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Introduction:
Iron is essential for the activity of several cellular proteins, but excess free iron can cause cellular damage through production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Iron ...accumulation in mitochondria, the major site of cellular iron homeostasis, leads to cardiomyopathy. However, it is not known whether a reduction in baseline mitochondrial (as opposed to cytosolic) iron can protect against ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury in the heart. We hypothesized that since mitochondria are the major site of iron homeostasis and that mitochondrial iron can lead to oxidative damage, a reduction in mitochondrial iron at baseline would be sufficient to protect against I/R injury.
Results:
Transgenic (TG) mice with cardiomyocyte-specific overexpression of the mitochondrial iron export protein ATP-binding cassette (ABC)-B8 had significantly lower mitochondrial iron in the heart than nontransgenic (NTG) littermates at baseline, but their cardiac function and the expression of key antioxidant systems were similar to NTG littermates. In response to I/R, TG mice displayed significantly less apoptosis and lipid peroxidation products and better preserved cardiac function than NTG littermates, suggesting that a reduction in mitochondrial iron protects against I/R injury. To confirm these results, we next took a pharmacological approach to assess the effects of a reduction in mitochondrial vs cytosolic iron on the response to I/R using 2,2’-bipyridyl (BPD, a mitochondria-accessible iron chelator) and deferoxamine (DFO, an iron chelator that can only reduce cytosolic iron). Treating rat cardiomyoblast H9C2 cells with BPD but not DFO significantly lowered chelatable mitochondrial iron and protected against H
2
O
2
induced cell death, and pretreatment with BPD but not DFO protected mice against I/R injury and reduced ROS production, suggesting that a reduction in baseline mitochondrial, but not cytosolic, iron is sufficient to protect against I/R injury.
Conclusions:
Our findings demonstrate that selective reduction in mitochondrial iron is protective in I/R injury. Thus, targeting mitochondrial iron with selective iron chelators may provide a novel approach for treatment of ischemic heart disease.
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Background:
Endothelial dysfunction, especially at the microvasculature level, is one of the most deleterious events in diabetes. ARNT is a transcription factor that functions as a ...master regulator of glucose homeostasis, but its role in diabetic vascular complications is poorly understood.
Results and method:
We found a reduction in ARNT expression in microvascular endothelial cells (MVECs) derived from type 2 diabetic mice (db/db). Thus, we generated an inducible, EC-specific ARNT-knockout mutation (
Arnt
ΔEC, ERT2) to address the hypothesis that aberrations in ARNT expression might contribute to the vascular deficiencies associated with diabetes. We show here that loss of ARNT in the endothelium mimics diabetic phenotypes, such as impairs blood flow recovery after hindlimb ischemia, delays wound healing, and exacerbates infiltration of pro-inflammatory neutrophils after myocardial infarction. Interestedly, the degree of these impairments in the KO mice was more remarkable in diabetic animals induced with high-fat chow. In addition, the siRNA-mediated knockdown of ARNT activity reduced tube formation and cell viability measurements in HUVECs cultured under high-glucose conditions. The
Arnt
ΔEC, ERT2 mutation also reduced measures of cell viability while increasing the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in MVECs isolated from mouse skeletal muscle, and the viability of
Arnt
ΔEC, ERT2 MVECs under high-glucose concentrations increased when the cells were treated with a ROS inhibitor.
Conclusion:
Collectively, these observations suggest that declines in endothelial ARNT expression contribute to the suppressed angiogenic phenotype in diabetic mice and that the cytoprotective effect of ARNT expression in ECs is at least partially mediated by declines in ROS production. Endothelial ARNT might be a critical mediator of endothelial function and could serve as a therapeutic target for diabetic complications.
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Background:
Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is an independent risk factor for heart failure and sudden death. In addition, LVH is also a compensatory mechanism that helps the heart ...cope with pressure overload. Stress is considered one factor that is related to cardiac outcomes. Glucocorticoids are primary stress hormones, whose role in the heart is poorly understood. Here, we hypothesize that a reduction in the expression of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) would decrease cardiac hypertrophy in response to pressure overload.
Methods and Results:
The GR homozygous mutation (GR-/-) is embryonic lethal. However, GR heterozygous mice (GR+/-) show a normal phenotype. We subjected GR+/- mice to transverse aortic constriction (TAC). At four weeks after TAC, the ratio of heart weight to tibia length increased significantly in wild-type mice (control) littermates compared with GR+/- mice. Cardiac myocyte size was also smaller in GR+/- mice vs controls, suggesting an attenuated cardiac growth response in these mice. In addition, GR+/- hearts displayed increased cell death and enhanced fibrosis in response to TAC. Cardiac function, determined by EF% and FS% (measured using the Vevo2100 imaging system), was significantly reduced in GR+/- mice compared with controls at eight weeks post-operation, while LVEDD was increased. Together, with the increased ratio of lung weight to body weight in GR+/- mice at eight weeks following TAC, this suggests an exaggerated heart failure in GR+/- mice. In vitro, hydrocortisone-induced cell growth in H9c2 cells was abolished by GR knockdown using siRNA. Finally, we looked at the mechanisms by which GR may play a role in the development of hypertrophy. We found reduced ERK-JNK activity in GR+/- hearts, suggesting that the reduced hypertrophic response in GR+/- mice occurs, at least partially, through abolished JNK and ERK activity.
Conclusion:
The glucocorticoid receptor is required for cardiac hypertrophy and protects the heart from heart failure during cardiac pressure overload.
IntroductionIron can catalyze the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and promote tissue damage. While some studies suggested benefits with iron chelation therapy in ischemic heart disease ...(IHD), several others failed to show any benefits. Mitochondria are a major site of iron utilization and ROS production, and mitochondrial iron accumulation has been associated with increased oxidative stress. We therefore hypothesized that mitochondrial iron plays a causative role in ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) damage, and a decrease in mitochondrial iron (as opposed to cytoplasmic iron) would be sufficient to protect against I/R injury.ResultsWe observed an increase in cardiac mitochondrial iron in mice after I/R injury. Using two iron chelators with distinct mitochondrial permeability, i.e., 2,2’-bipyridyl (BPD, a mitochondria-accessible iron chelator) and deferoxamine (DFO, an iron chelator that does not modulate mitochondrial iron), we demonstrated that mice pretreated with BPD but not DFO were protected against I/R injury. Similar results were obtained in vitro. Since these two iron chelators also modulate iron in other subcellular compartments, we used transgenic (TG) mice with cardiomyocyte-specific overexpression of the mitochondrial iron export protein ATP-binding cassette (ABC)-B8 to confirm that modulation of mitochondrial iron alone is sufficient to confer protection. ABCB8 TG mice had significantly lower mitochondrial iron (but normal cytosolic iron) in the heart compared to nontransgenic (NTG) littermates at baseline, but exhibited normal cardiac function. After I/R, ABCB8 TG mice displayed significantly less apoptosis and lower levels of markers of ROS and better preserved cardiac function than NTG littermates, suggesting that a reduction in mitochondrial iron protects against I/R injury, most likely through a reduction in ROS.ConclusionsOur findings demonstrate that selective reduction in mitochondrial iron is sufficient to protect against I/R injury. Thus, targeting mitochondrial iron with selective iron chelators may provide a novel approach for the treatment of IHD.
Highlights • Cells respond to iron deficiency through iron acquisition and iron conservation. • To conserve iron, cells shut down many iron-consuming processes. • Iron-regulatory pathways may ...influence metabolism and insulin sensitivity.
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Background:
Diabetes leads to endothelial barrier dysfunction and altered endothelial permeability, which results in increased cardiovascular risk. ARNT, also known as HIF-1β, a ...transcription factor that functions as a master regulator of glucose homeostasis, has been implicated in diabetes. Endothelial-specific ARNT deletion (ArntΔEC) in mice is embryonically lethal, with hemorrhage occurring in the heart during the embryonic stage. However, the particular role of endothelial ARNT(ecARNT) in diabetes is largely unknown. We have found a significant decrease in ARNT expression in both diabetic rodent endothelial cells and diabetic human hearts. We hypothesize that a loss of ecARNT mediates endothelial barrier dysfunction during diabetes.
Methods and Results:
We generated inducible endothelial specific ARNT knockout mice (ecARNT-/-) by crossing mice with loxP sequences flanking exon 6 of ARNT with Cre ERT2 mice under the VE-cadherin promoter. A 90% deletion of ecARNT was achieved following two weeks of oral tamoxifen administration. ecARNT-/- mice exhibit severe blood vessel leakage, which is restricted to the heart, suggesting a distinct function for ecARNT in different tissues. Cardiomyopathy is evident 6 months after ARNT deletion.
In vitro
, trans-endothelial electrical resistance (TER) and transwell assays have confirmed endothelial barrier disruption in cardiac microvascular endothelial cells (CMEC) isolated from both ecARNT-/- hearts and diabetic (DB/DB) mouse hearts. To determine the underlying mechanisms by which ARNT may regulate endothelial barrier function, we performed DNA sequencing on CMEC isolated from control, ecARNT-/-, and DB/DB mice. Data suggest a significant increase in TNFa signaling, including ELAM-1 and ICAM-1 in CMEC isolated from ecARNT-/- CMEC and diabetic CMEC. Moreover, use of anti-TNFa antibody rescues endothelial barrier dysfunction in CMEC isolated from ecARNT-/- mice. Taken together, these results suggest that a reduction in ecARNT during diabetes may mediate endothelial barrier dysfunction through a TNFa signaling pathway.
Conclusion:
ecARNT is a critical mediator of endothelial barrier function and could potentially serve as a therapeutic target for diabetic cardiovascular diseases.
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Introduction:
Tribbles 3 (TRIB3) is a pseudokinase that regulates several biological functions such as cell proliferation and differentiation through its role in cellular metabolism. ...TRIB3 expression is modulated by various signals such as endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, nutrient availability, and insulin. The exact function of TRIB3 in the heart is largely unknown. We hypothesized that loss of TRIB3 protects against cardiac hypertrophy through its role in the regulation of cellular metabolism.
Results:
To elucidate the role of TRIB3 loss in the heart, we generated TRIB3 knock-out (KO) mice. The animals were then subjected to transverse aortic constriction (TAC) and sham-surgery control. In the sham operation groups, there was no hypertrophy in both TRIB3-/- and Wild type (WT) age matched control mice. WT mice subjected to TAC (WT-TAC) showed cardiac hypertrophy evidenced by increased heart weight/body weight, increased left ventricular wall thickness and increased cardiomyocyte cross-sectional area. These hypertrophic findings were significantly reduced in TRIB3 KO-TAC hearts (P<0.05). Echocardiographic analysis revealed increased diastolic interventricular septum wall (IVSd), increased left ventricular wall posterior wall thickness (LVPWd) and decreased fractional shortening (FS) in WT-TAC mice, however these changes were significantly blocked in TRIB3 KO-TAC group suggesting that TAC-induced left ventricular hypertrophy and dysfunction was attenuated in TRIB3 KO mice (P<0.05). The blunted response to hypertrophy seen in TRIB3 KO-TAC group was further demonstrated by the significant decrease in mRNA expression of myocardial hypertrophic markers (ANP, BNP and MHC) in TRIB3 KO-TAC hypertrophied left ventricles compared to WT-TAC control subjects (P<0.05). Furthermore, our data indicated increased TRIB3 expression in the WT-TAC hypertrophied left ventricles compared to WT-Sham group (P<0.05).
Conclusions:
The present study demonstrated that TRIB3 expression is promoted in hypertrophied hearts. TRIB3 deletion suppresses cardiac pressure overload-induced hypertrophy. Thus, TRIB3 is a novel target that plays a role in cardiac hypertrophy and maladaptation following pressure overload.
IntroductionAltered cardiac insulin sensitivity, substrate utilization, and energetics have been reported in diabetic cardiomyopathy. However, the mechanism behind insulin resistance in the heart in ...diabetes remain poorly understood. Hypoxia inducible factors (HIFs) have been linked to cellular metabolism, and their deletion in the heart resulted in metabolic changes. We have previously demonstrated that cardiac-specific knockout of ARNT, the obligatory binding partner of HIFs, causes spontaneous cardiomyopathy bearing similarity to diabetic cardiomyopathy, and its levels are reduced in genetic- and diet-induced obesity models. Here, we hypothesize that downregulation of ARNT in vivo exacerbates cardiac insulin resistance after high fat diet (HFD).ResultsMice with cardiac-specific heterozygous deletion of ARNT (cs-ARNT) had normal cardiac function at baseline, and had comparable food intake and weight gain during HFD treatment. We then evaluated cardiac substrate utilization using an ex vivo heart perfusion system. When perfused with a buffer without insulin, hearts from wild type (WT) and cs-ARNT mice displayed comparable substrate utilization both after normal chow and after HFD. Addition of insulin to the perfusion system led to comparable increase in glucose utilization in hearts from normal chow-fed WT and ARNT mice. However, the increased glucose utilization in response to insulin was attenuated in hearts from WT mice after HFD, while hearts from cs-ARNT after HFD demonstrated virtually no increase in glucose utilization in response to insulin. This difference was not due to cardiac function as the cardiac work (assessed by heart rate and developing pressure) is comparable among all groups. Using neonatal rat cardiomyocytes, we also demonstrated that ARNT knockdown decreased glucose uptake and AKT phosphorylation in response to insulin, consistent with a blunted insulin-signaling pathway.ConclusionCardiac-specific ARNT heterozygote deletion exacerbates insulin resistance in a diet-induced obesity model, and the reduction of ARNT levels in various mouse models of diabetes is likely be a maladaptive response. Therefore, increasing ARNT signaling can be a potential therapy for diabetic cardiomyopathy.
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Introduction:
Iron is essential for the activity of a large number of cellular proteins, but excess free iron can cause cellular damage through production of reactive oxygen species ...(ROS). Mitochondria are the major site of cellular iron homeostasis, and we recently showed the mitochondrial iron export is mediated by ATP-binding cassette protein-B8 (ABCB8). The role of mitochondrial iron in ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury in the heart has not been examined. We hypothesize that mitochondrial iron has a critical role in I/R damage and a reduction of mitochondrial iron is protective against I/R injury through a reduction in ROS.
Results:
Cardiomyocyte-specific ABCB8 transgenic (TG) mice had significantly lower mitochondrial iron in the heart than nontransgenic (NTG) littermates at baseline, but their cardiac function and the expression of key antioxidant systems were indistinguishable from NTG littermates. To study the role of mitochondrial iron in I/R injury, we subjected ABCB8 TG mice to I/R. TG mice displayed significantly less apoptosis compared to NTG littermates (11.76% vs. 17.63%, p<0.05, n=4-6) and had significantly reduced lipid peroxidation products 48 hours after I/R.
To further confirm that our in vivo finding was due to reduced mitochondrial iron, we studied the effect of pharmacological reduction of mitochondrial iron in vitro. 2,2-bipyridyl (BPD) is a mitochondria-accessible iron chelator while deferoxamine (DFO) has poor penetrance into mitochondria. Treating rat cardiomyoblasts H9C2 with BPD but not DFO significantly reduced chelatable mitochondrial iron, as measured by staining cells with rhodamine B-(1,10-phenanthrolin-5-yl)aminocarbonylbenzyl ester. In addition, BPD but not DFO pretreatment protected cells against H2O2 induced cell death (p<0.05). BPD treatment in mice decreased baseline mitochondrial iron and significantly preserved cardiac function after I/R.
Conclusions:
Our findings demonstrate that selective reduction in mitochondrial iron is protective in I/R injury, and show that mitochondrial iron is a source of ROS and cellular damage in I/R. Thus, targeting mitochondrial iron with selective iron chelators, as studied in our system, may provide a novel approach for treatment of ischemic heart disease.
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Background:
Endothelial dysfunction is thought to be one of the key risk factors leading to cardiac dysfunction. We have previously shown that ARNT is a critical regulator of cardiac ...metabolism and its deletion in the heart mimics diabetic cardiomyopathy. Here, we hypothesize that reduced ARNT expression in the endothelium may lead to endothelial dysfunction and contribute to diabetic cardiomyopathy.
Methods and Results:
Primary cardiac endothelial cells (mCVEC) were isolated from DB/DB mouse hearts and confirmed using vWF staining and flow cytometry. Isolated mCVEC from DB/DB mice showed more than a 50% reduction in ARNT protein levels, suggesting that endothelial ARNT may play a role in diabetic hearts. We generated a mouse with an endothelial specific ARNT deletion (ecARNT
-/-
) by crossing ARNT flox/flox mice with Cre recombinase mice under the control of the VE-Cadherin promoter. Deletion of ARNT in the endothelium was achieved by the administration of oral tamoxifen chow. ecARNT
-/-
mice displayed cardiac hypertrophy and worsened cardiac function after high-fat chow feeding. In vitro studies were done using siRNA technology to knockdown ARNT in mCVEC. Knockdown of ARNT did not increase cell viability at base level, but led to impaired capillary-like endothelial tube formation and reduced cell migration in response to high glucose treatment. Nitric oxide (NO) production (a marker of endothelial dysfunction) and eNOS expression were also reduced after ARNT knockdown. To determine the underlying mechanisms by which ARNT may regulate endothelial metabolism we performed a DNA microarray and confirmed our results using RT-PCR. We discovered a significant induction of NF-kB and its target genes, including ELAM-1 and ICAM-1. These changes are similar to those we observed in mCVEC from DB/DB mouse hearts. Taken together, this data shows that a reduction in ARNT may regulate endothelial dysfunction in the diabetic heart through an inflammatory pathway.
Conclusion:
Endothelial ARNT may be a critical mediator of endothelial function and could serve as a therapeutic target for diabetic cardiomyopathy.
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