potential role in atrial fibrillation. Cardiovasc Res 2021; 118:440-460. [PMID: 33576384 DOI: 10.1093/cvr/cvab035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2020] [Revised: 11/27/2020] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is an important clinical problem. Chronic pressure/volume overload of the atria promotes AF, particularly via enhanced extracellular matrix (ECM) accumulation manifested as tissue fibrosis. Loading of cardiac cells causes cell-stretch that is generally considered to promote fibrosis by directly activating fibroblasts, the key cell-type responsible for ECM-production. The primary purpose of this article is to review the evidence regarding direct effects of stretch on cardiac fibroblasts, specifically: (i) the similarities and differences among studies in observed effects of stretch on cardiac-fibroblast function; (ii) the signaling-pathways implicated; and (iii) the factors that affect stretch-related phenotypes. Our review summarizes the most important findings and limitations in this area and gives an overview of clinical data and animal models related to cardiac stretch, with particular emphasis on the atria. We suggest that the evidence regarding direct fibroblast activation by stretch is weak and inconsistent, in part because of variability among studies in key experimental conditions that govern the results. Further work is needed to clarify whether, in fact, stretch induces direct activation of cardiac fibroblasts and if so, to elucidate the determining factors to ensure reproducible results. If mechanical load on fibroblasts proves not to be clearly profibrotic by direct actions, other mechanisms like paracrine influences, the effects of systemic mediators and/or the direct consequences of myocardial injury or death, might account for the link between cardiac stretch and fibrosis. Clarity in this area is needed to improve our understanding of AF pathophysiology and assist in therapeutic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xixiao Li
- Department of Medicine and Research Center, Montreal Heart Institute, Montreal, Canada.,Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Anna Garcia-Elias
- Department of Medicine and Research Center, Montreal Heart Institute, Montreal, Canada
| | - Begoña Benito
- Vascular Biology and Metabolism Program, Vall d'Hebrón Research Institute (VHIR), Barcelona, Spain.,Cardiology Department, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebrón, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Stanley Nattel
- Department of Medicine and Research Center, Montreal Heart Institute, Montreal, Canada.,Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.,Department of Pharmacology and Physiology of the Université de Montréal Faculty of Medicine, Montreal, Canada.,Institute of Pharmacology, West German Heart and Vascular Center, Faculty of Medicine, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.,IHU LIRYC and Fondation Bordeaux Université, Bordeaux, France
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