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Mesquita T, Lin YN, Chen S, Lee Y, Miguel-dos-Santos R, Atici AE, Fishbein MC, Rivas MN, Arditi M, Cingolani E. Inhibition of IL-1 Ameliorates Cardiac Dysfunction and Arrhythmias in a Murine Model of Kawasaki Disease. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2024; 44:e117-e130. [PMID: 38385289 PMCID: PMC10978283 DOI: 10.1161/atvbaha.123.320382] [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: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Kawasaki disease (KD) is an acute febrile illness and systemic vasculitis often associated with cardiac sequelae, including arrhythmias. Abundant evidence indicates a central role for IL (interleukin)-1 and TNFα (tumor necrosis factor-alpha) signaling in the formation of arterial lesions in KD. We aimed to investigate the mechanisms underlying the development of electrophysiological abnormalities in a murine model of KD vasculitis. METHODS Lactobacillus casei cell wall extract-induced KD vasculitis model was used to investigate the therapeutic efficacy of clinically relevant IL-1Ra (IL-1 receptor antagonist) and TNFα neutralization. Echocardiography, in vivo electrophysiology, whole-heart optical mapping, and imaging were performed. RESULTS KD vasculitis was associated with impaired ejection fraction, increased ventricular tachycardia, prolonged repolarization, and slowed conduction velocity. Since our transcriptomic analysis of human patients showed elevated levels of both IL-1β and TNFα, we asked whether either cytokine was linked to the development of myocardial dysfunction. Remarkably, only inhibition of IL-1 signaling by IL-1Ra but not TNFα neutralization was able to prevent changes in ejection fraction and arrhythmias, whereas both IL-1Ra and TNFα neutralization significantly improved vasculitis and heart vessel inflammation. The treatment of L casei cell wall extract-injected mice with IL-1Ra also restored conduction velocity and improved the organization of Cx43 (connexin 43) at the intercalated disk. In contrast, in mice with gain of function of the IL-1 signaling pathway, L casei cell wall extract induced spontaneous ventricular tachycardia and premature deaths. CONCLUSIONS Our results characterize the electrophysiological abnormalities associated with L casei cell wall extract-induced KD and show that IL-1Ra is more effective in preventing KD-induced myocardial dysfunction and arrhythmias than anti-TNFα therapy. These findings support the advancement of clinical trials using IL-1Ra in patients with KD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thassio Mesquita
- Smidt Heart Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Yen-Nien Lin
- Smidt Heart Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Shuang Chen
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Guerin Children’s at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Infectious and Immunologic Diseases Research Center (IIDRC) and Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Youngho Lee
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Guerin Children’s at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Infectious and Immunologic Diseases Research Center (IIDRC) and Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | | | - Asli E. Atici
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Guerin Children’s at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Infectious and Immunologic Diseases Research Center (IIDRC) and Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Michael C. Fishbein
- Department of Pathology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Magali Noval Rivas
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Guerin Children’s at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Infectious and Immunologic Diseases Research Center (IIDRC) and Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Moshe Arditi
- Smidt Heart Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Guerin Children’s at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Infectious and Immunologic Diseases Research Center (IIDRC) and Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Eugenio Cingolani
- Smidt Heart Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
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2
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Sun W, Lu Q, Zhang Y, Xing D. 5-Hydroxytryptophan acts as a gap junction inhibitor to limit the spread of chemotherapy-induced cardiomyocyte injury and mitochondrial dysfunction. Aging (Albany NY) 2024; 16:4889-4903. [PMID: 38462693 DOI: 10.18632/aging.205641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
Anthracycline chemotherapeutics like doxorubicin (DOX) are widely used against various cancers but are accompanied by severe cardiotoxic effects that can lead to heart failure. Through whole transcriptome sequencing and pathological tissue analysis in a murine model, our study has revealed that DOX impairs collagen expression in the early phase, causing extracellular matrix anomalies that weaken the mechanical integrity of the heart. This results in ventricular wall thinning and dilation, exacerbating cardiac dysfunction. In this work, we have identified 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) as a potent inhibitor of gap junction communication. This inhibition is key to limiting the spread of DOX-induced cardiotoxicity. Treatment with 5-HTP effectively countered the adverse effects of DOX on the heart, preserving ventricular structure and ejection fraction. Moreover, 5-HTP enhanced mitochondrial respiratory function, as shown by the O2k mitochondrial function assay, by improving mitochondrial complex activity and ATP production. Importantly, the cardioprotective benefits of 5-HTP did not interfere with DOX's ability to combat cancer. These findings shed light on the cardiotoxic mechanisms of DOX and suggest that 5-HTP could be a viable strategy to prevent heart damage during chemotherapy, offering a foundation for future clinical development. This research opens the door for 5-HTP to be considered a dual-purpose agent that can protect the heart without compromising the oncological efficacy of anthracycline chemotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenshe Sun
- Qingdao Cancer Institute, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China
- The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University and Qingdao Cancer Institute, Qingdao 266071, China
| | - Qi Lu
- Qingdao Cancer Institute, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China
- The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University and Qingdao Cancer Institute, Qingdao 266071, China
| | - Yukun Zhang
- Qingdao Cancer Institute, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China
- The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University and Qingdao Cancer Institute, Qingdao 266071, China
| | - Dongming Xing
- Qingdao Cancer Institute, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China
- The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University and Qingdao Cancer Institute, Qingdao 266071, China
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Gondal MUR, Mehmood RS, Khan RP, Malik J. Atrial myopathy. Curr Probl Cardiol 2024; 49:102381. [PMID: 38191102 DOI: 10.1016/j.cpcardiol.2024.102381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 01/10/2024]
Abstract
This paper delves into the progressive concept of atrial myopathy, shedding light on its development and its impact on atrial characteristics. It extensively explores the intricate connections between atrial myopathy, atrial fibrillation (AF), and strokes. Researchers have sought additional contributors to AF-related strokes due to the absence of a clear timing correlation between paroxysmal AF episodes and strokes in patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices. Through various animal models and human investigations, a close interrelation among aging, inflammation, oxidative stress, and stretching mechanisms has been identified. These mechanisms contribute to fibrosis, alterations in electrical properties, autonomic remodeling, and a heightened pro-thrombotic state. These interconnected factors establish a detrimental cycle, exacerbating atrial myopathy and elevating the risk of sustained AF and strokes. By emphasizing the significance of atrial myopathy and the risk of strokes that are distinct from AF, the paper also discusses methods for identifying patients with atrial myopathy. Moreover, it proposes an approach to incorporate the concept of atrial myopathy into clinical practice to guide anticoagulation decisions in individuals with AF.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Raja Sadam Mehmood
- Department of Medicine, Shifa International Hospital, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | | | - Jahanzeb Malik
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Cardiovascular Analytics Group, Islamabad, Pakistan.
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4
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Yang M, Yang T, Mei L, Zhang Y, Liang C, Bai X, Zhang Z, Shi Y, Chen Q. The Potential of Berberine to Target Telocytes in Rabbit Heart. PLANTA MEDICA 2024; 90:84-95. [PMID: 37714195 DOI: 10.1055/a-2176-5881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/17/2023]
Abstract
A brand-new class of interstitial cells, called telocytes, has been detected in the heart. Telocytes can connect and transmit signals to almost all cardiomyocytes; this is highly interrelated with the occurrence and development of heart diseases. Modern studies have shown that berberine has a therapeutic effect on cardiovascular health. However, berberine's mechanism of action on the cardiovascular system through cardiac telocytes is unclear. Interestingly, 5 µm of berberine remarkably decreased the concentration of intracellular calcium and membrane depolarization in cultured telocytes, upregulated the expression of CX43 and β-catenin, and downregulated the expressions of TRPV4 and TRPV1. Here, telocytes were identified in the vascular adventitia and intima, endocardium, myocardium, adventitia, and heart valves. Moreover, telocytes were broadly dispersed around cardiac vessels and interacted directly through gap junctions and indirectly through extracellular vesicles. Together, cardiac telocytes interact with berberine and then deliver drug information to the heart. Telocytes may be an essential cellular target for drug therapy of the cardiovascular system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Yang
- MOE Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Tong Yang
- MOE Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Lu Mei
- MOE Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Yingxing Zhang
- MOE Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Chunhua Liang
- MOE Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Xuebing Bai
- MOE Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Zhenwei Zhang
- MOE Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Yonghong Shi
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Qiusheng Chen
- MOE Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
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Qian S, Ugurlu D, Fairweather E, Strocchi M, Toso LD, Deng Y, Plank G, Vigmond E, Razavi R, Young A, Lamata P, Bishop M, Niederer S. Developing Cardiac Digital Twins at Scale: Insights from Personalised Myocardial Conduction Velocity. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2024:2023.12.05.23299435. [PMID: 38106072 PMCID: PMC10723499 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.05.23299435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Large-cohort studies using cardiovascular imaging and diagnostic datasets have assessed cardiac anatomy, function, and outcomes, but typically do not reveal underlying biological mechanisms. Cardiac digital twins (CDTs) provide personalized physics- and physiology-constrained in-silico representations, enabling inference of multi-scale properties tied to these mechanisms. We constructed 3464 anatomically-accurate CDTs using cardiac magnetic resonance images from UK biobank and personalised their myocardial conduction velocities (CVs) from electrocardiograms (ECG), through an automated framework. We found well-known sex-specific differences in QRS duration were fully explained by myocardial anatomy, as CV remained consistent across sexes. Conversely, significant associations of CV with ageing and increased BMI suggest myocardial tissue remodelling. Novel associations were observed with left ventricular ejection fraction and mental-health phenotypes, through a phenome-wide association study, and CV was also linked with adverse clinical outcomes. Our study highlights the utility of population-based CDTs in assessing intersubject variability and uncovering strong links with mental health.
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6
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Ni H, Grandi E. Computational Modeling of Cardiac Electrophysiology. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2735:63-103. [PMID: 38038844 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3527-8_5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2023]
Abstract
Mathematical modeling and simulation are well-established and powerful tools to integrate experimental data of individual components of cardiac electrophysiology, excitation-contraction coupling, and regulatory signaling pathways, to gain quantitative and mechanistic insight into pathophysiological processes and guide therapeutic strategies. Here, we briefly describe the processes governing cardiac myocyte electrophysiology and Ca2+ handling and their regulation, as well as action potential propagation in tissue. We discuss the models and methods used to describe these phenomena, including procedures for model parameterization and validation, in addition to protocols for model interrogation and analysis and techniques that account for phenotypic variability and parameter uncertainty. Our objective is to provide a summary of basic concepts and approaches as a resource for scientists training in this discipline and for all researchers aiming to gain an understanding of cardiac modeling studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haibo Ni
- Department of Pharmacology, University of California, Davis, CA, USA.
| | - Eleonora Grandi
- Department of Pharmacology, University of California, Davis, CA, USA.
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7
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Struckman HL, Moise N, King DR, Soltisz A, Buxton A, Dunlap I, Chen Z, Radwański PB, Weinberg SH, Veeraraghavan R. Unraveling Impacts of Chamber-Specific Differences in Intercalated Disc Ultrastructure and Molecular Organization on Cardiac Conduction. JACC Clin Electrophysiol 2023; 9:2425-2443. [PMID: 37498248 PMCID: PMC11102000 DOI: 10.1016/j.jacep.2023.05.042] [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: 04/12/2023] [Revised: 05/26/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/28/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Propagation of action potentials through the heart coordinates the heartbeat. Thus, intercalated discs, specialized cell-cell contact sites that provide electrical and mechanical coupling between cardiomyocytes, are an important target for study. Impaired propagation leads to arrhythmias in many pathologies, where intercalated disc remodeling is a common finding, hence the importance and urgency of understanding propagation dependence on intercalated disc structure. Conventional modeling approaches cannot predict changes in propagation elicited by perturbations that alter intercalated disc ultrastructure or molecular organization, because of lack of quantitative structural data at subcellular through nano scales. OBJECTIVES This study sought to quantify intercalated disc structure at these spatial scales in the healthy adult mouse heart and relate them to chamber-specific properties of propagation as a precursor to understanding the effects of pathological intercalated disc remodeling. METHODS Using super-resolution light microscopy, electron microscopy, and computational image analysis, we provide here the first ever systematic, multiscale quantification of intercalated disc ultrastructure and molecular organization. RESULTS By incorporating these data into a rule-based model of cardiac tissue with realistic intercalated disc structure, and comparing model predictions of electrical propagation with experimental measures of conduction velocity, we reveal that atrial intercalated discs can support faster conduction than their ventricular counterparts, which is normally masked by interchamber differences in myocyte geometry. Further, we identify key ultrastructural and molecular organization features underpinning the ability of atrial intercalated discs to support faster conduction. CONCLUSIONS These data provide the first stepping stone to elucidating chamber-specific effects of pathological intercalated disc remodeling, as occurs in many arrhythmic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather L Struckman
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA; The Frick Center for Heart Failure and Arrhythmia, Dorothy M. Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Nicolae Moise
- The Frick Center for Heart Failure and Arrhythmia, Dorothy M. Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - D Ryan King
- The Frick Center for Heart Failure and Arrhythmia, Dorothy M. Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Andrew Soltisz
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA; The Frick Center for Heart Failure and Arrhythmia, Dorothy M. Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Andrew Buxton
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Izabella Dunlap
- The Frick Center for Heart Failure and Arrhythmia, Dorothy M. Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Zhenhui Chen
- Krannert Cardiovascular Research Center, Department of Medicine, Indiana University, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Przemysław B Radwański
- The Frick Center for Heart Failure and Arrhythmia, Dorothy M. Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio, USA; Division of Outcomes and Translational Sciences, College of Pharmacy, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Seth H Weinberg
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA; The Frick Center for Heart Failure and Arrhythmia, Dorothy M. Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Rengasayee Veeraraghavan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA; The Frick Center for Heart Failure and Arrhythmia, Dorothy M. Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio, USA.
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8
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Lei L, Wang YT, Hu D, Gai C, Zhang Y. Astroglial Connexin 43-Mediated Gap Junctions and Hemichannels: Potential Antidepressant Mechanisms and the Link to Neuroinflammation. Cell Mol Neurobiol 2023; 43:4023-4040. [PMID: 37875763 DOI: 10.1007/s10571-023-01426-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/14/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023]
Abstract
Major depression disorder (MDD) is a neuropsychiatric disorder associated with a high suicide rate and a higher disability rate than any other disease. Evidence suggests that the pathological mechanism of MDD is related to astrocyte dysfunction. Depression is mainly associated with the expression of connexin 43 (Cx43) and the function of Cx43-mediated gap junctions and hemichannels in astrocytes. Moreover, neuroinflammation has been a hotspot in research on the pathology of depression, and Cx43-mediated functions are thought to be involved in neuroinflammation-related depression. However, the specific mechanism of Cx43-mediated functions in neuroinflammation-related depression pathology remains unclear. Therefore, this review summarizes and discusses Cx43 expression, the role of gap junction intercellular communication, and its relationship with neuroinflammation in depression. This review also focuses on the effects of antidepressant drugs (e.g., monoamine antidepressants, psychotropic drugs, and N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonists) on Cx43-mediated function and provides evidence for Cx43 as a novel target for the treatment of MDD. The pathogenesis of MDD is related to astrocyte dysfunction, with reduced Cx43 expression, GJ dysfunction, decreased GJIC and reduced BDNF expression in the depressed brain. The effect of Cx43 on neuroinflammation-related depression involving inflammatory cytokines, glutamate excitotoxicity, and HPA axis dysregulation. Antidepressant drugs targeting Cx43 can effectively relieve depressive symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lan Lei
- Department of Anatomy, School of Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Sunshine Southern Avenue, Fang-Shan District, Beijing, 102488, China
| | - Ya-Ting Wang
- Department of Anatomy, School of Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Sunshine Southern Avenue, Fang-Shan District, Beijing, 102488, China
| | - Die Hu
- Department of Anatomy, School of Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Sunshine Southern Avenue, Fang-Shan District, Beijing, 102488, China
| | - Cong Gai
- Department of Anatomy, School of Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Sunshine Southern Avenue, Fang-Shan District, Beijing, 102488, China
| | - Yi Zhang
- Department of Anatomy, School of Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Sunshine Southern Avenue, Fang-Shan District, Beijing, 102488, China.
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Alegret N, Dominguez-Alfaro A, Mecerreyes D, Prato M, Mestroni L, Peña B. Neonatal rat ventricular myocytes interfacing conductive polymers and carbon nanotubes. Cell Biol Toxicol 2023; 39:1627-1639. [PMID: 36029423 PMCID: PMC10243189 DOI: 10.1007/s10565-022-09753-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have become promising advanced materials and a new tool to specifically interact with electroresponsive cells. Likewise, conductive polymers (CP) appear promising electroactive biomaterial for proliferation of cells. Herein, we have investigated CNT blends with two different conductive polymers, polypyrrole/CNT (PPy/CNT) and PEDOT/CNT to evaluate the growth, survival, and beating behavior of neonatal rat ventricular myocytes (NRVM). The combination of CP/CNT not only shows excellent biocompatibility on NRVM, after 2 weeks of culture, but also exerts functional effects on networks of cardiomyocytes. NRVMs cultured on CNT-based substrates exhibited improved cellular function, i.e., homogeneous, non-arrhythmogenic, and more frequent spontaneous beating; particularly PEDOT/CNT substrates, which yielded to higher beating amplitudes, thus suggesting a more mature cardiac phenotype. Furthermore, cells presented enhanced structure: aligned sarcomeres, organized and abundant Connexin 43 (Cx43). Finally, no signs of induced hypertrophy were observed. In conclusion, the combination of CNT with CP produces high viability and promotes cardiac functionality, suggesting great potential to generate scaffolding supports for cardiac tissue engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nuria Alegret
- School of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Institute, University of Colorado Denver Anschutz Medical Campus, 12700 E. 19th Avenue, Bldg. P15, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA.
- POLYMAT University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Avenida de Tolosa 72, 20018, Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain.
- Center for Cooperative Research in Biomaterials (CIC biomaGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Paseo de Miramón 194, 20014, Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain.
| | - Antonio Dominguez-Alfaro
- POLYMAT University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Avenida de Tolosa 72, 20018, Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain
- Center for Cooperative Research in Biomaterials (CIC biomaGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Paseo de Miramón 194, 20014, Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain
- Electrical Engineering Divison, Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB3 0FA, UK
| | - David Mecerreyes
- POLYMAT University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Avenida de Tolosa 72, 20018, Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain
- Ikerbasque, Basque Foundation for Science, 48013, Bilbao, Spain
| | - Maurizio Prato
- Center for Cooperative Research in Biomaterials (CIC biomaGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Paseo de Miramón 194, 20014, Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain
- Ikerbasque, Basque Foundation for Science, 48013, Bilbao, Spain
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, INSTM Unit of Trieste, University of Trieste, Via L. Giorgieri 1, 34127, Trieste, Italy
| | - Luisa Mestroni
- School of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Institute, University of Colorado Denver Anschutz Medical Campus, 12700 E. 19th Avenue, Bldg. P15, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
| | - Brisa Peña
- School of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Institute, University of Colorado Denver Anschutz Medical Campus, 12700 E. 19th Avenue, Bldg. P15, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA.
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA.
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Lillo MA, Muñoz M, Rhana P, Gaul-Muller K, Quan J, Shirokova N, Xie LH, Santana LF, Fraidenraich D, Contreras JE. Remodeled connexin 43 hemichannels alter cardiac excitability and promote arrhythmias. J Gen Physiol 2023; 155:e202213150. [PMID: 37191672 PMCID: PMC10192603 DOI: 10.1085/jgp.202213150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Revised: 01/25/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Connexin-43 (Cx43) is the most abundant protein forming gap junction channels (GJCs) in cardiac ventricles. In multiple cardiac pathologies, including hypertrophy and heart failure, Cx43 is found remodeled at the lateral side of the intercalated discs of ventricular cardiomyocytes. Remodeling of Cx43 has been long linked to spontaneous ventricular arrhythmia, yet the mechanisms by which arrhythmias develop are still debated. Using a model of dystrophic cardiomyopathy, we previously showed that remodeled Cx43 function as aberrant hemichannels (non-forming GJCs) that alter cardiomyocyte excitability and, consequently, promote arrhythmias. Here, we aim to evaluate if opening of remodeled Cx43 can serve as a general mechanism to alter cardiac excitability independent of cellular dysfunction associated with a particular cardiomyopathy. To address this issue, we used a genetically modified Cx43 knock-in mouse (S3A) that promotes cardiac remodeling of Cx43 protein without apparent cardiac dysfunction. Importantly, when S3A mice were subjected to cardiac stress using the β-adrenergic agonist isoproterenol (Iso), they displayed acute and severe arrhythmias, which were not observed in WT mice. Pretreatment of S3A mice with the Cx43 hemichannel blocker, Gap19, prevented Iso-induced abnormal electrocardiographic behavior. At the cellular level, when compared with WT, Iso-treated S3A cardiomyocytes showed increased membrane permeability, greater plasma membrane depolarization, and Ca2+ overload, which likely caused prolonged action potentials, delayed after depolarizations, and triggered activity. All these cellular dysfunctions were also prevented by Cx43 hemichannel blockers. Our results support the notion that opening of remodeled Cx43 hemichannels, regardless of the type of cardiomyopathy, is sufficient to mediate cardiac-stress-induced arrhythmogenicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mauricio A. Lillo
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology and Neuroscience, Rutgers University, New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Manuel Muñoz
- Department of Physiology and Membrane Biology, University of California, Davis. Davis, CA, USA
| | - Paula Rhana
- Department of Physiology and Membrane Biology, University of California, Davis. Davis, CA, USA
| | - Kelli Gaul-Muller
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology and Neuroscience, Rutgers University, New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Jonathan Quan
- Department of Physiology and Membrane Biology, University of California, Davis. Davis, CA, USA
| | - Natalia Shirokova
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology and Neuroscience, Rutgers University, New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Lai-Hua Xie
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine, Rutgers University, New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Luis Fernando Santana
- Department of Physiology and Membrane Biology, University of California, Davis. Davis, CA, USA
| | - Diego Fraidenraich
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine, Rutgers University, New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Jorge E. Contreras
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology and Neuroscience, Rutgers University, New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, USA
- Department of Physiology and Membrane Biology, University of California, Davis. Davis, CA, USA
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Pantiya P, Thonusin C, Ongnok B, Chunchai T, Kongkaew A, Nawara W, Arunsak B, Chattipakorn N, Chattipakorn SC. Chronic D-Galactose Administration Induces Natural Aging Characteristics, in Rat's Brain and Heart. Toxicology 2023; 492:153553. [PMID: 37225035 DOI: 10.1016/j.tox.2023.153553] [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: 04/13/2023] [Revised: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 05/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
We aimed to investigate the effect of chronic D-galactose exposure on the mimicking of natural aging processes based upon the hallmarks of aging. Seven-week-old male Wistar rats (n = 12) were randomly assigned to receive either normal saline solution as a vehicle (n = 6) or 150mg/kg/day of D-galactose subcutaneously for 28 weeks. Seventeen-month-old rats (n = 6) were also included as the chronologically aged controls. At the end of week 28 of the experiment (when the rats reach 35 weeks old and 24 months old), all rats were sacrificed for brain and heart collection. Our results showed that chronic D-galactose exposure mimicked natural aging characteristics of the brain and the heart in terms of deregulated nutrient sensing, mitochondrial dysfunction, cellular senescence, stem cell exhaustion, altered intercellular communication, and functional impairment. All of which highlight the potential of D-galactose as a substance for inducing brain and cardiac aging in animal experiments. DATA AVAILABILITY: The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patcharapong Pantiya
- Neurophysiology Unit, Cardiac Electrophysiology Research and Training Center, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand; Cardiac Electrophysiology Unit, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand; Center of Excellence in Cardiac Electrophysiology Research, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Chanisa Thonusin
- Neurophysiology Unit, Cardiac Electrophysiology Research and Training Center, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand; Cardiac Electrophysiology Unit, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand; Center of Excellence in Cardiac Electrophysiology Research, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Benjamin Ongnok
- Neurophysiology Unit, Cardiac Electrophysiology Research and Training Center, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand; Cardiac Electrophysiology Unit, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand; Center of Excellence in Cardiac Electrophysiology Research, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Titikorn Chunchai
- Neurophysiology Unit, Cardiac Electrophysiology Research and Training Center, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand; Center of Excellence in Cardiac Electrophysiology Research, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Aphisek Kongkaew
- Research Administration Section, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Wichwara Nawara
- Neurophysiology Unit, Cardiac Electrophysiology Research and Training Center, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand; Center of Excellence in Cardiac Electrophysiology Research, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Busarin Arunsak
- Neurophysiology Unit, Cardiac Electrophysiology Research and Training Center, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand; Center of Excellence in Cardiac Electrophysiology Research, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Nipon Chattipakorn
- Neurophysiology Unit, Cardiac Electrophysiology Research and Training Center, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand; Cardiac Electrophysiology Unit, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand; Center of Excellence in Cardiac Electrophysiology Research, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Siriporn C Chattipakorn
- Neurophysiology Unit, Cardiac Electrophysiology Research and Training Center, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand; Cardiac Electrophysiology Unit, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand; Department of Oral Biology and Diagnostic Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
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12
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Mfarej MG, Hyland CA, Sanchez AC, Falk MM, Iovine MK, Skibbens RV. Cohesin: an emerging master regulator at the heart of cardiac development. Mol Biol Cell 2023; 34:rs2. [PMID: 36947206 PMCID: PMC10162415 DOI: 10.1091/mbc.e22-12-0557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2022] [Revised: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Cohesins are ATPase complexes that play central roles in cellular processes such as chromosome division, DNA repair, and gene expression. Cohesinopathies arise from mutations in cohesin proteins or cohesin complex regulators and encompass a family of related developmental disorders that present with a range of severe birth defects, affect many different physiological systems, and often lead to embryonic fatality. Treatments for cohesinopathies are limited, in large part due to the lack of understanding of cohesin biology. Thus, characterizing the signaling networks that lie upstream and downstream of cohesin-dependent pathways remains clinically relevant. Here, we highlight alterations in cohesins and cohesin regulators that result in cohesinopathies, with a focus on cardiac defects. In addition, we suggest a novel and more unifying view regarding the mechanisms through which cohesinopathy-based heart defects may arise.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael G. Mfarej
- Department of Biological Sciences, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA 18015
| | - Caitlin A. Hyland
- Department of Biological Sciences, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA 18015
| | - Annie C. Sanchez
- Department of Biological Sciences, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA 18015
| | - Matthias M. Falk
- Department of Biological Sciences, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA 18015
| | - M. Kathryn Iovine
- Department of Biological Sciences, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA 18015
| | - Robert V. Skibbens
- Department of Biological Sciences, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA 18015
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13
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Struckman HL, Moise N, King DR, Soltisz A, Buxton A, Dunlap I, Chen Z, Radwański PB, Weinberg SH, Veeraraghavan R. Unraveling Chamber-specific Differences in Intercalated Disc Ultrastructure and Molecular Organization and Their Impact on Cardiac Conduction. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.02.13.528369. [PMID: 36824727 PMCID: PMC9949041 DOI: 10.1101/2023.02.13.528369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/16/2023]
Abstract
During each heartbeat, the propagation of action potentials through the heart coordinates the contraction of billions of individual cardiomyocytes and is thus, a critical life process. Unsurprisingly, intercalated discs, which are cell-cell contact sites specialized to provide electrical and mechanical coupling between adjacent cardiomyocytes, have been the focus of much investigation. Slowed or disrupted propagation leads to potentially life-threatening arrhythmias in a wide range of pathologies, where intercalated disc remodeling is a common finding. Hence, the importance and urgency of understanding intercalated disc structure and its influence on action potential propagation. Surprisingly, however, conventional modeling approaches cannot predict changes in propagation elicited by perturbations that alter intercalated disc ultrastructure or molecular organization, owing to lack of quantitative structural data at subcellular through nano scales. In order to address this critical gap in knowledge, we sought to quantify intercalated disc structure at these finer spatial scales in the healthy adult mouse heart and relate them to function in a chamber-specific manner as a precursor to understanding the impacts of pathological intercalated disc remodeling. Using super-resolution light microscopy, electron microscopy, and computational image analysis, we provide here the first ever systematic, multiscale quantification of intercalated disc ultrastructure and molecular organization. By incorporating these data into a rule-based model of cardiac tissue with realistic intercalated disc structure, and comparing model predictions of electrical propagation with experimental measures of conduction velocity, we reveal that atrial intercalated discs can support faster conduction than their ventricular counterparts, which is normally masked by inter-chamber differences in myocyte geometry. Further, we identify key ultrastructural and molecular organization features underpinning the ability of atrial intercalated discs to support faster conduction. These data provide the first stepping stone to elucidating chamber-specific impacts of pathological intercalated disc remodeling, as occurs in many arrhythmic diseases.
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14
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LRP6-mediated phosphorylation of connexin43 in myocardial infarction. iScience 2023; 26:106160. [PMID: 36879803 PMCID: PMC9985046 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.106160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2022] [Revised: 10/30/2022] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Ventricular tachycardia (VT) and ventricular fibrillation are most causes of early death in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Conditional cardiac-specific low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 6 (LRP6)-knockout mice with connexin 43 (Cx43) reduction triggered the lethal ventricular arrhythmias. Thus, it is necessary for exploring whether LRP6 and its upstream genes circRNA1615 mediate the phosphorylation of Cx43 in VT of AMI. Here, we showed that circRNA1615 regulated the expression of LRP6 mRNA through sponge adsorption of miR-152-3p. Importantly, LRP6 interference fragments aggravated hypoxia injury of Cx43, while overexpression of LRP6 improved the phosphorylation of Cx43. Subsequently, interference with G-protein alpha subunit (Gαs) downstream of LRP6 further inhibited the phosphorylation of Cx43, along with increasing VT. Our results demonstrated that LRP6 upstream genes circRNA1615 controlled the damage effect and VT in AMI, and LRP6 mediated the phosphorylation of Cx43 via Gαs which played a role in VT of AMI.
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15
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Pun R, Kim MH, North BJ. Role of Connexin 43 phosphorylation on Serine-368 by PKC in cardiac function and disease. Front Cardiovasc Med 2023; 9:1080131. [PMID: 36712244 PMCID: PMC9877470 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2022.1080131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Intercellular communication mediated by gap junction channels and hemichannels composed of Connexin 43 (Cx43) is vital for the propagation of electrical impulses through cardiomyocytes. The carboxyl terminal tail of Cx43 undergoes various post-translational modifications including phosphorylation of its Serine-368 (S368) residue. Protein Kinase C isozymes directly phosphorylate S368 to alter Cx43 function and stability through inducing conformational changes affecting channel permeability or promoting internalization and degradation to reduce intercellular communication between cardiomyocytes. Recent studies have implicated this PKC/Cx43-pS368 circuit in several cardiac-associated diseases. In this review, we describe the molecular and cellular basis of PKC-mediated Cx43 phosphorylation and discuss the implications of Cx43 S368 phosphorylation in the context of various cardiac diseases, such as cardiomyopathy, as well as the therapeutic potential of targeting this pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renju Pun
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, Creighton University, Omaha, NE, United States
| | - Michael H. Kim
- CHI Health Heart Institute, School of Medicine, Creighton University, Omaha, NE, United States
| | - Brian J. North
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, Creighton University, Omaha, NE, United States,*Correspondence: Brian J. North,
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16
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Actin-microtubule cytoskeletal interplay mediated by MRTF-A/SRF signaling promotes dilated cardiomyopathy caused by LMNA mutations. Nat Commun 2022; 13:7886. [PMID: 36550158 PMCID: PMC9780334 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-35639-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutations in the lamin A/C gene (LMNA) cause dilated cardiomyopathy associated with increased activity of ERK1/2 in the heart. We recently showed that ERK1/2 phosphorylates cofilin-1 on threonine 25 (phospho(T25)-cofilin-1) that in turn disassembles the actin cytoskeleton. Here, we show that in muscle cells carrying a cardiomyopathy-causing LMNA mutation, phospho(T25)-cofilin-1 binds to myocardin-related transcription factor A (MRTF-A) in the cytoplasm, thus preventing the stimulation of serum response factor (SRF) in the nucleus. Inhibiting the MRTF-A/SRF axis leads to decreased α-tubulin acetylation by reducing the expression of ATAT1 gene encoding α-tubulin acetyltransferase 1. Hence, tubulin acetylation is decreased in cardiomyocytes derived from male patients with LMNA mutations and in heart and isolated cardiomyocytes from Lmnap.H222P/H222P male mice. In Atat1 knockout mice, deficient for acetylated α-tubulin, we observe left ventricular dilation and mislocalization of Connexin 43 (Cx43) in heart. Increasing α-tubulin acetylation levels in Lmnap.H222P/H222P mice with tubastatin A treatment restores the proper localization of Cx43 and improves cardiac function. In summary, we show for the first time an actin-microtubule cytoskeletal interplay mediated by cofilin-1 and MRTF-A/SRF, promoting the dilated cardiomyopathy caused by LMNA mutations. Our findings suggest that modulating α-tubulin acetylation levels is a feasible strategy for improving cardiac function.
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17
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Amino M, Yamazaki M, Yoshioka K, Kawabe N, Tanaka S, Shimokawa T, Niwa R, Tomii N, Kabuki S, Kunieda E, Yagishita A, Ikari Y, Kodama I. Heavy Ion Irradiation Reduces Vulnerability to Atrial Tachyarrhythmias ― Gap Junction and Sympathetic Neural Remodeling ―. Circ J 2022. [DOI: 10.1253/circj.cj-22-0527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mari Amino
- Department of Cardiology, Tokai University
| | | | | | | | | | - Takashi Shimokawa
- National Institute for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology
| | - Ryoko Niwa
- Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Nagoya University
| | - Naoki Tomii
- School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo
| | | | | | | | - Yuji Ikari
- Department of Cardiology, Tokai University
| | - Itsuo Kodama
- Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Nagoya University
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18
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Peña B, Gao S, Borin D, Del Favero G, Abdel-Hafiz M, Farahzad N, Lorenzon P, Sinagra G, Taylor MRG, Mestroni L, Sbaizero O. Cellular Biomechanic Impairment in Cardiomyocytes Carrying the Progeria Mutation: An Atomic Force Microscopy Investigation. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2022; 38:14928-14940. [PMID: 36420863 PMCID: PMC9730902 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.2c02623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2022] [Revised: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Given the clinical effect of progeria syndrome, understanding the cell mechanical behavior of this pathology could benefit the patient's treatment. Progeria patients show a point mutation in the lamin A/C gene (LMNA), which could change the cell's biomechanical properties. This paper reports a mechano-dynamic analysis of a progeria mutation (c.1824 C > T, p.Gly608Gly) in neonatal rat ventricular myocytes (NRVMs) using cell indentation by atomic force microscopy to measure alterations in beating force, frequency, and contractile amplitude of selected cells within cell clusters. Furthermore, we examined the beating rate variability using a time-domain method that produces a Poincaré plot because beat-to-beat changes can shed light on the causes of arrhythmias. Our data have been further related to our cell phenotype findings, using immunofluorescence and calcium transient analysis, showing that mutant NRVMs display changes in both beating force and frequency. These changes were associated with a decreased gap junction localization (Connexin 43) in the mutant NRVMs even in the presence of a stable cytoskeletal structure (microtubules and actin filaments) when compared with controls (wild type and non-treated cells). These data emphasize the kindred between nucleoskeleton (LMNA), cytoskeleton, and the sarcolemmal structures in NRVM with the progeria Gly608Gly mutation, prompting future mechanistic and therapeutic investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brisa Peña
- Cardiovascular
Institute & Adult Medical Genetics, University of Colorado Denver Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado80045, United States
- Bioengineering
Department, University of Colorado Denver
Anschutz Medical Campus, 12705 E. Montview Avenue, Suite 100, Aurora, Colorado80045, United States
| | - Shanshan Gao
- Cardiovascular
Institute & Adult Medical Genetics, University of Colorado Denver Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado80045, United States
| | - Daniele Borin
- Department
of Engineering and Architecture, University
of Trieste, Trieste34127, Italy
| | - Giorgia Del Favero
- Department
of Food Chemistry and Toxicology, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Vienna, Währinger Straße 38-42, 1090Vienna, Austria
- Core
Facility Multimodal Imaging, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Vienna, Wien, Währinger Straße 38-42, 1090Vienna, Austria
| | - Mostafa Abdel-Hafiz
- Bioengineering
Department, University of Colorado Denver
Anschutz Medical Campus, 12705 E. Montview Avenue, Suite 100, Aurora, Colorado80045, United States
| | - Nasim Farahzad
- Bioengineering
Department, University of Colorado Denver
Anschutz Medical Campus, 12705 E. Montview Avenue, Suite 100, Aurora, Colorado80045, United States
| | - Paola Lorenzon
- Department
F of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste34127, Italy
| | - Gianfranco Sinagra
- Polo
Cardiologico, Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria
Integrata di Trieste, Strada di Fiume 447, Trieste34127, Italy
| | - Matthew R. G. Taylor
- Cardiovascular
Institute & Adult Medical Genetics, University of Colorado Denver Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado80045, United States
| | - Luisa Mestroni
- Cardiovascular
Institute & Adult Medical Genetics, University of Colorado Denver Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado80045, United States
| | - Orfeo Sbaizero
- Cardiovascular
Institute & Adult Medical Genetics, University of Colorado Denver Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado80045, United States
- Department
of Engineering and Architecture, University
of Trieste, Trieste34127, Italy
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19
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Zheng M, Li RG, Song J, Zhao X, Tang L, Erhardt S, Chen W, Nguyen BH, Li X, Li M, Wang J, Evans SM, Christoffels VM, Li N, Wang J. Hippo-Yap Signaling Maintains Sinoatrial Node Homeostasis. Circulation 2022; 146:1694-1711. [PMID: 36317529 PMCID: PMC9897204 DOI: 10.1161/circulationaha.121.058777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The sinoatrial node (SAN) functions as the pacemaker of the heart, initiating rhythmic heartbeats. Despite its importance, the SAN is one of the most poorly understood cardiac entities because of its small size and complex composition and function. The Hippo signaling pathway is a molecular signaling pathway fundamental to heart development and regeneration. Although abnormalities of the Hippo pathway are associated with cardiac arrhythmias in human patients, the role of this pathway in the SAN is unknown. METHODS We investigated key regulators of the Hippo pathway in SAN pacemaker cells by conditionally inactivating the Hippo signaling kinases Lats1 and Lats2 using the tamoxifen-inducible, cardiac conduction system-specific Cre driver Hcn4CreERT2 with Lats1 and Lats2 conditional knockout alleles. In addition, the Hippo-signaling effectors Yap and Taz were conditionally inactivated in the SAN. To determine the function of Hippo signaling in the SAN and other cardiac conduction system components, we conducted a series of physiological and molecular experiments, including telemetry ECG recording, echocardiography, Masson Trichrome staining, calcium imaging, immunostaining, RNAscope, cleavage under targets and tagmentation sequencing using antibodies against Yap1 or H3K4me3, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, and Western blotting. We also performed comprehensive bioinformatics analyses of various datasets. RESULTS We found that Lats1/2 inactivation caused severe sinus node dysfunction. Compared with the controls, Lats1/2 conditional knockout mutants exhibited dysregulated calcium handling and increased fibrosis in the SAN, indicating that Lats1/2 function through both cell-autonomous and non-cell-autonomous mechanisms. It is notable that the Lats1/2 conditional knockout phenotype was rescued by genetic deletion of Yap and Taz in the cardiac conduction system. These rescued mice had normal sinus rhythm and reduced fibrosis of the SAN, indicating that Lats1/2 function through Yap and Taz. Cleavage Under Targets and Tagmentation sequencing data showed that Yap potentially regulates genes critical for calcium homeostasis such as Ryr2 and genes encoding paracrine factors important in intercellular communication and fibrosis induction such as Tgfb1 and Tgfb3. Consistent with this, Lats1/2 conditional knockout mutants had decreased Ryr2 expression and increased Tgfb1 and Tgfb3 expression compared with control mice. CONCLUSIONS We reveal, for the first time to our knowledge, that the canonical Hippo-Yap pathway plays a pivotal role in maintaining SAN homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingjie Zheng
- Department of Pediatrics, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (M.Z., X.Z., S.E., W.C., Jun Wang)
| | - Rich G Li
- Texas Heart Institute, Houston (R.G.L., X.L.)
| | - Jia Song
- Department of Medicine (Section of Cardiovascular Research), Cardiovascular Research Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX (J.S., N.L.)
| | - Xiaolei Zhao
- Department of Pediatrics, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (M.Z., X.Z., S.E., W.C., Jun Wang)
| | - Li Tang
- Hunan Provincial Key Lab on Bioinformatics, School of Computer Science and Engineering, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China (L.T., M.L., Jianxin Wang)
| | - Shannon Erhardt
- Department of Pediatrics, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (M.Z., X.Z., S.E., W.C., Jun Wang)
- MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Texas, Houston (S.E., Jun Wang)
| | - Wen Chen
- Department of Pediatrics, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (M.Z., X.Z., S.E., W.C., Jun Wang)
| | - Bao H Nguyen
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics (B.H.N.)
| | - Xiao Li
- Texas Heart Institute, Houston (R.G.L., X.L.)
| | - Min Li
- Hunan Provincial Key Lab on Bioinformatics, School of Computer Science and Engineering, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China (L.T., M.L., Jianxin Wang)
| | - Jianxin Wang
- Hunan Provincial Key Lab on Bioinformatics, School of Computer Science and Engineering, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China (L.T., M.L., Jianxin Wang)
| | - Sylvia M Evans
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Departments of Pharmacology and Medicine, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla (S.M.E.)
| | - Vincent M Christoffels
- Medical Biology, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands (V.M.C.)
| | - Na Li
- Department of Medicine (Section of Cardiovascular Research), Cardiovascular Research Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX (J.S., N.L.)
| | - Jun Wang
- Department of Pediatrics, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (M.Z., X.Z., S.E., W.C., Jun Wang)
- MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Texas, Houston (S.E., Jun Wang)
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20
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Dapagliflozin Improves Diabetic Cardiomyopathy by Modulating the Akt/mTOR Signaling Pathway. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 2022:9687345. [PMID: 35928916 PMCID: PMC9345717 DOI: 10.1155/2022/9687345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2022] [Revised: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Background Dapagliflozin can significantly improve heart failure, and Cx43 is one of the molecular mechanisms of heart failure. This study investigated the effect of dapagliflozin on Cx43 and Akt/mTOR signaling pathway in ventricular myocytes. Methods A rat model of type 2 diabetes mellitus was established by high-fat diet combined with streptozotocin, and the animals were treated randomly with dapagliflozin. The morphological changes of the myocardium were observed by hematoxylin eosin staining, and the expression and distribution of Cx43 in ventricular myocytes were detected by immunohistochemistry. And Western blot determined the expressions of Cx43, Akt, mTOR, p62, and LC3 proteins in rat myocardium. Results Compared with the normal control group, the heart rate of diabetic rats decreased significantly (p < 0.05), QRS wave of ECG widened, and QT interval prolonged (p < 0.05). Dapagliflozin treatment in diabetic rats resulted in improvements in these ECG indexes (p < 0.05) with early administration group obtaining greater efficacy than the late administration group (p < 0.05). In the normal control group, the cardiomyocytes were arranged orderly, and the expression of Cx43 was dense, uniform, and regular, which was higher than that in the intercalated disc. In the diabetic control model group, the cardiomyocytes were enlarged and presented disorderly with detection of Cx43 in the cytoplasm. Early use of dapagliflozin better improved these myocardial tissue lesions. Of note, as diabetic rats exhibited decreased expression of Cx43, Akt, and mTOR (p < 0.05), increased p62 expression (p < 0.05), and decreased LC3-II/I ratio (p < 0.05), administration of dapagliflozin partially reversed the expression of the above proteins (p < 0.05) with greater improvement in the early administration group compared with the late administration group (p < 0.05). Conclusions Dapagliflozin increases the expression of Cx43 in cardiomyocytes of diabetic rats and thereby alleviates heart failure partly through regulating the Akt/mTOR signaling pathway.
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21
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Guo YH, Yang YQ. Atrial Fibrillation: Focus on Myocardial Connexins and Gap Junctions. BIOLOGY 2022; 11:489. [PMID: 35453689 PMCID: PMC9029470 DOI: 10.3390/biology11040489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2022] [Revised: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Atrial fibrillation (AF) represents the most common type of clinical cardiac arrhythmia worldwide and contributes to substantial morbidity, mortality and socioeconomic burden. Aggregating evidence highlights the strong genetic basis of AF. In addition to chromosomal abnormalities, pathogenic mutations in over 50 genes have been causally linked to AF, of which the majority encode ion channels, cardiac structural proteins, transcription factors and gap junction channels. In the heart, gap junctions comprised of connexins (Cxs) form intercellular pathways responsible for electrical coupling and rapid coordinated action potential propagation between adjacent cardiomyocytes. Among the 21 isoforms of connexins already identified in the mammal genomes, 5 isoforms (Cx37, Cx40, Cx43, Cx45 and Cx46) are expressed in human heart. Abnormal electrical coupling between cardiomyocytes caused by structural remodeling of gap junction channels (alterations in connexin distribution and protein levels) has been associated with enhanced susceptibility to AF and recent studies have revealed multiple causative mutations or polymorphisms in 4 isoforms of connexins predisposing to AF. In this review, an overview of the genetics of AF is made, with a focus on the roles of mutant myocardial connexins and gap junctions in the pathogenesis of AF, to underscore the hypothesis that cardiac connexins are a major molecular target in the management of AF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Han Guo
- Department of Cardiology, Shanghai Fifth People’s Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200240, China;
| | - Yi-Qing Yang
- Department of Cardiology, Shanghai Fifth People’s Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200240, China;
- Cardiovascular Research Laboratory, Shanghai Fifth People’s Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200240, China
- Center Laboratory, Shanghai Fifth People’s Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200240, China
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22
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Secondhand smoke exposure is associated with abnormal P-wave axis. Public Health 2022; 205:79-82. [PMID: 35247863 PMCID: PMC8995340 DOI: 10.1016/j.puhe.2022.01.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2021] [Revised: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Secondhand smoke exposure (SHSE) is associated with increased risk of cerebrovascular accident (CVA). Abnormal P-wave axis (aPWA) is a marker for atriopathy that is also associated with CVA risk. We hypothesized that SHSE is associated with aPWA. METHODS This analysis included 5986 non-smokers (age 61.7 ± 13.8 years, 45.8% men, 77.4% Whites) from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. SHSE was defined as serum cotinine ≥1 ng/ml aPWA was defined as any P-wave axis outside of 0-75°. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine the association between SHSE and aPWA, overall and among subgroups stratified by demographics and comorbidities. RESULTS About 18.5% (n = 1109) of the participants had SHSE. aPWA was more prevalent among those with SHSE than those without (23.9% versus 19.8%, respectively, P-value = 0.003). In a model adjusted for sociodemographic and potential confounders, presence (versus absence) of SHSE was associated with increased odds of aPWA (odds ratio [95% confidence interval]: 1.28 [1.09, 1.50]; P-value = 0.003). This association was stronger among Whites vs non-Whites (interaction P-value = 0.04) and non-obese versus obese (interaction P-value = 0.04). Higher levels of serum cotinine were associated with increased odds of aPWA. Compared with serum cotinine level <1 ng/ml, serum cotinine ≥3 ng/ml and ≥6 ng/ml were associated with 35% (P-value = 0.002) and 38% (P-value = 0.002) increased odds of aPWA, respectively. CONCLUSIONS SHSE is associated with abnormal atrial conduction, measured as aPWA, with possible effect modification by ethnicity and obesity. These findings underscore the harmful effects of SHSE on cardiovascular health which merits a personalized risk assessment when counseling patients on SHSE.
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Li H, Yu B, Yang P, Zhan J, Fan X, Chen P, Liao X, Ou C, Cai Y, Chen M. Injectable AuNP-HA matrix with localized stiffness enhances the formation of gap junction in engrafted human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes and promotes cardiac repair. Biomaterials 2021; 279:121231. [PMID: 34739980 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2021.121231] [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: 03/03/2021] [Revised: 10/17/2021] [Accepted: 10/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Cell therapy offers a promising paradigm for heart tissue regeneration. Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPS) and their cardiac derivatives are emerging as a novel treatment for post-myocardial infarction repair. However, the immature phenotype and function of hiPS-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPS-CMs), particularly poor electrical coupling, limit their potential as a therapy. Herein, we developed a hybrid gold nanoparticle (AuNP)-hyaluronic acid (HA) hydrogel matrix encapsulating hiPS-CMs to overcome this limitation. Methacrylate-modified-HA was used as the backbone and crosslinked with a matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) degradable peptide to obtain a MMP-2-responsive hydrogel; RGD peptide was introduced as an adhesion point to enhance biocompatibility; AuNPs were incorporated to regulate the mechanical and topological properties of the matrix by significantly increasing its stiffness and surface roughness, thereby accelerating gap junction formation in hiPS-CMs and orchestrating calcium handling via the αnβ1integrin-mediated ILK-1/p-AKT/GATA4 pathway. Transplanted AuNP-HA-hydrogel-encapsulated-hiPS-CMs developed more robust gap junctions in the infarcted mice heart and resynchronized electrical conduction of the ventricle post-myocardial infarction. The hiPS-CMs delivered by the hydrogels exerted stronger angiogenic effects, which also contributed to the recovery process. This study provides insight into constructing an injectable biomimetic for structural and functional renovation of the injured heart.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hekai Li
- Guangdong Provincial Biomedical Engineering Technology Research Center for Cardiovascular Disease, Department of Cardiology and Laboratory of Heart Center, Sino-Japanese Cooperation Platform for Translational Research in Heart Failure, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510280, China.
| | - Bin Yu
- Guangdong Provincial Biomedical Engineering Technology Research Center for Cardiovascular Disease, Department of Cardiology and Laboratory of Heart Center, Sino-Japanese Cooperation Platform for Translational Research in Heart Failure, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510280, China.
| | - Pingzhen Yang
- Guangdong Provincial Biomedical Engineering Technology Research Center for Cardiovascular Disease, Department of Cardiology and Laboratory of Heart Center, Sino-Japanese Cooperation Platform for Translational Research in Heart Failure, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510280, China.
| | - Jie Zhan
- Shunde Hospital, Southern Medical University, The First People's Hospital of Shunde, Foshan, 528300, China.
| | - Xianglin Fan
- Guangdong Provincial Biomedical Engineering Technology Research Center for Cardiovascular Disease, Department of Cardiology and Laboratory of Heart Center, Sino-Japanese Cooperation Platform for Translational Research in Heart Failure, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510280, China.
| | - Peier Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Biomedical Engineering Technology Research Center for Cardiovascular Disease, Department of Cardiology and Laboratory of Heart Center, Sino-Japanese Cooperation Platform for Translational Research in Heart Failure, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510280, China.
| | - Xu Liao
- Guangdong Provincial Biomedical Engineering Technology Research Center for Cardiovascular Disease, Department of Cardiology and Laboratory of Heart Center, Sino-Japanese Cooperation Platform for Translational Research in Heart Failure, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510280, China.
| | - Caiwen Ou
- Guangdong Provincial Biomedical Engineering Technology Research Center for Cardiovascular Disease, Department of Cardiology and Laboratory of Heart Center, Sino-Japanese Cooperation Platform for Translational Research in Heart Failure, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510280, China.
| | - Yanbin Cai
- Guangdong Provincial Biomedical Engineering Technology Research Center for Cardiovascular Disease, Department of Cardiology and Laboratory of Heart Center, Sino-Japanese Cooperation Platform for Translational Research in Heart Failure, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510280, China.
| | - Minsheng Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Biomedical Engineering Technology Research Center for Cardiovascular Disease, Department of Cardiology and Laboratory of Heart Center, Sino-Japanese Cooperation Platform for Translational Research in Heart Failure, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510280, China.
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Lee HL, Chang PC, Wo HT, Liu HT, Wen MS, Chou CC. Beneficial Electrophysiological Effects of Rotigaptide Are Unable to Suppress Therapeutic Hypothermia-Provoked Ventricular Fibrillation in Failing Rabbit Hearts With Acute Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury. Front Physiol 2021; 12:726389. [PMID: 34588996 PMCID: PMC8473906 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.726389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Accepted: 08/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Aims: Whether therapeutic hypothermia (TH) is proarrhythmic in preexisting failing hearts with acute ischemia–reperfusion (IR) injury is unknown. Additionally, the effectiveness of rotigaptide on improving conduction slowing in hearts with IR injury is ambiguous. We investigated the electrophysiological effects of TH and rotigaptide in failing rabbit hearts with acute IR injury and determined the underlying molecular mechanisms. Methods and Results: Heart failure was induced by right ventricular pacing (320 beats/min, 4 weeks). Rabbits with pacing-induced heart failure were randomly divided into TH (n = 14) and non-TH (n = 7) groups. The IR rabbit model was created by ligating the coronary artery for 60 min, followed by reperfusion for 15 min in vivo. Then, the hearts were excised quickly and Langendorff-perfused for simultaneous voltage and intracellular Ca2+ (Cai) optical mapping. Electrophysiological studies were conducted, and vulnerability to ventricular fibrillation (VF) was evaluated using pacing protocols. TH (33°C) was instituted after baseline studies, and electrophysiological studies were repeated. Rotigaptide (300 nM) was infused for 20 min, and electrophysiological studies were repeated under TH. Cardiac tissues were sampled for Western blotting. TH increased the dispersion and beat-to-beat variability of action potential duration (APD), aggravated conduction slowing, and prolonged Cai decay to facilitate spatially discordant alternans (SDA) and VF induction. Rotigaptide reduced the dispersion and beat-to-beat variability of APD and improved slowed conduction to defer the onset of arrhythmogenic SDA by dynamic pacing and elevate the pacing threshold of VF during TH. However, the effect of rotigaptide on TH-enhanced VF inducibility was statistically insignificant. TH attenuated IR-induced dysregulation of protein expression, but its functional role remained uncertain. Conclusion: Therapeutic hypothermia is proarrhythmic in failing hearts with acute IR injury. Rotigaptide improves TH-induced APD dispersion and beat-to-beat variability and conduction disturbance to defer the onset of arrhythmogenic SDA and elevate the VF threshold by dynamic pacing, but these beneficial electrophysiological effects are unable to suppress TH-enhanced VF inducibility significantly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui-Ling Lee
- Department of Anesthesia, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Po-Cheng Chang
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan City, Taiwan
| | - Hung-Ta Wo
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan City, Taiwan
| | - Hao-Tien Liu
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan City, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Shien Wen
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan City, Taiwan.,Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taoyuan City, Taiwan
| | - Chung-Chuan Chou
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan City, Taiwan.,Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taoyuan City, Taiwan
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Hegner P, Lebek S, Tafelmeier M, Camboni D, Schopka S, Schmid C, Maier LS, Arzt M, Wagner S. Sleep-disordered breathing is independently associated with reduced atrial connexin 43 expression. Heart Rhythm 2021; 18:2187-2194. [PMID: 34517118 DOI: 10.1016/j.hrthm.2021.09.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2021] [Revised: 09/02/2021] [Accepted: 09/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) exhibit decreased atrial expression of connexin (Cx), which has been causally linked to a proarrhythmogenic substrate. Interestingly, patients with sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) are at increased risk of AF, but the mechanisms remain unclear. OBJECTIVE We tested the hypothesis that patients with SDB have reduced atrial Cx expression independent of important comorbidities. METHODS We analyzed right atrial appendage biopsies from 77 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting. Patients were tested for SDB by polygraphy before surgery. Expression of Cx40 and Cx43 messenger RNA was quantified using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blot (Cx43). Structural atrial remodeling was investigated histologically and by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Postoperative AF was assessed by 12-lead electrocardiography. RESULTS Patients were stratified according to apnea-hypopnea index (SDB if apnea-hypopnea index ≥15 per hour, n = 32 vs n = 45). Patients with SDB had significantly lower atrial Cx43 expression, which was negatively correlated with apnea-hypopnea index and oxygen desaturation index. No significant increase in atrial fibrosis or expression of hypertrophy and inflammatory markers was observed. Interestingly, SDB remained the strongest independent predictor of decreased atrial Cx43 expression in a multivariate logistic regression model including age, sex, diabetes, and heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (odds ratio 7.58; 95% confidence interval 1.891-30.375; P = .004). Moreover, reduced atrial Cx43 expression was strongly associated with the occurrence of postoperative AF (odds ratio 15.749; 95% confidence interval 1.072-231.472; P = .044). CONCLUSION Patients with SDB exhibited decreased atrial Cx43 expression, which correlated with the severity of SDB. This correlation was independent of several concomitant diseases and may be linked to an increased risk of AF after cardiac surgery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipp Hegner
- Department for Internal Medicine II, University Medical Center Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Simon Lebek
- Department for Internal Medicine II, University Medical Center Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Maria Tafelmeier
- Department for Internal Medicine II, University Medical Center Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Daniele Camboni
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University Medical Center Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Simon Schopka
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University Medical Center Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Christof Schmid
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University Medical Center Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Lars Siegfried Maier
- Department for Internal Medicine II, University Medical Center Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Michael Arzt
- Department for Internal Medicine II, University Medical Center Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Stefan Wagner
- Department for Internal Medicine II, University Medical Center Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
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Ouabain Enhances Gap Junctional Intercellular Communication by Inducing Paracrine Secretion of Prostaglandin E2. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22126244. [PMID: 34200582 PMCID: PMC8230150 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22126244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2021] [Revised: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Ouabain is a cardiac glycoside that has been described as a hormone, with interesting effects on epithelial physiology. We have shown previously that ouabain induces gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) in wild, sensitive cells (MDCK-S), but not in cells that have become insensitive (MDCK-I) by modifying their Na+-K+-ATPase. We have also demonstrated that prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) is able to induce increased GJIC by a mechanism other than ouabain, that does not depend on Na+-K+-ATPase. In this work we show, by dye transfer assays, that when MDCK-S and MDCK-I are randomly mixed, to form monolayers, the latter stablish GJIC, because of stimulation by a compound released to the extracellular media, by MDCK-S cells, after treatment with ouabain, as evidenced by the fact that monolayers of only MDCK-I cells, treated with a conditioned medium (CM) that is obtained after incubation of MDCK-S monolayers with ouabain, significantly increase their GJIC. The further finding that either (1) pre-treatment with COX-2 inhibitors or (2) addition to CM of antagonists of EP2 receptor abolish CM's ability to induce GJIC in MDCK-I monolayers indicate that PGE2 is the GJIC-inducing compound. Therefore, these results indicate that, in addition to direct stimulation, mediated by Na+-K+-ATPase, ouabain enhances GJIC indirectly through the paracrine production of PGE2.
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Gómez-Torres F, Estupiñán HY, Ruíz-Sauri A. Identification to cardiac conduction cells in humans and pigs according to their zonal distribution, using histological, immunohistochemical and morphometric study. Res Vet Sci 2021; 138:137-147. [PMID: 34144281 DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2021.06.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2021] [Revised: 05/23/2021] [Accepted: 06/07/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Histologically, the cardiac conduction network is formed of electrically isolated subendocardial fibers that comprise specialized cells with fewer myofibrils and mitochondria than cardiomyocytes. Our aim is to uncover regional variations of cardiac conduction fibers through histological and morphometric study in a porcine and human model. We analyzed five male adult human hearts and five male pig hearts. The left ventricles were dissected and sectioned in the axial plane into three parts: basal, middle third and apex regions. Cardiac conduction fibers study was carried out using hematoxylin-eosin and Masson's trichrome staining, and cardiac conduction cells and their junctions were identified using desmin, and a PAS method. Cardiac conduction fibers were difficult to pinpoint in humans, mostly showing a darker color or equal to cardiomyocytes. Cardiac conduction fibers in humans were in the subendocardium and in pigs in the myocardium and subendocardium. Cardiac conduction fibers were located mainly in the septal region in both humans and pigs. In our morphometric analysis, we were able to determine that cardiac conduction cells in humans (18.52 +/- 5.41 μm) and pigs (21.32 +/- 6.45 μm) were large, compared to cardiomyocytes. Conduction fiber-myocardial junctions were present in 10% in humans and 24.2% in pigs. The performance of immunohistochemical methods made it possible to improve the identification of cardiac conduction cells in the species studied. Study of cardiac conduction fibers and cells and their myocardial junctions is vital to gain insight into their normal distribution in the species analyzed, and thus advance the use of pigs in experimental models of the cardiac conduction system in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabián Gómez-Torres
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitat de Valencia, Av. de Blasco Ibáñez, 15, 46010 Valencia, Spain; Department of Basic Sciences, Medicine School, Universidad Industrial de Santander, Cra 32 # 29-31, 68002 Bucaramanga, Colombia.
| | - H Yesid Estupiñán
- Department of Basic Sciences, Medicine School, Universidad Industrial de Santander, Cra 32 # 29-31, 68002 Bucaramanga, Colombia; Department of Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Research Center, Karolinska Institute, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, SE-141 86 Huddinge, Sweden.
| | - Amparo Ruíz-Sauri
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitat de Valencia, Av. de Blasco Ibáñez, 15, 46010 Valencia, Spain; INCLIVA Biomedical Research Institute, Av. de Blasco Ibáñez, 17, 46010 Valencia, Spain.
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Connexins in the Heart: Regulation, Function and Involvement in Cardiac Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22094413. [PMID: 33922534 PMCID: PMC8122935 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22094413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2021] [Revised: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Connexins are a family of transmembrane proteins that play a key role in cardiac physiology. Gap junctional channels put into contact the cytoplasms of connected cardiomyocytes, allowing the existence of electrical coupling. However, in addition to this fundamental role, connexins are also involved in cardiomyocyte death and survival. Thus, chemical coupling through gap junctions plays a key role in the spreading of injury between connected cells. Moreover, in addition to their involvement in cell-to-cell communication, mounting evidence indicates that connexins have additional gap junction-independent functions. Opening of unopposed hemichannels, located at the lateral surface of cardiomyocytes, may compromise cell homeostasis and may be involved in ischemia/reperfusion injury. In addition, connexins located at non-canonical cell structures, including mitochondria and the nucleus, have been demonstrated to be involved in cardioprotection and in regulation of cell growth and differentiation. In this review, we will provide, first, an overview on connexin biology, including their synthesis and degradation, their regulation and their interactions. Then, we will conduct an in-depth examination of the role of connexins in cardiac pathophysiology, including new findings regarding their involvement in myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury, cardiac fibrosis, gene transcription or signaling regulation.
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Involvement of amylin B-H2S-connexin 43 signaling pathway in vascular dysfunction and enhanced ischemia-reperfusion-induced myocardial injury in diabetic rats. Biosci Rep 2021; 40:224904. [PMID: 32436936 PMCID: PMC7280474 DOI: 10.1042/bsr20194154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2019] [Revised: 04/24/2020] [Accepted: 04/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The present study was designed to investigate the role of amylin, H2S, and connexin 43 in vascular dysfunction and enhanced ischemia–reperfusion (I/R)-induced myocardial injury in diabetic rats. A single dose of streptozotocin (65 mg/kg) was employed to induce diabetes mellitus. After 8 weeks, there was a significant decrease in the plasma levels of amylin, an increase in I/R injury to isolated hearts (increase in CK-MB and cardiac troponin release) on the Langendorff apparatus. Moreover, there was a significant impairment in vascular endothelium function as assessed by quantifying acetylcholine-induced relaxation in norepinephrine-precontracted mesenteric arteries. There was also a marked decrease in the expression of H2S and connexin 43 in the hearts following I/R injury in diabetic rats. Treatment with amylin agonist, pramlintide (100 and 200 µg/kg), and H2S donor, NaHS (10 and 20 μmol/kg) for 2 weeks improved the vascular endothelium function, abolished enhanced myocardial injury and restored the levels of H2S along with connexin 43 in diabetic animals. However, pramlintide and NaHS failed to produce these effects the presence of gap junction blocker, carbenoxolone (20 and 40 mg/kg). Carbenoxolone also abolished the myocardial levels of connexin 43 without affecting the plasma levels of amylin and myocardial levels of H2S. The decrease in the amylin levels with a consequent reduction in H2S and connexin 43 may contribute to inducing vascular dysfunction and enhancing I/R-induced myocardial injury in diabetic rats.
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Li X, Meng C, Han F, Yang J, Wang J, Zhu Y, Cui X, Zuo M, Xu J, Chang B. Vildagliptin Attenuates Myocardial Dysfunction and Restores Autophagy via miR-21/SPRY1/ERK in Diabetic Mice Heart. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:634365. [PMID: 33815116 PMCID: PMC8013777 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.634365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2020] [Accepted: 02/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Aim: Vildagliptin (vild) improves diastolic dysfunction and is associated with a lower relative risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in younger patients. The present study aimed to evaluate whether vild prevents the development of diabetic cardiomyopathy in type 2 diabetic mice and identify its underlying mechanisms. Methods: Type 2 diabetic mouse model was generated using wild-type (WT) (C57BL/6J) and miR-21 knockout mice by treatment with HFD/STZ. Cardiomyocyte-specific miR-21 overexpression was achieved using adeno-associated virus 9. Echocardiography was used to evaluate cardiac function in mice. Morphology, autophagy, and proteins levels in related pathway were analyzed. qRT-PCR was used to detect miR-21. Rat cardiac myoblast cell line (H9c2) cells were transfected with miR-21 mimics and inhibitor to explore the related mechanisms of miR-21 in diabetic cardiomyopathy. Results: Vild restored autophagy and alleviated fibrosis, thereby enhancing cardiac function in DM mice. In addition, miR-21 levels were increased under high glucose conditions. miR-21 knockout DM mice with miR-21 knockout had reduced cardiac hypertrophy and cardiac dysfunction compared to WT DM mice. Overexpression of miR-21 aggravated fibrosis, reduced autophagy, and attenuated the protective effect of vild on cardiac function. In high-glucose-treated H9c2 cells, the downstream effectors of sprouty homolog 1 (SPRY1) including extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK) and mammalian target of rapamycin showed significant changes following transfection with miR-21 mimics or inhibitor. Conclusion: The results of our study indicate that vild prevents DCM by restoring autophagy through the miR-21/SPRY1/ERK/mTOR pathway. Therefore, miR-21 is a target in the development of DCM, and vild demonstrates significant potential for clinical application in prevention of DCM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaochen Li
- NHC Key Laboratory of Hormones and Development, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Metabolic Diseases, Chu Hsien-I Memorial Hospital and Tianjin Institute of Endocrinology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Cheng Meng
- NHC Key Laboratory of Hormones and Development, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Metabolic Diseases, Chu Hsien-I Memorial Hospital and Tianjin Institute of Endocrinology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Fei Han
- NHC Key Laboratory of Hormones and Development, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Metabolic Diseases, Chu Hsien-I Memorial Hospital and Tianjin Institute of Endocrinology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Juhong Yang
- NHC Key Laboratory of Hormones and Development, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Metabolic Diseases, Chu Hsien-I Memorial Hospital and Tianjin Institute of Endocrinology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Jingyu Wang
- NHC Key Laboratory of Hormones and Development, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Metabolic Diseases, Chu Hsien-I Memorial Hospital and Tianjin Institute of Endocrinology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Yanjuan Zhu
- NHC Key Laboratory of Hormones and Development, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Metabolic Diseases, Chu Hsien-I Memorial Hospital and Tianjin Institute of Endocrinology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Xiao Cui
- NHC Key Laboratory of Hormones and Development, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Metabolic Diseases, Chu Hsien-I Memorial Hospital and Tianjin Institute of Endocrinology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Minxia Zuo
- NHC Key Laboratory of Hormones and Development, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Metabolic Diseases, Chu Hsien-I Memorial Hospital and Tianjin Institute of Endocrinology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Jie Xu
- NHC Key Laboratory of Hormones and Development, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Metabolic Diseases, Chu Hsien-I Memorial Hospital and Tianjin Institute of Endocrinology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Baocheng Chang
- NHC Key Laboratory of Hormones and Development, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Metabolic Diseases, Chu Hsien-I Memorial Hospital and Tianjin Institute of Endocrinology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
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Heitmann S, Shpak A, Vandenberg JI, Hill AP. Arrhythmogenic effects of ultra-long and bistable cardiac action potentials. PLoS Comput Biol 2021; 17:e1008683. [PMID: 33591969 PMCID: PMC7909657 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1008683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2020] [Revised: 02/26/2021] [Accepted: 01/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Contemporary accounts of the initiation of cardiac arrhythmias typically rely on after-depolarizations as the trigger for reentrant activity. The after-depolarizations are usually triggered by calcium entry or spontaneous release within the cells of the myocardium or the conduction system. Here we propose an alternative mechanism whereby arrhythmias are triggered autonomously by cardiac cells that fail to repolarize after a normal heartbeat. We investigated the proposal by representing the heart as an excitable medium of FitzHugh-Nagumo cells where a proportion of cells were capable of remaining depolarized indefinitely. As such, those cells exhibit bistable membrane dynamics. We found that heterogeneous media can tolerate a surprisingly large number of bistable cells and still support normal rhythmic activity. Yet there is a critical limit beyond which the medium is persistently arrhythmogenic. Numerical analysis revealed that the critical threshold for arrhythmogenesis depends on both the strength of the coupling between cells and the extent to which the abnormal cells resist repolarization. Moreover, arrhythmogenesis was found to emerge preferentially at tissue boundaries where cells naturally have fewer neighbors to influence their behavior. These findings may explain why atrial fibrillation typically originates from tissue boundaries such as the cuff of the pulmonary vein. Cardiac fibrillation is a medical condition where normal heart function is compromised as electrical activity becomes disordered. How fibrillation arises spontaneously is not fully understood. It is generally thought to be triggered by premature depolarization of the cardiac action potential in one or more cells. Those premature beats, known as after-depolarizations, subsequently initiate a self-sustaining rotor in the otherwise normal heart tissue. In this study, we propose an alternative mechanism whereby arrhythmias are initiated by cardiac cells that fail to repolarize of their own accord but still operate normally when embedded in functional heart tissue. We find that such cells can act as focal ectopic sources under appropriate conditions of inter-cellular coupling. Moreover, those cells are more prone to initiating arrhythmia when they are located on natural tissue boundaries. This may explain why atrial fibrillation typically originates from the site where the pulmonary vein attaches to the wall of the heart.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stewart Heitmann
- Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, Darlinghurst, NSW, Australia
- * E-mail:
| | - Anton Shpak
- Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, Darlinghurst, NSW, Australia
- Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute Innovation Centre, Darlinghurst, NSW, Australia
| | - Jamie I. Vandenberg
- Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, Darlinghurst, NSW, Australia
- St Vincent’s Clinical School, UNSW Sydney, Kensington, NSW, Australia
| | - Adam P. Hill
- Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, Darlinghurst, NSW, Australia
- Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute Innovation Centre, Darlinghurst, NSW, Australia
- St Vincent’s Clinical School, UNSW Sydney, Kensington, NSW, Australia
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Gómez-Torres FA, Estupiñán HY, Ruíz-Saurí A. Morphometric analysis of cardiac conduction fibers in horses and dogs, a comparative histological and immunohistochemical study with findings in human hearts. Res Vet Sci 2021; 135:200-216. [PMID: 33618179 DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2021.02.013] [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: 10/27/2020] [Revised: 01/04/2021] [Accepted: 02/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The principal function of the ventricular conduction system is rapid electrical activation of the ventricles. The aim of this study is to conduct a morphometric study to pinpoint the morphological parameters that define cardiac conduction cells, allowing us to distinguish them from other cells. Five male horse hearts and five male dog hearts were used in the study. The hearts were fixed in a 5% formaldehyde solution. Histological sections of 5 μm thickness were acquired and stained with hematoxylin-eosin and Masson's trichrome and cardiac conduction cells and their junctions were identified by desmin, connexin 40 and a PAS method. We found statistically significant differences in cardiac conduction fibers density and thickness, which was much higher in horses than in dogs (p = 0.000 for both values). By comparing the measured parameters of the cells in both species, we determined that cardiac conduction cells area and diameters were greater in horses than in dogs (p = 0.000 for all values). In dogs there are more junctions (30.8%) than in horses (26.1%), a statistically significant difference (p = 0.041). Our findings regarding the cardiac conduction fibers distribution in the animal species studied becomes new knowledge that contributes to the morphological study of this component of the cardiac conduction system and also makes it possible to locate exactly the site with the highest density of cardiac conduction fibers as a contribution to the cardiological study of these structures that lead to the prevention of ventricular arrhythmias and the identification of their treatment site.
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Affiliation(s)
- F A Gómez-Torres
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, 1st floor, Universitat de Valencia, Av. de Blasco Ibáñez, 15, 46010 Valencia, Spain; Department of Basic Sciences, School of Medicine, Universidad Industrial de Santander, Cra 32 # 29-31, 68002 Bucaramanga, Colombia.
| | - H Y Estupiñán
- Department of Basic Sciences, School of Medicine, Universidad Industrial de Santander, Cra 32 # 29-31, 68002 Bucaramanga, Colombia; Department of Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Research Center, Karolinska Institute, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, SE-141 86 Huddinge, Sweden.
| | - A Ruíz-Saurí
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, 1st floor, Universitat de Valencia, Av. de Blasco Ibáñez, 15, 46010 Valencia, Spain; INCLIVA Biomedical Research Institute, Av. de Blasco Ibáñez, 17, 46010 Valencia, Spain.
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Saraf A, Rampoldi A, Chao M, Li D, Armand L, Hwang H, Liu R, Jha R, Fu H, Maxwell JT, Xu C. Functional and molecular effects of TNF-α on human iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes. Stem Cell Res 2021; 52:102218. [PMID: 33592567 PMCID: PMC8080119 DOI: 10.1016/j.scr.2021.102218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2020] [Revised: 01/02/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Proinflammatory molecule tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) is predominantly elevated in cytokine storm as well as worsening cardiac function. Here we model the molecular and functional effects of TNF-α in cardiomyocytes (CMs) derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC). We found that treatment of hiPSC-CMs with TNF-α increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) and caspase 3/7 activity and caused cell death and apoptosis. TNF-α treatment also resulted in dysregulation of cardiomyocyte function with respect to the increased abnormal calcium handling, calcium wave propagation between cells and excitation–contraction coupling. We also uncovered significant changes in gene expression and protein localization caused by TNF-α treatment. Notably, TNF-α treatment altered the expression of ion channels, dysregulated cadherins, and affected the localization of gap-junction protein connexin-43. In addition, TNF-α treatment up-regulated IL-32 (a human specific cytokine, not present in rodents and an inducer of TNF-α) and IL-34 and down-regulated glutamate receptors and cardiomyocyte contractile proteins. These findings provide insights into the molecular and functional consequences from the exposure of human cardiomyocytes to TNF-α. Our study provides a model to incorporate inflammatory factors into hiPSC-CM-based studies to evaluate mechanistic aspects of heart disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anita Saraf
- Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; University of Pittsburgh, Department of Medicine and Pediatrics and McGowan Regenerative Institute, 200 Lothorop Street, PUH, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
| | - Antonio Rampoldi
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Myra Chao
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Dong Li
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Lawrence Armand
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Hyun Hwang
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Rui Liu
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Rajnesh Jha
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Haian Fu
- Emory Chemical Biology Discovery Center and the Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Joshua T Maxwell
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Chunhui Xu
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
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Atrial Dyssynchrony Measured by Strain Echocardiography as a Marker of Proarrhythmic Remodeling and Oxidative Stress in Cardiac Surgery Patients. OXIDATIVE MEDICINE AND CELLULAR LONGEVITY 2020; 2020:8895078. [PMID: 33456678 PMCID: PMC7787772 DOI: 10.1155/2020/8895078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2020] [Revised: 11/12/2020] [Accepted: 11/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Aging leads to structural and electrophysiological changes that increase the risk of postoperative atrial arrhythmias; however, noninvasive preoperative markers of atrial proarrhythmic conditions are still needed. This study is aimed at assessing whether interatrial dyssynchrony determined using two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography relates to proarrhythmic structural and functional remodeling. A cohort of 45 patients in sinus rhythm referred for cardiac surgery was evaluated by echocardiography and surface electrocardiogram the day before the intervention. Transmembrane potential, connexin, and potassium channel distribution, inflammatory, and nitrooxidative markers were measured from right atrial tissue obtained from patients. A difference greater than 40 milliseconds between right and left atrial free wall contraction confirmed the presence of interatrial dyssynchrony in 21 patients. No difference in relation with age, previous diseases, and 2-dimensional echocardiographic findings as well as average values of global longitudinal right and left atrial strain were found between synchronic and dyssynchronic patients. Postoperative atrial fibrillation incidence increased from 8.3% in the synchronic group to 33.3% in the dyssynchronic ones. P wave duration showed no difference between groups. Action potentials from dyssynchronous patients decreased in amplitude, maximal rate of depolarization, and hyperpolarized. Duration at 30% of repolarization increased, being markedly shorter at 90% of repolarization. Only the dyssynchronous group showed early and delayed afterdepolarizations. Atrial tissue of dyssynchronous patients displayed lateralization of connexin 40 and increased connexin 43 expression and accumulation of tumor necrosis factor-α in the intercalated disc. Tumor necrosis factor-α did not colocalize, however, with lateralized connexin 40. Nitroxidative marks and KATP channels increased perivascularly and in myocytes. Our results demonstrate that, as compared to a traditional surface electrocardiogram, the novel noninvasive echocardiographic evaluation of interatrial dyssynchrony provides a better identification of nonaged-related proarrhythmic atrial remodeling with increased susceptibility to postoperative atrial fibrillation.
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van der Pol A, Hoes MF, de Boer RA, van der Meer P. Cardiac foetal reprogramming: a tool to exploit novel treatment targets for the failing heart. J Intern Med 2020; 288:491-506. [PMID: 32557939 PMCID: PMC7687159 DOI: 10.1111/joim.13094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2020] [Revised: 03/26/2020] [Accepted: 04/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
As the heart matures during embryogenesis from its foetal stages, several structural and functional modifications take place to form the adult heart. This process of maturation is in large part due to an increased volume and work load of the heart to maintain proper circulation throughout the growing body. In recent years, it has been observed that these changes are reversed to some extent as a result of cardiac disease. The process by which this occurs has been characterized as cardiac foetal reprogramming and is defined as the suppression of adult and re-activation of a foetal genes profile in the diseased myocardium. The reasons as to why this process occurs in the diseased myocardium are unknown; however, it has been suggested to be an adaptive process to counteract deleterious events taking place during cardiac remodelling. Although still in its infancy, several studies have demonstrated that targeting foetal reprogramming in heart failure can lead to substantial improvement in cardiac functionality. This is highlighted by a recent study which found that by modulating the expression of 5-oxoprolinase (OPLAH, a novel cardiac foetal gene), cardiac function can be significantly improved in mice exposed to cardiac injury. Additionally, the utilization of angiotensin receptor neprilysin inhibitors (ARNI) has demonstrated clear benefits, providing important clinical proof that drugs that increase natriuretic peptide levels (part of the foetal gene programme) indeed improve heart failure outcomes. In this review, we will highlight the most important aspects of cardiac foetal reprogramming and will discuss whether this process is a cause or consequence of heart failure. Based on this, we will also explain how a deeper understanding of this process may result in the development of novel therapeutic strategies in heart failure.
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Affiliation(s)
- A van der Pol
- From the, Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands.,Perioperative Inflammation and Infection Group, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - M F Hoes
- From the, Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - R A de Boer
- From the, Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - P van der Meer
- From the, Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
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Mensah SA, Nersesyan AA, Ebong EE. Endothelial Glycocalyx-Mediated Intercellular Interactions: Mechanisms and Implications for Atherosclerosis and Cancer Metastasis. Cardiovasc Eng Technol 2020; 12:72-90. [PMID: 33000443 PMCID: PMC7904750 DOI: 10.1007/s13239-020-00487-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Accepted: 09/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Purpose The endothelial glycocalyx (GCX) plays a critical role in the health of the vascular system. Degradation of the GCX has been implicated in the onset of diseases like atherosclerosis and cancer because it disrupts endothelial cell (EC) function that is meant to protect from atherosclerosis and cancer. Examples of such EC function include interendothelial cell communication via gap junctions and receptor-mediated interactions between endothelial and tumor cells. This review focuses on GCX-dependent regulation of these intercellular interactions in healthy and diseased states. The ultimate goal is to build new knowledge that can be applied to developing GCX regeneration strategies that can control intercellular interaction in order to combat the progression of diseases such as atherosclerosis and cancer. Methods In vitro and in vivo studies were conducted to determine the baseline expression of GCX in physiologically relevant conditions. Chemical and mechanical GCX degradation approaches were employed to degrade the GCX. The impact of intact versus degraded GCX on intercellular interactions was assessed using cytochemistry, histochemistry, a Lucifer yellow dye transfer assay, and confocal, intravital, and scanning electron microscopy techniques. Results Relevant to atherosclerosis, we found that GCX stability determines the expression and functionality of Cx43 in gap junction-mediated EC-to-EC communication. Relevant to cancer metastasis, we found that destabilizing the GCX through either disturbed flow-induced or enzyme induced GCX degradation results in increased E-selectin receptor-mediated EC-tumor cell interactions. Conclusion Our findings lay a foundation for future endothelial GCX-targeted therapy, to control intercellular interactions and limit the progression of atherosclerosis and cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Solomon A Mensah
- Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Alina A Nersesyan
- Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Eno E Ebong
- Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA. .,Department of Chemical Engineering, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Avenue, 335 Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Complex, Boston, MA, 02115, USA. .,Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
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Dai W, Nadadur RD, Brennan JA, Smith HL, Shen KM, Gadek M, Laforest B, Wang M, Gemel J, Li Y, Zhang J, Ziman BD, Yan J, Ai X, Beyer EC, Lakata EG, Kasthuri N, Efimov IR, Broman MT, Moskowitz IP, Shen L, Weber CR. ZO-1 Regulates Intercalated Disc Composition and Atrioventricular Node Conduction. Circ Res 2020; 127:e28-e43. [PMID: 32347164 PMCID: PMC7334106 DOI: 10.1161/circresaha.119.316415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE ZO-1 (Zona occludens 1), encoded by the tight junction protein 1 (TJP1) gene, is a regulator of paracellular permeability in epithelia and endothelia. ZO-1 interacts with the actin cytoskeleton, gap, and adherens junction proteins and localizes to intercalated discs in cardiomyocytes. However, the contribution of ZO-1 to cardiac physiology remains poorly defined. OBJECTIVE We aim to determine the role of ZO-1 in cardiac function. METHODS AND RESULTS Inducible cardiomyocyte-specific Tjp1 deletion mice (Tjp1fl/fl; Myh6Cre/Esr1*) were generated by crossing the Tjp1 floxed mice and Myh6Cre/Esr1* transgenic mice. Tamoxifen-induced loss of ZO-1 led to atrioventricular (AV) block without changes in heart rate, as measured by ECG and ex vivo optical mapping. Mice with tamoxifen-induced conduction system-specific deletion of Tjp1 (Tjp1fl/fl; Hcn4CreERt2) developed AV block while tamoxifen-induced conduction system deletion of Tjp1 distal to the AV node (Tjp1fl/fl; Kcne1CreERt2) did not demonstrate conduction defects. Western blot and immunostaining analyses of AV nodes showed that ZO-1 loss decreased Cx (connexin) 40 expression and intercalated disc localization. Consistent with the mouse model study, immunohistochemical staining showed that ZO-1 is abundantly expressed in the human AV node and colocalizes with Cx40. Ventricular conduction was not altered despite decreased localization of ZO-1 and Cx43 at the ventricular intercalated disc and modestly decreased left ventricular ejection fraction, suggesting ZO-1 is differentially required for AV node and ventricular conduction. CONCLUSIONS ZO-1 is a key protein responsible for maintaining appropriate AV node conduction through maintaining gap junction protein localization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenli Dai
- Pathology, University of Chicago, 5841 S. Maryland Ave., Chicago, IL 60637
| | - Rangarajan D. Nadadur
- Pediatrics, Pathology, and Human Genetics, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Jaclyn A. Brennan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The George Washington University, 800 22nd St NW, Washington, DC 20052
| | - Heather L. Smith
- Pathology, University of Chicago, 5841 S. Maryland Ave., Chicago, IL 60637
| | - Kaitlyn M. Shen
- Pediatrics, Pathology, and Human Genetics, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Margaret Gadek
- Pediatrics, Pathology, and Human Genetics, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Brigitte Laforest
- Medicine, Section of Cardiology, University of Chicago, 5841 S. Maryland Ave., Chicago, IL 60637
| | - Mingyi Wang
- Laboratory of Cardiovascular Science, National Institution on Aging-NIH, BRC-9B0127 251 Bayview Blvd, Baltimore, MD 21224
| | - Joanna Gemel
- Pediatrics, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Ye Li
- Pathology, University of Chicago, 5841 S. Maryland Ave., Chicago, IL 60637
| | - Jing Zhang
- Laboratory of Cardiovascular Science, National Institution on Aging-NIH, BRC-9B0127 251 Bayview Blvd, Baltimore, MD 21224
| | - Bruce D. Ziman
- Laboratory of Cardiovascular Science, National Institution on Aging-NIH, BRC-9B0127 251 Bayview Blvd, Baltimore, MD 21224
| | - Jiajie Yan
- Physiology and Biophysics, Rush University, 1750 West Harrison St., Chicago, IL 60612
| | - Xun Ai
- Physiology and Biophysics, Rush University, 1750 West Harrison St., Chicago, IL 60612
| | - Eric C. Beyer
- Pediatrics, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Edward G. Lakata
- Laboratory of Cardiovascular Science, National Institution on Aging-NIH, BRC-9B0127 251 Bayview Blvd, Baltimore, MD 21224
| | - Narayanan Kasthuri
- Neurobiology, University of Chicago, 5841 S. Maryland Ave., Chicago, IL 60637
| | - Igor R. Efimov
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The George Washington University, 800 22nd St NW, Washington, DC 20052
| | - Michael T. Broman
- Medicine, Section of Cardiology, University of Chicago, 5841 S. Maryland Ave., Chicago, IL 60637
| | - Ivan P. Moskowitz
- Pediatrics, Pathology, and Human Genetics, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Le Shen
- Pathology, University of Chicago, 5841 S. Maryland Ave., Chicago, IL 60637
- Section of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, University of Chicago, 5841 S. Maryland Ave., Chicago, IL 60637
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Macquart C, Jüttner R, Morales Rodriguez B, Le Dour C, Lefebvre F, Chatzifrangkeskou M, Schmitt A, Gotthardt M, Bonne G, Muchir A. Microtubule cytoskeleton regulates Connexin 43 localization and cardiac conduction in cardiomyopathy caused by mutation in A-type lamins gene. Hum Mol Genet 2020; 28:4043-4052. [PMID: 29893868 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddy227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2018] [Revised: 06/05/2018] [Accepted: 06/06/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Mutations in the lamin A/C gene (LMNA) cause an autosomal dominant inherited form of dilated cardiomyopathy associated with cardiac conduction disease (hereafter referred to as LMNA cardiomyopathy). Compared with other forms of dilated cardiomyopathy, mutations in LMNA are responsible for a more aggressive clinical course owing to a high rate of malignant ventricular arrhythmias. Gap junctions are intercellular channels that allow direct communication between neighboring cells, which are involved in electrical impulse propagation and coordinated contraction of the heart. For gap junctions to properly control electrical synchronization in the heart, connexin-based hemichannels must be correctly targeted to intercalated discs, Cx43 being the major connexin in the working myocytes. We here showed an altered distribution of Cx43 in a mouse model of LMNA cardiomyopathy. However, little is known on the molecular mechanisms of Cx43 remodeling in pathological context. We now show that microtubule cytoskeleton alteration and decreased acetylation of α-tubulin lead to remodeling of Cx43 in LMNA cardiomyopathy, which alters the correct communication between cardiomyocytes, ultimately leading to electrical conduction disturbances. Preventing or reversing this process could offer a strategy to repair damaged heart. Stabilization of microtubule cytoskeleton using Paclitaxel improved intraventricular conduction defects. These results indicate that microtubule cytoskeleton contributes to the pathogenesis of LMNA cardiomyopathy and that drugs stabilizing the microtubule may be beneficial for patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Coline Macquart
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Association Institut de Myologie, Centre de Recherche en Myologie, UMRS974, Paris 75013, France
| | - Rene Jüttner
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine, DE-13092 Berlin, Germany
| | - Blanca Morales Rodriguez
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Association Institut de Myologie, Centre de Recherche en Myologie, UMRS974, Paris 75013, France
| | - Caroline Le Dour
- Department of Medicine.,Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Florence Lefebvre
- Signaling and Cardiovascular Pathophysiology, UMRS 1180, Université Paris-Sud, INSERM, Chatenay-Malabry 92216, France
| | - Maria Chatzifrangkeskou
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Association Institut de Myologie, Centre de Recherche en Myologie, UMRS974, Paris 75013, France
| | - Alain Schmitt
- Institut Cochin, INSERM U1016-CNRS UMR 8104, Université Paris Descartes-Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris F-75014, France
| | - Michael Gotthardt
- DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Berlin, Germany.,Neuromuscular and Cardiovascular Cell Biology, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, 13092 Berlin, Germany
| | - Gisèle Bonne
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Association Institut de Myologie, Centre de Recherche en Myologie, UMRS974, Paris 75013, France
| | - Antoine Muchir
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Association Institut de Myologie, Centre de Recherche en Myologie, UMRS974, Paris 75013, France
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The Role of Proteostasis in the Regulation of Cardiac Intercellular Communication. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2020; 1233:279-302. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-38266-7_12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
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Hurtado DE, Jilberto J, Panasenko G. Non-ohmic tissue conduction in cardiac electrophysiology: Upscaling the non-linear voltage-dependent conductance of gap junctions. PLoS Comput Biol 2020; 16:e1007232. [PMID: 32097410 PMCID: PMC7059938 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1007232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2019] [Revised: 03/06/2020] [Accepted: 01/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Gap junctions are key mediators of intercellular communication in cardiac tissue, and their function is vital to sustaining normal cardiac electrical activity. Conduction through gap junctions strongly depends on the hemichannel arrangement and transjunctional voltage, rendering the intercellular conductance highly non-Ohmic, particularly under steady-state regimes of conduction. Despite this marked non-linear behavior, current tissue-level models of cardiac conduction are rooted in the assumption that gap-junctions conductance is constant (Ohmic), which results in inaccurate predictions of electrical propagation, particularly in the low junctional-coupling regime observed under pathological conditions. In this work, we present a novel non-Ohmic homogenization model (NOHM) of cardiac conduction that is suitable to tissue-scale simulations. Using non-linear homogenization theory, we develop a conductivity model that seamlessly upscales the voltage-dependent conductance of gap junctions, without the need of explicitly modeling gap junctions. The NOHM model allows for the simulation of electrical propagation in tissue-level cardiac domains that accurately resemble that of cell-based microscopic models for a wide range of junctional coupling scenarios, recovering key conduction features at a fraction of the computational complexity. A unique feature of the NOHM model is the possibility of upscaling the response of non-symmetric gap-junction conductance distributions, which result in conduction velocities that strongly depend on the direction of propagation, thus allowing to model the normal and retrograde conduction observed in certain regions of the heart. We envision that the NOHM model will enable organ-level simulations that are informed by sub- and inter-cellular mechanisms, delivering an accurate and predictive in-silico tool for understanding the heart function. Codes are available for download at https://github.com/dehurtado/NonOhmicConduction. The heart relies on the propagation of electrical impulses that are mediated gap junctions, whose conduction properties vary depending on the transjunctional voltage. Despite this non-linear feature, current mathematical models assume that cardiac tissue behaves like an Ohmic (linear) material, thus delivering inaccurate results when simulated in a computer. Here we present a novel mathematical multiscale model that explicitly includes the non-Ohmic response of gap junctions in its predictions. Our results show that the proposed model recovers important conduction features modulated by gap junctions at a fraction of the computational complexity. This contribution represents an important step towards constructing computer models of a whole heart that can predict organ-level behavior in reasonable computing times.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel E. Hurtado
- Institute for Biological and Medical Engineering, Schools of Engineering, Medicine and Biological Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Department of Structural and Geotechnical Engineering, School of Engineering, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Millennium Nucleus for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance, Chile
- * E-mail:
| | - Javiera Jilberto
- Institute for Biological and Medical Engineering, Schools of Engineering, Medicine and Biological Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Millennium Nucleus for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance, Chile
| | - Grigory Panasenko
- Institute Camille Jordan, Université Jean Monnet, Université de Lyon, Saint-Etienne, France
- Institute of Applied Mathematics, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania
- National Research University “Moscow Power Engineering Institute”, Moscow, Russia
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Changchien CY, Sung MH, Chang HH, Tsai WC, Peng YS, Chen Y. Uremic toxin indoxyl sulfate suppresses myocardial Cx43 assembly and expression via JNK activation. Chem Biol Interact 2020; 319:108979. [PMID: 32045570 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbi.2020.108979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2019] [Revised: 01/30/2020] [Accepted: 02/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Heart rhythm disturbances have been widely recognized as major triggers of cardiovascular (CV) mortality in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. Connexin 43 (Cx43)-composed gap junctions are essential in cardiomyocyte synchronization and may be involved in the pathological response to uremic toxins. Indoxyl sulfate (IS) is one of the most dominant uremic toxins that contribute to CKD-related cardiovascular diseases. In primary cultures of rat neonatal cardiomyocytes, we demonstrated that IS treatment decreased spontaneous contraction without impairing viability. In addition, there was disruption of gap junction intercellular communication (GJIC) between cardiomyocytes after 30 min of IS stimulation. IS caused time- and dose-dependent Cx43 redistribution, and the patterns of Cx43 immunostaining returned to baseline while IS stimulation was removed. Furthermore, IS exposure downregulated Cx43 protein and mRNA levels. Elevated JNK1 and JNK2 phosphorylation was further identified after IS exposure in both rat cardiomyocytes and H9c2 cells. The above changes as well as GJIC and Cx43 suppression were reversed by pretreatment with a JNK inhibitor (SP600125). Inhibition of p-JNK attenuated IS-mediated downward trends in Cx43 transcription and translation. In cardiac muscle from nephrectomy-induced CKD mice, an alteration in Cx43 level was identified at intercalated discs. Our findings disclosed that JNK activation might participate in the remodeling of gap junction and Cx43 expression by uremic toxin-IS both in vitro and in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chih-Ying Changchien
- Department of Biology and Anatomy, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of General Medicine, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Meng-Ho Sung
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Hsin-Han Chang
- Department of Biology and Anatomy, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Wen-Chiuan Tsai
- Department of Pathology, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Sen Peng
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan; College of Electrical and Communication Engineering, Yuan Ze University, Taoyuan City, Taiwan.
| | - Ying Chen
- Department of Biology and Anatomy, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan.
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Expression of connexin-43 in the cardiac muscle of children diagnosed with hypoplastic left heart syndrome: a Western blot and confocal laser scanning microscopy study. Cardiol Young 2020; 30:238-242. [PMID: 31845643 DOI: 10.1017/s104795111900297x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Hypoplastic left heart syndrome consists of several structural abnormalities in the left side of the heart and may be associated with a hereditary genetic cause, possibly related to the connexin gene GJA1; however, only a few studies have investigated it. The present study aimed to analyse the expression of connexin-43 in the cardiac muscle of hypoplastic left heart syndrome children by Western blot method and confocal laser scanning microscopy. For that, tissue samples were taken during corrective surgery to treat heart defects. Patients of control group (8) presented any type of heart defect not related to hypoplastic left heart syndrome, connexin-43, or its gene and those of hypoplastic left heart syndrome group (9) presented this disease singly, without any other associated congenital diseases. By means of confocal laser scanning microscopy, it was noticed no connexin-43 qualitative differences in positioning and location pattern between both groups. From Western blot analysis, the connexin-43 expression did not show a statistically significant difference (p = 0.0571) as well. Within the limits of this study, it is suggested that cardiomyocytes of hypoplastic left heart syndrome children are similar in connexin-43 location, distribution, and structural and conformational patterns to those of children with heart defects not related to this protein and its genes.
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43
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Altered microtubule structure, hemichannel localization and beating activity in cardiomyocytes expressing pathologic nuclear lamin A/C. Heliyon 2020; 6:e03175. [PMID: 32021920 PMCID: PMC6992992 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e03175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2019] [Revised: 10/31/2019] [Accepted: 01/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Given the clinical effect of laminopathies, understanding lamin mechanical properties will benefit the treatment of heart failure. Here we report a mechano-dynamic study of LMNA mutations in neonatal rat ventricular myocytes (NRVM) using single cell spectroscopy with Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and measured changes in beating force, frequency and contractile amplitude of selected mutant-expressing cells within cell clusters. Furthermore, since beat-to-beat variations can provide clues on the origin of arrhythmias, we analyzed the beating rate variability using a time-domain method which provides a Poincaré plot. Data were further correlated to cell phenotypes. Immunofluorescence and calcium imaging analysis showed that mutant lamin changed NRVMs beating force and frequency. Additionally, we noted an altered microtubule network organization with shorter filament length, and defective hemichannel membrane localization (Connexin 43). These data highlight the interconnection between nucleoskeleton, cytoskeleton and sarcolemmal structures, and the transcellular consequences of mutant lamin protein in the pathogenesis of the cardiac laminopathies.
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Sevim Bayrak C, Zhang P, Tristani-Firouzi M, Gelb BD, Itan Y. De novo variants in exomes of congenital heart disease patients identify risk genes and pathways. Genome Med 2020; 12:9. [PMID: 31941532 PMCID: PMC6961332 DOI: 10.1186/s13073-019-0709-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2019] [Accepted: 12/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Congenital heart disease (CHD) affects ~ 1% of live births and is the most common birth defect. Although the genetic contribution to the CHD has been long suspected, it has only been well established recently. De novo variants are estimated to contribute to approximately 8% of sporadic CHD. Methods CHD is genetically heterogeneous, making pathway enrichment analysis an effective approach to explore and statistically validate CHD-associated genes. In this study, we performed novel gene and pathway enrichment analyses of high-impact de novo variants in the recently published whole-exome sequencing (WES) data generated from a cohort of CHD 2645 parent-offspring trios to identify new CHD-causing candidate genes and mutations. We performed rigorous variant- and gene-level filtrations to identify potentially damaging variants, followed by enrichment analyses and gene prioritization. Results Our analyses revealed 23 novel genes that are likely to cause CHD, including HSP90AA1, ROCK2, IQGAP1, and CHD4, and sharing biological functions, pathways, molecular interactions, and properties with known CHD-causing genes. Conclusions Ultimately, these findings suggest novel genes that are likely to be contributing to CHD pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cigdem Sevim Bayrak
- Institute for Personalized Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Peng Zhang
- St. Giles Laboratory of Human Genetics of Infectious Diseases, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Martin Tristani-Firouzi
- Nora Eccles Harrison Cardiovascular Research and Training Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Bruce D Gelb
- Mindich Child Health and Development Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.,Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Yuval Itan
- Institute for Personalized Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA. .,Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
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Rho Kinase Activity, Connexin 40, and Atrial Fibrillation: Mechanistic Insights from End-Stage Renal Disease on Dialysis Patients. J Clin Med 2020; 9:jcm9010165. [PMID: 31936157 PMCID: PMC7019687 DOI: 10.3390/jcm9010165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2019] [Accepted: 01/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Evidence on cellular/molecular mechanisms leading to atrial fibrillation (AF) are scanty. Increased expression of Rho kinase (ROCK) and myosin-phosphatase-target subunit-1 (MYPT-1), ROCK activity’s marker, were shown in AF patients, which correlated with connexin 40 (Cx40) expression, membrane protein of heart gap junctions, key for rapid action potential’s cell–cell transfer. AF is the most frequent arrhythmia in dialysis patients who present increased MYPT-1 phosphorylation, which correlates with left ventricular (LV) mass. Given ROCK’s established role in cardiovascular–renal remodeling, induction of impaired cell-to-cell coupling/potential conduction promoting AF initiation/perpetuation, we evaluated in dialysis patients with AF, MYPT-1 phosphorylation, Cx40 expression, and their relationships to support their involvement in AF. Mononuclear cells’ MYPT-1 phosphorylation, Cx40 expression, and the ROCK inhibitor fasudil’s effect were assessed in dialysis patients with AF (DPAFs), dialysis patients with sinus rhythm (DPs), and healthy subjects (C) (western blot). M-mode echocardiography assessed LV mass and left atrial systolic volume. DPAF’s phospho-MYPT-1 was increased vs. that of DPs and C (1.57 ± 0.17 d.u. vs. 0.69 ± 0.04 vs. 0.51 ± 0.05 respectively, p < 0.0001). DP’s phospho-MYPT-1 was higher vs. that of C, p = 0.009. DPAF’s Cx40 was higher vs. that of DPs and C (1.23 ± 0.12 vs. 0.74 ± 0.03 vs. 0.69 ± 0.03, p < 0.0001). DPAF’s phospho-MYPT-1 correlated with Cx40 (p < 0.001), left atrial systolic volume (p = 0.013), and LV mass (p = 0.014). In DPAFs, fasudil reduced MYPT-1 phosphorylation (p < 0.01) and Cx40 expression (p = 0.03). These data point toward ROCK and Cx40’s role in the mechanism(s) leading to AF in dialysis patients. Exploration of the ROCK pathway in AF could contribute to AF generation’s mechanistic explanations and likely identify potential pharmacologic targets for translation into treatment.
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Lillo MA, Himelman E, Shirokova N, Xie LH, Fraidenraich D, Contreras JE. S-nitrosylation of connexin43 hemichannels elicits cardiac stress-induced arrhythmias in Duchenne muscular dystrophy mice. JCI Insight 2019; 4:130091. [PMID: 31751316 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.130091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2019] [Accepted: 11/07/2019] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) commonly present with severe ventricular arrhythmias that contribute to heart failure. Arrhythmias and lethality are also consistently observed in adult Dmdmdx mice, a mouse model of DMD, after acute β-adrenergic stimulation. These pathological features were previously linked to aberrant expression and remodeling of the cardiac gap junction protein connexin43 (Cx43). Here, we report that remodeled Cx43 protein forms Cx43 hemichannels in the lateral membrane of Dmdmdx cardiomyocytes and that the β-adrenergic agonist isoproterenol (Iso) aberrantly activates these hemichannels. Block of Cx43 hemichannels or a reduction in Cx43 levels (using Dmdmdx Cx43+/- mice) prevents the abnormal increase in membrane permeability, plasma membrane depolarization, and Iso-evoked electrical activity in these cells. Additionally, Iso treatment promotes nitric oxide (NO) production and S-nitrosylation of Cx43 hemichannels in Dmdmdx heart. Importantly, inhibition of NO production prevents arrhythmias evoked by Iso. We found that NO directly activates Cx43 hemichannels by S-nitrosylation of cysteine at position 271. Our results demonstrate that opening of remodeled and S-nitrosylated Cx43 hemichannels plays a key role in the development of arrhythmias in DMD mice and that these channels may serve as therapeutic targets to prevent fatal arrhythmias in patients with DMD .
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Eric Himelman
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey, USA
| | | | - Lai-Hua Xie
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey, USA
| | - Diego Fraidenraich
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey, USA
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Ding DZ, Jia YN, Zhang B, Guan CM, Zhou S, Li X, Cui X. C‑type natriuretic peptide prevents angiotensin II‑induced atrial connexin 40 and 43 dysregulation by activating AMP‑activated kinase signaling. Mol Med Rep 2019; 20:5091-5099. [PMID: 31638216 PMCID: PMC6854524 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2019.10744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2018] [Accepted: 08/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
C‑type natriuretic peptide (CNP), from the family of natriuretic peptides (NPs), has been shown to induce antihypertrophic and antifibrotic effects in cardiomyocytes. However, the roles of CNP in the atrial dysregulation of connexin (Cx)40 and Cx43 remain to be elucidated. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of CNP on angiotensin (Ang) II‑induced Cx40 and Cx43 dysregulation in isolated perfused beating rat left atria. A rat isolated perfused beating atrial model was used and the protein levels were determined via western blotting. Ang II significantly upregulated NF‑κB, activator protein‑1, transforming growth factor‑β1 (TGF‑β1), collagen I and matrix metalloproteinase 2, leading to atrial fibrosis, and downregulated expression of Cx40 and Cx43. The changes in Cx40 and Cx43 induced by Ang II were abolished by CNP through upregulation of phosphorylated AMP‑activated kinase a1 (AMPK) and downregulation of TGF‑β1. The effects of CNP on AMPK and TGF‑β1 levels were inhibited by KT5823 and pertussis toxin, inhibitors of protein kinase G (PKG) and NP receptor type C (NPR‑C), respectively. Thus, CNP can prevent Ang II‑induced dysregulation of Cx40 and Cx43 through activation of AMPK via the CNP‑PKG and CNP‑NPR‑C pathways in isolated beating rat atria. The present findings suggested that CNP may be therapeutically useful for clinical conditions involving cardiac dysregulation of Cx expression‑related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Da-Zhi Ding
- Department of Cardiology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Yanbian University, Yanji, Jilin 133002, P.R. China
| | - Ya-Nan Jia
- Department of Cardiology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Yanbian University, Yanji, Jilin 133002, P.R. China
| | - Bo Zhang
- Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Yanbian University, Yanji, Jilin 133002, P.R. China
| | - Cheng-Ming Guan
- Department of Cardiology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Yanbian University, Yanji, Jilin 133002, P.R. China
| | - Shuai Zhou
- Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Yanbian University, Yanji, Jilin 133002, P.R. China
| | - Xiang Li
- Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Yanbian University, Yanji, Jilin 133002, P.R. China
| | - Xun Cui
- Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Yanbian University, Yanji, Jilin 133002, P.R. China
- Key Laboratory of Organism Functional Factors of The Changbai Mountain, Ministry of Education, Yanbian University, Yanji, Jilin 133002, P.R. China
- Cellular Function Research Center, Yanbian University, Yanji, Jilin 133002, P.R. China
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Hou J, Yue Y, Hu B, Xu G, Su R, Lv L, Huang J, Yao J, Guan Y, Wang K, Wu Z. DACT1 Involvement in the Cytoskeletal Arrangement of Cardiomyocytes in Atrial Fibrillation by Regulating Cx43. Braz J Cardiovasc Surg 2019; 34:711-722. [PMID: 31545578 PMCID: PMC6894021 DOI: 10.21470/1678-9741-2019-0033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To determine the role of the dishevelled binding antagonist of beta catenin 1 (DACT1) in the cytoskeletal arrangement of cardiomyocytes in atrial fibrillation (AF). METHODS The DACT1 expression and its associations with the degree of fibrosis and β-catenin in valvular disease patients were analyzed by immunohistochemistry and Masson's staining. DACT1 was overexpressed in the atrial myocyte cell line (HL-1) and the cardiac cell line (H9C2) by adenoviral vectors. Alterations in the fibrous actin (F-actin) content and organization and the expression of β-catenin were detected by flow cytometry, immunofluorescence, and Western blotting. Additionally, the association of DACT1 with gap junctions connexin 43 (Cx43) was detected by immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, and Western blotting. RESULTS Decreased cytoplasmic DACT1 expression in the myocardium was associated with AF (P=0.037) and a high degree of fibrosis (weak vs. strong, P=0.028; weak vs. very strong, P=0.029). A positive association was observed between DACT1 and β-catenin expression in clinical samples (P=0.028, Spearman's rho=0.408). Furthermore, overexpression of DACT1 in HL-1 and H9C2 cells induced an increase in β-catenin and subsequent partial colocalization of DACT1 and β-catenin. In addition, F-actin content and organization were enhanced. Interestingly, DACT1 was positively correlated with the Cx43 expression in clinical samples (P=0.048, Spearman's rho=0.370) and changed the Cx43 distribution in cardiac cell lines. CONCLUSION DACT1 proved to be a novel AF-related gene by regulating Cx43 via cytoskeletal organization induced by β-catenin accumulation in cardiomyocytes. DACT1 could thus serve as a potential therapeutic marker for AF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Hou
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University Department of Cardiac Surgery Guangzhou GD People's Republic of China Department of Cardiac Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, GD, People's Republic of China.,Sun Yat-Sen University NHC Key Laboratory of Assisted Circulation Guangzhou GD People's Republic of China NHC Key Laboratory of Assisted Circulation, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, GD, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuan Yue
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University Department of Cardiac Surgery Guangzhou GD People's Republic of China Department of Cardiac Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, GD, People's Republic of China.,Sun Yat-Sen University NHC Key Laboratory of Assisted Circulation Guangzhou GD People's Republic of China NHC Key Laboratory of Assisted Circulation, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, GD, People's Republic of China
| | - Bo Hu
- Jiaxing University Jiaxing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine Center Jiaxing ZJ People's Republic of China Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine Center, Jiaxing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, ZJ, People's Republic of China
| | - Guangtao Xu
- Jiaxing University Jiaxing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine Center Jiaxing ZJ People's Republic of China Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine Center, Jiaxing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, ZJ, People's Republic of China
| | - Ruibing Su
- Shantou University Medical College Department of Forensic Pathology Shantou GD People's Republic of China Department of Forensic Pathology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, GD, People's Republic of China
| | - Linhua Lv
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University Department of Cardiac Surgery Guangzhou GD People's Republic of China Department of Cardiac Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, GD, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiaxing Huang
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University Department of Cardiac Surgery Guangzhou GD People's Republic of China Department of Cardiac Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, GD, People's Republic of China
| | - Jianping Yao
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University Department of Cardiac Surgery Guangzhou GD People's Republic of China Department of Cardiac Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, GD, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuanjun Guan
- Sun Yat-Sen University Zhongshan School of Medicine Core Lab Plat for Medical Science Guangzhou GD People's Republic of China Core Lab Plat for Medical Science, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, GD, People's Republic of China
| | - Keke Wang
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University Department of Cardiac Surgery Guangzhou GD People's Republic of China Department of Cardiac Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, GD, People's Republic of China.,Sun Yat-Sen University NHC Key Laboratory of Assisted Circulation Guangzhou GD People's Republic of China NHC Key Laboratory of Assisted Circulation, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, GD, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhongkai Wu
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University Department of Cardiac Surgery Guangzhou GD People's Republic of China Department of Cardiac Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, GD, People's Republic of China.,Sun Yat-Sen University NHC Key Laboratory of Assisted Circulation Guangzhou GD People's Republic of China NHC Key Laboratory of Assisted Circulation, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, GD, People's Republic of China
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Myocardial Adaptation in Pseudohypoxia: Signaling and Regulation of mPTP via Mitochondrial Connexin 43 and Cardiolipin. Cells 2019; 8:cells8111449. [PMID: 31744200 PMCID: PMC6912244 DOI: 10.3390/cells8111449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2019] [Accepted: 11/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Therapies intended to mitigate cardiovascular complications cannot be applied in practice without detailed knowledge of molecular mechanisms. Mitochondria, as the end-effector of cardioprotection, represent one of the possible therapeutic approaches. The present review provides an overview of factors affecting the regulation processes of mitochondria at the level of mitochondrial permeability transition pores (mPTP) resulting in comprehensive myocardial protection. The regulation of mPTP seems to be an important part of the mechanisms for maintaining the energy equilibrium of the heart under pathological conditions. Mitochondrial connexin 43 is involved in the regulation process by inhibition of mPTP opening. These individual cardioprotective mechanisms can be interconnected in the process of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation resulting in the maintenance of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production. In this context, the degree of mitochondrial membrane fluidity appears to be a key factor in the preservation of ATP synthase rotation required for ATP formation. Moreover, changes in the composition of the cardiolipin’s structure in the mitochondrial membrane can significantly affect the energy system under unfavorable conditions. This review aims to elucidate functional and structural changes of cardiac mitochondria subjected to preconditioning, with an emphasis on signaling pathways leading to mitochondrial energy maintenance during partial oxygen deprivation.
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50
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Zhao L. A novel graphene oxide polymer gel platform for cardiac tissue engineering application. 3 Biotech 2019; 9:401. [PMID: 31681522 PMCID: PMC6800416 DOI: 10.1007/s13205-019-1912-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2019] [Accepted: 09/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study, we demonstrated a Reverse Thermal Gel (RTG), which is injectable and functionalized with GOs (GO-RTG) that changes at room temperature (24 °C) from a mixture to a three-dimensional (3D) matrix gel soon after approaching its body temperature (37 °C). We also presented investigational evidence, which represents that the system of 3D GO-RTG promotes MCs proliferation as well as alignment, supports in long-standing survival of MCs, and enhances the function of MCs when compared with typical 3D plain RTG system and 2D gelatin control groups. Thus, this system of injectable GO-RTG can be capable of using as a negligibly invasive device for engineering efforts of cardiac tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Zhao
- Department of Cardiology, Third Affiliated Hospital of Qiqihar Medical University, NO 27, Taishun Street, Tiefeng District, Qiqihar City, 161000 Heilongjiang Province China
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