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Joshua J, Caswell J, O’Sullivan ML, Wood G, Fonfara S. Feline myocardial transcriptome in health and in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy-A translational animal model for human disease. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0283244. [PMID: 36928240 PMCID: PMC10019628 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0283244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most common heart disease in cats, characterized by primary left ventricular hypertrophy. Feline HCM closely resembles human HCM and is suggested as translational animal model for the human disease. A genetic cause is established in humans and suspected for cats, but little is known about the gene expression and pathways involved in the pathogenesis of HCM. To investigate the myocardial transcriptome changes in HCM, RNA sequencing was conducted on left ventricle (LV) and left atrium (LA) samples of healthy cats and cats with HCM (each n = 5; 20 samples). Ingenuity Pathway Analysis was used to determine functional pathways, regulators, and networks. Distinct gene expression profiles were identified in the LV and LA of the feline healthy and HCM myocardium. Analysis of differentially expressed mRNAs (>2 fold; FDR < 0.01) found chamber-specific (LV vs. LA) expression in both healthy and HCM groups, with higher transcriptional activity in the LA. Genes that contribute to the distinct structure and function of each chamber in health and HCM were identified in the regional comparison. The gene expression profiles of HCM compared to healthy hearts revealed disease related genes, including THBS4 and KLHL33 (LV), FAM177B and THRSP (LA), the latter 3 have not been reported for the myocardium so far, as the top differently expressed genes in the HCM heart. Differently expressed genes and functional pathways found in the HCM heart are associated with cardiac remodeling and fibrosis, inflammation, microvascular changes, calcium signaling and cardiac metabolism, with some regional differences. RhoGDI-RhoGTPase signaling, integrin and ILK signaling pathways, the LXR/RXR pathway in the LA, and the PPARα/RXRα, HIF1α and CXCR4 pathways in the LV might be of particular importance in the HCM disease process. This study identified region-specific myocardial gene transcription patterns as well as novel genes and pathways associated with HCM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Joshua
- University of Guelph, Ontario Veterinary College, Department of Pathobiology, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
- University of Guelph, Ontario Veterinary College, Department of Clinical Studies, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jeff Caswell
- University of Guelph, Ontario Veterinary College, Department of Pathobiology, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - M. Lynne O’Sullivan
- University of Prince Edward Island, Department of Companion Animals, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada
| | - Geoffrey Wood
- University of Guelph, Ontario Veterinary College, Department of Pathobiology, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Sonja Fonfara
- University of Guelph, Ontario Veterinary College, Department of Clinical Studies, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
- * E-mail:
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Lean FZX, Priestnall SL, Vitores AG, Suárez-Bonnet A, Brookes SM, Núñez A. Elevated angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) expression in cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Res Vet Sci 2022; 152:564-568. [PMID: 36183613 PMCID: PMC9522311 DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2022.09.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2022] [Revised: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is an enzyme within the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system that plays a role in regulating blood pressure. However, it is also a cellular receptor for infection with SARS coronaviruses. Although most cats develop subclinical or mild disease following infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) acquired from human patients, a previous study has suggested hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a potential risk factor for the development of severe disease in the cat. Herein we investigate the ACE2 protein expression in the lung, heart, and kidney from a small subset of cats with (n = 10) and without HCM (n = 10) by immunohistochemistry. The abundance and intensity of ACE2 expression is slightly elevated in alveoli (p = 0.09; 0.07, respectively) and bronchioles (p = 0.095; 0.37, respectively). However, statistically elevated abundance and intensity of ACE-2 expression was only evident in the heart of cats with HCM (p = 0.032; p = 0.011, respectively). Further investigation did not demonstrate a statistical correlation between the ACE2 expression in the heart in relation to the heart weight to body weight ratio, and the ventricular wall ratio. Current findings suggest an overexpression of ACE2 in HCM cases but follow up study is warranted to understand the pathophysiological process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabian Z X Lean
- Department of Pathology and Animal Sciences, Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), Addlestone, Surrey, UK.
| | - Simon L Priestnall
- Department of Pathobiology and Population Sciences, The Royal Veterinary College, North Mymms, UK
| | - Ana Gómez Vitores
- Department of Pathology and Animal Sciences, Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), Addlestone, Surrey, UK
| | - Alejandro Suárez-Bonnet
- Department of Pathobiology and Population Sciences, The Royal Veterinary College, North Mymms, UK
| | | | - Alejandro Núñez
- Department of Pathology and Animal Sciences, Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), Addlestone, Surrey, UK
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Colpitts ME, Caswell JL, Monteith G, Joshua J, O'Sullivan ML, Raheb S, Fonfara S. Cardiac gene activation varies between young and adult cats and in the presence of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Res Vet Sci 2022; 152:38-47. [PMID: 35917592 DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2022.07.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2021] [Revised: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 07/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Little is known about the difference of myocardial gene transcription in young and adult cats and how transcription is further modified in cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and with left atrial (LA) thrombus formation. We hypothesized that selected factors for coagulation, endothelial activation, inflammation, and remodelling are modified with age and are activated in the hearts of cats with HCM. Left atrial and ventricular (LV) samples from 12 cats with HCM (seven without (HCMwoAT] and five with LA thrombi [HCMwAT]), and six young (YC) and six adult (AC) control cats without cardiac disease were investigated for relative expression of the following genes using quantitative polymerase chain reaction: von Willebrand factor, a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with a thrombospondin type 1 motif member 13, platelet activating factor, E- and P-selectin, intercellular and vascular adhesion molecules-1, ß2-integrin, vascular endothelial growth factor, interleukin-6 (IL-6), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), heat shock protein-70, and myocyte-specific enhancer factor 2C. Significant differences in gene activation were found between YC and AC, and YC and cats with HCM. Compared to AC, MCP-1 and IL-6 were significantly higher in cats with HCM. The presence of an LA thrombus was associated with higher IL-6 expression. These results illustrate the relevance of age and/or lifestyle on gene expression in the feline heart. The gene transcription pattern found in AC hearts might predispose cats to their characteristic cardiac remodelling processes and thrombus formation if disease occurs. It further supports the involvement of inflammation, but not coagulation and endothelial activation, in HCM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle E Colpitts
- Department of Clinical Studies, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road E., Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada.
| | - Jeff L Caswell
- Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road E., Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada.
| | - Gabrielle Monteith
- Department of Clinical Studies, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road E., Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada.
| | - Jessica Joshua
- Department of Clinical Studies, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road E., Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada; Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road E., Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada.
| | - M Lynne O'Sullivan
- Department of Clinical Studies, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road E., Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada.
| | - Shari Raheb
- Department of Clinical Studies, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road E., Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada.
| | - Sonja Fonfara
- Department of Clinical Studies, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road E., Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada.
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