Project description:The goal of replenishing the cardiomyocyte (CM) population using regenerative therapies following myocardial infarction (MI) is hampered by the limited regeneration capacity of adult CMs, partially due to their withdrawal from the cell cycle. Here, we show that microRNA-128 (miR-128) is upregulated in CMs during the postnatal switch from proliferation to terminal differentiation. In neonatal mice, cardiac-specific overexpression of miR-128 impairs CM proliferation and cardiac function, while miR-128 deletion extends proliferation of postnatal CMs by enhancing expression of the chromatin modifier SUZ12, which suppresses p27 (cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor) expression and activates the positive cell cycle regulators Cyclin E and CDK2. Furthermore, deletion of miR-128 promotes cell cycle re-entry of adult CMs, thereby reducing the levels of fibrosis, and attenuating cardiac dysfunction in response to MI. These results suggest that miR-128 serves as a critical regulator of endogenous CM proliferation, and might be a novel therapeutic target for heart repair.
Project description:To identify the potential microRNAs (miRNAs) involved in the regulation of cardiomyocyte (CM) proliferation during homeostasis and injury, RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) in mouse cardiac ventricles was performed on postnatal day 1, 7, and 28 (P1, P7, and P28). Significant upregulation of MiR-128 was found in P7 hearts as compared to P1. To further specify the effect of miR-128 in the heart, RNA-Seq was performed in control mice (Ctrl) and miR-128 overexpression mice (miR-128OE) on P7. These data provide novel insights into the mechanisms by which adult CMs exit the cell cycle arrest and is fundamental for therapeutic manipulation to stimulate endogenous CM proliferate in cardiac regeneration.
Project description:To identify the potential microRNAs (miRNAs) involved in the regulation of cardiomyocyte (CM) proliferation during homeostasis and injury, RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) in mouse cardiac ventricles was performed on postnatal day 1, 7, and 28 (P1, P7, and P28). Significant upregulation of MiR-128 was found in P7 hearts as compared to P1. To further specify the effect of miR-128 in the heart, RNA-Seq was performed in control mice (Ctrl) and miR-128 overexpression mice (miR-128OE) on P7. These data provide novel insights into the mechanisms by which adult CMs exit the cell cycle arrest and is fundamental for therapeutic manipulation to stimulate endogenous CM proliferate in cardiac regeneration.
Project description:Myocardial infarction causes cardiomyocyte loss, and depleted cardiomyocyte proliferative capacity after birth impinges the heart repair process, eventually leading to heart failure. This study aims to investigate the role of Poly(ADP-Ribose) Polymerase 1 (PARP1) in the regulation of cardiomyocyte proliferation and heart regeneration. Our findings demonstrated that PARP1 knockout impaired cardiomyocyte proliferation, cardiac function, and scar formation, while PARP1 overexpression improved heart regeneration in apical resection-operated mice. Mechanistically, we found that PARP1 interacts with and poly(ADP-ribosyl)ates Heat Shock Protein 90 Alpha Family Class B Member 1 (HSP90AB1) and increases binding between HSP90AB1 and Cell Division Cycle 37 (CDC37) and cell cycle kinase activity, thus activating cardiomyocyte cell cycle. Our results reveal that PARP1 promotes heart regeneration and cardiomyocyte proliferation via poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation of HSP90AB1 activating the cardiomyocyte cell cycle, suggesting that PARP1 may be a potential therapeutic target in treating cardiac injury.
Project description:BackgroundNeonatal mouse cardiomyocytes undergo a metabolic switch from glycolysis to oxidative phosphorylation, which results in a significant increase in reactive oxygen species production that induces DNA damage. These cellular changes contribute to cardiomyocyte cell cycle exit and loss of the capacity for cardiac regeneration. The mechanisms that regulate this metabolic switch and the increase in reactive oxygen species production have been relatively unexplored. Current evidence suggests that elevated reactive oxygen species production in ischemic tissues occurs as a result of accumulation of the mitochondrial metabolite succinate during ischemia via succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), and this succinate is rapidly oxidized at reperfusion. Mutations in SDH in familial cancer syndromes have been demonstrated to promote a metabolic shift into glycolytic metabolism, suggesting a potential role for SDH in regulating cellular metabolism. Whether succinate and SDH regulate cardiomyocyte cell cycle activity and the cardiac metabolic state remains unclear.MethodsHere, we investigated the role of succinate and SDH inhibition in regulation of postnatal cardiomyocyte cell cycle activity and heart regeneration.ResultsOur results demonstrate that injection of succinate into neonatal mice results in inhibition of cardiomyocyte proliferation and regeneration. Our evidence also shows that inhibition of SDH by malonate treatment after birth extends the window of cardiomyocyte proliferation and regeneration in juvenile mice. Remarkably, extending malonate treatment to the adult mouse heart after myocardial infarction injury results in a robust regenerative response within 4 weeks after injury via promoting adult cardiomyocyte proliferation and revascularization. Our metabolite analysis after SDH inhibition by malonate induces dynamic changes in adult cardiac metabolism.ConclusionsInhibition of SDH by malonate promotes adult cardiomyocyte proliferation, revascularization, and heart regeneration via metabolic reprogramming. These findings support a potentially important new therapeutic approach for human heart failure.
Project description:The adult mammalian heart is thought to be a terminally differentiated organ given the postmitotic nature of cardiomyocytes. Consequently, the potential for cardiac repair through cardiomyocyte proliferation is extremely limited. Low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 6 (LRP6) is a Wnt co-receptor that is required for embryonic heart development. In this study we investigated the role of LRP6 in heart repair through regulation of cardiomyocyte proliferation. Lrp6 deficiency increased cardiomyocyte cell cycle activity in neonatal, juvenile and adult mice. Cardiomyocyte-specific deletion of Lrp6 in the mouse heart induced a robust regenerative response after myocardial infarction (MI), led to reduced MI area and improvement in left ventricular systolic function. In vivo genetic lineage tracing revealed that the newly formed cardiomyocytes in Lrp6-deficient mouse hearts after MI were mainly derived from resident cardiomyocytes. Furthermore, we found that the pro-proliferative effect of Lrp6 deficiency was mediated by the ING5/P21 signaling pathway. Gene therapy using the adeno-associated virus (AAV)9 miRNAi-Lrp6 construct promoted the repair of heart injury in mice. Lrp6 deficiency also induced the proliferation of human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (iPSC-CMs). Our study identifies LRP6 as a critical regulator of cardiomyocyte proliferation, which may lead to the development of a novel molecular strategy to promote myocardial regeneration and repair.
Project description:Myeloid-derived growth factor (Mydgf), a paracrine protein secreted by bone marrow-derived monocytes and macrophages, was found to protect against cardiac injury following myocardial infarction (MI) in adult mice. We speculated that Mydgf might improve heart function via myocardial regeneration, which is essential for discovering the target to reverse heart failure. Methods: Two genetic mouse lines were used: global Mydgf knockout (Mydgf-KO) and Mydgf-EGFP mice. Two models of cardiac injury, apical resection was performed in neonatal and MI was performed in adult mice. Quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, western blot and flow cytometry were performed to study the protein expression. Immunofluorescence was performed to detect the proliferation of cardiomyocytes. Heart regeneration and cardiac function were evaluated by Masson's staining and echocardiography, respectively. RNA sequencing was employed to identify the key involved in Mydgf-induced cardiomyocyte proliferation. Mydgf recombinant protein injection was performed as a therapy for cardiac repair post MI in adult mice. Results: Mydgf expression could be significantly induced in neonatal mouse hearts after cardiac injury. Unexpectedly, we found that Mydgf was predominantly expressed by endothelial cells rather than macrophages in injured neonatal hearts. Mydgf deficiency impeded neonatal heart regeneration and injury-induced cardiomyocyte proliferation. Mydgf recombinant protein promoted primary mouse cardiomyocyte proliferation. Employing RNA sequencing and functional verification, we demonstrated that c-Myc/FoxM1 pathway mediated Mydgf-induced cardiomyocyte expansion. Mydgf recombinant protein improved cardiac function in adult mice after MI injury with inducing cardiomyocyte proliferation. Conclusion: Mydgf promotes cardiomyocyte proliferation by activating c-Myc/FoxM1 pathway and improves heart regeneration both in neonatal and adult mice after cardiac injury, providing a potential target to reverse cardiac remodeling and heart failure.