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Casarella S, Ferla F, Di Francesco D, Canciani E, Rizzi M, Boccafoschi F. Focal Adhesion's Role in Cardiomyocytes Function: From Cardiomyogenesis to Mechanotransduction. Cells 2024; 13:664. [PMID: 38667279 PMCID: PMC11049660 DOI: 10.3390/cells13080664] [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: 02/23/2024] [Revised: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Mechanotransduction refers to the ability of cells to sense mechanical stimuli and convert them into biochemical signals. In this context, the key players are focal adhesions (FAs): multiprotein complexes that link intracellular actin bundles and the extracellular matrix (ECM). FAs are involved in cellular adhesion, growth, differentiation, gene expression, migration, communication, force transmission, and contractility. Focal adhesion signaling molecules, including Focal Adhesion Kinase (FAK), integrins, vinculin, and paxillin, also play pivotal roles in cardiomyogenesis, impacting cell proliferation and heart tube looping. In fact, cardiomyocytes sense ECM stiffness through integrins, modulating signaling pathways like PI3K/AKT and Wnt/β-catenin. Moreover, FAK/Src complex activation mediates cardiac hypertrophic growth and survival signaling in response to mechanical loads. This review provides an overview of the molecular and mechanical mechanisms underlying the crosstalk between FAs and cardiac differentiation, as well as the role of FA-mediated mechanotransduction in guiding cardiac muscle responses to mechanical stimuli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simona Casarella
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy; (S.C.); (D.D.F.); (E.C.); (M.R.)
| | - Federica Ferla
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy; (S.C.); (D.D.F.); (E.C.); (M.R.)
| | - Dalila Di Francesco
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy; (S.C.); (D.D.F.); (E.C.); (M.R.)
- Laboratory for Biomaterials and Bioengineering, CRC-I, Department of Min-Met-Materials Engineering, University Hospital Research Center, Regenerative Medicine, Laval University, Quebec City, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Elena Canciani
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy; (S.C.); (D.D.F.); (E.C.); (M.R.)
| | - Manuela Rizzi
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy; (S.C.); (D.D.F.); (E.C.); (M.R.)
| | - Francesca Boccafoschi
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy; (S.C.); (D.D.F.); (E.C.); (M.R.)
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Clouthier KL, Taylor AC, Xuhuai J, Liu Y, Parker S, Van Eyk J, Reddy S. A Noninvasive Circulating Signature of Combined Right Ventricular Pressure and Volume Overload in Tetralogy of Fallot/Pulmonary Atresia/Major Aortopulmonary Collateral Arteries. World J Pediatr Congenit Heart Surg 2024; 15:162-173. [PMID: 38128927 DOI: 10.1177/21501351231213626] [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] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
Background: Despite surgical advances, children with tetralogy of Fallot/pulmonary atresia/major aortopulmonary collaterals (TOF/PA/MAPCAs) are subject to chronic right ventricular (RV) pressure and volume overload. Current diagnostic tools do not identify adverse myocardial remodeling and cannot predict progression to RV failure. We sought to identify a noninvasive, circulating signature of the systemic response to right heart stress to follow disease progression. Methods: Longitudinal data were collected from patients with TOF/PA/MAPCAs (N = 5) at the time of (1) early RV pressure overload and (2) late RV pressure and volume overload. Plasma protein and microRNA expression were evaluated using high-throughput data-independent mass spectroscopy and Agilent miR Microarray, respectively. Results: At the time of early RV pressure overload, median patient age was 0.34 years (0.02-9.37), with systemic RV pressures, moderate-severe hypertrophy, and preserved systolic function. Late RV pressure and volume overload occurred at a median age of 4.08 years (1.51-10.83), with moderate RV hypertrophy and dilation, and low normal RV function; 277 proteins were significantly dysregulated (log2FC ≥0.6/≤-0.6, FDR≤0.05), predicting downregulation in lipid transport (apolipoproteins), fibrinolytic system, and extracellular matrix structural proteins (talin 1, profilin 1); and upregulation in the respiratory burst. Increasing RV size and decreasing RV function correlated with decreasing structural protein expression. Similarly, miR expression predicted downregulation of extracellular matrix-receptor interactions and upregulation in collagen synthesis. Conclusion: To our knowledge, we show for the first time a noninvasive protein and miR signature reflecting the systemic response to adverse RV myocardial remodeling in TOF/PA/MAPCAs which could be used to follow disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katie L Clouthier
- Department of Pediatrics (Cardiology), Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Anne C Taylor
- Department of Pediatrics (Cardiology), Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Ji Xuhuai
- Human Immune Monitoring Center and Functional Genomics Facility, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Yuhan Liu
- Department of Medicine (Quantitative Science Unit), Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Sarah Parker
- Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jennifer Van Eyk
- Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Sushma Reddy
- Department of Pediatrics (Cardiology), Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA
- Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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3
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Jammrath J, Reim I, Saumweber H. Cbl-Associated Protein CAP contributes to correct formation and robust function of the Drosophila heart tube. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0233719. [PMID: 32469960 PMCID: PMC7259718 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0233719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2019] [Accepted: 05/11/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The formation of a tube-like structure is a basic step in the making of functional hearts in vertebrates and invertebrates and therefore, its understanding provides important information on heart development and function. In Drosophila, the cardiac tube originates from two bilateral rows of dorsally migrating cells. On meeting at the dorsal midline, coordinated changes in cell shape and adhesive properties transform the two sheets of cells into a linear tube. ECM and transmembrane proteins linked to the cytoskeleton play an important role during these dynamic processes. Here we characterize the requirement of Cbl-Associated Protein (CAP) in Drosophila heart formation. In embryos, CAP is expressed in late migrating cardioblasts and is located preferentially at their luminal and abluminal periphery. CAP mutations result in irregular cardioblast alignment and imprecisely controlled cardioblast numbers. Furthermore, CAP mutant embryos show a strongly reduced heart lumen and an aberrant shape of lumen forming cardioblasts. Analysis of double heterozygous animals reveals a genetic interaction of CAP with Integrin- and Talin-encoding genes. In post-embryonic stages, CAP closely colocalizes with Integrin near Z-bands and at cell-cell contact sites. CAP mutants exhibit a reduced contractility in larval hearts and show a locally disrupted morphology, which correlates with a reduced pumping efficiency. Our observations imply a function of CAP in linking Integrin signaling with the actin cytoskeleton. As a modulator of the cytoskeleton, CAP is involved in the establishment of proper cell shapes during cardioblast alignment and cardiac lumen formation in the Drosophila embryo. Furthermore, CAP is required for correct heart function throughout development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Jammrath
- Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany
- Division of Cytogenetics, Institute of Biology, Humboldt University Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ingolf Reim
- Division of Developmental Biology, Department of Biology, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
- Muscle Research Center Erlangen (MURCE), Erlangen, Germany
| | - Harald Saumweber
- Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany
- Division of Cytogenetics, Institute of Biology, Humboldt University Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- * E-mail:
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4
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Hughes CJR, Turner S, Andrews RM, Vitkin A, Jacobs JR. Matrix metalloproteinases regulate ECM accumulation but not larval heart growth in Drosophila melanogaster. J Mol Cell Cardiol 2020; 140:42-55. [PMID: 32105665 DOI: 10.1016/j.yjmcc.2020.02.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2019] [Revised: 02/12/2020] [Accepted: 02/19/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The Drosophila heart provides a simple model to examine the remodelling of muscle insertions with growth, extracellular matrix (ECM) turnover, and fibrosis. Between hatching and pupation, the Drosophila heart increases in length five-fold. If major cardiac ECM components are secreted remotely, how is ECM "self assembly" regulated? We explored whether ECM proteases were required to maintain the morphology of a growing heart while the cardiac ECM expanded. An increase in expression of Drosophila's single tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP), or reduced function of metalloproteinase MMP2, resulted in fibrosis and ectopic deposition of two ECM Collagens; type-IV and fibrillar Pericardin. Significant accumulations of Collagen-IV (Viking) developed on the pericardium and in the lumen of the heart. Congenital defects in Pericardin deposition misdirected further assembly in the larva. Reduced metalloproteinase activity during growth also increased Pericardin fibre accumulation in ECM suspending the heart. Although MMP2 expression was required to remodel and position cardiomyocyte cell junctions, reduced MMP function did not impair expansion of the heart. A previous study revealed that MMP2 negatively regulates the size of the luminal cell surface in the embryonic heart. Cardiomyocytes align at the midline, but do not adhere to enclose a heart lumen in MMP2 mutant embryos. Nevertheless, these embryos hatch and produce viable larvae with bifurcated hearts, indicating a secondary pathway to lumen formation between ipsilateral cardiomyocytes. MMP-mediated remodelling of the ECM is required for organogenesis, and to prevent assembly of excess or ectopic ECM protein during growth. MMPs are not essential for normal growth of the Drosophila heart.
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Affiliation(s)
- C J R Hughes
- Dept. Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada.
| | - S Turner
- Dept. Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada.
| | - R M Andrews
- Dept. Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada.
| | - A Vitkin
- Dept. Biomedical Physics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Cananda.
| | - J R Jacobs
- Dept. Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada.
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Melo TG, Adesse D, Meirelles MDN, Pereira MCS. Trypanosoma cruzi down-regulates mechanosensitive proteins in cardiomyocytes. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2019; 114:e180593. [PMID: 31433004 PMCID: PMC6697411 DOI: 10.1590/0074-02760180593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2018] [Accepted: 07/08/2019] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cardiac physiology depends on coupling and electrical and mechanical
coordination through the intercalated disc. Focal adhesions offer mechanical
support and signal transduction events during heart contraction-relaxation
processes. Talin links integrins to the actin cytoskeleton and serves as a
scaffold for the recruitment of other proteins, such as paxillin in focal
adhesion formation and regulation. Chagasic cardiomyopathy is caused by
infection by Trypanosoma cruzi and is a debilitating
condition comprising extensive fibrosis, inflammation, cardiac hypertrophy
and electrical alterations that culminate in heart failure. OBJECTIVES Since mechanotransduction coordinates heart function, we evaluated the
underlying mechanism implicated in the mechanical changes, focusing
especially in mechanosensitive proteins and related signalling pathways
during infection of cardiac cells by T. cruzi. METHODS We investigated the effect of T. cruzi infection on the
expression and distribution of talin/paxillin and associated proteins in
mouse cardiomyocytes in vitro by western blotting, immunofluorescence and
quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). FINDINGS Talin and paxillin spatial distribution in T.
cruzi-infected cardiomyocytes in vitro were
altered associated with a downregulation of these proteins and mRNAs levels
at 72 h post-infection (hpi). Additionally, we observed an increase in the
activation of the focal adhesion kinase (FAK) concomitant with increase in
β-1-integrin at 24 hpi. Finally, we detected a decrease in the activation of
FAK at 72 hpi in T. cruzi-infected cultures. MAIN CONCLUSION The results suggest that these changes may contribute to the
mechanotransduction disturbance evidenced in chagasic cardiomyopathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatiana G Melo
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratório de Ultraestrutura Celular, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil
| | - Daniel Adesse
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratório de Biologia Estrutural, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil
| | - Maria de Nazareth Meirelles
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratório de Ultraestrutura Celular, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil
| | - Mirian Claudia S Pereira
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratório de Ultraestrutura Celular, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil
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Wei X, Sun Y, Han T, Zhu J, Xie Y, Wang S, Wu Y, Fan Y, Sun X, Zhou J, Zhao Z, Jing Z. Upregulation of miR-330-5p is associated with carotid plaque's stability by targeting Talin-1 in symptomatic carotid stenosis patients. BMC Cardiovasc Disord 2019; 19:149. [PMID: 31215474 PMCID: PMC6582585 DOI: 10.1186/s12872-019-1120-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2018] [Accepted: 05/27/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between Talin-1 and stability of carotid atherosclerosis plaque and also find out the role of miRNA, as an upstream regulator, in regulating the expression level of Talin-1. METHODS Human carotid plaques were obtained from 20 symptomatic carotid stenosis patients who underwent carotid endarterectomy (CEA) in our hospital between October 2014 and August 2017. Western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry was carried out to detect the distribution and expression level of Talin-1 in each plaque sample. The content of miRNAs in carotid plaque was decected by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), and the relative expression levels were calculated by 2-△△Ct method after the (cycle threshold) Ct value (power amplification knee point) was obtained. Dual-luciferase reporter assays were applied to verify the successful transfections. Finally, we compared all the groups with independent-samples t-test and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). RESULTS Talin-1 was significantly downregulated in human unstable carotid plaque samples compared with stable carotid plaques (P < 0.05), and the distribution of Talin-1 was mainly found in the fibrous cap of carotid plaque. The overexpression of miRNA-330-5p was found in unstable carotid plaque, which significantly induced the inhibition of expression level of Talin-1. CONCLUSION Upregulated miR-330-5p may lead to unstable carotid plaques by targeting Talin-1 in symptomatic carotid stenosis patients. This might be a new target for the treatment of atherosclerotic diseases through future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaolong Wei
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, 168 Changhai Road, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Yudong Sun
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, 168 Changhai Road, Shanghai, 200433, China.,Depaertment of general surgery, Nanjing General Hospital of Eastern Theater Command, Nanjing, China
| | - Tonglei Han
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, 168 Changhai Road, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Jiang Zhu
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, 168 Changhai Road, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Yongfu Xie
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, 168 Changhai Road, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Shiying Wang
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, 168 Changhai Road, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Yani Wu
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yinxing Fan
- Zhenjiang Medical District, General Hospital of Eastern Theater Command, Zhenjiang, China
| | - Xiuli Sun
- Department of ophthalmology, Jinan aier eye hospital, Jinan, China
| | - Jian Zhou
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, 168 Changhai Road, Shanghai, 200433, China.
| | - Zhiqing Zhao
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, 168 Changhai Road, Shanghai, 200433, China.
| | - Zaiping Jing
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, 168 Changhai Road, Shanghai, 200433, China.
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7
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Imperlini E, Gnecchi M, Rognoni P, Sabidò E, Ciuffreda MC, Palladini G, Espadas G, Mancuso FM, Bozzola M, Malpasso G, Valentini V, Palladini G, Orrù S, Ferraro G, Milani P, Perlini S, Salvatore F, Merlini G, Lavatelli F. Proteotoxicity in cardiac amyloidosis: amyloidogenic light chains affect the levels of intracellular proteins in human heart cells. Sci Rep 2017; 7:15661. [PMID: 29142197 PMCID: PMC5688098 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-15424-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2017] [Accepted: 10/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
AL amyloidosis is characterized by widespread deposition of immunoglobulin light chains (LCs) as amyloid fibrils. Cardiac involvement is frequent and leads to life-threatening cardiomyopathy. Besides the tissue alteration caused by fibrils, clinical and experimental evidence indicates that cardiac damage is also caused by proteotoxicity of prefibrillar amyloidogenic species. As in other amyloidoses, the damage mechanisms at cellular level are complex and largely undefined. We have characterized the molecular changes in primary human cardiac fibroblasts (hCFs) exposed in vitro to soluble amyloidogenic cardiotoxic LCs from AL cardiomyopathy patients. To evaluate proteome alterations caused by a representative cardiotropic LC, we combined gel-based with label-free shotgun analysis and performed bioinformatics and data validation studies. To assess the generalizability of our results we explored the effects of multiple LCs on hCF viability and on levels of a subset of cellular proteins. Our results indicate that exposure of hCFs to cardiotropic LCs translates into proteome remodeling, associated with apoptosis activation and oxidative stress. The proteome alterations affect proteins involved in cytoskeletal organization, protein synthesis and quality control, mitochondrial activity and metabolism, signal transduction and molecular trafficking. These results support and expand the concept that soluble amyloidogenic cardiotropic LCs exert toxic effects on cardiac cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esther Imperlini
- IRCCS SDN, Naples, Italy.,CEINGE-Biotecnologie Avanzate, Naples, Italy
| | - Massimiliano Gnecchi
- Coronary Care Unit and Laboratory of Experimental Cardiology for Cell and Molecular Therapy, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy.,Department of Molecular Medicine, Unit of Cardiology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.,Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Paola Rognoni
- Amyloidosis Research and Treatment Center, Department of Molecular Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo and University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Eduard Sabidò
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute for Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain.,Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Maria Chiara Ciuffreda
- Coronary Care Unit and Laboratory of Experimental Cardiology for Cell and Molecular Therapy, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
| | - Giovanni Palladini
- Amyloidosis Research and Treatment Center, Department of Molecular Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo and University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Guadalupe Espadas
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute for Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain.,Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Francesco Mattia Mancuso
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute for Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain.,Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Margherita Bozzola
- Amyloidosis Research and Treatment Center, Department of Molecular Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo and University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Malpasso
- Coronary Care Unit and Laboratory of Experimental Cardiology for Cell and Molecular Therapy, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
| | - Veronica Valentini
- Amyloidosis Research and Treatment Center, Department of Molecular Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo and University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Giuseppina Palladini
- Department of Internal Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo and University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Stefania Orrù
- IRCCS SDN, Naples, Italy.,CEINGE-Biotecnologie Avanzate, Naples, Italy.,Department of Movement Sciences, "Parthenope" University, Naples, Italy
| | - Giovanni Ferraro
- Amyloidosis Research and Treatment Center, Department of Molecular Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo and University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Paolo Milani
- Amyloidosis Research and Treatment Center, Department of Molecular Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo and University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Stefano Perlini
- Department of Internal Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo and University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Francesco Salvatore
- CEINGE-Biotecnologie Avanzate, Naples, Italy. .,Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnologies, University of Naples "Federico II", Pavia, Italy.
| | - Giampaolo Merlini
- Amyloidosis Research and Treatment Center, Department of Molecular Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo and University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
| | - Francesca Lavatelli
- Amyloidosis Research and Treatment Center, Department of Molecular Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo and University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
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Dissecting the Role of the Extracellular Matrix in Heart Disease: Lessons from the Drosophila Genetic Model. Vet Sci 2017; 4:vetsci4020024. [PMID: 29056683 PMCID: PMC5606597 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci4020024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2016] [Revised: 02/15/2017] [Accepted: 04/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The extracellular matrix (ECM) is a dynamic scaffold within organs and tissues that enables cell morphogenesis and provides structural support. Changes in the composition and organisation of the cardiac ECM are required for normal development. Congenital and age-related cardiac diseases can arise from mis-regulation of structural ECM proteins (Collagen, Laminin) or their receptors (Integrin). Key regulators of ECM turnover include matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their inhibitors, tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases (TIMPs). MMP expression is increased in mice, pigs, and dogs with cardiomyopathy. The complexity and longevity of vertebrate animals makes a short-lived, genetically tractable model organism, such as Drosophila melanogaster, an attractive candidate for study. We survey ECM macromolecules and their role in heart development and growth, which are conserved between Drosophila and vertebrates, with focus upon the consequences of altered expression or distribution. The Drosophila heart resembles that of vertebrates during early development, and is amenable to in vivo analysis. Experimental manipulation of gene function in a tissue- or temporally-regulated manner can reveal the function of adhesion or ECM genes in the heart. Perturbation of the function of ECM proteins, or of the MMPs that facilitate ECM remodelling, induces cardiomyopathies in Drosophila, including cardiodilation, arrhythmia, and cardia bifida, that provide mechanistic insight into cardiac disease in mammals.
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