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Puri C, Dannenberg C, Ucci A, Ponzetti M, Pucci E, Silvestri L, Lau P, Frings-Meuthen P, Heer M, Rucci N, Teti A, Maurizi A. Pre-proenkephalin 1 is Downregulated Under Unloading and is Involved in Osteoblast Biology. Calcif Tissue Int 2024; 114:524-534. [PMID: 38506955 PMCID: PMC11061007 DOI: 10.1007/s00223-024-01199-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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
Pre-proenkephalin 1 (Penk1) is a pro-neuropeptide that belongs to the typical opioid peptide's family, having analgesic properties. We previously found Penk1 to be the most downregulated gene in a whole gene profiling analysis performed in osteoblasts subjected to microgravity as a model of mechanical unloading. In this work, Penk1 downregulation was confirmed in the bones of two in vivo models of mechanical unloading: tail-suspended and botulinum toxin A (botox)-injected mice. Consistently, in the sera from healthy volunteers subjected to bed rest, we observed an inverse correlation between PENK1 and bed rest duration. These results prompted us to investigate a role for this factor in bone. Penk1 was highly expressed in mouse bone, but its global deletion failed to impact bone metabolism in vivo. Indeed, Penk1 knock out (Penk1-/-) mice did not show an overt bone phenotype compared to the WT littermates. Conversely, in vitro Penk1 gene expression progressively increased during osteoblast differentiation and its transient silencing in mature osteoblasts by siRNAs upregulated the transcription of the Sost1 gene encoding sclerostin, and decreased Wnt3a and Col1a1 mRNAs, suggesting an altered osteoblast activity due to an impairment of the Wnt pathway. In line with this, osteoblasts treated with the Penk1 encoded peptide, Met-enkephalin, showed an increase of Osx and Col1a1 mRNAs and enhanced nodule mineralization. Interestingly, primary osteoblasts isolated from Penk1-/- mice showed lower metabolic activity, ALP activity, and nodule mineralization, as well as a lower number of CFU-F compared to osteoblasts isolated from WT mice, suggesting that, unlike the transient inhibition, the chronic Penk1 deletion affects both osteoblast differentiation and activity. Taken together, these results highlight a role for Penk1 in the regulation of the response of the bone to mechanical unloading, potentially acting on osteoblast differentiation and activity in a cell-autonomous manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Puri
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, Via Vetoio - Coppito 2, 67100, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Charlotte Dannenberg
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, Via Vetoio - Coppito 2, 67100, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Argia Ucci
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, Via Vetoio - Coppito 2, 67100, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Marco Ponzetti
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, Via Vetoio - Coppito 2, 67100, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Elisa Pucci
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, Via Vetoio - Coppito 2, 67100, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Luciana Silvestri
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, Via Vetoio - Coppito 2, 67100, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Patrick Lau
- German Aerospace Center (DLR), Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Cologne, Germany
| | - Petra Frings-Meuthen
- German Aerospace Center (DLR), Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Cologne, Germany
| | - Martina Heer
- Institute of Nutritional and Food Sciences, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Nadia Rucci
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, Via Vetoio - Coppito 2, 67100, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Anna Teti
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, Via Vetoio - Coppito 2, 67100, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Antonio Maurizi
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, Via Vetoio - Coppito 2, 67100, L'Aquila, Italy.
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Chen H, Chew G, Devapragash N, Loh JZ, Huang KY, Guo J, Liu S, Tan ELS, Chen S, Tee NGZ, Mia MM, Singh MK, Zhang A, Behmoaras J, Petretto E. The E3 ubiquitin ligase WWP2 regulates pro-fibrogenic monocyte infiltration and activity in heart fibrosis. Nat Commun 2022; 13:7375. [PMID: 36450710 PMCID: PMC9712659 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-34971-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 11/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-ischemic cardiomyopathy (NICM) can cause left ventricular dysfunction through interstitial fibrosis, which corresponds to the failure of cardiac tissue remodeling. Recent evidence implicates monocytes/macrophages in the etiopathology of cardiac fibrosis, but giving their heterogeneity and the antagonizing roles of macrophage subtypes in fibrosis, targeting these cells has been challenging. Here we focus on WWP2, an E3 ubiquitin ligase that acts as a positive genetic regulator of human and murine cardiac fibrosis, and show that myeloid specific deletion of WWP2 reduces cardiac fibrosis in hypertension-induced NICM. By using single cell RNA sequencing analysis of immune cells in the same model, we establish the functional heterogeneity of macrophages and define an early pro-fibrogenic phase of NICM that is driven by Ccl5-expressing Ly6chigh monocytes. Among cardiac macrophage subtypes, WWP2 dysfunction primarily affects Ly6chigh monocytes via modulating Ccl5, and consequentially macrophage infiltration and activation, which contributes to reduced myofibroblast trans-differentiation. WWP2 interacts with transcription factor IRF7, promoting its non-degradative mono-ubiquitination, nuclear translocation and transcriptional activity, leading to upregulation of Ccl5 at transcriptional level. We identify a pro-fibrogenic macrophage subtype in non-ischemic cardiomyopathy, and demonstrate that WWP2 is a key regulator of IRF7-mediated Ccl5/Ly6chigh monocyte axis in heart fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huimei Chen
- grid.428397.30000 0004 0385 0924Programme in Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders, Duke-NUS Medical School, 8 College Road, 169857 Singapore, Singapore ,grid.254147.10000 0000 9776 7793Institute for Big Data and Artificial Intelligence in Medicine, School of Science, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009 China
| | - Gabriel Chew
- grid.428397.30000 0004 0385 0924Programme in Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders, Duke-NUS Medical School, 8 College Road, 169857 Singapore, Singapore
| | - Nithya Devapragash
- grid.428397.30000 0004 0385 0924Programme in Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders, Duke-NUS Medical School, 8 College Road, 169857 Singapore, Singapore
| | - Jui Zhi Loh
- grid.428397.30000 0004 0385 0924Programme in Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders, Duke-NUS Medical School, 8 College Road, 169857 Singapore, Singapore
| | - Kevin Y. Huang
- grid.428397.30000 0004 0385 0924Programme in Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders, Duke-NUS Medical School, 8 College Road, 169857 Singapore, Singapore
| | - Jing Guo
- grid.428397.30000 0004 0385 0924Programme in Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders, Duke-NUS Medical School, 8 College Road, 169857 Singapore, Singapore
| | - Shiyang Liu
- grid.428397.30000 0004 0385 0924Programme in Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders, Duke-NUS Medical School, 8 College Road, 169857 Singapore, Singapore
| | - Elisabeth Li Sa Tan
- grid.428397.30000 0004 0385 0924Programme in Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders, Duke-NUS Medical School, 8 College Road, 169857 Singapore, Singapore
| | - Shuang Chen
- grid.254147.10000 0000 9776 7793Institute for Big Data and Artificial Intelligence in Medicine, School of Science, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009 China ,grid.452511.6Department of Nephrology, Children’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210008 China
| | - Nicole Gui Zhen Tee
- grid.419385.20000 0004 0620 9905National Heart Centre Singapore, Singapore, 169609 Singapore
| | - Masum M. Mia
- grid.428397.30000 0004 0385 0924Programme in Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders, Duke-NUS Medical School, 8 College Road, 169857 Singapore, Singapore
| | - Manvendra K. Singh
- grid.428397.30000 0004 0385 0924Programme in Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders, Duke-NUS Medical School, 8 College Road, 169857 Singapore, Singapore
| | - Aihua Zhang
- grid.452511.6Department of Nephrology, Children’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210008 China
| | - Jacques Behmoaras
- grid.428397.30000 0004 0385 0924Programme in Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders, Duke-NUS Medical School, 8 College Road, 169857 Singapore, Singapore ,grid.413629.b0000 0001 0705 4923Centre for Inflammatory Disease, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, London, W12 0NN UK
| | - Enrico Petretto
- grid.428397.30000 0004 0385 0924Programme in Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders, Duke-NUS Medical School, 8 College Road, 169857 Singapore, Singapore ,grid.254147.10000 0000 9776 7793Institute for Big Data and Artificial Intelligence in Medicine, School of Science, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009 China
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3
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Bioinformatics Analysis of Competing Endogenous RNA Network and Immune Infiltration in Atrial Fibrillation. Genet Res (Camb) 2022; 2022:1415140. [PMID: 35919038 PMCID: PMC9308555 DOI: 10.1155/2022/1415140] [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: 10/20/2021] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background There is still no clear understanding of the pathogenesis of atrial fibrillation (AF). For this purpose, we used integrated analysis to uncover immune infiltration characteristics and investigated their relationship with competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network in AF. Methods Three AF mRNA data sets (GSE14975, GSE79768, and GSE41177) were integrated using the SVA method from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO). Together with AF circRNA data set (GSE129409) and miRNA data set (GSE70887) from GEO database, we built a ceRNA network. Then hub genes were screened by the Cytoscape plug-in cytoHubba from a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network. As well, CIBERSORT was employed to investigate immune infiltration, followed by Pearson correlation coefficients to unravel the correlation between AF-related infiltrating immune cells and hub genes. Ulteriorly, circRNA-miRNA-mRNA regulatory axises that could be immunologically related to AF were obtained. Results Ten hub genes were identified from the constructing PPI network. The immune infiltration analysis revealed that the number of monocytes and neutrophils was higher, as well as the number of dendritic cells activated and T cells regulatory (Tregs) was lower in AF. Seven hub genes (C5AR1, CXCR4, HCK, LAPTM5, MPEG1, TLR8, and TNFSF13B) were associated with those 4 immune cells (P < 0.05). We found that the circ_0005299–miR-1246–C5AR1 and circRNA_0079284-miR-623-HCK/CXCR4 regulatory axises may be associated with the immune mechanism of AF. Conclusion The findings of our study provide insights into immuno-related ceRNA networks as potential molecular regulators of AF progression.
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Zhang P, The E, Luo Z, Zhai Y, Yao Q, Ao L, Fullerton DA, Xu D, Meng X. Pro-inflammatory mediators released by activated monocytes promote aortic valve fibrocalcific activity. Mol Med 2022; 28:5. [PMID: 35062861 PMCID: PMC8780233 DOI: 10.1186/s10020-022-00433-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 01/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) is the most prevalent heart valve disorder in the elderly. Valvular fibrocalcification is a characteristic pathological change. In diseased valves, monocyte accumulation is evident, and aortic valve interstitial cells (AVICs) display greater fibrogenic and osteogenic activities. However, the impact of activated monocytes on valular fibrocalcification remains unclear. We tested the hypothesis that pro-inflammatory mediators from activated monocytes elevate AVIC fibrogenic and osteogenic activities.
Methods and results Picro-sirius red staining and Alizarin red staining revealed collagen and calcium depositions in cultured human AVICs exposed to conditioned media derived from Pam3CSK4-stimulated monocytes (Pam3 CM). Pam3 CM up-regulated alkaline phosphatase (ALP), an osteogenic biomarker, and extracellular matrix proteins collagen I and matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2). ELISA analysis identified high levels of RANTES and TNF-α in Pam3 CM. Neutralizing RANTES in the Pam3 CM reduced its effect on collagen I and MMP-2 production in AVICs while neutralizing TNF-α attenuated the effect on AVIC ALP production. In addition, Pam3 CM induced NF-κB and JNK activation. While JNK mediated the effect of Pam3 CM on collagen I and MMP-2 production, NF-κB was critical for the effect of Pam3 CM on ALP production in AVICs. Conclusions This study demonstrates that activated monocytes elevate the fibrogenic and osteogenic activities in human AVICs through a paracrine mechanism. TNF-α and RANTES mediate the pro-fibrogenic effect of activated monocytes on AVICs through activation of JNK, and TNF-α also activates NF-κB to elevate AVIC osteogenic activity. The results suggest that infiltrated monocytes elevate AVIC fibrocalcific activity to promote CAVD progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peijian Zhang
- Department of Surgery, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA.,Department of Cardiology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Erlinda The
- Department of Surgery, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
| | - Zichao Luo
- Department of Surgery, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA.,Department of Cardiology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Yufeng Zhai
- Department of Surgery, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
| | - Qingzhou Yao
- Department of Surgery, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
| | - Lihua Ao
- Department of Surgery, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
| | - David A Fullerton
- Department of Surgery, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
| | - Dingli Xu
- Department of Cardiology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China.
| | - Xianzhong Meng
- Department of Surgery, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA.
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Wei B, Gong Y, Yang H, Zhou J, Su Z, Liang Z. Role of tumor necrosis factor receptor‑associated factor 6 in pyroptosis during acute pancreatitis. Mol Med Rep 2021; 24:848. [PMID: 34643253 PMCID: PMC8524430 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2021.12488] [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: 06/02/2021] [Accepted: 09/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Acute pancreatitis (AP) is hypothesized to be related to the activation of an inflammatory response induced by pyroptosis. The aim of the present study was to investigate the potential role of tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF6) in pyroptosis in an AP rat model and the human pancreatic ductal epithelial HPDE6C7 cell line. In vivo, AP was induced by intraperitoneal injection of caerulein (CAE) in rats. The rats were sacrificed at 24 or 48 h after the final CAE injection. In vitro, HPDE6C7 cells were treated with CAE for 12, 24 and 48 h. Moreover, TRAF6 was overexpressed and treated with CAE for 48 h. Histopathological changes of pancreatic, serum and supernatant inflammatory cytokines and pyroptosis-related mRNA and protein expression levels were determined by histopathological scores, ELISA, reverse transcription-quantitative PCR and western blotting. In addition, pyroptosis morphological changes were also determined by Hoechst/PI staining in HPDE6C7 cells. Results showed that AP was observed in the CAE-induced rat model, and that serum IL-1β and IL-18 levels, and TRAF6, NLR pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3), caspase-1 and caspase-3 mRNA and protein expression levels were increased. Similar in HPDE6C7 cells, CAE treatment caused supernatant IL-1β level, NLRP3 and caspase-1 mRNA expression levels to significantly increase. After TRAF6 overexpression and CAE treatment, supernatant IL-1β level, caspase-1 protein expression level, and NLRP3 and caspase-3 mRNA and protein expression levels were also significantly increased. Furthermore, cells exhibited red fluorescence in Hoechst/PI staining, which can be used as a method of detecting pyroptosis activation. The results also showed that the red fluorescence was stronger after CAE treatment or TRAF6 overexpression plus CAE treatment. In conclusion, TRAF6 and caspase-1/3 signaling pathways were involved in the pathogenesis of CAE-induced AP in rats. Pyroptosis was activated by CAE and TRAF6 overexpression via the caspase-1/3 signaling pathways in HPDE6C7 cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Biwei Wei
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region 530021, P.R. China
| | - Yahui Gong
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region 530021, P.R. China
| | - Huiying Yang
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region 530021, P.R. China
| | - Jie Zhou
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region 530021, P.R. China
| | - Zhou Su
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region 530021, P.R. China
| | - Zhihai Liang
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region 530021, P.R. China
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Wang Z, Zhang M, Xu Y, Gu Y, Song Y, Jiang T. Identification of Independent and Communal Differentially Expressed Genes as Well as Potential Therapeutic Targets in Ischemic Heart Failure and Non-Ischemic Heart Failure. PHARMACOGENOMICS & PERSONALIZED MEDICINE 2021; 14:683-693. [PMID: 34163213 PMCID: PMC8214211 DOI: 10.2147/pgpm.s313621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Background Heart failure (HF) is a rapidly growing public health problem, and its two main etiological types are non-ischemic heart failure (NIHF) and ischemic heart failure (IHF). However, the independent and common mechanisms of NIHF and IHF have not been fully elucidated. Here, bioinformatic analysis was used to characterize the difference and independent pathways for IHF and NIHF, and more importantly, to unearth the common potential markers and therapeutic targets in IHF and NIHF. Methods Two data sets with accession numbers GSE26887 and GSE84796 were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. After identifying the independent and communal DEGs of NIHF and IHF, a functional annotation, protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis, co-expression and drug-gene interaction prediction analysis, and mRNA-miRNA regulatory network analysis were performed for DEGs. Results We found 1146 independent DEGs (DEGs2) of NIHF mainly enriched in transcription-related and 2595 independent DEGs (DEGs3) of IHF mainly enriched in immune-related. Moreover, 185 communal DEGs (DEGs1) were found between NIHF and IHF, including 93 upregulated genes and 92 downregulated genes. Pathway enrichment analysis results showed that GPCR pathways and biological processes are closely related to the occurrence of HF. In addition, three hub genes were identified from PPI network, including CCL5, C5 and TLR3. Conclusion The identification of DEGs and hub genes in this study contributes to a novel perception for potential functional mechanisms and biomarkers or therapeutic targets in NIHF and IHF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zuoxiang Wang
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.,Department of Medicine, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Mingyang Zhang
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.,Department of Medicine, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Yinan Xu
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.,Department of Medicine, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Yiyu Gu
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.,Department of Medicine, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Yumeng Song
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.,Department of Medicine, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Tingbo Jiang
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
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Evans L, Shen Y, Bender A, Burnett LE, Li M, Habibian JS, Zhou T, Ferguson BS. Divergent and Overlapping Roles for Selected Phytochemicals in the Regulation of Pathological Cardiac Hypertrophy. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26051210. [PMID: 33668293 PMCID: PMC7956446 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26051210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2021] [Revised: 02/18/2021] [Accepted: 02/19/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Plant-based foods, like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, seeds and other foodstuffs, have been deemed as heart healthy. The chemicals within these plant-based foods, i.e., phytochemicals, are credited with protecting the heart. However, the mechanistic actions of phytochemicals, which prevent clinical endpoints, such as pathological cardiac hypertrophy, are still being elucidated. We sought to characterize the overlapping and divergent mechanisms by which 18 selected phytochemicals prevent phenylephrine- and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate-mediated cardiomyocyte enlargement. Of the tested 18 compounds, six attenuated PE- and PMA-mediated enlargement of neonatal rat ventricular myocytes. Cell viability assays showed that apigenin, baicalein, berberine hydrochloride, emodin, luteolin and quercetin dihydrate did not reduce cell size through cytotoxicity. Four of the six phytochemicals, apigenin, baicalein, berberine hydrochloride and emodin, robustly inhibited stress-induced hypertrophy and were analyzed further against intracellular signaling and genome-wide changes in mRNA expression. The four phytochemicals differentially regulated mitogen-activated protein kinases and protein kinase D. RNA-sequencing further showed divergence in gene regulation, while pathway analysis demonstrated overlap in the regulation of inflammatory pathways. Combined, this study provided a comprehensive analysis of cardioprotective phytochemicals. These data highlight two defining observations: (1) that these compounds predominantly target divergent gene pathways within cardiac myocytes and (2) that regulation of overlapping signaling and gene pathways may be of particular importance for the anti-hypertrophic actions of these phytochemicals. Despite these new findings, future works investigating rodent models of heart failure are still needed to understand the roles for these compounds in the heart.
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Affiliation(s)
- Levi Evans
- Department of Nutrition, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557, USA; (L.E.); (Y.S.); (A.B.); (L.E.B.)
- Environmental Sciences Program, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557, USA
| | - Yiqui Shen
- Department of Nutrition, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557, USA; (L.E.); (Y.S.); (A.B.); (L.E.B.)
| | - Abigail Bender
- Department of Nutrition, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557, USA; (L.E.); (Y.S.); (A.B.); (L.E.B.)
| | - Leah E. Burnett
- Department of Nutrition, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557, USA; (L.E.); (Y.S.); (A.B.); (L.E.B.)
| | - Musheng Li
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557, USA; (M.L.); (T.Z.)
| | | | - Tong Zhou
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557, USA; (M.L.); (T.Z.)
| | - Bradley S. Ferguson
- Department of Nutrition, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557, USA; (L.E.); (Y.S.); (A.B.); (L.E.B.)
- Environmental Sciences Program, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557, USA
- Center of Biomedical Research Excellence for Molecular and Cellular Signal Transduction in the Cardiovascular System, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557, USA
- Correspondence:
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