Genetic Association Study Identifies HSPB7 as a Risk Gene for Idiopathic Dilated Cardiomyopathy

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a structural heart disease with strong genetic background. Monogenic forms of DCM are observed in families with mutations located mostly in genes encoding structural and sarcomeric proteins. However, strong evidence suggests that genetic factors also affect the susceptibility to idiopathic DCM. To identify risk alleles for non-familial forms of DCM, we carried out a case-control association study, genotyping 664 DCM cases and 1,874 population-based healthy controls from Germany using a 50K human cardiovascular disease bead chip covering more than 2,000 genes pre-selected for cardiovascular relevance. After quality control, 30,920 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) were tested for association with the disease by logistic regression adjusted for gender, and results were genomic-control corrected. The analysis revealed a significant association between a SNP in HSPB7 gene (rs1739843, minor allele frequency 39%) and idiopathic DCM (p = 1.06×10−6, OR = 0.67 [95% CI 0.57–0.79] for the minor allele T). Three more SNPs showed p < 2.21×10−5. De novo genotyping of these four SNPs was done in three independent case-control studies of idiopathic DCM. Association between SNP rs1739843 and DCM was significant in all replication samples: Germany (n = 564, n = 981 controls, p = 2.07×10−3, OR = 0.79 [95% CI 0.67–0.92]), France 1 (n = 433 cases, n = 395 controls, p = 3.73×10−3, OR = 0.74 [95% CI 0.60–0.91]), and France 2 (n = 249 cases, n = 380 controls, p = 2.26×10−4, OR = 0.63 [95% CI 0.50–0.81]). The combined analysis of all four studies including a total of n = 1,910 cases and n = 3,630 controls showed highly significant evidence for association between rs1739843 and idiopathic DCM (p = 5.28×10−13, OR = 0.72 [95% CI 0.65–0.78]). None of the other three SNPs showed significant results in the replication stage

Risiko-Locus für koronare Herzkrankheit und Herzinfarkt auf Chromosom 9p21.3: genomweites Genexpressionsprofil in humanen Makrophagen

In dieser Arbeit wurde der bekannte Risiko-Locus auf Chromosom 9p21.3 hinsichtlich seiner Rolle in Atherosklerose und KHK/HI untersucht. Unterschiede in der Genexpression können Einblicke in die Funktion genomischer Regionen geben, die mit einer Krankheit assoziiert sind. Mit Hilfe von Microarrays wurde die genomweite Genexpression von Makrophagen aus gesunden Probanden und HI-Patienten stratifiziert nach 9p21.3 Haplotypen sowohl im Grundzustand als auch nach atherogener Stimulierung erhoben und auf differenziell exprimierte Gene zwischen den Haplotyp-Gruppen hin untersucht. CCL8 zeigte in Makrophagen im Grundzustand wie auch durch Stimulierung mit 9cRA-T0901317 und IFNγ-LPS unterschiedliche Expression und Regulation in Abhängigkeit des 9p21.3 KHK Risiko-Locus. Außerdem wurden unterschiedlich starke Expressionsänderungen von Metallothioninen und Interleukinen durch pro-inflammatorische Stimulierung der Zellen mit IFNγ-LPS in Trägern des Risiko-Allels im Vergleich zu den nicht-risiko Gruppen beobachtet. Lipid-Stimulierung mit 9cRA-T0901317 führte in Makrophagen von HI-Patienten homozygot für den Risiko-Haplotyp zu geringerer Herunterregulation von Genen, die im Zusammenhang mit Zellzyklus und Proliferation stehen. Es wäre möglich, dass die lange nicht-kodierende RNA CDKN2BAS, die auf Chromosom 9p21.3 kodiert ist, eine regulatorische Funktion ausübt und so durch Einfluss auf die Expression verschiedener Gene in Abhängigkeit des 9p21.3 KHK Risiko-Locus den zellulären Effekt des Befundes aus genomweiten Assoziationsstudien vermittelt. Für die Expression der Gene auf Chromosom 9p21.3 konnte für alternative Spleißformen von CDKN2BAS eine Abhängigkeit vom Risiko-Locus beobachtet werden. In Monozyten wurde ein alternatives 5‘-Ende mit deutlich mehr Bindestellen für Transkriptionsfaktoren im Vergleich zur annotierten Sequenz gefunden. Ein CpG direkt neben der Bindestelle für den Transkriptionsfaktor STAT1 in einem Enhancer auf Chromosom 9p21.3 war in Trägern des nicht-risiko Haplotyps signifikant stärker methyliert als in Trägern des Risiko-Haplotyps. Der Mechanismus, über den der Effekt des 9p21.3 Risiko-Locus auf zellulärer Ebene vermittelt wird, scheint ein komplexes Zusammenspiel verschiedener regulatorischer Einflüsse auf den 9p21.3 Locus sowie auf die genomweite Genexpression zu sein. Eine systematische Analyse der Expression und Regulation der 9p21.3 Region sowie das Verständnis in der Pathophysiologie der im Makrophagen-Modell identifizierten Gene/Pathways wird in Zukunft ein besseres Verstehen des 9p21.3-vermittelten KHK-Risikos erlauben

Nitrite-mediated reduction of macrophage NADPH oxidase activity is dependent on xanthine oxidoreductase-derived nitric oxide but independent of S-nitrosation

Background: Inorganic nitrite has shown beneficial effects in cardiovascular and metabolic diseases partly via attenuation of NADPH-oxidase (NOX)-mediated oxidative stress. However, the exact mechanisms are still unclear. Here we investigated the role of S-nitrosation or altered expression of NOX subunits, and the role of xanthine oxidoreductase (XOR) in nitrite-derived nitric oxide (NO) production. Methods: Mouse macrophages were activated with LPS in the presence or absence of nitrite. NOX activity was measured by lucigenin-dependent chemiluminescence. Gene and protein expression of NOX2 subunits and XOR were investigated using qPCR and Western Blot. S-nitrosation of Nox2 and p22phox was studied with a Biotin Switch assay. Uric acid levels in cell culture medium were analyzed as a measure of XOR activity, and NO production was assessed by DAF-FM fluorescence. Results: NOX activity in activated macrophages was significantly reduced by nitrite. Reduced NOX activity was not attributed to decreased NOX gene expression. However, protein levels of p47phox and p67phox subunits were reduced by nitrite in activated macrophages. Protein expression of Nox2 and p22phox was not influenced by this treatment and neither was their S-nitrosation status. Increased uric acid levels after nitrite and diminished NO production during XOR-inhibition with febuxostat suggest that XOR is more active during nitrite-treatment of activated macrophages and plays an important role in the bioactivation of nitrite. Conclusions: Our findings contribute to the mechanistic understanding about the therapeutic effects associated with nitrite supplementation in many diseases. We show that nitrite-mediated inhibition of NOX activity cannot be explained by S-nitrosation of the NOX enzyme, but that changes in NOX2 expression and XOR function may contribute

In adenosine A(2B) knockouts acute treatment with inorganic nitrate improves glucose disposal, oxidative stress, and AMPK signaling in the liver

Rationale: Accumulating studies suggest that nitric oxide (NO) deficiency and oxidative stress are central pathological mechanisms in type 2 diabetes (T2D). Recent findings demonstrate therapeutic effects by boosting the nitrate-nitrite-NO pathway, which is an alternative pathway for NO formation. This study aimed at investigating the acute effects of inorganic nitrate on glucose and insulin signaling in adenosine A2B receptor knockout mice (A(2B)(-/-), a genetic mouse model of impaired metabolic regulation. Methods: Acute effects of nitrate treatment were investigated in aged wild-type (WT) and A(2B)(-/-) mice. One hour after injection with nitrate (0.1 mmol/kg, i.p.) or placebo, metabolic regulation was evaluated by intraperitoneal glucose and insulin tolerance tests. NADPH oxidase-mediated superoxide production and AMPK phosphorylation were measured in livers obtained from non-treated or glucose-treated mice, with or without prior nitrate injection. Plasma was used to determine insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and NO signaling. Results: A(2B)(-/-) displayed increased body weight, reduced glucose clearance, and attenuated overall insulin responses compared with age-matched WT mice. Nitrate treatment increased circulating levels of nitrate, nitrite and cGMP in the A(2B)(-/-), and improved glucose clearance. In WT mice, however, nitrate treatment did not influence glucose clearance. HOMA-IR increased following glucose injection in the A(2B)(-/-), but remained at basal levels in mice pretreated with nitrate. NADPH oxidase activity in livers from A(2B)(-/-), but not WT mice, was reduced by nitrate treatment. Livers from A(2B)(-/-) displayed reduced AMPK phosphorylation compared with WT mice, and this was increased by nitrate treatment. Finally, injection with the anti-diabetic agent metformin induced similar therapeutic effects in the A(2B)(-/-) as observed with nitrate. Conclusion: The A(2B)(-/-) mouse is a genetic mouse model of metabolic syndrome. Acute treatment with nitrate improved the metabolic profile in it, at least partly via reduction in oxidative stress and improved AMPK signaling in the liver

In adenosine A(2B) knockouts acute treatment with inorganic nitrate improves glucose disposal, oxidative stress, and AMPK signaling in the liver

Rationale: Accumulating studies suggest that nitric oxide (NO) deficiency and oxidative stress are central pathological mechanisms in type 2 diabetes (T2D). Recent findings demonstrate therapeutic effects by boosting the nitrate-nitrite-NO pathway, which is an alternative pathway for NO formation. This study aimed at investigating the acute effects of inorganic nitrate on glucose and insulin signaling in adenosine A2B receptor knockout mice (A(2B)(-/-), a genetic mouse model of impaired metabolic regulation. Methods: Acute effects of nitrate treatment were investigated in aged wild-type (WT) and A(2B)(-/-) mice. One hour after injection with nitrate (0.1 mmol/kg, i.p.) or placebo, metabolic regulation was evaluated by intraperitoneal glucose and insulin tolerance tests. NADPH oxidase-mediated superoxide production and AMPK phosphorylation were measured in livers obtained from non-treated or glucose-treated mice, with or without prior nitrate injection. Plasma was used to determine insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and NO signaling. Results: A(2B)(-/-) displayed increased body weight, reduced glucose clearance, and attenuated overall insulin responses compared with age-matched WT mice. Nitrate treatment increased circulating levels of nitrate, nitrite and cGMP in the A(2B)(-/-), and improved glucose clearance. In WT mice, however, nitrate treatment did not influence glucose clearance. HOMA-IR increased following glucose injection in the A(2B)(-/-), but remained at basal levels in mice pretreated with nitrate. NADPH oxidase activity in livers from A(2B)(-/-), but not WT mice, was reduced by nitrate treatment. Livers from A(2B)(-/-) displayed reduced AMPK phosphorylation compared with WT mice, and this was increased by nitrate treatment. Finally, injection with the anti-diabetic agent metformin induced similar therapeutic effects in the A(2B)(-/-) as observed with nitrate. Conclusion: The A(2B)(-/-) mouse is a genetic mouse model of metabolic syndrome. Acute treatment with nitrate improved the metabolic profile in it, at least partly via reduction in oxidative stress and improved AMPK signaling in the liver

Hypoxia/Reoxygenation of Rat Renal Arteries Impairs Vasorelaxation via Modulation of Endothelium-Independent sGC/cGMP/PKG Signaling

Ischemia/reperfusion injury holds a key position in many pathological conditions such as acute kidney injury and in the transition to chronic stages of renal damage. We hypothesized that besides a reported disproportional activation of vasoconstrictor response, hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) adversely affects endothelial dilatory systems and impairs relaxation in renal arteries. Rat renal interlobar arteries were studied under isometric conditions. Hypoxia was induced by application of 95% N2, 5% CO2 for 60 min to the bath solution, followed by a 10 min period of reoxygenation (95% O2, 5% CO2). The effect of H/R on relaxation was assessed using various inhibitors of endothelial dilatory systems. mRNA expression of phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5), NADPH oxidases (NOX), and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) isoforms were determined using qRT-PCR; cGMP was assayed with direct cGMP ELISA. Acetylcholine induced relaxation was impaired after H/R. Inhibition of the NOS isoforms with L-NAME, and cyclooxygenases (COXs) by indomethacin did not abolish the H/R effect. Moreover, blocking the calcium activated potassium channels KCa3.1 and KCa2.1, the main mediators of the endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor, with TRAM34 and UCL1684, respectively, showed similar effects in H/R and control. Arterial stiffness did not differ comparing H/R with controls, indicating no impact of H/R on passive vessel properties. Moreover, superoxide was not responsible for the observed H/R effect. Remarkably, H/R attenuated the endothelium-independent relaxation by sodium nitroprusside, suggesting endothelium-independent mechanisms of H/R action. Investigating the signaling downstream of NO revealed significantly decreased cGMP and impaired relaxation during PDE5 inhibition with sildenafil after H/R. Inhibition of PKG, the target of cGMP, did not normalize SNP-induced relaxation following H/R. However, the soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC) inhibitor ODQ abolished the H/R effect on relaxation. The mRNA expressions of the endothelial and the inducible NOS were reduced. NOX and PDE5 mRNA were similarly expressed in H/R and control. Our results provide new evidence that impaired renal artery relaxation after H/R is due to a dysregulation of sGC leading to decreased cGMP levels. The presented mechanism might contribute to an insufficient renal reperfusion after ischemia and should be considered in its pathophysiology