Dysbindin, a schizophrenia susceptibility marker and an essential constituent of BLOC-1 (biogenesis of lysosome-related organelles complex-1), has recently been associated with cardiomyocyte hypertrophy through the activation of Myozap-RhoA-mediated SRF signaling. We employed sandy mice (Dtnbp1_KO), which completely lack Dysbindin protein because of a spontaneous deletion of introns 5–7 of the Dtnbp1 gene, for pathophysiological characterization of the heart. Unlike in vitro, the loss-of-function of Dysbindin did not attenuate cardiac hypertrophy, either in response to transverse aortic constriction stress or upon phenylephrine treatment. Interestingly, however, the levels of hypertrophy-inducing interaction partner Myozap as well as the BLOC-1 partners of Dysbindin like Muted and Pallidin were dramatically reduced in Dtnbp1_KO mouse hearts. Taken together, our data suggest that Dysbindin’s role in cardiomyocyte hypertrophy is redundant in vivo, yet essential to maintain the stability of its direct interaction partners like Myozap, Pallidin and Muted.

Congenital heart disease (CHD) is one of the most common birth defects in humans, present in around 40% of newborns with Down’s syndrome (DS). The SH3 domain-binding glutamic acid-rich (SH3BGR) gene, which maps to the DS region, belongs to a gene family encoding a cluster of small thioredoxin-like proteins sharing SH3 domains. Although its expression is confined to the cardiac and skeletal muscle, the physiological role of SH3BGR in the heart is poorly understood. Interestingly, we observed a significant upregulation of SH3BGR in failing hearts of mice and human patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Along these lines, the overexpression of SH3BGR exhibited a significant increase in the expression of hypertrophic markers (Nppa and Nppb) and increased cell surface area in neonatal rat ventricular cardiomyocytes (NRVCMs), whereas its knockdown attenuated cellular hypertrophy. Mechanistically, using serum response factor (SRF) response element-driven luciferase assays in the presence or the absence of RhoA or its inhibitor, we found that the pro-hypertrophic effects of SH3BGR are mediated via the RhoA–SRF axis. Furthermore, SH3BGR knockdown resulted in the induction of apoptosis and reduced cell viability in NRVCMs via apoptotic Hippo–YAP signaling. Taking these results together, we here show that SH3BGR is vital for maintaining cytoskeletal integrity and cellular viability in NRVCMs through its modulation of the SRF/YAP signaling pathways.

No abstract

Non-cardiac surgery is associated with significant cardiovascular complications. Reported mortality rate ranges from 1.9% to 4% in unselected patients. A postoperative surge in pro-inflammatory cytokines is a well-known feature and putative contributor to these complications. Despite much clinical research, little is known about the biomolecular changes in cardiac tissue following non-cardiac surgery. In order to increase our understanding, we analyzed whole-transcriptional and metabolic profiling data sets from hearts of mice harvested two, four, and six weeks following isolated thoracotomy. Hearts from healthy litter-mates served as controls. Functional network enrichment analyses showed a distinct impact on cardiac transcription two weeks after surgery characterized by a downregulation of mitochondrial pathways in the absence of significant metabolic alterations. Transcriptional changes were not detectable four and six weeks following surgery. Our study shows distinct and reversible transcriptional changes within the first two weeks following isolated thoracotomy. This coincides with a time period, in which most cardiovascular events happen.