Biology subjects

Solaro, R. J.

Publications and source records attributed to Solaro, R. J..

5 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2023

Mechanisms of Pathogenicity of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy-Associated Troponin T (TNNT2) Variant R278C+/- During Development

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is one of the most common heritable cardiovascular diseases and variants of TNNT2 (cardiac troponin T) are linked to increased risk of sudden cardiac arrest despite causing limited hypertrophy. In this study, a TNNT2 variant, R278C+/-, was generated in both human cardiac recombinant/reconstituted thin filaments (hcRTF) and human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) to investigate the mechanisms by which the R278C+/- variant affects cardiomyocytes at the proteomic and functional levels. The results of proteomics analysis showed a significant upregulation of markers of cardiac hypertrophy and remodeling in R278C+/- vs. the isogenic control. Functional measurements showed that R278C+/- variant enhances the myofilament sensitivity to Ca2+, increases the kinetics of contraction, and causes arrhythmia at frequencies >75 bpm. This study uniquely shows the profound impact of the TNNT2 R278C+/- variant on the cardiomyocyte proteomic profile, cardiac electrical and contractile function in the early stages of cardiac development. Translational PerspectiveHypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the leading known cause of sudden cardiac arrest in the young. Thin-variant associated HCM variants make up to 15% of familial HCM yet their molecular mechanisms remain less clear relative to thick filament variants. Here, we employ computational modeling, human cardiac recombinant/reconstituted thin filaments (hcRTF), and hiPSC-CMs to study the thin filament TNNT2 R278C+/- variant, revealing its extensive pathogenicity and potential mechanisms by which it can lead to HCM and sudden death. Mavacamten, the recently FDA-approved treatment, was effective in alleviating contractile dysfunction in TNNT2 R278C+/- hiPSC-CMs, positing it as a potential therapy for thin filament HCM. Graphical Abstract O_FIG O_LINKSMALLFIG WIDTH=117 HEIGHT=200 SRC="FIGDIR/small/542948v2_ufig1.gif" ALT="Figure 1"> View larger version (31K): org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@102a8b0org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@190e356org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@13d3f9aorg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1a9c33_HPS_FORMAT_FIGEXP M_FIG C_FIG

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2023

Myosin Light Chain Dephosphorylation by PPP1R12C Promotes Atrial Hypocontractility in Atrial Fibrillation

BackgroundAtrial fibrillation (AF), the most common sustained cardiac arrhythmia, increases thromboembolic stroke risk five-fold. Although atrial hypocontractility contributes to stroke risk in AF, the molecular mechanisms reducing myofilament contractile function remain unknown. We tested the hypothesis that increased expression of PPP1R12C, the PP1 regulatory subunit targeting atrial myosin light chain 2 (MLC2a), causes hypophosphorylation of MLC2a and results in atrial hypocontractility. MethodsRight atrial appendage tissues were isolated from human AF patients versus sinus rhythm (SR) controls. Western blots, co-immunoprecipitation, and phosphorylation studies were performed to examine how the PP1c-PPP1R12C interaction causes MLC2a de-phosphorylation. In vitro studies of pharmacologic MRCK inhibitor (BDP5290) in atrial HL-1 cells were performed to evaluate PP1 holoenzyme activity on MLC2a. Cardiac-specific lentiviral PPP1R12C overexpression was performed in mice to evaluate atrial remodeling with atrial cell shortening assays, echocardiography, and AF inducibility with EP studies. ResultsIn human patients with AF, PPP1R12C expression was increased two-fold versus SR controls (P=2.0x10-2, n=12,12 in each group) with > 40% reduction in MLC2a phosphorylation (P=1.4x10-6, n=12,12 in each group). PPP1R12C-PP1c binding and PPP1R12C-MLC2a binding were significantly increased in AF (P=2.9x10-2 and 6.7x10-3 respectively, n=8,8 in each group). In vitro studies utilizing drug BDP5290, which inhibits T560-PPP1R12C phosphorylation, demonstrated increased PPP1R12C binding with both PP1c and MLC2a, and dephosphorylation of MLC2a. Lenti-12C mice demonstrated a 150% increase in LA size versus controls (P=5.0x10-6, n=12,8,12), with reduced atrial strain and atrial ejection fraction. Pacing-induced AF in Lenti-12C mice was significantly higher than controls (P=1.8x10-2 and 4.1x10-2 respectively, n= 6,6,5). ConclusionsAF patients exhibit increased levels of PPP1R12C protein compared to controls. PPP1R12C overexpression in mice increases PP1c targeting to MLC2a and causes MLC2a dephosphorylation, which reduces atrial contractility and increases AF inducibility. These findings suggest that PP1 regulation of sarcomere function at MLC2a is a key determinant of atrial contractility in AF.

molecular biology↗

bioRxiv2023

Three-dimensional spatial quantitative analysis of cardiac lymphatics in the mouse heart

Objective3D microscopy and image data analysis are necessary for studying the morphology of cardiac lymphatic vessels (LyVs) and association with other cell types. We aimed to develop a methodology for 3D multiplexed lightsheet microscopy and highly sensitive and quantitative image analysis to identify pathological remodeling in the 3D morphology of LyVs in young adult mouse hearts with familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). MethodsWe developed a 3D lightsheet microscopy workflow providing a quick turn-around (as few as 5-6 days), multiplex fluorescence detection, and preservation of LyV structure and epitope markers. Hearts from non-transgenic (NTG) and transgenic (TG) HCM mice were arrested in diastole, retrograde perfused, immunolabeled, optically cleared, and imaged. We built an image processing pipeline to quantify LyV morphological parameters at the chamber and branch levels. ResultsChamber-specific pathological alterations of LyVs were identified, but most significantly in the right atrium (RA). TG hearts had a higher volume fraction of ER-TR7+ fibroblasts and reticular fibers. In the RA, we found associations between ER-TR7+ volume fraction and both LyV segment density and median diameter. ConclusionsThis workflow and study enabled multi-scale analysis of pathological changes in cardiac LyVs of young adult mice, inviting ideas for research on LyVs in cardiac disease.

pathology↗

bioRxiv2021

The effect of magnesium on calcium binding to cardiac troponin C related hypertrophic cardiomyopathy mutants

Cardiac troponin C (cTnC) is the calcium (Ca2+) sensing component of the troponin complex. Binding of Ca2+ to cTnC triggers a cascade of myofilament conformational changes that culminate in force production. Mutations in cTnC linked to hypertrophic myocardial myopathy (HCM) induce a a greater degree and duration of Ca2+ binding, which may underly the hypertrophic phenotype. Recent evidence from our laboratories demonstrated novel modifications of cTnC Ca2+ binding by cellular magnesium (Mg2+) that we hypothesize may be of significance in promoting HCM. Regulation of contraction has long been thought to occur exclusively through Ca2+ binding to site II of cTnC. However, abundant cellular Mg2+ is a potential competitor for binding to the same sites; work by several groups also suggests this is possible. We have used isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) to explore the thermodynamic properties associated with the interaction between Ca2+/Mg2+ and site II of cTnC; these experiments demonstrated that physiological concentrations of Mg2+ may compete with Ca2+ to bind site II of cTnC. In experiments reported here, we studied a series of mutations in cTnC thought to be causal in HCM. Three mutants (A8V, L29Q, and A31S) slightly elevated the affinity for both Ca2+ and Mg2+, whereas other mutants (L48Q, Q50R, and C84Y), that are closer to the C-terminal domain and surrounding the EF hand binding motif of site II had a more significant effect on affinity and the thermodynamics of the binding interaction. To the best of our knowledge, this work is the first to explore the role of Mg2+ in modifying the Ca2+ affinity ofcTnC mutations linked to HCM. Our results indicate a physiologically significant role for cellular Mg2+ at baseline conditions and when elevated on the control of the dynamics of contraction by modifications in the Ca2+ binding properties of cTnC.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2020

Binding of Calcium and Magnesium to Cardiac Troponin C

Cardiac troponin C (cTnC) is the Ca2+-sensing component of the thin filament. It contains structural sites (III/IV) which bind both Ca2+ and Mg2+, and a regulatory site (II) that has been thought to bind only Ca2+. The latter binding initiates a series of conformational changes that culminate in force production. We have quantified the interaction between site II and Ca2+/Mg2+ through Isothermal Titration Calorimetry and Thermodynamic Integration simulations. Direct and competitive binding titrations using wild type and a double mutant that significantly reduces binding to site II demonstrated that physiologically relevant concentrations of both Ca2+/Mg2+ interact with the same locus. Cytosolic free Mg2+ (~1 mM) could occupy a significant population of available site II, as this concentration of Mg2+ decreased the affinity for Ca2+ 1.4-fold. Interaction of Mg2+ with site II of cTnC likely has important functional consequences for the heart at baseline and in diseased states which decrease or increase availability of Mg2+ such as secondary hyperparathyroidism or ischemia, respectively.

cell biology↗