Activated FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 ameliorates angiotensin II-induced cardiac remodelling

AIM

FMS-like receptor tyrosine kinase 3 (Flt3) has been reported to be increased in cardiomyocytes responding to ischaemic stress. This study was to determine whether Flt3 activation could ameliorate pressure overload-induced heart hypertrophy and fibrosis, and to elucidate the mechanisms of action.

METHODS

In vivo cardiac hypertrophy and remodelling experiments were conducted by infusing angiotensin II (Ang II) chronically in male C57BL/6 mice. Flt3-specific ligand (FL) was administered intraperitoneally every two days (5 µg/mouse). In vitro experiments on hypertrophy, apoptosis and autophagy mechanism were performed in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes (NRCMs) and H9c2 cells with adenovirus vector-mediated overexpression of Flt3.

RESULTS

Our results demonstrated that following chronic Ang II infusion for 4 weeks, the mice exhibited heart hypertrophy, fibrosis, apoptosis and contractile dysfunction. Meanwhile, Ang II induced autophagic responses in mouse hearts, as evidenced by increased LC3 II and decreased P62 expression. These pathological alterations in Ang II-treated mice were significantly ameliorated by Flt3 activation with FL administration. In NRCMs and Flt3-overexpressed H9c2 cells, FL attenuated Ang II-induced pathological autophagy and inactivated AMPK/mTORC1/FoxO3a signalling, thereby efficiently mitigating cell hypertrophy and apoptosis. Conversely, the AMPK activator metformin or the mTORC1 inhibitor rapamycin reversed the effects of FL on the alterations of autophagy, hypertrophy and apoptosis in cardiomyocytes induced by Ang II.

CONCLUSION

Flt3 activation ameliorates cardiac hypertrophy, fibrosis and contractile dysfunction in the mouse model of chronic pressure overload, most likely via suppressing AMPK/mTORC1/FoxO3a-mediated autophagy. These results provide new evidence supporting Flt3 as a novel therapeutic target in maladaptive cardiac remodelling.

Autophagy protects gastric mucosal epithelial cells from ethanol-induced oxidative damage via mTOR signaling pathway

Alcohol abuse is an important cause of gastric mucosal epithelial cell injury and gastric ulcers. A number of studies have demonstrated that autophagy, an evolutionarily conserved cellular mechanism, has a protective effect on cell survival. However, it is not known whether autophagy can protect gastric mucosal epithelial cells against the toxic effects of ethanol. In the present study, gastric mucosal epithelial cells (GES-1 cells) and Wistar rats were treated with ethanol to detect the adaptive response of autophagy. Our results demonstrated that ethanol exposure induced gastric mucosal epithelial cell damage, which was accompanied by the downregulation of mTOR signaling pathway and activation of autophagy. Suppression of autophagy with pharmacological agents resulted in a significant increase of GES-1 cell apoptosis and gastric mucosa injury, suggesting that autophagy could protect cells from ethanol toxicity. Furthermore, we evaluated the cellular oxidative stress response following ethanol treatment and found that autophagy induced by ethanol inhibited generation of reactive oxygen species and degradation of antioxidant and lipid peroxidation. In conclusion, these findings provide evidence that ethanol can activate autophagy via downregulation of the mTOR signaling pathway, serving as an adaptive mechanism to ameliorate oxidative damage induced by ethanol in gastric mucosal epithelial cells. Therefore, modifying autophagy may provide a therapeutic strategy against alcoholic gastric mucosa injury. Impact statement The effect and mechanism of autophagy on ethanol-induced cell damage remain controversial. In this manuscript, we report the results of our study demonstrating that autophagy can protect gastric mucosal epithelial cells against ethanol toxicity in vitro and in vivo. We have shown that ethanol can activate autophagy via downregulation of the mTOR signaling pathway, serving as an adaptive mechanism to ameliorate ethanol-induced oxidative damage in gastric mucosal epithelial cells. This study brings new and important insights into the mechanism of alcoholic gastric mucosal injury and may provide an avenue for future therapeutic strategies.

The role of autophagy in angiotensin II-induced pathological cardiac hypertrophy

Pathological cardiac hypertrophy is associated with nearly all forms of heart failure. It develops in response to disorders such as coronary artery disease, hypertension and myocardial infarction. Angiotensin II (Ang II) has direct effects on the myocardium and promotes hypertension. Chronic elevation of Ang II can lead to pathological cardiac hypertrophy and cardiac failure. Autophagy is an important process in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases. Under physiological conditions, autophagy is an essential homeostatic mechanism to maintain the global cardiac structure function by ridding damaged cells or unwanted macromolecules and organelles. Dysregulation of autophagy may play an important role in Ang II-induced cardiac hypertrophy although conflicting reports on the effects of Ang II on autophagy and cardiac hypertrophy exist. Some studies showed that autophagy activation attenuated Ang II-induced cardiac dysfunction. Others suggested that inhibition of the Ang II induced autophagy should be protective. The discrepancies may be due to different model systems and different signaling pathway involved. Ang II-induced cardiac hypertrophy may be alleviated through regulation of autophagy. This review focuses on Ang II to highlight the molecular targets and pathways identified in the prevention and treatment of Ang II-induced pathological cardiac hypertrophy by regulating autophagy.

FK866 compromises mitochondrial metabolism and adaptive stress responses in cultured cardiomyocytes

AIM

FK866 is an inhibitor of the NAD(+) synthesis rate-limiting enzyme nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT). Using FK866 to target NAD(+) synthesis has been proposed as a treatment for inflammatory diseases and cancer. However, use of FK866 may pose cardiovascular risks, as NAMPT expression is decreased in various cardiomyopathies, with low NAD(+) levels playing an important role in cardiovascular disease progression. In addition, low NAD(+) levels are associated with cardiovascular risk conditions such as aging, dyslipidemia, and type II diabetes mellitus. The aim of this work was to study the effects of FK866-induced NAD(+) depletion on mitochondrial metabolism and adaptive stress responses in cardiomyocytes.

METHODS AND RESULTS

FK866 was used to deplete NAD(+) levels in cultured rat cardiomyocytes. Cell viability, mitochondrial metabolism, and adaptive responses to insulin, norepinephrine, and H2O2 were assessed in cardiomyocytes. The drop in NAD(+) induced by FK866 decreased mitochondrial metabolism without changing cell viability. Insulin-stimulated Akt phosphorylation, glucose uptake, and H2O2-survival were compromised by FK866. Glycolytic gene transcription was increased, whereas cardiomyocyte hypertrophy induced by norepinephrine was prevented. Restoring NAD(+) levels via nicotinamide mononucleotide administration reestablished mitochondrial metabolism and adaptive stress responses.

CONCLUSION

This work shows that FK866 compromises mitochondrial metabolism and the adaptive response of cardiomyocytes to norepinephrine, H2O2, and insulin.