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Background SARS-CoV-2-mediated COVID-19 may cause sudden cardiac death (SCD). Factors contributing to this increased risk of potentially fatal arrhythmias include thrombosis, exaggerated immune response, and treatment with QT-prolonging drugs. However, the intrinsic arrhythmic potential of direct SARS-CoV-2 infection of the heart remains unknown. Objective To assess the cellular and electrophysiological effects of direct SARS-CoV-2 infection of the heart using human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs). Methods hiPSC-CMs were transfected with recombinant SARS-CoV-2 spike protein (CoV-2 S) or CoV-2 S fused to a modified Emerald fluorescence protein (CoV-2 S-mEm). Cell morphology was visualized using immunofluorescence microscopy. Action potential duration (APD) and cellular arrhythmias were measured by whole cell patch-clamp. Calcium handling was assessed using the Fluo-4 Ca2+ indicator. Results Transfection of hiPSC-CMs with CoV-2 S-mEm produced multinucleated giant cells (syncytia) displaying increased cellular capacitance (75±7 pF, n = 10 vs. 26±3 pF, n = 10; PP2+ handling returned to normal. Conclusion The SARS-CoV-2 spike protein can directly perturb both the cardiomyocyte’s repolarization reserve and intracellular calcium handling that may confer the intrinsic, mechanistic substrate for the increased risk of SCD observed during this COVID-19 pandemic.

Severe cardiovascular complications can occur in coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) patients. Cardiac damage is attributed mostly to a bystander effect: the aberrant host response to acute respiratory infection. However, direct infection of cardiac tissue by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) also occurs. We examined here the cardiac tropism of SARS-CoV-2 in human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CM) that beat spontaneously. These cardiomyocytes express the angiotensin I converting-enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor and a subset of the proteases that mediate spike protein cleavage in the lungs, but not transmembrane protease serine 2 (TMPRSS2). Nevertheless, SARS-CoV-2 infection was productive: viral transcripts accounted for about 88% of total mRNA. In the cytoplasm of infected hiPSC-CM, smooth walled exocytic vesicles contained numerous 65-90 nm particles with typical ribonucleocapsid structures, and virus-like particles with knob-like spikes covered the cell surface. To better understand the mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2 spread in hiPSC-CM we engineered an expression vector coding for the spike protein with a monomeric emerald-green fluorescent protein fused to its cytoplasmic tail (S-mEm). Proteolytic processing of S-mEm and the parental spike were equivalent. Live cell imaging tracked spread of S-mEm signal from cell to cell and documented formation of syncytia. A cell-permeable, peptide-based molecule that blocks the catalytic site of furin abolished cell fusion. A spike mutant with the single amino acid change R682S that inactivates the furin cleavage site was fusion inactive. Thus, SARS-CoV-2 can replicate efficiently in hiPSC-CM and furin activation of its spike protein is required for fusion-based cytopathology. This hiPSC-CM platform provides an opportunity for target-based drug discovery in cardiac COVID-19.Author SummaryIt is unclear whether the cardiac complications frequently observed in COVID-19 patients are due exclusively to systemic inflammation and thrombosis. Viral replication has occasionally been confirmed in cardiac tissue, but rigorous analyses are restricted to rare autopsy materials. Moreover, there are few animal models to study cardiovascular complications of coronavirus infections. To overcome these limitations, we developed an in vitro model of SARS-CoV-2 spread in induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes. In these cells, infection is highly productive: viral transcription levels exceed those documented in permissive transformed cell lines. To better understand the mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2 spread we expressed a fluorescent version of its spike protein that allowed to characterize a fusion-based cytopathic effect. A mutant of the spike protein with a single amino acid mutation in the furin cleavage site lost cytopathic function. The spike protein of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) coronavirus drove cardiomyocyte fusion with slow kinetics, whereas the spike proteins of SARS-CoV and the respiratory coronavirus 229E were inactive. These fusion activities correlated with the level of cardiovascular complications observed in infections with the respective viruses. These data indicate that SARS-CoV-2 has the potential to cause cardiac damage by fusing cardiomyocytes.

Viruses spread between hosts through particles, but within hosts, viral genomes can spread from cell to cell through fusion, evading antiviral defenses and obviating costly infectious virion production1-3. Billions of electromechanically coupled cardiomyocytes (CMs) make myocardium inherently vulnerable to pathological electromechanical short circuits caused by intercellular viral spread 4-6. Beyond respiratory illness, COVID-19 affects the heart7 and cardiac injury and arrhythmias are serious public health concerns8-12. By studying myocardium of a young woman who died suddenly, diagnosed postmortem with COVID-19, we discovered highly focal myocardial SARS-CoV-2 infection spreading from one CM to another through intercellular junctions identified by highly concentrated sarcolemmal t-tubule viral spike glycoprotein. SARS-CoV-2 permissively infected beating human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-CMs building multinucleated cardiomyotubes (CMTs) through cell type-specific fusion driven by proteolytically-activated spike glycoprotein. Recombinant spike glycoprotein, co-localizing to sarcolemma and sarcoplasmic reticulum, produced multinucleated CMTs with pathological structure, electrophysiology and Ca2+ excitation-contraction coupling. Blocking cleavage, a peptide-based protease inhibitor neutralized SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein pathogenicity. We conclude that SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein, efficiently primed, activated and strategically poised during biosynthesis, can exploit the CM’s inherent membranous connectivities to drive heart damage directly, uncoupling clinically common myocardial injury from lymphocytic myocarditis, often suspected but rarely confirmed in COVID-19.

The Na,K-adenosine triphosphatase (Na,K-ATPase), also known as the sodium pump or sodium-potassium pump, is a membrane-associated enzyme responsible for maintaining the high internal K concentration and low internal Na concentration characteristic of most animal cells. It couples the hydrolysis of ATP to the transport of Na and K across the plasma membrane against their respective electrochemical gradients. For each ATP hydrolyzed the Na,K-ATPase normally expels three Na ions and takes in two K ions. As outlined in Figure 1, the Na,KATPase is fundamental to several diverse cellular functions. These functions include: (a) regulation of cellular volume; (b) maintenance of the high internal K concentration required for several intracellular enzymes; (c) generation of the transmembrane Na gradient necessary for the uphill transport of sugars, amino acids and ions; (d) maintenance of the ion gradients essential for the membrane potential and the excitability of the membrane; and (e) the transport of Na across the epithelia. Generally up to one-third of an animal cell’s energy requirement is consumed in fueling the Na,K-ATPase. In electrically active tissues or tissues involved in salt transport up to 70% of the cell’s total energy requirement may be used by the pump.

Fabry disease is a glycosphingolipidosis caused by deficient activity of α-galactosidase A; it is one of a few diseases that are associated with priapism, an abnormal prolonged erection of the penis. The goal of this study was to investigate the pathogenesis of Fabry disease-associated priapism in a mouse model of the disease. We found that Fabry mice develop late-onset priapism. Neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS), which was predominantly present as the 120-kDa N-terminus-truncated form, was significantly upregulated in the penis of 18-month-old Fabry mice compared to wild type controls (~fivefold). Endothelial NOS (eNOS) was also upregulated (~twofold). NO level in penile tissues of Fabry mice was significantly higher than wild type controls at 18 months. Gene transfer-mediated enzyme replacement therapy reversed abnormal nNOS expression in the Fabry mouse penis. The penile nNOS level was restored by antiandrogen treatment, suggesting that hyperactive androgen receptor signaling in Fabry mice may contribute to nNOS upregulation. However, the phosphodiesterase-5A expression level and the adenosine content in the penis, which are known to play roles in the development of priapism in other etiologies, were unchanged in Fabry mice. In conclusion, these data suggested that increased nNOS (and probably eNOS) content and the consequential elevated NO production and high arterial blood flow in the penis may be the underlying mechanism of priapism in Fabry mice. Furthermore, in combination with previous findings, this study suggested that regulation of NOS expression is susceptible to α-galactosidase A deficiency, and this may represent a general pathogenic mechanism of Fabry vasculopathy.

Mutations in the gene encoding polycystin-1 (PC1) underlie autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). ADPKD patients present with multiple cardiovascular co-morbidities believed to be caused by renal dysfunction. LV hypertrophy and diastolic dysfunction can manifest during childhood or in young adults prior to a formal diagnosis of hypertension, and evidence suggests that LV function is impaired in ADPKD patients with normal or moderately reduced kidney function. These facts suggest that cardiomyocyte-autonomous effects may contribute to the cardiovascular abnormalities seen in ADPKD. Contractile function (systolic and diastolic) measured by echo was significantly reduced in PC1 cKO ( Pkd1 F/F ;αMHC-Cre) mice compared with controls ( Pkd1 F/F ). PC1 cKO cardiomyocytes manifest impaired contractility and smaller and slower Ca 2+ transients. Using a multidimensional approach, we discovered that cardiomyocytes lacking PC1 have shorter action potentials (APD50/90) and decreased SERCA activity. These alterations impair EC-coupling and decrease SR Ca 2+ loading during pacing. Remarkably, square pulses under voltage clamp (-80 to +10 mV) produced Ca 2+ transients with similar amplitude between genotypes, which highlights that alterations in action potential (AP) duration drive most of the EC-coupling changes. PC1-deficient cardiomyocytes manifested an increase in outward K + currents (I to , I Kslow1/2 and I ss ) but not in inward currents (I K1 ). PC1 over-expression in HEK293T cells reduced the currents of heterologously expressed Kv4.3/2.1/1.5 channels. The inhibitory effects of PC1 on Kv4.3 currents were mediated by PC1-CT (C-terminus) through its coiled-coil domain (CCD). Interestingly, a naturally occurring human mutant PC1 R4228X , located in the CCD, manifested no suppressive effects on Kv4.3 channel. Finally, to begin to test for relevance to human pathology, we found that PC1 ablation reduces AP duration, and PC1-CT over-expression had the opposite effect in human stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes. Our findings uncover a novel role for PC1 controlling action potential duration and SERCA. PC1-deficient cardiomyocytes manifest impaired contractility, likely contributing to contractile dysfunction in ADPKD patients.

BACKGROUND: Polycystin-1 (PC1) is a transmembrane protein originally identified in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease where it regulates the calcium-permeant cation channel polycystin-2. Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease patients develop renal failure, hypertension, left ventricular hypertrophy, and diastolic dysfunction, among other cardiovascular disorders. These individuals harbor PC1 loss-of-function mutations in their cardiomyocytes, but the functional consequences are unknown. PC1 is ubiquitously expressed, and its experimental ablation in cardiomyocyte-specific knockout mice reduces contractile function. Here, we set out to determine the pathophysiological role of PC1 in cardiomyocytes. METHODS: Wild-type and cardiomyocyte-specific PC1 knockout mice were analyzed by echocardiography. Excitation-contraction coupling was assessed in isolated cardiomyocytes and human embryonic stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes, and functional consequences were explored in heterologous expression systems. Protein-protein interactions were analyzed biochemically and by means of ab initio calculations. RESULTS: PC1 ablation reduced action potential duration in cardiomyocytes, decreased Ca2+ transients, and myocyte contractility. PC1-deficient cardiomyocytes manifested a reduction in sarcoendoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ stores attributable to a reduced action potential duration and sarcoendoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ ATPase (SERCA) activity. An increase in outward K+ currents decreased action potential duration in cardiomyocytes lacking PC1. Overexpression of full-length PC1 in HEK293 cells significantly reduced the current density of heterologously expressed Kv4.3, Kv1.5 and Kv2.1 potassium channels. PC1 C terminus inhibited Kv4.3 currents to the same degree as full-length PC1. Additionally, PC1 coimmunoprecipitated with Kv4.3, and a modeled PC1 C-terminal structure suggested the existence of 2 docking sites for PC1 within the N terminus of Kv4.3, supporting a physical interaction. Finally, a naturally occurring human mutant PC1R4228X manifested no suppressive effects on Kv4.3 channel activity. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings uncover a role for PC1 in regulating multiple Kv channels, governing membrane repolarization and alterations in SERCA activity that reduce cardiomyocyte contractility.

Three-dimensional (3D) organoid models derived from human pluripotent stem cells provide a platform for studying human development and understanding disease mechanisms. Most studies that examine biallelic inactivation of the cell cycle regulator Retinoblastoma 1 (RB1) and the link to retinoblastoma is in mice, however, less is known regarding the pathophysiological role of RB1 during human retinal development. To study the role of RB1 in early human retinal development and tumor formation, we generated retinal organoids from CRISPR/Cas9-derived RB1-null human embryonic stem cells (hESCs). We showed that RB is abundantly expressed in retinal progenitor cells in retinal organoids and loss of RB1 promotes S-phase entry. Furthermore, loss of RB1 resulted in widespread apoptosis and reduced the number of photoreceptor, ganglion, and bipolar cells. Interestingly, RB1 mutation in retinal organoids did not result in retinoblastoma formation in vitro or in the vitreous body of NOD/SCID immunodeficient mice. Together, our work identifies a crucial function for RB1 in human retinal development and suggests that RB1 deletion alone is not sufficient for tumor development, at least in human retinal organoids.

Background— The clinical use of doxorubicin is limited by cardiotoxicity. Histopathological changes include interstitial myocardial fibrosis and the appearance of vacuolated cardiomyocytes. Whereas dysregulation of autophagy in the myocardium has been implicated in a variety of cardiovascular diseases, the role of autophagy in doxorubicin cardiomyopathy remains poorly defined. Methods and Results— Most models of doxorubicin cardiotoxicity involve intraperitoneal injection of high-dose drug, which elicits lethargy, anorexia, weight loss, and peritoneal fibrosis, all of which confound the interpretation of autophagy. Given this, we first established a model that provokes modest and progressive cardiotoxicity without constitutional symptoms, reminiscent of the effects seen in patients. We report that doxorubicin blocks cardiomyocyte autophagic flux in vivo and in cardiomyocytes in culture. This block was accompanied by robust accumulation of undegraded autolysosomes. We go on to localize the site of block as a defect in lysosome acidification. To test the functional relevance of doxorubicin-triggered autolysosome accumulation, we studied animals with diminished autophagic activity resulting from haploinsufficiency for Beclin 1 . Beclin 1 +/− mice exposed to doxorubicin were protected in terms of structural and functional changes within the myocardium. Conversely, animals overexpressing Beclin 1 manifested an amplified cardiotoxic response. Conclusions— Doxorubicin blocks autophagic flux in cardiomyocytes by impairing lysosome acidification and lysosomal function. Reducing autophagy initiation protects against doxorubicin cardiotoxicity.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is an X-linked neuromuscular disorder resulting from a mutation in the dystrophin gene. Loss of dystrophin function leads to progressive muscle wasting and cardiomyopathy. In 2018, advanced cardiomyopathy is the primary mode of death, despite the application of standard of care CHF therapies. Our group has recently undertaken a cardiac MRI study demonstrating that adult DMD patients have small hearts with very low LV mass as compared to patients with non-ischemic cardiomyopathy or healthy patients. The central hypothesis is DMD-associated cardiomyopathy develops secondary to dysregulation of various cardiac signaling pathways that modulate cardiac growth, namely cardiomyocyte proliferation. Utilizing the mdx mouse, a model of DMD, decreased heart/body weight ratios were noted from birth (P1: Hrt/BW 5.6 ± 0.16 vs. 4.8 ± 0.18 NTg vs mdx pNTg and m dx hearts have similar cardiomyocyte cell size (WGA staining: 0.08 ± 0.001 vs 0.08 ± 0.002 NTg vs mdx pmdx hearts. FACS analysis indicated mdx hearts have fewer cardiomyocytes than NTg hearts (35% reduction; 51.7e 4 ± 4.9e 4 vs. 33.8e 4 ± 3.5e 4 NTg vs mdx pmdx hearts (Ki67: 4.8 ± 0.3 vs 2.0 ± 0.1 NTg vs mdx pNTg vs mdx pmdx hearts (Ki67: 13.7 ± 1.2 vs. 6.0 ± 1.0 NTg vs mdx pmdx P4 hearts. Cell cycle targets of YAP were reduced in P4 mdx hearts (20/27 genes, n=3) suggesting a disruption of the Hippo-Yap pathways in mdx hearts. Collectively, the current study provides a unique insight into the mechanism leading to the development DMD cardiomyopathy and directs investigation into potential therapeutic targets for the amelioration of DMD-associated cardiomyopathy.

Rationale: The regulator of calcineurin 1 (RCAN1) inhibits CN (calcineurin), a Ca 2+ -activated protein phosphatase important in cardiac remodeling. In humans, RCAN1 is located on chromosome 21 in proximity to the Down syndrome critical region. The hearts and brains of Rcan1 KO mice are more susceptible to damage from ischemia/reperfusion (I/R); however, the underlying cause is not known. Objective: Mitochondria are key mediators of I/R damage. The goal of these studies was to determine the impact of RCAN1 on mitochondrial dynamics and function. Methods and Results: Using both neonatal and isolated adult cardiomyocytes, we show that, when RCAN1 is depleted, the mitochondrial network is more fragmented because of increased CN-dependent activation of the fission protein, DRP1 (dynamin-1-like). Mitochondria in RCAN1-depleted cardiomyocytes have reduced membrane potential, O 2 consumption, and generation of reactive oxygen species, as well as a reduced capacity for mitochondrial Ca 2+ uptake. RCAN1-depleted cardiomyocytes were more sensitive to I/R; however, pharmacological inhibition of CN, DRP1, or CAPN (calpains; Ca 2+ -activated proteases) restored protection, suggesting that in the absence of RCAN1, CAPN-mediated damage after I/R is greater because of a decrease in the capacity of mitochondria to buffer cytoplasmic Ca 2+ . Increasing RCAN1 levels by adenoviral infection was sufficient to enhance fusion and confer protection from I/R. To examine the impact of more modest, and biologically relevant, increases in RCAN1, we compared the mitochondrial network in induced pluripotent stem cells derived from individuals with Down syndrome to that of isogenic, disomic controls. Mitochondria were more fused, and O 2 consumption was greater in the trisomic induced pluripotent stem cells; however, coupling efficiency and metabolic flexibility were compromised compared with disomic induced pluripotent stem cells. Depletion of RCAN1 from trisomic induced pluripotent stem cells was sufficient to normalize mitochondrial dynamics and function. Conclusions: RCAN1 helps maintain a more interconnected mitochondrial network, and maintaining appropriate RCAN1 levels is important to human health and disease.

Novel strategies are needed to modulate β-cell differentiation and function as potential β-cell replacement or restorative therapies for diabetes. We previously demonstrated that small molecules based on the isoxazole scaffold drive neuroendocrine phenotypes. The nature of the effects of isoxazole compounds on β-cells was incompletely defined. We find that isoxazole induces genes that support neuroendocrine and β-cell phenotypes and suppresses genes important for proliferation. Isoxazole alters β-cell metabolites and protects glucose-responsive signaling pathways under lipotoxic conditions. Finally, we show that isoxazole improves glycemia in a mouse model of β-cell regeneration. Isoxazole is a prime candidate to alter cell fate in different contexts.

Adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) have myocardial regeneration potential, and transplantation of these cells following myocardial infarction (MI) in animal models leads to modest improvements in cardiac function. We hypothesized that pharmacological priming of pre-transplanted ADSCs would further improve left ventricular functional recovery after MI. We previously identified a compound from a family of 3,5-disubstituted isoxazoles, ISX1, capable of activating an Nkx2-5-driven promoter construct. Here, using ADSCs, we found that ISX1 (20 mM, 4 days) triggered a robust, dose-dependent, fourfold increase in Nkx2-5 expression, an early marker of cardiac myocyte differentiation and increased ADSC viability in vitro. Co-culturing neonatal cardiomyocytes with ISX1-treated ADSCs increased early and late cardiac gene expression. Whereas ISX1 promoted ADSC differentiation toward a cardiogenic lineage, it did not elicit their complete differentiation or their differentiation into mature adipocytes, osteoblasts, or chondrocytes, suggesting that re-programming is cardiomyocyte specific. Cardiac transplantation of ADSCs improved left ventricular functional recovery following MI, a response which was significantly augmented by transplantation of ISX1- pretreated cells. Moreover, ISX1-treated and transplanted ADSCs engrafted and were detectable in the myocardium 3 weeks following MI, albeit at relatively small numbers. ISX1 treatment increased histone acetyltransferase (HAT) activity in ADSCs, which was associated with histone 3 and histone 4 acetylation. Finally, hearts transplanted with ISX1-treated ADSCs manifested significant increases in neovascularization, which may account for the improved cardiac function. These findings suggest that a strategy of drug-facilitated initiation of myocyte differentiation enhances exogenously transplanted ADSC persistence in vivo, and consequent tissue neovascularization, to improve cardiac function.

Rationale: Inflammation in post–myocardial infarction (MI) is necessary for myocyte repair and wound healing. Unfortunately, it is also a key component of subsequent heart failure pathology. Transcription factor forkhead box O4 (FoxO4) regulates a variety of biological processes, including inflammation. However, its role in MI remains unknown. Objective: To test the hypothesis that FoxO4 promotes early post-MI inflammation via endothelial arginase 1 (Arg1). Methods and Results: We induced MI in wild-type and FoxO4 −/− mice. FoxO4 −/− mice had a significantly higher post-MI survival, better cardiac function, and reduced infarct size. FoxO4 −/− hearts had significantly fewer neutrophils, reduced expression of cytokines, and competitive nitric oxide synthase inhibitor Arg1. We generated conditional FoxO4 knockout mice with FoxO4 deleted in cardiac mycoytes or endothelial cells. FoxO4 endothelial cell–specific knockout mice showed significant post-MI improvement of cardiac function and reduction of neutrophil accumulation and cytokine expression, whereas FoxO4 cardiac mycoyte–specific knockout mice had no significant difference in cardiac function and post-MI inflammation from those of control littermates. FoxO4 binds the Foxo-binding site in the Arg1 promoter and activates Arg1 transcription. FoxO4 knockdown in human aortic endothelial cells upregulated nitric oxide on ischemia and suppressed monocyte adhesion that can be reversed by ectopic-expression of Arg1. Furthermore, chemical inhibition of Arg1 in wild-type mice had similar cardioprotection and reduced inflammation after MI as FoxO4 inactivation and administration of nitric oxide synthase inhibitor to FoxO4 KO mice reversed the beneficial effects of FoxO4 deletion on post-MI cardiac function. Conclusions: FoxO4 activates Arg1 transcription in endothelial cells in response to MI, leading to downregulation of nitric oxide and upregulation of neutrophil infiltration to the infarct area.

CRISPR-mediated genome editing efficiently corrected cardiac abnormalities associated with DMD in human engineered heart tissue., Genome editing with CRISPR/Cas9 is a promising new approach for correcting or mitigating disease-causing mutations. Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is associated with lethal degeneration of cardiac and skeletal muscle caused by more than 3000 different mutations in the X-linked dystrophin gene (DMD). Most of these mutations are clustered in “hotspots.” There is a fortuitous correspondence between the eukaryotic splice acceptor and splice donor sequences and the protospacer adjacent motif sequences that govern prokaryotic CRISPR/Cas9 target gene recognition and cleavage. Taking advantage of this correspondence, we screened for optimal guide RNAs capable of introducing insertion/deletion (indel) mutations by nonhomologous end joining that abolish conserved RNA splice sites in 12 exons that potentially allow skipping of the most common mutant or out-of-frame DMD exons within or nearby mutational hotspots. We refer to the correction of DMD mutations by exon skipping as myoediting. In proof-of-concept studies, we performed myoediting in representative induced pluripotent stem cells from multiple patients with large deletions, point mutations, or duplications within the DMD gene and efficiently restored dystrophin protein expression in derivative cardiomyocytes. In three-dimensional engineered heart muscle (EHM), myoediting of DMD mutations restored dystrophin expression and the corresponding mechanical force of contraction. Correcting only a subset of cardiomyocytes (30 to 50%) was sufficient to rescue the mutant EHM phenotype to near-normal control levels. We conclude that abolishing conserved RNA splicing acceptor/donor sites and directing the splicing machinery to skip mutant or out-of-frame exons through myoediting allow correction of the cardiac abnormalities associated with DMD by eliminating the underlying genetic basis of the disease.

Dystrophin maintains the integrity of striated muscles by linking the actin cytoskeleton with the cell membrane. Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is caused by mutations in the dystrophin gene (DMD) that result in progressive, debilitating muscle weakness, cardiomyopathy, and a shortened lifespan. Mutations of dystrophin that disrupt the amino-terminal actin-binding domain 1 (ABD-1), encoded by exons 2–8, represent the second-most common cause of DMD. In the present study, we compared three different strategies for CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing to correct mutations in the ABD-1 region of the DMD gene by deleting exons 3–9, 6–9, or 7–11 in human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and by assessing the function of iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes. All three exon deletion strategies enabled the expression of truncated dystrophin protein and restoration of cardiomyocyte contractility and calcium transients to varying degrees. We show that deletion of exons 3–9 by genomic editing provides an especially effective means of correcting disease-causing ABD-1 mutations. These findings represent an important step toward eventual correction of common DMD mutations and provide a means of rapidly assessing the expression and function of internally truncated forms of dystrophin-lacking portions of ABD-1.

Mutations in the gene ( Pkd1 ) encoding Polycystin-1 (PC-1) leads to autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). Although renal failure is the leading cause of death, cardiovascular alterations are described in ADPKD patients. Our lab has previously demonstrated that PC-1 is involved in cardiac L-type Ca 2+ channel (LTCC) protein stability, which is required for hypertrophic growth during mechanical stretch. PC-1 is expressed in cardiomyocytes and its gene ablation in mice decreases basal cardiac function. Here, we hypothesized that PC-1 regulates excitation-contraction coupling in cardiomyocytes. To test this hypothesis, we studied mice harboring floxed Pkd1 alleles and a Cre transgene (α-MHC promoter) to engineer cardiomyocyte-specific PC-1 KO (F/F αMHC Cre, PC-1 cKO) mice. Human-derived cardiomyocytes were differentiated from embryonic stem cells (H9), and PC-1 was depleted using specific siRNA constructs. Fractional shortening measured by echocardiography was significantly reduced under basal conditions in PC-1 cKO mice compared with controls. Likewise, adult ventricular cardiomyocytes isolated from PC-1 cKO mice manifested decreased contractility (measured by Ionoptix) and a reduced Ca 2+ transients (measured using Fluo-8AM and line scan) during pacing (0.5 Hz). Unexpectedly, assessment of both Ca 2+ stores (caffeine-evoked Ca 2+ transients) and Ca 2+ entry (LTCC currents, whole-cell voltage clamp) showed no differences between PC-1 cKO and control cardiomyocytes. Remarkably, Ca 2+ transients evoked by high K + depolarization were similar across genotypes, suggesting an alteration in excitability. Indeed, action potential duration (measured by current clamp or FluoVolt) was shorter in cardiomyocytes lacking PC-1 (mouse adult cardiomyocytes and hESC-derived cardiomyocytes). Moreover, PC-1 cKO mice manifested shorter QT intervals on ECG, and a pharmacological intervention with quinidine improved cardiac function and cardiomyocyte contractility to near-normal levels. Our findings uncover a novel role for PC-1 as an important regulator of cardiac function, required to fine-tune both excitability and contraction in ventricular myocytes.

Myocardin-related transcription factors (MRTFs) regulate cellular contractility and motility by associating with serum response factor (SRF) and activating genes involved in cytoskeletal dynamics. We reported previously that MRTF-A contributes to pathological cardiac remodeling by promoting differentiation of fibroblasts to myofibroblasts following myocardial infarction. Here, we show that forced expression of MRTF-A in dermal fibroblasts stimulates contraction of a collagen matrix, whereas contractility of MRTF-A null fibroblasts is impaired under basal conditions and in response to TGF-β1 stimulation. We also identify an isoxazole ring-containing small molecule, previously shown to induce smooth muscle α-actin gene expression in cardiac progenitor cells, as an agonist of myofibroblast differentiation. Isoxazole stimulates myofibroblast differentiation via induction of MRTF-A-dependent gene expression. The MRTF-SRF signaling axis is activated in response to skin injury, and treatment of dermal wounds with isoxazole accelerates wound closure and suppresses the inflammatory response. These results reveal an important role for MRTF-SRF signaling in dermal myofibroblast differentiation and wound healing and suggest that targeting MRTFs pharmacologically may prove useful in treating diseases associated with inappropriate myofibroblast activity.

The tumor suppressor retinoblastoma protein (RB) regulates S-phase cell cycle entry via E2F transcription factors. Knockout (KO) mice have shown that RB plays roles in cell migration, differentiation and apoptosis, in developing and adult brain. In addition, the RB family is required for self-renewal and survival of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs). Since little is known about the role of RB in human brain development, we investigated its function in cerebral organoids differentiated from gene-edited hESCs lacking RB. We show that RB is abundantly expressed in neural stem and progenitor cells in organoids at 15 and 28 days of culture. RB loss promoted S-phase entry in DCX+ cells and increased apoptosis in Sox2+ neural stem and progenitor cells, and in DCX+ and Tuj1+ neurons. Associated with these cell cycle and pro-apoptotic effects, we observed increased CCNA2 and BAX gene expression, respectively. Moreover, we observed aberrant Tuj1+ neuronal migration in RB-KO organoids and upregulation of the gene encoding VLDLR, a receptor important in reelin signaling. Corroborating the results in RB-KO organoids in vitro, we observed ectopically localized Tuj1+ cells in RB-KO teratomas grown in vivo Taken together, these results identify crucial functions for RB in the cerebral organoid model of human brain development.

SummaryEukaryotic cells contain assemblies of RNAs and proteins termed RNA granules. Many proteins within these bodies contain KH or RRM RNA-binding domains as well as low complexity (LC) sequences of unknown function. We discovered that exposure of cell or tissue lysates to a biotinylated isoxazole (b-isox) chemical precipitated hundreds of RNA-binding proteins with significant overlap to the constituents of RNA granules. The LC sequences within these proteins are both necessary and sufficient for b-isox-mediated aggregation, and these domains can undergo a concentration-dependent phase transition to a hydrogel-like state in the absence of the chemical. X-ray diffraction and EM studies revealed the hydrogels to be composed of uniformly polymerized amyloid-like fibers. Unlike pathogenic fibers, the LC sequence-based polymers described here are dynamic and accommodate heterotypic polymerization. These observations offer a framework for understanding the function of LC sequences as well as an organizing principle for cellular structures that are not membrane bound.PaperClip

Acidosis, a critical aspect of central nervous system (CNS) pathophysiology and a metabolic corollary of the hypoxic stem cell niche, could be an expedient trigger for hippocampal neurogenesis and brain repair. We recently tracked the function of our isoxazole stem cell-modulator small molecules (Isx) through a chemical biology-target discovery strategy to GPR68, a proton (pH) sensing G protein-coupled receptor with no known function in brain. Isx and GPR68 coregulated neuronal target genes such as Bex1 (brain-enriched X-linked protein-1) in hippocampal neural progenitors (HCN cells), which further amplified GPR68 signaling by producing metabolic acid in response to Isx. To evaluate this proneurogenic small molecule/proton signaling circuit in vivo, we explored GPR68 and BEX1 expression in brain and probed brain function with Isx. We localized proton-sensing GPR68 to radial processes of hippocampal type 1 neural stem cells (NSCs) and, conversely, localized BEX1 to neurons. At the transcriptome level, Isx demonstrated unrivaled proneurogenic activity in primary hippocampal NSC cultures. In vivo, Isx pharmacologically targeted type 1 NSCs, promoting neurogenesis in young mice, depleting the progenitor pool without adversely affecting hippocampal learning and memory function. After traumatic brain injury, cerebral cortical astrocytes abundantly expressed GPR68, suggesting an additional role for proton-GPCR signaling in reactive astrogliosis. Thus, probing a novel proneurogenic synthetic small molecule's mechanism-of-action, candidate target, and pharmacological activity, we identified a new GPR68 regulatory pathway for integrating neural stem and astroglial cell functions with brain pH.

In the central nervous system (CNS), neural stem cells (NSCs) differentiate into neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes--these cell lineages are considered unidirectional and irreversible under normal conditions. The introduction of a defined set of transcription factors has been shown to directly convert terminally differentiated cells into pluripotent stem cells, reinforcing the notion that preserving cellular identity is an active process. Indeed, recent studies highlight that tumor suppressor genes (TSGs) such as Ink4a/Arf and p53, control the barrier to efficient reprogramming, leaving open the question whether the same TSGs function to maintain the differentiated state. During malignancy or following brain injury, mature astrocytes have been reported to re-express neuronal genes and re-gain neurogenic potential to a certain degree, yet few studies have addressed the underlying mechanisms due to a limited number of cellular models or tools to probe this process. Here, we use a synthetic small-molecule (isoxazole) to demonstrate that highly malignant EGFRvIII-expressing Ink4a/Arf(-/-); Pten(-/-) astrocytes downregulated their astrocyte character, re-entered the cell cycle, and upregulated neuronal gene expression. As a collateral discovery, isoxazole small-molecules blocked tumor cell proliferation in vitro, a phenotype likely coupled to activation of neuronal gene expression. Similarly, histone deacetylase inhibitors induced neuronal gene expression and morphologic changes associated with the neuronal phenotype, suggesting the involvement of epigenetic-mediated gene activation. Our study assesses the contribution of specific genetic pathways underlying the de-differentiation potential of astrocytes and uncovers a novel pharmacological tool to explore astrocyte plasticity, which may bring insight to reprogramming and anti-tumor strategies.

Rationale: Transgenic Notch reporter mice express enhanced green fluorescent protein in cells with C-promoter binding factor-1 response element transcriptional activity (CBF1-RE x4 -EGFP), providing a unique and powerful tool for identifying and isolating “Notch-activated” progenitors. Objective: We asked whether, as in other tissues of this mouse, EGFP localized and functionally tagged adult cardiac tissue progenitors, and, if so, whether this cell-based signal could serve as a quantitative and qualitative biosensor of the injury repair response of the heart. Methods and Results: In addition to scattered endothelial and interstitial cells, Notch-activated (EGFP + ) cells unexpectedly richly populated the adult epicardium. We used fluorescence-activated cell sorting to isolate EGFP + cells and excluded hematopoietic (CD45 + ) and endothelial (CD31 + ) subsets. We analyzed EGFP + /CD45 − /CD31 − cells, a small ( Conclusions: A dynamic Notch injury response activates adult epicardium, producing a multipotent cell population that contributes to fibrosis repair.

Cardiosphere-derived resident cardiac stem cells (CDCs) are readily isolated from adult hearts and confer functional benefit in animal models of heart failure. To study cardiogenic differentiation in CDCs, we developed a method to genetically label and selectively enrich for cells that have acquired a cardiac phenotype. Lentiviral vectors achieved significantly higher transduction efficiencies in CDCs than any of the nine adeno-associated viral (AAV) serotypes tested. To define the most suitable vector system for reporting cardiogenic differentiation, we compared the cell specificity of five commonly-used cardiac-specific promoters in the context of lentiviral vectors. The promoter of the cardiac sodium-calcium exchanger (NCX1) conveyed the highest degree of cardiac specificity, as assessed by transducing seven cell types with each vector and measuring fluorescence intensity by flow cytometry. NCX1-GFP-positive CDC subpopulations, demonstrating prolonged expression of a variety of cardiac markers, could be isolated and expanded in vitro. Finally, we used chemical biology to validate that lentiviral vectors bearing the cardiac NCX1-promoter can serve as a highly accurate biosensor of cardiogenic small molecules in stem cells. The ability to accurately report cardiac fate and selectively enrich for cardiomyocytes and their precursors has important implications for drug discovery and the development of cell-based therapies.

The clinical success of stem cell therapy for myocardial repair hinges on a better understanding of cardiac fate mechanisms. We have identified small molecules involved in cardiac fate by screening a chemical library for activators of the signature gene Nkx2.5 , using a luciferase knockin bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) in mouse P19CL6 pluripotent stem cells. We describe a family of sulfonyl-hydrazone (Shz) small molecules that can trigger cardiac mRNA and protein expression in a variety of embryonic and adult stem/progenitor cells, including human mobilized peripheral blood mononuclear cells (M-PBMCs). Small-molecule-enhanced M-PBMCs engrafted into the rat heart in proximity to an experimental injury improved cardiac function better than control cells. Recovery of cardiac function correlated with persistence of viable human cells, expressing human-specific cardiac mRNAs and proteins. Shz small molecules are promising starting points for drugs to promote myocardial repair/regeneration by activating cardiac differentiation in M-PBMCs.

Regeleration is the myocardium’s natural adaptive remodeling response to implanted biopolymer hydrogels, a new heart failure treatment modality with promising success in early clinical trials. Classified as a medical device capable of long-term myocardial engraftment, implanted hydrogels of varying molecular composition provide mechanical bulking and scaffolding support that can stabilize or reverse adverse ventricular remodeling. Additionally, natural or synthetically designed hydrogels encoding specific bioactivities or signaling functions can directly regulate myocardial biology to mediate heart repair. To gain mechanistic insight into the molecular and cellular biology and biochemistry of the biopolymer-myocardial interface, we studied two clinically relevant hydrogels - seaweed-derived alginate (Alg) and myomatrix (MMx), extracellular matrix molecules prepared from decellularized pig heart - in a mouse model. Alg and MMx differentially activated signal transduction cascades, recruited different cell types and produced distinctive gene expression signatures and patterns of cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, including muscle enhancer factor-2 (MEF2) and fetal gene program (re)activation. Chemically modifying Alg’s backbone structure correspondingly altered myocardium’s biological response, demonstrating the synthetic tunability of this repair process. These observations demonstrate that implanted biopolymer hydrogels drive unexpectedly robust and versatile regelerative responses in myocardium, transducing physical and biochemical signals to the cardiac genome that contribute to hydrogel function, providing a potential therapeutic target for enhancing hydrogel-mediated heart repair without stem cells.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if total calcium (Ca2+) intake and intake of Ca2+ from dairy sources are related to whole-body fat oxidation. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SUBJECTS: A total of 35 (21 m, 14 f) non-obese, healthy adults (mean±s.d., age: 31±6 y; weight: 71.2±12.3 kg; BMI: 23.7±2.9 kg m−2; body fat: 21.4±5.4%). MEASUREMENTS: Daily (24 h) energy expenditure (EE) and macronutrient oxidation using whole-room indirect calorimetry; habitual Ca2+ intake estimated from analysis of 4-day food records; acute Ca2+ intake estimated from measured food intake during a 24-h stay in a room calorimeter. RESULTS: Acute Ca2+ intake (mg· kcal−1) was positively correlated with fat oxidation over 24 h (r=0.38, P=0.03), during sleep (r=0.36, P=0.04), and during light physical activity (r=0.32, P=0.07). Acute Ca2+ intake was inversely correlated with 24-h respiratory quotient (RQ) (r=−0.36, P=0.04) and RQ during sleep (r=−0.31, P=0.07). After adjustment for fat mass, fat-free mass, energy balance, acute fat intake, and habitual fat intake, acute Ca2+ intake explained ∼10% of the variance in 24-h fat oxidation. Habitual Ca2+ intake was not significantly correlated to fat oxidation or RQ. Total Ca2+ intake and Ca2+ intake from dairy sources were similarly correlated with fat oxidation. In backwards stepwise models, total Ca2+ intake was a stronger predictor of 24 h fat oxidation than dairy Ca2+ intake. CONCLUSION: Higher acute Ca2+ intake is associated with higher rates of whole-body fat oxidation. These effects were apparent over 24 h, during sleep and, to a lesser extent, during light physical activity. Calcium intake from dairy sources was not a more important predictor of fat oxidation than total Ca2+ intake.

Fabry disease is caused by deficient activity of lysosomal enzyme α-galactosidase A. The enzyme deficiency results in intracellular accumulation of glycosphingolipids, leading to a variety of clinical manifestations including hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and renal insufficiency. The mechanism through which glycosphingolipid accumulation causes these manifestations remains unclear. Current treatment, especially when initiated at later stage of the disease, does not produce completely satisfactory results. Elucidation of the pathogenesis of Fabry disease is therefore crucial to developing new treatments. We found increased activity of androgen receptor (AR) signaling in Fabry disease. We subsequently also found that blockade of AR signaling either through castration or AR-antagonist prevented and reversed cardiac and kidney hypertrophic phenotype in a mouse model of Fabry disease. Our findings implicate abnormal AR pathway in the pathogenesis of Fabry disease and suggest blocking AR signaling as a novel therapeutic approach.

Trastuzumab, a monoclonal antibody that is selective for cells that overexpress the erbB2 receptor protein tyrosine kinase, is a promising targeted therapy for the treatment of breast cancer. Surprisingly, toxic cardiovascular side effects were discovered in late-phase clinical trials, and these effects were most prominent when trastuzumab was combined with anthracycline chemotherapy. We review recent data focusing on how erbB2 monoclonal antibodies could exert a cardiotoxic effect through unique cardiomyocyte cell surface and intracellular structural features, and how an individual's cardiac susceptibility to erbB2 monoclonal antibodies may be dictated by the ability of erbB2 monoclonal antibodies to bind cardiomyocytes. In addition, we discuss ways that anthracyclines may also affect erbB2/erbB4/neuregulin receptor signaling, explaining the apparent synergistic effect. Further investigation of the role of normal and aberrant erbB2 signaling in the development of cardiac dysfunction could lead to an improved understanding of the pathophysiology of cardiac dysfunction and may lead to novel therapies for the treatment of heart failure, regardless of etiology. Understanding the nature and specificity of trastuzumab's cardiotoxic effects is important in better defining clinical criteria for inclusion and exclusion of patients who can safely receive trastuzumab for the treatment of breast cancer, or possibly other malignancies.

Cardiotoxicity is a common and potentially devastating side effect of antineoplastic drug therapy. This empiric observation is seen as paradoxical given that the cardiomyocyte is considered to be a terminally differentiated cell. Despite the fact that these cells do not divide after birth, adult cardiomyocytes may become “innocent bystander” targets of anticancer drugs designed to interfere with cell signaling pathways in rapidly proliferating cells. In breast cancer clinical trials, treatment with the erbB2 receptor antibody trastuzumab combined with anthracyclines has been associated with an increased risk for the development of cardiac pump failure. Trastuzumab/anthracycline cardiomyopathy may be the first clinically significant cardiotoxicity to emerge from signal transduction therapeutics. The erbB2 receptor tyrosine kinase is known to have a critical role in cardiac development. In addition, erbB2 is thought to participate in an important pathway for growth, repair, and survival of adult cardiomyocytes as part of a signaling network that involves neuregulins and the neuregulin receptor erbB4. However, erbB2 levels in the adult heart are low when compared with the levels found in erbB2-overexpressing breast cancer cells that are the intended targets of trastuzumab therapy. Thus, trastuzumab-associated cardiotoxicity must be explained by some alternative mechanism. After confirming that trastuzumab is capable of inducing tyrosine phosphorylation of the human cardiomyocyte erbB2 protein, a novel system for culturing human myocardium was developed in our laboratory. We used this system to study the effects of trastuzumab on human cardiomyocytes in vitro and observed trastuzumab-induced structural and functional changes in human cardiomyocytes that were at least partially reversible with the addition of recombinant neuregulins. The results obtained in these experiments support a direct action of trastuzumab on human cardiomyocytes. In addition, these data provide insight regarding potential molecular mechanisms. Most importantly, these data draw attention to the inherent risk of cardiotoxicity associated with a newly emerging class of antineoplastic drugs that interfere with signal transduction pathways.

We have identified six new aminoacylation determinants of Escherichia coli tRNA Gln in a genetic and biochemical analysis of suppressor tRNA. The new determinants occupy the interior of the acceptor stem, the inside corner of the L shape, and the anticodon loop of the molecule. They supplement the primary determinants located in the anticodon and acceptor end of tRNA Gln described previously. Remarkably, the three-dimensional structure of the complex between tRNA Gln and glutaminyl-tRNA synthetase shows that the enzyme interacts with the phosphate–sugar backbone but not the base of every new determinant. Moreover, a small protein motif interacts with five of these determinants, and it binds proximal to the sixth. The motif also interacts with the middle base of the anticodon and with the backbones of six other nucleotides. Our results emphasize that synthetase recognition of tRNA is more elaborate than amino acid side chains of the enzyme interacting with nucleotide bases of the tRNA. Recognition also includes synthetase interaction with tRNA backbone functionalities whose distinctive locations in three-dimensional space are exquisitely determined by the tRNA sequence.

Mammalian skeletal muscle can remodel, repair, and regenerate itself by mobilizing satellite cells, a resident population of myogenic progenitor cells. Muscle injury and subsequent activation of myogenic progenitor cells is associated with oxidative stress. Cytoglobin is a hemoprotein expressed in response to oxidative stress in a variety of tissues, including striated muscle. In this study, we demonstrate that cytoglobin is up-regulated in activated myogenic progenitor cells, where it localizes to the nucleus and contributes to cell viability. siRNA-mediated depletion of cytoglobin from C2C12 myoblasts increased levels of reactive oxygen species and apoptotic cell death both at baseline and in response to stress stimuli. Conversely, overexpression of cytoglobin reduced reactive oxygen species levels, caspase activity, and cell death. Mice in which cytoglobin was knocked out specifically in skeletal muscle were generated to examine the role of cytoglobin in vivo. Myogenic progenitor cells isolated from these mice were severely deficient in their ability to form myotubes as compared with myogenic progenitor cells from wild-type littermates. Consistent with this finding, the capacity for muscle regeneration was severely impaired in mice deficient for skeletal-muscle cytoglobin. Collectively, these data demonstrate that cytoglobin serves an important role in muscle repair and regeneration.

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is one of the most common lethal features of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), caused by diverse mutations in the X-linked dystrophin gene (DMD). Without dystrophin, a large cytoskeletal protein, muscles degenerate, causing myopathy. Although several gene therapies have been tested, there is no curative treatment so far. In 2014, we first used CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing (termed Myoediting) to correct the mutation in the germ line of mdx mice, the mouse model of DMD [Long et al. Science 345:1184-8]. Recently, we applied Myoediting to postnatal muscle tissues in mice by delivering gene editing components via a harmless adeno-associated virus. Cardiac and skeletal muscle showed progressive rescue of dystrophin protein [Long et al. Science doi: 10.1126/science.aad5725]. These studies paved the way for novel genome editing-based therapeutics in DMD. We have now advanced Myoediting to cells from human DMD patients by engineering the permanent skipping of mutant or out-of-frame exons in the genome of DMD patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). We have optimized Myoediting of DMD mutations using pools of sgRNAs to target the top 12 hot spot mutant exons. We targeted the conserved RNA splicing acceptor/donor sites of each exon. NHEJ-mediated indels efficiently abolished the splicing sites and skipped the mutated or out-of-frame exons. Based on the known DMD mutations, we established a publicly available online resource (Duchenne Skipper Database) for selecting the optimal target DMD sequences for Myoediting, which will rescue dystrophin function in 60-80% of DMD patients. We performed Myoediting on representative iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes from multiple patients with point, deletion or duplication mutations and efficiently restored dystrophin protein expression in cardiomyocytes. Rescued DMD cardiomyocyte shows enhanced function. Opportunities and obstacles in the path toward efficient and permanent elimination of the genetic cause of DMD and other DCM will be discussed.

Chemical biology promises discovery of new and unexpected mechanistic pathways, protein functions and disease targets. Here, we probed the mechanism-of-action and protein targets of 3,5-disubstituted isoxazoles (Isx), cardiomyogenic small molecules that target Notch-activated epicardium-derived cells (NECs) in vivo and promote functional recovery after myocardial infarction (MI). Mechanistic studies in NECs led to an Isx-activated G(q) protein-coupled receptor (G(q)PCR) hypothesis tested in a cell-based functional target screen for GPCRs regulated by Isx. This screen identified one agonist hit, the extracellular proton/pH-sensing GPCR GPR68, confirmed through genetic gain- and loss-of-function. Overlooked until now, GPR68 expression and localization were highly regulated in early post-natal and adult post-infarct mouse heart, where GPR68-expressing cells accumulated subepicardially. Remarkably, GPR68-expressing cardiomyocytes established a proton-sensing cellular "buffer zone" surrounding the MI. Isx pharmacologically regulated gene expression (mRNAs and miRs) in this GPR68-enriched border zone, driving cardiomyogenic and pro-survival transcriptional programs in vivo. In conclusion, we tracked a (micromolar) bioactive small molecule's mechanism-of-action to a candidate target protein, GPR68, and validated this target as a previously unrecognized regulator of myocardial cellular responses to tissue acidosis, setting the stage for future (nanomolar) target-based drug lead discovery.

Targeting native progenitors with small-molecule pharmaceuticals that direct cell fate decisions is an attractive approach for regenerative medicine. Here, we show that 3,5-disubstituted isoxazoles (Isx), stem cell-modulator small-molecules originally recovered in a P19 embryonal carcinoma cell-based screen, directed cardiac muscle gene expression in vivo in target tissues of adult transgenic reporter mice. Isx also stimulated adult mouse myocardial cell cycle activity. Narrowing our focus onto one target cardiac-resident progenitor population, Isx directed muscle transcriptional programs in vivo in multipotent Notch-activated epicardium-derived cells (NECs), generating Notch-activated adult cardiomyocyte-like precursors. Myocardial infarction (MI) preemptively differentiated NECs towards fibroblast lineages, overriding Isx's cardiogenic influence in this cell population. Isx dysregulated gene expression in vivo in Notch-activated repair-fibroblasts, driving distinctive (pro-angiogenesis) gene programs, but failed to mitigate fibrosis or avert ventricular functional decline after MI. In NECs in vitro, Isx directed partial muscle differentiation, which included biosynthesis and assembly of sarcomeric α-actinin premyofibrils, beaded structures pathognomonic of early developing cardiomyocytes. Thus, although Isx small-molecules have promising in vivo efficacy at the level of cardiac muscle gene expression in native multipotent progenitors – and are first in class in this regard – a greater understanding of the dynamic interplay between fibrosis and cardiogenic small-molecule signals will be required to pharmacologically enable regenerative-repair of the heart.

Irretrievable cardiomyocyte loss after myocardial infarction leads to heart failure, which has evolved into one of the greatest epidemics ever to confront mankind. Discovering a drug to create new heart muscle cells is a central aspiration of regenerative medicine, and is based on the concept that an ideal drug could enhance the adult heart’s natural regenerative capacity, which is underpowered relative to cell death after infarction. To discover bioactive molecules and potential drugs, small molecule libraries have been screened using phenotypic bioassays for cardiogenesis from stem cells and even whole organisms. Although numerous cardiogenic compounds have been described, the overall success of the chemical genetic approach has been constrained by the complexity of the cellular phenotype, the arduous task of deconvoluting cellular targets, coupled with the small portion of the proteome that is interrogated by current chemical libraries. Here we discuss the chemical genetics approach, its successes and limitations, and new strategies of chemical proteomics and functional genomics that promise to unveil the logic of cardiogenesis.

Muscle enhancer factor-2A (MEF2A), a member of the MADS family, induced myogenic development when ectopically expressed in clones of nonmuscle cells of human clones, a function previously limited to the muscle basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) proteins. During myogenesis, MEF2A and bHLH proteins cooperatively activate skeletal muscle genes and physically interact through the MADS domain of MEF2A and the three myogenic amino acids of the muscle bHLH proteins. Thus, skeletal myogenesis is mediated by two distinct families of mutually inducible and interactive muscle transcription factors, either of which can initiate the developmental cascade.

The terminal differentiation of mammalian muscle cells requires the tumor suppressor retinoblastoma protein (Rb). Unlike their wild-type counterparts, multinucleated myotubes from mouse cells deficient in Rb (Rb-/-) were induced by serum to re-enter the cell cycle. Development of the myogenic phenotype in Rb-/- cells correlated with increased expression of p107, which interacted with myogenic transcription factors. Serum-induced cell cycle reentry, on the other hand, correlated with decreased p107 expression. Thus, although p107 could substitute for Rb as a cofactor for differentiation, it could not maintain the terminally differentiated state in Rb-/- myotubes.

New drugs for preserving and restoring pancreatic β-cell function are critically needed for the worldwide epidemic of type 2 diabetes and the cure for type 1 diabetes. We previously identified a family of neurogenic 3,5-disubstituted isoxazoles (Isx) that increased expression of neurogenic differentiation 1 (NeuroD1, also known as BETA2); this transcription factor functions in neuronal and pancreatic β-cell differentiation and is essential for insulin gene transcription. Here, we probed effects of Isx on human cadaveric islets and MIN6 pancreatic β cells. Isx increased the expression and secretion of insulin in islets that made little insulin after prolonged ex vivo culture and increased expression of neurogenic differentiation 1 and other regulators of islet differentiation and insulin gene transcription. Within the first few hours of exposure, Isx caused biphasic activation of ERK1/2 and increased bulk histone acetylation. Although there was little effect on histone deacetylase activity, Isx increased histone acetyl transferase activity in nuclear extracts. Reconstitution assays indicated that Isx increased the activity of the histone acetyl transferase p300 through an ERK1/2-dependent mechanism. In summary, we have identified a small molecule with antidiabetic activity, providing a tool for exploring islet function and a possible lead for therapeutic intervention in diabetes.

Bone marrow transplantation is the primary therapy for numerous hematopoietic disorders. The efficiency of bone marrow transplantation depends on the function of long-term hematopoietic stem cells (LT-HSCs), which is markedly influenced by their hypoxic niche. Survival in this low-oxygen microenvironment requires significant metabolic adaptation. Here, we show that LT-HSCs utilize glycolysis instead of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation to meet their energy demands. We used flow cytometry to identify a unique low mitochondrial activity/glycolysis-dependent subpopulation that houses the majority of hematopoietic progenitors and LT-HSCs. Finally, we demonstrate that Meis1 and Hif-1alpha are markedly enriched in LT-HSCs and that Meis1 regulates HSC metabolism through transcriptional activation of Hif-1alpha. These findings reveal an important transcriptional network that regulates HSC metabolism.

Background: Cardiosphere-derived resident cardiac stem cells (CDCs) are readily isolated from adult hearts and confer functional benefit in animal models of heart failure. To study cardiogenic differentiation in CDCs, we developed a method to genetically label and selectively enrich for cells that have differentiated down the cardiomyocyte lineage. Methods and Results: Lentiviral vectors achieved significantly higher transduction efficiency (>90%) and longer-term transgene expression in human CDCs than any of the nine adeno-associated viral serotypes tested (AAV 1– 6, 2.5, 8, 9). To define the best reporter of cardiogenic differentiation, five cardiac-specific promoters (sodium-calcium exchanger [NCX1], L-type calcium channel α-subunit, α-myosin heavy chain, troponin I and myosin ventricular light chain) were subcloned upstream of GFP in lentiviral vectors. Cardiac specificity was assessed by transducing neonatal rat ventricular myocytes (NRVMs), HEK293, cardiac fibroblasts, skeletal myoblasts, endothelial and vascular smooth muscle cells with each vector and then measuring GFP fluorescence by flow cytometry. The cardiac NCX1-promoter conveyed the highest degree of cardiac specificity, with expression limited to NRVMs. At a multiplicity of infection of 35, NCX1-GFP vectors did not affect cell death or apoptosis of CDCs. Expression persisted for up to 6 months in vitro . NCX1-GFP positive CDCs subpopulations, were FACS-sorted and expanded in vitro , demonstrating enhanced expression of a variety of cardiac markers by real-time PCR. The utility of lentiviral vectors bearing the cardiac NCX1-promoter was further exemplified by treating CDCs with cardiogenic sulfonylhydrazones (SHZ). SHZ potently activated a NCX1-firefly luciferase reporter (211 ± 21% greater than control cells) and upregulated cardiac transcripts (including BNP, troponin I, α-tropomyosin, GATA-4). Conclusion: Lentiviral vectors carrying the NCX1 promoter represent a useful tool for genetically marking stem cells and their progeny that have differentiated down the cardiomyocyte lineage. The ability to selectively enrich for cardiomyocytes and their precursors has potential relevance for the development of cell-based therapies.

Although the brain is generally considered a terminally differentiated organ, new nerve cells are made every day through a process called “adult neurogenesis,” which occurs in specialized regions like the hippocampal dentate gyrus ( 1 ). Stem cells in the brain sample electrical signals (activity) from neighboring neurons, deciding which genes to express and which signaling pathways to launch toward developing their own neuronal identity. Why would stem cells be able to respond to exogenous neuronal electrical activity, which can be considered a highly specialized function? Indeed, it seems counterintuitive insofar as one of the defining functions of all stem cells is to actively maintain the undifferentiated state.