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Deogharia M, Gurha P. Epigenetic regulation of heart failure. Curr Opin Cardiol 2024; 39:371-379. [PMID: 38606626 PMCID: PMC11150090 DOI: 10.1097/hco.0000000000001150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/13/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW The studies on chromatin-modifying enzymes and how they respond to different stimuli within the cell have revolutionized our understanding of epigenetics. In this review, we provide an overview of the recent studies on epigenetic mechanisms implicated in heart failure. RECENT FINDINGS We focus on the major mechanisms and the conceptual advances in epigenetics as evidenced by studies in humans and mouse models of heart failure. The significance of epigenetic modifications and the enzymes that catalyze them is also discussed. New findings from the studies of histone lysine demethylases demonstrate their significance in regulating fetal gene expression, as well as their aberrant expression in adult hearts during HF. Similarly, the relevance of histone deacetylases inhibition in heart failure and the role of HDAC6 in cardio-protection are discussed. Finally, the role of LMNA (lamin A/C), a nuclear membrane protein that interacts with chromatin to form hundreds of large chromatin domains known as lamin-associated domains (LADs), and 3D genome structure in epigenetic regulation of gene expression and heart failure is discussed. SUMMARY Epigenetic modifications provide a mechanism for responding to stress and environmental variation, enabling reactions to both external and internal stimuli, and their dysregulation can be pathological as in heart failure. To gain a thorough understanding of the pathological mechanisms and to aid in the development of targeted treatments for heart failure, future research on studying the combined effects of numerous epigenetic changes and the structure of chromatin is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manisha Deogharia
- Center for Cardiovascular Genetics, Institute of Molecular Medicine and Department of Medicine, The University of Texas Health Sciences Center at Houston, Texas, USA
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2
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En A, Bogireddi H, Thomas B, Stutzman AV, Ikegami S, LaForest B, Almakki O, Pytel P, Moskowitz IP, Ikegami K. Pervasive nuclear envelope ruptures precede ECM signaling and disease onset without activating cGAS-STING in Lamin-cardiomyopathy mice. Cell Rep 2024; 43:114284. [PMID: 38814785 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114284] [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: 10/03/2023] [Revised: 04/14/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Nuclear envelope (NE) ruptures are emerging observations in Lamin-related dilated cardiomyopathy, an adult-onset disease caused by loss-of-function mutations in Lamin A/C, a nuclear lamina component. Here, we test a prevailing hypothesis that NE ruptures trigger the pathological cGAS-STING cytosolic DNA-sensing pathway using a mouse model of Lamin cardiomyopathy. The reduction of Lamin A/C in cardio-myocyte of adult mice causes pervasive NE ruptures in cardiomyocytes, preceding inflammatory transcription, fibrosis, and fatal dilated cardiomyopathy. NE ruptures are followed by DNA damage accumulation without causing immediate cardiomyocyte death. However, cGAS-STING-dependent inflammatory signaling remains inactive. Deleting cGas or Sting does not rescue cardiomyopathy in the mouse model. The lack of cGAS-STING activation is likely due to the near absence of cGAS expression in adult cardiomyocytes at baseline. Instead, extracellular matrix (ECM) signaling is activated and predicted to initiate pro-inflammatory communication from Lamin-reduced cardiomyocytes to fibroblasts. Our work nominates ECM signaling, not cGAS-STING, as a potential inflammatory contributor in Lamin cardiomyopathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atsuki En
- Division of Molecular Cardiovascular Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA; Graduate School of Nanobioscience, Yokohama City University, Yokohama, Kanagawa 236-0027, Japan
| | - Hanumakumar Bogireddi
- Division of Molecular Cardiovascular Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Briana Thomas
- Division of Molecular Cardiovascular Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Alexis V Stutzman
- Department of Pediatrics, the University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Sachie Ikegami
- Department of Pediatrics, the University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Brigitte LaForest
- Department of Pediatrics, the University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Omar Almakki
- Department of Pediatrics, the University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Peter Pytel
- Department of Pathology, the University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Ivan P Moskowitz
- Department of Pediatrics, the University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA; Department of Pathology, the University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA; Department of Human Genetics, the University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Kohta Ikegami
- Division of Molecular Cardiovascular Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA.
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3
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Jahng JWS, Wu JC. Laminin: guardian against DNA damage by transcription stress. Cardiovasc Res 2024:cvae122. [PMID: 38887919 DOI: 10.1093/cvr/cvae122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/20/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- James W S Jahng
- Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, 265 Campus Drive, G1120B, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, 291 Campus Drive, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Joseph C Wu
- Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, 265 Campus Drive, G1120B, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, 291 Campus Drive, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, 300 Pasteur Drive, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
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Zuela-Sopilniak N, Morival J, Lammerding J. Multi-level transcriptomic analysis of LMNA -related dilated cardiomyopathy identifies disease-driving processes. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.06.11.598511. [PMID: 38915720 PMCID: PMC11195185 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.11.598511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/26/2024]
Abstract
LMNA- related dilated cardiomyopathy ( LMNA -DCM) is one of the most severe forms of DCM. The incomplete understanding of the molecular disease mechanisms results in lacking treatment options, leading to high mortality amongst patients. Here, using an inducible, cardiomyocyte-specific lamin A/C depletion mouse model, we conducted a comprehensive transcriptomic study, combining both bulk and single nucleus RNA sequencing, and spanning LMNA -DCM disease progression, to identify potential disease drivers. Our refined analysis pipeline identified 496 genes already misregulated early in disease. The expression of these genes was largely driven by disease specific cardiomyocyte sub-populations and involved biological processes mediating cellular response to DNA damage, cytosolic pattern recognition, and innate immunity. Indeed, DNA damage in LMNA -DCM hearts was significantly increased early in disease and correlated with reduced cardiomyocyte lamin A levels. Activation of cytosolic pattern recognition in cardiomyocytes was independent of cGAS, which is rarely expressed in cardiomyocytes, but likely occurred downstream of other pattern recognition sensors such as IFI16. Altered gene expression in cardiac fibroblasts and immune cell infiltration further contributed to tissue-wide changes in gene expression. Our transcriptomic analysis further predicted significant alterations in cell-cell communication between cardiomyocytes, fibroblasts, and immune cells, mediated through early changes in the extracellular matrix (ECM) in the LMNA -DCM hearts. Taken together, our work suggests a model in which nuclear damage in cardiomyocytes leads to activation of DNA damage responses, cytosolic pattern recognition pathway, and other signaling pathways that activate inflammation, immune cell recruitment, and transcriptional changes in cardiac fibroblasts, which collectively drive LMNA -DCM pathogenesis.
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5
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Kirby TJ, Zahr HC, Fong EHH, Lammerding J. Eliminating elevated p53 signaling fails to rescue skeletal muscle defects or extend survival in lamin A/C-deficient mice. Cell Death Discov 2024; 10:245. [PMID: 38778055 PMCID: PMC11111808 DOI: 10.1038/s41420-024-01998-1] [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: 03/03/2024] [Revised: 04/25/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Lamins A and C, encoded by the LMNA gene, are nuclear intermediate filaments that provide structural support to the nucleus and contribute to chromatin organization and transcriptional regulation. LMNA mutations cause muscular dystrophies, dilated cardiomyopathy, and other diseases. The mechanisms by which many LMNA mutations result in muscle-specific diseases have remained elusive, presenting a major hurdle in the development of effective treatments. Previous studies using striated muscle laminopathy mouse models found that cytoskeletal forces acting on mechanically fragile Lmna-mutant nuclei led to transient nuclear envelope rupture, extensive DNA damage, and activation of DNA damage response (DDR) pathways in skeletal muscle cells in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, hearts of Lmna mutant mice have elevated activation of the tumor suppressor protein p53, a central regulator of DDR signaling. We hypothesized that elevated p53 activation could present a pathogenic mechanism in striated muscle laminopathies, and that eliminating p53 activation could improve muscle function and survival in laminopathy mouse models. Supporting a pathogenic function of p53 activation in muscle, stabilization of p53 was sufficient to reduce contractility and viability in wild-type muscle cells in vitro. Using three laminopathy models, we found that increased p53 activity in Lmna-mutant muscle cells primarily resulted from mechanically induced damage to the myonuclei, and not from altered transcriptional regulation due to loss of lamin A/C expression. However, global deletion of p53 in a severe muscle laminopathy model did not reduce the disease phenotype or increase survival, indicating that additional drivers of disease must contribute to the disease pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyler J Kirby
- Department of Physiology, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam Movement Sciences, Amsterdam UMC location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
- Weill Institute for Cell and Molecular Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.
| | - Hind C Zahr
- Weill Institute for Cell and Molecular Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
- Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Ern Hwei Hannah Fong
- Weill Institute for Cell and Molecular Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
- Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Jan Lammerding
- Weill Institute for Cell and Molecular Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.
- Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.
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En A, Bogireddi H, Thomas B, Stutzman A, Ikegami S, LaForest B, Almakki O, Pytel P, Moskowitz IP, Ikegami K. Pervasive nuclear envelope ruptures precede ECM signaling and disease onset without activating cGAS-STING in Lamin-cardiomyopathy mice. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.08.28.555134. [PMID: 37693381 PMCID: PMC10491116 DOI: 10.1101/2023.08.28.555134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
Nuclear envelope (NE) ruptures are emerging observations in Lamin-related dilated cardiomyopathy, an adult-onset disease caused by loss-of-function mutations in Lamin A/C, a nuclear lamina component. Here, we tested a prevailing hypothesis that NE ruptures trigger pathological cGAS-STING cytosolic DNA-sensing pathway, using a mouse model of Lamin-cardiomyopathy. Reduction of Lamin A/C in cardiomyocytes of adult mice caused pervasive NE ruptures in cardiomyocytes, preceding inflammatory transcription, fibrosis, and fatal dilated cardiomyopathy. NE ruptures were followed by DNA damage accumulation without causing immediate cardiomyocyte death. However, cGAS-STING-dependent inflammatory signaling remained inactive. Deleting cGas or Sting did not rescue cardiomyopathy. The lack of cGAS-STING activation was likely due to the near absence of cGAS expression in adult cardiomyocytes at baseline. Instead, extracellular matrix (ECM) signaling was activated and predicted to initiate pro-inflammatory communication from Lamin-reduced cardiomyocytes to fibroblasts. Our work nominates ECM signaling, not cGAS-STING, as a potential inflammatory contributor in Lamin-cardiomyopathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atsuki En
- Division of Molecular Cardvascular Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Graduate School of Nanobioscience, Yokohama City University, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Hanumakumar Bogireddi
- Division of Molecular Cardvascular Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Briana Thomas
- Division of Molecular Cardvascular Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Alexis Stutzman
- Department of Pediatrics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Sachie Ikegami
- Department of Pediatrics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Brigitte LaForest
- Department of Pediatrics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Omar Almakki
- Department of Pediatrics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Peter Pytel
- Department of Pathology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Ivan P Moskowitz
- Department of Pediatrics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
- Department of Pathology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
- Department of Human Genetics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Kohta Ikegami
- Division of Molecular Cardvascular Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
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Cathcart B, Cheedipudi SM, Rouhi L, Zhao Z, Gurha P, Marian AJ. DNA double-stranded breaks, a hallmark of aging, defined at the nucleotide resolution, are increased and associated with transcription in the cardiac myocytes in LMNA-cardiomyopathy. Cardiovasc Res 2024:cvae063. [PMID: 38577741 DOI: 10.1093/cvr/cvae063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Revised: 03/19/2024] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024] Open
Abstract
AIMS An intrinsic feature of gene transcription is the formation of DNA superhelices near the transcription bubble, which are resolved upon induction of transient double-stranded breaks (DSBs) by topoisomerases. Unrepaired DSBs are pathogenic as they lead to cell cycle arrest, senescence, inflammation, and organ dysfunction. We posit that DSBs would be more prevalent at the genomic sites that are associated with gene expression. The objectives were to identify and characterize genome-wide DSBs at the nucleotide resolution and determine the association of DSBs with transcription in cardiac myocytes. METHODS AND RESULTS We identified the genome-wide DSBs in ∼1 million cardiac myocytes per heart in three wild-type and three myocyte-specific LMNA-deficient (Myh6-Cre:LmnaF/F) mice by END-Sequencing. The prevalence of DSBs was 0.8% and 2.2% in the wild-type and Myh6-Cre:LmnaF/F myocytes, respectively. The END-Seq signals were enriched for 8 and 6764 DSBs in the wild-type and Myh6-Cre:LmnaF/F myocytes, respectively (q < 0.05). The DSBs were preferentially localized to the gene regions, transcription initiation sites, cardiac transcription factor motifs, and the G quadruplex forming structures. Because LMNA regulates transcription through the lamin-associated domains (LADs), we defined the LADs in cardiac myocytes by a Cleavage Under Targets & Release Using Nuclease (CUT&RUN) assay (N = 5). On average there were 818 LADs per myocyte. Constitutive LADs (cLADs), defined as LADs that were shared by at least three genomes (N = 2572), comprised about a third of the mouse cardiac myocyte genomes. Transcript levels of the protein-coding genes located at the cLADs (N = 3975) were ∼16-fold lower than those at the non-LAD regions (N = ∼17 778). The prevalence of DSBs was higher in the non-LAD as compared to the cLAD regions. Likewise, DSBs were more common in the loss-of-LAD regions, defined as the genomic regions in the Myh6-Cre:LmnaF/F that were juxtaposed to the LAD regions in the wild-type myocytes. CONCLUSION To our knowledge, this is the first identification of the DSBs, at the nucleotide resolution in the cardiovascular system. The prevalence of DSBs was higher in the genomic regions associated with transcription. Because transcription is pervasive, DSBs are expected to be common and pathogenic in various states and aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Cathcart
- Center for Cardiovascular Genetics, Institute of Molecular Medicine, The University of Texas Health Science Center, 6770 Bertner Street, Suite C900A, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Sirisha M Cheedipudi
- Center for Cardiovascular Genetics, Institute of Molecular Medicine, The University of Texas Health Science Center, 6770 Bertner Street, Suite C900A, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Leila Rouhi
- Center for Cardiovascular Genetics, Institute of Molecular Medicine, The University of Texas Health Science Center, 6770 Bertner Street, Suite C900A, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Zhongming Zhao
- Center for Cardiovascular Genetics, Institute of Molecular Medicine, The University of Texas Health Science Center, 6770 Bertner Street, Suite C900A, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Center for Precision Health, School of Biomedical Informatics and School of Public Health, UTHealth, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Priyatansh Gurha
- Center for Cardiovascular Genetics, Institute of Molecular Medicine, The University of Texas Health Science Center, 6770 Bertner Street, Suite C900A, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Ali J Marian
- Center for Cardiovascular Genetics, Institute of Molecular Medicine, The University of Texas Health Science Center, 6770 Bertner Street, Suite C900A, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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Tiwari V, Alam MJ, Bhatia M, Navya M, Banerjee SK. The structure and function of lamin A/C: Special focus on cardiomyopathy and therapeutic interventions. Life Sci 2024; 341:122489. [PMID: 38340979 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2024.122489] [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: 11/11/2023] [Revised: 01/21/2024] [Accepted: 02/03/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
Lamins are inner nuclear membrane proteins that belong to the intermediate filament family. Lamin A/C lie adjacent to the heterochromatin structure in polymer form, providing skeletal to the nucleus. Based on the localization, lamin A/C provides nuclear stability and cytoskeleton to the nucleus and modulates chromatin organization and gene expression. Besides being the structural protein making the inner nuclear membrane in polymer form, lamin A/C functions as a signalling molecule involved in gene expression as an enhancer inside the nucleus. Lamin A/C regulates various cellular pathways like autophagy and energy balance in the cytoplasm. Its expression is highly variable in differentiated tissues, higher in hard tissues like bone and muscle cells, and lower in soft tissues like the liver and brain. In muscle cells, including the heart, lamin A/C must be expressed in a balanced state. Lamin A/C mutation is linked with various diseases, such as muscular dystrophy, lipodystrophy, and cardiomyopathies. It has been observed that a good number of mutations in the LMNA gene impact cardiac activity and its function. Although several works have been published, there are still several unexplored areas left regarding the lamin A/C function and structure in the cardiovascular system and its pathological state. In this review, we focus on the structural organization, expression pattern, and function of lamin A/C, its interacting partners, and the pathophysiology associated with mutations in the lamin A/C gene, with special emphasis on cardiovascular diseases. With the recent finding on lamin A/C, we have summarized the possible therapeutic interventions to treat cardiovascular symptoms and reverse the molecular changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vikas Tiwari
- Department of Biotechnology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Guwahati 781101, Assam, India
| | - Md Jahangir Alam
- Department of Biotechnology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Guwahati 781101, Assam, India; Cell Biology and Physiology Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Kolkata, India
| | - Madhavi Bhatia
- Department of Biotechnology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Guwahati 781101, Assam, India
| | - Malladi Navya
- Department of Biotechnology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Guwahati 781101, Assam, India
| | - Sanjay K Banerjee
- Department of Biotechnology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Guwahati 781101, Assam, India.
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Olcum M, Fan S, Rouhi L, Cheedipudi S, Cathcart B, Jeong HH, Zhao Z, Gurha P, Marian AJ. Genetic inactivation of β-catenin is salubrious, whereas its activation is deleterious in desmoplakin cardiomyopathy. Cardiovasc Res 2023; 119:2712-2728. [PMID: 37625794 PMCID: PMC11032201 DOI: 10.1093/cvr/cvad137] [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: 06/01/2023] [Revised: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
AIMS Mutations in the DSP gene encoding desmoplakin, a constituent of the desmosomes at the intercalated discs (IDs), cause a phenotype that spans arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ACM) and dilated cardiomyopathy. It is typically characterized by biventricular enlargement and dysfunction, myocardial fibrosis, cell death, and arrhythmias. The canonical wingless-related integration (cWNT)/β-catenin pathway is implicated in the pathogenesis of ACM. The β-catenin is an indispensable co-transcriptional regulator of the cWNT pathway and a member of the IDs. We genetically inactivated or activated β-catenin to determine its role in the pathogenesis of desmoplakin cardiomyopathy. METHODS AND RESULTS The Dsp gene was conditionally deleted in the 2-week-old post-natal cardiac myocytes using tamoxifen-inducible MerCreMer mice (Myh6-McmTam:DspF/F). The cWNT/β-catenin pathway was markedly dysregulated in the Myh6-McmTam:DspF/F cardiac myocytes, as indicated by a concomitant increase in the expression of cWNT/β-catenin target genes, isoforms of its key co-effectors, and the inhibitors of the pathway. The β-catenin was inactivated or activated upon inducible deletion of its transcriptional or degron domain, respectively, in the Myh6-McmTam:DspF/F cardiac myocytes. Genetic inactivation of β-catenin in the Myh6-McmTam:DspF/F mice prolonged survival, improved cardiac function, reduced cardiac arrhythmias, and attenuated myocardial fibrosis, and cell death caused by apoptosis, necroptosis, and pyroptosis, i.e. PANoptosis. In contrast, activation of β-catenin had the opposite effects. The deleterious and the salubrious effects were independent of changes in the expression levels of the cWNT target genes and were associated with changes in several molecular and biological pathways, including cell death programmes. CONCLUSION The cWNT/β-catenin was markedly dysregulated in the cardiac myocytes in a mouse model of desmoplakin cardiomyopathy. Inactivation of β-catenin attenuated, whereas its activation aggravated the phenotype, through multiple molecular pathways, independent of the cWNT transcriptional activity. Thus, suppression but not activation of β-catenin might be beneficial in desmoplakin cardiomyopathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melis Olcum
- The Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- The Department of Internal Medicine, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Siyang Fan
- The Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- The Department of Internal Medicine, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Leila Rouhi
- The Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- The Department of Internal Medicine, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Sirisha Cheedipudi
- The Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- The Department of Internal Medicine, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Benjamin Cathcart
- The Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- The Department of Internal Medicine, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Hyun-Hwan Jeong
- The Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- The Department of Internal Medicine, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Zhongming Zhao
- The Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- The Department of Internal Medicine, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Priyatansh Gurha
- The Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- The Department of Internal Medicine, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Ali J Marian
- The Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- The Department of Internal Medicine, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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Zhou Z, Ou-yang C, Chen Q, Ren Z, Guo X, Lei M, Liu C, Yang X. Trafficking and effect of released DNA on cGAS-STING signaling pathway and cardiovascular disease. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1287130. [PMID: 38152400 PMCID: PMC10751357 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1287130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Evidence from clinical research and animal studies indicates that inflammation is an important factor in the occurrence and development of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Emerging evidence shows that nucleic acids serve as crucial pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) or non-infectious damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), are released and then recognized by pattern recognition receptors (PRRs), which activates immunological signaling pathways for host defense. Mechanistically, the released nucleic acids activate cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS) and its downstream receptor stimulator of interferon genes (STING) to promote type I interferons (IFNs) production, which play an important regulatory function during the initiation of an innate immune response to various diseases, including CVD. This pathway represents an essential defense regulatory mechanism in an organism's innate immune system. In this review, we outline the overall profile of cGAS-STING signaling, summarize the latest findings on nucleic acid release and trafficking, and discuss their potential role in CVD. This review also sheds light on potential directions for future investigations on CVD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zimo Zhou
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Diabetes and Angiopathy, Hubei University of Science and Technology, Xianning, China
- State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burns and Combined Injury, College of Preventive Medicine, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Changhan Ou-yang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Diabetes and Angiopathy, Hubei University of Science and Technology, Xianning, China
- Xianning Medical College, Hubei University of Science and Technology, Xianning, China
| | - Qingjie Chen
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Diabetes and Angiopathy, Hubei University of Science and Technology, Xianning, China
- Xianning Medical College, Hubei University of Science and Technology, Xianning, China
| | - Zhanhong Ren
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Diabetes and Angiopathy, Hubei University of Science and Technology, Xianning, China
- Xianning Medical College, Hubei University of Science and Technology, Xianning, China
| | - Xiying Guo
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Diabetes and Angiopathy, Hubei University of Science and Technology, Xianning, China
- Xianning Medical College, Hubei University of Science and Technology, Xianning, China
| | - Min Lei
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Diabetes and Angiopathy, Hubei University of Science and Technology, Xianning, China
- Xianning Medical College, Hubei University of Science and Technology, Xianning, China
| | - Chao Liu
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Diabetes and Angiopathy, Hubei University of Science and Technology, Xianning, China
- Xianning Medical College, Hubei University of Science and Technology, Xianning, China
| | - Xiaosong Yang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Diabetes and Angiopathy, Hubei University of Science and Technology, Xianning, China
- Xianning Medical College, Hubei University of Science and Technology, Xianning, China
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West G, Sedighi S, Agnetti G, Taimen P. Intermediate filaments in the heart: The dynamic duo of desmin and lamins orchestrates mechanical force transmission. Curr Opin Cell Biol 2023; 85:102280. [PMID: 37972529 DOI: 10.1016/j.ceb.2023.102280] [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: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
The intermediate filament (IF) cytoskeleton supports cellular structural integrity, particularly in response to mechanical stress. The most abundant IF proteins in mature cardiomyocytes are desmin and lamins. The desmin network tethers the contractile apparatus and organelles to the nuclear envelope and the sarcolemma, while lamins, as components of the nuclear lamina, provide structural stability to the nucleus and the genome. Mutations in desmin or A-type lamins typically result in cardiomyopathies and recent studies emphasized the synergistic roles of desmin and lamins in the maintenance of nuclear integrity in cardiac myocytes. Here we explore the emerging roles of the interdependent relationship between desmin and lamins in providing resilience to nuclear structure while transducing extracellular mechanical cues into the nucleus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gun West
- Institute of Biomedicine and FICAN West Cancer Centre, University of Turku, 20520, Turku, Finland
| | - Sogol Sedighi
- Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 21205, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Giulio Agnetti
- Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 21205, Baltimore, MD, USA; DIBINEM - University of Bologna, 40123, Bologna, Italy.
| | - Pekka Taimen
- Institute of Biomedicine and FICAN West Cancer Centre, University of Turku, 20520, Turku, Finland; Department of Pathology, Turku University Hospital, 20520, Turku, Finland.
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12
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Bannasch DL, Oertle DT, Vo J, Batcher KL, Stern JA, Kaplan JL, Li RHL, Madden IE, Christen M, Leeb T, Joshi N. Naturally occurring canine laminopathy leading to a dilated and fibrosing cardiomyopathy in the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever. Sci Rep 2023; 13:19077. [PMID: 37925523 PMCID: PMC10625583 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-46601-2] [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: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is characterized by decreased systolic function and dilation of one or both ventricles, often leading to heart failure or sudden death. Two 10-month-old sibling Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers (NSDTR) died acutely with evidence of dilated cardiomyopathy with myocardial fibrosis. Association analysis using two cases and 35 controls identified three candidate regions homozygous in the two cases. Whole genome sequencing identified a frameshift deletion in the LMNA gene (NC_049228.1:g.41688530del, NP_001274080:p.(Asp576ThrfsTer124)). Three retrospectively identified NSDTRs with sudden death before 2 years of age and severe myocardial fibrosis were also homozygous for the deletion. One 5 year old with sudden death and myocardial fibrosis was heterozygous for the deletion. This variant was not identified in 722 dogs of other breeds, nor was it identified to be homozygous in 784 NSDTR. LMNA codes for lamin A/C proteins, which are type V intermediate filaments that provide structural support to the nuclear membrane. In humans, LMNA variants can cause DCM with sudden death as well as diseases of striated muscles, lipodystrophy, neuropathies, and accelerated aging disorders. This frameshift deletion is predicted to affect processing of prelamin A into lamin A. Pedigree analysis in the NSDTR and functional evaluation of heterozygotes is consistent with a predominantly recessive mode of inheritance and possibly low penetrance in heterozygotes in contrast to people, where most pathogenic LMNA variants are dominantly inherited.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danika L Bannasch
- Department of Population Health and Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA.
| | - Danielle T Oertle
- Department of Population Health and Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Julia Vo
- Department of Population Health and Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Kevin L Batcher
- Department of Population Health and Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Joshua A Stern
- Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Joanna L Kaplan
- Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Ronald H L Li
- Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Indiana E Madden
- Department of Population Health and Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Matthias Christen
- Institute of Genetics, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, 3001, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Tosso Leeb
- Institute of Genetics, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, 3001, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Nikhil Joshi
- Bioinformatics Core, UC Davis Genome Center, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
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13
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Tan CY, Chan PS, Tan H, Tan SW, Lee CJM, Wang JW, Ye S, Werner H, Loh YJ, Lee YL, Ackers-Johnson M, Foo RSY, Jiang J. Systematic in vivo candidate evaluation uncovers therapeutic targets for LMNA dilated cardiomyopathy and risk of Lamin A toxicity. J Transl Med 2023; 21:690. [PMID: 37840136 PMCID: PMC10577912 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-023-04542-4] [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: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a severe, non-ischemic heart disease which ultimately results in heart failure (HF). Decades of research on DCM have revealed diverse aetiologies. Among them, familial DCM is the major form of DCM, with pathogenic variants in LMNA being the second most common form of autosomal dominant DCM. LMNA DCM is a multifactorial and complex disease with no specific treatment thus far. Many studies have demonstrated that perturbing candidates related to various dysregulated pathways ameliorate LMNA DCM. However, it is unknown whether these candidates could serve as potential therapeutic targets especially in long term efficacy. METHODS We evaluated 14 potential candidates including Lmna gene products (Lamin A and Lamin C), key signaling pathways (Tgfβ/Smad, mTor and Fgf/Mapk), calcium handling, proliferation regulators and modifiers of LINC complex function in a cardiac specific Lmna DCM model. Positive candidates for improved cardiac function were further assessed by survival analysis. Suppressive roles and mechanisms of these candidates in ameliorating Lmna DCM were dissected by comparing marker gene expression, Tgfβ signaling pathway activation, fibrosis, inflammation, proliferation and DNA damage. Furthermore, transcriptome profiling compared the differences between Lamin A and Lamin C treatment. RESULTS Cardiac function was restored by several positive candidates (Smad3, Yy1, Bmp7, Ctgf, aYAP1, Sun1, Lamin A, and Lamin C), which significantly correlated with suppression of HF/fibrosis marker expression and cardiac fibrosis in Lmna DCM. Lamin C or Sun1 shRNA administration achieved consistent, prolonged survival which highly correlated with reduced heart inflammation and DNA damage. Importantly, Lamin A treatment improved but could not reproduce long term survival, and Lamin A administration to healthy hearts itself induced DCM. Mechanistically, we identified this lapse as caused by a dose-dependent toxicity of Lamin A, which was independent from its maturation. CONCLUSIONS In vivo candidate evaluation revealed that supplementation of Lamin C or knockdown of Sun1 significantly suppressed Lmna DCM and achieve prolonged survival. Conversely, Lamin A supplementation did not rescue long term survival and may impart detrimental cardiotoxicity risk. This study highlights a potential of advancing Lamin C and Sun1 as therapeutic targets for the treatment of LMNA DCM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chia Yee Tan
- Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117597, Singapore
- Centre for Translational Medicine, Cardiovascular Research Institute (CVRI), National University Health System, 14 Medical Drive, Singapore, 117599, Singapore
- Cardiovascular Disease Translational Research Programme, NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, 14 Medical Drive, Level 8, Singapore, 117599, Singapore
| | - Pui Shi Chan
- Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117597, Singapore
- Centre for Translational Medicine, Cardiovascular Research Institute (CVRI), National University Health System, 14 Medical Drive, Singapore, 117599, Singapore
- Cardiovascular Disease Translational Research Programme, NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, 14 Medical Drive, Level 8, Singapore, 117599, Singapore
| | - Hansen Tan
- Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117597, Singapore
- Centre for Translational Medicine, Cardiovascular Research Institute (CVRI), National University Health System, 14 Medical Drive, Singapore, 117599, Singapore
- Cardiovascular Disease Translational Research Programme, NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, 14 Medical Drive, Level 8, Singapore, 117599, Singapore
| | - Sung Wei Tan
- Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117597, Singapore
- Centre for Translational Medicine, Cardiovascular Research Institute (CVRI), National University Health System, 14 Medical Drive, Singapore, 117599, Singapore
- Cardiovascular Disease Translational Research Programme, NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, 14 Medical Drive, Level 8, Singapore, 117599, Singapore
| | - Chang Jie Mick Lee
- Centre for Translational Medicine, Cardiovascular Research Institute (CVRI), National University Health System, 14 Medical Drive, Singapore, 117599, Singapore
- Cardiovascular Disease Translational Research Programme, NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, 14 Medical Drive, Level 8, Singapore, 117599, Singapore
| | - Jiong-Wei Wang
- Centre for Translational Medicine, Cardiovascular Research Institute (CVRI), National University Health System, 14 Medical Drive, Singapore, 117599, Singapore
- Department of Surgery, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 119228, Singapore
- Centre for NanoMedicine, Nanomedicine Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117609, Singapore
- Department of Physiology, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117593, Singapore
| | - Shu Ye
- Centre for Translational Medicine, Cardiovascular Research Institute (CVRI), National University Health System, 14 Medical Drive, Singapore, 117599, Singapore
- Cardiovascular Disease Translational Research Programme, NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, 14 Medical Drive, Level 8, Singapore, 117599, Singapore
| | - Hendrikje Werner
- Nuevocor Pte Ltd, 1 Biopolis Drive, Amnios, #05-01, Singapore, 138622, Singapore
| | - Ying Jie Loh
- Nuevocor Pte Ltd, 1 Biopolis Drive, Amnios, #05-01, Singapore, 138622, Singapore
| | - Yin Loon Lee
- Nuevocor Pte Ltd, 1 Biopolis Drive, Amnios, #05-01, Singapore, 138622, Singapore
- A*STAR Skin Research Labs (A*SRL), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 8A Biomedical Grove, Immunos #06-06, Singapore, 138665, Singapore
| | - Matthew Ackers-Johnson
- Centre for Translational Medicine, Cardiovascular Research Institute (CVRI), National University Health System, 14 Medical Drive, Singapore, 117599, Singapore
- Cardiovascular Disease Translational Research Programme, NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, 14 Medical Drive, Level 8, Singapore, 117599, Singapore
| | - Roger S Y Foo
- Centre for Translational Medicine, Cardiovascular Research Institute (CVRI), National University Health System, 14 Medical Drive, Singapore, 117599, Singapore
- Cardiovascular Disease Translational Research Programme, NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, 14 Medical Drive, Level 8, Singapore, 117599, Singapore
| | - Jianming Jiang
- Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117597, Singapore.
- Centre for Translational Medicine, Cardiovascular Research Institute (CVRI), National University Health System, 14 Medical Drive, Singapore, 117599, Singapore.
- Cardiovascular Disease Translational Research Programme, NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, 14 Medical Drive, Level 8, Singapore, 117599, Singapore.
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14
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Rouhi L, Cheedipudi SM, Cathcart B, Gurha P, Marian AJ. Cytosolic DNA sensing protein pathway is activated in human hearts with dilated cardiomyopathy. THE JOURNAL OF CARDIOVASCULAR AGING 2023; 3:32. [PMID: 37577061 PMCID: PMC10421632 DOI: 10.20517/jca.2023.20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/15/2023]
Abstract
Introduction The genome is constantly exposed to numerous stressors, which induce DNA lesions, including double-stranded DNA breaks (DSBs). DSBs are the most dangerous, as they induce genomic instability. In response to DNA damage, the cell activates nuclear DNA damage response (DDR) and the cytosolic DNA sensing protein (CDSP) pathways, the latter upon release of the DSBs to the cytosol. The CDSP pathway activates NFκB and IRF3, which induce the expression of the pro-inflammatory genes. There is scant data on the activation of the CDSP pathway in human hearts with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Aim We aimed to determine expression levels of selected components of the CDSP pathway in human hearts with DCM. Methods The DNA strand breaks were detected by the single-cell gel electrophoresis or the comet assay and expression of selected proteins by immunoblotting. Transcript levels were quantified in the RNA-Seq data. Results Single-cell gel electrophoresis showed an approximately 2-fold increase in the number of COMET cells in the DCM hearts. Immunoblotting showed increased levels of cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (CGAS), the canonical CDSP; TANK-binding kinase 1 (TBK1), an intermediary kinase in the pathway; and RELB, P52, and P50 components of the NFκB pathway in human heart samples from patients with DCM. Likewise, transcript levels of over 2 dozen genes involved in inflammatory responses were increased. Conclusions The findings provide the first set of evidence for the activation of the CDSP pathway in human hearts with DCM. The data in conjunction with the previous evidence of activation of the DDR pathway implicate the DSBs in the pathogenesis of human DCM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leila Rouhi
- Center for Cardiovascular Genetics, Institute of Molecular Medicine, The University of Texas Health Science Center. Houston TX 77030, USA
| | - Sirisha M Cheedipudi
- Center for Cardiovascular Genetics, Institute of Molecular Medicine, The University of Texas Health Science Center. Houston TX 77030, USA
| | - Benjamin Cathcart
- Center for Cardiovascular Genetics, Institute of Molecular Medicine, The University of Texas Health Science Center. Houston TX 77030, USA
| | - Priyatansh Gurha
- Center for Cardiovascular Genetics, Institute of Molecular Medicine, The University of Texas Health Science Center. Houston TX 77030, USA
| | - Ali J Marian
- Center for Cardiovascular Genetics, Institute of Molecular Medicine, The University of Texas Health Science Center. Houston TX 77030, USA
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