Comparison of targeted vs. expanded pharmacogenomic testing: What are we missing?

BACKGROUND: Pharmacogenomics (PGx) is used as a medication management strategy by a small but growing number of institutions. PGx allows prescribers to individually treat patients concordant with their genes. Recent litigation for preventable PGx-mediated adverse events highlights the need to accelerate PGx implementation for patient safety. Genetic variations cause drug metabolism, transport, and target changes, affecting medication response and tolerability. PGx testing often consists of targeted testing aimed at specific gene-drug pairs or disease states. Conversely, expanded panel testing can evaluate all known actionable gene-drug interactions, enhancing proactive clarity regarding patient response. OBJECTIVES: Evaluate the divergence of targeted PGx testing with a single gene-drug pair test (cardiac), a two-gene panel, and a focused psychiatric panel compared to expanded PGx testing. METHODS: An expanded PGx panel (≥25 genes) was compared to a single gene-drug pair test of CYP2C19/clopidogrel, a dual gene test of CYP2C19/CYP2D6, a 7-gene psychiatric list, and a 14-gene psychiatric panel to inform specific depression and pain management drugs. The expanded panel provided a baseline to evaluate total PGx variations compared to those possibly missed by targeted testing. RESULTS: Targeted testing did not identify up to 95% of total PGx gene-drug interactions discovered. The expanded panel reported all gene-drug interactions for any medication with Clinical Pharmacogenomics Implementation Consortium (CPIC) guidance or U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) labeling for that gene. Single gene CYP2C19/clopidogrel testing missed or did not report on ∼95% of total interactions, CYP2C19/CYP2D6 testing missed or did not report ∼89%, and the 14-gene panel missed or did not report on ∼73%. The 7-gene list missed ∼20% of discovered potential PGx interactions but was not designed to identify gene-drug interactions. CONCLUSIONS: Targeted PGx testing for limited genes or by specialty may miss or not report significant portions of PGx gene-drug interactions. This can lead to potential patient harm from the missed interactions and subsequent failed therapies and/or adverse reactions.

Implementing comprehensive pharmacogenomics in a community hospital-associated primary care setting.

BACKGROUND: Pharmacogenomics (PGx) is an emerging field. Many drug-gene interactions are known but not yet routinely addressed in clinical practice. Therefore, there is a significant gap in care, necessitating development of implementation strategies. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to assess the impact of implementing a PGx practice model which incorporates comprehensive pharmacogenomic risk evaluation, testing and medication optimization administered by 7 PGx-certified ambulatory care pharmacists embedded across 30 primary care clinic sites. METHODS: Pharmacogenomic services were implemented in 30 primary care clinics within the Cincinnati, Ohio area. Patients are identified for pharmacogenomic testing using a clinical decision support tool (CDST) that is fully integrated in the electronic medical record (EMR) or by provider designation (e.g., psychotropic drug failure). Pharmacogenomic testing is performed via buccal swab using standardized clinic processes. Discrete data results are returned directly into the EMR/CDST for review by PGx-certified ambulatory care pharmacists. Recommendations and prescriptive changes are then discussed and implemented as a collaborative effort between pharmacist, primary care provider, specialists, and patient. RESULTS: A total of 422 unique interactions were assessed by the embedded ambulatory care PGx pharmacists (N = 7) during this interim analysis. About half (213) were pharmacogenomic interactions, and of these, 124 were actionable. When an intervention was actionable, 82% of the time a change in medication was recommended. The underlying reasons for recommending therapy alterations were most commonly ineffective therapy (43%), adverse drug reaction prevented (34%), or adverse drug reaction observed (13%). CONCLUSION: Variations in drug metabolism, response, and tolerability can negatively impact patient outcomes across many disease states and treatment specialties. Incorporation of pharmacogenomic testing with accessible clinical decision support into the team-based care model allows for a truly comprehensive review and optimization of medications. Our initial analysis suggests that comprehensive PGx testing should be considered to enhance medication safety and efficacy in at-risk patients.

Validation of Pharmacogenomic Interaction Probability (PIP) Scores in Predicting Drug-Gene, Drug-Drug-Gene, and Drug-Gene-Gene Interaction Risks in a Large Patient Population.

Utilizing pharmacogenomic (PGx) testing and integrating evidence-based guidance in drug therapy enables an improved treatment response and decreases the occurrence of adverse drug events. We conducted a retrospective analysis to validate the YouScript® PGx interaction probability (PIP) algorithm, which predicts patients for whom PGx testing would identify one or more evidence-based, actionable drug-gene, drug-drug-gene, or drug-gene-gene interactions (EADGIs). PIP scores generated for 36,511 patients were assessed according to the results of PGx multigene panel testing. PIP scores versus the proportion of patients in whom at least one EADGI was found were 22.4% vs. 22.4% (p = 1.000), 23.5% vs. 23.4% (p = 0.6895), 30.9% vs. 29.4% (p = 0.0667), and 27.3% vs. 26.4% (p = 0.3583) for patients tested with a minimum of 3-, 5-, 14-, and 25-gene panels, respectively. These data suggest a striking concordance between the PIP scores and the EAGDIs found by gene panel testing. The ability to identify patients most likely to benefit from PGx testing has the potential to reduce health care costs, enable patient access to personalized medicine, and ultimately improve drug efficacy and safety.

Amino terminus of cardiac myosin binding protein-C regulates cardiac contractility.

Phosphorylation of cardiac myosin binding protein-C (cMyBP-C) regulates cardiac contraction through modulation of actomyosin interactions mediated by the protein's amino terminal (N')-region (C0-C2 domains, 358 amino acids). On the other hand, dephosphorylation of cMyBP-C during myocardial injury results in cleavage of the 271 amino acid C0-C1f region and subsequent contractile dysfunction. Yet, our current understanding of amino terminus region of cMyBP-C in the context of regulating thin and thick filament interactions is limited. A novel cardiac-specific transgenic mouse model expressing cMyBP-C, but lacking its C0-C1f region (cMyBP-C∆C0-C1f), displayed dilated cardiomyopathy, underscoring the importance of the N'-region in cMyBP-C. Further exploring the molecular basis for this cardiomyopathy, in vitro studies revealed increased interfilament lattice spacing and rate of tension redevelopment, as well as faster actin-filament sliding velocity within the C-zone of the transgenic sarcomere. Moreover, phosphorylation of the unablated phosphoregulatory sites was increased, likely contributing to normal sarcomere morphology and myoarchitecture. These results led us to hypothesize that restoration of the N'-region of cMyBP-C would return actomyosin interaction to its steady state. Accordingly, we administered recombinant C0-C2 (rC0-C2) to permeabilized cardiomyocytes from transgenic, cMyBP-C null, and human heart failure biopsies, and we found that normal regulation of actomyosin interaction and contractility was restored. Overall, these data provide a unique picture of selective perturbations of the cardiac sarcomere that either lead to injury or adaptation to injury in the myocardium.

Research Priorities for Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Working Group Summary.

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), a major public health problem that is rising in prevalence, is associated with high morbidity and mortality and is considered to be the greatest unmet need in cardiovascular medicine today because of a general lack of effective treatments. To address this challenging syndrome, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute convened a working group made up of experts in HFpEF and novel research methodologies to discuss research gaps and to prioritize research directions over the next decade. Here, we summarize the discussion of the working group, followed by key recommendations for future research priorities. There was uniform recognition that HFpEF is a highly integrated, multiorgan, systemic disorder requiring a multipronged investigative approach in both humans and animal models to improve understanding of mechanisms and treatment of HFpEF. It was recognized that advances in the understanding of basic mechanisms and the roles of inflammation, macrovascular and microvascular dysfunction, fibrosis, and tissue remodeling are needed and ideally would be obtained from (1) improved animal models, including large animal models, which incorporate the effects of aging and associated comorbid conditions; (2) repositories of deeply phenotyped physiological data and human tissue, made accessible to researchers to enhance collaboration and research advances; and (3) novel research methods that take advantage of computational advances and multiscale modeling for the analysis of complex, high-density data across multiple domains. The working group emphasized the need for interactions among basic, translational, clinical, and epidemiological scientists and across organ systems and cell types, leveraging different areas or research focus, and between research centers. A network of collaborative centers to accelerate basic, translational, and clinical research of pathobiological mechanisms and treatment strategies in HFpEF was discussed as an example of a strategy to advance research progress. This resource would facilitate comprehensive, deep phenotyping of a multicenter HFpEF patient cohort with standardized protocols and a robust biorepository. The research priorities outlined in this document are meant to stimulate scientific advances in HFpEF by providing a road map for future collaborative investigations among a diverse group of scientists across multiple domains.

Loss of ELK1 has differential effects on age-dependent organ fibrosis.

ETS domain-containing protein-1 (ELK1) is a transcription factor important in regulating αvß6 integrin expression. αvß6 integrins activate the profibrotic cytokine Transforming Growth Factor ß1 (TGFß1) and are increased in the alveolar epithelium in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). IPF is a disease associated with aging and therefore we hypothesised that aged animals lacking Elk1 globally would develop spontaneous fibrosis in organs where αvß6 mediated TGFß activation has been implicated. Here we identify that Elk1-knockout (Elk1-/0) mice aged to one year developed spontaneous fibrosis in the absence of injury in both the lung and the liver but not in the heart or kidneys. The lungs of Elk1-/0 aged mice demonstrated increased collagen deposition, in particular collagen 3α1, located in small fibrotic foci and thickened alveolar walls. Despite the liver having relatively low global levels of ELK1 expression, Elk1-/0 animals developed hepatosteatosis and fibrosis. The loss of Elk1 also had differential effects on Itgb1, Itgb5 and Itgb6 expression in the four organs potentially explaining the phenotypic differences in these organs. To understand the potential causes of reduced ELK1 in human disease we exposed human lung epithelial cells and murine lung slices to cigarette smoke extract, which lead to reduced ELK1 expression andmay explain the loss of ELK1 in human disease. These data support a fundamental role for ELK1 in protecting against the development of progressive fibrosis via transcriptional regulation of beta integrin subunit genes, and demonstrate that loss of ELK1 can be caused by cigarette smoke.

DoubletDecon: Deconvoluting Doublets from Single-Cell RNA-Sequencing Data.

Methods for single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) have greatly advanced in recent years. While droplet- and well-based methods have increased the capture frequency of cells for scRNA-seq, these technologies readily produce technical artifacts, such as doublet cell captures. Doublets occurring between distinct cell types can appear as hybrid scRNA-seq profiles, but do not have distinct transcriptomes from individual cell states. We introduce DoubletDecon, an approach that detects doublets with a combination of deconvolution analyses and the identification of unique cell-state gene expression. We demonstrate the ability of DoubletDecon to identify synthetic, mixed-species, genetic, and cell-hashing cell doublets from scRNA-seq datasets of varying cellular complexity with a high sensitivity relative to alternative approaches. Importantly, this algorithm prevents the prediction of valid mixed-lineage and transitional cell states as doublets by considering their unique gene expression. DoubletDecon has an easy-to-use graphical user interface and is compatible with diverse species and unsupervised population detection algorithms.

cellHarmony: cell-level matching and holistic comparison of single-cell transcriptomes.

To understand the molecular pathogenesis of human disease, precision analyses to define alterations within and between disease-associated cell populations are desperately needed. Single-cell genomics represents an ideal platform to enable the identification and comparison of normal and diseased transcriptional cell populations. We created cellHarmony, an integrated solution for the unsupervised analysis, classification, and comparison of cell types from diverse single-cell RNA-Seq datasets. cellHarmony efficiently and accurately matches single-cell transcriptomes using a community-clustering and alignment strategy to compute differences in cell-type specific gene expression over potentially dozens of cell populations. Such transcriptional differences are used to automatically identify distinct and shared gene programs among cell-types and identify impacted pathways and transcriptional regulatory networks to understand the impact of perturbations at a systems level. cellHarmony is implemented as a python package and as an integrated workflow within the software AltAnalyze. We demonstrate that cellHarmony has improved or equivalent performance to alternative label projection methods, is able to identify the likely cellular origins of malignant states, stratify patients into clinical disease subtypes from identified gene programs, resolve discrete disease networks impacting specific cell-types, and illuminate therapeutic mechanisms. Thus, this approach holds tremendous promise in revealing the molecular and cellular origins of complex disease.

Phosphorylation of Hsp20 Promotes Fibrotic Remodeling and Heart Failure.

Cardiomyocyte-specific increases in phosphorylated Hsp20 (S16D-Hsp20) to levels similar to those observed in human failing hearts are associated with early fibrotic remodeling and depressed left ventricular function, symptoms which progress to heart failure and early death. The underlying mechanisms appear to involve translocation of phosphorylated Hsp20 to the nucleus and upregulation of interleukin (IL)-6, which subsequently activates cardiac fibroblasts in a paracrine fashion through transcription factor STAT3 signaling. Accordingly, treatment of S16D-Hsp20 mice with a rat anti-mouse IL-6 receptor monoclonal antibody (MR16-1) attenuated interstitial fibrosis and preserved cardiac function. These findings suggest that phosphorylated Hsp20 may be a potential therapeutic target in heart failure.

Inhibition of fibronectin polymerization alleviates kidney injury due to ischemia-reperfusion.

Fibrosis is a common feature of chronic kidney disease; however, no clinical therapies effectively target the progression of fibrosis. Inhibition of fibronectin polymerization with the small peptide pUR4 attenuates fibrosis in the liver and heart. Here, we show that pUR4 decreases renal fibrosis and tissue remodeling using a clinically relevant model of kidney injury, unilateral ischemia-reperfusion. This work highlights the benefits of inhibiting matrix polymerization, alone or in conjunction with cell-based therapies, as a novel approach to diminish the maladaptive responses to ischemic kidney injury that lead to chronic renal failure.

Human antigen R as a therapeutic target in pathological cardiac hypertrophy.

RNA binding proteins represent an emerging class of proteins with a role in cardiac dysfunction. We show that activation of the RNA binding protein human antigen R (HuR) is increased in the failing human heart. To determine the functional role of HuR in pathological cardiac hypertrophy, we created an inducible cardiomyocyte-specific HuR-deletion mouse and showed that HuR deletion reduces left ventricular hypertrophy, dilation, and fibrosis while preserving cardiac function in a transverse aortic constriction (TAC) model of pressure overload-induced hypertrophy. Assessment of HuR-dependent changes in global gene expression suggests that the mechanistic basis for this protection occurs through a reduction in fibrotic signaling, specifically through a reduction in TGF-ß (Tgfb) expression. Finally, pharmacological inhibition of HuR at a clinically relevant time point following the initial development of pathological hypertrophy after TAC also yielded a significant reduction in pathological progression, as marked by a reduction in hypertrophy, dilation, and fibrosis and preserved function. In summary, this study demonstrates a functional role for HuR in the progression of pressure overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy and establishes HuR inhibition as a viable therapeutic approach for pathological cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure.

Diagnostic performance of quantitative magnetic resonance imaging biomarkers for predicting portal hypertension in children and young adults with autoimmune liver disease.

BACKGROUND: Primary sclerosing cholangitis, autoimmune hepatitis and autoimmune sclerosing cholangitis are forms of chronic, progressive autoimmune liver disease (AILD) that can affect the pediatric population. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether quantitative MRI- and laboratory-based biomarkers are associated with conventional imaging findings of portal hypertension (radiologic portal hypertension) in children and young adults with AILD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-four patients with AILD enrolled in an institutional registry underwent a research abdominal MRI examination at 1.5 tesla (T). Five quantitative MRI techniques were performed: liver MR elastography, spleen MR elastography, liver iron-corrected T1 mapping, liver T2 mapping, and liver diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI, quantified as apparent diffusion coefficients). Two anatomical sequences were used to document splenomegaly, varices and ascites. We calculated aspartate aminotransferase (AST)-to-platelet ratio index (APRI) and fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) scores - laboratory-based biomarkers of liver fibrosis. We used receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses to establish the diagnostic performance of quantitative MRI and laboratory biomarkers for indicating the presence of radiologic portal hypertension. RESULTS: Twenty-three (52%) patients were male; mean age was 15.2±4.0 years. Thirteen (30%) patients had radiologic portal hypertension. Liver and spleen stiffness demonstrated the greatest diagnostic performance for indicating the presence of portal hypertension (area-under-the-ROC-curve [AUROC]=0.98 and 0.96, respectively). The APRI and FIB-4 scores also demonstrated good diagnostic performance (AUROC=0.87 and 0.88, respectively). CONCLUSION: MRI-derived measures of liver and spleen stiffness as well as laboratory-based APRI and FIB-4 scores are highly associated with imaging findings of portal hypertension in children and young adults with AILD and thus might be useful for predicting portal hypertension impending onset and directing personalized patient management.

Myofibroblast-Specific TGFß Receptor II Signaling in the Fibrotic Response to Cardiac Myosin Binding Protein C-Induced Cardiomyopathy.

RATIONALE: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy occurs with a frequency of about 1 in 500 people. Approximately 30% of those affected carry mutations within the gene encoding cMyBP-C (cardiac myosin binding protein C). Cardiac stress, as well as cMyBP-C mutations, can trigger production of a 40kDa truncated fragment derived from the amino terminus of cMyBP-C (Mybpc340kDa). Expression of the 40kDa fragment in mouse cardiomyocytes leads to hypertrophy, fibrosis, and heart failure. Here we use genetic approaches to establish a causal role for excessive myofibroblast activation in a slow, progressive genetic cardiomyopathy-one that is driven by a cardiomyocyte-intrinsic genetic perturbation that models an important human disease. OBJECTIVE: TGFß (transforming growth factor-ß) signaling is implicated in a variety of fibrotic processes, and the goal of this study was to define the role of myofibroblast TGFß signaling during chronic Mybpc340kDa expression. METHODS AND RESULTS: To specifically block TGFß signaling only in the activated myofibroblasts in Mybpc340kDa transgenic mice and quadruple compound mutant mice were generated, in which the TGFß receptor II (TßRII) alleles ( Tgfbr2) were ablated using the periostin ( Postn) allele, myofibroblast-specific, tamoxifen-inducible Cre ( Postnmcm) gene-targeted line. Tgfbr2 was ablated either early or late during pathological fibrosis. Early myofibroblast-specific Tgfbr2 ablation during the fibrotic response reduced cardiac fibrosis, alleviated cardiac hypertrophy, preserved cardiac function, and increased lifespan of the Mybpc340kDa transgenic mice. Tgfbr2 ablation late in the pathological process reduced cardiac fibrosis, preserved cardiac function, and prolonged Mybpc340kDa mouse survival but failed to reverse cardiac hypertrophy. CONCLUSIONS: Fibrosis and cardiac dysfunction induced by cardiomyocyte-specific expression of Mybpc340kDa were significantly decreased by Tgfbr2 ablation in the myofibroblast. Surprisingly, preexisting fibrosis was partially reversed if the gene was ablated subsequent to fibrotic deposition, suggesting that continued TGFß signaling through the myofibroblasts was needed to maintain the heart fibrotic response to a chronic, disease-causing cardiomyocyte-only stimulus.

Cardiac Fibrosis in Proteotoxic Cardiac Disease is Dependent Upon Myofibroblast TGF -ß Signaling.

Background Transforming growth factor beta ( TGF -ß) is an important cytokine in mediating the cardiac fibrosis that often accompanies pathogenic cardiac remodeling. Cardiomyocyte-specific expression of a mutant αB-crystallin (Cry ABR120G), which causes human desmin-related cardiomyopathy, results in significant cardiac fibrosis. During onset of fibrosis, fibroblasts are activated to the so-called myofibroblast state and TGF -ß binding mediates an essential signaling pathway underlying this process. Here, we test the hypothesis that fibroblast-based TGF -ß signaling can result in significant cardiac fibrosis in a disease model of cardiac proteotoxicity that has an exclusive cardiomyocyte-based etiology. Methods and Results Against the background of cardiomyocyte-restricted expression of Cry ABR120G, we have partially ablated TGF -ß signaling in cardiac myofibroblasts to observe whether cardiac fibrosis is reduced despite the ongoing pathogenic stimulus of Cry ABR120G production. Transgenic Cry ABR120G mice were crossed with mice containing a floxed allele of TGF -ß receptor 2 ( Tgfbr2 f/f). The double transgenic animals were subsequently crossed to another transgenic line in which Cre expression was driven from the periostin locus ( Postn) so that Tgfbr2 would be ablated with myofibroblast conversion. Structural and functional assays were then used to determine whether general fibrosis was affected and cardiac function rescued in Cry ABR120G mice lacking Tgfbr2 in the myofibroblasts. Ablation of myofibroblast specific TGF -ß signaling led to decreased morbidity in a proteotoxic disease resulting from cardiomyocyte autonomous expression of Cry ABR120G. Cardiac fibrosis was decreased and hypertrophy was also significantly attenuated, with a significant improvement in survival probability over time, even though the primary proteotoxic insult continued. Conclusions Myofibroblast-targeted knockdown of Tgfbr2 signaling resulted in reduced fibrosis and improved cardiac function, leading to improved probability of survival.

Specialized fibroblast differentiated states underlie scar formation in the infarcted mouse heart.

Fibroblasts are a dynamic cell type that achieve selective differentiated states to mediate acute wound healing and long-term tissue remodeling with scarring. With myocardial infarction injury, cardiomyocytes are replaced by secreted extracellular matrix proteins produced by proliferating and differentiating fibroblasts. Here, we employed 3 different mouse lineage-tracing models and stage-specific gene profiling to phenotypically analyze and classify resident cardiac fibroblast dynamics during myocardial infarction injury and stable scar formation. Fibroblasts were activated and highly proliferative, reaching a maximum rate within 2 to 4 days after infarction injury, at which point they expanded 3.5-fold and were maintained long term. By 3 to 7 days, these cells differentiated into myofibroblasts that secreted abundant extracellular matrix proteins and expressed smooth muscle α-actin to structurally support the necrotic area. By 7 to 10 days, myofibroblasts lost proliferative ability and smooth muscle α-actin expression as the collagen-containing extracellular matrix and scar fully matured. However, these same lineage-traced initial fibroblasts persisted within the scar, achieving a new molecular and stable differentiated state referred to as a matrifibrocyte, which was also observed in the scars of human hearts. These cells express common and unique extracellular matrix and tendon genes that are more specialized to support the mature scar.

Inhibiting Fibronectin Attenuates Fibrosis and Improves Cardiac Function in a Model of Heart Failure.

BACKGROUND: Fibronectin (FN) polymerization is necessary for collagen matrix deposition and is a key contributor to increased abundance of cardiac myofibroblasts (MFs) after cardiac injury. We hypothesized that interfering with FN polymerization or its genetic ablation in fibroblasts would attenuate MF and fibrosis and improve cardiac function after ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. METHODS: Mouse and human MFs were used to assess the impact of the FN polymerization inhibitor (pUR4) in attenuating pathological cellular features such as proliferation, migration, extracellular matrix deposition, and associated mechanisms. To evaluate the therapeutic potential of inhibiting FN polymerization in vivo, wild-type mice received daily intraperitoneal injections of either pUR4 or control peptide (III-11C) immediately after cardiac surgery for 7 consecutive days. Mice were analyzed 7 days after I/R to assess MF markers and inflammatory cell infiltration or 4 weeks after I/R to evaluate long-term effects of FN inhibition on cardiac function and fibrosis. Furthermore, inducible, fibroblast-restricted, FN gene-ablated (Tcf21MerCreMer; Fnflox) mice were used to evaluate cell specificity of FN expression and polymerization in the heart. RESULTS: pUR4 administration on activated MFs reduced FN and collagen deposition into the extracellular matrix and attenuated cell proliferation, likely mediated through decreased c-myc signaling. pUR4 also ameliorated fibroblast migration accompanied by increased ß1 integrin internalization and reduced levels of phosphorylated focal adhesion kinase protein. In vivo, daily administration of pUR4 for 7 days after I/R significantly reduced MF markers and neutrophil infiltration. This treatment regimen also significantly attenuated myocardial dysfunction, pathological cardiac remodeling, and fibrosis up to 4 weeks after I/R. Last, inducible ablation of FN in fibroblasts after I/R resulted in significant functional cardioprotection with reduced hypertrophy and fibrosis. The addition of pUR4 to the FN-ablated mice did not confer further cardioprotection, suggesting that the salutary effects of inhibiting FN polymerization may be mediated largely through effects on FN secreted from the cardiac fibroblast lineage. CONCLUSIONS: Inhibiting FN polymerization or cardiac fibroblast gene expression attenuates pathological properties of MFs in vitro and ameliorates adverse cardiac remodeling and fibrosis in an in vivo model of heart failure. Interfering with FN polymerization may be a new therapeutic strategy for treating cardiac fibrosis and heart failure.

Pharmacological and Activated Fibroblast Targeting of Gßγ-GRK2 After Myocardial Ischemia Attenuates Heart Failure Progression.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac fibroblasts are a critical cell population responsible for myocardial extracellular matrix homeostasis. Upon injury or pathological stimulation, these cells transform to an activated myofibroblast state and play a fundamental role in myocardial fibrosis and remodeling. Chronic sympathetic overstimulation, a hallmark of heart failure (HF), induces pathological signaling through G protein ßγ (Gßγ) subunits and their interaction with G protein-coupled receptor kinase 2 (GRK2). OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the hypothesis that Gßγ-GRK2 inhibition and/or ablation after myocardial injury would attenuate pathological myofibroblast activation and cardiac remodeling. METHODS: The therapeutic potential of small molecule Gßγ-GRK2 inhibition, alone or in combination with activated fibroblast- or myocyte-specific GRK2 ablation-each initiated after myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury-was investigated to evaluate the possible salutary effects on post-I/R fibroblast activation, pathological remodeling, and cardiac dysfunction. RESULTS: Small molecule Gßγ-GRK2 inhibition initiated 1 week post-injury was cardioprotective in the I/R model of chronic HF, including preservation of cardiac contractility and a reduction in cardiac fibrotic remodeling. Systemic small molecule Gßγ-GRK2 inhibition initiated 1 week post-I/R in cardiomyocyte-restricted GRK2 ablated mice (also post-I/R) still demonstrated significant cardioprotection, which suggested a potential protective role beyond the cardiomyocyte. Inducible ablation of GRK2 in activated fibroblasts (i.e., myofibroblasts) post-I/R injury demonstrated significant functional cardioprotection with reduced myofibroblast transformation and fibrosis. Systemic small molecule Gßγ-GRK2 inhibition initiated 1 week post-I/R provided little to no further protection in mice with ablation of GRK2 in activated fibroblasts alone. Finally, Gßγ-GRK2 inhibition significantly attenuated activation characteristics of failing human cardiac fibroblasts isolated from end-stage HF patients. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggested consideration of a paradigm shift in the understanding of the therapeutic role of Gßγ-GRK2 inhibition in treating HF and the potential therapeutic role for Gßγ-GRK2 inhibition in limiting pathological myofibroblast activation, interstitial fibrosis, and HF progression.

Mixed-lineage kinase 3 pharmacological inhibition attenuates murine nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.

With the increase in obesity worldwide, its associated comorbidities, including nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), have become a public health problem that still lacks effective therapy. We have previously reported that mixed-lineage kinase 3-deficient (MLK3-deficient) mice are protected against diet-induced NASH. Given the critical need to identify new therapeutic agents, we sought to examine whether the small-molecule MLK3 inhibitor URMC099 would be effective in reversing diet-induced murine NASH. C57BL/6J mice were fed either a diet high in saturated fat, fructose, and cholesterol (FFC), or a chow diet for 24 weeks. Mice were treated with either URMC099 (10 mg/kg) twice daily by intraperitoneal injection or its vehicle during the last 2 weeks of the feeding study. FFC-fed mice receiving URMC099 had similar body weight, caloric intake, homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance, metabolic phenotype, and hepatic steatosis compared with vehicle-treated mice. Furthermore, FFC-fed mice treated with URMC099 had less hepatic macrophage infiltration, activation, and proinflammatory polarization, as well as less liver injury and fibrosis when compared with vehicle-treated mice. In conclusion, URMC099 is well tolerated in mice without obvious toxicities and appears to be efficacious in reversing diet-induced NASH. Hence, URMC099 may serve as a therapeutic agent in human NASH.

G Protein Coupled Receptor-mediated Transactivation of Extracellular Proteases.

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) comprise the largest family of receptors in humans. Traditional activation of GPCRs involves binding of a ligand to the receptor, activation of heterotrimeric G proteins and induction of subsequent signaling molecules. It is now known that GPCR signaling occurs through G protein-independent pathways including signaling through ß-arrestin and transactivation of other receptor types. Generally, transactivation occurs when activation of one receptor leads to the activation of another receptor(s). GPCR-mediated transactivation is an essential component of GPCR signaling, as activation of other receptor types, such as receptor tyrosine kinases, allows GPCRs to expand their signal transduction and affect various cellular responses. Several mechanisms have been identified for receptor transactivation downstream of GPCRs, one of which involves activation of extracellular proteases, such as a disintegrin and metalloprotease, and matrix metalloproteases . These proteases cleave and release ligands that are then able to activate their respective receptors. A disintegrin and metalloprotease, and matrix metalloproteases can be activated via various mechanisms downstream of GPCR activation, including activation via second messenger, direct phosphorylation, or direct G protein interaction. Additional understanding of the mechanisms involved in GPCR-mediated protease activation and subsequent receptor transactivation could lead to identification of new therapeutic targets.