[HTML][HTML] Increasing cardiomyocyte atrogin-1 reduces aging-associated fibrosis and regulates remodeling in vivo

R Mota, TL Parry, CC Yates, Z Qiang, SC Eaton… - The American Journal of …, 2018 - Elsevier
R Mota, TL Parry, CC Yates, Z Qiang, SC Eaton, JM Mwiza, D Tulasi, JC Schisler
The American Journal of Pathology, 2018Elsevier
The muscle-specific ubiquitin ligase atrogin-1 (MAFbx) has been identified as a critical
regulator of pathologic and physiological cardiac hypertrophy; it regulates these processes
by ubiquitinating transcription factors [nuclear factor of activated T-cells and forkhead box O
(FoxO) 1/3]. However, the role of atrogin-1 in regulating transcription factors in aging has not
previously been described. Atrogin-1 cardiomyocyte-specific transgenic (Tg+) adult mice (α-
major histocompatibility complex promoter driven) have normal cardiac function and size …
The muscle-specific ubiquitin ligase atrogin-1 (MAFbx) has been identified as a critical regulator of pathologic and physiological cardiac hypertrophy; it regulates these processes by ubiquitinating transcription factors [nuclear factor of activated T-cells and forkhead box O (FoxO) 1/3]. However, the role of atrogin-1 in regulating transcription factors in aging has not previously been described. Atrogin-1 cardiomyocyte-specific transgenic (Tg+) adult mice (α-major histocompatibility complex promoter driven) have normal cardiac function and size. Herein, we demonstrate that 18-month-old atrogin-1 Tg+ hearts exhibit significantly increased anterior wall thickness without functional impairment versus wild-type mice. Histologic analysis at 18 months revealed atrogin-1 Tg+ mice had significantly less fibrosis and significantly greater nuclei and cardiomyocyte cross-sectional analysis. Furthermore, by real-time quantitative PCR, atrogin-1 Tg+ had increased Col 6a4, 6a5, 6a6, matrix metalloproteinase 8 (Mmp8), and Mmp9 mRNA, suggesting a role for atrogin-1 in regulating collagen deposits and MMP-8 and MMP-9. Because atrogin-1 Tg+ mice exhibited significantly less collagen deposition and protein levels, enhanced Mmp8 and Mmp9 mRNA may offer one mechanism by which collagen levels are kept in check in the aged atrogin-1 Tg+ heart. In addition, atrogin-1 Tg+ hearts showed enhanced FoxO1/3 activity. The present study shows a novel link between atrogin-1–mediated regulation of FoxO1/3 activity and reduced collagen deposition and fibrosis in the aged heart. Therefore, targeting FoxO1/3 activity via the muscle-specific atrogin-1 ubiquitin ligase may offer a muscle-specific method to modulate aging-related cardiac fibrosis.
Elsevier