Hypoxia-responsive ZEB2 regulates a network of calcium handling genes in the injured heart

ABSTRACT: Intracellular calcium (Ca2+) overload is known to play a critical role in the development of cardiac dysfunction. Despite the remarkable improvement in managing the progression of heart disease, developing effective therapies for heart failure (HF) remains a challenge. A better understanding of molecular mechanisms that maintain proper Ca2+ levels and contractility in the injured heart could be of therapeutic value. Here, we report that the transcription factor Zinc finger E-box-binding homeobox2 (ZEB2) is induced by Hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha (HIF1a) in hypoxic cardiomyocytes and regulates a network of genes involved in Ca2+-handling and contractility during ischemic heart disease. Gain- and loss-of-function studies in genetic mouse models revealed ZEB2 in cardiomyocytes to be necessary and sufficient to protect the heart against ischemia-induced diastolic dysfunction and structural remodeling. Moreover, RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) of ZEB2-overexpressing (Zeb2 cTg) hearts post-injury implicated ZEB2 in regulating numerous Ca2+-handling and contractility-related genes. Mechanistically, ZEB2 overexpression increased the phosphorylation of phospholamban (PLN) at both serine-16 and threonine-17, implying enhanced activity of sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase (SERCA2a), thereby augmenting SR Ca2+ uptake and contractility. Furthermore, we observed a decrease in the activity of Ca2+-dependent calcineurin/NFAT signaling in Zeb2 cTg hearts, which is the main driver of pathological cardiac remodeling. On a post-transcriptional level, we showed that ZEB2 expression can be regulated by the cardiomyocyte-specific microRNA-208a (miR-208a). Blocking the function of miR-208a with antimiR-208a increased ZEB2 expression in the heart and effectively protected from the development of pathological cardiac hypertrophy. Together, we present ZEB2 as a central regulator of contractility and Ca2+-handling components in the mammalian heart. Further mechanistic understanding of the role of ZEB2 in regulating Ca2+ homeostasis in cardiomyocytes is an essential step towards the development of improved therapies for HF.

ORGANISM(S): Mus musculus

PROVIDER: GSE236827 | GEO | 2024/12/19

REPOSITORIES: GEO