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Therapeutic Potential of VEGF-B in Coronary Heart Disease and Heart Failure: Dream or Vision? Cells 2022; 11:cells11244134. [PMID: 36552897 PMCID: PMC9776740 DOI: 10.3390/cells11244134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2022] [Revised: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the leading cause of death around the world. Based on the roles of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) family members to regulate blood and lymphatic vessels and metabolic functions, several therapeutic approaches have been attempted during the last decade. However proangiogenic therapies based on classical VEGF-A have been disappointing. Therefore, it has become important to focus on other VEGFs such as VEGF-B, which is a novel member of the VEGF family. Recent studies have shown the very promising potential of the VEGF-B to treat CHD and heart failure. The aim of this review article is to present the role of VEGF-B in endothelial biology and as a potential therapeutic agent for CHD and heart failure. In addition, key differences between the VEGF-A and VEGF-B effects on endothelial functions are demonstrated.
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PGC-1α4 Interacts with REST to Upregulate Neuronal Genes and Augment Energy Consumption in Developing Cardiomyocytes. Cells 2022; 11:cells11192944. [PMID: 36230906 PMCID: PMC9564192 DOI: 10.3390/cells11192944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2022] [Revised: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Transcriptional coactivator PGC-1α is a main regulator of cardiac energy metabolism. In addition to canonical PGC-1α1, other PGC-1α isoforms have been found to exert specific biological functions in a variety of tissues. We investigated the expression patterns and the biological effects of the non-canonical isoforms in the heart. We used RNA sequencing data to identify the expression patterns of PGC-1α isoforms in the heart. To evaluate the biological effects of the alternative isoform expression, we generated a transgenic mouse with cardiac-specific overexpression of PGC-1α4 and analysed the cardiac phenotype with a wide spectrum of physiological and biophysical tools. Our results show that non-canonical isoforms are expressed in the heart, and that the main variant PGC-1α4 is induced by β-adrenergic signalling in adult cardiomyocytes. Cardiomyocyte specific PGC-1α4 overexpression in mice relieves the RE1-Silencing Transcription factor (REST)-mediated suppression of neuronal genes during foetal heart development. The resulting de-repression of REST target genes induces a cardiac phenotype with increased cellular energy consumption, resulting in postnatal dilated cardiomyopathy. These results propose a new concept for actions of the PGC-1α protein family where activation of the Pgc-1α gene, through its isoforms, induces a phenotype with concurrent supply and demand for cellular energy. These data highlight the biological roles of the different PGC-1α isoforms, which should be considered when future therapies are developed.
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Chang JH, Cheng CC, Lu YY, Chung CC, Yeh YH, Chen YC, Higa S, Chen SA, Chen YJ. Vascular endothelial growth factor modulates pulmonary vein arrhythmogenesis via vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1/NOS pathway. Eur J Pharmacol 2021; 911:174547. [PMID: 34624234 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2021.174547] [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: 08/09/2021] [Revised: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 09/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common form of arrhythmia with serious public health impacts, but its underlying mechanisms are not yet fully understood. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is highly expressed in the atrium of patients with AF, but whether VEGF affects AF pathogenesis remains unclear. Pulmonary veins (PVs) are important sources for the genesis of atrial tachycardia or AF. Therefore, this study assessed the effects of VEGF on PV electrophysiological properties and evaluated its underlying mechanisms. Conventional microelectrodes and whole-cell patch clamps were performed using isolated rabbit PV preparations or single isolated PV cardiomyocytes before and after VEGF or VEGF receptor (VEGFR), Akt, NOS inhibitor administration. We found that VEGF (0.1, 1, and 10 ng/mL) reduced the PV beating rate in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, VEGF (10 ng/mL) reduced late diastolic depolarization and diastolic tension. Isoproterenol increased PV beating and burst firing, which was attenuated by VEGF (1 ng/mL). In the presence of VEGFR-1 inhibition (ZM306416 at 10 μM) and L-NAME (100 μM), VEGF (1 ng/mL) did not alter PV spontaneous activity. In isolated PV cardiomyocytes, VEGF (1 ng/mL) decreased L-type calcium, sodium/calcium exchanger, and late sodium currents. In conclusion, we found that VEGF reduces PV arrhythmogenesis by modulating sodium/calcium homeostasis through VEGFR-1/NOS signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun-Hei Chang
- Department of Medicine, Country Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Biomedical Engineering, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chen-Chuan Cheng
- Department of Cardiology, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Yen-Yu Lu
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Sijhih Cathay General Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan; School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Fu-Jen Catholic University, New Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Cheng-Chih Chung
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yung-Hsin Yeh
- Cardiovascular Department, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou, Taiwan; College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Yao-Chang Chen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Satoshi Higa
- Cardiac Electrophysiology and Pacing Laboratory, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Makiminato Central Hospital, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Shih-Ann Chen
- Heart Rhythm Center and Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Cardiovascular Center, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Jen Chen
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
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Naumenko N, Mutikainen M, Holappa L, Ruas JL, Tuomainen T, Tavi P. PGC-1α deficiency reveals sex-specific links between cardiac energy metabolism and EC-coupling during development of heart failure in mice. Cardiovasc Res 2021; 118:1520-1534. [PMID: 34086875 PMCID: PMC9074965 DOI: 10.1093/cvr/cvab188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2020] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Aims Biological sex has fundamental effects on mammalian heart physiology and pathogenesis. While it has been established that female sex is a protective factor against most cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), this beneficial effect may involve pathways associated with cardiac energy metabolism. Our aim was to elucidate the role of transcriptional coactivator PGC-1α in sex dimorphism of heart failure (HF) development. Methods and results Here, we show that mice deficient in cardiac expression of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-γ) coactivator-1α (PGC-1α) develop dilated HF associated with changes in aerobic and anaerobic metabolism, calcium handling, cell structure, electrophysiology, as well as gene expression. These cardiac changes occur in both sexes, but female mice develop an earlier and more severe structural and functional phenotype associated with dyssynchronous local calcium release resulting from disruption of t-tubular structures of the cardiomyocytes. Conclusions These data reveal that the integrity of the subcellular Ca2+ release and uptake machinery is dependent on energy metabolism and that female hearts are more prone to suffer from contractile dysfunction in conditions with compromised production of cellular energy. Furthermore, these findings suggest that PGC-1α is a central mediator of sex-specific differences in heart function and CVD susceptibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikolay Naumenko
- A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Maija Mutikainen
- A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Lari Holappa
- A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Jorge L Ruas
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Tomi Tuomainen
- A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Pasi Tavi
- A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
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Laakkonen JP, Lähteenvuo J, Jauhiainen S, Heikura T, Ylä-Herttuala S. Beyond endothelial cells: Vascular endothelial growth factors in heart, vascular anomalies and placenta. Vascul Pharmacol 2018; 112:91-101. [PMID: 30342234 DOI: 10.1016/j.vph.2018.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2018] [Revised: 10/16/2018] [Accepted: 10/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Vascular endothelial growth factors regulate vascular and lymphatic growth. Dysregulation of VEGF signaling is connected to many pathological states, including hemangiomas, arteriovenous malformations and placental abnormalities. In heart, VEGF gene transfer induces myocardial angiogenesis. Besides vascular and lymphatic endothelial cells, VEGFs affect multiple other cell types. Understanding VEGF biology and its paracrine signaling properties will offer new targets for novel treatments of several diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johanna P Laakkonen
- A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.
| | - Johanna Lähteenvuo
- A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Suvi Jauhiainen
- A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Tommi Heikura
- A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Seppo Ylä-Herttuala
- A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland; Science Service Center, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland; Gene Therapy Unit, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland
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