CIKS (Act1 or TRAF3IP2) mediates Angiotensin-II-induced Interleukin-18 expression, and Nox2-dependent cardiomyocyte hypertrophy.

ABSTRACT: Chronic elevation of angiotensin (Ang)-II can lead to myocardial inflammation, hypertrophy and cardiac failure. The adaptor molecule CIKS (connection to IKK and SAPK/JNK) activates the I?B kinase/nuclear factor (NF)-?B and JNK/activator protein (AP)-1 pathways in autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Since Ang-II is a potent activator of NF-?B and AP-1, we investigated whether CIKS is critical in Ang-II-mediated cardiac hypertrophy. Here we report that Ang-II induced CIKS mRNA and protein expression, CIKS binding to IKK and JNK perhaps functioning as a scaffold protein, CIKS-dependent IKK/NF-?B and JNK/AP-1 activation, p65 and c-Jun phosphorylation and nuclear translocation, NF-?B- and AP-1-dependent IL-18 and MMP-9 induction, and hypertrophy of adult cardiomyocytes isolated from WT, but not CIKS-null mice. These results were recapitulated in WT-cardiomyocytes following CIKS knockdown. Infusion of Ang-II for 7days induced cardiac hypertrophy, increased collagen content, and upregulated CIKS mRNA and protein expression in WT mice, whereas cardiac hypertrophy and collagen deposition were markedly attenuated in the CIKS-null mice, despite a similar increase in systolic blood pressure and DPI-inhibitable superoxide generation in both types of animals. Further, Ang-II-induced IKK/p65 and JNK/c-Jun phosphorylation, NF-?B and AP-1 activation, and IL-18 and MMP-9 expression were also markedly attenuated in CIKS-null mice. These results demonstrate that CIKS is critical in Ang-II-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and fibrosis, and that CIKS is an important intermediate in Ang-II-induced redox signaling. CIKS is a potential therapeutic target in cardiac hypertrophy, fibrosis, and congestive heart failure.

SUBMITTER: Valente AJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3477707 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature