Inhibitory effects of antioxidants on neonatal rat cardiac myocyte hypertrophy induced by tumor necrosis factor-alpha and angiotensin II

Tailored CD4+ lymphocytes expressing human CHAT protein as a novel vasodilator in attenuating RV pressure in PAH animal model

ChAT-expressing T cells represent ∼0.01 % of total circulating T lymphocytes in adult wild-type mice. However, we previously reported that systemic infusion of ChAT+ve Jurkat T cells into adult mice elicits vasodilation and instantaneous decline in the mean systolic blood pressure, suggesting potential as a biologic therapeutic to attenuate pathologic increases in pulmonary arterial pressures. We now report that ChAT gene-expressing Jurkat cells dose-dependently decrease right ventricular systolic pressures (RVSP) in hypoxic mice and that transgenic mice with ChAT KO restricted to endothelial cells (KO END/ChAT-/-) exhibit significantly elevated pulmonary arterial pressure and peripheral systemic resistance (compared to WT mice). To rigorously characterize the role of CD4 ChAT+ T cells in regulating pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) hemodynamics and molecular signatures, we infused CD4+ ChAT+ve cells (0.5 to 2.0 million cells/animal) into adult PAH mice and noted significant reductions in RVSP within 2-3 min post injection (∼ 50 % reduction). The tailored tail vein injection effect was sustained until the animal was euthanized (30-40 min). Mice KO END/ChAT-/-showed a significant and severe hypoxia-induced PAH phenotype compared to WT adult mice. Tail vein injection of biologically active CD4 ChAT+ve cells into either KO END/ChAT-/-mice with hypoxia-induced PAH or into adult rats with hypoxia/Sugen-induced PAH resulted in significant attenuation of RVP elevations. RNA seq data analysis of human pulmonary endothelial cells (HPAECs) incubated with CD4 ChAT+ve T cells showed significant differential regulation of pathways involved in systemic and pulmonary pressure regulation, NO synthesis/regulation, antioxidant expression, and vasodilation. In conclusion, CD4 ChAT+ve T cells have a unique, vasodilating innate immunity mechanism to augment nitric oxide release and potentially mitigate molecular and genetic pathways involved in PAH pathogenesis.

Decoding interaction between mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum in ischemic myocardial injury: targeting natural medicines

Ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM) is a special type or end stage of coronary heart disease or other irreversible ischemic myocardial injury. Inflammatory damage to coronary vessels is a crucial factor in causing stenosis or occlusion of coronary arteries, resulting in myocardial ischemia and hypoxia, but it is also an aspect of cardioprotection that is often overlooked. This review discusses the mechanisms of vascular injury during ICM, in which inflammation and oxidative stress interact and trigger cell death as the cause of coronary microvascular injury. Imbalances in endoplasmic reticulum function and mitochondrial quality control are important potential drivers of inflammation and oxidative stress. In addition, many studies have confirmed the therapeutic effects of Chinese herbal medicines and their natural monomeric components on vascular injuries. Their mitochondrial quality control and endoplasmic reticulum protection mechanisms as well as their role in combating improvements in vascular endothelial function and attenuating vascular injury are also summarized, with a perspective to provide a reference for pathologic understanding, drug research, and clinical application of ICM-associated coronary microvascular injury.

The role of M1/M2 macrophage polarization in the pathogenesis of obesity-related kidney disease and related pathologies

Obesity is a rapidly growing health problem worldwide, affecting both adults and children and increasing the risk of chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular disease (CVD). In addition, obesity is closely linked to chronic kidney disease (CKD) by either exacerbating diabetic complications or directly causing kidney damage. Obesity-related CKD is characterized by proteinuria, lipid accumulation, fibrosis and glomerulosclerosis, which can gradually impair kidney function. Among the immune cells of the innate and adaptive immune response involved in the pathogenesis of obesity-related diseases, macrophages play a crucial role in the inflammation associated with CKD. In obese individuals, macrophages enter a pro-inflammatory state known as M1 polarization, which contributes to chronic inflammation. This polarization promotes tissue damage, inflammation and fibrosis, leading to progressive loss of kidney function. In addition, macrophage-induced oxidative stress is a key feature of CKD as it also promotes cell damage and inflammation. Macrophages also contribute to insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes by releasing inflammatory molecules that impair glucose metabolism, complicating the management of diabetes in obese patients. Hypertension and atherosclerosis, which are often associated with obesity, also contribute to the progression of CKD via immune and inflammatory pathways. Macrophages influence blood pressure regulation and contribute to vascular inflammation, particularly via the renin-angiotensin system. In atherosclerosis, macrophages accumulate in arterial plaques, leading to chronic inflammation and plaque instability, which may increase the risk of CVD in CKD patients. This review focuses on the involvement of macrophages in CKD and highlights their role as a critical link between CKD and other pathologies. Targeting macrophage polarization and the ensuing macrophage-induced inflammation could be an effective therapeutic strategy for CKD and related diseases and improve outcomes for patients with obesity-related kidney disease.

Empagliflozin improves pressure-overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy by inhibiting the canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway

Background

Empagliflozin (EMPA) is an SGLT-2 inhibitor that can control hyperglycemia. Clinical trials have indicated its cardio-protective effects against cardiac remodeling in diabetes or non-diabetes patients. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms of EMPA's cardio-protective effects remain elusive.

Methods

We evaluated whether the EMPA attenuated the pressure-overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy by inhibiting the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Furthermore, the effects of the EMPA on a mouse model of transverse aortic constriction (TAC) induced cardiac hypertrophy was also evaluated. Mice were administrated with 0.5% CMC-Na as a vehicle or EMPA (10 mg/kg/day, daily, throughout the study) by intragastric gavage.

Results

The in vivo echocardiography and histologic morphological analyses revealed that EMPA attenuated TAC-induced cardiac hypertrophy. Moreover, it also ameliorated TAC-induced cardiac fibrosis and decreased the cell size of the cardiomyocytes in isolated adult cardiomyocytes. Molecular mechanism analysis revealed that the EMPA reduced the TAC-induced enhanced expression of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in vivo. For in vitro assessments, isolated neonatal rat cardiomyocytes (NRCMs) were treated with Angiotensin II (AngII) and EMPA; the results showed that in the absence of EMPA, the expression of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway was enhanced. In the trans-genetic heterozygous β-catenin deletion mice, EMPA attenuated TAC-induced cardiac remodeling by reducing the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. In addition, molecular docking analysis indicated that EMPA interacts with FZD4 to inhibit the TAC and AngII induced Wnt/β-catenin pathway in cardiomyocytes.

Conclusion

Our study illustrated that EMPA might directly interact with FZD4 to inhibit the TAC and AngII-induced activation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway to attenuate the adverse cardiac remodeling.

Myoferlin alleviates pressure overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy and dysfunction by inhibiting NLRP3-mediated pyroptosis

Myoferlin (MYOF) is a muscle-derived secretory protein. Recent studies have found that MYOF protects against cell damage. However, the role of MYOF in cardiac hypertrophy remains unclear. Increasing evidence suggests that NLRP3 (NOD-like receptor protein 3) and the pyroptosis cascade play critical roles in the development of cardiac hypertrophy and inflammation. To investigate the role of MYOF in cardiac hypertrophy, we conducted a transverse aortic constriction (TAC) experiment in a mouse model. We found that MYOF can improve cardiac hypertrophy and cardiac function. Furthermore, our study confirmed a connection between cardiac hypertrophy and myocardial pyroptosis. Cardiac hypertrophy significantly increased the proportion of apoptotic cells and upregulated apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD (ASC), caspase-1, and gasdermin D (GSDMD). This suggests that pharmacological or genetic inhibition of NLRP3 can effectively reduce cardiac hypertrophy. An abnormal increase in NLRP3 can reverse the cardioprotective effects of MYOF. Our findings indicate that MYOF is a potential therapeutic agent for cardiac hypertrophy.

Mitochondria and NLRP3 inflammasome in cardiac hypertrophy

Cardiac hypertrophy is the main adaptive response of the heart to chronic loads; however, prolonged or excessive hypertrophy promotes myocardial interstitial fibrosis, systolic dysfunction, and cardiomyocyte death, especially aseptic inflammation mediated by NLRP3 inflammasome, which can aggravate ventricular remodeling and myocardial damage, which is an important mechanism for the progression of heart failure. Various cardiac overloads can cause mitochondrial damage. In recent years, the mitochondria have been demonstrated to be involved in the inflammatory response during the development of cardiac hypertrophy in vitro and in vivo. As the NLRP3 inflammasome and mitochondria are regulators of inflammation and cardiac hypertrophy, we explored the potential functions of the NLRP3 inflammasome and mitochondrial dysfunction in cardiac hypertrophy. In particular, we proposed that the induction of mitochondrial dysfunction in cardiomyocytes may promote NLRP3-dependent inflammation during myocardial hypertrophy. Further in-depth studies could prompt valuable discoveries regarding the underlying molecular mechanisms of cardiac hypertrophy, reveal novel anti-inflammatory therapies for cardiac hypertrophy, and provide more desirable therapeutic outcomes for patients with cardiac hypertrophy.

Sage (Salvia officinalis) alleviates trazadone induced rat cardiotoxicity mediated via modulation of autophagy and oxidative stress

The antidepressant drug trazodone (TRZ) is commonly used for treating depression, anxiety, and insomnia, however, it causes cardiotoxicity, which is one of its limitations. The objective of this work was to investigate the impact of sage (Salvia officinalis) in rats against cardiotoxicity induced by TRZ and to investigate the mechanisms involved in its cardio-protective properties through autophagy and oxidative stress. Fifty male albino rats were split randomly into five experimental groups: control group, sage oil group (100 mg/kg), TRZ group (20 mg/kg), protective group, and curative group. Cardiac function biomarkers (aspartate aminotransferase [AST], creatine kinase-MB [CK-MB], and cardiac troponin T [cTnI]) were assessed in serum. Oxidative stress and inflammatory biomarkers in cardiac tissue (total antioxidant capacity, malondialdehyde, and tumor necrosis factor-α) were evaluated. Heart tissues were subjected to histological, immunohistochemical, and ultrastructural evaluations. DNA damage also evaluated. Significant rise in the levels of AST, CK-MB, and cTnI were observed with enhanced autophagy along with marked histopathological changes in the form of interrupted muscle fibers with wide interstitial spaces with areas of hemorrhage and extravasated blood and interstitial mononuclear cellular infiltration in TRZ group. DNA damage was also significantly increased in TRZ group. However, administration of sage in both protective and curative groups show marked improvement of the cardiac alterations. In conclusion, sage ameliorated the alterations in the heart induced by trazadone through modulation of autophagy and oxidative stress.

Gab1 Overexpression Attenuates Susceptibility to Ventricular Arrhythmias in Pressure Overloaded Heart Failure Mouse Hearts

PURPOSE

Grb2 associated binding protein 1 (Gab1) is an adaptor protein that is important for intracellular signal transduction which involved in several pathological process. However, the role of Gab1 in pressure overload-induced ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) remain poorly understood. In the current study, we aimed to test the role of Gab1 in VA susceptibility induced by pressure overload.

METHODS

We overexpressed Gab1 in the hearts using an adeno-associated virus 9 (AAV9) system through tail vein injection. Aortic banding (AB) surgery was performed in C57BL6/J mice to induce heart failure (HF). Four weeks following AB, histology, echocardiography, and biochemical analysis were conducted to investigate cardiac structural remodeling and electrophysiological studies were performed to check the electrical remodeling. Western blot analysis was used to explore the underlying mechanisms.

RESULTS

The mRNA and protein expression were downregulated in AB hearts compared to sham hearts. Gab1 overexpression significantly reversed AB-induced cardiac structural remodeling including ameliorated AB-induced cardiac dysfunction, cardiac fibrosis, and inflammatory response. Moreover, Gab1 overexpression also markedly alleviated AB-induced electrical remodeling including ion channel alterations and VA susceptibility. Mechanistically, we found that TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB contributes to the cardio protective effect of Gab1 overexpression on AB-induced VAs.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study manifested that Gab1 may serve as a promising anti-arrhythmic target via inhibiting TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway induced by AB.

Cardiac arrhythmogenesis: roles of ion channels and their functional modification

Cardiac arrhythmias cause significant morbidity and mortality and pose a major public health problem. They arise from disruptions in the normally orderly propagation of cardiac electrophysiological activation and recovery through successive cardiomyocytes in the heart. They reflect abnormalities in automaticity, initiation, conduction, or recovery in cardiomyocyte excitation. The latter properties are dependent on surface membrane electrophysiological mechanisms underlying the cardiac action potential. Their disruption results from spatial or temporal instabilities and heterogeneities in the generation and propagation of cellular excitation. These arise from abnormal function in their underlying surface membrane, ion channels, and transporters, as well as the interactions between them. The latter, in turn, form common regulatory targets for the hierarchical network of diverse signaling mechanisms reviewed here. In addition to direct molecular-level pharmacological or physiological actions on these surface membrane biomolecules, accessory, adhesion, signal transduction, and cytoskeletal anchoring proteins modify both their properties and localization. At the cellular level of excitation-contraction coupling processes, Ca2+ homeostatic and phosphorylation processes affect channel activity and membrane excitability directly or through intermediate signaling. Systems-level autonomic cellular signaling exerts both acute channel and longer-term actions on channel expression. Further upstream intermediaries from metabolic changes modulate the channels both themselves and through modifying Ca2+ homeostasis. Finally, longer-term organ-level inflammatory and structural changes, such as fibrotic and hypertrophic remodeling, similarly can influence all these physiological processes with potential pro-arrhythmic consequences. These normal physiological processes may target either individual or groups of ionic channel species and alter with particular pathological conditions. They are also potentially alterable by direct pharmacological action, or effects on longer-term targets modifying protein or cofactor structure, expression, or localization. Their participating specific biomolecules, often clarified in experimental genetically modified models, thus constitute potential therapeutic targets. The insights clarified by the physiological and pharmacological framework outlined here provide a basis for a recent modernized drug classification. Together, they offer a translational framework for current drug understanding. This would facilitate future mechanistically directed therapeutic advances, for which a number of examples are considered here. The latter are potentially useful for treating cardiac, in particular arrhythmic, disease.

Calorie restriction anti-hypertrophic effects are associated with improved mitochondrial content, blockage of Ca2+-induced mitochondrial damage, and lower reverse electron transport-mediated oxidative stress

Calorie restriction is a nutritional intervention that reproducibly protects against the maladaptive consequences of cardiovascular diseases. Pathological cardiac hypertrophy leads to cellular growth, dysfunction (with mitochondrial dysregulation), and oxidative stress. The mechanisms behind the cardiovascular protective effects of calorie restriction are still under investigation. In this study, we show that this dietetic intervention prevents cardiac protein elevation, avoids fetal gene reprogramming (atrial natriuretic peptide), and blocks the increase in heart weight per tibia length index (HW/TL) seen in isoproterenol-induced cardiac hypertrophy. Our findings suggest that calorie restriction inhibits cardiac pathological growth while also lowering mitochondrial reverse electron transport-induced hydrogen peroxide formation and improving mitochondrial content. Calorie restriction also attenuated the opening of the Ca2+-induced mitochondrial permeability transition pore. We also found that calorie restriction blocked the negative correlation of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dimutase and glutatione peroxidase activity) and HW/TL, leading to the maintenance of protein sulphydryls and glutathione levels. Given the nature of isoproterenol-induced cardiac hypertrophy, we investigated whether calorie restriction could alter cardiac beta-adrenergic sensitivity. Using isolated rat hearts in a Langendorff system, we found that calorie restricted hearts have preserved beta-adrenergic signaling. In contrast, hypertrophic hearts (treated for seven days with isoproterenol) were insensitive to beta-adrenergic activation using isoproterenol (50 nM). Despite protecting against cardiac hypertrophy, calorie restriction did not alter the lack of responsiveness to isoproterenol in isolated hearts harvested from isoproterenol-treated rats. These results suggest (through a series of mitochondrial, oxidative stress, and cardiac hemodynamic studies) that calorie restriction possesses beneficial effects against hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Cardiovascular Protective Effect of Garcinia dulcis Flower Acetone Extract in 2-Kidney-1-Clip Hypertensive Rats

Morelloflavone and camboginol are bioactive compounds purified from Garcinia dulcis (GD), which has anti-inflammatory and antihypertensive properties. The objective of this study was to examine the cardiovascular protective effect of GD flower acetone extract in 2-kidney-1-clip (2K1C) hypertensive rats. Male Wistar rats underwent 2K1C or sham operation (SO) and were housed for 4 weeks. Each group of rats, then, was further divided into 2 subgroups receiving oral administration of either 50 mg/kg BW GD extract or corn oil (vehicle) daily for 4 weeks. Noninvasive blood pressure (BP) and body weight were measured weekly throughout the study. Subsequently, the invasive measurement of arterial BP and the heart rate were determined in all anesthetized rats. The baroreceptor reflex sensitivity (BRS) was investigated by injection of either phenylephrine or sodium nitroprusside for bradycardia or tachycardia response, respectively. Histological examination of the heart and thoracic aorta was also performed in order to investigate the general morphology and the tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) expression. We found that the GD flower extract significantly diminished the BP and restored the impaired BRS. Moreover, it also decreased the TNF-α expression in the cardiac muscle and thoracic aorta of 2K1C when compared to the SO group. Taken together, our data showed that GD flower extract exhibits the cardiovascular protective effect in the 2K1C hypertensive rats.

Phoenixin-14 protects cardiac damages in a streptozotocin-induced diabetes mice model through SIRT3

BACKGROUND

Type I diabetes is a metabolic syndrome that severely impacts the normal lives of patients through its multiple complications, such as diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM). Phoenixin-14 is a peptide found to be widely expressed in eukaryons with multiple protective properties, including anti-oxidative stress and anti-inflammatory effects. The present study aims to explore the potential therapeutic impacts of Phoenixin-14 on DCM.

METHODS

Type I diabetes was induced by treatment with a single dose of STZ (40 mg/kg body weight) intraperitoneally for 5 consecutive days. Mice were divided into four groups: the Control, Phoenixin-14, T1DM, and Phoenixin-14 +T1DM groups. The levels of myocardial injury markers were measured. Cardiac hypertrophy was assessed using wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) staining.

RESULTS

Phoenixin-14 was significantly downregulated in the cardiac tissue of diabetic mice. The myocardial injury and deteriorated cardiac function in diabetic mice induced by STZ were significantly ameliorated by Phoenixin-14, accompanied by the alleviation of cardiac hypertrophy. In addition, the severe oxidative stress and inflammation in diabetic mice were dramatically mitigated by Phoenixin-14. Lastly, the downregulated SIRT3 and upregulated p-FOXO3 in diabetic mice were pronouncedly reversed by Phoenixin-14. It is worth mentioning that compared to the Control, no significant changes to any of the investigated parameters in the present study were found in the Phoenixin-14-treated normal mice, suggesting that treatment with it has no side effects.

CONCLUSION

Our data revealed that Phoenixin-14 protected against cardiac damages in STZ-induced diabetes mice models.

Molecular mechanisms underlying sarcopenia in heart failure

The loss of skeletal muscle, also known as sarcopenia, is an aging-associated muscle disorder that is disproportionately present in heart failure (HF) patients. HF patients with sarcopenia have poor outcomes compared to the overall HF patient population. The prevalence of sarcopenia in HF is only expected to grow as the global population ages, and novel treatment strategies are needed to improve outcomes in this cohort. Multiple mechanistic pathways have emerged that may explain the increased prevalence of sarcopenia in the HF population, and a better understanding of these pathways may lead to the development of therapies to prevent muscle loss. This review article aims to explore the molecular mechanisms linking sarcopenia and HF, and to discuss treatment strategies aimed at addressing such molecular signals.

Trastuzumab-induced cardiomyopathy via ferroptosis-mediated mitochondrial dysfunction

Trastuzumab (TRZ) is a first-line chemotherapeutic agent for HER-2 (ErbB2)-positive breast cancer. Unfortunately, its clinical use is limited due to its cardiotoxicity, referred to as TRZ-induced cardiotoxicity (TIC). However, the exact molecular mechanisms underlying the development of TIC remain unclear. Iron and lipid metabolism and redox reactions participate in the development of ferroptosis. Here, we show that ferroptosis-mediated mitochondrial dysfunction is involved in TIC in vivo and in vitro. We first established TIC models with BALB/c mice or neonatal rat cardiomyocytes and confirmed cardiomyopathy with echocardiography and inhibition of cell viability with a cell counting kit-8 examination, respectively. We showed that TRZ downregulated glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPx4) and elevated lipid peroxidation by-products, 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE) and malondialdehyde (MDA), by inactivating the ErbB2/PI3K/AKT/Nrf2 signalling pathway. Additionally, upregulated mitochondrial 4-HNE binds to voltage-dependent anion channel 1 (VDAC1), increases VDAC1 oligomerization, and subsequently induces mitochondrial dysfunction, as evidenced by mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) opening and decreased mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and ATP levels. Concomitantly, TRZ affected the mitochondrial levels of GSH/GSSG and iron ions and the stability of mitoGPx4. Ferroptosis inhibitors, such as ferrostatin-1 (Fer-1) or the iron chelator deferoxamine (DFO), ameliorate TRZ-induced cardiomyopathy. Overexpression of mitoGPx4 also suppressed mitochondrial lipid peroxidation and prevented TRZ-induced ferroptosis. Our study strongly suggests that targeting ferroptosis-mediated mitochondrial dysfunction is a potential cardioprotective strategy.

A new application of nano-selenium: rescue of CK2 and mitochondria from oxidative stress to prevent cardiac hypertrophy

Background: Excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) and subsequent mitochondrial dysfunction are pivotal in initiating cardiac hypertrophy. To explore nano-selenium's (SeNP's) preventive potential against this condition, the authors evaluated chemically synthesized chitosan-SeNPs and biosynthesized Bacillus cereus YC-3-SeNPs in an angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced cardiac hypertrophy model. Methods: This investigation encompassed ROS measurement, mitochondrial membrane potential analysis, transmission electron microscopy, gene and protein expression analyses, protein carbonylation assays, serum antioxidant quantification and histological staining. Results: SeNPs effectively countered Ang II-induced cardiac hypertrophy by reducing ROS, restoring mitochondrial and protein kinase 2α (CK2-α) function, activating antioxidant pathways and enhancing serum antioxidant levels. Conclusion: This finding underscores SeNPs' role in attenuating Ang II-induced myocardial hypertrophy both in vitro and in vivo.

Cardiomyocyte electrophysiology and its modulation: current views and future prospects

Normal and abnormal cardiac rhythms are of key physiological and clinical interest. This introductory article begins from Sylvio Weidmann's key historic 1950s microelectrode measurements of cardiac electrophysiological activity and Singh & Vaughan Williams's classification of cardiotropic targets. It then proceeds to introduce the insights into cardiomyocyte function and its regulation that subsequently emerged and their therapeutic implications. We recapitulate the resulting view that surface membrane electrophysiological events underlying cardiac excitation and its initiation, conduction and recovery constitute the final common path for the cellular mechanisms that impinge upon this normal or abnormal cardiac electrophysiological activity. We then consider progress in the more recently characterized successive regulatory hierarchies involving Ca2+ homeostasis, excitation-contraction coupling and autonomic G-protein signalling and their often reciprocal interactions with the surface membrane events, and their circadian rhythms. Then follow accounts of longer-term upstream modulation processes involving altered channel expression, cardiomyocyte energetics and hypertrophic and fibrotic cardiac remodelling. Consideration of these developments introduces each of the articles in this Phil. Trans. B theme issue. The findings contained in these articles translate naturally into recent classifications of cardiac electrophysiological targets and drug actions, thereby encouraging future iterations of experimental cardiac electrophysiological discovery, and testing directed towards clinical management. This article is part of the theme issue 'The heartbeat: its molecular basis and physiological mechanisms'.

Dectin-1 Acts as a Non-Classical Receptor of Ang II to Induce Cardiac Remodeling

BACKGROUND

Cardiac remodeling in heart failure involves macrophage-mediated immune responses. Recent studies have shown that a PRR (pattern recognition receptor) called dectin-1, expressed on macrophages, mediates proinflammatory responses. Whether dectin-1 plays a role in pathological cardiac remodeling is unknown. Here, we identified a potential role of dectin-1 in this disease.

METHODS

To model aberrant cardiac remodeling, we utilized mouse models of chronic Ang II (angiotensin II) infusion. In this model, we assessed the potential role of dectin-1 through using D1KO (dectin-1 knockout) mice and bone marrow transplantation chimeric mice. We then used cellular and molecular assays to discover the underlying mechanisms of dectin-1 function.

RESULTS

We found that macrophage dectin-1 is elevated in mouse heart tissues following chronic Ang II administration. D1KO mice were significantly protected against Ang II-induced cardiac dysfunction, hypertrophy, fibrosis, inflammatory responses, and macrophage infiltration. Further bone marrow transplantation studies showed that dectin-1 deficiency in bone marrow-derived cells prevented Ang II-induced cardiac inflammation and dysfunction. Through detailed molecular studies, we show that Ang II binds directly to dectin-1, causing dectin-1 homodimerization and activating the downstream Syk (spleen tyrosine kinase)/NF-κB (nuclear factor kappa B) signaling pathway to induce expression of inflammatory and chemoattractant factors. Mutagenesis studies identified R184 in the C-type lectin domain to interact with Ang II. Blocking dectin-1 in macrophages suppresses Ang II-induced inflammatory mediators and subsequent intercellular cross talk with cardiomyocytes and fibroblasts.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study has discovered dectin-1 as a new nonclassical receptor of Ang II and a key player in cardiac remolding and dysfunction. These studies suggest that dectin-1 may be a new target for treating hypertension-related heart failure.

Exposure of the Gestating Mother to Sympathetic Stress Modifies the Cardiovascular Function of the Progeny in Male Rats

BACKGROUND

Sympathetic stress stimulates norepinephrine (NE) release from sympathetic nerves. During pregnancy, it modifies the fetal environment, increases NE to the fetus through the placental NE transporter, and affects adult physiological functions. Gestating rats were exposed to stress, and then the heart function and sensitivity to in vivo adrenergic stimulation were studied in male progeny.

METHODS

Pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to cold stress (4 °C/3 h/day); rats' male progeny were euthanized at 20 and 60 days old, and their hearts were used to determine the β-adrenergic receptor (βAR) (radioligand binding) and NE concentration. The in vivo arterial pressure response to isoproterenol (ISO, 1 mg/kg weight/day/10 days) was monitored in real time (microchip in the descending aorta).

RESULTS

Stressed male progeny presented no differences in ventricular weight, the cardiac NE was lower, and high corticosterone plasma levels were recorded at 20 and 60 days old. The relative abundance of β1 adrenergic receptors decreased by 36% and 45%, respectively (p < 0.01), determined by Western blot analysis without changes in β2 adrenergic receptors. A decrease in the ratio between β1/β2 receptors was found. Displacement of ³H-dihydroalprenolol (DHA) from a membrane fraction with propranolol (β antagonist), atenolol (β1 antagonist), or zinterol (β2 agonist) shows decreased affinity but no changes in the β-adrenergic receptor number. In vivo exposure to ISO to induce a β-adrenergic overload provoked death in 50% of stressed males by day 3 of ISO treatment.

CONCLUSION

These data suggest permanent changes to the heart's adrenergic response after rat progeny were stressed in the uterus.

Advances in Fucoxanthin Research for the Prevention and Treatment of Inflammation-Related Diseases

Owing to its unique structure and properties, fucoxanthin (FX), a carotenoid, has attracted significant attention. There have been numerous studies that demonstrate FX's anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antitumor, and anti-obesity properties against inflammation-related diseases. There is no consensus, however, regarding the molecular mechanisms underlying this phenomenon. In this review, we summarize the potential health benefits of FX in inflammatory-related diseases, from the perspective of animal and cellular experiments, to provide insights for future research on FX. Previous work in our lab has demonstrated that FX remarkably decreased LPS-induced inflammation and improved survival in septic mice. Further investigation of the activity of FX against a wide range of diseases will require new approaches to uncover its molecular mechanism. This review will provide an outline of the current state of knowledge regarding FX application in the clinical setting and suggest future directions to implement FX as a therapeutic ingredient in pharmaceutical sciences in order to develop it into a treatment strategy against inflammation-associated disorders.

Schisandrin B Attenuates Diabetic Cardiomyopathy by Targeting MyD88 and Inhibiting MyD88-Dependent Inflammation

Diabetes manifests as chronic inflammation and leads to the development diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM). Targeting key proteins in inflammatory signaling may provide new therapy for DCM. In this study, the authors explore the pharmacological effects and mechanisms of Schisandrin B (Sch B), a natural compound with anti-inflammatory activity against DCM. It is shown that Sch B prevents high-level glucose (HG)-induced hypertrophic and fibrotic responses in cultured cardiomyocytes. RNA sequencing and inflammatory qPCR microarray show that Sch B mainly affects myeloid differentiation primary response 88 (MyD88)-dependent inflammatory gene expression in HG-challenged cardiomyocytes. Further studies indicate that Sch B directly binds to and inhibits MyD88 activation, but does not alter MyD88-independent Toll-like receptor signaling in vivo and in vitro. Inhibiting or silencing MyD88 is associated with reduced levels of HG-induced inflammatory cytokines and myocardial injuries in vitro. Treatment of type 1 and type 2 diabetic mice with Sch B protects heart function, reduces myocardial injuries, and decreases secretion of inflammatory cytokines. Cardiomyocyte-specific MyD88 knockout also protects mice against cardiac inflammation and injury in type 1 diabetic mice. In conclusion, these studies show that cardiomyocyte MyD88 plays an apathogenetic role in DCM and Sch B specifically targets MyD88 to reduce inflammatory DCM.

Protective Effects of L-2-Oxothiazolidine-4-Carboxylate during Isoproterenol-Induced Myocardial Infarction in Rats: In Vivo Study

This study aimed to evaluate the cardioprotective effects of L-2-oxothiazolidine-4-carboxylate (OTC) against isoproterenol (ISO)-induced acute myocardial infarction (MI) in rats. Results demonstrated that OTC treatments inhibited ISO-induced oxidative damage, suppressed lipid peroxidation, and increased superoxide dismutase and catalase activity in the hearts of the treated rats compared to those of the untreated controls. The ISO-related NF-κB activation was reduced due to the OTC treatment, and lower degrees of inflammatory cell infiltration and necrosis in the hearts were observed. In summary, OTC treatments exerted cardioprotective effects against MI in vivo, mainly due to enhancing cardiac antioxidant activity.

Early Protective Role of Inflammation in Cardiac Remodeling and Heart Failure: Focus on TNFα and Resident Macrophages

Cardiac hypertrophy, initiated by a variety of physiological or pathological stimuli (hemodynamic or hormonal stimulation or infarction), is a critical early adaptive compensatory response of the heart. The structural basis of the progression from compensated hypertrophy to pathological hypertrophy and heart failure is still largely unknown. In most cases, early activation of an inflammatory program reflects a reparative or protective response to other primary injurious processes. Later on, regardless of the underlying etiology, heart failure is always associated with both local and systemic activation of inflammatory signaling cascades. Cardiac macrophages are nodal regulators of inflammation. Resident macrophages mostly attenuate cardiac injury by secreting cytoprotective factors (cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors), scavenging damaged cells or mitochondrial debris, and regulating cardiac conduction, angiogenesis, lymphangiogenesis, and fibrosis. In contrast, excessive recruitment of monocyte-derived inflammatory macrophages largely contributes to the transition to heart failure. The current review examines the ambivalent role of inflammation (mainly TNFα-related) and cardiac macrophages (Mφ) in pathophysiologies from non-infarction origin, focusing on the protective signaling processes. Our objective is to illustrate how harnessing this knowledge could pave the way for innovative therapeutics in patients with heart failure.

Cardiac mechanisms of the beneficial effects of SGLT2 inhibitors in heart failure: Evidence for potential off-target effects

Sodium glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) constitute a promising drug treatment for heart failure patients with either preserved or reduced ejection fraction. Whereas SGLT2i were originally developed to target SGLT2 in the kidney to facilitate glucosuria in diabetic patients, it is becoming increasingly clear that these drugs also have important effects outside of the kidney. In this review we summarize the literature on cardiac effects of SGLT2i, focussing on pro-inflammatory and oxidative stress processes, ion transport mechanisms controlling sodium and calcium homeostasis and metabolic/mitochondrial pathways. These mechanisms are particularly important as disturbances in these pathways result in endothelial dysfunction, diastolic dysfunction, cardiac stiffness, and cardiac arrhythmias that together contribute to heart failure. We review the findings that support the concept that SGLT2i directly and beneficially interfere with inflammation, oxidative stress, ionic homeostasis, and metabolism within the cardiac cell. However, given the very low levels of SGLT2 in cardiac cells, the evidence suggests that SGLT2-independent effects of this class of drugs likely occurs via off-target effects in the myocardium. Thus, while there is still much to be understood about the various factors which determine how SGLT2i affect cardiac cells, much of the research clearly demonstrates that direct cardiac effects of these SGLT2i exist, albeit mediated via SGLT2-independent pathways, and these pathways may play a role in explaining the beneficial effects of SGLT2 inhibitors in heart failure.

Reactive Oxygen Species Induced Pathways in Heart Failure Pathogenesis and Potential Therapeutic Strategies

With respect to structural and functional cardiac disorders, heart failure (HF) is divided into HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Oxidative stress contributes to the development of both HFrEF and HFpEF. Identification of a broad spectrum of reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced pathways in preclinical models has provided new insights about the importance of ROS in HFrEF and HFpEF development. While current treatment strategies mostly concern neuroendocrine inhibition, recent data on ROS-induced metabolic pathways in cardiomyocytes may offer additional treatment strategies and targets for both of the HF forms. The purpose of this article is to summarize the results achieved in the fields of: (1) ROS importance in HFrEF and HFpEF pathophysiology, and (2) treatments for inhibiting ROS-induced pathways in HFrEF and HFpEF patients. ROS-producing pathways in cardiomyocytes, ROS-activated pathways in different HF forms, and treatment options to inhibit their action are also discussed.

The influence of boundary conditions and protein availability on the remodeling of cardiomyocytes

The heart muscle is capable of growing and remodeling in response to changes in its mechanical and hormonal environment. While this capability is essential to the healthy function of the heart, under extreme conditions it may also lead to heart failure. In this work, we derive a thermodynamically based and microscopically motivated model that highlights the influence of mechanical boundary conditions and hormonal changes on the remodeling process in cardiomyocytes. We begin with a description of the kinematics associated with the remodeling process. Specifically, we derive relations between the macroscopic deformation, the number of sarcomeres, the sarcomere stretch, and the number of myofibrils in the cell. We follow with the derivation of evolution equations that describe the production and the degradation of protein in the cytosol. Next, we postulate a dissipation-based formulation that characterizes the remodeling process. We show that this process stems from a competition between the internal energy, the entropy, the energy supplied to the system by ATP and other sources, and dissipation mechanisms. To illustrate the merit of this framework, we study four initial and boundary conditions: (1) a myocyte undergoing isometric contractions in the presence of either an infinite or a limited supply of proteins and (2) a myocyte that is free to dilate along the radial direction with an infinite and a limited supply of proteins. This work underscores the importance of boundary conditions on the overall remodeling response of cardiomyocytes, suggesting a plausible mechanism that might play a role in distinguishing eccentric vs. concentric hypertrophy.

Oxidative Stress Markers in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

Background and Objectives: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) depends on the primary impairment of sarcomeres, but it can also be associated with secondary alterations in the heart related to oxidative stress. The present study aimed to examine oxidative-antioxidant disturbances in patients with HCM compared with control individuals. Materials and Methods: We enrolled 52 consecutive HCM patients and 97 controls without HCM. The groups were matched for age, body mass index, and sex. Peripheral blood was collected from all patients to determine the total antioxidant capacity (TAC), total oxidant status (TOS), lipid hydroperoxide (LPH), and malondialdehyde (MDA). The oxidative stress index (OSI) was defined as the ratio of the TOS level to the TAC level. Results: The median age was 52 years, and 58.4% were female. The area under the curve (AUC) indicated good predictive power for the TAC and TOS [AUC 0.77 (0.69–0.84) and 0.83 (0.76–0.90), respectively], as well as excellent predictive power for the OSI [AUC 0.87 (0.81–0.93)] for HCM detection. Lipid peroxidation markers also demonstrated good predictive power to detect HCM patients [AUC_LPH = 0.73, AUC_MDA = 0.79]. Conclusions: The TOS, the TAC, LPH levels, and MDA levels have good predictive power for HCM detection. The holistic assessment of oxidative stress by the OSI had excellent power and could identify patients with HCM.

Inflammation in Metabolic Cardiomyopathy

Overlapping pandemics of lifestyle-related diseases pose a substantial threat to cardiovascular health. Apart from coronary artery disease, metabolic disturbances linked to obesity, insulin resistance and diabetes directly compromise myocardial structure and function through independent and shared mechanisms heavily involving inflammatory signals. Accumulating evidence indicates that metabolic dysregulation causes systemic inflammation, which in turn aggravates cardiovascular disease. Indeed, elevated systemic levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and metabolic substrates induce an inflammatory state in different cardiac cells and lead to subcellular alterations thereby promoting maladaptive myocardial remodeling. At the cellular level, inflammation-induced oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, impaired calcium handling, and lipotoxicity contribute to cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and dysfunction, extracellular matrix accumulation and microvascular disease. In cardiometabolic patients, myocardial inflammation is maintained by innate immune cell activation mediated by pattern recognition receptors such as Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and downstream activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome and NF-κB-dependent pathways. Chronic low-grade inflammation progressively alters metabolic processes in the heart, leading to a metabolic cardiomyopathy (MC) phenotype and eventually to heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). In accordance with preclinical data, observational studies consistently showed increased inflammatory markers and cardiometabolic features in patients with HFpEF. Future treatment approaches of MC may target inflammatory mediators as they are closely intertwined with cardiac nutrient metabolism. Here, we review current evidence on inflammatory processes involved in the development of MC and provide an overview of nutrient and cytokine-driven pro-inflammatory effects stratified by cell type.

miR-145-5p targets paxillin to attenuate angiotensin II-induced pathological cardiac hypertrophy via downregulation of Rac 1, pJNK, p-c-Jun, NFATc3, ANP and by Sirt-1 upregulation

Pathological cardiac hypertrophy is associated with many diseases including hypertension. Recent studies have identified important roles for microRNAs (miRNAs) in many cardiac pathophysiological processes, including the regulation of cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. However, the role of miR-145-5p in the cardiac setting is still unclear. In this study, H9C2 cells were overexpressed with microRNA-145-5p, and then treated with Ang-II for 24 h, to study the effect of miR-145-5p on Ang-II-induced myocardial hypertrophy in vitro. Results showed that Ang-II treatment down-regulated miR-145-5p expression were revered after miR-145-5p overexpression. Based on results of bioinformatics algorithms, paxillin was predicted as a candidate target gene of miR-145-5p, luciferase activity assay revealed that the luciferase activity of cells was substantial downregulated the following co-transfection with wild paxillin 3'UTR and miR-145-5p compared to that in scramble control, while the inhibitory effect of miR-145-5p was abolished after transfection of mutant paxillin 3'UTR. Additionally, overexpression of miR-145-5p markedly inhibited activation of Rac-1/ JNK /c-jun/ NFATc3 and ANP expression and induced SIRT1 expression in Ang-II treated H9c2 cells. Jointly, our study suggested that miR-145-5p inhibited cardiac hypertrophy by targeting paxillin and through modulating Rac-1/ JNK /c-jun/ NFATc3/ ANP / Sirt1 signaling, therefore proving novel downstream molecular pathway of miR-145-5p in cardiac hypertrophy.

Glutathione Participation in the Prevention of Cardiovascular Diseases

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) (such as occlusion of the coronary arteries, hypertensive heart diseases and strokes) are diseases that generate thousands of patients with a high mortality rate worldwide. Many of these cardiovascular pathologies, during their development, generate a state of oxidative stress that leads to a deterioration in the patient's conditions associated with the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS). Within these reactive species we find superoxide anion (O2•-), hydroxyl radical (•OH), nitric oxide (NO•), as well as other species of non-free radicals such as hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), hypochlorous acid (HClO) and peroxynitrite (ONOO-). A molecule that actively participates in counteracting the oxidizing effect of reactive species is reduced glutathione (GSH), a tripeptide that is present in all tissues and that its synthesis and/or regeneration is very important to be able to respond to the increase in oxidizing agents. In this review, we will address the role of glutathione, its synthesis in both the heart and the liver, and its importance in preventing or reducing deleterious ROS effects in cardiovascular diseases.

The β2-Subunit of Voltage-Gated Calcium Channels Regulates Cardiomyocyte Hypertrophy

L-type voltage-gated calcium channels (LTCCs) regulate crucial physiological processes in the heart. They are composed of the Ca_vα₁ pore-forming subunit and the accessory subunits Ca_vβ, Ca_vα₂δ, and Ca_vγ. Ca_vβ is a cytosolic protein that regulates channel trafficking and activity, but it also exerts other LTCC-independent functions. Cardiac hypertrophy, a relevant risk factor for the development of congestive heart failure, depends on the activation of calcium-dependent pro-hypertrophic signaling cascades. Here, by using shRNA-mediated Ca_vβ silencing, we demonstrate that Ca_vβ₂ downregulation enhances α1-adrenergic receptor agonist-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. We report that a pool of Ca_vβ₂ is targeted to the nucleus in cardiomyocytes and that the expression of this nuclear fraction decreases during in vitro and in vivo induction of cardiac hypertrophy. Moreover, the overexpression of nucleus-targeted Ca_vβ₂ in cardiomyocytes inhibits in vitro-induced hypertrophy. Quantitative proteomic analyses showed that Ca_vβ₂ knockdown leads to changes in the expression of diverse myocyte proteins, including reduction of calpastatin, an endogenous inhibitor of the calcium-dependent protease calpain. Accordingly, Ca_vβ₂-downregulated cardiomyocytes had a 2-fold increase in calpain activity as compared to control cells. Furthermore, inhibition of calpain activity in Ca_vβ₂-downregulated cells abolished the enhanced α1-adrenergic receptor agonist-induced hypertrophy observed in these cells. Our findings indicate that in cardiomyocytes, a nuclear pool of Ca_vβ₂ participates in cellular functions that are independent of LTCC activity. They also indicate that a downregulation of nuclear Ca_vβ₂ during cardiomyocyte hypertrophy promotes the activation of calpain-dependent hypertrophic pathways.

Model-based meta-analysis of changes in circulatory system physiology in patients with chronic heart failure

To characterize and compare various medicines for chronic heart failure (CHF), changes in circulatory physiological parameter during pharmacotherapy were investigated by a model-based meta-analysis (MBMA) of circulatory physiology. The clinical data from 61 studies mostly in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), reporting changes in heart rate, blood pressure, or ventricular volumes after treatment with carvedilol, metoprolol, bisoprolol, bucindolol, enalapril, aliskiren, or felodipine, were analyzed. Seven cardiac and vasculature function indices were estimated without invasive measurements using models based on appropriate assumptions, and their correlations with the mortality were assessed. Estimated myocardial oxygen consumption, a cardiac load index, correlated excellently with the mortality at 3, 6, and 12 months after treatment initiation, and it explained differences in mortality across the different medications. The analysis based on the present models were reasonably consistent with the hypothesis that the treatment of HFrEF with various medications is due to effectively reducing the cardiac load. Assessment of circulatory physiological parameters by using MBMA would be insightful for quantitative understanding of CHF treatment.

Diazoxide Modulates Cardiac Hypertrophy by Targeting H2O2 Generation and Mitochondrial Superoxide Dismutase Activity

BACKGROUND

Cardiac hypertrophy involves marked wall thickening or chamber enlargement. If sustained, this condition will lead to dysfunctional mitochondria and oxidative stress. Mitochondria have ATP-sensitive K+ channels (mitoKATP) in the inner membrane that modulate the redox status of the cell.

OBJECTIVE

We investigated the in vivo effects of mitoKATP opening on oxidative stress in isoproterenol- induced cardiac hypertrophy.

METHODS

Cardiac hypertrophy was induced in Swiss mice treated intraperitoneally with isoproterenol (ISO - 30 mg/kg/day) for 8 days. From day 4, diazoxide (DZX - 5 mg/kg/day) was used in order to open mitoKATP (a clinically relevant therapy scheme) and 5-hydroxydecanoate (5HD - 5 mg/kg/day) or glibenclamide (GLI - 3 mg/kg/day) were used as mitoKATP blockers.

RESULTS

Isoproterenol-treated mice had elevated heart weight/tibia length ratios (HW/TL). Additionally, hypertrophic hearts had elevated levels of carbonylated proteins and Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances (TBARS), markers of protein and lipid oxidation. In contrast, mitoKATP opening with DZX avoided ISO effects on gross hypertrophic markers (HW/TL), carbonylated proteins and TBARS, in a manner reversed by 5HD and GLI. Moreover, DZX improved mitochondrial superoxide dismutase activity. This effect was also blocked by 5HD and GLI. Additionally, ex vivo treatment of isoproterenol- induced hypertrophic cardiac tissue with DZX decreased H2O2 production in a manner sensitive to 5HD, indicating that this drug also acutely avoids oxidative stress.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that diazoxide blocks oxidative stress and reverses cardiac hypertrophy. This pharmacological intervention could be a potential therapeutic strategy to prevent oxidative stress associated with cardiac hypertrophy.

FGF1ΔHBS prevents diabetic cardiomyopathy by maintaining mitochondrial homeostasis and reducing oxidative stress via AMPK/Nur77 suppression

As a classically known mitogen, fibroblast growth factor 1 (FGF1) has been found to exert other pleiotropic functions such as metabolic regulation and myocardial protection. Here, we show that serum levels of FGF1 were decreased and positively correlated with fraction shortening in diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) patients, indicating that FGF1 is a potential therapeutic target for DCM. We found that treatment with a FGF1 variant (FGF1^∆HBS) with reduced proliferative potency prevented diabetes-induced cardiac injury and remodeling and restored cardiac function. RNA-Seq results obtained from the cardiac tissues of db/db mice showed significant increase in the expression levels of anti-oxidative genes and decrease of Nur77 by FGF1^∆HBS treatment. Both in vivo and in vitro studies indicate that FGF1^∆HBS exerted these beneficial effects by markedly reducing mitochondrial fragmentation, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and cytochrome c leakage and enhancing mitochondrial respiration rate and β-oxidation in a 5' AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)/Nur77-dependent manner, all of which were not observed in the AMPK null mice. The favorable metabolic activity and reduced proliferative properties of FGF1^∆HBS testify to its promising potential for use in the treatment of DCM and other metabolic disorders.

Rap1a Overlaps the AGE/RAGE Signaling Cascade to Alter Expression of α-SMA, p-NF-κB, and p-PKC-ζ in Cardiac Fibroblasts Isolated from Type 2 Diabetic Mice

Cardiovascular disease, specifically heart failure, is a common complication for individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Heart failure can arise with stiffening of the left ventricle, which can be caused by “active” cardiac fibroblasts (i.e., myofibroblasts) remodeling the extracellular matrix (ECM). Differentiation of fibroblasts to myofibroblasts has been demonstrated to be an outcome of AGE/RAGE signaling. Hyperglycemia causes advanced glycated end products (AGEs) to accumulate within the body, and this process is greatly accelerated under chronic diabetic conditions. AGEs can bind and activate their receptor (RAGE) to trigger multiple downstream outcomes, such as altering ECM remodeling, inflammation, and oxidative stress. Previously, our lab has identified a small GTPase, Rap1a, that possibly overlaps the AGE/RAGE signaling cascade to affect the downstream outcomes. Rap1a acts as a molecular switch connecting extracellular signals to intracellular responses. Therefore, we hypothesized that Rap1a crosses the AGE/RAGE cascade to alter the expression of AGE/RAGE associated signaling proteins in cardiac fibroblasts in type 2 diabetic mice. To delineate this cascade, we used genetically different cardiac fibroblasts from non-diabetic, diabetic, non-diabetic RAGE knockout, diabetic RAGE knockout, and Rap1a knockout mice and treated them with pharmacological modifiers (exogenous AGEs, EPAC, Rap1a siRNA, and pseudosubstrate PKC-ζ). We examined changes in expression of proteins implicated as markers for myofibroblasts (α-SMA) and inflammation/oxidative stress (NF-κB and SOD-1). In addition, oxidative stress was also assessed by measuring hydrogen peroxide concentration. Our results indicated that Rap1a connects to the AGE/RAGE cascade to promote and maintain α-SMA expression in cardiac fibroblasts. Moreover, Rap1a, in conjunction with activation of the AGE/RAGE cascade, increased NF-κB expression as well as hydrogen peroxide concentration, indicating a possible oxidative stress response. Additionally, knocking down Rap1a expression resulted in an increase in SOD-1 expression suggesting that Rap1a can affect oxidative stress markers independently of the AGE/RAGE signaling cascade. These results demonstrated that Rap1a contributes to the myofibroblast population within the heart via AGE/RAGE signaling as well as promotes possible oxidative stress. This study offers a new potential therapeutic target that could possibly reduce the risk for developing diabetic cardiovascular complications attributed to AGE/RAGE signaling.

Preconditioning with Short-term Dietary Restriction Attenuates Cardiac Oxidative Stress and Hypertrophy Induced by Chronic Pressure Overload

Left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy and associated heart failure are becoming a more prevalent and critical public health issue with the aging of society, and are exacerbated by reactive oxygen species (ROS). Dietary restriction (DR) markedly inhibits senescent changes; however, prolonged DR is difficult. We herein investigated whether preconditioning with short-term DR attenuates chronic pressure overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy and associated oxidative stress. Male c57BL6 mice were randomly divided into an ad libitum (AL) diet or 40% restricted diet (DR preconditioning, DRPC) group for 2 weeks prior to ascending aortic constriction (AAC), and all mice were fed ad libitum after AAC surgery. Two weeks after surgery, pressure overload by AAC increased LV wall thickness in association with LV diastolic dysfunction and promoted myocyte hypertrophy and cardiac fibrosis in the AL+AAC group. Oxidative stress in cardiac tissue and mitochondria also increased in the AL+AAC group in association with increments in cardiac NADPH oxidase-derived and mitochondrial ROS production. LV hypertrophy and associated cardiac dysfunction and oxidative stress were significantly attenuated in the DRPC+AAC group. Moreover, less severe mitochondrial oxidative damage in the DRPC+AAC group was associated with the suppression of mitochondrial permeability transition and cardiac apoptosis. These results indicate that chronic pressure overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy in association with cardiac and mitochondrial oxidative damage were attenuated by preconditioning with short-term DR.

In vitro and In silico Models to Study SARS-CoV-2 Infection: Integrating Experimental and Computational Tools to Mimic "COVID-19 Cardiomyocyte"

The rapid dissemination of SARS-CoV-2 has made COVID-19 a tremendous social, economic, and health burden. Despite the efforts to understand the virus and treat the disease, many questions remain unanswered about COVID-19 mechanisms of infection and progression. Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) infection can affect several organs in the body including the heart, which can result in thromboembolism, myocardial injury, acute coronary syndromes, and arrhythmias. Numerous cardiac adverse events, from cardiomyocyte death to secondary effects caused by exaggerated immunological response against the virus, have been clinically reported. In addition to the disease itself, repurposing of treatments by using "off label" drugs can also contribute to cardiotoxicity. Over the past several decades, animal models and more recently, stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes have been proposed for studying diseases and testing treatments in vitro. In addition, mechanistic in silico models have been widely used for disease and drug studies. In these models, several characteristics such as gender, electrolyte imbalance, and comorbidities can be implemented to study pathophysiology of cardiac diseases and to predict cardiotoxicity of drug treatments. In this Mini Review, we (1) present the state of the art of in vitro and in silico cardiomyocyte modeling currently in use to study COVID-19, (2) review in vitro and in silico models that can be adopted to mimic the effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection on cardiac function, and (3) provide a perspective on how to combine some of these models to mimic "COVID-19 cardiomyocytes environment.".

Excess sarcoplasmic reticulum-mitochondria calcium transport induced by Sphingosine-1-phosphate contributes to cardiomyocyte hypertrophy

Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) has been shown to possess pro-hypertrophic properties in the heart, but the detailed molecular mechanism that underlies the pathological process is rarely explored. In the present study, we aim to explore the role of S1P-mediated intracellular Ca²⁺ signaling, with a focus on sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR)-mitochondria communication, in cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. Cultured neonatal rat ventricular myocytes (NRVMs) displayed significantly hypertrophic growth after treatment with 1 μmol/L S1P for 48 h, as indicated by the cell surface area or mRNA expressions of hypertrophic marker genes (ANP, BNP and β-MHC). Importantly, mitochondrial Ca²⁺ and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were dramatically elevated upon S1P stimulation, and pharmacological blockage of which abolished NRVM hypertrophy. 0.5 Hz electrical pacing induced similar cytosolic Ca²⁺ kinetics to S1P stimulation, but unaffected the peak of mitochondrial [Ca²⁺]. With interference of the expression of type 2 inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors (IP₃R2), which are unemployed in electrical paced Ca²⁺ activity but may be activated by S1P, alteration in mitochondrial Ca²⁺ as well as the hypertrophic effect in NRVMs under S1P stimulation were attenuated. The hypertrophic effect of S1P can also be abolished by pharmacological block of S1PR1 or Gi signaling. Collectively, our study highlights the mechanistic role of IP₃R2-mediated excess SR-mitochondria Ca²⁺ transport in S1P-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy.

Effects of REDOX in Regulating and Treatment of Metabolic and Inflammatory Cardiovascular Diseases

Reduction oxidation (REDOX) reaction is crucial in life activities, and its dynamic balance is regulated by ROS. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) is associated with a variety of metabolic diseases involving in multiple cellular signalling in pathologic and physiological signal transduction. ROS are the by-products of numerous enzymatic reactions in various cell compartments, including the cytoplasm, cell membrane, endoplasmic reticulum (ER), mitochondria, and peroxisome. ROS signalling is not only involved in normal physiological processes but also causes metabolic dysfunction and maladaptive responses to inflammatory signals, which depends on the cell type or tissue environment. Excess oxidants are able to alter the normal structure and function of DNA, lipids, and proteins, leading to mutations or oxidative damage. Therefore, excessive oxidative stress is usually regarded as the cause of various pathological conditions, such as cancer, neurodegeneration, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), diabetes, and kidney diseases. Currently, it has been possible to detect diabetes and other cardiac diseases by detecting derivatives accompanied by oxidative stress in vivo as biomarkers, but there is no effective method to treat these diseases. In consequence, it is essential for us to seek new therapy targeting these diseases through understanding the role of ROS signalling in regulating metabolic activity, inflammatory activation, and cardiac diseases related to metabolic dysfunction. In this review, we summarize the current literature on REDOX and its role in the regulation of cardiac metabolism and inflammation, focusing on ROS, local REDOX signalling pathways, and other mechanisms.

Range of adiposity and cardiorenal syndrome

Obesity and obesity-related co-morbidities, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension are among the fastest-growing risk factors of heart failure and kidney disease worldwide. Obesity, which is not a unitary concept, or a static process, ranges from alterations in distribution to the amount of adiposity. Visceral adiposity, which includes intraabdominal visceral fat mass and ectopic fat deposition such as hepatic, cardiac, or renal, was robustly associated with a greater risk for cardiorenal morbidity than subcutaneous adiposity. In addition, morbid obesity has also demonstrated a negative effect on cardiac and renal functioning. The mechanisms by which adipose tissue is linked with the cardiorenal syndrome (CRS) are hemodynamic and mechanical changes, as well neurohumoral pathways such as insulin resistance, endothelial dysfunction, nitric oxide bioavailability, renin-angiotensin-aldosterone, oxidative stress, sympathetic nervous systems, natriuretic peptides, adipokines and inflammation. Adiposity and other associated co-morbidities induce adverse cardiac remodeling and interstitial fibrosis. Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction has been associated with obesity-related functional and structural abnormalities. Obesity might also impair kidney function through hyperfiltration, increased glomerular capillary wall tension, and podocyte dysfunction, which leads to tubulointerstitial fibrosis and loss of nephrons and, finally, chronic kidney disease. The development of new treatments with renal and cardiac effects in the context of type 2 diabetes, which improves mortality outcome, has highlighted the importance of CRS and its prevalence. Increased body fat triggers cellular, neuro-humoral and metabolic pathways, which create a phenotype of the CRS with specific cellular and biochemical biomarkers. Obesity has become a single cardiorenal umbrella or type of cardiorenal metabolic syndrome. This review article provides a clinical overview of the available data on the relationship between a range of adiposity and CRS, the support for obesity as a single cardiorenal umbrella, and the most relevant studies on the recent therapeutic approaches.

The molecular mechanisms associated with the physiological responses to inflammation and oxidative stress in cardiovascular diseases

The complex physiological signal transduction networks that respond to the dual challenges of inflammatory and oxidative stress are major factors that promote the development of cardiovascular pathologies. These signaling networks contribute to the development of age-related diseases, suggesting crosstalk between the development of aging and cardiovascular disease. Inhibition and/or attenuation of these signaling networks also delays the onset of disease. Therefore, a concept of targeting the signaling networks that are involved in inflammation and oxidative stress may represent a novel treatment paradigm for many types of heart disease. In this review, we discuss the molecular mechanisms associated with the physiological responses to inflammation and oxidative stress especially in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction and emphasize the nature of the crosstalk of these signaling processes as well as possible therapeutic implications for cardiovascular medicine.

Suppression of Netrin-1 attenuates angiotension II-induced cardiac remodeling through the PKC/MAPK signaling pathway

BACKGROUND

Myocardial remodeling caused by angiotensin II (Ang II) is essential for the pathological process of heart failure. Netrin-1, which is an axonal guidance cue, has been shown to be involved in the inflammatory response, tumorigenesis, and angiogenesis in non-neuronal tissues. However, the role of Netrin-1 in cardiac remodeling has not been fully elucidated.

METHODS

The rat cardiomyocyte cell line H9c2 and primary neonatal rat cardiomyocytes were treated with Ang II. Cells were transfected with siRNA to silence Netrin-1 expression. Real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis were used to detect the markers for fibrosis, apoptosis, and hypertrophy in cardiomyocytes. An Annexin V-EGFP/PI cell apoptosis detection kit was used to measure the level of apoptosis caused by angiotensin II.

RESULTS

We found that Netrin-1 expression was upregulated in the H9c2 cells and the neonatal rat cardiomyocytes stimulated by Ang II. The increased Netrin-1 expression was decreased by valsartan to block AT1R. Importantly, the application of Netrin-1 siRNA significantly alleviated the degrees of myocardial hypertrophy, fibrosis (reflected by Myhc, collagen I, and TGF-β) and apoptosis (reflected by the level of Caspase 3, Bax, and Bcl-2) induced by Ang II. In addition, the silencing of Netrin-1 substantially decreased the phosphorylation of PKCα, JNK, and P38. We treated H9c2 cells with LY317615, SP600125, and SB203580, inhibitors of PKCα, JNK, and P38, respectively, thereby resulting in a substantial decrease in hypertrophy, fibrosis, and apoptosis.

CONCLUSIONS

Ang II produces cardiac hypertrophy, fibrosis, and apoptosis through the upregulation of Netrin-1 and the activation of the AT1R/PKCα/MAPK (JNK, P38) pathway. Suppression of Netrin-1 can relieve Ang II-induced cardiac remodeling via inhibition of the PKCα/MAPK (JNK and P38) signaling pathway. Thus, Netrin-1 may be a novel therapeutic target for Ang II-mediated cardiac remodeling.

Reactive Oxygen Species Scavenging and Biodegradable Peptide Hydrogel as 3D Culture Scaffold for Cardiomyocytes

Myocardial ischemia-reperfusion produces a large amount of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which damage the myocardial tissue. Therefore, localized scavenging of ROS from the myocardial tissue would reduce its damage and avoid metabolic abnormalities caused by systemic ROS. In this study, a free radical scavenging and biodegradable supramolecular peptide (ECAFF, named as ECF-5) hydrogel was designed as a culture scaffold for cardiomyocytes. The peptide hydrogel significantly preserved the migration and proliferation of cardiomyocytes and reduced their damage from oxidative stress. In addition, the hydrogel degraded during cell growth, which implies that it may avoid thrombosis of the capillaries in practical use and provide the opportunity for the cells to attach to each other and form a functional tissue. The hydrogel can be used as a 3D culture scaffold for cardiomyocyte culture and allow cardiomyocytes to grow into tissue-like cell spheres. The excellent nature of the ECF-5 hydrogel enables it to have broad applications in the biomedical field in the future.

The Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor-Gamma Coactivator-1α-Heme Oxygenase 1 Axis, a Powerful Antioxidative Pathway with Potential to Attenuate Diabetic Cardiomyopathy

Significance: From studies of diabetic animal models, the downregulation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator-1α (PGC-1α)-heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) axis appears to be a crucial event in the development of obesity and diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM). In this review, we discuss the role of metabolic and biochemical stressors in the rodent and human pathophysiology of DCM. A crucial contributor for many cardiac pathologies is excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) pathologies, which lead to extensive cellular damage by impairing mitochondrial function and directly oxidizing DNA, proteins, and lipid membranes. We discuss the role of ROS production and inflammatory pathways with multiple contributing and confounding factors leading to DCM. Recent Advances: The relevant biochemical pathways that are critical to a therapeutic approach to treat DCM, specifically caloric restriction and its relation to the PGC-1α-HO-1 axis in the attenuation of DCM, are elucidated. Critical Issues: The increased prevalence of diabetes mellitus type 2, a major contributor to unique cardiomyopathy characterized by cardiomyocyte hypertrophy with no effective clinical treatment. This review highlights the role of mitochondrial dysfunction in the development of DCM and potential oxidative targets to attenuate oxidative stress and attenuate DCM. Future Directions: Targeting the PGC-1α-HO-1 axis is a promising approach to ameliorate DCM through improvement in mitochondrial function and antioxidant defenses. A pharmacological inducer to activate PGC-1α and HO-1 described in this review may be a promising therapeutic approach in the clinical setting.

The Relationship between Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha and Left Ventricular Diastolic Function

Introduction:

Left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction is a common condition. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha is an inflammatory cytokine that plays a role in the development of cardiac structural changes leading to LV diastolic dysfunction. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between serum levels of TNF alpha levels and LV diastolic function.

Methods:

A case–control study that included 40 patients with echocardiographic evidence of LV diastolic dysfunction and 40 healthy controls. Standard transthoracic echocardiography was performed to assess LV and left atrial volumes, systolic and diastolic function according to the current recommendations. Serum TNF alpha levels were assessed using a specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit.

Results:

Mean serum TNF alpha level was significantly higher in the study group 3.48 ± 1.06 versus 1.22 ± 0.36 pg/ml in the control group, P < 0.001. It was also higher in patients with Grade 2 diastolic dysfunction (n = 16) 3.91 ± 1.21 versus 3.18 ± 0.86 pg/ml in those with Grade 1 diastolic dysfunction (n = 24), P = 0.03. TNF alpha showed a strong correlation with indexed left atrial volume (LAVI) in the study group but not in controls. Mean serum TNF showed a trend toward increase with worsening heart failure symptoms in the form of increased the New York Heart Association functional class.

Conclusion:

Serum TNF alpha level is elevated in patients with LV diastolic dysfunction and is correlated to LAVI in such patients. Patients with Grade 2 diastolic dysfunction have higher serum levels of TNF alpha compared to those with Grade 1 diastolic dysfunction. TNF alpha levels increase with worsening heart failure symptoms.

Exogenous H2S Promoted USP8 Sulfhydration to Regulate Mitophagy in the Hearts of db/db Mice

Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S), an important gasotransmitter, regulates cardiovascular functions. Mitochondrial damage induced by the overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) results in myocardial injury with a diabetic state. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of exogenous H₂S on mitophagy formation in diabetic cardiomyopathy. In this study, we found that exogenous H₂S could improve cardiac functions, reduce mitochondrial fragments and ROS levels, enhance mitochondrial respiration chain activities and inhibit mitochondrial apoptosis in the hearts of db/db mice. Our results showed that exogenous H₂S facilitated parkin translocation into mitochondria and promoted mitophagy formation in the hearts of db/db mice. Our studies further revealed that the ubiquitination level of cytosolic parkin was increased and the expression of USP8, a deubiquitinating enzyme, was decreased in db/db cardiac tissues. S-sulfhydration is a novel posttranslational modification of specific cysteine residues on target proteins by H₂S. Our results showed that the S-sulfhydration level of USP8 was obviously decreased in vivo and in vitro under hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia, however, exogenous H₂S could reverse this effect and promote USP8/parkin interaction. Dithiothreitol, a reducing agent that reverses sulfhydration-mediated covalent modification, increased the ubiquitylation level of parkin, abolished the effects of exogenous H₂S on USP8 deubiquitylation and suppressed the interaction of USP8 with parkin in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes treated with high glucose, oleate and palmitate. Our findings suggested that H₂S promoted mitophagy formation by increasing S-sulfhydration of USP8, which enhanced deubiquitination of parkin through the recruitment of parkin in mitochondria.

Exogenous H2S Induces Hrd1 S-sulfhydration and Prevents CD36 Translocation via VAMP3 Ubiquitylation in Diabetic Hearts

Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) plays physiological roles in vascular tone regulation, cytoprotection, and ATP synthesis. HMG-CoA reductase degradation protein (Hrd1), an E3 ubiquitin ligase, is involved in protein trafficking. H₂S may play a role in controlling fatty acid uptake in diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) in a manner correlated with modulation of Hrd1 S-sulfhydration; however, this role remains to be elucidated. The aim of the present study was to examine whether H₂S can attenuate lipid accumulation and to explain the possible mechanisms involved in the regulation of the H₂S-Hrd1/VAMP3 pathway. Db/db mice and neonatal rat cardiomyocytes treated with high glucose, palmitate and oleate were used as animal and cellular models of type 2 diabetes, respectively. The expression of cystathionine-γ-lyase (CSE), Hrd1, CD36 and VAMP3 was detected by Western blot analysis. In addition, Hrd1 was mutated at Cys115, and Hrd1 S-sulfhydration was examined using an S-sulfhydration assay. VAMP3 ubiquitylation was investigated by immunoprecipitation. Lipid droplet formation was tested by TEM, BODIPY 493/503 staining and oil red O staining. The expression of CSE and Hrd1 was decreased in db/db mice compared to control mice, whereas CD36 and VAMP3 expression was increased. NaHS administration reduced droplet formation, and exogenous H₂S restored Hrd1 expression, modified S-sulfhydration, and decreased VAMP3 expression in the plasma membrane. Using LC-MS/MS analysis, we identified 85 proteins with decreased ubiquitylation, including 3 vesicle-associated membrane proteins, in the cardiac tissues of model db/db mice compared with NaHS-treated db/db mice. Overexpression of Hrd1 mutated at Cys115 diminished VAMP3 ubiquitylation, whereas it increased CD36 and VAMP3 expression and droplet formation. siRNA-mediated Hrd1 deletion increased the expression of CD36 in the cell membrane. These findings suggested that H₂S regulates VAMP3 ubiquitylation via Hrd1 S-sulfhydration at Cys115 to prevent CD36 translocation in diabetes.

Mechanisms for the transition from physiological to pathological cardiac hypertrophy

The heart is capable of responding to stressful situations by increasing muscle mass, which is broadly defined as cardiac hypertrophy. This phenomenon minimizes ventricular wall stress for the heart undergoing a greater than normal workload. At initial stages, cardiac hypertrophy is associated with normal or enhanced cardiac function and is considered to be adaptive or physiological; however, at later stages, if the stimulus is not removed, it is associated with contractile dysfunction and is termed as pathological cardiac hypertrophy. It is during physiological cardiac hypertrophy where the function of subcellular organelles, including the sarcolemma, sarcoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria, and myofibrils, may be upregulated, while pathological cardiac hypertrophy is associated with downregulation of these subcellular activities. The transition of physiological cardiac hypertrophy to pathological cardiac hypertrophy may be due to the reduction in blood supply to hypertrophied myocardium as a consequence of reduced capillary density. Oxidative stress, inflammatory processes, Ca2+-handling abnormalities, and apoptosis in cardiomyocytes are suggested to play a critical role in the depression of contractile function during the development of pathological hypertrophy.

Wheat Yellow Mosaic Virus NIb Interacting with Host Light Induced Protein (LIP) Facilitates Its Infection through Perturbing the Abscisic Acid Pathway in Wheat

Positive-sense RNA viruses have a small genome with very limited coding capacity and are highly reliant on host factors to fulfill their infection. However, few host factors have been identified to participate in wheat yellow mosaic virus (WYMV) infection. Here, we demonstrate that wheat (Triticum aestivum) light-induced protein (TaLIP) interacts with the WYMV nuclear inclusion b protein (NIb). A bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BIFC) assay displayed that the subcellular distribution patterns of TaLIP were altered by NIb in Nicotiana benthamiana. Transcription of TaLIP was significantly decreased by WYMV infection and TaLIP-silencing wheat plants displayed more susceptibility to WYMV in comparison with the control plants, suggesting that knockdown of TaLIP impaired host resistance. Moreover, the transcription level of TaLIP was induced by exogenous abscisic acid (ABA) stimuli in wheat, while knockdown of TaLIP significantly repressed the expression of ABA-related genes such as wheat abscisic acid insensitive 5 (TaABI5), abscisic acid insensitive 8 (TaABI8), pyrabatin resistance 1-Llike (TaPYL1), and pyrabatin resistance 3-Llike (TaPYL3). Collectively, our results suggest that the interaction of NIb with TaLIP facilitated the virus infection possibly by disturbing the ABA signaling pathway in wheat.