Pathophysiology and therapeutic relevance of PI3K(p110α) protein in atrial fibrillation: A non-interventional molecular therapy strategy

Empagliflozin protects the heart from atrial fibrillation in rats through inhibiting the NF-κB/HIF-1α regulatory axis and atrial remodeling

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common form of sustained cardiac arrhythmia. The current study aimed to investigate the potential of empagliflozin (EMPA) to protect against acetylcholine (ACh)/calcium chloride (CaCl2)-induced AF in rats and elucidate the possible underlying mechanism of action. Rats were randomly assigned to five groups, as follows: CTRL group: received 1 ml/kg isotonic saline; AF group: received 1 ml/kg induction mixture of ACh/CaCl2 (60 µg ACh and 10 mg CaCl2 per ml); EMPA group: received 30 mg/kg EMPA; AF + EMPA10 group: received the induction mixture concurrent with 10 mg/kg EMPA; AF + EMPA30 group: received the induction mixture concurrent with 30 mg/kg EMPA. Our results showed that EMPA administration inhibited the AF-related electrocardiographic abnormalities and decreased the serum brain natriuretic peptide levels. EMPA treatment maintained the cardiac redox balance, as indicated by reduced levels of the lipid peroxidation biomarker malonaldehyde while enhancing the antioxidant glutathione levels. Moreover, EMPA markedly repressed ACh/CaCl2-induced C-reactive protein, tumor necrosis factor, and interleukin-6 production. Interestingly, EMPA administration strongly suppressed cardiac transforming growth factor beta1, collagen type I, and alpha-smooth muscle actin expression levels in the AF rats. These results were consistent with our histopathological findings, which revealed the ameliorative effect of EMPA on AF-induced inflammatory and fibrotic lesions. Mechanistically, EMPA dose-dependently downregulated nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) and hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α expressions. Besides, it attenuated the pro-apoptotic active caspase-3 while augmenting the anti-apoptotic B-cell lymphoma 2 expressions. Furthermore, EMPA dose-dependently suppressed cardiac phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt signaling. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that EMPA intervention, within AF induction, protects against ACh/CaCl2-induced AF in rats, exerting powerful antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-fibrotic, and anti-apoptotic effects. These effects are mainly mediated through the targeting of the NF-κB/HIF-1α regulatory axis in a dose-dependent manner.

Metal-polyphenol-network coated R612F nanoparticles reduce drug resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma by inhibiting stress granules

Stress granules (SGs) are considered to be the nonmembrane discrete assemblies present in the cytoplasm to cope with various environmental stress. SGs can promote the progression and drug resistance of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Therefore, it is important to explore the mechanism of SG formation to reduce drug resistance in HCC. In this study, we demonstrate that p110α is required for SGs assembly. Mechanistically, the Arg-Gly (RG) motif of p110α is required for SG competence and regulates the recruitment of SG components. The methylation of p110α mediated by protein arginine methyltransferase 1 (PRMT1) interferes with the recruitment of p110α to SG components, thereby inhibiting the promotion of p110α to SGs. On this basis, we generated metal-polyphenol-network-coated R612F nanoparticles (MPN-R612F), which can efficiently enter HCC cells and maintain the hypermethylation state of p110α, thereby inhibiting the assembly of SGs and ultimately reducing the resistance of HCC cells to sorafenib. The combination of MPN-R612F nanoparticles and sorafenib can kill HCC cells more effectively and play a stronger anti-tumor effect. This study provides a new perspective for targeting SGs in the treatment of HCC.

p55γ degrades RIP3 via MG53 to suppress ischaemia-induced myocardial necroptosis and mediates cardioprotection of preconditioning

AIMS

Regulated necrosis (necroptosis) and apoptosis are important biological features of myocardial infarction, ischaemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury, and heart failure. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying myocardial necroptosis remain elusive. Ischaemic preconditioning (IPC) is the most powerful intrinsic cardioprotection against myocardial I/R injury. In this study, we aimed to determine whether IPC suppresses I/R-induced necroptosis and the underlying molecular mechanisms.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We generated p55γ transgenic and knockout mice and used ligation of left anterior descending coronary artery to produce an in vivo I/R model. The effects of p55γ and its downstream molecules were subsequently identified using mass spectroscopy and co-immunoprecipitation and pulldown assays. We found that p55γ expression was down-regulated in failing human myocardium caused by coronary heart disease as well as in I/R mouse hearts. Cardiac-specific p55γ overexpression ameliorated the I/R-induced necroptosis. In striking contrast, p55γ deficiency (p55γ-/-) and cardiac-specific deletion of p55γ (p55γc-KO) worsened I/R-induced injury. IPC up-regulated p55γ expression in vitro and in vivo. Using reporter and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays, we found that Hif1α transcriptionally regulated p55γ expression and mediated the cardioprotection of IPC. IPC-mediated suppression of necroptosis was attenuated in p55γ-/- and p55γc-KO hearts. Mechanistically, p55γ overexpression decreased the protein levels of RIP3 rather than the mRNA levels, while p55γ deficiency increased the protein abundance of RIP3. IPC attenuated the I/R-induced up-regulation of RIP3, which was abolished in p55γ-deficient mice. Up-regulation of RIP3 attenuated the p55γ- or IPC-induced inhibition of necroptosis in vivo. Importantly, p55γ directly bound and degraded RIP3 in a ubiquitin-dependent manner. We identified MG53 as the E3 ligase that mediated the p55γ-induced degradation of RIP3. In addition, we also found that p55γ activated the RISK pathway during IPC.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings reveal that activation of the MG53-RIP3 signal pathway by p55γ protects the heart against I/R-induced necroptosis and underlies IPC-induced cardioprotection.

Beyond the Rhythm: In Silico Identification of Key Genes and Therapeutic Targets in Atrial Fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a prevalent cardiac arrhythmia worldwide and is characterized by a high risk of thromboembolism, ischemic stroke, and fatality. The precise molecular mechanisms of AF pathogenesis remain unclear. The purpose of this study was to use bioinformatics tools to identify novel key genes in AF, provide deeper insights into the molecular pathogenesis of AF, and uncover potential therapeutic targets. Four publicly available raw RNA-Seq datasets obtained through the ENA Browser, as well as proteomic analysis results, both derived from atrial tissues, were used in this analysis. Differential gene expression analysis was performed and cross-validated with proteomics results to identify common genes/proteins between them. A functional enrichment pathway analysis was performed. Cross-validation analysis revealed five differentially expressed genes, namely FGL2, IGFBP5, NNMT, PLA2G2A, and TNC, in patients with AF compared with those with sinus rhythm (SR). These genes play crucial roles in various cardiovascular functions and may be part of the molecular signature of AF. Furthermore, functional enrichment analysis revealed several pathways related to the extracellular matrix, inflammation, and structural remodeling. This study highlighted five key genes that constitute promising candidates for further experimental exploration as biomarkers as well as therapeutic targets for AF.

TNFSF14/LIGHT promotes cardiac fibrosis and atrial fibrillation vulnerability via PI3Kγ/SGK1 pathway-dependent M2 macrophage polarisation

BACKGROUND

Tumour necrosis factor superfamily protein 14 (TNFSF14), also called LIGHT, is an important regulator of immunological and fibrosis diseases. However, its specific involvement in cardiac fibrosis and atrial fibrillation (AF) has not been fully elucidated. The objective of this study is to examine the influence of LIGHT on the development of myocardial fibrosis and AF.

METHODS

PCR arrays of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from patients with AF and sinus rhythm was used to identify the dominant differentially expressed genes, followed by ELISA to evaluate its serum protein levels. Morphological, functional, and electrophysiological changes in the heart were detected in vivo after the tail intravenous injection of recombinant LIGHT (rLIGHT) in mice for 4 weeks. rLIGHT was used to stimulate bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) to prepare a macrophage-conditioned medium (MCM) in vitro. Then, the MCM was used to culture mouse cardiac fibroblasts (CFs). The expression of relevant proteins and genes was determined using qRT-PCR, western blotting, and immunostaining.

RESULTS

The mRNA levels of LIGHT and TNFRSF14 were higher in the PBMCs of patients with AF than in those of the healthy controls. Additionally, the serum protein levels of LIGHT were higher in patients with AF than those in the healthy controls and were correlated with left atrial reverse remodelling. Furthermore, we demonstrated that rLIGHT injection promoted macrophage infiltration and M2 polarisation in the heart, in addition to promoting atrial fibrosis and AF inducibility in vivo, as detected with MASSON staining and atrial burst pacing respectively. RNA sequencing of heart samples revealed that the PI3Kγ/SGK1 pathway may participate in these pathological processes. Therefore, we confirmed the hypothesis that rLIGHT promotes BMDM M2 polarisation and TGB-β1 secretion, and that this process can be inhibited by PI3Kγ and SGK1 inhibitors in vitro. Meanwhile, increased collagen synthesis and myofibroblast transition were observed in LIGHT-stimulated MCM-cultured CFs and were ameliorated in the groups treated with PI3Kγ and SGK1 inhibitors.

CONCLUSION

LIGHT protein levels in peripheral blood can be used as a prognostic marker for AF and to evaluate its severity. LIGHT promotes cardiac fibrosis and AF inducibility by promoting macrophage M2 polarisation, wherein PI3Kγ and SGK1 activation is indispensable.

PI3K(p110α) as a determinant and gene therapy for atrial enlargement in atrial fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is an irregular heart rhythm, characterised by chaotic atrial activation, which is promoted by remodelling. Once initiated, AF can also propagate the progression of itself in the so-called ''AF begets AF''. Several lines of investigation have shown that signalling molecules, including reactive oxygen species, angiotensin II, and phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI3Ks), in presence or absence of cardiovascular disease risk factors, stabilise and promote AF maintenance. In particular, reduced cardiac-specific PI3K activity that is not associated with oncology is cardiotoxic and increases susceptibility to AF. Atrial-specific PI3K(p110α) transgene can cause pathological atrial enlargement. Highlighting the crucial importance of the p110α protein in a clinical problem that currently challenges the professional health care practice, in over forty (40) transgenic mouse models of AF (Table1), currently existing, of which some of the models are models of human genetic disorders, including PI3K(p110α) transgenic mouse model, over 70% of them reporting atrial size showed enlarged, greater atrial size. Individuals with minimal to severely dilated atria develop AF more likely. Left atrial diameter and volume stratification are an assessment for follow-up surveillance to detect AF. Gene therapy to reduce atrial size will be associated with a reduction in AF burden. In this overview, PI3K(p110α), a master regulator of organ size, was investigated in atrial enlargement and in physiological determinants that promote AF.

PI3K signalling at the intersection of cardio-oncology networks: cardiac safety in the era of AI

Class I phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI3Ks) are a family of lipid kinases. They are super elevated in many human cancer types and exert their main cellular functions by activating Akt to trigger an array of distinct responses, affecting metabolism and cell polarity. The signal equally plays important roles in cardiovascular pathophysiology. PI3K is required for cardiogenesis and regulation of cardiac structure and function. Overexpression of PI3K governs the development of cardiac pressure overload adaptation and compensatory hypertrophy. Therefore, inhibition of PI3K shortens life span, enhances cardiac dysfunction and pathological hypertrophy. The inverse inhibition effect, however, desirably destroys many cancer cells by blocking several aspects of the tumorigenesis phenotype. Given the contrasting effects in cardio-oncology; the best therapeutic strategy to target PI3K in cancer, while maintaining or rather increasing cardiac safety is under intense investigational scrutiny. To improve our molecular understanding towards identifying cardiac safety signalling of PI3K and/or better therapeutic strategy for cancer treatment, this article reviews PI3K signalling in cardio-oncology. PI3K signalling at the interface of metabolism, inflammation and immunity, and autonomic innervation networks were examined. Examples were then given of cardiovascular drugs that target the networks, being repurposed for cancer treatment. This was followed by an intersection scheme of the networks that can be functionalised with machine learning for safety and risk prediction, diagnoses, and defining new novel encouraging leads and targets for clinical translation. This will hopefully overcome the challenges of the one-signalling-one-health-outcome alliance, and expand our knowledge of the totality of PI3K signalling in cardio-oncology.