Background: Cardiorenal syndrome (CRS)—renal injury during heart failure (HF)—is linked to higher morbidity. Whether circulating extracellular vesicles (EVs) and their RNA cargo directly impact its pathogenesis remains unclear. Methods: We investigated the role of circulating EVs from patients with CRS on renal epithelial/endothelial cells using a microfluidic kidney-on-chip model (KOC). The small RNA cargo of circulating EVs was regressed against serum creatinine to prioritize subsets of functionally relevant EV miRNAs and their mRNA targets investigated using in silico pathway analysis, human genetics, and interrogation of expression in the KOC model and in renal tissue. The functional effects of EV-RNAs on kidney epithelial cells were experimentally validated.Results: Renal epithelial and endothelial cells in the KOC model exhibited uptake of EVs from HF patients. HF-CRS EVs led to higher expression of renal injury markers (IL18, LCN2, HAVCR1) relative to non-CRS EVs. 15 EV-miRNAs were associated with creatinine, targeting 1143 gene targets specifying pathways relevant to renal injury, including TGF beta and AMPK signaling. We observed directionally consistent changes in the expression of TGF beta pathway members (BMP6, FST, TIMP3) in the KOC model exposed to CRS EVs, which were validated in epithelial cells treated with corresponding inhibitors and mimics of miRNAs. A similar trend was observed in renal tissue with kidney injury. Mendelian randomization suggested a role for FST in renal function. Conclusion: Plasma EVs in CRS patients elicit adverse transcriptional and phenotypic responses in a KOC model by regulating biologically relevant pathways, suggesting a role for EVs in CRS.
Emeli Chatterjee, Rodosthenis S. Rodosthenous, Ville J. Kujala, Priyanka Gokulnath, Michail Spanos, H. Immo Lehmann, Getulio P de Oliveira-Jr, Mingjian Shi, Tyne W. Miller-Fleming, Guoping Li, Ionita Ghiran, Katia Karalis, JoAnn Lindenfeld, Jonathan D. Mosley, Emily S. Lau, Jennifer E. Ho, Quanhu Sheng, Ravi Shah, Saumya Das
BACKGROUND. Oxidized ApoB (oxLDL) and other oxidation-modified lipoproteins (OMLs), such as oxidized ApoA-I (oxHDL), are known pro-atherogenic factors. However, OMLs prognostic value for assessing high-risk coronary plaques by coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) has not been fully evaluated. METHODS. In a prospective, observational study, 306 participants with known cardiovascular disease (CVD) had extensive lipoprotein profiling, including plasma OMLs and HDL function measured. Proteomics analysis was performed on oxHDL isolated by anti-oxApoA-I antibody. Atherosclerotic plaque assessment was accomplished by quantitative CCTA (QAngio, Medis). RESULTS. Patients were predominantly white, overweight males (58.5%) on statin therapy (43.5%). Significant increases in LDL-C, ApoB, LDL-TG, sdLDL-C (P<0.001 for all), and TGs (P=0.03) were observed in high oxLDL group, accompanied by less efficient HDL function. High oxLDL was associated with necrotic (NB) (β=0.20; P<0.0001) and fibro-fatty (FFB) burdens (β=0.15; P=0.001) after multivariate adjustment. Low oxHDL had a significant reverse association with these plaque characteristics. Plasma oxHDL levels better predicted NB and FFB after adjustment (2.22, 1.27-3.88 and 2.80, 1.71-4.58) (ORs, 95% CIs) compared to oxLDL and HDL-C. Interestingly, oxHDL was associated with fibrous burden (FB) change over 3.3 years of follow-up (rho=0.535; P=0.033), when compared to oxLDL. Finally, combined Met(136) monooxidation and Trp(132) dioxidation of HDL showed the most evident association with CAC score (r=0.786; P<0.001) and FB (r=0.539; P=0.012) in high oxHDL, whereas Met(136) monooxidation significantly associated with high-risk plaque in low oxHDL. CONCLUSION. Our findings suggest that the investigated OMLs are associated with high-risk coronary plaque features and progression over time in CVD patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION. URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT01621594. FUNDING. This work was supported by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) at the National Institutes of Health Intramural Research Program. The funding sources had no role in the design and conduct of the study; collection, management, analysis, and interpretation of the data; preparation, review, or approval of the manuscript; and decision to submit the manuscript for publication.
Alexander V. Sorokin, Christin G. Hong, Angel M. Aponte, Elizabeth M. Florida, Jingrong Tang, Nidhi Patel, Irina N. Baranova, Haiou Li, Philip M. Parel, Vicky Chen, Sierra R. Wilson, Emily L. Ongstad, Anna Collén, Martin P. Playford, Thomas L. Eggerman, Marcus Y. Chen, Kazuhiko Kotani, Alexander V. Bocharov, Alan T. Remaley
Diabetic cardiomyopathy, an increasingly global epidemic and a major cause of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), is associated with hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, and intra-cardiomyocyte calcium mishandling. Here we identify that, in db/db mice with type 2 diabetes induced HFpEF, abnormal remodeling of cardiomyocyte transverse-tubule microdomains occurs with downregulation of the membrane scaffolding protein cardiac bridging integrator 1 (cBIN1). Transduction of cBIN1 by AAV9 gene therapy can restore transverse-tubule microdomains to normalize intracellular distribution of calcium handling proteins and, surprisingly, glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4). Cardiac proteomics revealed that AAV9-cBIN1 normalizes components of calcium handling and GLUT4 translocation machineries. Functional studies further identified that AAV9-cBIN1 normalizes insulin-dependent glucose uptake in diabetic cardiomyocytes. Phenotypically, AAV9-cBIN1 rescues cardiac lusitropy, improves exercise intolerance, and ameliorates hyperglycemia in diabetic mice. Restoration of transverse-tubule microdomains can improve cardiac function in the setting of diabetic cardiomyopathy, and also improve systemic glycemic control.
Jing Li, Bradley Richmond, Ahmad A. Cluntun, Ryan Bia, Maureen A. Walsh, Kikuyo Shaw, J. David Symons, Sarah Franklin, Jared Rutter, Katsuhiko Funai, Robin M. Shaw, TingTing Hong
We investigated the extent, biologic characterization, phenotypic specificity, and possible regulation of a β1-adrenergic receptor–linked (β1-AR–linked) gene signaling network (β1-GSN) involved in left ventricular (LV) eccentric pathologic remodeling. A 430-member β1-GSN was identified by mRNA expression in transgenic mice overexpressing human β1-ARs or from literature curation, which exhibited opposite directional behavior in interventricular septum endomyocardial biopsies taken from patients with beta-blocker–treated, reverse remodeled dilated cardiomyopathies. With reverse remodeling, the major biologic categories and percentage of the dominant directional change were as follows: metabolic (19.3%, 81% upregulated); gene regulation (14.9%, 78% upregulated); extracellular matrix/fibrosis (9.1%, 92% downregulated); and cell homeostasis (13.3%, 60% upregulated). Regarding the comparison of β1-GSN categories with expression from 19,243 nonnetwork genes, phenotypic selection for major β1-GSN categories was exhibited for LV end systolic volume (contractility measure), ejection fraction (remodeling index), and pulmonary wedge pressure (wall tension surrogate), beginning at 3 months and persisting to study completion at 12 months. In addition, 121 lncRNAs were identified as possibly involved in cis-acting regulation of β1-GSN members. We conclude that an extensive 430-member gene network downstream from the β1-AR is involved in pathologic ventricular remodeling, with metabolic genes as the most prevalent category.
Philip D. Tatman, David P. Kao, Kathryn C. Chatfield, Ian A. Carroll, Jessica A. Wagner, Eric R. Jonas, Carmen C. Sucharov, J. David Port, Brian D. Lowes, Wayne A. Minobe, Sophia P. Huebler, Anis Karimpour-Fard, Erin M. Rodriguez, Stephen B. Liggett, Michael R. Bristow
Pediatric cardiomyopathy (CM) represents a group of rare, severe disorders that affect the myocardium. To date, the etiology and mechanisms underlying pediatric CM are incompletely understood, hampering accurate diagnosis and individualized therapy development. Here, bi-allelic variants in the highly conserved flightless-1 (FLII) gene were identified in three families with idiopathic early-onset dilated CM. We demonstrate that patient-specific FLII variants, when brought into the zebrafish genome using CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing, result in the manifestation of key aspects of morphological and functional abnormalities of the heart, as observed in our patients. Importantly, using these genetic animal models, complemented with in-depth loss-of-function studies, we provide insights into the function of Flii during ventricular chamber morphogenesis in vivo, including myofibril organization and cardiomyocyte cell adhesion, as well as trabeculation. In addition, we identify Flii function to be important for the regulation of Notch and Hippo signaling, crucial pathways associated with cardiac morphogenesis and function. Taken together, our data provide experimental evidence for a role for FLII in the pathogenesis of pediatric CM, and report bi-allelic variants as a novel genetic cause of pediatric CM.
Claudine W.B. Ruijmbeek, Filomena Housley, Hafiza Idrees, Michael P. Housley, Jenny Pestel, Leonie Keller, Jason Kuan Han Lai, Herma C. van der Linde, Rob Willemsen, Janett Piesker, Zuhair N. Al-Hassnan, Abdulrahman Almesned, Michiel Dalinghaus, Lisa M. van den Bersselaar, Marjon A. van Slegtenhorst, Federico Tessadori, Jeroen Bakkers, Tjakko J. van Ham, Didier Y.R. Stainier, Judith M.A. Verhagen, Sven Reischauer
Metabolic mechanisms underlying the heterogeneity of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) risk in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) remain unclear. We hypothesized that circulating metabolites reflecting mitochondrial dysfunction predict incident MACE in T2D. Targeted mass-spectrometry profiling of 60 metabolites was performed on baseline plasma from TECOS (discovery) and EXSCEL (validation) trial biomarker substudy cohorts. A principal components analysis metabolite factor comprised of medium-chain acylcarnitines was associated with MACE in TECOS and validated in EXSCEL, with higher levels associated with higher MACE risk. Meta-analysis showed that long-chain acylcarnitines and dicarboxylacylcarnitines were also associated with MACE. Metabolites remained associated with MACE in multivariate models and favorably changed with exenatide therapy. A third cohort (CATHGEN) with T2D assessed whether these metabolites improved discriminative capability multivariate for MACE; nine metabolites (medium- and long-chain acylcarnitines and one dicarboxylacylcarnitine) were associated with time-to-MACE in CATHGEN. Addition of these metabolites to clinical models minimally improved the discriminative capability for MACE but did significantly down reclassify risk. Thus, metabolites reporting on dysregulated mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation are higher in individuals with T2D who experience subsequent MACE. These biomarkers may improve CV risk prediction models, be therapy responsive, and highlight emerging risk mechanisms.
Jessica A. Regan, Robert J. Mentz, Maggie Nguyen, Jennifer B. Green, Lauren K. Truby, Olga Ilkayeva, Christopher Newgard, John B. Buse, Harald Sourij, C. David Sjöström, Naveed Sattar, Robert W. McGarrah, Yinggan Zheng, Darren K. McGuire, Eberhard Standl, Paul Armstrong, Eric Peterson, Adrian Hernandez, Rury R. Holman, Svati H. Shah
Rationale: Femoral atherosclerotic plaques are less inflammatory than carotid plaques histologically, but limited cell-level data exist regarding comparative immune landscapes and polarization at these sites. Objectives: We investigated intraplaque leukocyte phenotypes and transcriptional polarization in 49 total patients undergoing femoral (N=23) or carotid (N=26) endarterectomy using single-cell ribonucleic acid sequencing (scRNA-seq; N=13), flow cytometry (N=24), and immunohistochemistry (N=12). Findings: Comparative scRNA-seq of CD45 positive-selected leukocytes from femoral (N=9; 35265 cells) and carotid (N=4; 30655 cells) plaque revealed distinct transcriptional profiles. Inflammatory foam cell-like macrophages and monocytes comprised 2.5- to 4-fold higher proportions of myeloid cells in carotid plaques, whereas non-inflammatory foam cell-like macrophages and LYVE1-overexpressing resident-like macrophages comprised 3.5- to 9-fold higher proportions of myeloid cells in femoral plaque (p<0.001 for all). A significant comparative excess of CCR2+ macrophages in carotid versus femoral plaque was observed by flow cytometry in a separate validation cohort. B cells were more prevalent and exhibited a comparatively anti-inflammatory profile in femoral plaque, whereas cytotoxic CD8+ T cells were more prevalent in carotid plaque. Conclusion: Human femoral plaques exhibit distinct macrophage profiles and diminished CD8+ T cell populations compared with carotid plaques. Experimental models elucidating determinants of plaque site-specific cell polarization cues are warranted.
Joshua Slysz, Arjun Sinha, Matthew DeBerge, Shalini Singh, Harris Avgousti, Inhyeok Lee, Kristofor Glinton, Reina Nagasaka, Prarthana J. Dalal, Shaina J. Alexandria, Ching Man Wai, Ricardo Tellez, Mariavittoria Vescovo, Ashwin Sunderraj, Xinkun Wang, Matthew J. Schipma, Ryan K Sisk, Rishab Gulati, Jenifer Vallejo, Ryosuke Saigusa, Donald M. Lloyd-Jones, Jon Lomasney, Samuel E. Weinberg, Karen J. Ho, Klaus Ley, Chiara Giannarelli, Edward B. Thorp, Matthew J. Feinstein
Morrbid is a new identified leukocyte-specific long noncoding RNA (lncRNA). However, the expression and biological functions of Morrbid in cardiomyocytes and in heart disease are currently unclear. The study is to determine the roles of cardiac Morrbid in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and to identify the potential cellular and molecular mechanisms involved. We found that both human and mouse cardiomyocytes could express a significant amount of Morrbid and its expression was increased in cardiomyocytes with hypoxia or oxidative stress, and in mouse hearts with AMI. Overexpression of Morrbid reduced the myocardial infarct size and cardiac dysfunction, whereas the infarct size and cardiac dysfunction were deteriorated in cardiomyocyte-specific Morrbid knockout (Morrbidfl/fl/Myh6-Cre) mice. We identified that Morrbid had a protective effect against hypoxia or H2O2-induce apoptosis, which was also confirmed in vivo in mouse hearts after AMI. We further discovered that serpine1 was a direct target gene of Morrbid, which was involved in Morrbid-mediated protective effect on cardiomyocytes. In summary, we have found for the first time that the cardiac Morrbid is a stress-enhanced lncRNA, which protects hearts from AMI via anti-apoptosis through its target gene serpine1. Morrbid may be a novel promising therapeutic target for ischemic heart diseases such as AMI.
Yang Yu, Haiqiong Yang, Qiuting Li, Nianhui Ding, Jiali Gao, Gan Qiao, Jianguo Feng, Xin Zhang, Jianming Wu, Yajun Yu, Xiangyu Zhou, Xiaobin Wang, Chunxiang Zhang
Almost half of patients recovering from open chest surgery experience atrial fibrillation (AF) that results principally from inflammation in the pericardial space surrounding the heart. Given that post-operative AF is associated with increased mortality, effective measures to prevent AF after open-chest surgery are highly desirable. In this study, we tested the concept that extracellular vesicles (EVs) isolated from human atrial explant-derived cells can prevent post-operative AF. Middle-aged female and male rats were randomized to undergo sham operation or induction of sterile pericarditis followed by trans-epicardial injection of human EVs or vehicle into the atrial tissue. Pericarditis increased the probability of inducing AF while EV treatment abrogated this effect in a sex independent manner. EV treatment reduced infiltration of inflammatory cells and production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Atrial fibrosis and hypertrophy seen after pericarditis was markedly attenuated by EV pre-treatment; an effect attributable to suppression of fibroblast proliferation by EVs. Our study demonstrates that injection of extracellular vesicles at the time of open-chest surgery shows prominent anti-inflammatory effects and prevents AF due to sterile pericarditis. Translation of this finding to patients might provide an effective new strategy to prevent post-operative AF by reducing atrial inflammation and fibrosis.
Sandrine Parent, Ramana Vaka, Yousef Risha, Clarissa Ngo, Pushpinder Kanda, Stanley Nattel, Saad Khan, David Courtman, Duncan J. Stewart, Darryl R. Davis
Previous studies implicate extracellular adenosine signaling in attenuating myocardial ischemia and reperfusion injury (IRI). This extracellular adenosine signaling is terminated by its uptake into cells by equilibrative nucleoside transporters (ENTs). Thus, we hypothesized that targeting ENTs would function to increase cardiac adenosine signaling and concomitant cardioprotection against IRI. Mice were exposed to myocardial ischemia and reperfusion injury. Myocardial injury was attenuated in mice treated with the nonspecific ENT inhibitor dipyridamole. A comparison of mice with global Ent1 or Ent2 deletion showed cardioprotection only in Ent1–/– mice. Moreover, studies with tissue-specific Ent deletion revealed that mice with myocyte-specific Ent1 deletion (Ent1loxP/loxP Myosin Cre+ mice) experienced smaller infarct sizes. Measurements of cardiac adenosine levels demonstrated that postischemic elevations of adenosine persisted during reperfusion after targeting ENTs. Finally, studies in mice with global or myeloid-specific deletion of the Adora2b adenosine receptor (Adora2bloxP/loxP LysM Cre+ mice) implied that Adora2b signaling on myeloid-inflammatory cells in cardioprotection provided by ENT inhibition. These studies reveal a previously unrecognized role for myocyte-specific ENT1 in cardioprotection by enhancing myeloid-dependent Adora2b signaling during reperfusion. Extension of these findings implicates adenosine transporter inhibitors in cardioprotection against ischemia and reperfusion injury.
Wei Ruan, Jiwen Li, Seungwon Choi, Xinxin Ma, Yafen Liang, Ragini Nair, Xiaoyi Yuan, Tingting W. Mills, Holger K. Eltzschig
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