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Fatehi Hassanabad A, Zarzycki AN, Fedak PWM. Cellular and molecular mechanisms driving cardiac tissue fibrosis: On the precipice of personalized and precision medicine. Cardiovasc Pathol 2024; 71:107635. [PMID: 38508436 DOI: 10.1016/j.carpath.2024.107635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2024] [Revised: 03/13/2024] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Cardiac fibrosis is a significant contributor to heart failure, a condition that continues to affect a growing number of patients worldwide. Various cardiovascular comorbidities can exacerbate cardiac fibrosis. While fibroblasts are believed to be the primary cell type underlying fibrosis, recent and emerging data suggest that other cell types can also potentiate or expedite fibrotic processes. Over the past few decades, clinicians have developed therapeutics that can blunt the development and progression of cardiac fibrosis. While these strategies have yielded positive results, overall clinical outcomes for patients suffering from heart failure continue to be dire. Herein, we overview the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying cardiac tissue fibrosis. To do so, we establish the known mechanisms that drive fibrosis in the heart, outline the diagnostic tools available, and summarize the treatment options used in contemporary clinical practice. Finally, we underscore the critical role the immune microenvironment plays in the pathogenesis of cardiac fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Fatehi Hassanabad
- Section of Cardiac Surgery, Department of Cardiac Science, Libin Cardiovascular Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Anna N Zarzycki
- Section of Cardiac Surgery, Department of Cardiac Science, Libin Cardiovascular Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Paul W M Fedak
- Section of Cardiac Surgery, Department of Cardiac Science, Libin Cardiovascular Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
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2
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Chirikian O, Faynus MA, Merk M, Singh Z, Muray C, Pham J, Chialastri A, Vander Roest A, Goldstein A, Pyle T, Lane KV, Roberts B, Smith JE, Gunawardane RN, Sniadecki NJ, Mack DL, Davis J, Bernstein D, Streichan SJ, Clegg DO, Dey SS, Wilson MZ, Pruitt BL. YAP dysregulation triggers hypertrophy by CCN2 secretion and TGFβ uptake in human pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.06.03.597045. [PMID: 38895282 PMCID: PMC11185505 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.03.597045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
Hypertrophy Cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most prevalent hereditary cardiovascular disease - affecting >1:500 individuals. Advanced forms of HCM clinically present with hypercontractility, hypertrophy and fibrosis. Several single-point mutations in b-myosin heavy chain (MYH7) have been associated with HCM and increased contractility at the organ level. Different MYH7 mutations have resulted in increased, decreased, or unchanged force production at the molecular level. Yet, how these molecular kinetics link to cell and tissue pathogenesis remains unclear. The Hippo Pathway, specifically its effector molecule YAP, has been demonstrated to be reactivated in pathological hypertrophic growth. We hypothesized that changes in force production (intrinsically or extrinsically) directly alter the homeostatic mechano-signaling of the Hippo pathway through changes in stresses on the nucleus. Using human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs), we asked whether homeostatic mechanical signaling through the canonical growth regulator, YAP, is altered 1) by changes in the biomechanics of HCM mutant cardiomyocytes and 2) by alterations in the mechanical environment. We use genetically edited hiPSC-CM with point mutations in MYH7 associated with HCM, and their matched controls, combined with micropatterned traction force microscopy substrates to confirm the hypercontractile phenotype in MYH7 mutants. We next modulate contractility in healthy and disease hiPSC-CMs by treatment with positive and negative inotropic drugs and demonstrate a correlative relationship between contractility and YAP activity. We further demonstrate the activation of YAP in both HCM mutants and healthy hiPSC-CMs treated with contractility modulators is through enhanced nuclear deformation. We conclude that the overactivation of YAP, possibly initiated and driven by hypercontractility, correlates with excessive CCN2 secretion (connective tissue growth factor), enhancing cardiac fibroblast/myofibroblast transition and production of known hypertrophic signaling molecule TGFβ. Our study suggests YAP being an indirect player in the initiation of hypertrophic growth and fibrosis in HCM. Our results provide new insights into HCM progression and bring forth a testbed for therapeutic options in treating HCM.
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3
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Yao J, Chen Y, Huang Y, Sun X, Shi X. The role of cardiac microenvironment in cardiovascular diseases: implications for therapy. Hum Cell 2024; 37:607-624. [PMID: 38498133 DOI: 10.1007/s13577-024-01052-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 02/25/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024]
Abstract
Due to aging populations and changes in lifestyle, cardiovascular diseases including cardiomyopathy, hypertension, and atherosclerosis, are the leading causes of death worldwide. The heart is a complicated organ composed of multicellular types, including cardiomyocytes, fibroblasts, endothelial cells, vascular smooth muscle cells, and immune cells. Cellular specialization and complex interplay between different cell types are crucial for the cardiac tissue homeostasis and coordinated function of the heart. Mounting studies have demonstrated that dysfunctional cells and disordered cardiac microenvironment are closely associated with the pathogenesis of various cardiovascular diseases. In this paper, we discuss the composition and the homeostasis of cardiac tissues, and focus on the role of cardiac environment and underlying molecular mechanisms in various cardiovascular diseases. Besides, we elucidate the novel treatment for cardiovascular diseases, including stem cell therapy and targeted therapy. Clarification of these issues may provide novel insights into the prevention and potential targets for cardiovascular diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiayu Yao
- School of Life Science and Technology, Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Disease, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yuejun Chen
- School of Life Science and Technology, Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Disease, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yuqing Huang
- School of Life Science and Technology, Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Disease, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiaoou Sun
- Institute of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Xingjuan Shi
- School of Life Science and Technology, Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Disease, Southeast University, Nanjing, China.
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4
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Yang B, Qiao Y, Yan D, Meng Q. Targeting Interactions between Fibroblasts and Macrophages to Treat Cardiac Fibrosis. Cells 2024; 13:764. [PMID: 38727300 PMCID: PMC11082988 DOI: 10.3390/cells13090764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Revised: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Excessive extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition is a defining feature of cardiac fibrosis. Most notably, it is characterized by a significant change in the concentration and volume fraction of collagen I, a disproportionate deposition of collagen subtypes, and a disturbed ECM network arrangement, which directly affect the systolic and diastolic functions of the heart. Immune cells that reside within or infiltrate the myocardium, including macrophages, play important roles in fibroblast activation and consequent ECM remodeling. Through both direct and indirect connections to fibroblasts, monocyte-derived macrophages and resident cardiac macrophages play complex, bidirectional, regulatory roles in cardiac fibrosis. In this review, we discuss emerging interactions between fibroblasts and macrophages in physiology and pathologic conditions, providing insights for future research aimed at targeting macrophages to combat cardiac fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Yang
- Center for Organoid and Regeneration Medicine, Greater Bay Area Institute of Precision Medicine (Guangzhou), School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Guangzhou 511466, China;
| | - Yan Qiao
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland Livestock, School of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot 010021, China;
| | - Dong Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China;
| | - Qinghang Meng
- Center for Organoid and Regeneration Medicine, Greater Bay Area Institute of Precision Medicine (Guangzhou), School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Guangzhou 511466, China;
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5
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Katanasaka Y, Yabe H, Murata N, Sobukawa M, Sugiyama Y, Sato H, Honda H, Sunagawa Y, Funamoto M, Shimizu S, Shimizu K, Hamabe-Horiike T, Hawke P, Komiyama M, Mori K, Hasegawa K, Morimoto T. Fibroblast-specific PRMT5 deficiency suppresses cardiac fibrosis and left ventricular dysfunction in male mice. Nat Commun 2024; 15:2472. [PMID: 38503742 PMCID: PMC10951424 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46711-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Protein arginine methyltransferase 5 (PRMT5) is a well-known epigenetic regulatory enzyme. However, the role of PRMT5-mediated arginine methylation in gene transcription related to cardiac fibrosis is unknown. Here we show that fibroblast-specific deletion of PRMT5 significantly reduces pressure overload-induced cardiac fibrosis and improves cardiac dysfunction in male mice. Both the PRMT5-selective inhibitor EPZ015666 and knockdown of PRMT5 suppress α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) expression induced by transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) in cultured cardiac fibroblasts. TGF-β stimulation promotes the recruitment of the PRMT5/Smad3 complex to the promoter site of α-SMA. It also increases PRMT5-mediated H3R2 symmetric dimethylation, and this increase is inhibited by Smad3 knockdown. TGF-β stimulation increases H3K4 tri-methylation mediated by the WDR5/MLL1 methyltransferase complex, which recognizes H3R2 dimethylation. Finally, treatment with EPZ015666 significantly improves pressure overload-induced cardiac fibrosis and dysfunction. These findings suggest that PRMT5 regulates TGF-β/Smad3-dependent fibrotic gene transcription, possibly through histone methylation crosstalk, and plays a critical role in cardiac fibrosis and dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasufumi Katanasaka
- Division of Molecular Medicine, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Shizuoka, Shizuoka, Japan.
- Division of Translational Research, National Hospital Organization Kyoto Medical Center, Kyoto, Japan.
- Shizuoka General Hospital, Shizuoka, Japan.
| | - Harumi Yabe
- Division of Molecular Medicine, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Shizuoka, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Noriyuki Murata
- Division of Molecular Medicine, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Shizuoka, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Minori Sobukawa
- Division of Molecular Medicine, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Shizuoka, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Yuga Sugiyama
- Division of Molecular Medicine, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Shizuoka, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Hikaru Sato
- Division of Molecular Medicine, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Shizuoka, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Hiroki Honda
- Division of Molecular Medicine, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Shizuoka, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Yoichi Sunagawa
- Division of Molecular Medicine, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Shizuoka, Shizuoka, Japan
- Division of Translational Research, National Hospital Organization Kyoto Medical Center, Kyoto, Japan
- Shizuoka General Hospital, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Masafumi Funamoto
- Division of Molecular Medicine, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Shizuoka, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Satoshi Shimizu
- Division of Molecular Medicine, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Shizuoka, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Kana Shimizu
- Division of Molecular Medicine, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Shizuoka, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Toshihide Hamabe-Horiike
- Division of Molecular Medicine, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Shizuoka, Shizuoka, Japan
- Division of Translational Research, National Hospital Organization Kyoto Medical Center, Kyoto, Japan
- Shizuoka General Hospital, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Philip Hawke
- Laboratory of Scientific English, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Shizuoka, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Maki Komiyama
- Division of Translational Research, National Hospital Organization Kyoto Medical Center, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Kiyoshi Mori
- Shizuoka General Hospital, Shizuoka, Japan
- Graduate School of Public Health, Shizuoka Graduate University of Public Health, Shizuoka, Japan
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Shizuoka, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Koji Hasegawa
- Division of Molecular Medicine, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Shizuoka, Shizuoka, Japan
- Division of Translational Research, National Hospital Organization Kyoto Medical Center, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Tatsuya Morimoto
- Division of Molecular Medicine, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Shizuoka, Shizuoka, Japan.
- Division of Translational Research, National Hospital Organization Kyoto Medical Center, Kyoto, Japan.
- Shizuoka General Hospital, Shizuoka, Japan.
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Kaplan JL, Rivas VN, Connolly DJ. Advancing Treatments for Feline Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: The Role of Animal Models and Targeted Therapeutics. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract 2023; 53:1293-1308. [PMID: 37414693 DOI: 10.1016/j.cvsm.2023.05.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/08/2023]
Abstract
Feline HCM is the most common cardiovascular disease in cats, leading to devastating outcomes, including congestive heart failure (CHF), arterial thromboembolism (ATE), and sudden death. Evidence demonstrating long-term survival benefit with currently available therapies is lacking. Therefore, it is imperative to explore intricate genetic and molecular pathways that drive HCM pathophysiology to inspire the development of novel therapeutics. Several clinical trials exploring new drug therapies are currently underway, including those investigating small molecule inhibitors and rapamycin. This article outlines the key work performed using cellular and animal models that has led to and continues to guide the development of new innovative therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna L Kaplan
- Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, USA.
| | - Victor N Rivas
- Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - David J Connolly
- Department of Clinical Science and Services, Royal Veterinary College, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, UK
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Schlittler M, Pramstaller PP, Rossini A, De Bortoli M. Myocardial Fibrosis in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: A Perspective from Fibroblasts. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:14845. [PMID: 37834293 PMCID: PMC10573356 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241914845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most common inherited heart disease and the leading cause of sudden cardiac death in young people. Mutations in genes that encode structural proteins of the cardiac sarcomere are the more frequent genetic cause of HCM. The disease is characterized by cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and myocardial fibrosis, which is defined as the excessive deposition of extracellular matrix proteins, mainly collagen I and III, in the myocardium. The development of fibrotic tissue in the heart adversely affects cardiac function. In this review, we discuss the latest evidence on how cardiac fibrosis is promoted, the role of cardiac fibroblasts, their interaction with cardiomyocytes, and their activation via the TGF-β pathway, the primary intracellular signalling pathway regulating extracellular matrix turnover. Finally, we summarize new findings on profibrotic genes as well as genetic and non-genetic factors involved in the pathophysiology of HCM.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Marzia De Bortoli
- Eurac Research, Institute for Biomedicine (Affiliated to the University of Lübeck), 39100 Bolzano, Italy
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Bowers SLK, Meng Q, Kuwabara Y, Huo J, Minerath R, York AJ, Sargent MA, Prasad V, Saviola AJ, Galindo DC, Hansen KC, Vagnozzi RJ, Yutzey KE, Molkentin JD. Col1a2-Deleted Mice Have Defective Type I Collagen and Secondary Reactive Cardiac Fibrosis with Altered Hypertrophic Dynamics. Cells 2023; 12:2174. [PMID: 37681905 PMCID: PMC10486458 DOI: 10.3390/cells12172174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Revised: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023] Open
Abstract
RATIONALE The adult cardiac extracellular matrix (ECM) is largely comprised of type I collagen. In addition to serving as the primary structural support component of the cardiac ECM, type I collagen also provides an organizational platform for other ECM proteins, matricellular proteins, and signaling components that impact cellular stress sensing in vivo. OBJECTIVE Here we investigated how the content and integrity of type I collagen affect cardiac structure function and response to injury. METHODS AND RESULTS We generated and characterized Col1a2-/- mice using standard gene targeting. Col1a2-/- mice were viable, although by young adulthood their hearts showed alterations in ECM mechanical properties, as well as an unanticipated activation of cardiac fibroblasts and induction of a progressive fibrotic response. This included augmented TGFβ activity, increases in fibroblast number, and progressive cardiac hypertrophy, with reduced functional performance by 9 months of age. Col1a2-loxP-targeted mice were also generated and crossed with the tamoxifen-inducible Postn-MerCreMer mice to delete the Col1a2 gene in myofibroblasts with pressure overload injury. Interestingly, while germline Col1a2-/- mice showed gradual pathologic hypertrophy and fibrosis with aging, the acute deletion of Col1a2 from activated adult myofibroblasts showed a loss of total collagen deposition with acute cardiac injury and an acute reduction in pressure overload-induce cardiac hypertrophy. However, this reduction in hypertrophy due to myofibroblast-specific Col1a2 deletion was lost after 2 and 6 weeks of pressure overload, as fibrotic deposition accumulated. CONCLUSIONS Defective type I collagen in the heart alters the structural integrity of the ECM and leads to cardiomyopathy in adulthood, with fibroblast expansion, activation, and alternate fibrotic ECM deposition. However, acute inhibition of type I collagen production can have an anti-fibrotic and anti-hypertrophic effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie L. K. Bowers
- Division of Molecular Cardiovascular Biology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Qinghang Meng
- Division of Molecular Cardiovascular Biology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
- Center for Organoid and Regeneration Medicine, Greater Bay Area Institute of Precision Medicine (Guangzhou), School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Guangzhou 511466, China
| | - Yasuhide Kuwabara
- Division of Molecular Cardiovascular Biology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Jiuzhou Huo
- Division of Molecular Cardiovascular Biology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Rachel Minerath
- Division of Molecular Cardiovascular Biology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Allen J. York
- Division of Molecular Cardiovascular Biology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Michelle A. Sargent
- Division of Molecular Cardiovascular Biology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Vikram Prasad
- Division of Molecular Cardiovascular Biology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Anthony J. Saviola
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - David Ceja Galindo
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Kirk C. Hansen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Ronald J. Vagnozzi
- Division of Molecular Cardiovascular Biology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
- Division of Cardiology, Consortium for Fibrosis Research and Translation, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Katherine E. Yutzey
- Division of Molecular Cardiovascular Biology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Jeffery D. Molkentin
- Division of Molecular Cardiovascular Biology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
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Buras ED, Woo MS, Verma RK, Kondisetti SH, Davis CS, Claflin DR, Baran KC, Michele DE, Brooks SV, Chun TH. Thrombospondin-1 promotes fibro-adipogenic stromal expansion and contractile dysfunction of the diaphragm in obesity. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.08.17.553733. [PMID: 37645822 PMCID: PMC10462153 DOI: 10.1101/2023.08.17.553733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
Pulmonary disorders impact 40-80% of individuals with obesity. Respiratory muscle dysfunction is linked to these conditions; however, its pathophysiology remains largely undefined. Mice subjected to diet-induced obesity (DIO) develop diaphragmatic weakness. Increased intra-diaphragmatic adiposity and extracellular matrix (ECM) content correlate with reductions in contractile force. Thrombospondin-1 (THBS1) is an obesity-associated matricellular protein linked with muscular damage in genetic myopathies. THBS1 induces proliferation of fibro-adipogenic progenitors (FAPs)-mesenchymal cells that differentiate into adipocytes and fibroblasts. We hypothesized that THBS1 drives FAP-mediated diaphragm remodeling and contractile dysfunction in DIO. We tested this by comparing effects of dietary challenge on diaphragms of wild-type (WT) and Thbs1 knockout ( Thbs1 -/- ) mice. Bulk and single-cell transcriptomics demonstrated DIO-induced stromal expansion in WT diaphragms. Diaphragm FAPs displayed upregulation of ECM and TGFβ-related expression signatures, and augmentation of a Thy1 -expressing sub-population previously linked to type 2 diabetes. Despite similar weight gain, Thbs1 -/- mice were protected from these transcriptomic changes, and from obesity-induced increases in diaphragm adiposity and ECM deposition. Unlike WT controls, Thbs1 -/- diaphragms maintained normal contractile force and motion after DIO challenge. These findings establish THBS1 as a necessary mediator of diaphragm stromal remodeling and contractile dysfunction in overnutrition, and potential therapeutic target in obesity-associated respiratory dysfunction.
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10
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Cheng WC, Lawson C, Liu HH, Wilkie L, Dobromylskyj M, Luis Fuentes V, Dudhia J, Connolly DJ. Exploration of Mediators Associated with Myocardial Remodelling in Feline Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:2112. [PMID: 37443910 DOI: 10.3390/ani13132112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Revised: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) affects both humans and cats and exhibits considerable interspecies similarities that are exemplified by underlying pathological processes and clinical presentation to the extent that developments in the human field may have direct relevance to the feline disease. Characteristic changes on histological examination include cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and interstitial and replacement fibrosis. Clinically, HCM is characterised by significant diastolic dysfunction due to a reduction in ventricular compliance and relaxation associated with extracellular matrix (ECM) remodelling and the development of ventricular hypertrophy. Studies in rodent models and human HCM patients have identified key protein mediators implicated in these pathological changes, including lumican, lysyl oxidase and TGF-β isoforms. We therefore sought to quantify and describe the cellular location of these mediators in the left ventricular myocardium of cats with HCM and investigate their relationship with the quantity and structural composition of the ECM. We identified increased myocardial content of lumican, LOX and TGF-β2 mainly attributed to their increased expression within cardiomyocytes in HCM cats compared to control cats. Furthermore, we found strong correlations between the expressions of these mediators that is compatible with their role as important components of cellular pathways promoting remodelling of the left ventricular myocardium. Fibrosis and hypertrophy are important pathological changes in feline HCM, and a greater understanding of the mechanisms driving this pathology may facilitate the identification of potential therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wan-Ching Cheng
- Department of Clinical Science and Services, Royal Veterinary College, Hatfield AL9 7TA, UK
| | - Charlotte Lawson
- Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, London NW1 0TU, UK
| | - Hui-Hsuan Liu
- Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, London NW1 0TU, UK
| | - Lois Wilkie
- Department of Clinical Science and Services, Royal Veterinary College, Hatfield AL9 7TA, UK
| | | | - Virginia Luis Fuentes
- Department of Clinical Science and Services, Royal Veterinary College, Hatfield AL9 7TA, UK
| | - Jayesh Dudhia
- Department of Clinical Science and Services, Royal Veterinary College, Hatfield AL9 7TA, UK
| | - David J Connolly
- Department of Clinical Science and Services, Royal Veterinary College, Hatfield AL9 7TA, UK
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11
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Quijada P, Park S, Zhao P, Kolluri KS, Wong D, Shih KD, Fang K, Pezhouman A, Wang L, Daraei A, Tran MD, Rathbun EM, Burgos Villar KN, Garcia-Hernandez ML, Pham TT, Lowenstein CJ, Iruela-Arispe ML, Carmichael ST, Small EM, Ardehali R. Cardiac pericytes mediate the remodeling response to myocardial infarction. J Clin Invest 2023; 133:e162188. [PMID: 37183820 PMCID: PMC10178847 DOI: 10.1172/jci162188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite the prevalence of pericytes in the microvasculature of the heart, their role during ischemia-induced remodeling remains unclear. We used multiple lineage-tracing mouse models and found that pericytes migrated to the injury site and expressed profibrotic genes, coinciding with increased vessel leakage after myocardial infarction (MI). Single-cell RNA-Seq of cardiac pericytes at various time points after MI revealed the temporally regulated induction of genes related to vascular permeability, extracellular matrix production, basement membrane degradation, and TGF-β signaling. Deleting TGF-β receptor 1 in chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan 4-expressing (Cspg4-expressing) cells reduced fibrosis following MI, leading to a transient improvement in the cardiac ejection fraction. Furthermore, genetic ablation of Cspg4-expressing cells resulted in excessive vascular permeability, a decline in cardiac function, and increased mortality in the second week after MI. These data reveal an essential role for cardiac pericytes in the control of vascular homeostasis and the fibrotic response after acute ischemic injury, information that will help guide the development of novel strategies to preserve vascular integrity and attenuate pathological cardiac remodeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pearl Quijada
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology
- Eli and Edythe Broad Stem Research Center
- Molecular Biology Institute
- Molecular, Cellular, and Integrative Physiology Graduate Program, and
| | - Shuin Park
- Molecular, Cellular, and Integrative Physiology Graduate Program, and
- Cardiology, Internal Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Peng Zhao
- Eli and Edythe Broad Stem Research Center
- Cardiology, Internal Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Kamal S.S. Kolluri
- Cardiology, Internal Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - David Wong
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology
- Molecular, Cellular, and Integrative Physiology Graduate Program, and
| | | | - Kai Fang
- Cardiology, Internal Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Arash Pezhouman
- Section of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- The Texas Heart Institute, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Lingjun Wang
- Cardiology, Internal Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Cardiology, Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Ali Daraei
- Cardiology, Internal Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | | | - Elle M. Rathbun
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Kimberly N. Burgos Villar
- Department of Pathology
- Department of Medicine, Aab Cardiovascular Research Institute, School of Medicine and Dentistry, and
| | | | - Thanh T.D. Pham
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Charles J. Lowenstein
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Maryland, USA
| | - M. Luisa Iruela-Arispe
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - S. Thomas Carmichael
- Eli and Edythe Broad Stem Research Center
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Eric M. Small
- Department of Medicine, Aab Cardiovascular Research Institute, School of Medicine and Dentistry, and
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology and
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York, USA
| | - Reza Ardehali
- Section of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- The Texas Heart Institute, Houston, Texas, USA
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12
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Fibrosis: Types, Effects, Markers, Mechanisms for Disease Progression, and Its Relation with Oxidative Stress, Immunity, and Inflammation. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24044004. [PMID: 36835428 PMCID: PMC9963026 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24044004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 35.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Revised: 01/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 02/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Most chronic inflammatory illnesses include fibrosis as a pathogenic characteristic. Extracellular matrix (ECM) components build up in excess to cause fibrosis or scarring. The fibrotic process finally results in organ malfunction and death if it is severely progressive. Fibrosis affects nearly all tissues of the body. The fibrosis process is associated with chronic inflammation, metabolic homeostasis, and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) signaling, where the balance between the oxidant and antioxidant systems appears to be a key modulator in managing these processes. Virtually every organ system, including the lungs, heart, kidney, and liver, can be affected by fibrosis, which is characterized as an excessive accumulation of connective tissue components. Organ malfunction is frequently caused by fibrotic tissue remodeling, which is also frequently linked to high morbidity and mortality. Up to 45% of all fatalities in the industrialized world are caused by fibrosis, which can damage any organ. Long believed to be persistently progressing and irreversible, fibrosis has now been revealed to be a very dynamic process by preclinical models and clinical studies in a variety of organ systems. The pathways from tissue damage to inflammation, fibrosis, and/or malfunction are the main topics of this review. Furthermore, the fibrosis of different organs with their effects was discussed. Finally, we highlight many of the principal mechanisms of fibrosis. These pathways could be considered as promising targets for the development of potential therapies for a variety of important human diseases.
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13
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Li C, Meng X, Wang L, Dai X. Mechanism of action of non-coding RNAs and traditional Chinese medicine in myocardial fibrosis: Focus on the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1092148. [PMID: 36843918 PMCID: PMC9947662 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1092148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Cardiac fibrosis is a serious public health problem worldwide that is closely linked to progression of many cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and adversely affects both the disease process and clinical prognosis. Numerous studies have shown that the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway plays a key role in the progression of cardiac fibrosis. Therefore, targeted inhibition of the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway may be a therapeutic measure for cardiac fibrosis. Currently, as the investigation on non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) move forward, a variety of ncRNAs targeting TGF-β and its downstream Smad proteins have attracted high attention. Besides, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has been widely used in treating the cardiac fibrosis. As more and more molecular mechanisms of natural products, herbal formulas, and proprietary Chinese medicines are revealed, TCM has been proven to act on cardiac fibrosis by modulating multiple targets and signaling pathways, especially the TGF-β/Smad. Therefore, this work summarizes the roles of TGF-β/Smad classical and non-classical signaling pathways in the cardiac fibrosis, and discusses the recent research advances in ncRNAs targeting the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway and TCM against cardiac fibrosis. It is hoped, in this way, to give new insights into the prevention and treatment of cardiac fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunjun Li
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Xiangxiang Meng
- College of Marxism, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Lina Wang
- First College of Clinical Medical, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Xia Dai
- College of Health, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China,*Correspondence: Xia Dai,
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14
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Trager LE, Lyons M, Kuznetsov A, Sheffield C, Roh K, Freeman R, Rhee J, Guseh JS, Li H, Rosenzweig A. Beyond cardiomyocytes: Cellular diversity in the heart's response to exercise. JOURNAL OF SPORT AND HEALTH SCIENCE 2022:S2095-2546(22)00125-9. [PMID: 36549585 PMCID: PMC10362490 DOI: 10.1016/j.jshs.2022.12.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2022] [Revised: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Cardiomyocytes comprise ∼70% to 85% of the total volume of the adult mammalian heart but only about 25% to 35% of its total number of cells. Advances in single cell and single nuclei RNA sequencing have greatly facilitated investigation into and increased appreciation of the potential functions of non-cardiomyocytes in the heart. While much of this work has focused on the relationship between non-cardiomyocytes, disease, and the heart's response to pathological stress, it will also be important to understand the roles that these cells play in the healthy heart, cardiac homeostasis, and the response to physiological stress such as exercise. The present review summarizes recent research highlighting dynamic changes in non-cardiomyocytes in response to the physiological stress of exercise. Of particular interest are changes in fibrotic pathways, the cardiac vasculature, and immune or inflammatory cells. In many instances, limited data are available about how specific lineages change in response to exercise or whether the changes observed are functionally important, underscoring the need for further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lena E Trager
- Corrigan Minehan Heart Center, Division of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Research Center, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA; University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MI 55455, USA
| | - Margaret Lyons
- Corrigan Minehan Heart Center, Division of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Research Center, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Alexandra Kuznetsov
- Corrigan Minehan Heart Center, Division of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Research Center, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Cedric Sheffield
- Corrigan Minehan Heart Center, Division of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Research Center, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Kangsan Roh
- Corrigan Minehan Heart Center, Division of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Research Center, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Rebecca Freeman
- Corrigan Minehan Heart Center, Division of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Research Center, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - James Rhee
- Corrigan Minehan Heart Center, Division of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Research Center, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - J Sawalla Guseh
- Corrigan Minehan Heart Center, Division of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Research Center, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Haobo Li
- Corrigan Minehan Heart Center, Division of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Research Center, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Anthony Rosenzweig
- Corrigan Minehan Heart Center, Division of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Research Center, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Institute for Heart and Brain Health, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
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15
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Bowers SL, Meng Q, Molkentin JD. Fibroblasts orchestrate cellular crosstalk in the heart through the ECM. NATURE CARDIOVASCULAR RESEARCH 2022; 1:312-321. [PMID: 38765890 PMCID: PMC11101212 DOI: 10.1038/s44161-022-00043-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
Cell communication is needed for organ function and stress responses, especially in the heart. Cardiac fibroblasts, cardiomyocytes, immune cells, and endothelial cells comprise the major cell types in ventricular myocardium that together coordinate all functional processes. Critical to this cellular network is the non-cellular extracellular matrix (ECM) that provides structure and harbors growth factors and other signaling proteins that affect cell behavior. The ECM is not only produced and modified by cells within the myocardium, largely cardiac fibroblasts, it also acts as an avenue for communication among all myocardial cells. In this Review, we discuss how the development of therapeutics to combat cardiac diseases, specifically fibrosis, relies on a deeper understanding of how the cardiac ECM is intertwined with signaling processes that underlie cellular activation and behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jeffery D. Molkentin
- Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, Division of Molecular Cardiovascular Biology; University of Cincinnati, Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati, OH
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16
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Tsai CR, Martin JF. Hippo signaling in cardiac fibroblasts during development, tissue repair, and fibrosis. Curr Top Dev Biol 2022; 149:91-121. [PMID: 35606063 PMCID: PMC10898347 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ctdb.2022.02.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The evolutionarily conserved Hippo signaling pathway plays key roles in regulating the balance between cell proliferation and apoptosis, cell differentiation, organ size control, tissue repair, and regeneration. Recently, the Hippo pathway has been shown to regulate heart fibrosis, defined as excess extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition and increased tissue stiffness. Cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) are the primary cell type that produces, degrades, and remodels the ECM during homeostasis, aging, inflammation, and tissue repair and regeneration. Here, we review the available evidence from the current literature regarding how the Hippo pathway regulates the formation and function of CFs during heart development and tissue repair.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chang-Ru Tsai
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - James F Martin
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States; Cardiomyocyte Renewal Laboratory, Texas Heart Institute, Houston, TX, United States.
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17
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Travers JG, Tharp CA, Rubino M, McKinsey TA. Therapeutic targets for cardiac fibrosis: from old school to next-gen. J Clin Invest 2022; 132:148554. [PMID: 35229727 PMCID: PMC8884906 DOI: 10.1172/jci148554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Cardiovascular diseases remain the leading cause of death worldwide, with pathological fibrotic remodeling mediated by activated cardiac myofibroblasts representing a unifying theme across etiologies. Despite the profound contributions of myocardial fibrosis to cardiac dysfunction and heart failure, there currently exist limited clinical interventions that effectively target the cardiac fibroblast and its role in fibrotic tissue deposition. Exploration of novel strategies designed to mitigate or reverse myofibroblast activation and cardiac fibrosis will likely yield powerful therapeutic approaches for the treatment of multiple diseases of the heart, including heart failure with preserved or reduced ejection fraction, acute coronary syndrome, and cardiovascular disease linked to type 2 diabetes. In this Review, we provide an overview of classical regulators of cardiac fibrosis and highlight emerging, next-generation epigenetic regulatory targets that have the potential to revolutionize treatment of the expanding cardiovascular disease patient population.
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18
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Spatiotemporal control of myofibroblast activation in acoustically-responsive scaffolds via ultrasound-induced matrix stiffening. Acta Biomater 2022; 138:133-143. [PMID: 34808418 PMCID: PMC8738148 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2021.11.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2021] [Revised: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Hydrogels are often used to study the impact of biomechanical and topographical cues on cell behavior. Conventional hydrogels are designed a priori, with characteristics that cannot be dynamically changed in an externally controlled, user-defined manner. We developed a composite hydrogel, termed an acoustically-responsive scaffold (ARS), that enables non-invasive, spatiotemporally controlled modulation of mechanical and morphological properties using focused ultrasound. An ARS consists of a phase-shift emulsion distributed in a fibrin matrix. Ultrasound non-thermally vaporizes the emulsion into bubbles, which induces localized, radial compaction and stiffening of the fibrin matrix. In this in vitro study, we investigate how this mechanism can control the differentiation of fibroblasts into myofibroblasts, a transition correlated with substrate stiffness on 2D substrates. Matrix compaction and stiffening was shown to be highly localized using confocal and atomic force microscopies, respectively. Myofibroblast phenotype, evaluated by α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) immunocytochemistry, significantly increased in matrix regions proximal to bubbles compared to distal regions, irrespective of the addition of exogenous transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1). Introduction of the TGF-β1 receptor inhibitor SB431542 abrogated the proximal enhancement. This approach providing spatiotemporal control over biophysical signals and resulting cell behavior could aid in better understanding fibrotic disease progression and the development of therapeutic interventions for chronic wounds. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Hydrogels are used in cell culture to recapitulate both biochemical and biophysical aspects of the native extracellular matrix. Biophysical cues like stiffness can impact cell behavior. However, with conventional hydrogels, there is a limited ability to actively modulate stiffness after polymerization. We have developed an ultrasound-based method of spatiotemporally-controlling mechanical and morphological properties within a composite hydrogel, termed an acoustically-responsive scaffold (ARS). Upon exposure to ultrasound, bubbles are non-thermally generated within the fibrin matrix of an ARS, thereby locally compacting and stiffening the matrix. We demonstrate how ARSs control the differentiation of fibroblasts into myofibroblasts in 2D. This approach could assist with the study of fibrosis and the development of therapies for chronic wounds.
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19
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW The pathological remodeling of cardiac tissue after injury or disease leads to scar formation. Our knowledge of the role of nonmyocytes, especially fibroblasts, in cardiac injury and repair continues to increase with technological advances in both experimental and clinical studies. Here, we aim to elaborate on cardiac fibroblasts by describing their origins, dynamic cellular states after injury, and heterogeneity in order to understand their role in cardiac injury and repair. RECENT FINDINGS With the improvement in genetic lineage tracing technologies and the capability to profile gene expression at the single-cell level, we are beginning to learn that manipulating a specific population of fibroblasts could mitigate severe cardiac fibrosis and promote cardiac repair after injury. Cardiac fibroblasts play an indispensable role in tissue homeostasis and in repair after injury. Activated fibroblasts or myofibroblasts have time-dependent impacts on cardiac fibrosis. Multiple signaling pathways are involved in modulating fibroblast states, resulting in the alteration of fibrosis. Modulating a specific population of cardiac fibroblasts may provide new opportunities for identifying novel treatment options for cardiac fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maoying Han
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China.,School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 100 Haike Road, Shanghai, 201210, China
| | - Bin Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China. .,School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 100 Haike Road, Shanghai, 201210, China. .,School of Life Science, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, 310024, China.
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20
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Abstract
Transforming growth factor-β (TGFβ) isoforms are upregulated and activated in myocardial diseases and have an important role in cardiac repair and remodelling, regulating the phenotype and function of cardiomyocytes, fibroblasts, immune cells and vascular cells. Cardiac injury triggers the generation of bioactive TGFβ from latent stores, through mechanisms involving proteases, integrins and specialized extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins. Activated TGFβ signals through the SMAD intracellular effectors or through non-SMAD cascades. In the infarcted heart, the anti-inflammatory and fibroblast-activating actions of TGFβ have an important role in repair; however, excessive or prolonged TGFβ signalling accentuates adverse remodelling, contributing to cardiac dysfunction. Cardiac pressure overload also activates TGFβ cascades, which initially can have a protective role, promoting an ECM-preserving phenotype in fibroblasts and preventing the generation of injurious, pro-inflammatory ECM fragments. However, prolonged and overactive TGFβ signalling in pressure-overloaded cardiomyocytes and fibroblasts can promote cardiac fibrosis and dysfunction. In the atria, TGFβ-mediated fibrosis can contribute to the pathogenic substrate for atrial fibrillation. Overactive or dysregulated TGFβ responses have also been implicated in cardiac ageing and in the pathogenesis of diabetic, genetic and inflammatory cardiomyopathies. This Review summarizes the current evidence on the role of TGFβ signalling in myocardial diseases, focusing on cellular targets and molecular mechanisms, and discussing challenges and opportunities for therapeutic translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikolaos G Frangogiannis
- The Wilf Family Cardiovascular Research Institute, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA.
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21
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Li C, Sun J, Liu Q, Dodlapati S, Ming H, Wang L, Li Y, Li R, Jiang Z, Francis J, Fu X. The landscape of accessible chromatin in quiescent cardiac fibroblasts and cardiac fibroblasts activated after myocardial infarction. Epigenetics 2021; 17:1020-1039. [PMID: 34551670 PMCID: PMC9487753 DOI: 10.1080/15592294.2021.1982158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
After myocardial infarction, the massive death of cardiomyocytes leads to cardiac fibroblast proliferation and myofibroblast differentiation, which contributes to the extracellular matrix remodelling of the infarcted myocardium. We recently found that myofibroblasts further differentiate into matrifibrocytes, a newly identified cardiac fibroblast differentiation state. Cardiac fibroblasts of different states have distinct gene expression profiles closely related to their functions. However, the mechanism responsible for the gene expression changes during these activation and differentiation events is still not clear. In this study, the gene expression profiling and genome-wide accessible chromatin mapping of mouse cardiac fibroblasts isolated from the uninjured myocardium and the infarct at multiple time points corresponding to different differentiation states were performed by RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) and the assay for transposase-accessible chromatin with high-throughput sequencing (ATAC-seq), respectively. ATAC-seq peaks were highly enriched in the promoter area and the distal area where the enhancers are located. A positive correlation was identified between the expression and promoter accessibility for many dynamically expressed genes, even though evidence showed that mechanisms independent of chromatin accessibility may also contribute to the gene expression changes in cardiac fibroblasts after MI. Moreover, motif enrichment analysis and gene regulatory network construction identified transcription factors that possibly contributed to the differential gene expression between cardiac fibroblasts of different states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaoyang Li
- School of Animal Sciences, AgCenter, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA
| | - Jiangwen Sun
- Department of Computer Science, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, USA
| | - Qianglin Liu
- School of Animal Sciences, AgCenter, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA
| | - Sanjeeva Dodlapati
- Department of Computer Science, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, USA
| | - Hao Ming
- School of Animal Sciences, AgCenter, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA
| | - Leshan Wang
- School of Animal Sciences, AgCenter, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA
| | - Yuxia Li
- School of Animal Sciences, AgCenter, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA
| | - Rui Li
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Zongliang Jiang
- School of Animal Sciences, AgCenter, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA
| | - Joseph Francis
- Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, La, USA
| | - Xing Fu
- School of Animal Sciences, AgCenter, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA
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22
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Umbarkar P, Ejantkar S, Tousif S, Lal H. Mechanisms of Fibroblast Activation and Myocardial Fibrosis: Lessons Learned from FB-Specific Conditional Mouse Models. Cells 2021; 10:cells10092412. [PMID: 34572061 PMCID: PMC8471002 DOI: 10.3390/cells10092412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2021] [Revised: 09/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Heart failure (HF) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality across the world. Cardiac fibrosis is associated with HF progression. Fibrosis is characterized by the excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix components. This is a physiological response to tissue injury. However, uncontrolled fibrosis leads to adverse cardiac remodeling and contributes significantly to cardiac dysfunction. Fibroblasts (FBs) are the primary drivers of myocardial fibrosis. However, until recently, FBs were thought to play a secondary role in cardiac pathophysiology. This review article will present the evolving story of fibroblast biology and fibrosis in cardiac diseases, emphasizing their recent shift from a supporting to a leading role in our understanding of the pathogenesis of cardiac diseases. Indeed, this story only became possible because of the emergence of FB-specific mouse models. This study includes an update on the advancements in the generation of FB-specific mouse models. Regarding the underlying mechanisms of myocardial fibrosis, we will focus on the pathways that have been validated using FB-specific, in vivo mouse models. These pathways include the TGF-β/SMAD3, p38 MAPK, Wnt/β-Catenin, G-protein-coupled receptor kinase (GRK), and Hippo signaling. A better understanding of the mechanisms underlying fibroblast activation and fibrosis may provide a novel therapeutic target for the management of adverse fibrotic remodeling in the diseased heart.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prachi Umbarkar
- Division of Cardiovascular Disease, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA;
- Correspondence: (P.U.); (H.L.); Tel.: +1-205-996-4248 (P.U.); +1-205-996-4219 (H.L.); Fax: +1-205-975-5104 (H.L.)
| | - Suma Ejantkar
- School of Health Professions, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA;
| | - Sultan Tousif
- Division of Cardiovascular Disease, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA;
| | - Hind Lal
- Division of Cardiovascular Disease, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA;
- Correspondence: (P.U.); (H.L.); Tel.: +1-205-996-4248 (P.U.); +1-205-996-4219 (H.L.); Fax: +1-205-975-5104 (H.L.)
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23
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Tang XH, Gambardella J, Jankauskas S, Wang X, Santulli G, Gudas LJ, Levi R. A Retinoic Acid Receptor β 2 Agonist Improves Cardiac Function in a Heart Failure Model. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2021; 379:182-190. [PMID: 34389654 PMCID: PMC8626778 DOI: 10.1124/jpet.121.000806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 08/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
We previously demonstrated that the selective retinoic acid receptor (RAR) β 2 agonist AC261066 reduces oxidative stress in an ex vivo murine model of ischemia/reperfusion. We hypothesized that by decreasing oxidative stress and consequent fibrogenesis, AC261066 could attenuate the development of contractile dysfunction in post-ischemic heart failure (HF). We tested this hypothesis in vivo using an established murine model of myocardial infarction (MI), obtained by permanent occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery. Treating mice with AC261066 in drinking water significantly attenuated the post-MI deterioration of echocardiographic indices of cardiac function, diminished remodeling, and reduced oxidative stress, as evidenced by a decrease in malondialdehyde level and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase expression in cardiomyocytes. The effects of AC261066 were also associated with a decrease in interstitial fibrosis, as shown by a marked reduction in collagen deposition and α-smooth muscle actin expression. In cardiac murine fibroblasts subjected to hypoxia, AC261066 reversed hypoxia-induced decreases in superoxide dismutase 2 and angiopoietin-like 4 transcriptional levels as well as the increase in NADPH oxidase 2 mRNA, demonstrating that the post-MI cardioprotective effects of AC261066 are associated with an action at the fibroblast level. Thus, AC261066 alleviates post-MI cardiac dysfunction by modulating a set of genes involved in the oxidant/antioxidant balance. These AC261066 responsive genes diminish interstitial fibrogenesis and remodeling. Since MI is a recognized major cause of HF, our data identify RARβ 2 as a potential pharmacological target in the treatment of HF. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: A previous report showed that the selective retinoic acid receptor (RAR) β 2 agonist AC261066 reduces oxidative stress in an ex vivo murine model of ischemia/reperfusion. This study shows that AC261066 attenuates the development of contractile dysfunction and maladaptive remodeling in post-ischemic heart failure (HF) by modulating a set of genes involved in oxidant/antioxidant balance. Since myocardial infarction is a recognized major cause of HF, these data identify RARβ 2 as a potential pharmacological target in the treatment of HF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Han Tang
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York (X.-H.T., L.J.G., R.L.); Departments of Medicine (Cardiology) and Molecular Pharmacology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York (J.G., S.J., X.W., G.S.)
| | - Jessica Gambardella
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York (X.-H.T., L.J.G., R.L.); Departments of Medicine (Cardiology) and Molecular Pharmacology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York (J.G., S.J., X.W., G.S.)
| | - Stanislovas Jankauskas
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York (X.-H.T., L.J.G., R.L.); Departments of Medicine (Cardiology) and Molecular Pharmacology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York (J.G., S.J., X.W., G.S.)
| | - Xujun Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York (X.-H.T., L.J.G., R.L.); Departments of Medicine (Cardiology) and Molecular Pharmacology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York (J.G., S.J., X.W., G.S.)
| | - Gaetano Santulli
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York (X.-H.T., L.J.G., R.L.); Departments of Medicine (Cardiology) and Molecular Pharmacology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York (J.G., S.J., X.W., G.S.)
| | - Lorraine J Gudas
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York (X.-H.T., L.J.G., R.L.); Departments of Medicine (Cardiology) and Molecular Pharmacology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York (J.G., S.J., X.W., G.S.)
| | - Roberto Levi
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York (X.-H.T., L.J.G., R.L.); Departments of Medicine (Cardiology) and Molecular Pharmacology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York (J.G., S.J., X.W., G.S.)
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24
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Shi SY, Luo X, Yamawaki TM, Li CM, Ason B, Furtado MB. Recent Advances in Single-Cell Profiling and Multispecific Therapeutics: Paving the Way for a New Era of Precision Medicine Targeting Cardiac Fibroblasts. Curr Cardiol Rep 2021; 23:82. [PMID: 34081224 PMCID: PMC8175296 DOI: 10.1007/s11886-021-01517-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Cardiac fibroblast activation contributes to fibrosis, maladaptive remodeling and heart failure progression. This review summarizes the latest findings on cardiac fibroblast activation dynamics derived from single-cell transcriptomic analyses and discusses how this information may aid the development of new multispecific medicines. RECENT FINDINGS Advances in single-cell gene expression technologies have led to the discovery of distinct fibroblast subsets, some of which are more prevalent in diseased tissue and exhibit temporal changes in response to injury. In parallel to the rapid development of single-cell platforms, the advent of multispecific therapeutics is beginning to transform the biopharmaceutical landscape, paving the way for the selective targeting of diseased fibroblast subpopulations. Insights gained from single-cell technologies reveal critical cardiac fibroblast subsets that play a pathogenic role in the progression of heart failure. Combined with the development of multispecific therapeutic agents that have enabled access to previously "undruggable" targets, we are entering a new era of precision medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sally Yu Shi
- Department of Cardiometabolic Disorders, Amgen Discovery Research, Amgen Inc., 1120 Veterans Blvd, South San Francisco, CA 94080 USA
| | - Xin Luo
- Genome Analysis Unit, Amgen Discovery Research, Amgen Inc., 1120 Veterans Blvd, South San Francisco, CA 94080 USA
| | - Tracy M. Yamawaki
- Genome Analysis Unit, Amgen Discovery Research, Amgen Inc., 1120 Veterans Blvd, South San Francisco, CA 94080 USA
| | - Chi-Ming Li
- Genome Analysis Unit, Amgen Discovery Research, Amgen Inc., 1120 Veterans Blvd, South San Francisco, CA 94080 USA
| | - Brandon Ason
- Department of Cardiometabolic Disorders, Amgen Discovery Research, Amgen Inc., 1120 Veterans Blvd, South San Francisco, CA 94080 USA
| | - Milena B. Furtado
- Department of Cardiometabolic Disorders, Amgen Discovery Research, Amgen Inc., 1120 Veterans Blvd, South San Francisco, CA 94080 USA
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The C0-C1f Region of Cardiac Myosin Binding Protein-C Induces Pro-Inflammatory Responses in Fibroblasts via TLR4 Signaling. Cells 2021; 10:cells10061326. [PMID: 34073556 PMCID: PMC8230336 DOI: 10.3390/cells10061326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2021] [Revised: 05/19/2021] [Accepted: 05/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Myocardial injury is associated with inflammation and fibrosis. Cardiac myosin-binding protein-C (cMyBP-C) is cleaved by µ-calpain upon myocardial injury, releasing C0-C1f, an N-terminal peptide of cMyBP-C. Previously, we reported that the presence of C0-C1f is pathogenic within cardiac tissue and is able to activate macrophages. Fibroblasts also play a crucial role in cardiac remodeling arising from ischemic events, as they contribute to both inflammation and scar formation. To understand whether C0-C1f directly modulates fibroblast phenotype, we analyzed the impact of C0-C1f on a human fibroblast cell line in vitro by performing mRNA microarray screening, immunofluorescence staining, and quantitative real-time PCR. The underlying signaling pathways were investigated by KEGG analysis and determined more precisely by targeted inhibition of the potential signaling cascades in vitro. C0-C1f induced pro-inflammatory responses that might delay TGFβ-mediated myofibroblast conversion. TGFβ also counteracted C0-C1f-mediated fibroblast activation. Inhibition of TLR4 or NFκB as well as the delivery of miR-146 significantly reduced C0-C1f-mediated effects. In conclusion, C0-C1f induces inflammatory responses in human fibroblasts that are mediated via TRL4 signaling, which is decreased in the presence of TGFβ. Specific targeting of TLR4 signaling could be an innovative strategy to modulate C0-C1f-mediated inflammation.
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Abstract
Myocardial fibrosis, the expansion of the cardiac interstitium through deposition of extracellular matrix proteins, is a common pathophysiologic companion of many different myocardial conditions. Fibrosis may reflect activation of reparative or maladaptive processes. Activated fibroblasts and myofibroblasts are the central cellular effectors in cardiac fibrosis, serving as the main source of matrix proteins. Immune cells, vascular cells and cardiomyocytes may also acquire a fibrogenic phenotype under conditions of stress, activating fibroblast populations. Fibrogenic growth factors (such as transforming growth factor-β and platelet-derived growth factors), cytokines [including tumour necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6, IL-10, and IL-4], and neurohumoral pathways trigger fibrogenic signalling cascades through binding to surface receptors, and activation of downstream signalling cascades. In addition, matricellular macromolecules are deposited in the remodelling myocardium and regulate matrix assembly, while modulating signal transduction cascades and protease or growth factor activity. Cardiac fibroblasts can also sense mechanical stress through mechanosensitive receptors, ion channels and integrins, activating intracellular fibrogenic cascades that contribute to fibrosis in response to pressure overload. Although subpopulations of fibroblast-like cells may exert important protective actions in both reparative and interstitial/perivascular fibrosis, ultimately fibrotic changes perturb systolic and diastolic function, and may play an important role in the pathogenesis of arrhythmias. This review article discusses the molecular mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of cardiac fibrosis in various myocardial diseases, including myocardial infarction, heart failure with reduced or preserved ejection fraction, genetic cardiomyopathies, and diabetic heart disease. Development of fibrosis-targeting therapies for patients with myocardial diseases will require not only understanding of the functional pluralism of cardiac fibroblasts and dissection of the molecular basis for fibrotic remodelling, but also appreciation of the pathophysiologic heterogeneity of fibrosis-associated myocardial disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikolaos G Frangogiannis
- Department of Medicine (Cardiology), The Wilf Family Cardiovascular Research Institute, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Avenue Forchheimer G46B, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
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27
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Fu X, Liu Q, Li C, Li Y, Wang L. Cardiac Fibrosis and Cardiac Fibroblast Lineage-Tracing: Recent Advances. Front Physiol 2020; 11:416. [PMID: 32435205 PMCID: PMC7218116 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2020.00416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2019] [Accepted: 04/06/2020] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Cardiac fibrosis is a common pathological change associated with cardiac injuries and diseases. Even though the accumulation of collagens and other extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins may have some protective effects in certain situations, prolonged fibrosis usually negatively affects cardiac function and often leads to deleterious consequences. While the development of cardiac fibrosis involves several cell types, the major source of ECM proteins is cardiac fibroblast. The high plasticity of cardiac fibroblasts enables them to quickly change their behaviors in response to injury and transition between several differentiation states. However, the study of cardiac fibroblasts in vivo was very difficult due to the lack of specific research tools. The development of cardiac fibroblast lineage-tracing mouse lines has greatly promoted cardiac fibrosis research. In this article, we review the recent cardiac fibroblast lineage-tracing studies exploring the origin of cardiac fibroblasts and their complicated roles in cardiac fibrosis, and briefly discuss the translational potential of basic cardiac fibroblast researches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xing Fu
- School of Animal Sciences, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, Baton Rouge, LA, United States
| | - Qianglin Liu
- School of Animal Sciences, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, Baton Rouge, LA, United States
| | - Chaoyang Li
- School of Animal Sciences, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, Baton Rouge, LA, United States
| | - Yuxia Li
- School of Animal Sciences, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, Baton Rouge, LA, United States
| | - Leshan Wang
- School of Animal Sciences, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, Baton Rouge, LA, United States
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28
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Reese-Petersen AL, Olesen MS, Karsdal MA, Svendsen JH, Genovese F. Atrial fibrillation and cardiac fibrosis: A review on the potential of extracellular matrix proteins as biomarkers. Matrix Biol 2020; 91-92:188-203. [PMID: 32205152 DOI: 10.1016/j.matbio.2020.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2019] [Revised: 03/04/2020] [Accepted: 03/04/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
The involvement of fibrosis as an underlying pathology in heart diseases is becoming increasingly clear. In recent years, fibrosis has been granted a causative role in heart diseases and is now emerging as a major contributor to Atrial Fibrillation (AF) pathogenesis. AF is the most common arrhythmia encountered in the clinic, but the substrate for AF is still being debated. Consensus in the field is a combination of cardiac tissue remodeling, inflammation and genetic predisposition. The extracellular matrix (ECM) is subject of growing investigation, since measuring circulatory biomarkers of ECM formation and degradation provides both diagnostic and prognostic information. However, fibrosis is not just fibrosis. Each specific collagen biomarker holds information on regulatory mechanisms, as well as information about which section of the ECM is being remodeled, providing a detailed description of cardiac tissue homeostasis. This review entails an overview of the implication of fibrosis in AF, the different collagens and their significance, and the potential of using biomarkers of ECM remodeling as tools for understanding AF pathogenesis and identifying patients at risk for further disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Morten S Olesen
- Labratory of Molecular Cardiology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | | | - Jesper H Svendsen
- Department of Cardiology, The Heart Centre, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
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29
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Editorial commentary: Myocardial fibrosis in genetic cardiomyopathies: A cause of dysfunction, or simply an epiphenomenon? Trends Cardiovasc Med 2019; 30:362-363. [PMID: 31653486 DOI: 10.1016/j.tcm.2019.09.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2019] [Accepted: 09/28/2019] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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30
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Saptarsi M Haldar
- From the Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA (M.A., S.M.H.).,Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco School of Medicine (S.M.H.); and Cardiometabolic Disorders, Amgen, South San Francisco, CA (S.M.H.)
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31
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Khalil H, Kanisicak O, Vagnozzi RJ, Johansen AK, Maliken BD, Prasad V, Boyer JG, Brody MJ, Schips T, Kilian KK, Correll RN, Kawasaki K, Nagata K, Molkentin JD. Cell-specific ablation of Hsp47 defines the collagen-producing cells in the injured heart. JCI Insight 2019; 4:e128722. [PMID: 31393098 PMCID: PMC6693833 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.128722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Collagen production in the adult heart is thought to be regulated by the fibroblast, although cardiomyocytes and endothelial cells also express multiple collagen mRNAs. Molecular chaperones are required for procollagen biosynthesis, including heat shock protein 47 (Hsp47). To determine the cell types critically involved in cardiac injury–induced fibrosis theHsp47 gene was deleted in cardiomyocytes, endothelial cells, or myofibroblasts. Deletion ofHsp47 from cardiomyocytes during embryonic development or adult stages, or deletion from adult endothelial cells, did not affect cardiac fibrosis after pressure overload injury. However, myofibroblast-specific ablation of Hsp47; blocked fibrosis and deposition of collagens type I, III, and V following pressure overload as well as significantly reduced cardiac hypertrophy. Fibroblast-specific Hsp47-deleted mice showed lethality after myocardial infarction injury, with ineffective scar formation and ventricular wall rupture. Similarly, only myofibroblast-specific deletion of Hsp47reduced fibrosis and disease in skeletal muscle in a mouse model of muscular dystrophy. Mechanistically, deletion of Hsp47 from myofibroblasts reduced mRNA expression of fibrillar collagens and attenuated their proliferation in the heart without affecting paracrine secretory activity of these cells. The results show that myofibroblasts are the primary mediators of tissue fibrosis and scar formation in the injured adult heart, which unexpectedly affects cardiomyocyte hypertrophy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hadi Khalil
- Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center
| | - Onur Kanisicak
- Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center,Department of Pathology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | | | | | - Bryan D. Maliken
- Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center
| | - Vikram Prasad
- Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center
| | - Justin G. Boyer
- Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center
| | - Matthew J. Brody
- Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center
| | - Tobias Schips
- Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center
| | - Katja K. Kilian
- Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center
| | - Robert N. Correll
- Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center,Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA
| | - Kunito Kawasaki
- Institute for Protein Dynamics, Kyoto Sangyo University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Kazuhiro Nagata
- Institute for Protein Dynamics, Kyoto Sangyo University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Jeffery D. Molkentin
- Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
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32
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Abstract
The ECM (extracellular matrix) network plays a crucial role in cardiac homeostasis, not only by providing structural support, but also by facilitating force transmission, and by transducing key signals to cardiomyocytes, vascular cells, and interstitial cells. Changes in the profile and biochemistry of the ECM may be critically implicated in the pathogenesis of both heart failure with reduced ejection fraction and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. The patterns of molecular and biochemical ECM alterations in failing hearts are dependent on the type of underlying injury. Pressure overload triggers early activation of a matrix-synthetic program in cardiac fibroblasts, inducing myofibroblast conversion, and stimulating synthesis of both structural and matricellular ECM proteins. Expansion of the cardiac ECM may increase myocardial stiffness promoting diastolic dysfunction. Cardiomyocytes, vascular cells and immune cells, activated through mechanosensitive pathways or neurohumoral mediators may play a critical role in fibroblast activation through secretion of cytokines and growth factors. Sustained pressure overload leads to dilative remodeling and systolic dysfunction that may be mediated by changes in the interstitial protease/antiprotease balance. On the other hand, ischemic injury causes dynamic changes in the cardiac ECM that contribute to regulation of inflammation and repair and may mediate adverse cardiac remodeling. In other pathophysiologic conditions, such as volume overload, diabetes mellitus, and obesity, the cell biological effectors mediating ECM remodeling are poorly understood and the molecular links between the primary insult and the changes in the matrix environment are unknown. This review article discusses the role of ECM macromolecules in heart failure, focusing on both structural ECM proteins (such as fibrillar and nonfibrillar collagens), and specialized injury-associated matrix macromolecules (such as fibronectin and matricellular proteins). Understanding the role of the ECM in heart failure may identify therapeutic targets to reduce geometric remodeling, to attenuate cardiomyocyte dysfunction, and even to promote myocardial regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikolaos G Frangogiannis
- From the Wilf Family Cardiovascular Research Institute, Department of Medicine (Cardiology), Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY
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33
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Liu H, Zhang S, Xu S, Koroleva M, Small EM, Jin ZG. Myofibroblast-specific YY1 promotes liver fibrosis. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2019; 514:913-918. [PMID: 31084931 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2019.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2019] [Accepted: 05/01/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Liver fibrosis is a common consequence of various chronic hepatitis and liver injuries. The myofibroblasts, through the accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins, are closely associated with the progression of liver fibrosis. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying transcriptional regulation of fibrogenic genes and ECM proteins in myofibroblasts remain largely unknown. Using tamoxifen inducible myofibroblast-specific Cre-expressing mouse lines with selective deletion of the transcription factor Yin Yang 1 (YY1), here we show that YY1 deletion in myofibroblasts mitigates carbon tetrachloride-induced liver fibrosis. This protective effect of YY1 ablation on liver fibrosis was accompanied with reduced expression of profibrogenic genes and ECM proteins, including TNF-α, TGF-β, PDGF, IL-6, α-SMA and Col1α1 in liver tissues from YY1 mutant mice. Moreover, using the human hepatic stellate cell (HSC) line LX-2, we found that knockdown of YY1 in myofibroblasts by siRNA treatment diminished myofibroblast proliferation, α-SMA expression, and collagen deposition. Collectively, our findings reveal a specific role of YY1 in hepatic myofibroblasts and suggest a new therapeutic strategy for hepatic fibrosis-associated liver diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huan Liu
- Aab Cardiovascular Research Institute, Department of Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, USA; Key Laboratory of Fertility Preservation and Maintenance of Ministry of Education, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Shuya Zhang
- Aab Cardiovascular Research Institute, Department of Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, USA; Key Laboratory of Fertility Preservation and Maintenance of Ministry of Education, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Suowen Xu
- Aab Cardiovascular Research Institute, Department of Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Marina Koroleva
- Aab Cardiovascular Research Institute, Department of Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Eric M Small
- Aab Cardiovascular Research Institute, Department of Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Zheng Gen Jin
- Aab Cardiovascular Research Institute, Department of Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, USA.
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34
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Brand CS, Lighthouse JK, Trembley MA. Protective transcriptional mechanisms in cardiomyocytes and cardiac fibroblasts. J Mol Cell Cardiol 2019; 132:1-12. [PMID: 31042488 DOI: 10.1016/j.yjmcc.2019.04.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2019] [Revised: 04/19/2019] [Accepted: 04/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Heart failure is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Several lines of evidence suggest that physical activity and exercise can pre-condition the heart to improve the response to acute cardiac injury such as myocardial infarction or ischemia/reperfusion injury, preventing the progression to heart failure. It is becoming more apparent that cardioprotection is a concerted effort between multiple cell types and converging signaling pathways. However, the molecular mechanisms of cardioprotection are not completely understood. What is clear is that the mechanisms underlying this protection involve acute activation of transcriptional activators and their corresponding gene expression programs. Here, we review the known stress-dependent transcriptional programs that are activated in cardiomyocytes and cardiac fibroblasts to preserve function in the adult heart after injury. Focus is given to prominent transcriptional pathways such as mechanical stress or reactive oxygen species (ROS)-dependent activation of myocardin-related transcription factors (MRTFs) and transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ), and gene expression that positively regulates protective PI3K/Akt signaling. Together, these pathways modulate both beneficial and pathological responses to cardiac injury in a cell-specific manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cameron S Brand
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of California - San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, Biomedical Sciences Building, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
| | - Janet K Lighthouse
- Aab Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Box CVRI, Rochester, NY 14624, USA.
| | - Michael A Trembley
- Department of Cardiology, Boston Children's Hospital, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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35
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy D. Bradshaw
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina; and the Ralph H. Johnson Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Charleston, South Carolina
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