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Islam R, Hong Z. YAP/TAZ as mechanobiological signaling pathway in cardiovascular physiological regulation and pathogenesis. MECHANOBIOLOGY IN MEDICINE 2024; 2:100085. [PMID: 39281415 PMCID: PMC11391866 DOI: 10.1016/j.mbm.2024.100085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/18/2024]
Abstract
Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) persistently rank as a leading cause of premature death and illness worldwide. The Hippo signaling pathway, known for its highly conserved nature and integral role in regulating organ size, tissue homeostasis, and stem cell function, has been identified as a critical factor in the pathogenesis of CVDs. Recent findings underscore the significance of the Yes-associated protein (YAP) and the Transcriptional Coactivator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ), collectively referred to as YAP/TAZ. These proteins play pivotal roles as downstream components of the Hippo pathway, in the regulation of cardiovascular development and homeostasis. YAP/TAZ can regulate various cellular processes such as cell proliferation, migration, differentiation, and apoptosis through their interactions with transcription factors, particularly those within the transcriptional enhancer associate domain (TEAD) family. The aim of this review is to provide a comprehensive overview of the current understanding of YAP/TAZ signaling in cardiovascular physiology and pathogenesis. We analyze the regulatory mechanisms of YAP/TAZ activation, explore their downstream effectors, and examine their association across numerous cardiovascular disorders, including myocardial hypertrophy, myocardial infarction, pulmonary hypertension, myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury, atherosclerosis, angiogenesis, restenosis, and cardiac fibrosis. Furthermore, we investigate the potential therapeutic implications of targeting the YAP/TAZ pathway for the treatment of CVDs. Through this comprehensive review, our aim is to elucidate the current understanding of YAP/TAZ signaling in cardiovascular biology and underscore its potential implications for the diagnosis and therapeutic intervention of CVDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rakibul Islam
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA
| | - Zhongkui Hong
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA
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Cao K, Zhu Y, Kuai Y, Chen B, Zhao Q, Yu W. Macrophage MKL1 contributes to cardiac fibrosis in a mouse model of myocardial infarction. Life Sci 2024; 356:123036. [PMID: 39222836 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2024.123036] [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: 06/26/2024] [Revised: 08/29/2024] [Accepted: 08/30/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
AIMS Cardiac fibrosis is characterized by aberrant collagen deposition in the heart. Macrophage polarization or infiltration is the main reason to accelerate the collagen deposition. We attempted to investigate the involvement of MKL1 in macrophages during the development of cardiac fibrosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS Cardiac fibrosis is induced by myocardial infarction (MI). The MKL1f/f mice were crossed to the Lyz2-cre mice to generate macrophage conditional MKL1 knockout mice (MKL1ΔMφ). In addition, macrophage conditional MKL1 overexpression mice (MKL1Mϕ-OE) were constructed by crossing Lyz2-cre mice to MKL1ΔN200-Rosa26 mice. KEY FINDINGS MKL1 expression was significantly increased in macrophages of both ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM) patients and mice induced to develop myocardial infarction. Deletion of MKL1 in macrophages improved the heart function after MI-induced cardiac fibrosis. Consistently, MKL1Mϕ-OE mice displayed more severe cardiac fibrosis and worsened heart function than the control mice after MI. Moreover, administration of a small-molecule MKL1 inhibitor CCG-1423 also decreased the collagen deposition after MI. SIGNIFICANCE Our data demonstrate that MKL1 in macrophages contributes to cardiac fibrosis pathogenesis and reinforce the notion that targeting MKL1 may yield effective antifibrotic therapeutics in the heart.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ke Cao
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yuwen Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Targeted Intervention of Cardiovascular Disease, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cardiovascular Translational Medicine, Department of Pathophysiology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yameng Kuai
- Key Laboratory of Targeted Intervention of Cardiovascular Disease, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cardiovascular Translational Medicine, Department of Pathophysiology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Baoyu Chen
- Department of Pathology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.
| | - Qianwen Zhao
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China; Department of Infectious Diseases, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China.
| | - Wenkui Yu
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.
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Song S, Yuan J, Fang G, Li Y, Ding S, Wang Y, Wang Q. BRD4 as a therapeutic target for atrial fibrosis and atrial fibrillation. Eur J Pharmacol 2024; 977:176714. [PMID: 38849043 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2024.176714] [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: 11/22/2023] [Revised: 05/28/2024] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study aimed to elucidate the molecular mechanisms by which BRD4 play a role in atrial fibrillation (AF). METHODS AND RESULTS We used a discovery-driven approach to detect BRD4 expression in the atria of patients with AF and in various murine models of atrial fibrosis. We used a BRD4 inhibitor (JQ1) and atrial fibroblast (aFB)-specific BRD4-knockout mice to elucidate the role of BRD4 in AF. We further examined the underlying mechanisms using RNA-seq and ChIP-seq analyses in vitro, to identify key downstream targets of BRD4. We found that BRD4 expression is significantly increased in patients with AF, with accompanying atrial fibrosis and aFB differentiation. We showed that JQ1 treatment and shRNA-based molecular silencing of BRD4 blocked ANG-II-induced extracellular matrix production and cell-cycle progression in aFBs. BRD4-related RNA-seq and ChIP-seq analyses in aFBs demonstrated enrichment of a subset of promoters related to the expression of profibrotic and proliferation-related genes. The pharmacological inhibition of BRD4 in vivo or in aFB-specific BRD4-knockout in mice limited ANG-II-induced atrial fibrosis, atrial enlargement, and AF susceptibility. CONCLUSION Our findings suggest that BRD4 plays a key role in pathological AF, at least partially by activating aFB proliferation and ECM synthesis. This study provides mechanistic insights into the development of BRD4 inhibitors as targeted antiarrhythmic therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuai Song
- Department of Cardiology, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Jiali Yuan
- Department of Cardiology, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Guojian Fang
- Department of Cardiology, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Yingze Li
- Department of Cardiology, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Shiao Ding
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Yuepeng Wang
- Department of Cardiology, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Qunshan Wang
- Department of Cardiology, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, China.
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Zhou J, Wu C, Zhao M. TAOK1-mediated regulation of the YAP/TEAD pathway as a potential therapeutic target in heart failure. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0308619. [PMID: 39121041 PMCID: PMC11315341 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0308619] [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: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 07/26/2024] [Indexed: 08/11/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study aimed to determine the roles of interleukin (IL)-17, TAO kinase 1 (TAOK1), and NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) in cardiomyocyte pyroptosis and proliferation. METHODS The IL-17-treated H9C2 cells were used as in vitro heart failure (HF) models. These cells were subjected to TAOK1 overexpression or knockdown and treated with BMS-986299 (NLRP3 inflammasome agonist), MCC950 (NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitor), or verteporfin (Yes-associated protein [YAP] inhibitor). Thereafter, their pyroptosis, proliferative capacity, and gene and protein expression levels were detected. Doxorubicin-induced HF rats were used as in vivo models and subjected to TAOK1 overexpression. Thereafter, their myocardial pathology, NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated pyroptosis, and YAP/TEAD pathway function were evaluated. RESULTS IL-17 treatment increased the pyroptosis and decreased the proliferative capacity of H9C2 cells. Additionally, IL-17 treatment inducedto the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasomes and inhibition of the YAP/TEAD pathway in the H9C2 cells. Moreover, the IL-17-mediated effects on the H9C2 cells were alleviated by TAOK1 overexpression and augmented by TAOK1 knockdown. Furthermore, treatment with BMS-986299 or verteporfin affected the pyroptosis, proliferative capacity, and NLRP3 inflammasome activation of the H9C2 cells independently of TAOK1 expression. In the doxorubicin-induced HF rat model, TAOK1 overexpression mitigated myocardial injury, suppressed NLRP3 inflammasome pathway activation, and restored the YAP/TEAD pathway activity. CONCLUSION TAOK1 played a crucial role in regulating IL-17-mediated increase in the pyroptosis and decrease in the proliferation of cardiomyocytes by regulating the activities of the NLRP3 inflammasomes and the YAP/TEAD pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiani Zhou
- Department of General Practice, Ningbo Medical Treatment Center Li Huili Hospital, Affiliated to Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
| | - Chaoqun Wu
- Department of General Practice, Ningbo Medical Treatment Center Li Huili Hospital, Affiliated to Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
| | - Miaohui Zhao
- Department of General Practice, Ningbo Medical Treatment Center Li Huili Hospital, Affiliated to Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
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Hao Y, Li B, Yin F, Liu W. tRNA-derived small RNA (tsr007330) regulates myocardial fibrosis after myocardial infarction through NAT10-mediated ac4C acetylation of EGR3 mRNA. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2024; 1870:167267. [PMID: 38810917 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2024.167267] [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: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 04/27/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024]
Abstract
Small non-coding ribonucleic acids (sncRNAs) play an important role in cell regulation and are closely related to the pathogenesis of heart diseases. However, the role and molecular mechanism of transfer RNA-derived small RNAs (tsRNAs) in myocardial fibrosis after myocardial infarction (MI) remain unknown. In this study, we identified and validated sncRNAs (mainly miRNA and tsRNA) associated with myocardial fibrosis after MI through PANDORA sequencing of rat myocardial tissue. As a key enzyme of N4-acetylcytidine (ac4C) acetylation modification, N-acetyltransferase 10 (NAT10) plays an important role in regulating messenger RNA (mRNA) stability and translation efficiency. We found that NAT10 is highly expressed in infarcted myocardial tissue, and the results of acetylated RNA immunoprecipitation sequencing (acRIP-seq) analysis suggest that early growth response 3 (EGR3) may be an important molecule in the pathogenesis of NAT10-mediated myocardial fibrosis. Both in vivo and in vitro experiments have shown that inhibition of NAT10 can reduce the expression of EGR3 and alleviate myocardial fibrosis after MI. tsRNA can participate in gene regulation by inhibiting target genes. The expression of tsr007330 was decreased in myocardial infarction tissue. We found that overexpression of tsr007330 in rat myocardial tissue could antagonize NAT10, improve myocardial function in MI and alleviate myocardial fibrosis. In conclusion, tsRNAs (rno-tsr007330) may regulate the occurrence of myocardial fibrosis by regulating NAT10-mediated EGR3 mRNA acetylation. This study provides new insights into the improvement of myocardial fibrosis after MI by targeting tsRNA therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Hao
- Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150001, China; Department of Cardiology, the fourth affiliated hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150001, China
| | - Bohan Li
- Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150001, China
| | - Feiya Yin
- University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Wei Liu
- Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150001, China; Department of Geriatric Cardiovascular Division, Guangdong Provincial Geriatrics Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou 510080, China.
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Perez-Bonilla P, LaViolette B, Bhandary B, Ullas S, Chen X, Hirenallur-Shanthappa D. Isoproterenol induced cardiac hypertrophy: A comparison of three doses and two delivery methods in C57BL/6J mice. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0307467. [PMID: 39038017 PMCID: PMC11262646 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0307467] [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: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 07/05/2024] [Indexed: 07/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Heart Failure (HF) continues to be a complex public health issue with increasing world population prevalence. Although overall mortality has decreased for HF and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), a precursor for HF, their prevalence continues to increase annually. Because the etiology of HF and HCM is heterogeneous, it has been difficult to identify novel therapies to combat these diseases. Isoproterenol (ISP), a non-selective β-adrenoreceptor agonist, is commonly used to induce cardiotoxicity and cause acute and chronic HCM and HF in mice. However, the variability in dose and duration of ISP treatment used in studies has made it difficult to determine the optimal combination of ISP dose and delivery method to develop a reliable ISP-induced mouse model for disease. Here we examined cardiac effects induced by ISP via subcutaneous (SQ) and SQ-minipump (SMP) infusions across 3 doses (2, 4, and 10mg/kg/day) over 2 weeks to determine whether SQ and SMP ISP delivery induced comparable disease severity in C57BL/6J mice. To assess disease, we measured body and heart weight, surface electrocardiogram (ECG), and echocardiography recordings. We found all 3 ISP doses comparably increase heart weight, but these increases are more pronounced when ISP was administered via SMP. We also found that the combination of ISP treatment and delivery method induces contrasting heart rate, RR interval, and R and S amplitudes that may place SMP treated mice at higher risk for sustained disease burden. Mice treated via SMP also had increased heart wall thickness and LV Mass, but mice treated via SQ showed greater increase in gene markers for hypertrophy and fibrosis. Overall, these data suggest that at 2 weeks, mice treated with 2, 4, or 10mg/kg/day ISP via SQ and SMP routes cause similar pathological heart phenotypes but highlight the importance of drug delivery method to induce differing disease pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Perez-Bonilla
- Global Discovery, Investigative & Translational Sciences–Animal Models and Imaging, Pfizer Inc, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Brianna LaViolette
- Global Discovery, Investigative & Translational Sciences–Animal Models and Imaging, Pfizer Inc, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Bidur Bhandary
- Rare Diseases Research Unit, Pfizer Inc, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Soumya Ullas
- Global Discovery, Investigative & Translational Sciences–Animal Models and Imaging, Pfizer Inc, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Xian Chen
- Global Discovery, Investigative & Translational Sciences–Animal Models and Imaging, Pfizer Inc, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Dinesh Hirenallur-Shanthappa
- Global Discovery, Investigative & Translational Sciences–Animal Models and Imaging, Pfizer Inc, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
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Ruan S, Li J, Lei S, Zhang S, Xu D, Zuo A, Li L, Guo Y. Knockout of C1q/tumor necrosis factor-related protein-9 aggravates cardiac fibrosis in diabetic mice by regulating YAP-mediated autophagy. Front Pharmacol 2024; 15:1407883. [PMID: 39040468 PMCID: PMC11260687 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1407883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 06/20/2024] [Indexed: 07/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) is predominantly distinguished by impairment in ventricular function and myocardial fibrosis. Previous studies revealed the cardioprotective properties of C1q/tumor necrosis factor-related protein 9 (CTRP9). However, whether CTRP9 affects diabetic myocardial fibrosis and its underlying mechanisms remains unclear. Methods We developed a type 1 diabetes (T1DM) model in CTRP9-KO mice via streptozotocin (STZ) induction to examine cardiac function, histopathology, fibrosis extent, Yes-associated protein (YAP) expression, and the expression of markers for autophagy such LC3-II and p62. Additionally, we analyzed the direct impact of CTRP9 on high glucose (HG)-induced transdifferentiation, autophagic activity, and YAP protein levels in cardiac fibroblasts. Results In diabetic mice, CTRP9 expression was decreased in the heart. The absence of CTRP9 aggravated cardiac dysfunction and fibrosis in mice with diabetes, alongside increased YAP expression and impaired autophagy. In vitro, HG induced the activation of myocardial fibroblasts, which demonstrated elevated cell proliferation, collagen production, and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) expression. CTRP9 countered these adverse effects by restoring autophagy and reducing YAP protein levels in cardiac fibroblasts. Notably, the protective effects of CTRP9 were negated by the inhibition of autophagy with chloroquine (CQ) or by YAP overexpression through plasmid intervention. Notably, the protective effect of CTRP9 was negated by inhibition of autophagy caused by chloroquine (CQ) or plasmid intervention with YAP overexpression. Discussion Our findings suggest that CTRP9 can enhance cardiac function and mitigate cardiac remodeling in DCM through the regulation of YAP-mediated autophagy. CTRP9 holds promise as a potential candidate for pharmacotherapy in managing diabetic cardiac fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Yuan Guo
- Department of General Practice, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
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Wang XX, Zhao YM, Zhang QY, Zhao JX, Yin DH, Zhang ZZ, Jin XY, Li SN, Ji HY, Chen HY, Guo XF, Yu Y, Ma WY, Yan H, Li H, Ou-Yang QM, Pan ZW, Liang HH, Wang N, Chen W, Cai BZ, Liu Y. Acetylcytidine modification of Amotl1 by N-acetyltransferase 10 contributes to cardiac fibrotic expansion in mice after myocardial infarction. Acta Pharmacol Sin 2024; 45:1425-1437. [PMID: 38839936 PMCID: PMC11192918 DOI: 10.1038/s41401-024-01306-8] [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: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Cardiac fibrosis is a pathological scarring process that impairs cardiac function. N-acetyltransferase 10 (Nat10) is recently identified as the key enzyme for the N4-acetylcytidine (ac4C) modification of mRNAs. In this study, we investigated the role of Nat10 in cardiac fibrosis following myocardial infarction (MI) and the related mechanisms. MI was induced in mice by ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery; cardiac function was assessed with echocardiography. We showed that both the mRNA and protein expression levels of Nat10 were significantly increased in the infarct zone and border zone 4 weeks post-MI, and the expression of Nat10 in cardiac fibroblasts was significantly higher compared with that in cardiomyocytes after MI. Fibroblast-specific overexpression of Nat10 promoted collagen deposition and induced cardiac systolic dysfunction post-MI in mice. Conversely, fibroblast-specific knockout of Nat10 markedly relieved cardiac function impairment and extracellular matrix remodeling following MI. We then conducted ac4C-RNA binding protein immunoprecipitation-sequencing (RIP-seq) in cardiac fibroblasts transfected with Nat10 siRNA, and revealed that angiomotin-like 1 (Amotl1), an upstream regulator of the Hippo signaling pathway, was the target gene of Nat10. We demonstrated that Nat10-mediated ac4C modification of Amotl1 increased its mRNA stability and translation in neonatal cardiac fibroblasts, thereby increasing the interaction of Amotl1 with yes-associated protein 1 (Yap) and facilitating Yap translocation into the nucleus. Intriguingly, silencing of Amotl1 or Yap, as well as treatment with verteporfin, a selective and potent Yap inhibitor, attenuated the Nat10 overexpression-induced proliferation of cardiac fibroblasts and prevented their differentiation into myofibroblasts in vitro. In conclusion, this study highlights Nat10 as a crucial regulator of myocardial fibrosis following MI injury through ac4C modification of upstream activators within the Hippo/Yap signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiu-Xiu Wang
- Department of Pharmacy at the Second Affiliated Hospital, and Department of Pharmacology at College of Pharmacy (National Key Laboratory of Frigid Zone Cardiovascular Diseases, Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Research, Ministry of Education), Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150086, China
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology (The Heilongjiang Key Laboratory of Drug Research), Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150086, China
| | - Yi-Ming Zhao
- Department of Pharmacy at the Second Affiliated Hospital, and Department of Pharmacology at College of Pharmacy (National Key Laboratory of Frigid Zone Cardiovascular Diseases, Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Research, Ministry of Education), Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150086, China
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology (The Heilongjiang Key Laboratory of Drug Research), Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150086, China
| | - Qian-Yun Zhang
- Department of Pharmacy at the Second Affiliated Hospital, and Department of Pharmacology at College of Pharmacy (National Key Laboratory of Frigid Zone Cardiovascular Diseases, Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Research, Ministry of Education), Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150086, China
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology (The Heilongjiang Key Laboratory of Drug Research), Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150086, China
| | - Jing-Xuan Zhao
- Department of Pharmacy at the Second Affiliated Hospital, and Department of Pharmacology at College of Pharmacy (National Key Laboratory of Frigid Zone Cardiovascular Diseases, Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Research, Ministry of Education), Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150086, China
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology (The Heilongjiang Key Laboratory of Drug Research), Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150086, China
| | - Dao-Hong Yin
- Department of Pharmacy at the Second Affiliated Hospital, and Department of Pharmacology at College of Pharmacy (National Key Laboratory of Frigid Zone Cardiovascular Diseases, Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Research, Ministry of Education), Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150086, China
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology (The Heilongjiang Key Laboratory of Drug Research), Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150086, China
| | - Zi-Zhen Zhang
- Department of Pharmacy at the Second Affiliated Hospital, and Department of Pharmacology at College of Pharmacy (National Key Laboratory of Frigid Zone Cardiovascular Diseases, Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Research, Ministry of Education), Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150086, China
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology (The Heilongjiang Key Laboratory of Drug Research), Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150086, China
| | - Xiao-Yan Jin
- Department of Pharmacy at the Second Affiliated Hospital, and Department of Pharmacology at College of Pharmacy (National Key Laboratory of Frigid Zone Cardiovascular Diseases, Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Research, Ministry of Education), Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150086, China
| | - Shuai-Nan Li
- Department of Pharmacy at the Second Affiliated Hospital, and Department of Pharmacology at College of Pharmacy (National Key Laboratory of Frigid Zone Cardiovascular Diseases, Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Research, Ministry of Education), Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150086, China
| | - Hao-Yu Ji
- Department of Pharmacy at the Second Affiliated Hospital, and Department of Pharmacology at College of Pharmacy (National Key Laboratory of Frigid Zone Cardiovascular Diseases, Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Research, Ministry of Education), Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150086, China
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology (The Heilongjiang Key Laboratory of Drug Research), Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150086, China
| | - Hong-Yang Chen
- Department of Pharmacy at the Second Affiliated Hospital, and Department of Pharmacology at College of Pharmacy (National Key Laboratory of Frigid Zone Cardiovascular Diseases, Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Research, Ministry of Education), Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150086, China
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology (The Heilongjiang Key Laboratory of Drug Research), Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150086, China
| | - Xiao-Fei Guo
- Department of Pharmacy at the Second Affiliated Hospital, and Department of Pharmacology at College of Pharmacy (National Key Laboratory of Frigid Zone Cardiovascular Diseases, Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Research, Ministry of Education), Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150086, China
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology (The Heilongjiang Key Laboratory of Drug Research), Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150086, China
| | - Yang Yu
- Department of Pharmacy at the Second Affiliated Hospital, and Department of Pharmacology at College of Pharmacy (National Key Laboratory of Frigid Zone Cardiovascular Diseases, Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Research, Ministry of Education), Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150086, China
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology (The Heilongjiang Key Laboratory of Drug Research), Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150086, China
| | - Wen-Ya Ma
- Department of Pharmacy at the Second Affiliated Hospital, and Department of Pharmacology at College of Pharmacy (National Key Laboratory of Frigid Zone Cardiovascular Diseases, Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Research, Ministry of Education), Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150086, China
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology (The Heilongjiang Key Laboratory of Drug Research), Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150086, China
| | - Hong Yan
- Department of Pharmacy at the Second Affiliated Hospital, and Department of Pharmacology at College of Pharmacy (National Key Laboratory of Frigid Zone Cardiovascular Diseases, Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Research, Ministry of Education), Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150086, China
| | - Han Li
- Department of Pharmacy at the Second Affiliated Hospital, and Department of Pharmacology at College of Pharmacy (National Key Laboratory of Frigid Zone Cardiovascular Diseases, Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Research, Ministry of Education), Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150086, China
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology (The Heilongjiang Key Laboratory of Drug Research), Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150086, China
| | - Qi-Meng Ou-Yang
- Department of Pharmacy at the Second Affiliated Hospital, and Department of Pharmacology at College of Pharmacy (National Key Laboratory of Frigid Zone Cardiovascular Diseases, Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Research, Ministry of Education), Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150086, China
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology (The Heilongjiang Key Laboratory of Drug Research), Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150086, China
| | - Zhen-Wei Pan
- Department of Pharmacy at the Second Affiliated Hospital, and Department of Pharmacology at College of Pharmacy (National Key Laboratory of Frigid Zone Cardiovascular Diseases, Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Research, Ministry of Education), Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150086, China
| | - Hai-Hai Liang
- Department of Pharmacy at the Second Affiliated Hospital, and Department of Pharmacology at College of Pharmacy (National Key Laboratory of Frigid Zone Cardiovascular Diseases, Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Research, Ministry of Education), Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150086, China
| | - Ning Wang
- Department of Pharmacy at the Second Affiliated Hospital, and Department of Pharmacology at College of Pharmacy (National Key Laboratory of Frigid Zone Cardiovascular Diseases, Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Research, Ministry of Education), Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150086, China.
| | - Wei Chen
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150086, China.
| | - Ben-Zhi Cai
- Department of Pharmacy at the Second Affiliated Hospital, and Department of Pharmacology at College of Pharmacy (National Key Laboratory of Frigid Zone Cardiovascular Diseases, Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Research, Ministry of Education), Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150086, China.
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology (The Heilongjiang Key Laboratory of Drug Research), Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150086, China.
- NHC Key Laboratory of Cell Transplantation, The Heilongjiang Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150001, China.
| | - Yu Liu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory at the Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150001, China.
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Zhang Y, Ren Y, Li X, Li M, Fu M, Zhou W, Yu Y, Xiong Y. A review on decoding the roles of YAP/TAZ signaling pathway in cardiovascular diseases: Bridging molecular mechanisms to therapeutic insights. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 271:132473. [PMID: 38795886 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.132473] [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: 03/03/2024] [Revised: 05/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/28/2024]
Abstract
Yes-associated protein (YAP) and transcriptional coactivator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ) serve as transcriptional co-activators that dynamically shuttle between the cytoplasm and nucleus, resulting in either the suppression or enhancement of their downstream gene expression. Recent emerging evidence demonstrates that YAP/TAZ is strongly implicated in the pathophysiological processes that contribute to cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). In the cardiovascular system, YAP/TAZ is involved in the orchestration of a range of biological processes such as oxidative stress, inflammation, proliferation, and autophagy. Furthermore, YAP/TAZ has been revealed to be closely associated with the initiation and development of various cardiovascular diseases, including atherosclerosis, pulmonary hypertension, myocardial fibrosis, cardiac hypertrophy, and cardiomyopathy. In this review, we delve into recent studies surrounding YAP and TAZ, along with delineating their roles in contributing to the pathogenesis of CVDs with a link to various physiological processes in the cardiovascular system. Additionally, we highlight the current potential drugs targeting YAP/TAZ for CVDs therapy and discuss their challenges for translational application. Overall, this review may offer novel insights for understanding and treating cardiovascular disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, Northwest University, Xi'an 710069, Shaanxi, PR China
| | - Yuanyuan Ren
- Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, Northwest University, Xi'an 710069, Shaanxi, PR China
| | - Xiaofang Li
- Department of Gastroenterology, Xi'an No.3 Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Northwest University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710018, PR China
| | - Man Li
- Department of Endocrinology, Xi'an No.3 Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Northwest University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710018, PR China
| | - Mingdi Fu
- Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, Northwest University, Xi'an 710069, Shaanxi, PR China
| | - Wenjing Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, Northwest University, Xi'an 710069, Shaanxi, PR China
| | - Yi Yu
- Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, Northwest University, Xi'an 710069, Shaanxi, PR China.
| | - Yuyan Xiong
- Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, Northwest University, Xi'an 710069, Shaanxi, PR China; Xi'an Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases, Xi'an No.3 Hospital, the Affiliated Hospital of Northwest University, 710018 Xi'an, Shaanxi, PR China.
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10
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Aguado-Alvaro LP, Garitano N, Pelacho B. Fibroblast Diversity and Epigenetic Regulation in Cardiac Fibrosis. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:6004. [PMID: 38892192 PMCID: PMC11172550 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25116004] [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: 05/06/2024] [Revised: 05/28/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Cardiac fibrosis, a process characterized by excessive extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition, is a common pathological consequence of many cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) normally resulting in organ failure and death. Cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) play an essential role in deleterious cardiac remodeling and dysfunction. In response to injury, quiescent CFs become activated and adopt a collagen-secreting phenotype highly contributing to cardiac fibrosis. In recent years, studies have been focused on the exploration of molecular and cellular mechanisms implicated in the activation process of CFs, which allow the development of novel therapeutic approaches for the treatment of cardiac fibrosis. Transcriptomic analyses using single-cell RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) have helped to elucidate the high cellular diversity and complex intercellular communication networks that CFs establish in the mammalian heart. Furthermore, a significant body of work supports the critical role of epigenetic regulation on the expression of genes involved in the pathogenesis of cardiac fibrosis. The study of epigenetic mechanisms, including DNA methylation, histone modification, and chromatin remodeling, has provided more insights into CF activation and fibrotic processes. Targeting epigenetic regulators, especially DNA methyltransferases (DNMT), histone acetylases (HAT), or histone deacetylases (HDAC), has emerged as a promising approach for the development of novel anti-fibrotic therapies. This review focuses on recent transcriptomic advances regarding CF diversity and molecular and epigenetic mechanisms that modulate the activation process of CFs and their possible clinical applications for the treatment of cardiac fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Pilar Aguado-Alvaro
- Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, University of Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain; (L.P.A.-A.); (N.G.)
- Program of Cardiovascular Disease, Center for Applied Medical Research (CIMA), University of Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra (IdiSNA), 31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Nerea Garitano
- Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, University of Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain; (L.P.A.-A.); (N.G.)
- Program of Cardiovascular Disease, Center for Applied Medical Research (CIMA), University of Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra (IdiSNA), 31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Beatriz Pelacho
- Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, University of Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain; (L.P.A.-A.); (N.G.)
- Program of Cardiovascular Disease, Center for Applied Medical Research (CIMA), University of Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra (IdiSNA), 31008 Pamplona, Spain
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11
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Torimoto K, Elliott K, Nakayama Y, Yanagisawa H, Eguchi S. Cardiac and perivascular myofibroblasts, matrifibrocytes, and immune fibrocytes in hypertension; commonalities and differences with other cardiovascular diseases. Cardiovasc Res 2024; 120:567-580. [PMID: 38395029 DOI: 10.1093/cvr/cvae044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2023] [Revised: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Hypertension is a major cause of cardiovascular diseases such as myocardial infarction and stroke. Cardiovascular fibrosis occurs with hypertension and contributes to vascular resistance, aortic stiffness, and cardiac hypertrophy. However, the molecular mechanisms leading to fibroblast activation in hypertension remain largely unknown. There are two types of fibrosis: replacement fibrosis and reactive fibrosis. Replacement fibrosis occurs in response to the loss of viable tissue to form a scar. Reactive fibrosis occurs in response to an increase in mechanical and neurohormonal stress. Although both types of fibrosis are considered adaptive processes, they become maladaptive when the tissue loss is too large, or the stress persists. Myofibroblasts represent a subpopulation of activated fibroblasts that have gained contractile function to promote wound healing. Therefore, myofibroblasts are a critical cell type that promotes replacement fibrosis. Although myofibroblasts were recognized as the fibroblasts participating in reactive fibrosis, recent experimental evidence indicated there are distinct fibroblast populations in cardiovascular reactive fibrosis. Accordingly, we will discuss the updated definition of fibroblast subpopulations, the regulatory mechanisms, and their potential roles in cardiovascular pathophysiology utilizing new knowledge from various lineage tracing and single-cell RNA sequencing studies. Among the fibroblast subpopulations, we will highlight the novel roles of matrifibrocytes and immune fibrocytes in cardiovascular fibrosis including experimental models of hypertension, pressure overload, myocardial infarction, atherosclerosis, aortic aneurysm, and nephrosclerosis. Exploration into the molecular mechanisms involved in the differentiation and activation of those fibroblast subpopulations may lead to novel treatments for end-organ damage associated with hypertension and other cardiovascular diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keiichi Torimoto
- Department of Cardiovascular Science, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Katherine Elliott
- Department of Cardiovascular Science, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Sol Sherry Thrombosis Research Center, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Yuki Nakayama
- Department of Cardiovascular Science, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Sol Sherry Thrombosis Research Center, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Hiromi Yanagisawa
- Life Science Center for Survival Dynamics, Tsukuba Advanced Research Alliance (TARA), University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Satoru Eguchi
- Department of Cardiovascular Science, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Sol Sherry Thrombosis Research Center, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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12
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Hu C, Francisco J, Del Re DP, Sadoshima J. Decoding the Impact of the Hippo Pathway on Different Cell Types in Heart Failure. Circ J 2024:CJ-24-0171. [PMID: 38644191 DOI: 10.1253/circj.cj-24-0171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/23/2024]
Abstract
The evolutionarily conserved Hippo pathway plays a pivotal role in governing a variety of biological processes. Heart failure (HF) is a major global health problem with a significant risk of mortality. This review provides a contemporary understanding of the Hippo pathway in regulating different cell types during HF. Through a systematic analysis of each component's regulatory mechanisms within the Hippo pathway, we elucidate their specific effects on cardiomyocytes, fibroblasts, endothelial cells, and macrophages in response to various cardiac injuries. Insights gleaned from both in vitro and in vivo studies highlight the therapeutic promise of targeting the Hippo pathway to address cardiovascular diseases, particularly HF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chengchen Hu
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School
| | - Jamie Francisco
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School
| | - Dominic P Del Re
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School
| | - Junichi Sadoshima
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School
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13
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Yang Q, Yang T, Liu X, Liu S, Liu W, Nie L, Chu C, Yang J. Effects of gas signaling molecule SO 2 in cardiac functions of hyperthyroid rats. THE KOREAN JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY & PHARMACOLOGY : OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN PHYSIOLOGICAL SOCIETY AND THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF PHARMACOLOGY 2024; 28:129-143. [PMID: 38414396 PMCID: PMC10902587 DOI: 10.4196/kjpp.2024.28.2.129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
Sulfur dioxide (SO2), a novel endogenous gas signaling molecule, is involved in the regulation of cardiac function. Exerting a key role in progression of hyperthyroidism-induced cardiomyopathy (HTC), myocardial fibrosis is mainly caused by myocardial apoptosis, leading to poor treatment outcomes and prognoses. This study aimed to investigate the effect of SO2 on the hyperthyroidism-induced myocardial fibrosis and the underlying regulatory mechanisms. Elisa, Masson staining, Western-Blot, transmission electron microscope, and immunofluorescence were employed to evaluate the myocardial interstitial collagen deposition, endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS), apoptosis, changes in endogenous SO2, and Hippo pathways from in vitro and in vivo experiments. The study results indicated that the hyperthyroidism-induced myocardial fibrosis was accompanied by decreased cardiac function, and down-regulated ERS, apoptosis, and endogenous SO2-producing enzyme aspartate aminotransferase (AAT)1/2 in cardiac myocytes. In contrast, exogenous SO2 donors improved cardiac function, reduced myocardial interstitial collagen deposition, up-regulated AAT1/2, antagonized ERS and apoptosis, and inhibited excessive activation of Hippo pathway in hyperthyroid rats. In conclusion, the results herein suggested that SO2 inhibited the overactivation of the Hippo pathway, antagonized ERS and apoptosis, and alleviated myocardial fibrosis in hyperthyroid rats. Therefore, this study was expected to identify intervention targets and new strategies for prevention and treatment of HTC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Yang
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang 421000, Hunan, China
| | - Ting Yang
- School of Pharmaceutical Science of University of South China, Hengyang 421000, Hunan, China
| | - Xing Liu
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang 421000, Hunan, China
| | - Shengquan Liu
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang 421000, Hunan, China
| | - Wei Liu
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang 421000, Hunan, China
| | - Liangui Nie
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang 421000, Hunan, China
| | - Chun Chu
- Department of Pharmacy, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang 421000, Hunan, China
| | - Jun Yang
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang 421000, Hunan, China
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14
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Song S, Zhang X, Huang Z, Zhao Y, Lu S, Zeng L, Cai F, Wang T, Pei Z, Weng X, Luo W, Lu H, Wei Z, Wu J, Yu P, Shen L, Zhang X, Sun A, Ge J. TEA domain transcription factor 1(TEAD1) induces cardiac fibroblasts cells remodeling through BRD4/Wnt4 pathway. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2024; 9:45. [PMID: 38374140 PMCID: PMC10876703 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-023-01732-w] [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: 04/25/2023] [Revised: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 02/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) are the primary cells tasked with depositing and remodeling collagen and significantly associated with heart failure (HF). TEAD1 has been shown to be essential for heart development and homeostasis. However, fibroblast endogenous TEAD1 in cardiac remodeling remains incompletely understood. Transcriptomic analyses revealed consistently upregulated cardiac TEAD1 expression in mice 4 weeks after transverse aortic constriction (TAC) and Ang-II infusion. Further investigation revealed that CFs were the primary cell type expressing elevated TEAD1 levels in response to pressure overload. Conditional TEAD1 knockout was achieved by crossing TEAD1-floxed mice with CFs- and myofibroblasts-specific Cre mice. Echocardiographic and histological analyses demonstrated that CFs- and myofibroblasts-specific TEAD1 deficiency and treatment with TEAD1 inhibitor, VT103, ameliorated TAC-induced cardiac remodeling. Mechanistically, RNA-seq and ChIP-seq analysis identified Wnt4 as a novel TEAD1 target. TEAD1 has been shown to promote the fibroblast-to-myofibroblast transition through the Wnt signalling pathway, and genetic Wnt4 knockdown inhibited the pro-transformation phenotype in CFs with TEAD1 overexpression. Furthermore, co-immunoprecipitation combined with mass spectrometry, chromatin immunoprecipitation, and luciferase assays demonstrated interaction between TEAD1 and BET protein BRD4, leading to the binding and activation of the Wnt4 promoter. In conclusion, TEAD1 is an essential regulator of the pro-fibrotic CFs phenotype associated with pathological cardiac remodeling via the BRD4/Wnt4 signalling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuai Song
- Department of Cardiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Shanghai, China
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Viral Heart Diseases, National Health Commission, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Viral Heart Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shanghai, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Interventional Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaokai Zhang
- Department of Cardiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Shanghai, China
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Viral Heart Diseases, National Health Commission, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Viral Heart Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shanghai, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Interventional Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Zihang Huang
- Department of Cardiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Shanghai, China
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Viral Heart Diseases, National Health Commission, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Viral Heart Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shanghai, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Interventional Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yongchao Zhao
- Department of Cardiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Shanghai, China
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Viral Heart Diseases, National Health Commission, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Viral Heart Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shanghai, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Interventional Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Shuyang Lu
- Department of cardiac surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Linqi Zeng
- Department of Cardiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Shanghai, China
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Viral Heart Diseases, National Health Commission, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Viral Heart Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shanghai, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Interventional Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Fengze Cai
- Department of Cardiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Shanghai, China
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Viral Heart Diseases, National Health Commission, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Viral Heart Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shanghai, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Interventional Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Tongyao Wang
- Department of Cardiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Shanghai, China
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Viral Heart Diseases, National Health Commission, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Viral Heart Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shanghai, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Interventional Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhiqiang Pei
- Department of Cardiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Shanghai, China
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Viral Heart Diseases, National Health Commission, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Viral Heart Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shanghai, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Interventional Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xinyu Weng
- Department of Cardiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Shanghai, China
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Viral Heart Diseases, National Health Commission, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Viral Heart Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shanghai, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Interventional Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Wei Luo
- Department of Cardiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Shanghai, China
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Viral Heart Diseases, National Health Commission, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Viral Heart Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shanghai, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Interventional Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Hao Lu
- Department of Cardiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Shanghai, China
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Viral Heart Diseases, National Health Commission, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Viral Heart Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shanghai, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Interventional Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Zilun Wei
- Department of Cardiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Shanghai, China
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Viral Heart Diseases, National Health Commission, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Viral Heart Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shanghai, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Interventional Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jian Wu
- Department of Cardiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Shanghai, China
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Viral Heart Diseases, National Health Commission, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Viral Heart Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shanghai, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Interventional Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Peng Yu
- Department of Cardiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Shanghai, China
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Viral Heart Diseases, National Health Commission, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Viral Heart Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shanghai, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Interventional Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Li Shen
- Department of Cardiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Shanghai, China
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Viral Heart Diseases, National Health Commission, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Viral Heart Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shanghai, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Interventional Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaochun Zhang
- Department of Cardiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Shanghai, China
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Viral Heart Diseases, National Health Commission, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Viral Heart Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shanghai, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Interventional Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Aijun Sun
- Department of Cardiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Shanghai, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
- Key Laboratory of Viral Heart Diseases, National Health Commission, Shanghai, China.
- Key Laboratory of Viral Heart Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shanghai, China.
- National Clinical Research Center for Interventional Medicine, Shanghai, China.
- Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
- Shanghai Institute of Hypertension, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
| | - Junbo Ge
- Department of Cardiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Shanghai, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
- Key Laboratory of Viral Heart Diseases, National Health Commission, Shanghai, China.
- Key Laboratory of Viral Heart Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shanghai, China.
- National Clinical Research Center for Interventional Medicine, Shanghai, China.
- Shanghai Institute of Hypertension, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
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15
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Roy A, Hao L, Francisco J, Guan J, Mareedu S, Zhai P, Dodd-O J, Heffernan C, Del Re D, Lee EJA, Kumar VA. Injectable Peptide Hydrogels Loaded with Murine Embryonic Stem Cells Relieve Ischemia In Vivo after Myocardial Infarction. Biomacromolecules 2024; 25:1319-1329. [PMID: 38291600 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.3c01345] [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] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
Myocardial infarction (MI) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, especially in aging and metabolically unhealthy populations. A major target of regenerative tissue engineering is the restoration of viable cardiomyocytes to preserve cardiac function and circumvent the progression to heart failure post-MI. Amelioration of ischemia is a crucial component of such restorative strategies. Angiogenic β-sheet peptides can self-assemble into thixotropic nanofibrous hydrogels. These syringe aspiratable cytocompatible gels were loaded with stem cells and showed excellent cytocompatibility and minimal impact on the storage and loss moduli of hydrogels. Gels with and without cells were delivered into the myocardium of a mouse MI model (LAD ligation). Cardiac function and tissue remodeling were evaluated up to 4 weeks in vivo. Injectable peptide hydrogels synergized with loaded murine embryonic stem cells to demonstrate enhanced survival after intracardiac delivery during the acute phase post-MI, especially at 7 days. This approach shows promise for post-MI treatment and potentially functional cardiac tissue regeneration and warrants large-scale animal testing prior to clinical translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhishek Roy
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, New Jersey 07102, United States
| | - Lei Hao
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, New Jersey 07102, United States
| | - Jamie Francisco
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine, New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey 07103, United States
| | - Jin Guan
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine, New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey 07103, United States
| | - Satvik Mareedu
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine, New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey 07103, United States
| | - Peiyong Zhai
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine, New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey 07103, United States
| | - Joseph Dodd-O
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, New Jersey 07102, United States
| | - Corey Heffernan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, New Jersey 07102, United States
| | - Dominic Del Re
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine, New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey 07103, United States
| | - Eun Jung A Lee
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, New Jersey 07102, United States
| | - Vivek A Kumar
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, New Jersey 07102, United States
- Department of Biological Sciences, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, New Jersey 07102, United States
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, New Jersey 07102, United States
- Department of Endodontics, Rutgers School of Dental Medicine, Newark, New Jersey 07103, United States
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16
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Ebrahimighaei R, Tarassova N, Bond SC, McNeill MC, Hathway T, Vohra H, Newby AC, Bond M. Extracellular matrix stiffness controls cardiac fibroblast proliferation via the nuclear factor-Y (NF-Y) transcription factor. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA. MOLECULAR CELL RESEARCH 2024; 1871:119640. [PMID: 37996060 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamcr.2023.119640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
The proliferative expansion of cardiac fibroblasts (CF) contributes towards cardiac fibrosis, which results in myocardial stiffening, cardiac dysfunction, and heart failure. CF sense and respond to increased stiffness of their local extracellular matrix, modulating their phenotype towards increased collagen synthesis and higher proliferation, leading potentially to a vicious circle of positive feedback. Here we describe a novel mechanism that mediates increased CF proliferation in response to a pathologically stiff Exteracellular matrix (ECM). The mechanism we describe is independent of the well-characterised mechano-sensitive transcript factors, YAP-TEAD and MKL1-SRF, which our data indicate are only responsible for part of the genes induced by stiffened ECM. Instead, our data identify Nuclear Factor-Y (NF-Y) as a novel mechanosensitive transcription factor, which mediates enhanced CF proliferation in response to a stiff ECM. We show that levels of NF-YA protein, the major regulatory subunit of NF-Y, and NF-Y transcriptional activity, are increased by a stiff ECM. Indeed, NF-Y activity drives the expression of multiple cell-cycle genes. Furthermore, NF-YA protein levels are dependent on FAK signalling suggesting a mechanistic link to ECM composition. Consistent with its role as a mechano-sensor, inhibition of NF-Y using siRNA or dominant negative mutant blocks CF proliferation on plastic in vitro, which models a stiff ECM, whereas ectopic expression of NF-YA increases the proliferation of cells interacting under conditions that model a physiologically soft ECM. In summary, our data demonstrate that NF-Y is a biomechanically sensitive transcription factor that promotes CF proliferation in a model of pathologically stiffened ECM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reza Ebrahimighaei
- Department of Translational Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, Bristol, BS2 8HW, United Kingdom
| | - Nathalie Tarassova
- Department of Translational Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, Bristol, BS2 8HW, United Kingdom.
| | - Samuel C Bond
- Clifton High School, Clifton, Bristol, BS8 3JD, United Kingdom.
| | - Madeleine C McNeill
- Department of Translational Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, Bristol, BS2 8HW, United Kingdom.
| | - Tom Hathway
- Department of Translational Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, Bristol, BS2 8HW, United Kingdom.
| | - Hunaid Vohra
- Department of Translational Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, Bristol, BS2 8HW, United Kingdom.
| | - Andrew C Newby
- Department of Translational Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, Bristol, BS2 8HW, United Kingdom.
| | - Mark Bond
- Department of Translational Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, Bristol, BS2 8HW, United Kingdom.
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17
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Leng J, Wang C, Liang Z, Qiu F, Zhang S, Yang Y. An updated review of YAP: A promising therapeutic target against cardiac aging? Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 254:127670. [PMID: 37913886 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.127670] [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: 07/11/2023] [Revised: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
Abstract
The transcriptional co-activator Yes-associated protein (YAP) functions as a downstream effector of the Hippo signaling pathway and plays a crucial role in cardiomyocyte survival. In its non-phosphorylated activated state, YAP binds to transcription factors, activating the transcription of downstream target genes. It also regulates cell proliferation and survival by selectively binding to enhancers and activating target genes. However, the upregulation of the Hippo pathway in human heart failure inhibits cardiac regeneration and disrupts astrogenesis, thus preventing the nuclear translocation of YAP. Existing literature indicates that the Hippo/YAP axis contributes to inflammation and fibrosis, potentially playing a role in the development of cardiac, vascular and renal injuries. Moreover, it is a key mediator of myofibroblast differentiation and fibrosis in the infarcted heart. Given these insights, can we harness YAP's regenerative potential in a targeted manner? In this review, we provide a detailed discussion of the Hippo signaling pathway and consolidate concepts for the development and intervention of cardiac anti-aging drugs to leverage YAP signaling as a pivotal target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingzhi Leng
- Cancer Institute, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China; School of Physical Education, Qingdao University, China
| | - Chuanzhi Wang
- College of Sports Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhide Liang
- Cancer Institute, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China; Qingdao Cancer Institute, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Fanghui Qiu
- School of Physical Education, Qingdao University, China
| | - Shuangshuang Zhang
- Cancer Institute, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China; Qingdao Cancer Institute, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China; School of Physical Education, Qingdao University, China.
| | - Yuan Yang
- Cancer Institute, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China; Qingdao Cancer Institute, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China; School of Physical Education, Qingdao University, China.
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18
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Gong L, Si MS. SLIT3-mediated fibroblast signaling: a promising target for antifibrotic therapies. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2023; 325:H1400-H1411. [PMID: 37830982 DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00216.2023] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Revised: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023]
Abstract
The SLIT family (SLIT1-3) of highly conserved glycoproteins was originally identified as ligands for the Roundabout (ROBO) family of single-pass transmembrane receptors, serving to provide repulsive axon guidance cues in the nervous system. Intriguingly, studies involving SLIT3 mutant mice suggest that SLIT3 might have crucial biological functions outside the neural context. Although these mutant mice display no noticeable neurological abnormalities, they present pronounced connective tissue defects, including congenital central diaphragmatic hernia, membranous ventricular septal defect, and osteopenia. We recently hypothesized that the phenotype observed in SLIT3-deficient mice may be tied to abnormalities in fibrillar collagen-rich connective tissue. Further research by our group indicates that both SLIT3 and its primary receptor, ROBO1, are expressed in fibrillar collagen-producing cells across various nonneural tissues. Global and constitutive SLIT3 deficiency not only reduces the synthesis and content of fibrillar collagen in various organs but also alleviates pressure overload-induced fibrosis in both the left and right ventricles. This review delves into the known phenotypes of SLIT3 mutants and the debated role of SLIT3 in vasculature and bone. Present evidence hints at SLIT3 acting as an autocrine regulator of fibrillar collagen synthesis, suggesting it as a potential antifibrotic treatment. However, the precise pathway and mechanisms through which SLIT3 regulates fibrillar collagen synthesis remain uncertain, presenting an intriguing avenue for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lianghui Gong
- The Second Department of Thoracic Surgery, Hunan Cancer Hospital and The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, People's Republic of China
| | - Ming-Sing Si
- Division of Cardiac Surgery, Department of Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California, United States
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19
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Wu H, Lu Y, Duan Z, Wu J, Lin M, Wu Y, Han S, Li T, Fan Y, Hu X, Xiao H, Feng J, Lu Z, Kong D, Li S. Nanopore long-read RNA sequencing reveals functional alternative splicing variants in human vascular smooth muscle cells. Commun Biol 2023; 6:1104. [PMID: 37907652 PMCID: PMC10618188 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05481-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 11/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) are the major contributor to vascular repair and remodeling, which showed high level of phenotypic plasticity. Abnormalities in VSMC plasticity can lead to multiple cardiovascular diseases, wherein alternative splicing plays important roles. However, alternative splicing variants in VSMC plasticity are not fully understood. Here we systematically characterized the long-read transcriptome and their dysregulation in human aortic smooth muscle cells (HASMCs) by employing the Oxford Nanopore Technologies long-read RNA sequencing in HASMCs that are separately treated with platelet-derived growth factor, transforming growth factor, and hsa-miR-221-3P transfection. Our analysis reveals frequent alternative splicing events and thousands of unannotated transcripts generated from alternative splicing. HASMCs treated with different factors exhibit distinct transcriptional reprogramming modulated by alternative splicing. We also found that unannotated transcripts produce different open reading frames compared to the annotated transcripts. Finally, we experimentally validated the unannotated transcript derived from gene CISD1, namely CISD1-u, which plays a role in the phenotypic switch of HASMCs. Our study characterizes the phenotypic modulation of HASMCs from an insight of long-read transcriptome, which would promote the understanding and the manipulation of HASMC plasticity in cardiovascular diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Wu
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Precision Research Center for Refractory Diseases, Institute for Clinical Research, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yicheng Lu
- Precision Research Center for Refractory Diseases, Institute for Clinical Research, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhenzhen Duan
- Precision Research Center for Refractory Diseases, Institute for Clinical Research, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jingni Wu
- Precision Research Center for Refractory Diseases, Institute for Clinical Research, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Minghui Lin
- Precision Research Center for Refractory Diseases, Institute for Clinical Research, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yangjun Wu
- Department of Gynecological Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China
| | - Siyang Han
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Tongqi Li
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuqi Fan
- North Cross School Shanghai, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaoyuan Hu
- H. Milton Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering, College of Engineering, Geogia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Hongyan Xiao
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Wuhan Asia Heart Hospital, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Jiaxuan Feng
- Department of Vascular Surgery and Intervention Center, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhiqian Lu
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
| | - Deping Kong
- Precision Research Center for Refractory Diseases, Institute for Clinical Research, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
| | - Shengli Li
- Precision Research Center for Refractory Diseases, Institute for Clinical Research, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
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20
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Teegala LR, Gudneppanavar R, Sabu Kattuman EE, Snyderman M, Thanusha AV, Katari V, Thodeti CK, Paruchuri S. Prostaglandin E 2 attenuates lung fibroblast differentiation via inactivation of yes-associated protein signaling. FASEB J 2023; 37:e23199. [PMID: 37732601 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202300745rr] [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: 04/15/2023] [Revised: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023]
Abstract
Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2 ) has been implicated in counteracting fibroblast differentiation by TGFβ1 during pulmonary fibrosis. However, the precise mechanism is not well understood. We show here that PGE2 via EP2 R and EP4 R inhibits the expression of mechanosensory molecules Lysyl Oxidase Like 2 (LOXL2), myocardin-related transcription factor A (MRTF-A), ECM proteins, plasminogen activation inhibitor 1 (PAI-1), fibronectin (FN), α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), and redox sensor (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase 4 (NOX4)) required for TGFβ1-mediated fibroblast differentiation. We further demonstrate that PGE2 inhibits fibrotic signaling via Yes-associated protein (YAP) but does so independently from its actions on SMAD phosphorylation and conserved cylindromatosis (CYLD; deubiquitinase) expression. Mechanistically, PGE2 phosphorylates/inactivates YAP downstream of EP2 R/Gαs and restrains its translocation to the nucleus, thus inhibiting its interaction with TEA domain family members (TEADs) and transcription of fibrotic genes. Importantly, pharmacological or siRNA-mediated inhibition of YAP significantly downregulates TGFβ1-mediated fibrotic gene expression and myofibroblast formation. Notably, YAP expression is upregulated in the lungs of D. farinae-treated wild type (WT) mice relative to saline-treated WT mice. Our results unravel a unique role for PGE2 -YAP interactions in fibroblast differentiation, and that PGE2 /YAP inhibition can be used as a novel therapeutic target in the treatment of pathological conditions associated with myofibroblasts like asthma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lakshminarayan Reddy Teegala
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, The University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, Ohio, Toledo, USA
| | - Ravindra Gudneppanavar
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, The University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, Ohio, Toledo, USA
| | - Emma Elizabeth Sabu Kattuman
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, The University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, Ohio, Toledo, USA
| | | | - Arani Varamuniprasad Thanusha
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, The University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, Ohio, Toledo, USA
| | - Venkatesh Katari
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, The University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, Ohio, Toledo, USA
| | - Charles K Thodeti
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, The University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, Ohio, Toledo, USA
| | - Sailaja Paruchuri
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, The University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, Ohio, Toledo, USA
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21
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Tsai CR, Kim J, Li X, Czarnewski P, Li R, Meng F, Zheng M, Zhao X, Steimle J, Grisanti F, Wang J, Samee MAH, Martin J. Hippo-deficient cardiac fibroblasts differentiate into osteochondroprogenitors. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.09.06.556593. [PMID: 38529510 PMCID: PMC10962739 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.06.556593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/27/2024]
Abstract
Cardiac fibrosis, a common pathophysiology associated with various heart diseases, occurs from the excess deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM) 1 . Cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) are the primary cells that produce, degrade, and remodel ECM during homeostasis and tissue repair 2 . Upon injury, CFs gain plasticity to differentiate into myofibroblasts 3 and adipocyte-like 4,5 and osteoblast-like 6 cells, promoting fibrosis and impairing heart function 7 . How CFs maintain their cell state during homeostasis and adapt plasticity upon injury are not well defined. Recent studies have shown that Hippo signalling in CFs regulates cardiac fibrosis and inflammation 8-11 . Here, we used single-nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNA-seq) and spatially resolved transcriptomic profiling (ST) to investigate how the cell state was altered in the absence of Hippo signaling and how Hippo-deficient CFs interact with macrophages during cardiac fibrosis. We found that Hippo-deficient CFs differentiate into osteochondroprogenitors (OCPs), suggesting that Hippo restricts CF plasticity. Furthermore, Hippo-deficient CFs colocalized with macrophages, suggesting their intercellular communications. Indeed, we identified several ligand-receptor pairs between the Hippo-deficient CFs and macrophages. Blocking the Hippo-deficient CF-induced CSF1 signaling abolished macrophage expansion. Interestingly, blocking macrophage expansion also reduced OCP differentiation of Hippo-deficient CFs, indicating that macrophages promote CF plasticity.
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22
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覃 秋, 吕 祥, 何 梓, 陈 礼, 路 凤, 李 于, 黄 宇, 莫 琪, 徐 华, 吕 菲. [mRNA Expression Profile Changes in Angiotensin-Ⅱ-Induced Atrial Myocardial Fibrosis in Rats]. SICHUAN DA XUE XUE BAO. YI XUE BAN = JOURNAL OF SICHUAN UNIVERSITY. MEDICAL SCIENCE EDITION 2023; 54:959-964. [PMID: 37866953 PMCID: PMC10579065 DOI: 10.12182/20230960211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023]
Abstract
Objective To study the differences between the mRNA expression profile in angiotensin Ⅱ (Ang Ⅱ)-induced fibrotic cardiomyocytes and that of normal cardiomyocytes and the relevant signaling pathways. Methods Six 8-week-old male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly assigned to a control group and an Ang Ⅱ group, with 3 rats in each group. Rats in the control group were injected via caudal vein with 0.9% normal saline at 2 mg/kg per day, while rats in the Ang Ⅱ group were injected with Ang Ⅱ via caudal vein at 2 mg/kg per day. The medications were continuously administered in the two groups for 14 days. The degree of myocardial fibrosis was determined by Masson's Trichrome staining and the content of collagen Ⅰ was determined by immunohistochemistry. High throughput sequencing was performed to measure the mRNA expression of rat cardiomyocytes in the two groups and to screen for differentially-expressed mRNAs. The differentially-expressed mRNAs were analyzed by Gene Ontology (GO) analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis. Results Compared with those of the control group, the degree of myocardial fibrosis and the content of collagen Ⅰ in Ang Ⅱ group were significantly higher ( P<0.05). Through sequencing, 313 differentially-expressed mRNAs were identified, with 201 being up-regulated and 112 being down-regulated. Go and KEGG analyses showed that these differentially-expressed mRNA were involved in a variety of biological regulatory functions and pathways of myocardial fibrosis. Conclusion Ang Ⅱ can cause myocardial fibrosis in rats. There are significant differences in mRNA expression between fibrotic cardiomyocytes and normal cardiomyocytes. The differentially expressed mRNAs may play an important role in biological processes, including immune response, cell remodeling, and extracellular matrix deposition.
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Affiliation(s)
- 秋语 覃
- 桂林医学院附属医院 综合科医疗保健病区 (桂林 541001)Department of Medical Care Ward, Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin 541001, China
| | - 祥威 吕
- 桂林医学院附属医院 综合科医疗保健病区 (桂林 541001)Department of Medical Care Ward, Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin 541001, China
| | - 梓峰 何
- 桂林医学院附属医院 综合科医疗保健病区 (桂林 541001)Department of Medical Care Ward, Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin 541001, China
| | - 礼琴 陈
- 桂林医学院附属医院 综合科医疗保健病区 (桂林 541001)Department of Medical Care Ward, Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin 541001, China
| | - 凤霞 路
- 桂林医学院附属医院 综合科医疗保健病区 (桂林 541001)Department of Medical Care Ward, Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin 541001, China
| | - 于庭 李
- 桂林医学院附属医院 综合科医疗保健病区 (桂林 541001)Department of Medical Care Ward, Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin 541001, China
| | - 宇莉 黄
- 桂林医学院附属医院 综合科医疗保健病区 (桂林 541001)Department of Medical Care Ward, Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin 541001, China
| | - 琪 莫
- 桂林医学院附属医院 综合科医疗保健病区 (桂林 541001)Department of Medical Care Ward, Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin 541001, China
| | - 华欣 徐
- 桂林医学院附属医院 综合科医疗保健病区 (桂林 541001)Department of Medical Care Ward, Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin 541001, China
| | - 菲 吕
- 桂林医学院附属医院 综合科医疗保健病区 (桂林 541001)Department of Medical Care Ward, Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin 541001, China
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23
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Castillo-Casas JM, Caño-Carrillo S, Sánchez-Fernández C, Franco D, Lozano-Velasco E. Comparative Analysis of Heart Regeneration: Searching for the Key to Heal the Heart-Part II: Molecular Mechanisms of Cardiac Regeneration. J Cardiovasc Dev Dis 2023; 10:357. [PMID: 37754786 PMCID: PMC10531542 DOI: 10.3390/jcdd10090357] [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: 07/25/2023] [Revised: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death worldwide, among which ischemic heart disease is the most representative. Myocardial infarction results from occlusion of a coronary artery, which leads to an insufficient blood supply to the myocardium. As it is well known, the massive loss of cardiomyocytes cannot be solved due the limited regenerative ability of the adult mammalian hearts. In contrast, some lower vertebrate species can regenerate the heart after an injury; their study has disclosed some of the involved cell types, molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways during the regenerative process. In this 'two parts' review, we discuss the current state-of-the-art of the main response to achieve heart regeneration, where several processes are involved and essential for cardiac regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Manuel Castillo-Casas
- Cardiovascular Development Group, Department of Experimental Biology, University of Jaén, 23071 Jaén, Spain; (J.M.C.-C.); (S.C.-C.); (C.S.-F.); (D.F.)
| | - Sheila Caño-Carrillo
- Cardiovascular Development Group, Department of Experimental Biology, University of Jaén, 23071 Jaén, Spain; (J.M.C.-C.); (S.C.-C.); (C.S.-F.); (D.F.)
| | - Cristina Sánchez-Fernández
- Cardiovascular Development Group, Department of Experimental Biology, University of Jaén, 23071 Jaén, Spain; (J.M.C.-C.); (S.C.-C.); (C.S.-F.); (D.F.)
- Medina Foundation, 18007 Granada, Spain
| | - Diego Franco
- Cardiovascular Development Group, Department of Experimental Biology, University of Jaén, 23071 Jaén, Spain; (J.M.C.-C.); (S.C.-C.); (C.S.-F.); (D.F.)
- Medina Foundation, 18007 Granada, Spain
| | - Estefanía Lozano-Velasco
- Cardiovascular Development Group, Department of Experimental Biology, University of Jaén, 23071 Jaén, Spain; (J.M.C.-C.); (S.C.-C.); (C.S.-F.); (D.F.)
- Medina Foundation, 18007 Granada, Spain
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24
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Steinberg T, Dieterle MP, Ramminger I, Klein C, Brossette J, Husari A, Tomakidi P. On the Value of In Vitro Cell Systems for Mechanobiology from the Perspective of Yes-Associated Protein/Transcriptional Co-Activator with a PDZ-Binding Motif and Focal Adhesion Kinase and Their Involvement in Wound Healing, Cancer, Aging, and Senescence. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:12677. [PMID: 37628858 PMCID: PMC10454169 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241612677] [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: 05/17/2023] [Revised: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Mechanobiology comprises how cells perceive different mechanical stimuli and integrate them into a process called mechanotransduction; therefore, the related mechanosignaling cascades are generally important for biomedical research. The ongoing discovery of key molecules and the subsequent elucidation of their roles in mechanobiology are fundamental to understanding cell responses and tissue conditions, such as homeostasis, aging, senescence, wound healing, and cancer. Regarding the available literature on these topics, it becomes abundantly clear that in vitro cell systems from different species and tissues have been and are extremely valuable tools for enabling the discovery and functional elucidation of key mechanobiological players. Therefore, this review aims to discuss the significant contributions of in vitro cell systems to the identification and characterization of three such key players using the selected examples of yes-associated protein (YAP), its paralog transcriptional co-activator with a PDZ-binding motif (TAZ), and focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and their involvement in wound healing, cancer, aging, and senescence. In addition, the reader is given suggestions as to which future prospects emerge from the in vitro studies discussed herein and which research questions still remain open.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thorsten Steinberg
- Center for Dental Medicine, Division of Oral Biotechnology, Medical Center—University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Hugstetterstr. 55, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Martin Philipp Dieterle
- Center for Dental Medicine, Division of Oral Biotechnology, Medical Center—University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Hugstetterstr. 55, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Imke Ramminger
- Center for Dental Medicine, Division of Oral Biotechnology, Medical Center—University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Hugstetterstr. 55, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
- Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Schaenzlestr. 1, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Charlotte Klein
- Center for Dental Medicine, Division of Oral Biotechnology, Medical Center—University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Hugstetterstr. 55, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Julie Brossette
- Center for Dental Medicine, Division of Oral Biotechnology, Medical Center—University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Hugstetterstr. 55, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
- Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Schaenzlestr. 1, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Ayman Husari
- Center for Dental Medicine, Department of Orthodontics, Medical Center—University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Hugstetterstr. 55, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Pascal Tomakidi
- Center for Dental Medicine, Division of Oral Biotechnology, Medical Center—University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Hugstetterstr. 55, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
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25
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Francisco J, Guan J, Zhang Y, Nakada Y, Mareedu S, Sung EA, Hu CM, Oka S, Zhai P, Sadoshima J, Del Re DP. Suppression of myeloid YAP antagonizes adverse cardiac remodeling during pressure overload stress. J Mol Cell Cardiol 2023; 181:1-14. [PMID: 37235928 PMCID: PMC10524516 DOI: 10.1016/j.yjmcc.2023.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Revised: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Inflammation is an integral component of cardiovascular disease and is thought to contribute to cardiac dysfunction and heart failure. While ischemia-induced inflammation has been extensively studied in the heart, relatively less is known regarding cardiac inflammation during non-ischemic stress. Recent work has implicated a role for Yes-associated protein (YAP) in modulating inflammation in response to ischemic injury; however, whether YAP influences inflammation in the heart during non-ischemic stress is not described. We hypothesized that YAP mediates a pro-inflammatory response during pressure overload (PO)-induced non-ischemic injury, and that targeted YAP inhibition in the myeloid compartment is cardioprotective. In mice, PO elicited myeloid YAP activation, and myeloid-specific YAP knockout mice (YAPF/F;LysMCre) subjected to PO stress had better systolic function, and attenuated pathological remodeling compared to control mice. Inflammatory indicators were also significantly attenuated, while pro-resolving genes including Vegfa were enhanced, in the myocardium, and in isolated macrophages, of myeloid YAP KO mice after PO. Experiments using bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) from YAP KO and control mice demonstrated that YAP suppression shifted polarization toward a resolving phenotype. We also observed attenuated NLRP3 inflammasome priming and function in YAP deficient BMDMs, as well as in myeloid YAP KO hearts following PO, indicating disruption of inflammasome induction. Finally, we leveraged nanoparticle-mediated delivery of the YAP inhibitor verteporfin and observed attenuated PO-induced pathological remodeling compared to DMSO nanoparticle control treatment. These data implicate myeloid YAP as an important molecular nodal point that facilitates cardiac inflammation and fibrosis during PO stress and suggest that selective inhibition of YAP may prove a novel therapeutic target in non-ischemic heart disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jamie Francisco
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Jin Guan
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Yu Zhang
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Yasuki Nakada
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Satvik Mareedu
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Eun-Ah Sung
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Che-Ming Hu
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taiwan
| | - Shinichi Oka
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Peiyong Zhai
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Junichi Sadoshima
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Dominic P Del Re
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, USA.
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Dwivedi NV, Datta S, El-Kersh K, Sadikot RT, Ganti AK, Batra SK, Jain M. GPCRs and fibroblast heterogeneity in fibroblast-associated diseases. FASEB J 2023; 37:e23101. [PMID: 37486603 PMCID: PMC10916681 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202301091] [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: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023]
Abstract
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are the largest and most diverse class of signaling receptors. GPCRs regulate many functions in the human body and have earned the title of "most targeted receptors". About one-third of the commercially available drugs for various diseases target the GPCRs. Fibroblasts lay the architectural skeleton of the body, and play a key role in supporting the growth, maintenance, and repair of almost all tissues by responding to the cellular cues via diverse and intricate GPCR signaling pathways. This review discusses the dynamic architecture of the GPCRs and their intertwined signaling in pathological conditions such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, cardiac fibrosis, pancreatic fibrosis, hepatic fibrosis, and cancer as opposed to the GPCR signaling of fibroblasts in physiological conditions. Understanding the dynamics of GPCR signaling in fibroblasts with disease progression can help in the recognition of the complex interplay of different GPCR subtypes in fibroblast-mediated diseases. This review highlights the importance of designing and adaptation of next-generation strategies such as GPCR-omics, focused target identification, polypharmacology, and effective personalized medicine approaches to achieve better therapeutic outcomes for fibrosis and fibrosis associated malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nidhi V Dwivedi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
| | - Souvik Datta
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
| | - Karim El-Kersh
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
| | - Ruxana T Sadikot
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
- VA Nebraska Western Iowa Health Care System
| | - Apar K. Ganti
- VA Nebraska Western Iowa Health Care System
- Division of Oncology and Hematology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
- Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
| | - Surinder K Batra
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
- Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
| | - Maneesh Jain
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
- Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
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Wei Y, Hui VLZ, Chen Y, Han R, Han X, Guo Y. YAP/TAZ: Molecular pathway and disease therapy. MedComm (Beijing) 2023; 4:e340. [PMID: 37576865 PMCID: PMC10412783 DOI: 10.1002/mco2.340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The Yes-associated protein and its transcriptional coactivator with PDZ-binding motif (YAP/TAZ) are two homologous transcriptional coactivators that lie at the center of a key regulatory network of Hippo, Wnt, GPCR, estrogen, mechanical, and metabolism signaling. YAP/TAZ influences the expressions of downstream genes and proteins as well as enzyme activity in metabolic cycles, cell proliferation, inflammatory factor expression, and the transdifferentiation of fibroblasts into myofibroblasts. YAP/TAZ can also be regulated through epigenetic regulation and posttranslational modifications. Consequently, the regulatory function of these mechanisms implicates YAP/TAZ in the pathogenesis of metabolism-related diseases, atherosclerosis, fibrosis, and the delicate equilibrium between cancer progression and organ regeneration. As such, there arises a pressing need for thorough investigation of YAP/TAZ in clinical settings. In this paper, we aim to elucidate the signaling pathways that regulate YAP/TAZ and explore the mechanisms of YAP/TAZ-induce diseases and their potential therapeutic interventions. Furthermore, we summarize the current clinical studies investigating treatments targeting YAP/TAZ. We also address the limitations of existing research on YAP/TAZ and propose future directions for research. In conclusion, this review aims to provide fresh insights into the signaling mediated by YAP/TAZ and identify potential therapeutic targets to present innovative solutions to overcome the challenges associated with YAP/TAZ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuzi Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of StomatologySichuan UniversityChengduSichuanChina
| | - Victoria Lee Zhi Hui
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of StomatologySichuan UniversityChengduSichuanChina
| | - Yilin Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of StomatologySichuan UniversityChengduSichuanChina
- Department of OrthodonticsWest China Hospital of StomatologySichuan UniversityChengduSichuanChina
| | - Ruiying Han
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of StomatologySichuan UniversityChengduSichuanChina
- Department of OrthodonticsWest China Hospital of StomatologySichuan UniversityChengduSichuanChina
| | - Xianglong Han
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of StomatologySichuan UniversityChengduSichuanChina
- Department of OrthodonticsWest China Hospital of StomatologySichuan UniversityChengduSichuanChina
| | - Yongwen Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of StomatologySichuan UniversityChengduSichuanChina
- Department of OrthodonticsWest China Hospital of StomatologySichuan UniversityChengduSichuanChina
- Department of OrthodonticsLanzhou Stomatological HospitalLanzhouGansuChina
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Ishikane S, Arioka M, Takahashi-Yanaga F. Promising small molecule anti-fibrotic agents: Newly developed or repositioned drugs targeting myofibroblast transdifferentiation. Biochem Pharmacol 2023; 214:115663. [PMID: 37336252 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2023.115663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Revised: 06/11/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023]
Abstract
Fibrosis occurs in all organs and tissues except the brain, and its progression leads to dysfunction of affected organs. Fibrosis-induced organ dysfunction results from the loss of elasticity, strength, and functionality of tissues due to the extracellular matrix secreted by myofibroblasts that express smooth muscle-type actin as a marker. Myofibroblasts, which play a major role in fibrosis, were once thought to originate exclusively from activated fibroblasts; however, it is now clear that myofibroblasts are diverse in origin, from epithelial cells, endothelial cells, adipocytes, macrophages, and other cells. Fibrosis of vital organs, such as the heart, lungs, kidneys, and liver, is a serious chronic disease that ultimately leads to death. Currently, anti-cancer drugs have made remarkable progress, as evidenced by the development of many molecular-targeted drugs, and are making a significant contribution to improving the prognosis of cancer treatment. However, the development of anti-fibrotic agents, which also play an important role in prognosis, has lagged. In this review, the current knowledge regarding myofibroblasts is summarized, with particular attention given to their origin and transdifferentiation signaling pathways (e.g., TGF-β, Wnt/β-catenin, YAP/TAZ and AMPK signaling pathways). The development of new small molecule anti-fibrotic agents and the repositioning of existing drugs targeting myofibroblast transdifferentiation are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shin Ishikane
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, 807-8555, Japan
| | - Masaki Arioka
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, 807-8555, Japan
| | - Fumi Takahashi-Yanaga
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, 807-8555, Japan.
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Nicolini G, Balzan S, Forini F. Activated fibroblasts in cardiac and cancer fibrosis: An overview of analogies and new potential therapeutic options. Life Sci 2023; 321:121575. [PMID: 36933828 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2023.121575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2023] [Revised: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/11/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023]
Abstract
Heart disease and cancer are two major causes of morbidity and mortality in the industrialized countries, and their increasingly recognized connections are shifting the focus from single disease studies to an interdisciplinary approach. Fibroblast-mediated intercellular crosstalk is critically involved in the evolution of both pathologies. In healthy myocardium and in non-cancerous conditions, resident fibroblasts are the main cell source for synthesis of the extracellular matrix (ECM) and important sentinels of tissue integrity. In the setting of myocardial disease or cancer, quiescent fibroblasts activate, respectively, into myofibroblasts (myoFbs) and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), characterized by increased production of contractile proteins, and by a highly proliferative and secretory phenotype. Although the initial activation of myoFbs/CAFs is an adaptive process to repair the damaged tissue, massive deposition of ECM proteins leads to maladaptive cardiac or cancer fibrosis, a recognized marker of adverse outcome. A better understanding of the key mechanisms orchestrating fibroblast hyperactivity may help developing innovative therapeutic options to restrain myocardial or tumor stiffness and improve patient prognosis. Albeit still unappreciated, the dynamic transition of myocardial and tumor fibroblasts into myoFbs and CAFs shares several common triggers and signaling pathways relevant to TGF-β dependent cascade, metabolic reprogramming, mechanotransduction, secretory properties, and epigenetic regulation, which might lay the foundation for future antifibrotic intervention. Therefore, the aim of this review is to highlight emerging analogies in the molecular signature underlying myoFbs and CAFs activation with the purpose of identifying novel prognostic/diagnostic biomarkers, and to elucidate the potential of drug repositioning strategies to mitigate cardiac/cancer fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Silvana Balzan
- CNR Institute of Clinical Physiology, Via G.Moruzzi 1, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Francesca Forini
- CNR Institute of Clinical Physiology, Via G.Moruzzi 1, 56124 Pisa, Italy.
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Flinn MA, Alvarez-Argote S, Knas MC, Almeida VA, Paddock SJ, Zhou X, Buddell T, Jamal A, Taylor R, Liu P, Drnevich J, Patterson M, Link BA, O’Meara CC. Myofibroblast Ccn3 is regulated by Yap and Wwtr1 and contributes to adverse cardiac outcomes. Front Cardiovasc Med 2023; 10:1142612. [PMID: 36998974 PMCID: PMC10043314 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2023.1142612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction While Yap and Wwtr1 regulate resident cardiac fibroblast to myofibroblast differentiation following cardiac injury, their role specifically in activated myofibroblasts remains unexplored. Methods We assessed the pathophysiological and cellular consequence of genetic depletion of Yap alone (Yap fl/fl ;Postn MCM ) or Yap and Wwtr1 (Yap fl/fl ;Wwtr1 fl/+ ;Postn MCM ) in adult mouse myofibroblasts following myocardial infarction and identify and validate novel downstream factors specifically in cardiac myofibroblasts that mediate pathological remodeling. Results Following myocardial infarction, depletion of Yap in myofibroblasts had minimal effect on heart function while depletion of Yap/Wwtr1 resulted in smaller scars, reduced interstitial fibrosis, and improved ejection fraction and fractional shortening. Single cell RNA sequencing of interstitial cardiac cells 7 days post infarction showed suppression of pro-fibrotic genes in fibroblasts derived from Yap fl/fl ,Wwtr1 fl/+ ;Postn MCM hearts. In vivo myofibroblast depletion of Yap/Wwtr1 as well in vitro knockdown of Yap/Wwtr1 dramatically decreased RNA and protein expression of the matricellular factor Ccn3. Administration of recombinant CCN3 to adult mice following myocardial infarction remarkably aggravated cardiac function and scarring. CCN3 administration drove myocardial gene expression of pro-fibrotic genes in infarcted left ventricles implicating CCN3 as a novel driver of cardiac fibrotic processes following myocardial infarction. Discussion Yap/Wwtr1 depletion in myofibroblasts attenuates fibrosis and significantly improves cardiac outcomes after myocardial infarction and we identify Ccn3 as a factor downstream of Yap/Wwtr1 that contributes to adverse cardiac remodeling post MI. Myofibroblast expression of Yap, Wwtr1, and Ccn3 could be further explored as potential therapeutic targets for modulating adverse cardiac remodeling post injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael A. Flinn
- Department of Physiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
- Cardiovascular Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
| | - Santiago Alvarez-Argote
- Department of Physiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
- Cardiovascular Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
| | - Makenna C. Knas
- Department of Physiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
- Cardiovascular Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
| | - Victor Alencar Almeida
- Department of Physiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
- Cardiovascular Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
| | - Samantha J. Paddock
- Department of Physiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
- Cardiovascular Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
| | - Xiaoxu Zhou
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine,Hangzhou, China
| | - Tyler Buddell
- Cardiovascular Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology, and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
| | - Ayana Jamal
- Cardiovascular Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology, and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
| | - Reiauna Taylor
- Department of Physiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
| | - Pengyuan Liu
- Department of Physiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine,Hangzhou, China
| | - Jenny Drnevich
- High Performance Computing in Biology (HPCBio) and the Roy J. Carver Biotechnology Center, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, United States
| | - Michaela Patterson
- Cardiovascular Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology, and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
| | - Brian A. Link
- Cardiovascular Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology, and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
| | - Caitlin C. O’Meara
- Department of Physiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
- Cardiovascular Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
- Genomics Sciences and Precision Medicine Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
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Hypertrophic and fibrotic human PKD hearts are associated with macrophage infiltration and abnormal TGF-β 1 signaling. Cell Tissue Res 2023; 391:189-203. [PMID: 36376769 PMCID: PMC10100231 DOI: 10.1007/s00441-022-03704-y] [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: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is a hereditary kidney disorder which can affect cardiovascular system. Cardiac hypertrophy and cardiomyopathy in PKD have been reported by echocardiography analyses, but histopathology analyses of human PKD hearts have never been examined. The current studies evaluated human heart tissues from five subjects without PKD (non-PKD) and five subjects with PKD. Our histopathology data of human PKD hearts showed an increased extracellular matrix associated with cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis. Hypertrophy- and fibrosis-associated pathways involving abnormal cardiac structure were next analyzed. We found that human PKD myocardium was infiltrated by inflammatory macrophage M1 and M2; expression of transforming growth factor (TGF-β1) and its receptor were upregulated with overexpression of pSmad3 and β-catenin. Because patients with PKD have an abnormal kidney function that could potentially affect heart structure, we used a heart-specific PKD mouse model to validate that cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis were independent from polycystic kidney. In summary, our data show that hearts from human PKD were characterized by hypertrophy, interstitial fibrosis, perivascular fibrosis, and conduction system fibrosis with upregulated TGF-β1 and its receptor. We suggest that such structural abnormalities may predispose to systolic and diastolic cardiac dysfunction in the PKD myocardium.
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Cardiac fibroblasts and mechanosensation in heart development, health and disease. Nat Rev Cardiol 2022; 20:309-324. [PMID: 36376437 DOI: 10.1038/s41569-022-00799-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The term 'mechanosensation' describes the capacity of cells to translate mechanical stimuli into the coordinated regulation of intracellular signals, cellular function, gene expression and epigenetic programming. This capacity is related not only to the sensitivity of the cells to tissue motion, but also to the decryption of tissue geometric arrangement and mechanical properties. The cardiac stroma, composed of fibroblasts, has been historically considered a mechanically passive component of the heart. However, the latest research suggests that the mechanical functions of these cells are an active and necessary component of the developmental biology programme of the heart that is involved in myocardial growth and homeostasis, and a crucial determinant of cardiac repair and disease. In this Review, we discuss the general concept of cell mechanosensation and force generation as potent regulators in heart development and pathology, and describe the integration of mechanical and biohumoral pathways predisposing the heart to fibrosis and failure. Next, we address the use of 3D culture systems to integrate tissue mechanics to mimic cardiac remodelling. Finally, we highlight the potential of mechanotherapeutic strategies, including pharmacological treatment and device-mediated left ventricular unloading, to reverse remodelling in the failing heart.
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Ebrahimighaei R, Sala-Newby GB, Hudson C, Kimura TE, Hathway T, Hawkins J, McNeill MC, Richardson R, Newby AC, Bond M. Combined role for YAP-TEAD and YAP-RUNX2 signalling in substrate-stiffness regulation of cardiac fibroblast proliferation. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA. MOLECULAR CELL RESEARCH 2022; 1869:119329. [PMID: 35905788 PMCID: PMC7616274 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamcr.2022.119329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2022] [Revised: 07/16/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Cardiac fibrosis is associated with increased stiffness of the myocardial extracellular matrix (ECM) in part mediated by increased cardiac fibroblast proliferation However, our understanding of the mechanisms regulating cardiac fibroblast proliferation are incomplete. Here we characterise a novel mechanism involving a combined activation of Yes-associated protein (YAP) targets RUNX Family Transcription Factor 2 (RUNX2) and TEA Domain Transcription Factor (TEAD). We demonstrate that cardiac fibroblast proliferation is enhanced by interaction with a stiff ECM compared to a soft ECM. This is associated with activation of the transcriptional co-factor, YAP. We demonstrate that this stiffness induced activation of YAP enhances the transcriptional activity of both TEAD and RUNX2 transcription factors. Inhibition of either TEAD or RUNX2, using gene silencing, expression of dominant-negative mutants or pharmacological inhibition, reduces cardiac fibroblast proliferation. Using mutants of YAP, defective in TEAD or RUNX2 activation ability, we demonstrate a dual role of YAP-mediated activation of TEAD and RUNX2 for substrate stiffness induced cardiac fibroblast proliferation. Our data highlights a previously unrecognised role of YAP mediated RUNX2 activation for cardiac fibroblast proliferation in response to increased ECM stiffness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reza Ebrahimighaei
- School of Translational Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Research Floor Level 7, Bristol Royal Infirmary, Bristol BS2 8HW, UK
| | - Graciela B Sala-Newby
- School of Translational Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Research Floor Level 7, Bristol Royal Infirmary, Bristol BS2 8HW, UK
| | - Claire Hudson
- School of Translational Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Research Floor Level 7, Bristol Royal Infirmary, Bristol BS2 8HW, UK
| | - Tomomi E Kimura
- School of Translational Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Research Floor Level 7, Bristol Royal Infirmary, Bristol BS2 8HW, UK
| | - Tom Hathway
- School of Translational Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Research Floor Level 7, Bristol Royal Infirmary, Bristol BS2 8HW, UK
| | - Joseph Hawkins
- School of Translational Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Research Floor Level 7, Bristol Royal Infirmary, Bristol BS2 8HW, UK
| | - Madeleine C McNeill
- School of Translational Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Research Floor Level 7, Bristol Royal Infirmary, Bristol BS2 8HW, UK
| | - Rebecca Richardson
- School of Translational Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Research Floor Level 7, Bristol Royal Infirmary, Bristol BS2 8HW, UK
| | - Andrew C Newby
- School of Translational Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Research Floor Level 7, Bristol Royal Infirmary, Bristol BS2 8HW, UK
| | - Mark Bond
- School of Translational Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Research Floor Level 7, Bristol Royal Infirmary, Bristol BS2 8HW, UK.
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Zhang H, Ren L, Shivnaraine RV. Targeting GPCRs to treat cardiac fibrosis. Front Cardiovasc Med 2022; 9:1011176. [PMID: 36277752 PMCID: PMC9582444 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2022.1011176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cardiac fibrosis occurs ubiquitously in ischemic heart failure, genetic cardiomyopathies, diabetes mellitus, and aging. It triggers myocardial stiffness, which impairs cardiac function, ultimately progressing to end-stage heart failure and increased mortality. Although several targets for anti-fibrotic therapies have been identified, including TGF-β and receptor tyrosine kinase, there is currently no FDA-approved drug specifically targeting cardiac fibrosis. G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are integral, multipass membrane-bound receptors that exhibit diverse and cell-specific expression, offering novel and unrealized therapeutic targets for cardiac fibrosis. This review highlights the emerging roles of several GPCRs and briefly explores their downstream pathways that are crucial in cardiac fibrosis. We will not only provide an overview of the GPCRs expressed on cardiac fibroblasts that are directly involved in myofibroblast activation but also describe those GPCRs which contribute to cardiac fibrosis via indirect crosstalk mechanisms. We also discuss the challenges of identifying novel effective therapies for cardiac fibrosis and offer strategies to circumvent these challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Zhang
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States,*Correspondence: Hao Zhang
| | - Lu Ren
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
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Zheng A, Chen Q, Zhang L. The Hippo-YAP pathway in various cardiovascular diseases: Focusing on the inflammatory response. Front Immunol 2022; 13:971416. [PMID: 36059522 PMCID: PMC9433876 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.971416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2022] [Accepted: 08/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The Hippo pathway was initially discovered in Drosophila melanogaster and mammals as a key regulator of tissue growth both in physiological and pathological states. Numerous studies depict the vital role of the Hippo pathway in cardiovascular development, heart regeneration, organ size and vascular remodeling through the regulation of YAP (yes-associated protein) translocation. Recently, an increasing number of studies have focused on the Hippo-YAP pathway in inflammation and immunology. Although the Hippo-YAP pathway has been revealed to play controversial roles in different contexts and cell types in the cardiovascular system, the mechanisms regulating tissue inflammation and the immune response remain to be clarified. In this review, we summarize findings from the past decade on the function and mechanism of the Hippo-YAP pathway in CVDs (cardiovascular diseases) such as myocardial infarction, cardiomyopathy and atherosclerosis. In particular, we emphasize the role of the Hippo-YAP pathway in regulating inflammatory cell infiltration and inflammatory cytokine activation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Li Zhang
- *Correspondence: Li Zhang, ; Qishan Chen,
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36
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Puerta Cavanzo N, Riesmeijer SA, Holt-Kedde IL, Werker PMN, Piersma B, Olinga P, Bank RA. Verteporfin ameliorates fibrotic aspects of Dupuytren's disease nodular fibroblasts irrespective the activation state of the cells. Sci Rep 2022; 12:13940. [PMID: 35977978 PMCID: PMC9386017 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-18116-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Dupuytren’s disease is a chronic, progressive fibroproliferative condition of the hand fascia which results in digital contraction. So far, treatments do not directly interfere with the (myo)fibroblasts that are responsible for the formation of the collagen-rich cords and its contraction. Here we investigated whether verteporfin (VP) is able to inhibit the activation and subsequent differentiation of DD nodular fibroblasts into myofibroblasts. Fibroblasts were isolated from nodules of 7 Dupuytren patients. Cells are treated (1) for 48 h with 5 ng/ml transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) followed by 48 h with/without 250 nM VP in the absence of TGF-β1, or treated (2) for 48 h with TGF-β1 followed by 48 h with/without VP in the presence of TGF-β1. mRNA levels were measured by means of Real-Time PCR, and proteins were visualized by means of Western blotting and/or immunofluorescence. Quantitative data were statistically analyzed with GraphPad Prism using the paired t-test. We found that fibroblasts activated for 48 h with TGF-β1 show a decrease in mRNA levels of COL1A1, COL3A1, COL4A1, PLOD2, FN1EDA, CCN2 and SERPINE1 when exposed for another 48 h with VP, whereas no decrease is seen for ACTA2, YAP1, SMAD2 and SMAD3 mRNA levels. Cells exposed for an additional 48 h with TGF-β1, but now in the presence of VP, are not further activated anymore, whereas in the absence of VP the cells continue to differentiate into myofibroblasts. Collagen type I, fibronectin-extra domain A, α-smooth muscle actin, YAP1, Smad2 and Smad3 protein levels were attenuated by both VP treatments. We conclude that VP has strong anti-fibrotic properties: it is able to halt the differentiation of fibroblasts into myofibroblasts, and is also able to reverse the activation status of fibroblasts. The decreased protein levels of YAP1, Smad2 and Smad3 in the presence of VP explain in part the strong anti-fibrotic properties of VP. Verteporfin is clinically used as a photosensitizer for photodynamic therapy to eliminate abnormal blood vessels in the eye to attenuate macular degeneration. The antifibrotic properties of VP do not rely on photo-activation, as we used the molecule in its non-photoinduced state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nataly Puerta Cavanzo
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmacy, Groningen Research Institute of Pharmacy, University of Groningen, Antonius Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV, Groningen, The Netherlands.,MATRIX Research Group, Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Sophie A Riesmeijer
- Department of Plastic Surgery, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Iris L Holt-Kedde
- Department of Plastic Surgery, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Paul M N Werker
- Department of Plastic Surgery, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Bram Piersma
- MATRIX Research Group, Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Peter Olinga
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmacy, Groningen Research Institute of Pharmacy, University of Groningen, Antonius Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Ruud A Bank
- MATRIX Research Group, Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ, Groningen, The Netherlands.
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Kim YS, Kim M, Cho DI, Lim SY, Jun JH, Kim MR, Kang BG, Eom GH, Kang G, Yoon S, Ahn Y. PSME4 Degrades Acetylated YAP1 in the Nucleus of Mesenchymal Stem Cells. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:pharmaceutics14081659. [PMID: 36015285 PMCID: PMC9415559 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14081659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2022] [Revised: 08/04/2022] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Intensive research has focused on minimizing the infarct area and stimulating endogenous regeneration after myocardial infarction. Our group previously elucidated that apicidin, a histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor, robustly accelerates the cardiac commitment of naïve mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) through acute loss of YAP1. Here, we propose the novel regulation of YAP1 in MSCs. We found that acute loss of YAP1 after apicidin treatment resulted in the mixed effects of transcriptional arrest and proteasomal degradation. Subcellular fractionation revealed that YAP1 was primarily localized in the cytoplasm. YAP1 was acutely relocalized into the nucleus and underwent proteasomal degradation. Interestingly, phosphor-S127 YAP1 was shuttled into the nucleus, suggesting that a mechanism other than phosphorylation governed the subcellular localization of YAP1. Apicidin successfully induced acetylation and subsequent dissociation of YAP1 from 14-3-3, an essential molecule for cytoplasmic restriction. HDAC6 regulated both acetylation and subcellular localization of YAP1. An acetylation-dead mutant of YAP1 retarded nuclear redistribution upon apicidin treatment. We failed to acquire convincing evidence for polyubiquitination-dependent degradation of YAP1, suggesting that a polyubiquitination-independent regulator determined YAP1 fate. Nuclear PSME4, a subunit of the 26 S proteasome, recognized and degraded acetyl YAP1 in the nucleus. MSCs from PSME4-null mice were injected into infarcted heart, and aberrant sudden death was observed. Injection of immortalized human MSCs after knocking down PSME4 failed to improve either cardiac function or the fibrotic scar area. Our data suggest that acetylation-dependent proteasome subunit PSME4 clears acetyl-YAP1 in response to apicidin treatment in the nucleus of MSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong Sook Kim
- Biomedical Research Institute, Chonnam National University Hospital, Gwangju 61469, Korea
| | - Mira Kim
- Department of Pharmacology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Hwasun 58128, Korea
| | - Dong Im Cho
- Biomedical Research Institute, Chonnam National University Hospital, Gwangju 61469, Korea
| | - Soo Yeon Lim
- Biomedical Research Institute, Chonnam National University Hospital, Gwangju 61469, Korea
| | - Ju Hee Jun
- Biomedical Research Institute, Chonnam National University Hospital, Gwangju 61469, Korea
| | - Mi Ra Kim
- Biomedical Research Institute, Chonnam National University Hospital, Gwangju 61469, Korea
| | - Bo Gyeong Kang
- Biomedical Research Institute, Chonnam National University Hospital, Gwangju 61469, Korea
| | - Gwang Hyeon Eom
- Department of Pharmacology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Hwasun 58128, Korea
| | - Gaeun Kang
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Chonnam National University Hospital, Gwangju 61469, Korea
- Correspondence: (G.K.); (S.Y.); (Y.A.)
| | - Somy Yoon
- College of Pharmacy, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Korea
- Correspondence: (G.K.); (S.Y.); (Y.A.)
| | - Youngkeun Ahn
- Department of Cardiology, Chonnam National University Hospital, Gwangju 61469, Korea
- Correspondence: (G.K.); (S.Y.); (Y.A.)
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Burgos Villar KN, Liu X, Small EM. Transcriptional regulation of cardiac fibroblast phenotypic plasticity. CURRENT OPINION IN PHYSIOLOGY 2022; 28:100556. [PMID: 36777260 PMCID: PMC9915012 DOI: 10.1016/j.cophys.2022.100556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Cardiac fibroblasts play critical roles in the maintenance of cardiac structure and the response to cardiac insult. Extracellular matrix deposition by activated resident cardiac fibroblasts, called myofibroblasts, is an essential wound healing response. However, persistent fibroblast activation contributes to pathological fibrosis and cardiac chamber stiffening, which can cause diastolic dysfunction, heart failure, and initiate lethal arrhythmias. The dynamic and phenotypically plastic nature of cardiac fibroblasts is governed in part by the transcriptional regulation of genes encoding extracellular matrix molecules. Understanding how fibroblasts integrate various biomechanical cues into a precise transcriptional response may uncover therapeutic strategies to prevent fibrosis. Here, we provide an overview of the recent literature on transcriptional control of cardiac fibroblast plasticity and fibrosis, with a focus on canonical and non-canonical TGF-β signaling, biomechanical regulation of Hippo/YAP and Rho/MRTF signaling, and metabolic and epigenetic control of fibroblast activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimberly N. Burgos Villar
- Department of Medicine, Aab Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY 14642, USA,Department of Pathology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Xiaoyi Liu
- Department of Medicine, Aab Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY 14642, USA,Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, 14642, USA
| | - Eric M. Small
- Department of Medicine, Aab Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY 14642, USA,Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, 14642, USA,Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, 14642, USA,Correspondence:
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Braidotti N, Chen SN, Long CS, Cojoc D, Sbaizero O. Piezo1 Channel as a Potential Target for Hindering Cardiac Fibrotic Remodeling. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:8065. [PMID: 35897650 PMCID: PMC9330509 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23158065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Revised: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Fibrotic tissues share many common features with neoplasms where there is an increased stiffness of the extracellular matrix (ECM). In this review, we present recent discoveries related to the role of the mechanosensitive ion channel Piezo1 in several diseases, especially in regulating tumor progression, and how this can be compared with cardiac mechanobiology. Based on recent findings, Piezo1 could be upregulated in cardiac fibroblasts as a consequence of the mechanical stress and pro-inflammatory stimuli that occurs after myocardial injury, and its increased activity could be responsible for a positive feedback loop that leads to fibrosis progression. The increased Piezo1-mediated calcium flow may play an important role in cytoskeleton reorganization since it induces actin stress fibers formation, a well-known characteristic of fibroblast transdifferentiation into the activated myofibroblast. Moreover, Piezo1 activity stimulates ECM and cytokines production, which in turn promotes the phenoconversion of adjacent fibroblasts into new myofibroblasts, enhancing the invasive character. Thus, by assuming the Piezo1 involvement in the activation of intrinsic fibroblasts, recruitment of new myofibroblasts, and uncontrolled excessive ECM production, a new approach to blocking the fibrotic progression can be predicted. Therefore, targeted therapies against Piezo1 could also be beneficial for cardiac fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicoletta Braidotti
- Department of Physics, University of Trieste, Via A. Valerio 2, 34127 Trieste, Italy;
- Institute of Materials, National Research Council of Italy (CNR-IOM), Area Science Park Basovizza, Strada Statale 14, Km 163,5, 34149 Trieste, Italy;
| | - Suet Nee Chen
- CU-Cardiovascular Institute, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, 12700 East 19th Ave., Aurora, CO 80045, USA;
| | - Carlin S. Long
- Center for the Prevention of Heart and Vascular Disease, University of California, 555 Mission Bay Blvd South, Rm 352K, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA;
| | - Dan Cojoc
- Institute of Materials, National Research Council of Italy (CNR-IOM), Area Science Park Basovizza, Strada Statale 14, Km 163,5, 34149 Trieste, Italy;
| | - Orfeo Sbaizero
- Department of Engineering and Architecture, University of Trieste, Via A. Valerio 6/A, 34127 Trieste, Italy
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Garoffolo G, Casaburo M, Amadeo F, Salvi M, Bernava G, Piacentini L, Chimenti I, Zaccagnini G, Milcovich G, Zuccolo E, Agrifoglio M, Ragazzini S, Baasansuren O, Cozzolino C, Chiesa M, Ferrari S, Carbonaro D, Santoro R, Manzoni M, Casalis L, Raucci A, Molinari F, Menicanti L, Pagano F, Ohashi T, Martelli F, Massai D, Colombo GI, Messina E, Morbiducci U, Pesce M. Reduction of Cardiac Fibrosis by Interference With YAP-Dependent Transactivation. Circ Res 2022; 131:239-257. [PMID: 35770662 DOI: 10.1161/circresaha.121.319373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Conversion of cardiac stromal cells into myofibroblasts is typically associated with hypoxia conditions, metabolic insults, and/or inflammation, all of which are predisposing factors to cardiac fibrosis and heart failure. We hypothesized that this conversion could be also mediated by response of these cells to mechanical cues through activation of the Hippo transcriptional pathway. The objective of the present study was to assess the role of cellular/nuclear straining forces acting in myofibroblast differentiation of cardiac stromal cells under the control of YAP (yes-associated protein) transcription factor and to validate this finding using a pharmacological agent that interferes with the interactions of the YAP/TAZ (transcriptional coactivator with PDZ-binding motif) complex with their cognate transcription factors TEADs (TEA domain transcription factors), under high-strain and profibrotic stimulation. METHODS We employed high content imaging, 2-dimensional/3-dimensional culture, atomic force microscopy mapping, and molecular methods to prove the role of cell/nuclear straining in YAP-dependent fibrotic programming in a mouse model of ischemia-dependent cardiac fibrosis and in human-derived primitive cardiac stromal cells. We also tested treatment of cells with Verteporfin, a drug known to prevent the association of the YAP/TAZ complex with their cognate transcription factors TEADs. RESULTS Our experiments suggested that pharmacologically targeting the YAP-dependent pathway overrides the profibrotic activation of cardiac stromal cells by mechanical cues in vitro, and that this occurs even in the presence of profibrotic signaling mediated by TGF-β1 (transforming growth factor beta-1). In vivo administration of Verteporfin in mice with permanent cardiac ischemia reduced significantly fibrosis and morphometric remodeling but did not improve cardiac performance. CONCLUSIONS Our study indicates that preventing molecular translation of mechanical cues in cardiac stromal cells reduces the impact of cardiac maladaptive remodeling with a positive effect on fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gloria Garoffolo
- Centro Cardiologico Monzino, IRCCS, Milan, Italy (G.G., M.C., F.A., G.B., L.P., E.Z., S.R., M.C., S.F., R.S., M.M., A.R., G.I.C., M.P.)
| | - Manuel Casaburo
- Centro Cardiologico Monzino, IRCCS, Milan, Italy (G.G., M.C., F.A., G.B., L.P., E.Z., S.R., M.C., S.F., R.S., M.M., A.R., G.I.C., M.P.)
| | - Francesco Amadeo
- Centro Cardiologico Monzino, IRCCS, Milan, Italy (G.G., M.C., F.A., G.B., L.P., E.Z., S.R., M.C., S.F., R.S., M.M., A.R., G.I.C., M.P.)
| | - Massimo Salvi
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, Turin, Italy (M.S., D.C., F. Molinari, D.M., U.M.)
| | - Giacomo Bernava
- Centro Cardiologico Monzino, IRCCS, Milan, Italy (G.G., M.C., F.A., G.B., L.P., E.Z., S.R., M.C., S.F., R.S., M.M., A.R., G.I.C., M.P.)
| | - Luca Piacentini
- Centro Cardiologico Monzino, IRCCS, Milan, Italy (G.G., M.C., F.A., G.B., L.P., E.Z., S.R., M.C., S.F., R.S., M.M., A.R., G.I.C., M.P.)
| | - Isotta Chimenti
- Department of Medical Surgical Science and Biotechnology, Sapienza University of Rome (I.C., C.C.).,Mediterranea Cardiocentro, Napoli (I.C.)
| | | | | | - Estella Zuccolo
- Centro Cardiologico Monzino, IRCCS, Milan, Italy (G.G., M.C., F.A., G.B., L.P., E.Z., S.R., M.C., S.F., R.S., M.M., A.R., G.I.C., M.P.)
| | - Marco Agrifoglio
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Chirurgiche ed Odontoiatriche, Università di Milano, Milan, Italy (M.A.)
| | - Sara Ragazzini
- Centro Cardiologico Monzino, IRCCS, Milan, Italy (G.G., M.C., F.A., G.B., L.P., E.Z., S.R., M.C., S.F., R.S., M.M., A.R., G.I.C., M.P.)
| | - Otgon Baasansuren
- Faculty of Engineering, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan (O.B., T.O.)
| | - Claudia Cozzolino
- Department of Medical Surgical Science and Biotechnology, Sapienza University of Rome (I.C., C.C.)
| | - Mattia Chiesa
- Centro Cardiologico Monzino, IRCCS, Milan, Italy (G.G., M.C., F.A., G.B., L.P., E.Z., S.R., M.C., S.F., R.S., M.M., A.R., G.I.C., M.P.)
| | - Silvia Ferrari
- Centro Cardiologico Monzino, IRCCS, Milan, Italy (G.G., M.C., F.A., G.B., L.P., E.Z., S.R., M.C., S.F., R.S., M.M., A.R., G.I.C., M.P.)
| | - Dario Carbonaro
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, Turin, Italy (M.S., D.C., F. Molinari, D.M., U.M.)
| | - Rosaria Santoro
- Centro Cardiologico Monzino, IRCCS, Milan, Italy (G.G., M.C., F.A., G.B., L.P., E.Z., S.R., M.C., S.F., R.S., M.M., A.R., G.I.C., M.P.)
| | - Martina Manzoni
- Centro Cardiologico Monzino, IRCCS, Milan, Italy (G.G., M.C., F.A., G.B., L.P., E.Z., S.R., M.C., S.F., R.S., M.M., A.R., G.I.C., M.P.)
| | | | - Angela Raucci
- Centro Cardiologico Monzino, IRCCS, Milan, Italy (G.G., M.C., F.A., G.B., L.P., E.Z., S.R., M.C., S.F., R.S., M.M., A.R., G.I.C., M.P.)
| | - Filippo Molinari
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, Turin, Italy (M.S., D.C., F. Molinari, D.M., U.M.)
| | | | - Francesca Pagano
- Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, National Council of Research (IBBC-CNR), Monterotondo, Italy (F.P.)
| | - Toshiro Ohashi
- Faculty of Engineering, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan (O.B., T.O.)
| | | | - Diana Massai
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, Turin, Italy (M.S., D.C., F. Molinari, D.M., U.M.)
| | - Gualtiero I Colombo
- Centro Cardiologico Monzino, IRCCS, Milan, Italy (G.G., M.C., F.A., G.B., L.P., E.Z., S.R., M.C., S.F., R.S., M.M., A.R., G.I.C., M.P.)
| | - Elisa Messina
- Department of Pediatrics and Infant Neuropsychiatry. Policlinico Umberto I, Sapienza University of Rome (E.M.)
| | - Umberto Morbiducci
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, Turin, Italy (M.S., D.C., F. Molinari, D.M., U.M.)
| | - Maurizio Pesce
- Centro Cardiologico Monzino, IRCCS, Milan, Italy (G.G., M.C., F.A., G.B., L.P., E.Z., S.R., M.C., S.F., R.S., M.M., A.R., G.I.C., M.P.)
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New Insights into Hippo/YAP Signaling in Fibrotic Diseases. Cells 2022; 11:cells11132065. [PMID: 35805148 PMCID: PMC9265296 DOI: 10.3390/cells11132065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2022] [Revised: 06/25/2022] [Accepted: 06/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Fibrosis results from defective wound healing processes often seen after chronic injury and/or inflammation in a range of organs. Progressive fibrotic events may lead to permanent organ damage/failure. The hallmark of fibrosis is the excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM), mostly produced by pathological myofibroblasts and myofibroblast-like cells. The Hippo signaling pathway is an evolutionarily conserved kinase cascade, which has been described well for its crucial role in cell proliferation, apoptosis, cell fate decisions, and stem cell self-renewal during development, homeostasis, and tissue regeneration. Recent investigations in clinical and pre-clinical models has shown that the Hippo signaling pathway is linked to the pathophysiology of fibrotic diseases in many organs including the lung, heart, liver, kidney, and skin. In this review, we have summarized recent evidences related to the contribution of the Hippo signaling pathway in the development of organ fibrosis. A better understanding of this pathway will guide us to dissect the pathophysiology of fibrotic disorders and develop effective tissue repair therapies.
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Mia MM, Cibi DM, Ghani SABA, Singh A, Tee N, Sivakumar V, Bogireddi H, Cook SA, Mao J, Singh MK. Loss of Yap/Taz in cardiac fibroblasts attenuates adverse remodelling and improves cardiac function. Cardiovasc Res 2022; 118:1785-1804. [PMID: 34132780 DOI: 10.1093/cvr/cvab205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2021] [Accepted: 06/13/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
AIMS Fibrosis is associated with all forms of adult cardiac diseases including myocardial infarction (MI). In response to MI, the heart undergoes ventricular remodelling that leads to fibrotic scar due to excessive deposition of extracellular matrix mostly produced by myofibroblasts. The structural and mechanical properties of the fibrotic scar are critical determinants of heart function. Yes-associated protein (Yap) and transcriptional coactivator with PDZ-binding motif (Taz) are the key effectors of the Hippo signalling pathway and are crucial for cardiomyocyte proliferation during cardiac development and regeneration. However, their role in cardiac fibroblasts, regulating post-MI fibrotic and fibroinflammatory response, is not well established. METHODS AND RESULTS Using mouse model, we demonstrate that Yap/Taz are activated in cardiac fibroblasts after MI and fibroblasts-specific deletion of Yap/Taz using Col1a2Cre(ER)T mice reduces post-MI fibrotic and fibroinflammatory response and improves cardiac function. Consistently, Yap overexpression elevated post-MI fibrotic response. Gene expression profiling shows significant downregulation of several cytokines involved in post-MI cardiac remodelling. Furthermore, Yap/Taz directly regulate the promoter activity of pro-fibrotic cytokine interleukin-33 (IL33) in cardiac fibroblasts. Blocking of IL33 receptor ST2 using the neutralizing antibody abrogates the Yap-induced pro-fibrotic response in cardiac fibroblasts. We demonstrate that the altered fibroinflammatory programme not only affects the nature of cardiac fibroblasts but also the polarization as well as infiltration of macrophages in the infarcted hearts. Furthermore, we demonstrate that Yap/Taz act downstream of both Wnt and TGFβ signalling pathways in regulating cardiac fibroblasts activation and fibroinflammatory response. CONCLUSION We demonstrate that Yap/Taz play an important role in controlling MI-induced cardiac fibrosis by modulating fibroblasts proliferation, transdifferentiation into myofibroblasts, and fibroinflammatory programme.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masum M Mia
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-NUS Medical School, 169857Singapore
| | - Dasan Mary Cibi
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-NUS Medical School, 169857Singapore
| | | | - Anamika Singh
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-NUS Medical School, 169857Singapore
| | - Nicole Tee
- National Heart Research Institute Singapore, National Heart Centre Singapore, 169609Singapore
| | - Viswanathan Sivakumar
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-NUS Medical School, 169857Singapore
| | - Hanumakumar Bogireddi
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-NUS Medical School, 169857Singapore
| | - Stuart A Cook
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-NUS Medical School, 169857Singapore.,National Heart Research Institute Singapore, National Heart Centre Singapore, 169609Singapore
| | - Junhao Mao
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, Medical School, University of Massachusetts, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Manvendra K Singh
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-NUS Medical School, 169857Singapore.,National Heart Research Institute Singapore, National Heart Centre Singapore, 169609Singapore
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Zhang Y, Liu Q, Ning J, Jiang T, Kang A, Li L, Pang Y, Zhang B, Huang X, Wang Q, Bao L, Niu Y, Zhang R. The proteasome-dependent degradation of ALKBH5 regulates ECM deposition in PM 2.5 exposure-induced pulmonary fibrosis of mice. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2022; 432:128655. [PMID: 35334267 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.128655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2021] [Revised: 03/05/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Long-term inhalation of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) can cause serious effects on the respiratory system. It might be attributed to the fact that PM2.5 could directly enter and deposit in lung tissues. We established models of PM2.5 exposure in vivo and in vitro to explore the adverse effects of ambient PM2.5 on pulmonary and its potential pathogenic mechanisms. Our results showed that PM2.5 exposure promoted the deposition of ECM and the increased stiffness of the lungs, and then led to pulmonary fibrosis in time- and dose- dependent manners. Pulmonary function test showed restrictive ventilation function in mice after PM2.5 exposure. After PM2.5 exposure, ALKBH5 was recognized by TRIM11 and then degraded through the proteasome pathway. ALKBH5 deficiency (ALKBH5-/-) aggravated restrictive ventilatory disorder and promoted ECM deposition in lungs of mice induced by PM2.5. And the YAP1 signaling pathway was more activated in ALKBH5-/- than WT mice after PM2.5 exposure. In consequence, decreased ALKBH5 protein levels regulated miRNAs and then the miRNAs-targeted YAP1 signaling was activated to promote pulmonary fibrosis induced by PM2.5.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaling Zhang
- Department of Toxicology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, Hebei, PR China
| | - Qingping Liu
- Department of Toxicology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, Hebei, PR China
| | - Jie Ning
- Department of Toxicology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, Hebei, PR China
| | - Tao Jiang
- Department of Toxicology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, Hebei, PR China
| | - Aijuan Kang
- Department of Occupational Health and Environmental Health, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, Hebei, PR China
| | - Lipeng Li
- Department of Toxicology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, Hebei, PR China; Department of Reproductive Medicine, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, PR China
| | - Yaxian Pang
- Department of Toxicology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, Hebei, PR China
| | - Boyuan Zhang
- Department of Toxicology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, Hebei, PR China; Science and Technology Office, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, Hebei, PR China
| | - XiaoYan Huang
- Department of Occupational Health and Environmental Health, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, Hebei, PR China
| | - Qian Wang
- Experimental Center, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, Hebei, PR China
| | - Lei Bao
- Department of Occupational Health and Environmental Health, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, Hebei, PR China
| | - Yujie Niu
- Department of Occupational Health and Environmental Health, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, Hebei, PR China; Hebei Key Laboratory of Environment and Human Health, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, Hebei, PR China
| | - Rong Zhang
- Department of Toxicology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, Hebei, PR China; Hebei Key Laboratory of Environment and Human Health, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, Hebei, PR China.
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Deshpande A, Shetty PMV, Frey N, Rangrez AY. SRF: a seriously responsible factor in cardiac development and disease. J Biomed Sci 2022; 29:38. [PMID: 35681202 PMCID: PMC9185982 DOI: 10.1186/s12929-022-00820-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 05/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
The molecular mechanisms that regulate embryogenesis and cardiac development are calibrated by multiple signal transduction pathways within or between different cell lineages via autocrine or paracrine mechanisms of action. The heart is the first functional organ to form during development, which highlights the importance of this organ in later stages of growth. Knowledge of the regulatory mechanisms underlying cardiac development and adult cardiac homeostasis paves the way for discovering therapeutic possibilities for cardiac disease treatment. Serum response factor (SRF) is a major transcription factor that controls both embryonic and adult cardiac development. SRF expression is needed through the duration of development, from the first mesodermal cell in a developing embryo to the last cell damaged by infarction in the myocardium. Precise regulation of SRF expression is critical for mesoderm formation and cardiac crescent formation in the embryo, and altered SRF levels lead to cardiomyopathies in the adult heart, suggesting the vital role played by SRF in cardiac development and disease. This review provides a detailed overview of SRF and its partners in their various functions and discusses the future scope and possible therapeutic potential of SRF in the cardiovascular system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anushka Deshpande
- Department of Internal Medicine III, Cardiology and Angiology, University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, Kiel, Germany.,Department of Cardiology, Angiology and Pneumology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.,DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Partner site Hamburg/Kiel/Lübeck, Kiel, Germany
| | - Prithviraj Manohar Vijaya Shetty
- Department of Cardiology, Angiology and Pneumology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.,DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Heidelberg/Mannheim, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Norbert Frey
- Department of Cardiology, Angiology and Pneumology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.,DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Heidelberg/Mannheim, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Ashraf Yusuf Rangrez
- Department of Cardiology, Angiology and Pneumology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany. .,DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Heidelberg/Mannheim, Heidelberg, Germany.
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45
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Smad-dependent pathways in the infarcted and failing heart. Curr Opin Pharmacol 2022; 64:102207. [DOI: 10.1016/j.coph.2022.102207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2022] [Revised: 02/10/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
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Dupont S, Wickström SA. Mechanical regulation of chromatin and transcription. Nat Rev Genet 2022; 23:624-643. [DOI: 10.1038/s41576-022-00493-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
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Properties and Functions of Fibroblasts and Myofibroblasts in Myocardial Infarction. Cells 2022; 11:cells11091386. [PMID: 35563692 PMCID: PMC9102016 DOI: 10.3390/cells11091386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Revised: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 04/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The adult mammalian heart contains abundant interstitial and perivascular fibroblasts that expand following injury and play a reparative role but also contribute to maladaptive fibrotic remodeling. Following myocardial infarction, cardiac fibroblasts undergo dynamic phenotypic transitions, contributing to the regulation of inflammatory, reparative, and angiogenic responses. This review manuscript discusses the mechanisms of regulation, roles and fate of fibroblasts in the infarcted heart. During the inflammatory phase of infarct healing, the release of alarmins by necrotic cells promotes a pro-inflammatory and matrix-degrading fibroblast phenotype that may contribute to leukocyte recruitment. The clearance of dead cells and matrix debris from the infarct stimulates anti-inflammatory pathways and activates transforming growth factor (TGF)-β cascades, resulting in the conversion of fibroblasts to α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA)-expressing myofibroblasts. Activated myofibroblasts secrete large amounts of matrix proteins and form a collagen-based scar that protects the infarcted ventricle from catastrophic complications, such as cardiac rupture. Moreover, infarct fibroblasts may also contribute to cardiac repair by stimulating angiogenesis. During scar maturation, fibroblasts disassemble α-SMA+ stress fibers and convert to specialized cells that may serve in scar maintenance. The prolonged activation of fibroblasts and myofibroblasts in the infarct border zone and in the remote remodeling myocardium may contribute to adverse remodeling and to the pathogenesis of heart failure. In addition to their phenotypic plasticity, fibroblasts exhibit remarkable heterogeneity. Subsets with distinct phenotypic profiles may be responsible for the wide range of functions of fibroblast populations in infarcted and remodeling hearts.
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Varzideh F, Kansakar U, Donkor K, Wilson S, Jankauskas SS, Mone P, Wang X, Lombardi A, Santulli G. Cardiac Remodeling After Myocardial Infarction: Functional Contribution of microRNAs to Inflammation and Fibrosis. Front Cardiovasc Med 2022; 9:863238. [PMID: 35498051 PMCID: PMC9043126 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2022.863238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
After an ischemic injury, the heart undergoes a complex process of structural and functional remodeling that involves several steps, including inflammatory and fibrotic responses. In this review, we are focusing on the contribution of microRNAs in the regulation of inflammation and fibrosis after myocardial infarction. We summarize the most updated studies exploring the interactions between microRNAs and key regulators of inflammation and fibroblast activation and we discuss the recent discoveries, including clinical applications, in these rapidly advancing fields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fahimeh Varzideh
- Department of Medicine, Einstein-Mount Sinai Diabetes Research Center (ES-DRC), Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Fleischer Institute for Diabetes and Metabolism (FIDAM), Einstein Institute for Aging Research, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Wilf Family Cardiovascular Research Institute, Institute for Neuroimmunology and Inflammation (INI), New York, NY, United States
| | - Urna Kansakar
- Department of Medicine, Einstein-Mount Sinai Diabetes Research Center (ES-DRC), Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Fleischer Institute for Diabetes and Metabolism (FIDAM), Einstein Institute for Aging Research, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Wilf Family Cardiovascular Research Institute, Institute for Neuroimmunology and Inflammation (INI), New York, NY, United States
| | - Kwame Donkor
- Department of Medicine, Einstein-Mount Sinai Diabetes Research Center (ES-DRC), Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Fleischer Institute for Diabetes and Metabolism (FIDAM), Einstein Institute for Aging Research, New York, NY, United States
| | - Scott Wilson
- Department of Medicine, Einstein-Mount Sinai Diabetes Research Center (ES-DRC), Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Fleischer Institute for Diabetes and Metabolism (FIDAM), Einstein Institute for Aging Research, New York, NY, United States
| | - Stanislovas S. Jankauskas
- Department of Medicine, Einstein-Mount Sinai Diabetes Research Center (ES-DRC), Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Fleischer Institute for Diabetes and Metabolism (FIDAM), Einstein Institute for Aging Research, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Wilf Family Cardiovascular Research Institute, Institute for Neuroimmunology and Inflammation (INI), New York, NY, United States
| | - Pasquale Mone
- Department of Medicine, Einstein-Mount Sinai Diabetes Research Center (ES-DRC), Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Fleischer Institute for Diabetes and Metabolism (FIDAM), Einstein Institute for Aging Research, New York, NY, United States
| | - Xujun Wang
- Department of Medicine, Einstein-Mount Sinai Diabetes Research Center (ES-DRC), Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Fleischer Institute for Diabetes and Metabolism (FIDAM), Einstein Institute for Aging Research, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Wilf Family Cardiovascular Research Institute, Institute for Neuroimmunology and Inflammation (INI), New York, NY, United States
| | - Angela Lombardi
- Department of Medicine, Einstein-Mount Sinai Diabetes Research Center (ES-DRC), Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Fleischer Institute for Diabetes and Metabolism (FIDAM), Einstein Institute for Aging Research, New York, NY, United States
| | - Gaetano Santulli
- Department of Medicine, Einstein-Mount Sinai Diabetes Research Center (ES-DRC), Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Fleischer Institute for Diabetes and Metabolism (FIDAM), Einstein Institute for Aging Research, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Wilf Family Cardiovascular Research Institute, Institute for Neuroimmunology and Inflammation (INI), New York, NY, United States
- *Correspondence: Gaetano Santulli,
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Zou F, Li Y, Zhang S, Zhang J. DP1 (Prostaglandin D 2 Receptor 1) Activation Protects Against Vascular Remodeling and Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Transition to Myofibroblasts in Angiotensin II-Induced Hypertension in Mice. Hypertension 2022; 79:1203-1215. [PMID: 35354317 DOI: 10.1161/hypertensionaha.121.17584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) phenotype transition plays an essential role in vascular remodeling. PGD2 (Prostaglandin D2) is involved in cardiovascular inflammation. In this study, we aimed to investigates the role of DP1 (PGD2 receptor 1) on VSMC phenotype transition in vascular remodeling after Ang II (angiotensin II) infusion in mice. METHODS VSMC-specific DP1 knockout mice and DP1flox/flox mice were infused with Ang II for 28 days and systolic blood pressure was measured by noninvasive tail-cuff system. The arterial samples were applied to an unbiased proteome analysis. DP1f/f Myh11 (myosin heavy chain 11) CREERT2 R26mTmG/+ mice were generated for VSMC lineage tracing. Multiple genetic and pharmacological approaches were used to investigate DP1-mediated signaling in phenotypic transition of VSMCs in response to Ang II administration. RESULTS DP1 knockout promoted vascular media thickness and increased systolic blood pressure after Ang II infusion by impairing Epac (exchange protein directly activated by cAMP)-1-mediated Rap-1 (Ras-related protein 1) activation. The DP1 agonist facilitated the interaction of myocardin-related transcription factor A and G-actin, which subsequently inhibited the VSMC transition to myofibroblasts through the suppression of RhoA (Ras homolog family member A)/ROCK-1 (Rho associated coiled-coil containing protein kinase 1) activity. Moreover, Epac-1 overexpression by lentivirus blocked the progression of vascular fibrosis in DP1 deficient mice in response to Ang II infusion. CONCLUSIONS Our finding revealed a protective role of DP1 in VSMC switch to myofibroblasts by impairing the phosphorylation of MRTF (myocardin-related transcription factor)-A by ROCK-1 through Epac-1/Rap-1/RhoA pathway and thus inhibited the expression of collagen I, fibronectin, ED-A (extra domain A) fibronectin, and vinculin. Thus, DP1 activation has therapeutic potential for vascular fibrosis in hypertension.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fangdi Zou
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences (F.Z., Y.L., S.Z., J.Z.), Tianjin Medical University, China.,School of Pharmacy (F.Z.), Tianjin Medical University, China
| | - Yong Li
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences (F.Z., Y.L., S.Z., J.Z.), Tianjin Medical University, China
| | - Shijie Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences (F.Z., Y.L., S.Z., J.Z.), Tianjin Medical University, China
| | - Jian Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences (F.Z., Y.L., S.Z., J.Z.), Tianjin Medical University, China.,School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China (J.Z.)
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Del Re DP. Hippo-Yap signaling in cardiac and fibrotic remodeling. CURRENT OPINION IN PHYSIOLOGY 2022; 26:100492. [PMID: 36644337 PMCID: PMC9836231 DOI: 10.1016/j.cophys.2022.100492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Cardiac injury initiates a tissue remodeling process in which aberrant fibrosis plays a significant part, contributing to impaired contractility of the myocardium and the progression to heart failure. Fibrotic remodeling is characterized by the activation, proliferation, and differentiation of quiescent fibroblasts to myofibroblasts, and the resulting effects on the extracellular matrix and inflammatory milieu. Molecular mechanisms underlying fibroblast fate decisions and subsequent cardiac fibrosis are complex and remain incompletely understood. Emerging evidence has implicated the Hippo-Yap signaling pathway, originally discovered as a fundamental regulator of organ size, as an important mechanism that modulates fibroblast activity and adverse remodeling in the heart, while also exerting distinct cell type-specific functions that dictate opposing outcomes on heart failure. This brief review will focus on Hippo-Yap signaling in cardiomyocytes, cardiac fibroblasts, and other non-myocytes, and present mechanisms by which it may influence the course of cardiac fibrosis and dysfunction.
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