scholarly journals Hydrogen Sulfide Donor GYY4137 Protects against Myocardial Fibrosis

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guoliang Meng ◽  
Jinbiao Zhu ◽  
Yujiao Xiao ◽  
Zhengrong Huang ◽  
Yuqing Zhang ◽  
...  

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is a gasotransmitter which regulates multiple cardiovascular functions. However, the precise roles of H2S in modulating myocardial fibrosisin vivoand cardiac fibroblast proliferationin vitroremain unclear. We investigated the effect of GYY4137, a slow-releasing H2S donor, on myocardial fibrosis. Spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) were administrated with GYY4137 by intraperitoneal injection daily for 4 weeks. GYY4137 decreased systolic blood pressure and inhibited myocardial fibrosis in SHR as evidenced by improved cardiac collagen volume fraction (CVF) in the left ventricle (LV), ratio of perivascular collagen area (PVCA) to lumen area (LA) in perivascular regions, reduced hydroxyproline concentration, collagen I and III mRNA expression, and cross-linked collagen. GYY4137 also inhibited angiotensin II- (Ang II-) induced neonatal rat cardiac fibroblast proliferation, reduced the number of fibroblasts in S phase, decreased collagen I and III mRNA expression and protein synthesis, attenuated oxidative stress, and suppressedα-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) expression as well as Smad2 phosphorylation. These results indicate that GYY4137 improves myocardial fibrosis perhaps by a mechanism involving inhibition of oxidative stress, blockade of the TGF-β1/Smad2 signaling pathway, and decrease inα-SMA expression in cardiac fibroblasts.

2004 ◽  
Vol 287 (1) ◽  
pp. G264-G273 ◽  
Author(s):  
Atul Sahai ◽  
Padmini Malladi ◽  
Hector Melin-Aldana ◽  
Richard M. Green ◽  
Peter F. Whitington

The pathogenesis of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is poorly defined. Feeding mice a diet deficient in methionine and choline (MCD diet) induces experimental NASH. Osteopontin (OPN) is a Th1 cytokine that plays an important role in several fibroinflammatory diseases. We examined the role of OPN in the development of experimental NASH. A/J mice were fed MCD or control diet for up to 12 wk, and serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), liver histology, oxidative stress, and the expressions of OPN, TNF-α, and collagen I were assessed at various time points. MCD diet-fed mice developed hepatic steatosis starting after 1 wk and inflammation by 2 wk; serum ALT increased from day 3. Hepatic collagen I mRNA expression increased during 1–4 wk, and fibrosis appeared at 8 wk. OPN protein expression was markedly increased on day 1 of MCD diet and persisted up to 8 wk, whereas OPN mRNA expression was increased at week 4. TNF-α expression was increased from day 3 to 2 wk, and evidence of oxidative stress did not appear until 8 wk. Increased expression of OPN was predominantly localized in hepatocytes. Hepatocytes in culture also produced OPN, which was stimulated by transforming growth factor-β and TNF-α. Moreover, MCD diet-induced increases in serum ALT levels, hepatic inflammation, and fibrosis were markedly reduced in OPN−/− mice when compared with OPN+/+ mice. In conclusion, our results demonstrate an upregulation of OPN expression early in the development of steatohepatitis and suggest an important role for OPN in signaling the onset of liver injury and fibrosis in experimental NASH.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (21) ◽  
pp. 11893
Author(s):  
Yue Zhang ◽  
Weiwei Gong ◽  
Mengting Xu ◽  
Shuping Zhang ◽  
Jieru Shen ◽  
...  

Myocardial ischemia or hypoxia can induce myocardial fibroblast proliferation and myocardial fibrosis. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is a gasotransmitter with multiple physiological functions. In our present study, primary cardiac fibroblasts were incubated with H2S donor sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS, 50 μM) for 4 h followed by hypoxia stimulation (containing 5% CO2 and 1% O2) for 4 h. Then, the preventive effects on cardiac fibroblast proliferation and the possible mechanisms were investigated. Our results showed that NaHS reduced the cardiac fibroblast number, decreased the hydroxyproline content; inhibited the EdU positive ratio; and down-regulated the expressions of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), the antigen identified by monoclonal antibody Ki67 (Ki67), proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), collagen I, and collagen III, suggesting that hypoxia-induced cardiac fibroblasts proliferation was suppressed by NaHS. NaHS improved the mitochondrial membrane potential and attenuated oxidative stress, and inhibited dynamin-related protein 1 (DRP1), but enhanced optic atrophy protein 1 (OPA1) expression. NaHS down-regulated receptor interacting protein kinase 1 (RIPK1) and RIPK3 expression, suggesting that necroptosis was alleviated. NaHS increased the sirtuin 3 (SIRT3) expressions in hypoxia-induced cardiac fibroblasts. Moreover, after SIRT3 siRNA transfection, the inhibitory effects on cardiac fibroblast proliferation, oxidative stress, and necroptosis were weakened. In summary, necroptosis inhibition by exogenous H2S alleviated hypoxia-induced cardiac fibroblast proliferation via SIRT3.


2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ying Yu ◽  
Xian-Jie Jia ◽  
Wei-ping Zhang ◽  
Ting-ting Fang ◽  
Jie Hu ◽  
...  

Objective. To investigate the effects of low dose ethanol feeding in diabetic rats and analyze its underlying mechanisms.Methods. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 4 groups: control (Con), diabetes at 4 weeks (DM4W), diabetes at 8 weeks (DM8W), and EtOH + DM8W. After 8 weeks, hemodynamic parameters were recorded and heart weight/body weight (H/B) and hydroxyproline (Hp) content in myocardium were measured. Morphology of collagen in myocardial tissue was observed with Masson’s trichrome staining method and collagen volume fraction (CVF) was analysed. The mRNA expression of ALDH2 was assessed with Real-Time PCR. The protein expressions of p-JNK and JNK were evaluated using western blot.Results. In contrast to Con group, there was no difference in hemodynamic parameters in DM4W group, but mean arterial pressure and heart rate were decreased in DM8W group, and the ratios of H/B, Hp, and CVF were markedly increased. ALDH2 mRNA expression was decreased, while the ratio of p-JNK/JNK were increased. Compared with DM8W group, the above indexes were improved in EtOH + DM8W group.Conclusion. With low dose ethanol intervention, enhanced ALDH2 expression can antagonize the happening of myocardial fibrosis in diabetic rats, which may be relevant with downregulating the JNK pathway.


2002 ◽  
Vol 282 (1) ◽  
pp. G156-G164 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bohuslav Dvorak ◽  
Melissa D. Halpern ◽  
Hana Holubec ◽  
Catherine S. Williams ◽  
Debra L. McWilliam ◽  
...  

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is the most common gastrointestinal disease of prematurely born infants. Maternal milk plays an important protective role against NEC development and is the major source of epidermal growth factor (EGF) for neonates. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of orally administered EGF on the incidence of NEC in a neonatal rat model. Newborn rats were artificially fed either with growth factor-free rat milk substitute (RMS) or RMS supplemented with 500 ng/ml of EGF (RMS+EGF). Experimental NEC was induced by exposure to asphyxia and cold stress. Development of NEC was evaluated by gross and histological scoring of damage in the ileum. Ileal EGF receptor (EGF-R), EGF, and transforming growth factor-α mRNA expression was assessed by RT competitive-PCR, and the EGF-R was localized by immunohistochemistry. EGF supplementation of formula reduced the incidence and severity of NEC in rats (13/16 RMS vs. 4/13 RMS+EGF). Ileal EGF-R mRNA expression was markedly increased in the RMS group compared with RMS+EGF. Enhanced EGF-R expression in the RMS group was localized predominantly in the epithelial cells of injured ileum. These data suggest a new potential therapeutic approach for the prevention and treatment of NEC.


2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lin-Lin Kang ◽  
Dong-Mei Zhang ◽  
Rui-Qing Jiao ◽  
Shu-Man Pan ◽  
Xiao-Juan Zhao ◽  
...  

Excessive fructose consumption induces oxidative stress and myocardial fibrosis. Antioxidant compound pterostilbene has cardioprotective effect in experimental animals. This study is aimed at investigating how fructose drove fibrotic responses via oxidative stress in cardiomyocytes and explored the attenuation mechanisms of pterostilbene. We observed fructose-induced myocardial hypertrophy and fibrosis with ROS overproduction in rats. Paired-like homeodomain 2 (Pitx2c) increase, microRNA-15b (miR-15b) low expression, and p53 phosphorylation (p-p53) upregulation, as well as activation of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1)/drosophila mothers against DPP homolog (Smads) signaling and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) induction, were also detected in fructose-fed rat hearts and fructose-exposed rat myocardial cell line H9c2 cells. The results from p53 siRNA or TGF-β1 siRNA transfection showed that TGF-β1-induced upregulation of CTGF expression and p-p53 activated TGF-β1/Smads signaling in fructose-exposed H9c2 cells. Of note, Pitx2c negatively modulated miR-15b expression via binding to the upstream of the miR-15b genetic loci by chromatin immunoprecipitation and transfection analysis with pEX1-Pitx2c plasmid and Pitx2c siRNA, respectively. In H9c2 cells pretreated with ROS scavenger N-acetylcysteine, or transfected with miR-15b mimic and inhibitor, fructose-induced cardiac ROS overload could drive Pitx2c-mediated miR-15b low expression, then cause p-p53-activated TGF-β1/Smads signaling and CTGF induction in myocardial fibrosis. We also found that pterostilbene significantly improved myocardial hypertrophy and fibrosis in fructose-fed rats and fructose-exposed H9c2 cells. Pterostilbene reduced cardiac ROS to block Pitx2c-mediated miR-15b low expression and p-p53-dependent TGF-β1/Smads signaling activation and CTGF induction in high fructose-induced myocardial fibrosis. These results firstly demonstrated that the ROS-driven Pitx2c/miR-15b pathway was required for p-p53-dependent TGF-β1/Smads signaling activation in fructose-induced myocardial fibrosis. Pterostilbene protected against high fructose-induced myocardial fibrosis through the inhibition of Pitx2c/miR-15b pathway to suppress p-p53-activated TGF-β1/Smads signaling, warranting the consideration of Pitx2c/miR-15b pathway as a therapeutic target in myocardial fibrosis.


2015 ◽  
Vol 117 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Guoliang Meng ◽  
Liping Xie ◽  
Yong Ji

Rationale: H 2 S is a gasotransmitter that regulates multiple cardiovascular functions. Krüppel-like transcription factor (KLF) exerts diverse functions in the cardiovascular system. Objectives: The aim of present study was to investigate the effect of hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S) on myocardial hypertrophy. Methods and results: Myocardial samples of 22 patients with left ventricle hypertrophy were collected and underwent histological and molecular biological analysis. Spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and neonatal rat cardiomyocytes were studied for functional and signaling response to GYY4137, a H 2 S-releasing compound. Expression of cystathionine -lyase (CSE), a main enzyme for H 2 S generation in human heart, decreased in human hypertrophic myocardium, while KLF5 expression increased. In SHR treated with GYY4137 for 4 weeks, myocardial hypertrophy was inhibited as evidenced by improvement in cardiac structural parameters, heart mass index, size of cardiac myocytes and expression of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP). Levels of oxidative stress and phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases were also decreased after H 2 S treatment. H 2 S diminished expression of the KLF5 in myocardium of SHR and in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes rendered hypertrophy by angiotensin II (Ang II). H 2 S also inhibited ANP promoter activity and ANP expression in Ang II-induced neonatal rat cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, and these effects were suppressed by KLF5 knockdown. KLF5 promoter activity was increased by Ang II stimulation, and this was reversed by H 2 S. H 2 S also decreased activity of specificity protein-1 (SP-1) binding to the KLF5 promoter and attenuated KLF5 nuclear translocation by Ang II stimulation. Conclusion: H 2 S attenuated myocardial hypertrophy, which might be related to inhibiting oxidative stress and decreasing ANP transcription activity in a KLF5-dependent manner.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shiran Yu ◽  
Xuefei Dong ◽  
Min Yang ◽  
Qingtao Yu ◽  
Jie Xiong ◽  
...  

Abstract(Pro)renin receptor (PRR) and Yes-associated protein (YAP) play an important role in cardiovascular diseases. However, the role of PRR–YAP pathway in the pathogenesis of DCM is also not clear. We hypothesized that PRR–YAP pathway may promote pathological injuries in DCM by triggering redox. Wistar rats and neonatal rat cardiac fibroblasts were respectively used in vivo and in vitro studies. In order to observe the effects of PRR mediated YAP pathway on the pathogenesis of DCM, animal experiments were divided into 3 parts, including the evaluation the effects of PRR overexpression, PRR RNAi silencing and YAP RNAi silencing. Recombinant-adenoviruses-carried-PRR-gene (Ad-PRR), Ad-PRR-shRNA and lentivirus-carried-YAP-shRNA were constructed and the effects of PRR mediated YAP on the pathogenesis of DCM were evaluated. YAP specific inhibitor Verteporfin was also administrated in cardiac fibroblasts to explore the impact of PRR–YAP pathway on oxidative stress and myocardial fibrosis. The results displayed that PRR overexpression could enhance YAP expression but PRR RNAi silencing down-regulated its expression. Moreover, PRR overexpression could exacerbate oxidative stress and myocardial fibrosis in DCM, and these pathological changes could be rescued by YAP blockade. We concluded that PRR–YAP pathway plays a key role in the pathogenesis of DCM.


2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (18) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wenqian Zhang ◽  
Qiaozhu Wang ◽  
Yanjing Feng ◽  
Xuegui Chen ◽  
Lijun Yang ◽  
...  

Background Hypertensive myocardial fibrosis (MF) is characterized by excessive deposition of extracellular matrix and cardiac fibroblast proliferation, which can lead to heart failure, malignant arrhythmia, and sudden death. In recent years, with the deepening of research, microRNAs have been found to have an important role in blood pressure control and maintaining normal ventricular structure and function. Methods and Results In this study, we first documented the downregulation of microRNA‐26a (miR‐26a) in the plasma and myocardium of spontaneously hypertensive rats; more importantly, miR‐26a–deficient mice showed MF, whereas overexpression of miR‐26a significantly prevented elevated blood pressure and inhibited MF in vivo and angiotensin II‐induced fibrogenesis in cardiac fibroblasts by directly targeting connective tissue growth factor and Smad4. miR‐26a inhibited cardiac fibroblast proliferation by the enhancer of zeste homolog 2/p21 pathway. Conclusions Our study identified a novel role for miR‐26a in blood pressure control and hypertensive MF and provides a possible treatment strategy for miR‐26a to alleviate and reverse hypertensive MF.


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