Myofibroblasts impair myocardial impulse propagation by heterocellular connexin43 gap-junctional coupling through micropores.

Aim: Composite population of myofibroblasts (MFs) within myocardial tissue is known to alter impulse propagation, leading to arrhythmias. However, it remains unclear whether and how MFs alter their propagation patterns when contacting cardiomyocytes (CMs) without complex structural insertions in the myocardium. We attempted to unveil the effects of the one-sided, heterocellular CM-MF connection on the impulse propagation of CM monolayers without the spatial insertion of MFs as an electrical or mechanical obstacle. Methods and results: We evaluated fluo8-based spatiotemporal patterns in impulse propagation of neonatal rat CM monolayers cultured on the microporous membrane having 8-µm diameter pores with co-culture of MFs or CMs on the reverse membrane side (CM-MF model or CM-CM model, respectively). During consecutive pacing at 1 or 2 Hz, the CM monolayers exhibited forward impulse propagation from the pacing site with a slower conduction velocity (θ) and a larger coefficient of directional θ variation in the CM-MF model than that in the CM-CM model in a frequency-dependent manner (2 Hz >1 Hz). The localized placement of an MF cluster on the reverse side resulted in an abrupt segmental depression of the impulse propagation of the upper CM layer, causing a spatiotemporally non-uniform pattern. Dye transfer of the calcein loaded in the upper CM layer to the lower MF layer was attenuated by the gap-junction inhibitor heptanol. Immunocytochemistry identified definitive connexin 43 (Cx43) between the CMs and MFs in the membrane pores. MF-selective Cx43 knockdown in the MF layer improved both the velocity and uniformity of propagation in the CM monolayer. Conclusion: Heterocellular Cx43 gap junction coupling of CMs with MFs alters the spatiotemporal patterns of myocardial impulse propagation, even in the absence of spatially interjacent and mechanosensitive modulations by MFs. Moreover, MFs can promote pro-arrhythmogenic impulse propagation when in face-to-face contact with the myocardium that arises in the healing infarct border zone.

The Cavin-1/Caveolin-1 interaction attenuates BMP/Smad signaling in pulmonary hypertension by interfering with BMPR2/Caveolin-1 binding.

Caveolin-1 (CAV1) and Cavin-1 are components of caveolae, both of which interact with and influence the composition and stabilization of caveolae. CAV1 is associated with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) type 2 receptor (BMPR2) is localized in caveolae associated with CAV1 and is commonly mutated in PAH. Here, we show that BMP/Smad signaling is suppressed in pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells of CAV1 knockout mice. Moreover, hypoxia enhances the CAV1/Cavin-1 interaction but attenuates the CAV1/BMPR2 interaction and BMPR2 membrane localization in pulmonary artery endothelial cells (PAECs). Both Cavin-1 and BMPR2 are associated with the CAV1 scaffolding domain. Cavin-1 decreases BMPR2 membrane localization by inhibiting the interaction of BMPR2 with CAV1 and reduces Smad signal transduction in PAECs. Furthermore, Cavin-1 knockdown is resistant to CAV1-induced pulmonary hypertension in vivo. We demonstrate that the Cavin-1/Caveolin-1 interaction attenuates BMP/Smad signaling and is a promising target for the treatment of PAH.

Cavin-2 promotes fibroblast-to-myofibroblast trans-differentiation and aggravates cardiac fibrosis.

AIMS: Transforming growth factor ß (TGF-ß) signalling is one of the critical pathways in fibroblast activation, and several drugs targeting the TGF-ß/Smad signalling pathway in heart failure with cardiac fibrosis are being tested in clinical trials. Some caveolins and cavins, which are components of caveolae on the plasma membrane, are known for their association with the regulation of TGF-ß signalling. Cavin-2 is particularly abundant in fibroblasts; however, the detailed association between Cavin-2 and cardiac fibrosis is still unclear. We tried to clarify the involvement and role of Cavin-2 in fibroblasts and cardiac fibrosis. METHODS AND RESULTS: To clarify the role of Cavin-2 in cardiac fibrosis, we performed transverse aortic constriction (TAC) operations on four types of mice: wild-type (WT), Cavin-2 null (Cavin-2 KO), Cavin-2flox/flox , and activated fibroblast-specific Cavin-2 conditional knockout (Postn-Cre/Cavin-2flox/flox , Cavin-2 cKO) mice. We collected mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) from WT and Cavin-2 KO mice and investigated the effect of Cavin-2 in fibroblast trans-differentiation into myofibroblasts and associated TGF-ß signalling. Four weeks after TAC, cardiac fibrotic areas in both the Cavin-2 KO and the Cavin-2 cKO mice were significantly decreased compared with each control group (WT 8.04 ± 1.58% vs. Cavin-2 KO 0.40 ± 0.03%, P < 0.01; Cavin-2flox/flox , 7.19 ± 0.50% vs. Cavin-2 cKO 0.88 ± 0.44%, P < 0.01). Fibrosis-associated mRNA expression (Col1a1, Ctgf, and Col3) was significantly attenuated in the Cavin-2 KO mice after TAC. α1 type I collagen deposition and non-vascular αSMA-positive cells (WT 43.5 ± 2.4% vs. Cavin-2 KO 25.4 ± 3.2%, P < 0.01) were reduced in the heart of the Cavin-2 cKO mice after TAC operation. The levels of αSMA protein (0.36-fold, P < 0.05) and fibrosis-associated mRNA expression (Col1a1, 0.69-fold, P < 0.01; Ctgf, 0.27-fold, P < 0.01; Col3, 0.60-fold, P < 0.01) were decreased in the Cavin-2 KO MEFs compared with the WT MEFs. On the other hand, αSMA protein levels were higher in the Cavin-2 overexpressed MEFs compared with the control MEFs (2.40-fold, P < 0.01). TGF-ß1-induced Smad2 phosphorylation was attenuated in the Cavin-2 KO MEFs compared with WT MEFs (0.60-fold, P < 0.01). Heat shock protein 90 protein levels were significantly reduced in the Cavin-2 KO MEFs compared with the WT MEFs (0.69-fold, P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Cavin-2 loss suppressed fibroblast trans-differentiation into myofibroblasts through the TGF-ß/Smad signalling. The loss of Cavin-2 in cardiac fibroblasts suppresses cardiac fibrosis and may maintain cardiac function.

Cavin-2 loss exacerbates hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension with excessive eNOS phosphorylation and protein nitration.

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is associated with a poor prognosis even in recent years. Caveolin-1 (CAV1), a caveolae-associated protein, is a causal gene in PH. Cavin-2, one of the other caveolae-associated proteins, forms protein complexes with CAV1 and influences each other's functions. However, the role of Cavin-2 in PH has not been thoroughly investigated. To clarify the role of Cavin-2 in PH, we exposed Cavin-2-deficient (Cavin-2 KO) mice to hypoxia. A part of the analyses was confirmed in human pulmonary endothelial cells (HPAECs). After 4-week 10% O2 hypoxic exposure, we performed physiological, histological, and immunoblotting analyses. Right ventricular (RV) systolic pressure elevation and RV hypertrophy were exacerbated in Cavin-2 KO mice with hypoxia-induced PH (Cavin-2 KO PH mice). The vascular wall thickness of pulmonary arterioles was aggravated in Cavin-2 KO PH mice. Cavin-2 loss reduced CAV1 and induced sustained endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) hyperphosphorylation in the Cavin-2 KO PH lungs and HPAECs. NOx production associated with eNOS phosphorylation was also increased in the Cavin-2 KO PH lung and HPAECs. Furthermore, the nitration of proteins, including protein kinase G (PKG), was raised in the Cavin-2 KO PH lungs. In conclusion, we revealed that Cavin-2 loss exacerbated hypoxia-induced PH. Our results suggest that Cavin-2 loss leads to sustained eNOS hyperphosphorylation in pulmonary artery endothelial cells via CAV1 reduction, resulting in Nox overproduction-mediated nitration of proteins, including PKG, in smooth muscle cells.

ZLN005 improves the survival of polymicrobial sepsis by increasing the bacterial killing via inducing lysosomal acidification and biogenesis in phagocytes.

Polymicrobial sepsis still has a high mortality rate despite the development of antimicrobial agents, elaborate strategies to protect major organs, and the investment of numerous medical resources. Mitochondrial dysfunction, which acts as the center of energy metabolism, is clearly the basis of pathogenesis. Drugs that act on PGC1α, the master regulator of mitochondrial biosynthesis, have shown useful effects in the treatment of sepsis; therefore, we investigated the efficacy of ZLN005, a PGC1α agonist, and found significant improvement in overall survival in an animal model. The mode of action of this effect was examined, and it was shown that the respiratory capacity of mitochondria was enhanced immediately after administration and that the function of TFEB, a transcriptional regulator that promotes lysosome biosynthesis and mutually enhances PGC1α, was enhanced, as was the physical contact between mitochondria and lysosomes. ZLN005 strongly supported immune defense in early sepsis by increasing lysosome volume and acidity and enhancing cargo degradation, resulting in a significant reduction in bacterial load. ZLN005 rapidly acted on two organelles, mitochondria and lysosomes, against sepsis and interactively linked the two to improve the pathogenesis. This is the first demonstration that acidification of lysosomes by a small molecule is a mechanism of action in the therapeutic strategy for sepsis, which will have a significant impact on future drug discovery.

High-fat diet during pregnancy lowers fetal weight and has a long-lasting adverse effect on brown adipose tissue in the offspring.

Maternal obesity and malnutrition during gestation and lactation have been recognized to increase the risk of obesity and metabolic disorders in the offspring across their lifespan. However, the gestational period during which malnutrition exerts a decisive effect is unclear. Brown adipose tissue (BAT) plays a critical role in energy metabolism owing to its high efficiency in oxidizing glucose and fatty acids. This study aimed to determine the impact of maternal high-fat diet (HFD) consumption only during pregnancy on BAT and energy metabolism in offspring mice. Dams were fed an HFD or a normal chow diet from embryonic day 2.5. HFD consumption during pregnancy induced glucose intolerance and hypertension in dams. In the offspring of HFD-fed dams, maternal HFD lowered fetal weight without affecting placental weight, whereas HFD consumption after birth exacerbated oxygen consumption and cold-induced thermogenesis at 12 months of age, accompanied by increased lipid droplet size in BAT. These data demonstrate that HFD consumption only during pregnancy exerts a long-lasting effect on BAT. Collectively, these findings indicate the importance of nutrition during pregnancy with respect to the energy metabolism of the offspring, and pregnant women should thus ensure proper nutrition during pregnancy to ensure normal energy metabolism in the offspring.

Autopsy of a Patient with Primary Pancreatic Lymphoma with Findings Resembling Severe Acute Pancreatitis.

Primary pancreatic lymphoma is a rare pancreatic malignancy, reportedly accounting for only 0.2-0.7% of all primary pancreatic tumors. Primary pancreatic lymphoma is often difficult to distinguish from other diseases, such as acute pancreatitis. We herein report the autopsy of a patient with primary pancreatic lymphoma with imaging findings resembling those of severe acute pancreatitis, with a focus on the gross and histological features.

Maternal high-fat diet promotes calcified atherosclerotic plaque formation in adult offspring by enhancing transformation of VSMCs to osteochondrocytic-like phenotype.

Aim: Maternal high-fat diet (HFD) is associated with the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in adult offspring. Atherosclerotic vascular calcification is well documented in patients with CVD. We examined the effect of maternal HFD on calcified plaque formation. Methods and results: Seven-week-old female apo-E-/- mice (C57BL6/J) were nourished either an HFD or a normal diet (ND) a week before mating, and during gestation and lactation. Offspring of both the groups were fed a high-cholesterol diet (HCD) from 8 weeks of age. Osteogenic activity of the thoracic aorta, assessed using an ex vivo imaging system, was significantly increased after 3 months of HCD in male offspring of HFD-fed dams (O-HFD) as compared with those of ND-fed dams (O-ND). Alizarin-red-positive area in the aortic root was significantly increased after 6 months of HCD in male O-HFD as compared to that of O-ND. Plaque size and Oil Red O-positive staining were comparable between the two groups. Primary cultured vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) of the thoracic aorta were treated with phosphate and interleukinL-1ß (IL-1ß) to transform them into an osteochondrocytic-like phenotype. Intracellular calcium content and alkaline phosphatase activity were markedly higher in the VSMCs of O-HFD than in O-ND. IL-1ß concentration in the supernatant of bone marrow-derived macrophages was markedly higher in O-HFD than in O-ND. Conclusion: Our findings indicate that maternal HFD accelerates the expansion of atherogenic calcification independent of plaque progression. In vitro phosphate- and IL-1ß-induced osteochondrocytic transformation of VSMCs was augmented in O-HFD. Inhibition of VSMCs, skewing toward osteochondrocytic-like cells, might be a potential therapeutic strategy for preventing maternal HFD-associated CVD development.

ChGn-2 Plays a Cardioprotective Role in Heart Failure Caused by Acute Pressure Overload.

Background Cardiac extracellular matrix is critically involved in cardiac homeostasis, and accumulation of chondroitin sulfate glycosaminoglycans (CS-GAGs) was previously shown to exacerbate heart failure by augmenting inflammation and fibrosis at the chronic phase. However, the mechanism by which CS-GAGs affect cardiac functions remains unclear, especially at the acute phase. Methods and Results We explored a role of CS-GAG in heart failure using mice with target deletion of ChGn-2 (chondroitin sulfate N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase-2) that elongates CS chains of glycosaminoglycans. Heart failure was induced by transverse aortic constriction in mice. The role of CS-GAG derived from cardiac fibroblasts in cardiomyocyte death was analyzed. Cardiac fibroblasts were subjected to cyclic mechanical stretch that mimics increased workload in the heart. Significant CS-GAGs accumulation was detected in the heart of wild-type mice after transverse aortic constriction, which was substantially reduced in ChGn-2-/- mice. Loss of ChGn-2 deteriorated the cardiac dysfunction caused by pressure overload, accompanied by augmented cardiac hypertrophy and increased cardiomyocyte apoptosis. Cyclic mechanical stretch increased ChGn-2 expression and enhanced glycosaminoglycan production in cardiac fibroblasts. Conditioned medium derived from the stretched cardiac fibroblasts showed cardioprotective effects, which was abolished by CS-GAGs degradation. We found that CS-GAGs elicits cardioprotective effects via dual pathway; direct pathway through interaction with CD44, and indirect pathway through binding to and activating insulin-like growth factor-1. Conclusions Our data revealed the cardioprotective effects of CS-GAGs; therefore, CS-GAGs may play biphasic role in the development of heart failure; cardioprotective role at acute phase despite its possible unfavorable role in the advanced phase.

Amelioration of Endotoxemia by a Synthetic Analog of Omega-3 Epoxyeicosanoids.

Sepsis, a systemic inflammatory response to pathogenic factors, is a difficult to treat life-threatening condition associated with cytokine and eicosanoid storms and multi-organ damage. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, such as eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid, are the precursors of potent anti-inflammatory lipid mediators, including 17,18-epoxyeicosatetraenoic acid (17,18-EEQ), the main metabolite of EPA generated by cytochrome P450 epoxygenases. Searching for novel therapeutic or preventative agents in sepsis, we tested a metabolically robust synthetic analog of 17,18-EEQ (EEQ-A) for its ability to reduce mortality, organ damage, and pro-inflammatory cytokine transcript level in a mouse model of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced endotoxemia, which is closely related to sepsis. Overall survival significantly improved following preventative EEQ-A administration along with decreased transcript level of pro-inflammatory cytokines. On the other hand, the therapeutic protocol was effective in improving survival at 48 hours but insignificant at 72 hours. Histopathological analyses showed significant reductions in hemorrhagic and necrotic damage and infiltration in the liver. In vitro studies with THP-1 and U937 cells showed EEQ-A mediated repression of LPS-induced M1 polarization and enhancement of IL-4-induced M2 polarization of macrophages. Moreover, EEQ-A attenuated the LPS-induced decline of mitochondrial function in THP-1 cells, as indicated by increased basal respiration and ATP production as well as reduction of the metabolic shift to glycolysis. Taken together, these data demonstrate that EEQ-A has potent anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties that may support therapeutic strategies for ameliorating the endotoxemia.

Repeated Social Defeat Enhances CaCl2-Induced Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Expansion by Inhibiting the Early Fibrotic Response via the MAPK-MKP-1 Pathway.

Depression is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease and is significantly associated with the prevalence of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). We investigated the effect of repeated social defeat (RSD) on AAA development. Eight-week-old male wild-type mice were exposed to RSD by being housed with larger CD-1 mice in a shared cage. They were subjected to vigorous physical contact. After the confirmation of depressive-like behavior, calcium chloride was applied to the infrarenal aorta of the mice. At one week, AAA development was comparable between the defeated and control mice, without any differences being observed in the accumulated macrophages or in the matrix metalloproteinase activity. At two weeks, the maximum diameter and circumference of the aneurysm were significantly increased in the defeated mice, and a significant decrease in periaortic fibrosis was also observed. Consistently, the phosphorylation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase and the incorporation of 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine in the primarily cultured aortic vascular smooth muscle cells were significantly reduced in the defeated mice, which was accompanied by a substantial increase in mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphatase-1 (MKP-1). The MKP-1 mRNA and protein expression levels during AAA were much higher in the defeated mice than they were in the control mice. Our findings demonstrate that RSD enhances AAA development by suppressing periaortic fibrosis after an acute inflammatory response and imply novel mechanisms that are associated with depression-related AAA development.

Energy-sparing by 2-methyl-2-thiazoline protects heart from ischaemia/reperfusion injury.

AIMS: Cardiac ischaemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury remains a critical issue in the therapeutic management of ischaemic heart failure. Although mild hypothermia has a protective effect on cardiac I/R injury, more rapid and safe methods that can obtain similar results to hypothermia therapy are required. 2-Methyl-2-thiazoline (2MT), an innate fear inducer, causes mild hypothermia resulting in resistance to critical hypoxia in cutaneous or cerebral I/R injury. The aim of this study is to demonstrate the protective effect of systemically administered 2MT on cardiac I/R injury and to elucidate the mechanism underlying this effect. METHODS AND RESULTS: A single subcutaneous injection of 2MT (50 mg/kg) was given prior to reperfusion of the I/R injured 10 week-old male mouse heart and its efficacy was evaluated 24 h after the ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery. 2MT preserved left ventricular systolic function following I/R injury (ejection fraction, %: control 37.9 ± 6.7, 2MT 54.1 ± 6.4, P < 0.01). 2MT also decreased infarct size (infarct size/ischaemic area at risk, %: control 48.3 ± 12.1, 2MT 25.6 ± 4.2, P < 0.05) and serum cardiac troponin levels (ng/mL: control 8.9 ± 1.1, 2MT 1.9 ± 0.1, P < 0.01) after I/R. Moreover, 2MT reduced the oxidative stress-exposed area within the heart (%: control 25.3 ± 4.7, 2MT 10.8 ± 1.4, P < 0.01). These results were supported by microarray analysis of the mouse hearts. 2MT induced a transient, mild decrease in core body temperature (°C: -2.4 ± 1.4), which gradually recovered over several hours. Metabolome analysis of the mouse hearts suggested that 2MT minimized energy metabolism towards suppressing oxidative stress. Furthermore, 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography/computed tomography imaging revealed that 2MT reduced the activity of brown adipose tissue (standardized uptake value: control 24.3 ± 6.4, 2MT 18.4 ± 5.8, P < 0.05). 2MT also inhibited mitochondrial respiration and glycolysis in rat cardiomyoblasts. CONCLUSIONS: We identified the cardioprotective effect of systemically administered 2MT on cardiac I/R injury by sparing energy metabolism with reversible hypothermia. Our results highlight the potential of drug-induced hypothermia therapy as an adjunct to coronary intervention in severe ischaemic heart disease.

Requirement of Cavin-2 for the expression and stability of IRß in adequate adipocyte differentiation.

OBJECTIVE: Adipogenesis plays an essential role in maintaining energy and hormonal balance. Cavin-2, one of the caveolae-related proteins, is abundant in adipocytes, the leading site of adipogenesis. However, the details of the roles of Cavin-2 in adipogenesis remain unknown. Here, we demonstrate the requirement of Cavin-2 for the expression and stability of IRß in adequate adipocyte differentiation. METHODS: Cavin-2 knockout (Cavin-2 KO) and wild-type (WT) mice were fed with a high-fat diet (HFD) for 8 weeks. We evaluated body weight, food intake, and several tissues. Glucose homeostasis was assessed by glucose and insulin tolerance tests. Insulin signaling in epididymal white adipose tissue (eWAT) was determined by Akt phosphorylation. In vitro study, we evaluated adipocyte differentiation, adipogenesis-related genes, and insulin signaling to clarify the relationship between Cavin-2 and adipogenesis under the manipulation of Cavin-2 expression. RESULTS: Caveolae structure decreased in eWAT of Cavin-2 KO mice and Cavin-2 knockdown 3T3-L1 cells. Cavin-2 enhanced the stability of insulin receptor (IR) through direct association at the plasma membrane in adipocytes, resulting in accelerated insulin/IR/Akt signaling-induced adipogenic gene expression in insulin-containing solution-stimulated 3T3-L1 adipocytes. IR-mediated Akt activation also enhanced Cavin-2 and IR expression. Cavin-2 knockout mice showed insulin resistance with dyslipidemia and pathological hypertrophic adipocytes after a HFD. CONCLUSIONS: Cavin-2 enhances IR stability through binding IR and regulates insulin signaling, promoting adequate adipocyte differentiation. Our findings highlight the pivotal role of Cavin-2 in adipogenesis and lipid metabolism, which may help to develop novel therapies for pathological obesity and adipogenic disorders.

Repeated Social Defeat Exaggerates Fibrin-Rich Clot Formation by Enhancing Neutrophil Extracellular Trap Formation via Platelet-Neutrophil Interactions.

Depression is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). We have previously shown that repeated social defeat (RSD) exaggerates atherosclerosis development by enhancing neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) formation. In this study, we investigated the impact of RSD on arterial thrombosis. Eight-week-old male wild-type mice (C57BL/6J) were exposed to RSD by housing with larger CD-1 mice in a shared home cage. They were subjected to vigorous physical contact daily for 10 consecutive days. After confirming depression-like behaviors, mice underwent FeCl3-induced carotid arterial injury and were analyzed after 3 h. Although the volume of thrombi was comparable between the two groups, fibrin(ogen)-positive areas were significantly increased in defeated mice, in which Ly-6G-positive cells were appreciably co-localized with Cit-H3-positive staining. Treatment with DNase I completely diminished exaggerated fibrin-rich clot formation in defeated mice. Flow cytometric analysis showed that neutrophil CD11b expression before FeCl3 application was significantly higher in defeated mice than in control mice. In vitro NET formation induced by activated platelets was significantly augmented in defeated mice, which was substantially inhibited by anti-CD11b antibody treatment. Our findings demonstrate that RSD enhances fibrin-rich clot formation after arterial injury by enhancing NET formation, suggesting that NET can be a new therapeutic target in depression-related CVD.

Maternal High-Fat Diet Promotes Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Expansion in Adult Offspring by Epigenetic Regulation of IRF8-Mediated Osteoclast-like Macrophage Differentiation.

Maternal high-fat diet (HFD) modulates vascular remodeling in adult offspring. Here, we investigated the impact of maternal HFD on abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) development. Female wild-type mice were fed an HFD or normal diet (ND). AAA was induced in eight-week-old pups using calcium chloride. Male offspring of HFD-fed dams (O-HFD) showed a significant enlargement in AAA compared with the offspring of ND-fed dams (O-ND). Positive-staining cells for tartrate-resistant acid phosphate (TRAP) and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity were significantly increased in O-HFD. The pharmacological inhibition of osteoclastogenesis abolished the exaggerated AAA development in O-HFD. The in vitro tumor necrosis factor-α-induced osteoclast-like differentiation of bone marrow-derived macrophages showed a higher number of TRAP-positive cells and osteoclast-specific gene expressions in O-HFD. Consistent with an increased expression of nuclear factor of activated T cells 1 (NFATc1) in O-HFD, the nuclear protein expression of interferon regulatory factor 8 (IRF8), a transcriptional repressor, were much lower, with significantly increased H3K27me3 marks at the promoter region. The enhancer of zeste homolog 2 inhibitor treatment restored IRF8 expression, resulting in no difference in NFATc1 and TRAP expressions between the two groups. Our findings demonstrate that maternal HFD augments AAA expansion, accompanied by exaggerated osteoclast-like macrophage accumulation, suggesting the possibility of macrophage skewing via epigenetic reprogramming.

Forced expression of miR-143 and -145 in cardiomyocytes induces cardiomyopathy with a reductive redox shift.

BACKGROUND: Animal model studies show that reductive stress is involved in cardiomyopathy and myopathy, but the exact physiological relevance remains unknown. In addition, the microRNAs miR-143 and miR-145 have been shown to be upregulated in cardiac diseases, but the underlying mechanisms associated with these regulators have yet to be explored. METHODS: We developed transgenic mouse lines expressing exogenous miR-143 and miR-145 under the control of the alpha-myosin heavy chain (αMHC) promoter/enhancer. RESULTS: The two transgenic lines showed dilated cardiomyopathy-like characteristics and early lethality with markedly increased expression of miR-143. The expression of hexokinase 2 (HK2), a cardioprotective gene that is a target of miR-143, was strongly suppressed in the transgenic hearts, but the in vitro HK activity and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) content were comparable to those observed in wild-type mice. In addition, transgenic complementation of HK2 expression did not reduce mortality rates. Although HK2 is crucial for the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) and glycolysis, the ratio of reduced glutathione (GSH) to oxidized glutathione (GSSG) was unexpectedly higher in the hearts of transgenic mice. The expression of gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase heavy subunit (γ-GCSc) and the in vitro activity of glutathione reductase (GR) were also higher, suggesting that the recycling of GSH and its de novo biosynthesis were augmented in transgenic hearts. Furthermore, the expression levels of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD, a rate-limiting enzyme for the PPP) and p62/SQSTM1 (a potent inducer of glycolysis and glutathione production) were elevated, while p62/SQSTM1 was upregulated at the mRNA level rather than as a result of autophagy inhibition. Consistent with this observation, nuclear factor erythroid-2 related factor 2 (Nrf2), Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and inositol-requiring enzyme 1 alpha (IRE1α) were activated, all of which are known to induce p62/SQSTM1 expression. CONCLUSIONS: Overexpression of miR-143 and miR-145 leads to a unique dilated cardiomyopathy phenotype with a reductive redox shift despite marked downregulation of HK2 expression. Reductive stress may be involved in a wider range of cardiomyopathies than previously thought.

Social Stress Increases Vulnerability to High-Fat Diet-Induced Insulin Resistance by Enhancing Neutrophil Elastase Activity in Adipose Tissue.

Social stress (SS) has been linked to the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD), which is closely associated with insulin resistance (IR); however, the causal effect of SS on IR remains unclear. The 8-week-old male C57BL/6 mice were exposed to SS by housing with a larger CD-1 mouse in a shared home cage without physical contact for 10 consecutive days followed by high-fat diet (HFD) feeding. Control mice were housed in the same cage without a CD-1 mouse. After 6 weeks of HFD, insulin sensitivity was significantly impaired in stressed mice. While the percentage of classically activated macrophages in epididymal white adipose tissue (eWAT) was equivalent between the two groups, the percentage of lymphocyte antigen 6 complex locus G6D (Ly-6G)/neutrophil elastase (NE)-double positive cells markedly increased in stressed mice, accompanied by augmented NE activity assessed by ex vivo eWAT fluorescent imaging. Treatment with an NE inhibitor completely abrogated the insulin sensitivity impairment of stressed mice. In vitro NE release upon stimulation with a formyl peptide receptor 1 agonist was significantly higher in bone marrow neutrophils of stressed mice. Our findings show that SS-exposed mice are susceptible to the development of HFD-induced IR accompanied by augmented NE activity. Modulation of neutrophil function may represent a potential therapeutic target for SS-associated IR.

Maternal high-fat diet exaggerates diet-induced insulin resistance in adult offspring by enhancing inflammasome activation through noncanonical pathway of caspase-11.

OBJECTIVE: Maternal high-fat diet (HFD) has been shown to promote the development of insulin resistance (IR) in adult offspring; however, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. METHODS: Eight-week-old female wild-type mice (C57BL/6) were fed either an HFD or a normal diet (ND), one week prior to mating, and the diet was continued throughout gestation and lactation. Eight-week-old male offspring of both groups were fed an HFD for 8 weeks. RESULTS: Offspring of HFD-fed dams (O-HFD) exhibited significantly impaired insulin sensitivity compared with the offspring of ND-fed dams (O-ND). The adipocyte size of the eWAT increased significantly in O-HFD and was accompanied by abundant crown-like structures (CLSs), as well as a higher concentration of interleukin 1ß (IL-1ß) in the eWAT. Treatment with an inflammasome inhibitor, MCC950, completely abrogated the enhanced IR in O-HFD. However, ex vivo caspase-1 activity in eWAT revealed no difference between the two groups. In contrast, noncanonical inflammasome activation of caspase-11 was significantly augmented in O-HFD compared with O-ND, suggesting that membrane pore formation, but not cleavage of pro-IL-1ß by caspase-1, is augmented in O-HFD. To examine the membrane pore formation, we performed metabolic activation of bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs). The percentage of pore formation assessed by ethidium bromide staining was significantly higher in BMDMs of O-HFD, accompanied by an enhanced active caspase-11 expression. Consistently, the concentration of IL-1ß in culture supernatants was significantly higher in the BMDMs from O-HFD than those from O-ND. CONCLUSIONS: These findings demonstrate that maternal HFD exaggerates diet-induced IR in adult offspring by enhancing noncanonical caspase-11-mediated inflammasome activation.

Fluorescence-based discrimination of breast cancer cells by direct exposure to 5-aminolevulinic acid.

Protoporphyrin IX-fluorescence measurement is a powerful in situ approach for cancer detection after oral/topical administration of 5-aminolevulinic acid. However, this approach has not been clinically established for breast cancer, probably due to insufficient delivery of 5-aminolevulinic acid to the mammary glands. In the present study, we directly exposed breast cancer cells to 5-aminolevulinic acid to assess their discrimination via protoporphyrin IX-fluorescence. Fluorescence intensity (FI) was measured in the human breast cancer cell lines MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 and breast epithelial cell line MCF10A by confocal microscopy and flow cytometry. After 5-aminolevulinic acid exposure for 2 hours, protoporphyrin IX-FI in MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 cells significantly increased with marked cell-to-cell variability, whereas that in MCF10A cells increased moderately. Combined exposure of the cancer cells to 5-aminolevulinic acid and Ko143, a specific inhibitor of ATP-binding cassette transporter G2, further increased protoporphyrin IX-FI and alleviated the cell-to-cell variability in MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 cells, indicating improvement in the reproducibility and accuracy for fluorescence-based cancer detection. The increased FI by combined administration of these two drugs was also demonstrated in cells obtained via fine needle aspiration from mouse xenograft models inoculated with MDA-MB-231 cells. Furthermore, a cutoff value for increased protoporphyrin IX-FI ratio, before and after exposure to these drugs, clearly discriminated between cancer and noncancer cells. Taken together, direct exposure to 5-aminolevulinic acid and Ko143 may be a promising strategy for efficient fluorescence-based detection of breast cancer cells ex vivo using fine needle aspiration.