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Kleinbongard P, Senyo SE, Lindsey ML, Garvin AM, Simpson JA, de Castro Braz LE. Cardiac fibroblasts: answering the call. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2024; 327:H681-H686. [PMID: 39093000 DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00478.2024] [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: 07/17/2024] [Revised: 07/29/2024] [Accepted: 07/30/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024]
Abstract
Cardiac fibroblasts play a pivotal role in maintaining heart homeostasis by depositing extracellular matrix (ECM) to provide structural support for the myocardium, vasculature, and neuronal network and by contributing to essential physiological processes. In response to injury such as myocardial infarction or pressure overload, fibroblasts become activated, leading to increased ECM production that can ultimately drive left ventricular remodeling and progress to heart failure. Recently, the American Journal of Physiology-Heart and Circulatory Physiology issued a call for papers on cardiac fibroblasts that yielded articles with topics spanning fibroblast physiology, technical considerations, signaling pathways, and interactions with other cell types. This mini-review summarizes those articles and places the new findings in the context of what is currently known for cardiac fibroblasts and what future directions remain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petra Kleinbongard
- Institute for Pathophysiology, West German Heart and Vascular Center, University of Essen Medical School, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Samuel E Senyo
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, United States
| | - Merry L Lindsey
- School of Graduate Studies, Meharry Medical College, Nashville, Tennessee, United States
- Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, United States
| | - Alexandra M Garvin
- Department of Physiology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, United States
| | - Jeremy A Simpson
- Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
- IMPART Investigator Team Canada, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Lisandra E de Castro Braz
- Department of Physiology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, United States
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Catalán M, González-Herrera F, Maya JD, Lorenzo O, Pedrozo Z, Olmedo I, Suarez-Rozas C, Molina-Berrios A, Díaz-Araya G, Vivar R. Boldine prevents the inflammatory response of cardiac fibroblasts induced by SGK1-NFκB signaling pathway activation. Cell Signal 2024; 120:111241. [PMID: 38825173 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2024.111241] [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: 02/10/2024] [Revised: 05/14/2024] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/04/2024]
Abstract
Cardiac fibroblasts (CF) are mesenchymal-type cells responsible for maintaining the homeostasis of the heart's extracellular matrix (ECM). Their dysfunction leads to excessive secretion of ECM proteins, tissue stiffening, impaired nutrient and oxygen exchange, and electrical abnormalities in the heart. Additionally, CF act as sentinel cells in the cardiac tissue microenvironment, responding to various stimuli that may affect heart function. Deleterious stimuli induce an inflammatory response in CF, increasing the secretion of cytokines such as IL-1β and TNF-α and the expression of cell adhesion molecules like ICAM1 and VCAM1, initially promoting damage resolution by recruiting immune cells. However, constant harmful stimuli lead to a chronic inflammatory process and heart dysfunction. Therefore, it is necessary to study the mechanisms that govern CF inflammation. NFκB is a key regulator of the cardiac inflammatory process, making the search for mechanisms of NFκB regulation and CF inflammatory response crucial for developing new treatment options for cardiovascular diseases. SGK1, a serine-threonine protein kinase, is one of the regulators of NFκB and is involved in the fibrotic effects of angiotensin II and aldosterone, as well as in CF differentiation. However, its role in the CF inflammatory response is unknown. On the other hand, many bioactive natural products have demonstrated anti-inflammatory effects, but their role in CF inflammation is unknown. One such molecule is boldine, an alkaloid obtained from Boldo (Peumus boldus), a Chilean endemic tree with proven cytoprotective effects. However, its involvement in the regulation of SGK1 and CF inflammation is unknown. In this study, we evaluated the role of SGK1 and boldine in the inflammatory response in CF isolated from neonatal Sprague-Dawley rats. The involvement of SGK1 was analyzed using GSK650394, a specific SGK1 inhibitor. Our results demonstrate that SGK1 is crucial for LPS- and IFN-γ-induced inflammatory responses in CF (cytokine expression, cell adhesion molecule expression, and leukocyte adhesion). Furthermore, a conditioned medium (intracellular content of CF subject to freeze/thaw cycles) was used to simulate a sterile inflammation condition. The conditioned medium induced a potent inflammatory response in CF, which was completely prevented by the SGK1 inhibitor. Finally, our results indicate that boldine inhibits both SGK1 activation and the CF inflammatory response induced by LPS, IFN-γ, and CF-conditioned medium. Taken together, our results position SGK1 as an important regulator of the CF inflammatory response and boldine as a promising anti-inflammatory drug in the context of cardiovascular diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Catalán
- Biomedical Science Institute, Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - F González-Herrera
- Biomedical Science Institute, Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - J D Maya
- Biomedical Science Institute, Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - O Lorenzo
- IIS-Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Spain
| | - Z Pedrozo
- Biomedical Science Institute, Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - I Olmedo
- Biomedical Science Institute, Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - C Suarez-Rozas
- Medicinal Chemistry Center, Faculty of Medicine, Clínica Alemana, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile
| | - A Molina-Berrios
- Institute for Research in Dental Sciences (ICOD), Faculty of Dentistry, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - G Díaz-Araya
- Department of Pharmacological & Toxicological Chemistry, Faculty of Chemical & Pharmaceutical Sciences & Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - R Vivar
- Biomedical Science Institute, Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile; Department of Pharmacological & Toxicological Chemistry, Faculty of Chemical & Pharmaceutical Sciences & Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile.
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Alcaide P, Kallikourdis M, Emig R, Prabhu SD. Myocardial Inflammation in Heart Failure With Reduced and Preserved Ejection Fraction. Circ Res 2024; 134:1752-1766. [PMID: 38843295 PMCID: PMC11160997 DOI: 10.1161/circresaha.124.323659] [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] [Indexed: 06/09/2024]
Abstract
Heart failure (HF) is characterized by a progressive decline in cardiac function and represents one of the largest health burdens worldwide. Clinically, 2 major types of HF are distinguished based on the left ventricular ejection fraction (EF): HF with reduced EF and HF with preserved EF. While both types share several risk factors and features of adverse cardiac remodeling, unique hallmarks beyond ejection fraction that distinguish these etiologies also exist. These differences may explain the fact that approved therapies for HF with reduced EF are largely ineffective in patients suffering from HF with preserved EF. Improving our understanding of the distinct cellular and molecular mechanisms is crucial for the development of better treatment strategies. This article reviews the knowledge of the immunologic mechanisms underlying HF with reduced and preserved EF and discusses how the different immune profiles elicited may identify attractive therapeutic targets for these conditions. We review the literature on the reported mechanisms of adverse cardiac remodeling in HF with reduced and preserved EF, as well as the immune mechanisms involved. We discuss how the knowledge gained from preclinical models of the complex syndrome of HF as well as from clinical data obtained from patients may translate to a better understanding of HF and result in specific treatments for these conditions in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pilar Alcaide
- Department of Immunology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston MA
| | - Marinos Kallikourdis
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele (Milan), Italy and Adaptive Immunity Laboratory, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano (Milan), Italy
| | - Ramona Emig
- Department of Immunology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston MA
| | - Sumanth D. Prabhu
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO
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Lin S, Zhang S, Zhan A, Feng J, Yang Q, Li T, Liu Z, Mo Q, Fan H, Wang K, Wang L. Palmatine alleviates cardiac fibrosis by inhibiting fibroblast activation through the STAT3 pathway. Eur J Pharmacol 2024; 967:176395. [PMID: 38350592 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2024.176395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2023] [Revised: 02/04/2024] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024]
Abstract
Cardiac fibrosis, the hallmark of cardiovascular disease, is characterized by excessive deposition of extracellular matrix in the heart. Emerging evidence indicates that cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) play pivotal roles in driving cardiac fibrosis. However, due to incomplete insights into CFs, there are limited effective approaches to prevent or reverse cardiac fibrosis currently. Palmatine, a protoberberine alkaloid extracted from traditional Chinese botanical remedies, possesses diverse biological effects. This study investigated the potential therapeutic value and mechanism of palmatine against cardiac fibrosis. Adult male C57BL/6 mice were treated with vehicle, isoproterenol (ISO), or ISO plus palmatine for one week. After echocardiography assessment, mice hearts were collected for histopathology, real-time polymerase chain reaction, and Western blot analyses. Primary rat CFs were utilized in vitro. Compared to control, ISO-treated mice exhibited cardiac hypertrophy and structural abnormalities; however, treatment with palmatine ameliorated these effects of ISO. Moreover, palmatine treatment mitigated ISO-induced cardiac fibrosis. Network pharmacology and molecular docking analysis showed that palmatine strongly binds the regulators of cardiac fibrosis including signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and mammalian target of rapamycin. Furthermore, palmatine reduced the elevated fibrotic factor expressions and overactivated STAT3 induced by ISO, Transformed growth factor β1 (TGF-β1), or interleukin-6 both in vivo and in vitro. Additionally, blocking STAT3 suppressed the TGF-β1-induced CF activation. Collectively, these data demonstrated that palmatine attenuated cardiac fibrosis partly by inhibiting fibroblast activation through the STAT3 pathway. This provides an experimental basis for the clinical treatment of cardiac fibrosis with palmatine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaoling Lin
- Guangdong Metabolic Diseases Research Center of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Key Laboratory of Glycolipid Metabolic Disorder, Ministry of Education of China, Guangdong TCM Key Laboratory for Metabolic Diseases, Key Unit of Modulating Liver to Treat Hyperlipemia, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medicine, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Shengxi Zhang
- Guangdong Metabolic Diseases Research Center of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Key Laboratory of Glycolipid Metabolic Disorder, Ministry of Education of China, Guangdong TCM Key Laboratory for Metabolic Diseases, Key Unit of Modulating Liver to Treat Hyperlipemia, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medicine, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, China; Guangdong Hydropower Group Hospital, Guangzhou, 511340, China
| | - Angyu Zhan
- Guangdong Metabolic Diseases Research Center of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Key Laboratory of Glycolipid Metabolic Disorder, Ministry of Education of China, Guangdong TCM Key Laboratory for Metabolic Diseases, Key Unit of Modulating Liver to Treat Hyperlipemia, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medicine, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Jiaojiao Feng
- Guangdong Metabolic Diseases Research Center of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Key Laboratory of Glycolipid Metabolic Disorder, Ministry of Education of China, Guangdong TCM Key Laboratory for Metabolic Diseases, Key Unit of Modulating Liver to Treat Hyperlipemia, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medicine, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Qianqian Yang
- Guangdong Metabolic Diseases Research Center of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Key Laboratory of Glycolipid Metabolic Disorder, Ministry of Education of China, Guangdong TCM Key Laboratory for Metabolic Diseases, Key Unit of Modulating Liver to Treat Hyperlipemia, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medicine, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Tongjun Li
- Guangdong Metabolic Diseases Research Center of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Key Laboratory of Glycolipid Metabolic Disorder, Ministry of Education of China, Guangdong TCM Key Laboratory for Metabolic Diseases, Key Unit of Modulating Liver to Treat Hyperlipemia, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medicine, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Zijian Liu
- Department of Emergency, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Assisted Circulation and Vascular Diseases (Sun Yat-sen University), Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Quqian Mo
- Guangdong Metabolic Diseases Research Center of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Key Laboratory of Glycolipid Metabolic Disorder, Ministry of Education of China, Guangdong TCM Key Laboratory for Metabolic Diseases, Key Unit of Modulating Liver to Treat Hyperlipemia, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medicine, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Hui Fan
- Guangdong Metabolic Diseases Research Center of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Key Laboratory of Glycolipid Metabolic Disorder, Ministry of Education of China, Guangdong TCM Key Laboratory for Metabolic Diseases, Key Unit of Modulating Liver to Treat Hyperlipemia, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medicine, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Keke Wang
- Department of Emergency, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Assisted Circulation and Vascular Diseases (Sun Yat-sen University), Guangzhou, 510080, China.
| | - Lexun Wang
- Guangdong Metabolic Diseases Research Center of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Key Laboratory of Glycolipid Metabolic Disorder, Ministry of Education of China, Guangdong TCM Key Laboratory for Metabolic Diseases, Key Unit of Modulating Liver to Treat Hyperlipemia, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medicine, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
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