MuRF2 regulates PPARγ1 activity to protect against diabetic cardiomyopathy and enhance weight gain induced by a high fat diet

The evolution and functional characterization of transcription factors E2Fs in lamprey, Lethenteron reissneri

The E2 promoter binding factors (E2Fs) are a group of transcriptional regulators that govern the cell cycle and play crucial roles in various cellular physiological processes, including proliferation and embryonic development. In this study, we identified four homologous genes-Lr-E2F3, Lr-E2F4, Lr-E2F5, and Lr-E2F8-from the lamprey (Lethenteron reissneri) genome database. Phylogenetic tree analysis was conducted to elucidate the evolutionary relationships within the E2F family across different species. Furthermore, analyses of motifs, domains, gene structures, and 3D structures reinforced the conservation of the E2F family. Notably, synteny analysis revealed that the neighboring genes of the Lr-E2Fs exhibited greater diversity compared to those in jawed vertebrates. Activity assays indicated that Lr-E2Fs may be involved in lamprey innate immunity mediated by NF-кB. Additionally, morphological observations of embryos microinjected with Cas9/sgRNA demonstrated that E2F-deficient lamprey embryos displayed embryonic lethality, suggesting that Lr-E2Fs play a significant role in lamprey embryonic development. In summary, our research not only provides new insights into the evolution of Lr-E2Fs but also offers valuable clues regarding their functional roles.

Intermedin Alleviates Diabetic Cardiomyopathy by Up-Regulating CPT-1β through Activation of the Phosphatidyl Inositol 3 Kinase/Protein Kinase B Signaling Pathway

Diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM), one of the most serious long-term consequences of diabetes, is closely associated with myocardial fatty acid metabolism. Carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1β (CPT-1β) is the rate-limiting enzyme responsible for β-oxidation of long-chain fatty acids. Intermedin (IMD) is a pivotal bioactive small molecule peptide, participating in the protection of various cardiovascular diseases. However, the role and underlying mechanisms of IMD in DCM are still unclear. In this study, we investigated whether IMD alleviates DCM via regulating CPT-1β. A rat DCM model was established by having rats to drink fructose water for 12 weeks. A mouse DCM model was induced by feeding mice a high-fat diet for 16 weeks. We showed that IMD and its receptor complexes levels were significantly down-regulated in the cardiac tissues of DCM rats and mice. Reduced expression of IMD was also observed in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes treated with palmitic acid (PA, 300 μM) in vitro. Exogenous and endogenous IMD mitigated cardiac hypertrophy, fibrosis, dysfunction, and lipid accumulation in DCM rats and IMD-transgenic DCM mice, whereas knockout of IMD worsened these pathological processes in IMD-knockout DCM mice. In vitro, IMD alleviated PA-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and cardiac fibroblast activation. We found that CPT-1β enzyme activity, mRNA and protein levels, and acetyl-CoA content were increased in T2DM patients, rats and mice. IMD up-regulated the CPT-1β levels and acetyl-CoA content in T2DM rats and mice. Knockdown of CPT-1β blocked the effects of IMD on increasing acetyl-CoA content and on inhibiting cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and cardiac fibroblast activation. IMD receptor antagonist IMD17-47 and the phosphatidyl inositol 3 kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt) inhibitor LY294002 reversed the effects of IMD on up-regulating CPT-1β and acetyl-CoA expression and on inhibiting cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and cardiac fibroblast activation. We revealed that IMD alleviates DCM by up-regulating CPT-1β via calcitonin receptor-like receptor/receptor activity-modifying protein (CRLR/RAMP) receptor complexes and PI3K/Akt signaling. IMD may serve as a potent therapeutic target for the treatment of DCM.

TRIM55 Aggravates Cardiomyocyte Apoptosis After Myocardial Infarction via Modulation of the Nrf2/HO-1 Pathway

Tripartite motif-containing 55 (Trim55) is mainly expressed in myocardium and skeletal muscle, which plays an important role in promoting the embryonic development of the mouse heart. We investigated the role of Trim55 in myocardial infarction and the associated molecular mechanisms. We studied both gain and loss of function in vivo and in vitro. The results showed that Trim55 knockout improved cardiac function and apoptosis after myocardial infarction, and overexpression aggravated cardiac function damage. The mechanism is that Trim55 interacts with nuclear factor, erythroid derived 2 (Nrf2) to accelerate its degradation and inhibit the expression of heme oxygenase 1, thereby promoting cardiomyocyte apoptosis.

TRIM55 promotes noncanonical NF-κB signaling and B cell-mediated immune responses by coordinating p100 ubiquitination and processing

The ubiquitination-dependent processing of NF-κB2 (also known as p100) is a critical step in the activation of the noncanonical NF-κB pathway. We investigated the molecular mechanisms regulating this process and showed that TRIM55 was the E3 ubiquitin ligase that mediated the ubiquitination of p100 and coordinated its processing. TRIM55 deficiency impaired noncanonical NF-κB activation and B cell function. Mice with a B cell-specific Trim55 deficiency exhibited reduced germinal center formation and antibody production. These mice showed less severe symptoms than those of control mice upon the induction of a systemic lupus-like disease, suggesting B cell-intrinsic functions of TRIM55 in humoral immune responses and autoimmunity. Mechanistically, the ubiquitination of p100 mediated by TRIM55 was crucial for p100 processing by VCP, an ATPase that mediates ubiquitin-dependent protein degradation by the proteasome. Furthermore, we found that TRIM55 facilitated the interaction between TRIM21 and VCP as well as TRIM21-mediated K63-ubiquitination of VCP, both of which were indispensable for the formation of the VCP-UFD1-NPL4 complex and p100 processing. Together, our results reveal a mechanism by which TRIM55 fine-tunes p100 processing and regulates B cell-dependent immune responses in vivo, highlighting TRIM55 as a potential therapeutic target for lupus-like disease.

TRAP1 inhibits MARCH5-mediated MIC60 degradation to alleviate mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptosis of cardiomyocytes under diabetic conditions

Mitochondrial dysfunction and cell death play important roles in diabetic cardiomyopathy, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we report that mitochondrial dysfunction and cell apoptosis are prominent features of primary cardiomyocytes after exposure to high glucose/palmitate conditions. The protein level of MIC60, a core component of mitochondrial cristae, is decreased via ubiquitination and degradation under these conditions. Exogenous expression of MIC60 alleviates cristae disruption, mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptosis. Moreover, we identified MARCH5 as an E3 ubiquitin ligase that specifically targets MIC60 in this process. Indeed, MARCH5 mediates K48-linked ubiquitination of MIC60 at Lys285 to promote its degradation. Mutation of the ubiquitination site in MIC60 or the MIC60-interacting motifs in MARCH5 abrogates MARCH5-mediated MIC60 ubiquitination and degradation. Silencing MARCH5 significantly alleviates high glucose/palmitate-induced mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptosis in primary cardiomyocytes. In addition to E3 ubiquitin ligases, molecular chaperones also play important roles in protein stability. We previously reported that the mitochondrial chaperone TRAP1 inhibits the ubiquitination of MIC60, but the detailed mechanism is unknown. Here, we find that TRAP1 performs this function by competing with MARCH5 for binding to MIC60. Our findings provide new insights into the mechanism underlying mitochondrial dysfunction in cardiomyocytes in diabetic cardiomyopathy. MARCH5 promotes ubiquitination of MIC60 to induce MIC60 degradation, mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptosis in cardiomyocytes under diabetic conditions. TRAP1 inhibits MARCH5-mediated ubiquitination by competitively interacting with MIC60.

2-Arachidonoylglycerol Attenuates Myocardial Fibrosis in Diabetic Mice Via the TGF-β1/Smad Pathway

PURPOSE

Diabetic cardiomyopathy (DM) is the cause of late cardiac dysfunction in diabetic patients. Myocardial fibrosis is the main pathological mechanism, and it is associated with transforming growth factor-β1(TGF-β1) expression up-regulation. 2-Arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) is an endogenous cannabinoid that can effectively improve myocardial cell energy metabolism and cardiac function. Here, we evaluated the protective effect of 2-AG on diabetic cardiomyopathy.

METHODS

Male C57BL/6 mice were injected with 2-AG intraperitoneally for 4 weeks (10 micro g/kg/day) after 12 weeks of diabetic modeling. After 4 weeks, heart function was evaluated by echocardiography. Heart structure was assessed by hematoxylin and eosin staining. Cardiac fibrosis was analyzed using immunohistochemistry, Sirius red stain, and western blot.

RESULTS

After modeling in diabetic mice, cardiac ultrasonography showed decreased cardiac function and pathological findings showed myocardial fibrosis. 2-AG could effectively inhibit the up-regulation of TGF-β1 and Smad2/3, reduce myocardial fibrosis, and ultimately improve cardiac function in diabetic mice.

CONCLUSION

2-AG reduces cardiac fibrosis via the TGF-β1/Smad2/3 pathway and is a potential pathway for the treatment of cardiac dysfunction in diabetic mice.

A high-throughput drug screening identifies luteolin as a therapeutic candidate for pathological cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure

BACKGROUND

Pathological cardiac hypertrophy is commonly resulted from sustained pressure overload and/or metabolic disorder and eventually leads to heart failure, lacking specific drugs in clinic. Here, we aimed to identify promising anti-hypertrophic drug(s) for heart failure and related metabolic disorders by using a luciferase reporter-based high-throughput screening.

METHODS

A screen of the FDA-approved compounds based on luciferase reporter was performed, with identified luteolin as a promising anti-hypertrophic drug. We systematically examined the therapeutic efficacy of luteolin on cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure in vitro and in vivo models. Transcriptome examination was performed to probe the molecular mechanisms of luteolin.

RESULTS

Among 2,570 compounds in the library, luteolin emerged as the most robust candidate against cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. Luteolin dose-dependently blocked phenylephrine-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and showed extensive cardioprotective roles in cardiomyocytes as evidenced by transcriptomics. More importantly, gastric administration of luteolin effectively ameliorated pathological cardiac hypertrophy, fibrosis, metabolic disorder, and heart failure in mice. Cross analysis of large-scale transcriptomics and drug-target interacting investigations indicated that peroxisome proliferator activated receptor γ (PPARγ) was the direct target of luteolin in the setting of pathological cardiac hypertrophy and metabolic disorders. Luteolin can directly interact with PPARγ to inhibit its ubiquitination and subsequent proteasomal degradation. Furthermore, PPARγ inhibitor and PPARγ knockdown both prevented the protective effect of luteolin against phenylephrine-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy in vitro.

CONCLUSION

Our data clearly supported that luteolin is a promising therapeutic compound for pathological cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure by directly targeting ubiquitin-proteasomal degradation of PPARγ and the related metabolic homeostasis.

Cardiac metabolism in HFpEF: from fuel to signalling

Heart failure (HF) is marked by distinctive changes in myocardial uptake and utilization of energy substrates. Among the different types of HF, HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is a highly prevalent, complex, and heterogeneous condition for which metabolic derangements seem to dictate disease progression. Changes in intermediate metabolism in cardiometabolic HFpEF-among the most prevalent forms of HFpEF-have a large impact both on energy provision and on a number of signalling pathways in the heart. This dual, metabolic vs. signalling, role is played in particular by long-chain fatty acids (LCFAs) and short-chain carbon sources [namely, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and ketone bodies (KBs)]. LCFAs are key fuels for the heart, but their excess can be harmful, as in the case of toxic accumulation of lipid by-products (i.e. lipotoxicity). SCFAs and KBs have been proposed as a potential major, alternative source of energy in HFpEF. At the same time, both LCFAs and short-chain carbon sources are substrate for protein post-translational modifications and other forms of direct and indirect signalling of pivotal importance in HFpEF pathogenesis. An in-depth molecular understanding of the biological functions of energy substrates and their signalling role will be instrumental in the development of novel therapeutic approaches to HFpEF. Here, we summarize the current evidence on changes in energy metabolism in HFpEF, discuss the signalling role of intermediate metabolites through, at least in part, their fate as substrates for post-translational modifications, and highlight clinical and translational challenges around metabolic therapy in HFpEF.

Lysine 222 in PPAR γ1 functions as the key site of MuRF2-mediated ubiquitination modification

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR γ) plays key roles in the development, physiology, reproduction, and homeostasis of organisms. Its expression and activity are regulated by various posttranslational modifications. We previously reported that E3 ubiquitin ligase muscle ring finger protein 2 (MuRF2) inhibits cardiac PPAR γ1 protein level and activity, eventually protects heart from diabetic cardiomyopathy; furthermore, by GST-pulldown assay, we found that MuRF2 modifies PPAR γ1 via poly-ubiquitination and accelerates PPAR γ1 proteasomal degradation. However, the key ubiquitination site on PPAR γ that MuRF2 targets for remains unclear. In the present study, we demonstrate that lysine site 222 is the receptor of MuRF2-mediated PPAR γ1 ubiquitination modification, using prediction of computational models, immunoprecipitation, ubiquitination assays, cycloheximide chasing assay and RT-qPCR. Our findings elucidated the underlying details of MuRF2 prevents heart from diabetic cardiomyopathy through the PPAR γ1 regulatory pathway.

A novel interleukin-2-based fusion molecule, HCW9302, differentially promotes regulatory T cell expansion to treat atherosclerosis in mice

Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease caused by deposition of oxidative low-density lipoprotein (LDL) in the arterial intima which triggers the innate immune response through myeloid cells such as macrophages. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) play an important role in controlling the progression or regression of atherosclerosis by resolving macrophage-mediated inflammatory functions. Interleukin-2 (IL-2) signaling is essential for homeostasis of Tregs. Since recombinant IL-2 has an unfavorable pharmacokinetic profile limiting its therapeutic use, we constructed a fusion protein, designated HCW9302, containing two IL-2 domains linked by an extracellular tissue factor domain. We found that HCW9302 exhibited a longer serum half-life with an approximately 1000-fold higher affinity for the IL-2Rα than IL-2. HCW9302 could be administered to mice at a dosing range that expanded and activated Tregs but not CD4⁺ effector T cells. In an ApoE^-/- mouse model, HCW9302 treatment curtailed the progression of atherosclerosis through Treg activation and expansion, M2 macrophage polarization and myeloid-derived suppressor cell induction. HCW9302 treatment also lessened inflammatory responses in the aorta. Thus, HCW9302 is a potential therapeutic agent to expand and activate Tregs for treatment of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.

The Potential Roles of Post-Translational Modifications of PPARγ in Treating Diabetes

The number of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), which is mainly characterized by insulin resistance and insulin secretion deficiency, has been soaring in recent years. Accompanied by many other metabolic syndromes, such as cardiovascular diseases, T2DM represents a big challenge to public health and economic development. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ), a ligand-activated nuclear receptor that is critical in regulating glucose and lipid metabolism, has been developed as a powerful drug target for T2DM, such as thiazolidinediones (TZDs). Despite thiazolidinediones (TZDs), a class of PPARγ agonists, having been proven to be potent insulin sensitizers, their use is restricted in the treatment of diabetes for their adverse effects. Post-translational modifications (PTMs) have shed light on the selective activation of PPARγ, which shows great potential to circumvent TZDs' side effects while maintaining insulin sensitization. In this review, we will focus on the potential effects of PTMs of PPARγ on treating T2DM in terms of phosphorylation, acetylation, ubiquitination, SUMOylation, O-GlcNAcylation, and S-nitrosylation. A better understanding of PTMs of PPARγ will help to design a new generation of safer compounds targeting PPARγ to treat type 2 diabetes.

Combined use of systemic quercetin, glutamine and alpha-tocopherol attenuates myocardial fibrosis in diabetic rats

This study aimed to analyze the effects of the quercetin (100 mg/kg), 1% glutamine and 1% α-tocopherol antioxidants in the myocardium of rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes mellitus. Twenty male rats were subdivided into four groups (n = 5): N (normoglycemic); D (diabetic); NT (normoglycemic treated with antioxidants); and DT (diabetic treated with antioxidants) treated for 60 days. Clinical parameters, oxidative stress markers, inflammatory cytokines, myocardial collagen fibers and immunoexpression of superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD-1), glutathione peroxidase-1 (GPx-1), interleukin-1β (IL-1-β), transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β), and fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) were evaluated. Results showed reduced body weight, hyperphagia, polydipsia and hyperglycemic state in groups D and DT. The levels of glutathione (GSH) were higher in NT and DT compared to N (p < 0.01) and D (p < 0.001) groups, respectively. Greater GSH levels were found in DT when compared to N animals (p < 0.001). In DT, there was an increase in IL-10 in relation to N, D and NT (p < 0.05), while GPx-1 expression was similar to N and lower compared to D (p < 0.001). TGF-β expression in DT was greater than N (p < 0.001) group, whereas FGF-2 in DT was higher than in the other groups (p < 0.001). A significant reduction in collagen fibers (type I) was found in DT compared to D (p < 0.05). The associated administration of quercetin, glutamine and α-tocopherol increased the levels of circulating interleukin-10 (IL-10) and GSH, and reduced the number of type I collagen fibers. Combined use of systemic quercetin, glutamine and alpha-tocopherol attenuates myocardial fibrosis in diabetic rats.

The Role of Bone Muscle Ring Finger-1 (MuRF1), MuRF2, MuRF3, and Atrogin-1 on Microarchitecture In Vivo

Ubiquitin proteasome system was found to contribute to bone loss by regulating bone turnover and metabolism, by modulating osteoblast differentiation and bone formation as well as formation of osteoclasts that contribute to bone resorption. Muscle Ring Finger (MuRF) are novel ubiquitin ligases, which are muscle specific and have not been much implicated in the bone but have been implicated in several human diseases including heart failure and skeletal muscle atrophy. This study is aimed at understanding the role of MuRF1, MuRF2, MuRF3 and Atrogin which are distinct MuRF family proteins in bone homeostasis. Wildtype, heterozygous and homozygous mice of each of the isoforms were used and the bone microarchitecture and mechanical properties were assessed using microCT and biomechanics. MuRF1 depletion was found to alter cortical properties in both males and females, but only trabecular spacing in the females. MuRF2 depletion let to no changes in the cortical and trabecular properties but change in the strain to yield in the females. Depletion of MuRF3 led to decrease in the cortical properties in the females and increase in the trabecular properties in the males. Atrogin depletion was found to reduce cortical properties in both males and females, whereas some trabecular properties were found to be reduced in the females. Each muscle-specific ligase was found to alter the bone structure and mechanical properties in a distinct a sex-dependent manner.

Cellular Protein Quality Control in Diabetic Cardiomyopathy: From Bench to Bedside

Heart failure is a serious comorbidity and the most common cause of mortality in diabetes patients. Diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) features impaired cellular structure and function, culminating in heart failure; however, there is a dearth of specific clinical therapy for treating DCM. Protein homeostasis is pivotal for the maintenance of cellular viability under physiological and pathological conditions, particularly in the irreplaceable cardiomyocytes; therefore, it is tightly regulated by a protein quality control (PQC) system. Three evolutionarily conserved molecular processes, the unfolded protein response (UPR), the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS), and autophagy, enhance protein turnover and preserve protein homeostasis by suppressing protein translation, degrading misfolded or unfolded proteins in cytosol or organelles, disposing of damaged and toxic proteins, recycling essential amino acids, and eliminating insoluble protein aggregates. In response to increased cellular protein demand under pathological insults, including the diabetic condition, a coordinated PQC system retains cardiac protein homeostasis and heart performance, on the contrary, inappropriate PQC function exaggerates cardiac proteotoxicity with subsequent heart dysfunction. Further investigation of the PQC mechanisms in diabetes propels a more comprehensive understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of DCM and opens new prospective treatment strategies for heart disease and heart failure in diabetes patients. In this review, the function and regulation of cardiac PQC machinery in diabetes mellitus, and the therapeutic potential for the diabetic heart are discussed.

Tumor suppressor p53 cross-talks with TRIM family proteins

p53 is a key tumor suppressor. As a transcription factor, p53 accumulates in cells in response to various stress signals and selectively transcribes its target genes to regulate a wide variety of cellular stress responses to exert its function in tumor suppression. In addition to tumor suppression, p53 is also involved in many other physiological and pathological processes, e.g. anti-infection, immune response, development, reproduction, neurodegeneration and aging. To maintain its proper function, p53 is under tight and delicate regulation through different mechanisms, particularly the posttranslational modifications. The tripartite motif (TRIM) family proteins are a large group of proteins characterized by the RING, B-Box and coiled-coil (RBCC) domains at the N-terminus. TRIM proteins play important roles in regulation of many fundamental biological processes, including cell proliferation and death, DNA repair, transcription, and immune response. Alterations of TRIM proteins have been linked to many diseases including cancer, infectious diseases, developmental disorders, and neurodegeneration. Interestingly, recent studies have revealed that many TRIM proteins are involved in the regulation of p53, and at the same time, many TRIM proteins are also regulated by p53. Here, we review the cross-talk between p53 and TRIM proteins, and its impact upon cellular biological processes as well as cancer and other diseases.

miR-378a-3p inhibits ischemia/reperfusion-induced apoptosis in H9C2 cardiomyocytes by targeting TRIM55 via the DUSP1-JNK1/2 signaling pathway

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in many pathological and biological processes, such as ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury by modulating gene expression. Increasing evidence indicates that miR-378a-3p might provide a potential cardioprotective effect against ischemic heart disease. Cell apoptosis is a crucial mechanism in I/R injury. As such, this study evaluated the protective effects and underlying mechanisms of action of miR-378a-3p on H9C2 cardiomyocyte apoptosis following I/R injury. We found that I/R-induced H9C2 cardiomyocytes exhibited a decrease in miR-378a-3p expression, while treatment with a miR-378a-3p mimic suppressed cell apoptosis, JNK1/2 activation, cleavage of PARP and caspase-3, and Bax/Bcl-2 ratio but increased DUSP1 expression, which subsequently inhibited JNK1/2 phosphorylation. TRIM55 was shown to be a target of miR-378a-3p and its downregulation inhibited the miR-378a-3p inhibitor-induced increase in cell apoptosis and JNK1/2 activation. TRIM55 inhibited DUSP1 protein expression through ubiquitination of DUSP1. Moreover, DUSP1 overexpression inhibited the TRIM55 overexpression-induced increase in cell apoptosis and JNK1/2 activation. The protective effect of miR-378a-3p was subsequently confirmed in a rat myocardial I/R model, as evidenced by a decrease in cardiomyocyte apoptosis of cardiomyocytes, TRIM55 expression, and JNK1/2 activation. Taken together, these results suggest that miR-378a-3p may protect against I/R-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis via TRIM55/DUSP1/JNK signaling.

Transcriptomic profiling of PBDE-exposed HepaRG cells unveils critical lncRNA- PCG pairs involved in intermediary metabolism

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were formally used as flame-retardants and are chemically stable, lipophlic persistent organic pollutants which are known to bioaccumulate in humans. Although its toxicities are well characterized, little is known about the changes in transcriptional regulation caused by PBDE exposure. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are increasingly recognized as key regulators of transcriptional and translational processes. It is hypothesized that lncRNAs can regulate nearby protein-coding genes (PCGs) and changes in the transcription of lncRNAs may act in cis to perturb gene expression of its neighboring PCGs. The goals of this study were to 1) characterize PCGs and lncRNAs that are differentially regulated from exposure to PBDEs; 2) identify PCG-lncRNA pairs through genome annotation and predictive binding tools; and 3) determine enriched canonical pathways caused by differentially expressed lncRNA-PCGs pairs. HepaRG cells, which are human-derived hepatic cells that accurately represent gene expression profiles of human liver tissue, were exposed to BDE-47 and BDE-99 at a dose of 25 μM for 24 hours. Differentially expressed lncRNA-PCG pairs were identified through DESeq2 and HOMER; significant canonical pathways were determined through Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA). LncTar was used to predict the binding of 19 lncRNA-PCG pairs with known roles in drug-processing pathways. Genome annotation revealed that the majority of the differentially expressed lncRNAs map to PCG introns. PBDEs regulated overlapping pathways with PXR and CAR such as protein ubiqutination pathway and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha-retinoid X receptor alpha (PPARα-RXRα) activation but also regulate distinctive pathways involved in intermediary metabolism. PBDEs uniquely down-regulated GDP-L-fucose biosynthesis, suggesting its role in modifying important pathways involved in intermediary metabolism such as carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. In conclusion, we provide strong evidence that PBDEs regulate both PCGs and lncRNAs in a PXR/CAR ligand-dependent and independent manner.

Genetic and functional implications of an exonic TRIM55 variant in heart failure

BACKGROUND

To tackle the missing heritability of sporadic heart failure, we screened for novel heart failure-associated genetic variants in the Finnish population and functionally characterized a novel variant in vitro and in vivo.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Heart failure-associated variants were screened in genotyping array data of the FINRISK study, consisting of 994 cases and 20,118 controls. Based on logistic regression analysis, a potentially damaging variant in TRIM55 (rs138811034), encoding an E140K variant, was selected for validations. In HL-1 cardiomyocytes, we used CRISPR/Cas9 technology to introduce the variant in the endogenous locus, and additionally TRIM55 wildtype or E140K was overexpressed from plasmid. Functional responses were profiled using whole-genome RNA sequencing, RT-PCR and Western analyses, cell viability and cell cycle assays and cell surface area measurements. In zebrafish embryos, cardiac contractility was measured using videomicroscopy after CRISPR-mediated knockout of trim55a or plasmid overexpression of TRIM55 WT or E140K. Genes related to muscle contraction and cardiac stress were highly regulated in Trim55 E140K/- cardiomyocytes. When compared to the WT/WT cells, the variant cells demonstrated reduced viability, significant hypertrophic response to isoproterenol, p21 protein overexpression and impaired cell cycle progression. In zebrafish embryos, the deletion of trim55a or overexpression of TRIM55 E140K reduced cardiac contractility as compared to embryos with wildtype genotype or overexpression of WT TRIM55, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

A previously uncharacterized TRIM55 E140K variant demonstrated a number of functional implications for cardiomyocyte functions in vitro and in vivo. These findings suggest a novel role for TRIM55 polymorphism in predisposing to heart failure.

The E3 ligase MuRF2 plays a key role in the functional capacity of skeletal muscle fibroblasts

Fibroblasts are a highly heterogeneous population of cells, being found in a large number of different tissues. These cells produce the extracellular matrix, which is essential to preserve structural integrity of connective tissues. Fibroblasts are frequently engaged in migration and remodeling, exerting traction forces in the extracellular matrix, which is crucial for matrix deposition and wound healing. In addition, previous studies performed on primary myoblasts suggest that the E3 ligase MuRF2 might function as a cytoskeleton adaptor. Here, we hypothesized that MuRF2 also plays a functional role in skeletal muscle fibroblasts. We found that skeletal muscle fibroblasts express MuRF2 and its siRNA knock-down promoted decreased fibroblast migration, cell border accumulation of polymerized actin, and down-regulation of the phospho-Akt expression. Our results indicated that MuRF2 was necessary to maintain the actin cytoskeleton functionality in skeletal muscle fibroblasts via Akt activity and exerted an important role in extracellular matrix remodeling in the skeletal muscle tissue.

Self-regulation of the inflammatory response by peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors

The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) family includes three transcription factors: PPARα, PPARβ/δ, and PPARγ. PPAR are nuclear receptors activated by oxidised and nitrated fatty acid derivatives as well as by cyclopentenone prostaglandins (PGA₂ and 15d-PGJ₂) during the inflammatory response. This results in the modulation of the pro-inflammatory response, preventing it from being excessively activated. Other activators of these receptors are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) and fatty acids, especially polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) (arachidonic acid, ALA, EPA, and DHA). The main function of PPAR during the inflammatory reaction is to promote the inactivation of NF-κB. Possible mechanisms of inactivation include direct binding and thus inactivation of p65 NF-κB or ubiquitination leading to proteolytic degradation of p65 NF-κB. PPAR also exert indirect effects on NF-κB. They promote the expression of antioxidant enzymes, such as catalase, superoxide dismutase, or heme oxygenase-1, resulting in a reduction in the concentration of reactive oxygen species (ROS), i.e., secondary transmitters in inflammatory reactions. PPAR also cause an increase in the expression of IκBα, SIRT1, and PTEN, which interferes with the activation and function of NF-κB in inflammatory reactions.

Sonic hedgehog signaling instigates high-fat diet-induced insulin resistance by targeting PPARγ stability

Obesity is a major risk for patients with chronic metabolic disorders including type 2 diabetes. Sonic hedgehog (Shh) is a morphogen that regulates the pancreas and adipose tissue formation during embryonic development. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) is a member of the nuclear receptor superfamily and one of the most important regulators of insulin action. Here, we evaluated the role and mechanism of Shh signaling in obesity-associated insulin resistance and characterized its effect on PPARγ. We showed that Shh expression was up-regulated in subcutaneous fat from obese mice. In differentiated 3T3-L1 and primary cultured adipocytes from rats, recombinant Shh protein and SAG (an agonist of Shh signaling) activated an extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)-dependent noncanonical pathway and induced PPARγ phosphorylation at serine 112, which decreased PPARγ activity. Meanwhile, Shh signaling degraded PPARγ protein via binding of PPARγ to neural precursor cell-expressed developmentally down-regulated protein 4-1 (NEDD4-1). Furthermore, vismodegib, an inhibitor of Shh signaling, attenuated ERK phosphorylation induced by a high fat diet (HFD) and restored PPARγ protein level, thus ameliorating glucose intolerance and insulin resistance in obese mice. Our finding suggests that Shh in subcutaneous fat decreases PPARγ activity and stability via activation of an ERK-dependent noncanonical pathway, resulting in impaired insulin action. Inhibition of Shh may serve as a potential therapeutic approach to treat obesity-related diabetes.

Proteasome biology and therapeutics in cardiac diseases

The ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS) is the major pathway for intracellular protein degradation in most organs, including the heart. UPS controls many fundamental biological processes such as cell cycle, cell division, immune responses, antigen presentation, apoptosis, and cell signaling. The UPS not only degrades substrates but also regulates activity of gene transcription at the post-transcription level. Emerging evidence suggests that impairment of UPS function is sufficient to cause a number of cardiac diseases, including heart failure, cardiomyopathies, hypertrophy, atrophy, ischemia-reperfusion, and atherosclerosis. Alterations in the expression of UPS components, changes in proteasomal peptidase activities and increased ubiquitinated and oxidized proteins have also been detected in diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM). However, the pathophysiological role of the UPS in DCM has not been examined. Recently, in vitro and in vivo studies have proven highly valuable in assessing effects of various stressors on the UPS and, in some cases, suggesting a causal link between defective protein clearance and disease phenotypes in different cardiac diseases, including DCM. Translation of these findings to human disease can be greatly strengthened by corroboration of discoveries from experimental model systems using human heart tissue from well-defined patient populations. This review will summarize the general role of the UPS in different cardiac diseases, with major focus on DCM, and on recent advances in therapeutic development.

A systematic view on E3 ligase Ring TRIMmers with a focus on cardiac function and disease

Ubiquitination, a post-translational modification via ubiquitin-proteasome-system, is one of the vital cellular processes involved in intracellular signaling, cell death, transcriptional control, etc. Importantly, it prevents the aggregation of non-functional, misfolded or unfolded, potentially toxic proteins to maintain cellular protein homeostasis. Ubiquitination is accomplished by the concerted action of three enzymatic steps involving E1 activating enzymes, E2 conjugating enzymes, and E3 ligases. Tripartite motif-containing (TRIM) proteins are one of the integral members of E3 ubiquitin ligases in metazoans modulating essential cellular pathways. For long, MuRFs (Muscle ring finger proteins) were the most extensively studied TRIMs for their cardiac function. Recent research advances in the field and our analysis presented here, however, demonstrated broader and ever increasing involvement of additional TRIM E3 ligases in the pathophysiology of heart. In this review, we summarize the known cardiac E3 ligases and their targets, and discuss their role and importance in cardiac proteostasis, pathophysiology and potential therapeutic implications with specific focus on TRIM E3 ligases.

The E3 ubiquitin ligase MuRF2 attenuates LPS-induced macrophage activation by inhibiting production of inflammatory cytokines and migration

Muscle RING-finger (MuRF) proteins are E3 ubiquitin ligases that are expressed in striated muscle. MuRF2 is an important member of this family, but whether it is expressed in tissues other than striated muscle has not been thoroughly elucidated to date. In this study, we determined that MuRF2 is also expressed in other vital organs, including liver, lung, brain, spleen and kidney. Moreover, we show that the level of MuRF2 expression is significantly decreased in hepatic mononuclear cells of mice with lipopolysaccharide (LPS)/d-galactosamine-induced hepatitis and negatively correlated with the serum levels of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase in these mice. Furthermore, the expression of MuRF2 was down-regulated in RAW264.7 cells activated with LPS but not in cells treated with polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (Poly(I:C)) or with lipidosome plus Poly(I:C). We also found that MuRF2 was able to translocate from the cytoplasm to the nucleus in RAW264.7 cells activated with LPS but not in cells treated with Poly(I:C). In addition, we demonstrated that interleukin 6 and tumour necrosis factor α production and macrophage migration were inhibited after MuRF2 was overexpressed in RAW264.7 cells. We further verified that nuclear factor-κB p65 subunit level was greatly reduced in RAW264.7 macrophage nuclei by gain of function. Taken together, these findings indicate that MuRF2 may rescue LPS-induced macrophage activation by suppressing the production of proinflammatory cytokines and cell migration. We also identify a novel function of MuRF2 in non-muscle tissues and cells.

Molecular mechanisms of cardiac pathology in diabetes - Experimental insights

Diabetic cardiomyopathy is a distinct pathology independent of co-morbidities such as coronary artery disease and hypertension. Diminished glucose uptake due to impaired insulin signaling and decreased expression of glucose transporters is associated with a shift towards increased reliance on fatty acid oxidation and reduced cardiac efficiency in diabetic hearts. The cardiac metabolic profile in diabetes is influenced by disturbances in circulating glucose, insulin and fatty acids, and alterations in cardiomyocyte signaling. In this review, we focus on recent preclinical advances in understanding the molecular mechanisms of diabetic cardiomyopathy. Genetic manipulation of cardiomyocyte insulin signaling intermediates has demonstrated that partial cardiac functional rescue can be achieved by upregulation of the insulin signaling pathway in diabetic hearts. Inconsistent findings have been reported relating to the role of cardiac AMPK and β-adrenergic signaling in diabetes, and systemic administration of agents targeting these pathways appear to elicit some cardiac benefit, but whether these effects are related to direct cardiac actions is uncertain. Overload of cardiomyocyte fuel storage is evident in the diabetic heart, with accumulation of glycogen and lipid droplets. Cardiac metabolic dysregulation in diabetes has been linked with oxidative stress and autophagy disturbance, which may lead to cell death induction, fibrotic 'backfill' and cardiac dysfunction. This review examines the weight of evidence relating to the molecular mechanisms of diabetic cardiomyopathy, with a particular focus on metabolic and signaling pathways. Areas of uncertainty in the field are highlighted and important knowledge gaps for further investigation are identified. This article is part of a Special issue entitled Cardiac adaptations to obesity, diabetes and insulin resistance, edited by Professors Jan F.C. Glatz, Jason R.B. Dyck and Christine Des Rosiers.

The impact of FOXO-1 to cardiac pathology in diabetes mellitus and diabetes-related metabolic abnormalities

Diabetic heart pathology has a serious social impact due to high prevalence worldwide and significant mortality/invalidation of diabetic patients suffered from cardiomyopathy. The pathogenesis of diabetic and diabetes-related cardiomyopathy is associated with progressive loss and impairment of cardiac function due to adverse effects of metabolic, prooxidant, proinflammatory, and pro-apoptotic stress factors. In the adult heart, the transcriptional factor forkhead box-1 (FOXO-1) is involved in maintaining cardiomyocytes in the homeostatic state and induction of their adaptation to metabolic and pro-oxidant stress stimuli. Insulin inhibits cardiac FOXO-1 expression/activity through the IRS1/Akt signaling in order to prevent gluconeogenesis. In diabetes and insulin resistance, both insulin production and insulin-dependent signaling is weakened or absent. Indeed, FOXO-1 becomes overproduced/overactivated in response to stress stimuli. In diabetic cardiac tissue, FOXO-1 overactivity induces the metabolic switch from the glucose uptake to the predominant lipid uptake. FOXO-1 limits mitochondrial glucose oxidation by stimulation of pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 4 (PDK4) and increases the lipid uptake through up-regulation of surface expression of CD36. In cardiac muscle cells, lipid accumulation leads to lipotoxicity via increased lipid oxidation, oxidative stress, and cardiomyocyte apoptosis. Indeed, cardiac FOXO-1 levels and activity should be strictly regulated. FOXO-1 deregulation (that is observed in the diabetic heart) causes detrimental effects that finally lead to heart failure.

Ubiquitination of nuclear receptors

Nuclear receptors (NRs) are cellular proteins, which upon ligand activation, act to exert regulatory control over transcription and subsequent expression. Organized via systemic classification into seven subfamilies, NRs partake in modulating a vast expanse of physiological functions essential for maintenance of life. NRs display particular characteristics towards ubiquitination, the process of addition of specific ubiquitin tags at appropriate locations. Orchestrated through groups of enzymes harboring a diverse array of specialized structural components, the ubiquitination process emphatically alters the fate or downstream effects of NRs. Such influence is especially prominent in transcriptional processes such as promoter clearing for optimization and degradation pathways eliminating or recycling targeted proteins. Ultimately, the ubiquitination of NRs carries significant implications in terms of generating pathological clinical manifestations. Increasing evidence from studies involving patients and disease models suggests a role for ubiquitinated NRs in virtually every organ system. This supports the broad repertoire of roles that NRs play in the body, including modulatory conductors, facilitators, responders to external agents, and critical constituents for pharmacological or biological interventions. This review aims to cover relevant background and mechanisms of NRs and ubiquitination, with a focus towards elucidating subsequent pathophysiology and therapeutics in clinical disorders encompassing such ubiquitinated NRs.

Metabolic reprogramming via PPARα signaling in cardiac hypertrophy and failure: From metabolomics to epigenetics

Studies using omics-based approaches have advanced our knowledge of metabolic remodeling in cardiac hypertrophy and failure. Metabolomic analysis of the failing heart has revealed global changes in mitochondrial substrate metabolism. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α (PPARα) plays a critical role in synergistic regulation of cardiac metabolism through transcriptional control. Metabolic reprogramming via PPARα signaling in heart failure ultimately propagates into myocardial energetics. However, emerging evidence suggests that the expression level of PPARα per se does not always explain the energetic state in the heart. The transcriptional activities of PPARα are dynamic, yet highly coordinated. An additional level of complexity in the PPARα regulatory mechanism arises from its ability to interact with various partners, which ultimately determines the metabolic phenotype of the diseased heart. This review summarizes our current knowledge of the PPARα regulatory mechanisms in cardiac metabolism and the possible role of PPARα in epigenetic modifications in the diseased heart. In addition, we discuss how metabolomics can contribute to a better understanding of the role of PPARα in the progression of cardiac hypertrophy and failure.

Ubiquitin Ligases and Posttranslational Regulation of Energy in the Heart: The Hand that Feeds

Heart failure (HF) is a costly and deadly syndrome characterized by the reduced capacity of the heart to adequately provide systemic blood flow. Mounting evidence implicates pathological changes in cardiac energy metabolism as a contributing factor in the development of HF. While the main source of fuel in the healthy heart is the oxidation of fatty acids, in the failing heart the less energy efficient glucose and glycogen metabolism are upregulated. The ubiquitin proteasome system plays a key role in regulating metabolism via protein-degradation/regulation of autophagy and regulating metabolism-related transcription and cell signaling processes. In this review, we discuss recent research that describes the role of the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) in regulating metabolism in the context of HF. We focus on ubiquitin ligases (E3s), the component of the UPS that confers substrate specificity, and detail the current understanding of how these E3s contribute to cardiac pathology and metabolism. © 2017 American Physiological Society. Compr Physiol 7:841-862, 2017.

Cardiac ubiquitin ligases: Their role in cardiac metabolism, autophagy, cardioprotection and therapeutic potential

Both the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) and the lysosomal autophagy system have emerged as complementary key players responsible for the turnover of cellular proteins. The regulation of protein turnover is critical to cardiomyocytes as post-mitotic cells with very limited regenerative capacity. In this focused review, we describe the emerging interface between the UPS and autophagy, with E3's regulating autophagy at two critical points through multiple mechanisms. Moreover, we discuss recent insights in how both the UPS and autophagy can alter metabolism at various levels, to present new ways to think about therapeutically regulating autophagy in a focused manner to optimize disease-specific cardioprotection, without harming the overall homeostasis of protein quality control. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: The role of post-translational protein modifications on heart and vascular metabolism edited by Jason R.B. Dyck & Jan F.C. Glatz.

Glucose intolerance after chronic stress is related with downregulated PPAR-γ in adipose tissue

Background

Chronic stress is associated with increased risk of glucose intolerance and cardiovascular diseases, albeit through undefined mechanisms. With the aim of gaining insights into the latter, this study examined the metabolic profile of young adult male rats that were exposed to chronic unpredictable stress.

Methods

Young adult male rats were submitted to 4 weeks of chronic unpredictable stress and allowed to recover for 5 weeks. An extensive analysis including of morphologic, biochemical and molecular parameters was carried out both after chronic unpredictable stress and after recovery from stress.

Results

After 28 days of chronic unpredictable stress (CUS) the animals submitted to this protocol displayed less weight gain than control animals. After 5 weeks of recovery the weight gain rebounded to similar values of controls. In addition, following CUS, fasting insulin levels were increased and were accompanied by signs of impaired glucose tolerance and elevated serum corticosteroid levels. This biochemical profile persisted into the post-stress recovery period, despite the restoration of baseline corticosteroid levels. The mRNA expression levels of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-γ and lipocalin-2 in white adipose tissue were, respectively, down- and up-regulated.

Conclusions

Reduction of PPAR-γ expression and generation of a pro-inflammatory environment by increased lipocalin-2 expression in white adipose tissue may contribute to stress-induced glucose intolerance.

Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor-γ Is Critical to Cardiac Fibrosis

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ) is a ligand-activated transcription factor belonging to the nuclear receptor superfamily, which plays a central role in regulating lipid and glucose metabolism. However, accumulating evidence demonstrates that PPARγ agonists have potential to reduce inflammation, influence the balance of immune cells, suppress oxidative stress, and improve endothelial function, which are all involved in the cellular and molecular mechanisms of cardiac fibrosis. Thus, in this review we discuss the role of PPARγ in various cardiovascular conditions associated with cardiac fibrosis, including diabetes mellitus, hypertension, myocardial infarction, heart failure, ischemia/reperfusion injury, atrial fibrillation, and several other cardiovascular disease (CVD) conditions, and summarize the developmental status of PPARγ agonists for the clinical management of CVD.

MuRF1 mono-ubiquitinates TRα to inhibit T3-induced cardiac hypertrophy in vivo

Thyroid hormone (TH) is recognized for its role in cellular metabolism and growth and participates in homeostasis of the heart. T3 activates pro-survival pathways including Akt and mTOR. Treatment with T3 after myocardial infarction is cardioprotective and promotes elements of physiological hypertrophic response after cardiac injury. Although T3 is known to benefit the heart, very little about its regulation at the molecular level has been described to date. The ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS) regulates nuclear hormone receptors such as estrogen, progesterone, androgen, and glucocorticoid receptors by both degradatory and non-degradatory mechanisms. However, how the UPS regulates T3-mediated activity is not well understood. In this study, we aim to determine the role of the muscle-specific ubiquitin ligase muscle ring finger-1 (MuRF1) in regulating T3-induced cardiomyocyte growth. An increase in MuRF1 expression inhibits T3-induced physiological cardiac hypertrophy, whereas a decrease in MuRF1 expression enhances T3's activity both in vitro and in cardiomyocytes in vivo MuRF1 interacts directly with TRα to inhibit its activity by posttranslational ubiquitination in a non-canonical manner. We then demonstrated that a nuclear localization apparatus that regulates/inhibits nuclear receptors by sequestering them within a subcompartment of the nucleus was necessary for MuRF1 to inhibit T3 activity. This work implicates a novel mechanism that enhances the beneficial T3 activity specifically within the heart, thereby offering a potential target to enhance cardiac T3 activity in an organ-specific manner.

Forkhead box transcription factor 1: role in the pathogenesis of diabetic cardiomyopathy

Diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a disorder of the heart muscle in people with diabetes that can occur independent of hypertension or vascular disease. The underlying mechanism of DCM is incompletely understood. Some transcription factors have been suggested to regulate the gene program intricate in the pathogenesis of diabetes prompted cardiac injury. Forkhead box transcription factor 1 is a pleiotropic transcription factor that plays a pivotal role in a variety of physiological processes. Altered FOXO1 expression and function have been associated with cardiovascular diseases, and the important role of FOXO1 in DCM has begun to attract attention. In this review, we focus on the FOXO1 pathway and its role in various processes that have been related to DCM, such as metabolism, oxidative stress, endothelial dysfunction, inflammation and apoptosis.