Dataset Information

Inhibition of the Unfolded Protein Response Mechanism Prevents Cardiac Fibrosis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Cardiac fibrosis attributed to excessive deposition of extracellular matrix proteins is a major cause of heart failure and death. Cardiac fibrosis is extremely difficult and challenging to treat in a clinical setting due to lack of understanding of molecular mechanisms leading to cardiac fibrosis and effective anti-fibrotic therapies. The objective in this study was to examine whether unfolded protein response (UPR) pathway mediates cardiac fibrosis and whether a pharmacological intervention to modulate UPR can prevent cardiac fibrosis and preserve heart function.

Methodology/principal findings

We demonstrate here that the mechanism leading to development of fibrosis in a mouse with increased expression of calreticulin, a model of heart failure, stems from impairment of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) homeostasis, transient activation of the unfolded protein response (UPR) pathway and stimulation of the TGF?1/Smad2/3 signaling pathway. Remarkably, sustained pharmacologic inhibition of the UPR pathway by tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA) is sufficient to prevent cardiac fibrosis, and improved exercise tolerance.

Conclusions

We show that the mechanism leading to development of fibrosis in a mouse model of heart failure stems from transient activation of UPR pathway leading to persistent remodelling of cardiac tissue. Blocking the activation of the transiently activated UPR pathway by TUDCA prevented cardiac fibrosis, and improved prognosis. These findings offer a window for additional interventions that can preserve heart function.

SUBMITTER: Groenendyk J

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4956237 | biostudies-literature | 2016

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Inhibition of the Unfolded Protein Response Mechanism Prevents Cardiac Fibrosis.

Groenendyk Jody J Lee Dukgyu D Jung Joanna J Dyck Jason R B JR Lopaschuk Gary D GD Agellon Luis B LB Michalak Marek M

PloS one 20160721 7

<h4>Background</h4>Cardiac fibrosis attributed to excessive deposition of extracellular matrix proteins is a major cause of heart failure and death. Cardiac fibrosis is extremely difficult and challenging to treat in a clinical setting due to lack of understanding of molecular mechanisms leading to cardiac fibrosis and effective anti-fibrotic therapies. The objective in this study was to examine whether unfolded protein response (UPR) pathway mediates cardiac fibrosis and whether a pharmacologic ...[more]

PMID: 27441395

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Project description:The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is the cellular organelle responsible for protein folding and assembly, lipid and sterol biosynthesis, and calcium storage. The unfolded protein response (UPR) is an adaptive intracellular stress response to accumulation of unfolded or misfolded proteins in the ER. In this study, we show that the most conserved UPR sensor inositol-requiring enzyme 1 ? (IRE1?), an ER transmembrane protein kinase/endoribonuclease, is required to maintain hepatic lipid homeostasis under ER stress conditions through repressing hepatic lipid accumulation and maintaining lipoprotein secretion. To elucidate physiological roles of IRE1?-mediated signalling in the liver, we generated hepatocyte-specific Ire1?-null mice by utilizing an albumin promoter-controlled Cre recombinase-mediated deletion. Deletion of Ire1? caused defective induction of genes encoding functions in ER-to-Golgi protein transport, oxidative protein folding, and ER-associated degradation (ERAD) of misfolded proteins, and led to selective induction of pro-apoptotic UPR trans-activators. We show that IRE1? is required to maintain the secretion efficiency of selective proteins. In the absence of ER stress, mice with hepatocyte-specific Ire1? deletion displayed modest hepatosteatosis that became profound after induction of ER stress. Further investigation revealed that IRE1? represses expression of key metabolic transcriptional regulators, including CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein (C/EBP) ?, C/EBP?, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ? (PPAR?), and enzymes involved in triglyceride biosynthesis. IRE1? was also found to be required for efficient secretion of apolipoproteins upon disruption of ER homeostasis. Consistent with a role for IRE1? in preventing intracellular lipid accumulation, mice with hepatocyte-specific deletion of Ire1? developed severe hepatic steatosis after treatment with an ER stress-inducing anti-cancer drug Bortezomib, upon expression of a misfolding-prone human blood clotting factor VIII, or after partial hepatectomy. The identification of IRE1? as a key regulator to prevent hepatic steatosis provides novel insights into ER stress mechanisms in fatty liver diseases associated with toxic liver injuries.

Dataset Information

Inhibition of the Unfolded Protein Response Mechanism Prevents Cardiac Fibrosis.

Background

Methodology/principal findings

Conclusions

Publications

Inhibition of the Unfolded Protein Response Mechanism Prevents Cardiac Fibrosis.

Similar Datasets

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