scholarly journals The Role of the Inflammasome in Heart Failure

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jimin Wu ◽  
Erdan Dong ◽  
Youyi Zhang ◽  
Han Xiao

Inflammation promotes the development of heart failure (HF). The inflammasome is a multimeric protein complex that plays an essential role in the innate immune response by triggering the cleavage and activation of the proinflammatory cytokines interleukins (IL)-1β and IL-18. Blocking IL-1β with the monoclonal antibody canakinumab reduced hospitalizations and mortality in HF patients, suggesting that the inflammasome is involved in HF pathogenesis. The inflammasome is activated under various pathologic conditions that contribute to the progression of HF, including pressure overload, acute or chronic overactivation of the sympathetic system, myocardial infarction, and diabetic cardiomyopathy. Inflammasome activation is responsible for cardiac hypertrophy, fibrosis, and pyroptosis. Besides inflammatory cells, the inflammasome in other cardiac cells initiates local inflammation through intercellular communication. Some inflammasome inhibitors are currently being investigated in clinical trials in patients with HF. The current evidence suggests that the inflammasome is a critical mediator of cardiac inflammation during HF and a promising therapeutic target. The present review summarizes the recent advances in both basic and clinical research on the role of the inflammasome in HF.

Author(s):  
Sebastian Wawrocki ◽  
Magdalena Druszczynska

The development of effective innate and subsequent adaptive host immune responses is highly dependent on the production of proinflammatory cytokines that increase the activity of immune cells. The key role in this process is played by inflammasomes, multimeric protein complexes serving as a platform for caspase-1, an enzyme responsible for proteolytic cleavage of IL-1βand IL-18 precursors. Inflammasome activation, which triggers the multifaceted activity of these two proinflammatory cytokines, is a prerequisite for developing an efficient inflammatory response against pathogenicMycobacterium tuberculosis(M.tb). This review focuses on the role of NLRP3 and AIM2 inflammasomes inM.tb-driven immunity.


Author(s):  
Mortimer Korf-Klingebiel ◽  
Marc R. Reboll ◽  
Felix Polten ◽  
Natalie Weber ◽  
Felix Jäckle ◽  
...  

Background: Inflammation contributes to the pathogenesis of heart failure, but there is limited understanding of inflammation's potential benefits. Inflammatory cells secrete myeloid-derived growth factor (MYDGF) to promote tissue repair after acute myocardial infarction. We hypothesized that MYDGF has a role in cardiac adaptation to persistent pressure overload. Methods: We defined the cellular sources and function of MYDGF in wild-type, Mydgf -deficient ( Mydgf -/- ), and Mydgf bone marrow-chimeric or bone marrow-conditional transgenic mice with pressure overload-induced heart failure after transverse aortic constriction surgery. We measured MYDGF plasma concentrations by targeted liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. We identified MYDGF signaling targets by phosphoproteomics and substrate-based kinase activity inference. We recorded Ca 2+ transients and sarcomere contractions in isolated cardiomyocytes. Additionally, we explored the therapeutic potential of recombinant MYDGF. Results: MYDGF protein abundance increased in the left ventricular (LV) myocardium and in blood plasma of pressure-overloaded mice. Patients with severe aortic stenosis also had elevated MYDGF plasma concentrations, which declined after transcatheter aortic valve implantation. Monocytes and macrophages emerged as the main MYDGF sources in the pressure-overloaded murine heart. While Mydgf -/- mice had no apparent phenotype at baseline, they developed more severe LV hypertrophy and contractile dysfunction during pressure overload than wild-type mice. Conversely, conditional transgenic overexpression of MYDGF in bone marrow-derived inflammatory cells attenuated pressure overload-induced hypertrophy and dysfunction. Mechanistically, MYDGF inhibited G protein coupled receptor agonist-induced hypertrophy and augmented sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca 2+ ATPase 2a (SERCA2a) expression in cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes by enhancing PIM1 serine/threonine kinase expression and activity. Along this line, cardiomyocytes from pressure-overloaded Mydgf -/- mice displayed reduced PIM1 and SERCA2a expression, greater hypertrophy, and impaired Ca 2+ cycling and sarcomere function compared to cardiomyocytes from pressure-overloaded wild-type mice. Transplanting Mydgf -/- mice with wild-type bone marrow cells augmented cardiac PIM1 and SERCA2a levels and ameliorated pressure overload-induced hypertrophy and dysfunction. Pressure-overloaded Mydgf -/- mice were similarly rescued by adenoviral Serca2a gene transfer. Treating pressure-overloaded wild-type mice subcutaneously with recombinant MYDGF enhanced SERCA2a expression, attenuated LV hypertrophy and dysfunction, and improved survival. Conclusions: These findings establish a MYDGF-based adaptive crosstalk between inflammatory cells and cardiomyocytes that protects against pressure overload-induced heart failure.


Circulation ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 116 (suppl_16) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jorge E Massare ◽  
R. Haris Naseem ◽  
Jeff M Berry ◽  
Farhana Rob ◽  
Joseph A Hill

Background: Sudden cardiac death due to ventricular tachyarrhythmia (VT) accounts for a large number of deaths in patients with heart failure. Several cellular events which occur during pathological remodeling of the failing ventricle are implicated in the genesis of VT, including action potential prolongation, dysregulation of intercellular coupling, and fibrosis. Interestingly, transgenic mice over-expressing constitutively active PKD (caPKD) develop severe heart failure without interstitial fibrosis, an otherwise prominent feature of the disease. The goal here was to define the role of interstitial fibrosis in the proarrhythmic phenotype of failing myocardium. Methods and Results: We performed echocardiographic, electrocardiographic, and in vivo electrophysiologic studies in 8 –10 week old caPKD mice (n=12). Similar studies were performed in mice with load-induced heart failure induced by surgical pressure overload (sTAB, n=10), a model of heart failure with prominent interstitial fibrosis. caPKD and sTAB mice showed similar degrees of ventricular dilation (LV systolic dimension caPKD 2.4±0.8 mm vs 3.0±0.9 sTAB, p=0.18) and severe systolic dysfunction (% fractional shortening caPKD 25±11 vs 28±11 sTAB, p=0.62). Yet, caPKD mice showed minimal interstitial fibrosis, comparable to unoperated controls. With the exception of ventricular refractory period, which was higher in caPKD (48±11 msec vs 36±7 TAB and 40±8 WT, p<0.05), other electrocardiographic and electrophysiologic variables were similar among the 3 groups (p=NS), including heart rate, QT duration, and mean VT threshold. As expected, VT (≥3beats) was readily inducible by programmed stimulation in sTAB mice (7/10). By contrast, VT was less inducible in caPKD mice (4/12; p=0.1 vs TAB and <0.05 vs WT), and uninducible in unoperated controls (0/12). VT was polymorphic in both models, but episodes of VT were both slower (VT cycle length caPKD 58±4.0 msec vs 48±1 sTAB, p=0.016) and longer in caPKD mice (caPKD 1.8±0.7 sec vs 0.47±0.3 sTAB, p=0.038). Conclusion: Interstitial fibrosis contributes to the inducibility, maintenance, and rate of VT in heart failure. These findings highlight the importance of anti-remodeling therapies known to target fibrosis in heart disease.


2020 ◽  
Vol 127 (Suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Soichiro Usui ◽  
Shin-ichiro Takashima ◽  
Kenji Sakata ◽  
Masa-aki Kawashiri ◽  
Masayuki Takamura

Background: Hepatokine selenoprotein P (SeP) contributes to insulin resistance and hyperglycemia in patients with type 2 diabetes. Although clinical studies suggest the insulin resistance is an independent risk factor of heart failure and inhibition of SeP protects the heart from ischemia reperfusion injury, the role of SeP in pathogenesis of chronic heart failure is not well understood. Objective: We examined the role of SeP in the regulation of cardiac remodeling in response to pressure overload. Methods and Results: We measured serum SeP levels in 22 patients for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF; LVEF<50%) and 22 normal subjects. Serum levels of SeP were significantly elevated in patients with HFrEF compared to in normal subjects (3.55 ± 0.43 vs 2.98 ± 0.43, p<0.01). To examine the role of SeP in cardiac remodeling, SeP knockout (KO) and wild-type (WT) mice were subjected to pressure overload (transverse aortic constriction (TAC)) for 2 weeks. The mortality rate following TAC was significantly decreased in SeP KO mice compared to WT mice (22.5 % in KO mice (n=40) vs 52.3 % in WT mice (n=39) p<0.01). LV weight/tibial length (TL) was significantly smaller in SeP KO mice than in WT mice (6.75 ± 0.24 vs 8.33 ± 0.32, p<0.01). Lung weight/TL was significantly smaller in SeP KO than in WT mice (10.46 ± 0.44 vs 16.38 ± 1.12, p<0.05). Interestingly, hepatic expression of SeP in WT was significantly increased by TAC. To determine whether hepatic overexpression of SeP affects TAC-induced cardiac hypertrophy, a hydrodynamic injection method was used to generate mice that overexpress SeP mRNA in the liver. Hepatic overexpression of SeP in SeP KO mice lead to a significant increase in LV weight/TL and Lung weight/TL after TAC compared to that in other SeP KO mice. Conclusions: These results suggest that serum levels of SeP were elevated in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction and cardiac pressure overload induced hepatic expression of SeP in mice model. Gene deletion of SeP attenuated cardiac hypertrophy and dysfunction in response to pressure overload in mice. SeP possibly plays a pivotal role in promoting cardiac remodeling through the liver-heart axis.


2018 ◽  
Vol 115 (20) ◽  
pp. E4661-E4669 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xudong Liao ◽  
Yuyan Shen ◽  
Rongli Zhang ◽  
Keiki Sugi ◽  
Neelakantan T. Vasudevan ◽  
...  

Nonischemic cardiomyopathy (NICM) resulting from long-standing hypertension, valvular disease, and genetic mutations is a major cause of heart failure worldwide. Recent observations suggest that myeloid cells can impact cardiac function, but the role of tissue-intrinsic vs. tissue-extrinsic myeloid cells in NICM remains poorly understood. Here, we show that cardiac resident macrophage proliferation occurs within the first week following pressure overload hypertrophy (POH; a model of heart failure) and is requisite for the heart’s adaptive response. Mechanistically, we identify Kruppel-like factor 4 (KLF4) as a key transcription factor that regulates cardiac resident macrophage proliferation and angiogenic activities. Finally, we show that blood-borne macrophages recruited in late-phase POH are detrimental, and that blockade of their infiltration improves myocardial angiogenesis and preserves cardiac function. These observations demonstrate previously unappreciated temporal and spatial roles for resident and nonresident macrophages in the development of heart failure.


Nutrients ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 1196 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Schön ◽  
Aya Mousa ◽  
Michael Berk ◽  
Wern L. Chia ◽  
Jozef Ukropec ◽  
...  

Neurological, neurodegenerative, and psychiatric disorders represent a serious burden because of their increasing prevalence, risk of disability, and the lack of effective causal/disease-modifying treatments. There is a growing body of evidence indicating potentially favourable effects of carnosine, which is an over-the-counter food supplement, in peripheral tissues. Although most studies to date have focused on the role of carnosine in metabolic and cardiovascular disorders, the physiological presence of this di-peptide and its analogues in the brain together with their ability to cross the blood-brain barrier as well as evidence from in vitro, animal, and human studies suggest carnosine as a promising therapeutic target in brain disorders. In this review, we aim to provide a comprehensive overview of the role of carnosine in neurological, neurodevelopmental, neurodegenerative, and psychiatric disorders, summarizing current evidence from cell, animal, and human cross-sectional, longitudinal studies, and randomized controlled trials.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shravya Vinnakota ◽  
Horng H Chen

Abstract The natriuretic peptide (NP) system is composed of 3 distinct peptides (atrial natriuretic peptide or ANP, B-type natriuretic peptide or BNP, and C-type natriuretic peptide or CNP) and 3 receptors (natriuretic peptide receptor-A or NPR-A or particulate guanynyl cyclase-A natriuretic peptide receptor-B or NPR-B or particulate guanynyl cyclase-B, and natriuretic peptide receptor-C or NPR-C or clearance receptor). ANP and BNP function as defense mechanisms against ventricular stress and the deleterious effects of volume and pressure overload on the heart. Although the role of NPs in cardiovascular homeostasis has been extensively studied and well established, much remains uncertain about the signaling pathways in pathological states like heart failure, a state of impaired natriuretic peptide function. Elevated levels of ANP and BNP in heart failure correlate with disease severity and have a prognostic value. Synthetic ANP and BNP have been studied for their therapeutic role in hypertension and heart failure, and promising trials are under way. In recent years, the expression of ANP and BNP in human adipocytes has come to light. Through their role in promotion of adipocyte browning, lipolysis, lipid oxidation, and modulation of adipokine secretion, they have emerged as key regulators of energy consumption and metabolism. NPR-A signaling in skeletal muscles and adipocytes is emerging as pivotal to the maintenance of long-term insulin sensitivity, which is disrupted in obesity and reduced glucose-tolerance states. Genetic variants in the genes encoding for ANP and BNP have been associated with a favorable cardiometabolic profile. In this review, we discuss several pathways that have been proposed to explain the role of NPs as endocrine networkers. There is much to be explored about the therapeutic role of NPs in improving metabolic milieu.


2017 ◽  
Vol 58 (1) ◽  
pp. R1-R13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gillian A Gray ◽  
Christopher I White ◽  
Raphael F P Castellan ◽  
Sara J McSweeney ◽  
Karen E Chapman

Corticosteroids influence the development and function of the heart and its response to injury and pressure overload via actions on glucocorticoid (GR) and mineralocorticoid (MR) receptors. Systemic corticosteroid concentration depends largely on the activity of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis, but glucocorticoid can also be regenerated from intrinsically inert metabolites by the enzyme 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11β-HSD1), selectively increasing glucocorticoid levels within cells and tissues. Extensive studies have revealed the roles for glucocorticoid regeneration by 11β-HSD1 in liver, adipose, brain and other tissues, but until recently, there has been little focus on the heart. This article reviews the evidence for glucocorticoid metabolism by 11β-HSD1 in the heart and for a role of 11β-HSD1 activity in determining the myocardial growth and physiological function. We also consider the potential of 11β-HSD1 as a therapeutic target to enhance repair after myocardial infarction and to prevent the development of cardiac remodelling and heart failure.


2016 ◽  
Vol 397 (6) ◽  
pp. 485-496 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julie Laval ◽  
Anjali Ralhan ◽  
Dominik Hartl

Abstract Cystic fibrosis (CF) lung disease is characterized by chronic infection and inflammation. Among inflammatory cells, neutrophils represent the major cell population accumulating in the airways of CF patients. While neutrophils provide the first defensive cellular shield against bacterial and fungal pathogens, in chronic disease conditions such as CF these short-lived immune cells release their toxic granule contents that cause tissue remodeling and irreversible structural damage to the host. A variety of human and murine studies have analyzed neutrophils and their products in the context of CF, yet their precise functional role and therapeutic potential remain controversial and incompletely understood. Here, we summarize the current evidence in this field to shed light on the complex and multi-faceted role of neutrophils in CF lung disease.


2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Junfang Zhang ◽  
Cong Wei ◽  
Hongtao Wang ◽  
Siwen Tang ◽  
Zhenhua Jia ◽  
...  

Qiliqiangxin capsule (QL) was developed under the guidance of TCM theory of collateral disease and had been shown to be effective and safe for the treatment of heart failure. The present study explored the role of and mechanism by which the herbal compounds QL act on energy metabolism,in vivo, in pressure overload heart failure. SD rats received ascending aorta constriction (TAC) to establish a model of myocardial hypertrophy. The animals were treated orally for a period of six weeks. QL significantly inhibited cardiac hypertrophy due to ascending aortic constriction and improved hemodynamics. This effect was linked to the expression levels of the signaling factors in connection with upregulated energy and the regulation of glucose and lipid substrate metabolism and with a decrease in metabolic intermediate products and the protection of mitochondrial function. It is concluded that QL may regulate the glycolipid substrate metabolism by activating AMPK/PGC-1αaxis and reduce the accumulation of free fatty acids and lactic acid, to protect cardiac myocytes and mitochondrial function.


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