NFAT5/TonEBP Limits Pulmonary Vascular Resistance in the Hypoxic Lung by Controlling Mitochondrial Reactive Oxygen Species Generation in Arterial Smooth Muscle Cells.

Chronic hypoxia increases the resistance of pulmonary arteries by stimulating their contraction and augmenting their coverage by smooth muscle cells (SMCs). While these responses require adjustment of the vascular SMC transcriptome, regulatory elements are not well defined in this context. Here, we explored the functional role of the transcription factor nuclear factor of activated T-cells 5 (NFAT5/TonEBP) in the hypoxic lung. Regulatory functions of NFAT5 were investigated in cultured artery SMCs and lungs from control (Nfat5fl/fl) and SMC-specific Nfat5-deficient (Nfat5(SMC)-/-) mice. Exposure to hypoxia promoted the expression of genes associated with metabolism and mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) in Nfat5(SMC)-/- versus Nfat5fl/fl lungs. In vitro, hypoxia-exposed Nfat5-deficient pulmonary artery SMCs elevated the level of OXPHOS-related transcripts, mitochondrial respiration, and production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Right ventricular functions were impaired while pulmonary right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP) was amplified in hypoxia-exposed Nfat5(SMC)-/- versus Nfat5fl/fl mice. Scavenging of mitochondrial ROS normalized the raise in RVSP. Our findings suggest a critical role for NFAT5 as a suppressor of OXPHOS-associated gene expression, mitochondrial respiration, and ROS production in pulmonary artery SMCs that is vital to limit ROS-dependent arterial resistance in a hypoxic environment.

FGF23-Mediated Activation of Local RAAS Promotes Cardiac Hypertrophy and Fibrosis.

Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are prone to developing cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis, which is associated with increased fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) serum levels. Elevated circulating FGF23 was shown to induce left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) via the calcineurin/NFAT pathway and contributed to cardiac fibrosis by stimulation of profibrotic factors. We hypothesized that FGF23 may also stimulate the local renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) in the heart, thereby further promoting the progression of FGF23-mediated cardiac pathologies. We evaluated LVH and fibrosis in association with cardiac FGF23 and activation of RAAS in heart tissue of 5/6 nephrectomized (5/6Nx) rats compared to sham-operated animals followed by in vitro studies with isolated neonatal rat ventricular myocytes and fibroblast (NRVM, NRCF), respectively. Uremic rats showed enhanced cardiomyocyte size and cardiac fibrosis compared with sham. The cardiac expression of Fgf23 and RAAS genes were increased in 5/6Nx rats and correlated with the degree of cardiac fibrosis. In NRVM and NRCF, FGF23 stimulated the expression of RAAS genes and induced Ngal indicating mineralocorticoid receptor activation. The FGF23-mediated hypertrophic growth of NRVM and induction of NFAT target genes were attenuated by cyclosporine A, losartan and spironolactone. In NRCF, FGF23 induced Tgfb and Ctgf, which were suppressed by losartan and spironolactone, only. Our data suggest that FGF23-mediated activation of local RAAS in the heart promotes cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis.

Insulin supplementation attenuates cancer-induced cardiomyopathy and slows tumor disease progression.

Advanced cancer induces fundamental changes in metabolism and promotes cardiac atrophy and heart failure. We discovered systemic insulin deficiency in cachectic cancer patients. Similarly, mice with advanced B16F10 melanoma (B16F10-TM) or colon 26 carcinoma (C26-TM) displayed decreased systemic insulin associated with marked cardiac atrophy, metabolic impairment, and function. B16F10 and C26 tumors decrease systemic insulin via high glucose consumption, lowering pancreatic insulin production and producing insulin-degrading enzyme. As tumor cells consume glucose in an insulin-independent manner, they shift glucose away from cardiomyocytes. Since cardiomyocytes in both tumor models remained insulin responsive, low-dose insulin supplementation by subcutaneous implantation of insulin-releasing pellets improved cardiac glucose uptake, atrophy, and function, with no adverse side effects. In addition, by redirecting glucose to the heart in addition to other organs, the systemic insulin treatment lowered glucose usage by the tumor and thereby decreased tumor growth and volume. Insulin corrected the cancer-induced reduction in cardiac Akt activation and the subsequent overactivation of the proteasome and autophagy. Thus, cancer-induced systemic insulin depletion contributes to cardiac wasting and failure and may promote tumor growth. Low-dose insulin supplementation attenuates these processes and may be supportive in cardio-oncologic treatment concepts.

Iron-regulatory proteins secure iron availability in cardiomyocytes to prevent heart failure.

Aims: Iron deficiency (ID) is associated with adverse outcomes in heart failure (HF) but the underlying mechanisms are incompletely understood. Intracellular iron availability is secured by two mRNA-binding iron-regulatory proteins (IRPs), IRP1 and IRP2. We generated mice with a cardiomyocyte-targeted deletion of Irp1 and Irp2 to explore the functional implications of ID in the heart independent of systemic ID and anaemia. Methods and results: Iron content in cardiomyocytes was reduced in Irp-targeted mice. The animals were not anaemic and did not show a phenotype under baseline conditions. Irp-targeted mice, however, were unable to increase left ventricular (LV) systolic function in response to an acute dobutamine challenge. After myocardial infarction, Irp-targeted mice developed more severe LV dysfunction with increased HF mortality. Mechanistically, the activity of the iron-sulphur cluster-containing complex I of the mitochondrial electron transport chain was reduced in left ventricles from Irp-targeted mice. As demonstrated by extracellular flux analysis in vitro, mitochondrial respiration was preserved at baseline but failed to increase in response to dobutamine in Irp-targeted cardiomyocytes. As shown by 31P-magnetic resonance spectroscopy in vivo, LV phosphocreatine/ATP ratio declined during dobutamine stress in Irp-targeted mice but remained stable in control mice. Intravenous injection of ferric carboxymaltose replenished cardiac iron stores, restored mitochondrial respiratory capacity and inotropic reserve, and attenuated adverse remodelling after myocardial infarction in Irp-targeted mice but not in control mice. As shown by electrophoretic mobility shift assays, IRP activity was significantly reduced in LV tissue samples from patients with advanced HF and reduced LV tissue iron content. Conclusions: ID in cardiomyocytes impairs mitochondrial respiration and adaptation to acute and chronic increases in workload. Iron supplementation restores cardiac energy reserve and function in iron-deficient hearts.

MicroRNA-Based Therapy of GATA2-Deficient Vascular Disease.

BACKGROUND: The transcription factor GATA2 orchestrates the expression of many endothelial-specific genes, illustrating its crucial importance for endothelial cell function. The capacity of this transcription factor in orchestrating endothelial-important microRNAs (miRNAs/miR) is unknown. METHODS: Endothelial GATA2 was functionally analyzed in human endothelial cells in vitro. Endogenous short interfering RNA-mediated knockdown and lentiviral-based overexpression were applied to decipher the capacity of GATA2 in regulating cell viability and capillary formation. Next, the GATA2-dependent miR transcriptome was identified by using a profiling approach on the basis of quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Transcriptional control of miR promoters was assessed via chromatin immunoprecipitation, luciferase promoter assays, and bisulfite sequencing analysis of sites in proximity. Selected miRs were modulated in combination with GATA2 to identify signaling pathways at the angiogenic cytokine level via proteome profiler and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Downstream miR targets were identified via bioinformatic target prediction and luciferase reporter gene assays. In vitro findings were translated to a mouse model of carotid injury in an endothelial GATA2 knockout background. Nanoparticle-mediated delivery of proangiogenic miR-126 was tested in the reendothelialization model. RESULTS: GATA2 gain- and loss-of-function experiments in human umbilical vein endothelial cells identified a key role of GATA2 as master regulator of multiple endothelial functions via miRNA-dependent mechanisms. Global miRNAnome-screening identified several GATA2-regulated miRNAs including miR-126 and miR-221. Specifically, proangiogenic miR-126 was regulated by GATA2 transcriptionally and targeted antiangiogenic SPRED1 and FOXO3a contributing to GATA2-mediated formation of normal vascular structures, whereas GATA2 deficiency led to vascular abnormalities. In contrast to GATA2 deficiency, supplementation with miR-126 normalized vascular function and expression profiles of cytokines contributing to proangiogenic paracrine effects. GATA2 silencing resulted in endothelial DNA hypomethylation leading to induced expression of antiangiogenic miR-221 by GATA2-dependent demethylation of a putative CpG island in the miR-221 promoter. Mechanistically, a reverted GATA2 phenotype by endogenous suppression of miR-221 was mediated through direct proangiogenic miR-221 target genes ICAM1 and ETS1. In a mouse model of carotid injury, GATA2 was reduced, and systemic supplementation of miR-126-coupled nanoparticles enhanced miR-126 availability in the carotid artery and improved reendothelialization of injured carotid arteries in vivo. CONCLUSIONS: GATA2-mediated regulation of miR-126 and miR-221 has an important impact on endothelial biology. Hence, modulation of GATA2 and its targets miR-126 and miR-221 is a promising therapeutic strategy for treatment of many vascular diseases.

Syndecan-4 signalling inhibits apoptosis and controls NFAT activity during myocardial damage and remodelling.

AIMS: Myocardial infarction (MI) results in acute impairment of left ventricular (LV) function through the initial development of cardiomyocyte death and subsequent progression of LV remodelling. The expression of syndecan-4 (Sdc4), a transmembrane proteoglycan, is up-regulated after MI, but its function in the heart remains unknown. Here, we characterize the effects of Sdc4 deficiency in murine myocardial ischaemia and permanent infarction. METHODS AND RESULTS: Targeted deletion of Sdc4 (Sdc4(-/-)) leads to increased myocardial damage after ischaemic-reperfusion injury due to enhanced cardiomyocyte apoptosis associated with reduced activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase in cardiomyocytes in vitro and in vivo. After ischaemic-reperfusion injury and permanent infarction, we observed an increase in cardiomyocyte area, nuclear translocation of nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT), and transcription of the NFAT target rcan1.4 in wild-type mice. NFAT pathway activation was enhanced in Sdc4(-/-) mice. In line with the in vivo data, NFAT activation and hypertrophy occurs in isolated cardiomyocytes with reduced Sdc4 expression during phenylephrine stimulation in vitro. Despite the initially increased myocardial damage, echocardiography revealed improved LV geometry and function in Sdc4(-/-) mice 7 days after MI. CONCLUSION: Interception of the Sdc4 pathway enhances infarct expansion and hypertrophic remodelling during early infarct healing in ischaemic-reperfusion injury and permanent infarction mouse models and exerts net beneficial effects on LV function.

Conditional transgenic expression of fibroblast growth factor 9 in the adult mouse heart reduces heart failure mortality after myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: Fibroblast growth factor 9 (FGF9) is secreted from bone marrow cells, which have been shown to improve systolic function after myocardial infarction (MI) in a clinical trial. FGF9 promotes cardiac vascularization during embryonic development but is only weakly expressed in the adult heart. METHODS AND RESULTS: We used a tetracycline-responsive binary transgene system based on the α-myosin heavy chain promoter to test whether conditional expression of FGF9 in the adult myocardium supports adaptation after MI. In sham-operated mice, transgenic FGF9 stimulated left ventricular hypertrophy with microvessel expansion and preserved systolic and diastolic function. After coronary artery ligation, transgenic FGF9 enhanced hypertrophy of the noninfarcted left ventricular myocardium with increased microvessel density, reduced interstitial fibrosis, attenuated fetal gene expression, and improved systolic function. Heart failure mortality after MI was markedly reduced by transgenic FGF9, whereas rupture rates were not affected. Adenoviral FGF9 gene transfer after MI similarly promoted left ventricular hypertrophy with improved systolic function and reduced heart failure mortality. Mechanistically, FGF9 stimulated proliferation and network formation of endothelial cells but induced no direct hypertrophic effects in neonatal or adult rat cardiomyocytes in vitro. FGF9-stimulated endothelial cell supernatants, however, induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy via paracrine release of bone morphogenetic protein 6. In accord with this observation, expression of bone morphogenetic protein 6 and phosphorylation of its downstream targets SMAD1/5 were increased in the myocardium of FGF9 transgenic mice. CONCLUSIONS: Conditional expression of FGF9 promotes myocardial vascularization and hypertrophy with enhanced systolic function and reduced heart failure mortality after MI. These observations suggest a previously unrecognized therapeutic potential for FGF9 after MI.

The transforming growth factor-beta superfamily member growth-differentiation factor-15 protects the heart from ischemia/reperfusion injury.

Data from the Women's Health Study show that serum levels of growth-differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15), a distant member of the transforming growth factor-beta superfamily, are an independent risk indicator for adverse cardiovascular events. However, the cellular sources, upstream regulators, and functional effects of GDF-15 in the cardiovascular system have not been elucidated. We have identified GDF-15 by cDNA expression array analysis as a gene that is strongly upregulated by nitrosative stress in cultured cardiomyocytes isolated from 1- to 3-day-old rats. GDF-15 mRNA and pro-peptide expression levels were also induced in cardiomyocytes subjected to simulated ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) via NO-peroxynitrite-dependent signaling pathways. GDF-15 was actively secreted into the culture supernatant, suggesting that it might exert autocrine/paracrine effects during I/R. To explore the in vivo relevance of these findings, mice were subjected to transient or permanent coronary artery ligation. Myocardial GDF-15 mRNA and pro-peptide abundance rapidly increased in the area-at-risk after ischemic injury. Similarly, patients with an acute myocardial infarction had enhanced myocardial GDF-15 pro-peptide expression levels. As shown by immunohistochemistry, cardiomyocytes in the ischemic area contributed significantly to the induction of GDF-15 in the infarcted human heart. To delineate the function of GDF-15 during I/R, Gdf-15 gene-targeted mice were subjected to transient coronary artery ligation for 1 hour followed by reperfusion for 24 hours. Gdf-15-deficient mice developed greater infarct sizes and displayed more cardiomyocyte apoptosis in the infarct border zone after I/R compared with wild-type littermates, indicating that endogenous GDF-15 limits myocardial tissue damage in vivo. Moreover, treatment with recombinant GDF-15 protected cultured cardiomyocytes from apoptosis during simulated I/R as shown by histone ELISA, TUNEL/Hoechst staining, and annexin V/propidium iodide fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis. Mechanistically, the prosurvival effects of GDF-15 in cultured cardiomyocytes were abolished by phosphoinositide 3-OH kinase inhibitors and adenoviral expression of dominant-negative Akt1 (K179M mutation). In conclusion, our study identifies induction of GDF-15 in the heart as a novel defense mechanism that protects from I/R injury.

Heme oxygenase-1 inhibition of MAP kinases, calcineurin/NFAT signaling, and hypertrophy in cardiac myocytes.

OBJECTIVE: Heme oxygenases (HO) are the rate-limiting enzymes in heme degradation, catalyzing the breakdown of heme to equimolar quantities of biliverdin (BV), carbon monoxide (CO), and ferrous iron. The inducible HO isoform, HO-1, confers protection against ischemia/reperfusion (I/R)-injury in the heart. We hypothesized that HO-1 and its catalytic by-products constitute an antihypertrophic signaling module in cardiac myocytes. METHODS AND RESULTS: The G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) agonist endothelin-1 (ET-1) (30 nmol/l) stimulated a robust hypertrophic response in cardiac myocytes isolated from 1- to 3-day-old Sprague-Dawley rats, with increases in cell surface area (planimetry), sarcomere assembly (confocal laser scanning microscopy), and prepro-atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) mRNA expression. Adenoviral overexpression of HO-1, but not beta-galactosidase, significantly inhibited ET-1 induced cardiac myocyte hypertrophy. The antihypertrophic effects of HO-1 were mimicked by BV (10 micromol/l) and the CO-releasing molecule [Ru(CO)3Cl2]2 (10 micromol/l), strongly suggesting a critical involvement of BV and CO in the antihypertrophic effects of HO-1. Both BV and CO suppressed extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK1/ERK2) and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation by ET-1 stimulation. Moreover, BV and CO inhibited the prohypertrophic calcineurin/NFAT pathway. This inhibition occurred upstream from calcineurin because BV and CO inhibited NFAT activation in response to ET-1 stimulation but not in response to adenoviral expression of a constitutively active calcineurin mutant. Upstream-inhibition of the calcineurin/NFAT pathway by CO occurred independent from cGMP and cGMP-dependent protein kinase type I (PKG I). CONCLUSIONS: Heme oxygenase-1 and its catalytic by-products, BV and CO, constitute a novel antihypertrophic signaling pathway in cardiac myocytes. Biliverdin and CO inhibition of MAPKs and calcineurin/NFAT signaling provides a mechanistic framework how heme degradation products may promote their antihypertrophic effects.

Downregulation of cytoskeletal muscle LIM protein by nitric oxide: impact on cardiac myocyte hypertrophy.

BACKGROUND: In chronic heart failure, myocardial expression of the inducible isoform of nitric oxide (NO) synthase (NOS2) is enhanced, leading to a sustained production of NO. We postulated that NO modulates expression of genes in cardiac myocytes that may be functionally important in the context of cardiac hypertrophy and failure. METHODS AND RESULTS: As revealed by cDNA expression array analyses, the NO donor SNAP, which has been shown previously to inhibit agonist-induced cardiac myocyte hypertrophy, downregulates expression of the cytoskeleton-associated muscle LIM protein (MLP) in endothelin-1 (ET-1)-stimulated neonatal rat cardiac myocytes. Northern blotting and immunoblotting experiments confirmed this finding and established that SNAP negatively controls MLP mRNA (-49%, P<0.01) and protein (-52%, P<0.01) abundance in ET-1-treated cardiomyocytes via cGMP-dependent protein kinase and superoxide/peroxynitrite-dependent signaling pathways. Treatment of cardiac myocytes with IL-1beta and IFN-gamma downregulated MLP expression levels via induction of NOS2. Moreover, expression levels of NOS2 and MLP were inversely correlated in the failing human heart, indicating that NOS2 may regulate MLP abundance in vitro and in vivo. Antisense oligonucleotides were used to explore the functional consequences of reduced MLP expression levels in cardiac myocytes. Like SNAP, antisense downregulation of MLP protein expression (-52%, P<0.01) blunted the increases in protein synthesis, cell size, and sarcomere organization in response to ET-1 stimulation. Conversely, overexpression of MLP augmented cell size and sarcomere organization in cardiac myocytes. CONCLUSIONS: NO negatively controls MLP expression in cardiac myocytes. Because MLP is necessary and sufficient for hypertrophy and sarcomere assembly, MLP downregulation may restrain hypertrophic growth in pathophysiological situations with increased cardiac NO production.

Gene transfer of cGMP-dependent protein kinase I enhances the antihypertrophic effects of nitric oxide in cardiomyocytes.

NO acting through soluble guanylyl cyclase and cGMP formation is a negative regulator of cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. Downstream targets mediating the inhibitory effects of NO/cGMP on cardiomyocyte hypertrophy have not been elucidated. In addition to its antihypertrophic effects, NO promotes apoptosis in cardiomyocytes, presumably through cGMP-independent pathways. We investigated the role of cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG) in the antihypertrophic and proapoptotic effects of NO. Incubation of neonatal rat cardiomyocytes with the NO donor S-nitroso-N-acetyl-D,L-penicillamine (SNAP) (250 micromol/L) or the PKG-selective cGMP analog 8-pCPT-cGMP (500 micromol/L) activated endogenous PKG type I, as shown by the site-specific phosphorylation of vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein, a well-characterized PKG substrate. SNAP (250 micromol/L) and 8-pCPT-cGMP (500 micromol/L) modestly attenuated the hypertrophic response to alpha(1)-adrenergic stimulation with phenylephrine. Although a high concentration of SNAP (1000 micromol/L) promoted apoptosis in cardiomyocytes, as evidenced by the formation of histone-associated DNA fragments, antihypertrophic concentrations of SNAP (250 micromol/L) and 8-pCPT-cGMP (500 micromol/L) did not promote cell death. Because chronic activation downregulated endogenous PKG I, we explored whether gene transfer of PKG I would enhance the sensitivity of cardiomyocytes to the antihypertrophic effects of NO/cGMP. Indeed, after adenoviral overexpression of PKG Ibeta, SNAP (250 micromol/L) and 8-pCPT-cGMP (500 micromol/L) completely suppressed the hypertrophic response to alpha(1)-adrenergic stimulation. As observed in noninfected cells, SNAP (250 micromol/L) and 8-pCPT-cGMP (500 micromol/L) did not promote apoptosis in cardiomyocytes overexpressing PKG Ibeta. Moreover, overexpression of PKG Ibeta did not enhance the proapoptotic effects of 1000 micromol/L SNAP, implying PKG-independent effects of NO on apoptosis. Endogenous PKG I mediates antihypertrophic but not proapoptotic effects of NO in a cell culture model of cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. Adenoviral gene transfer of PKG I selectively enhances the antihypertrophic effects of NO without increasing the susceptibility to apoptosis.