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Chakrabarti M, Chattha A, Nair A, Jiao K, Potts JD, Wang L, Branch S, Harrelson S, Khan S, Azhar M. Hippo Signaling Mediates TGFβ-Dependent Transcriptional Inputs in Cardiac Cushion Mesenchymal Cells to Regulate Extracellular Matrix Remodeling. J Cardiovasc Dev Dis 2023; 10:483. [PMID: 38132651 PMCID: PMC10744298 DOI: 10.3390/jcdd10120483] [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: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) and Hippo signaling pathways are evolutionarily conserved pathways that play a critical role in cardiac fibroblasts during embryonic development, tissue repair, and fibrosis. TGFβ signaling and Hippo signaling are also important for cardiac cushion remodeling and septation during embryonic development. Loss of TGFβ2 in mice causes cardiac cushion remodeling defects resulting in congenital heart disease. In this study, we used in vitro molecular and pharmacologic approaches in the cushion mesenchymal cell line (tsA58-AVM) and investigated if the Hippo pathway acts as a mediator of TGFβ2 signaling. Immunofluorescence staining showed that TGFβ2 induced nuclear translocation of activated SMAD3 in the cushion mesenchymal cells. In addition, the results indicate increased nuclear localization of Yes-associated protein 1 (YAP1) following a similar treatment of TGFβ2. In collagen lattice formation assays, the TGFβ2 treatment of cushion cells resulted in an enhanced collagen contraction compared to the untreated cushion cells. Interestingly, verteporfin, a YAP1 inhibitor, significantly blocked the ability of cushion cells to contract collagen gel in the absence or presence of exogenously added TGFβ2. To confirm the molecular mechanisms of the verteporfin-induced inhibition of TGFβ2-dependent extracellular matrix (ECM) reorganization, we performed a gene expression analysis of key mesenchymal genes involved in ECM remodeling in heart development and disease. Our results confirm that verteporfin significantly decreased the expression of α-smooth muscle actin (Acta2), collagen 1a1 (Col1a1), Ccn1 (i.e., Cyr61), and Ccn2 (i.e., Ctgf). Western blot analysis indicated that verteporfin treatment significantly blocked the TGFβ2-induced activation of SMAD2/3 in cushion mesenchymal cells. Collectively, these results indicate that TGFβ2 regulation of cushion mesenchymal cell behavior and ECM remodeling is mediated by YAP1. Thus, the TGFβ2 and Hippo pathway integration represents an important step in understanding the etiology of congenital heart disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mrinmay Chakrabarti
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, School of Medicine, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29202, USA; (M.C.); (A.C.); (A.N.); (J.D.P.)
| | - Ahad Chattha
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, School of Medicine, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29202, USA; (M.C.); (A.C.); (A.N.); (J.D.P.)
| | - Abhijith Nair
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, School of Medicine, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29202, USA; (M.C.); (A.C.); (A.N.); (J.D.P.)
| | - Kai Jiao
- Center for Biotechnology & Genomic Medicine, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA;
| | - Jay D. Potts
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, School of Medicine, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29202, USA; (M.C.); (A.C.); (A.N.); (J.D.P.)
| | - Lianming Wang
- Department of Statistics, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA;
| | - Scotty Branch
- KOR Life Sciences, KOR Medical, and Vikor Scientific, Charleston, SC 29403, USA; (S.B.); (S.H.); (S.K.)
| | - Shea Harrelson
- KOR Life Sciences, KOR Medical, and Vikor Scientific, Charleston, SC 29403, USA; (S.B.); (S.H.); (S.K.)
| | - Saeed Khan
- KOR Life Sciences, KOR Medical, and Vikor Scientific, Charleston, SC 29403, USA; (S.B.); (S.H.); (S.K.)
| | - Mohamad Azhar
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, School of Medicine, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29202, USA; (M.C.); (A.C.); (A.N.); (J.D.P.)
- William Jennings Bryan Dorn VA Medical Center, Columbia, SC 29202, USA
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Breedon SA, Varma A, Quintero-Galvis JF, Gaitán-Espitia JD, Mejías C, Nespolo RF, Storey KB. Torpor-responsive microRNAs in the heart of the Monito del monte, Dromiciops gliroides. Biofactors 2023; 49:1061-1073. [PMID: 37219063 DOI: 10.1002/biof.1976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 05/14/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
The marsupial Monito del monte (Dromiciops gliroides) utilizes both daily and seasonal bouts of torpor to preserve energy and prolong survival during periods of cold and unpredictable food availability. Torpor involves changes in cellular metabolism, including specific changes to gene expression that is coordinated in part, by the posttranscriptional gene silencing activity of microRNAs (miRNA). Previously, differential miRNA expression has been identified in D. gliroides liver and skeletal muscle; however, miRNAs in the heart of Monito del monte remained unstudied. In this study, the expression of 82 miRNAs was assessed in the hearts of active and torpid D. gliroides, finding that 14 were significantly differentially expressed during torpor. These 14 miRNAs were then used in bioinformatic analyses to identify Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways that were predicted to be most affected by these differentially expressed miRNAs. Overexpressed miRNAs were predicted to primarily regulate glycosaminoglycan biosynthesis, along with various signaling pathways such as Phosphoinositide-3-kinase/protein kinase B and transforming growth factor-β. Similarly, signaling pathways including phosphatidylinositol and Hippo were predicted to be regulated by the underexpression of miRNAs during torpor. Together, these results suggest potential molecular adaptations that protect against irreversible tissue damage and enable continued cardiac and vascular function despite hypothermia and limited organ perfusion during torpor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah A Breedon
- Department of Biology and Institute of Biochemistry, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Anchal Varma
- Department of Biology and Institute of Biochemistry, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Julian F Quintero-Galvis
- Facultad de Ciencias, Instituto de Ciencias Ambientales y Evolutivas, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
| | - Juan Diego Gaitán-Espitia
- The Swire Institute of Marine Science and School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Carlos Mejías
- Facultad de Ciencias, Instituto de Ciencias Ambientales y Evolutivas, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
- Millenium Nucleus of Limit of Life (LiLi), Valdivia, Chile
| | - Roberto F Nespolo
- Facultad de Ciencias, Instituto de Ciencias Ambientales y Evolutivas, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
- Millenium Nucleus of Limit of Life (LiLi), Valdivia, Chile
| | - Kenneth B Storey
- Department of Biology and Institute of Biochemistry, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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Ponzoni M, Castaldi B, Padalino MA. Pulmonary Artery Banding for Dilated Cardiomyopathy in Children: Returning to the Bench from Bedside. CHILDREN 2022; 9:children9091392. [PMID: 36138701 PMCID: PMC9497481 DOI: 10.3390/children9091392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2022] [Revised: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Current treatment paradigms for end-stage dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in children include heart transplantation and mechanical support devices. However, waitlist mortality, shortage of smaller donors, time-limited durability of grafts, and thrombo-hemorrhagic events affect long-term outcomes. Moreover, both these options are noncurative and cannot preserve the native heart function. Pulmonary artery banding (PAB) has been reinvented as a possible “regenerative surgery” to retrain the decompensated left ventricle in children with DCM. The rationale is to promote positive ventricular–ventricular interactions that result in recovery of left ventricular function in one out of two children, allowing transplantation delisting. Although promising, global experience with this technique is still limited, and several surgical centers are reluctant to adopt PAB since its exact biological bases remain unknown. In the present review, we summarize the clinical, functional, and molecular known and supposed working mechanisms of PAB in children with DCM. From its proven efficacy in the clinical setting, we described the macroscopic geometrical and functional changes in biventricular performance promoted by PAB. We finally speculated on the possible underlying molecular pathways recruited by PAB. An evidence-based explanation of the working mechanisms of PAB is still awaited to support wider adoption of this surgical option for pediatric heart failure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Ponzoni
- Pediatric and Congenital Cardiac Surgery Unit, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padua, 35122 Padua, Italy
| | - Biagio Castaldi
- Pediatric Cardiology Unit, Department of Woman's and Child's Health, University of Padua, 35122 Padua, Italy
| | - Massimo A Padalino
- Pediatric and Congenital Cardiac Surgery Unit, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padua, 35122 Padua, Italy
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