Restoration of endogenous transcription factor activity by nuclease-deficient Cas9VPR prevents cardiac failure upon stress II
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ABSTRACT:
ORGANISM(S): Homo sapiens
PROVIDER: GSE273827 | GEO | 2026/01/30
REPOSITORIES: GEO
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Project description:Cardiac remodeling is linked to maladaptive transcriptional networks, but identifying and targeting key factors with potential to reverse these processes is still a challenge. We employed network-based analysis of single cell heart transcriptomes to compute the transcription factor activities triggering heart failure. We found that the regulation of KLF15 activity is a major driver of cardiomyocyte failure. Through the use of CRISPR/nuclease-deficient (d)Cas9-based transcriptional regulation, we demonstrated that restoration of endogenous Klf15 expression and activity in cardiomyocytes was sufficient to mitigate pathological transcriptional reprogramming and preserve cardiac function in mice and human myocardial models. We also showed that KLF15 is a downstream targetable factor in the broad TGFβ-mediated stress response in human cardiomyocytes, controlling transcriptional embryonalization. Lastly, we engineered a therapeutically applicable mini-dCas9VPR variant suitable for adeno-associated viral delivery, eliciting endogenous KLF15 transcriptional activation in human cardiomyocytes. This case study presents a therapeutic strategy for restoring the stress-induced downregulation of essential genes to prevent heart failure with broader implications for other disease contexts.
2026-01-30 | GSE273656 | GEO
Project description:Endogenous activation of Myocyte enhancer factor 2 D (Mef2d) and Krüppel-like factor 15 (Klf15) in the postnatal mouse heart by cardiomyocyte-specific CRISPRactivation (Myh6-dCas9VPR) The aim of this experiment was to identify dCas9VPR on- and off-target chromatin association after gRNA delivery targeted to Myocyte enhancer factor 2 D (Mef2d) and Krüppel-like factor 15 (Klf15) in the postnatal mammalian heart. Saline injected Myh6-dCas9VPR transgenic mice were used to identify gRNA dependent and gRNA independent off-target sites. Mice were injected with saline/AAV9 TRISPR Mef2d/AAV9 TRISPR Klf15 at P4 and sacrificed at P14. Hearts were minced and nuclei were isolated, sonicated and dCas9VPR bound regions were immunoprecipitated. dCas9VPR occupancy profiles were obtained using deep sequencing, in triplicates, using Illumina HiSeq4000. The sequence reads that passed quality filters were analyzed at the transcript isoform level with TopHat followed by DESeq2. qPCR validation was performed using SYBR Green assays. We present in this study a mouse model for cardiomyocyte-specific endogenous gene activation in the postnatal mammalian heart by CRISPR/dCas9VPR. As a proof of concept, we activated the pro-hypertrophic factor Myocyte enhancer factor 2 D (Mef2d) leading to functional decline, increased marker expression of heart failure as well as cardiomyocyte hypertrophy over a time course of 8 weeks. We furthermore observed no phenotypic consequence of constitutive dCas9VPR transgene expression in the postnatal heart. We therefore conclude, that the Myh6-dCas9VPR mouse model is a suitable tool for endogenous gene activation studies in the postnatal heart. We additionally activated Krüppel-like factor 15 (Klf15) in neonatal heart and confirmed increased Klf15 transcript levels. dCas9VPR-On-target association was confirmed by ChIP qPCRs and sequencing for both targets.
2021-08-02 | GSE137146 | GEO
Project description:Sustained cardiac stress promotes the transition from an adaptive response to heart failure. Understanding of mechanisms governing this transition will assist in identifying targets that prevent this progression. Our study revealed age-specific transcriptional functions mediated by KLF15 that are crucial for cardiac homeostasis. We report that postnatally, KLF15 continuously activates cardiac metabolism, but represses pathological, hypertrophic pathways associated with cardiomyocyte de-differentiation and endothelial cell (EC) remodeling in an age-dependent manner. Our integrative genomic and transcriptomic analyses identified novel target genes directly bound, and either activated or repressed by KLF15 in vivo in the adult heart. We identified a cooperative program inducing aberrant EC remodeling, caused by a reduction of KLF15 and a concomitant activation of Wnt signaling. Within this program, we further identified a so far uncharacterized cardiac gene - Shisa3, which is expressed in the developing heart and is upregulated in cardiac hypertrophy, ischemia and failure. Importantly, we demonstrate that the KLF15- and Wnt co-dependent, SHISA regulation occurs also in the human myocardium. Altogether, our results unraveled and characterized a previously unknown cardiac gene Shisa3, and attributed its significance to EC homeostasis of the adult heart, controlled by KLF15-Wnt dynamics. Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare transcriptome profiles (RNA-seq) of heart tissue with a WT or KO Klf15 locus at different murine ages - postnatal day10 (p10), 4-week-old and 20-week-old mice. Methods: Cardiac tissue total RNA profiles for different groups were obtained using deep sequencing, in triplicates, using Illumina HiSeq4000. The sequence reads that passed quality filters were analyzed at the transcript isoform level with TopHat, followed by DESeq2. qPCR validation was performed using TaqMan and SYBR Green assays. Conclusions: Our study represents the first detailed analysis of the processes triggered upon Klf15 loss in hearts of different murine postnatal ages, which was so far not investigated. We report that this Klf15 loss first triggers Wnt canonical pathway activation, followed by activation of the non-canonical Wnt components, culminating in heart failure.
2019-10-07 | GSE113027 | GEO
Project description:<p>Heightened sterile inflammation and mitochondrial metabolic dysfunction drives the pathophysiology of heart failure in ischemic cardiomyopathy. Yet, the transcriptional regulators within cardiomyocytes driving crosstalk between inflammation and energy metabolism remain ill-defined. Here we identify elevated Ser396/Ser398 phosphorylation of the type I interferon (IFN) response regulating transcription factor IRF3 in the myocardium of patients and mice with ischemic cardiomyopathy. Cardiomyocyte-specific IRF3 deficiency attenuates ischemia induced contractile dysfunction. Conversely, IRF3 activation in cardiomyocytes through a phosphomimetic IRF3 mutant represses Ppargc1α expression leading to dysfunctional mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation, altered metabolic flux in the pentose phosphate pathway/TCA cycle, impaired NAD metabolism and an excessive type I IFN activation, collectively detrimental for cardiac function. Restoring cardiomyocyte-specific Ppargc1α expression in IRF3-overexpressor mice attenuates contractile dysfunction by augmenting a metabolic shift towards fatty acid oxidation and decreasing inflammatory fibrotic responses. These findings identify IRF3 activation in cardiomyocytes as a transcriptional nexus between cardiac inflammation and metabolic fuel switch contributing to heart failure progression. </p>
2026-01-28 | MTBLS13783 | MetaboLights
Project description:Endogenous activation of Myocyte enhancer factor 2 D (Mef2d) in the postnatal mouse heart by cardiomyocyte-specific CRISPRactivation (Myh6-dCas9VPR) The aim of this study was to compare endogenous gene activation of the pro-hypertrophic factor Myocyte enhancer factor 2 D (Mef2d) in the postnatal mammalian heart and experimental control groups including wild-type litter mates injected with saline, wild-type litter mates injected with AAV9 TRISPR Mef2d and transgenic litter mates injected with saline. Mice were injected with saline/AAV9 TRISPR Mef2d at P4 and sacrificed 8 weeks later. RNA was isolated by TRIzol/Chloroform and isopropanol precipitation. Ventricular tissue mRNA profiles were obtained using deep sequencing, in triplicates, using Illumina HiSeq4000. The sequence reads that passed quality filters were analyzed at the transcript isoform level with TopHat followed by DESeq2. qPCR validation was performed using SYBR Green assays. We present in this study a mouse model for cardiomyocyte-specific endogenous gene activation in the postnatal mammalian heart by CRISPR/dCas9VPR. As a proof of concept, we activated the pro-hypertrophic factor Myocyte enhancer factor 2 D (Mef2d) leading to functional decline, increased marker expression of heart failure as well as cardiomyocyte hypertrophy over a time course of 8 weeks. We furthermore observed no phenotypic consequence of constitutive dCas9VPR transgene expression in the postnatal heart. We therefore conclude, that the Myh6-dCas9VPR mouse model is a suitable tool for endogenous gene activation studies in the postnatal heart.
2021-08-02 | GSE132992 | GEO
Project description:Pathological cardiac hypertrophy is a leading cause of heart failure. The understanding of disease mechanisms is primarily based on experimental models, but knowledge of the full repertoire of cardiac cells and their gene expression profiles in the human heart is missing. Here, using large-scale single-nucleus transcriptomes, we highlight the transcriptional response of cardiomyocytes to pressure overload in humans with stenosis of the aortic valve and disclose major alterations in cellular cross-talk. Cardiomyocytes showed a reduction of incoming connections with endothelial cells and fibroblasts. Particularly Eph receptor tyrosine kinases, including the predominant EPHB1 gene, were significantly down-regulated in cardiomyocytes of the hypertrophied heart. We compared 5 AS patients to healthy patients from the human heart cell ATLAS (https://www.heartcellatlas.org). This repository contains the processed files from the single nuclei RNA-SEQ.
2021-12-06 | E-MTAB-11268 | biostudies-arrayexpress
Project description:<p>BACKGROUND: Imbalances in cardiac branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) metabolism and mitochondrial homeostasis are implicated in the onset and development of heart failure. However, the mechanisms triggering the downregulation of cardiac BCAA metabolism in heart failure remain unclear. Here, we identify a novel role of RNA-binding protein GRSF1 (guanine-rich RNA sequence binding factor 1) in post-transcriptionally regulating cell-intrinsic BCAA metabolic pathways, ultimately contributing to the pathogenesis of heart failure.</p><p>METHODS: We examined GRSF1 expression in the heart tissues of patients with dilated cardiomyopathy and generated mice with cardiomyocyte-specific deletion or overexpression of GRSF1 in vivo to investigate its role in heart failure. The effect of GRSF1 on BCAA homeostasis was assessed through untargeted and targeted metabolomics and mitochondrial function analysis. To elucidate the mechanisms underlying GRSF1-mediated metabolic regulation, we employed mice with cardiomyocyte-specific deletion of BCKDHB, and mice with cardiomyocyte-specific expression of GRSF1 lacking a quasi-RNA recognition motif. </p><p>RESULTS: GRSF1 expression was significantly decreased in the hearts of patients with heart failure and failing murine hearts. Cardiomyocyte-specific GRSF1 deletion resulted in cardiac dysfunction, spontaneous progression to dilated cardiomyopathy, and heart failure, accompanied by increased cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis. Conversely, GRSF1 overexpression attenuated cardiac remodeling and heart failure induced by transverse aortic constriction. Mechanistically, GRSF1 maintained BCAA homeostasis and mitochondrial function by directly interacting with the G-tracts in coding region of BCKDHB mRNA through a quasi-RNA recognition motif to promote the stability of BCKDHB mRNA at the post-transcriptional level, thereby increasing its protein expression. Functional recovery mediated by GRSF1 overexpression in cardiomyocytes was partially blocked upon cardiac-specific deletion of BCKDHB. </p><p>CONCLUSIONS: Our study identified GRSF1 as a cell-intrinsic metabolic checkpoint that maintains cardiac BCAA homeostasis by regulating BCKDHB mRNA turnover. Targeting GRSF1 may offer therapeutic benefits for heart failure and other cardiometabolic diseases requiring BCAA manipulation.</p>
2025-10-19 | MTBLS13178 | MetaboLights
Project description:To identify a novel target for the treatment of heart failure, we examined gene expression in the failing heart. Among the genes analyzed, 12/15 lipoxygenase (12/15-LOX) was markedly up-regulated in heart failure. To determine whether increased expression of 12/15-LOX causes heart failure, we established transgenic mice that overexpressed 12/15-LOX in cardiomyocytes. Echocardiography showed that 12/15-LOX transgenic mice developed systolic dysfunction. Cardiac fibrosis increased in 12/15-LOX transgenic mice with advancing age, and was associated with the infiltration of macrophages. Consistent with these observations, cardiac expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (Mcp-1) was up-regulated in 12/15-LOX transgenic mice compared with wild-type mice. Treatment with 12-hydroxy-eicosatetraenotic acid, a major metabolite of 12/15-LOX, increased MCP-1 expression in cardiac fibroblasts and endothelial cells, but not in cardiomyocytes. Inhibition of Mcp-1 reduced the infiltration of macrophages into the myocardium and prevented both systolic dysfunction and cardiac fibrosis in 12/15-LOX transgenic mice. Likewise, disruption of 12/15-LOX significantly reduced cardiac Mcp-1 expression and macrophage infiltration, thereby improving systolic dysfunction induced by chronic pressure overload. Our results suggest that cardiac 12/15-LOX is involved in the development of heart failure and that inhibition of 12/15-LOX could be a novel treatment for this condition. Heart failure is still one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Therefore, it is important to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of heart failure and develop more effective treatments for this condition. To clarify the molecular mechanisms of heart failure, we performed microarray analysis using cardiac tissue samples obtained from a hypertensive heart failure model (Dahl salt-sensitive rats). ~300 genes showed significant changes of expression in the failing hearts compared with control hearts. Among the genes analyzed, 12/15-lipoxygenase (12/15-LOX) was most markedly up-regulated in failing hearts compared with control hearts .
2009-06-06 | E-GEOD-16199 | biostudies-arrayexpress
Project description:An important event in the pathogenesis of heart failure is the development of pathological cardiac hypertrophy. In cultured cardiac cardiomyocytes, the transcription factor Gata4 is required for agonist-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. We hypothesized that in the intact organism Gata4 is an important regulator of postnatal heart function and of the hypertrophic response of the heart to pathological stress. To test this hypothesis, we studied mice heterozygous for deletion of the second exon of Gata4 (G4D). At baseline, G4D mice had mild systolic and diastolic dysfunction associated with reduced heart weight and decreased cardiomyocyte number. After transverse aortic constriction (TAC), G4D mice developed overt heart failure and eccentric cardiac hypertrophy, associated with significantly increased fibrosis and cardiomyocyte apoptosis. Inhibition of apoptosis by overexpression of the insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor prevented TAC-induced heart failure in G4D mice. Unlike WT-TAC controls, G4D-TAC cardiomyocytes hypertrophied by increasing in length more than width. Gene expression profiling revealed upregulation of genes associated with apoptosis and fibrosis, including members of the TGF? pathway. Our data demonstrate that Gata4 is essential for cardiac function in the postnatal heart. After pressure overload, Gata4 regulates the pattern of cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and protects the heart from load-induced failure. Experiment Overall Design: We reasoned that if Gata4 was a crucial regulator of pathways necessary for cardiac hypertrophy, then modest reductions of Gata4 activity should result in an observable cardiac phenotype. To test this hypothesis, we used gene targeted mice that express reduced levels of Gata4. We characterized these mice at baseline and after pressure Experiment Overall Design: overload.
2007-11-13 | E-GEOD-5500 | biostudies-arrayexpress
Project description:Tissue fibrosis and organ dysfunction are hallmarks of age-related diseases including heart failure, but it remains elusive whether there is a common pathway to induce both events. Through single-cell RNA-seq, spatial transcriptomics, and genetic perturbation, we elucidate that high-temperature requirement A serine peptidase 3 (Htra3) is a critical regulator of cardiac fibrosis and heart failure by maintaining the identity of quiescent cardiac fibroblasts through degrading transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β). Pressure overload downregulates expression of Htra3 in cardiac fibroblasts and activated TGF-β signaling, which induces not only cardiac fibrosis but also heart failure through DNA damage accumulation and secretory phenotype induction in failing cardiomyocytes. Overexpression of Htra3 in the heart inhibits TGF-β signaling and ameliorates cardiac dysfunction after pressure overload. Htra3-regulated induction of spatio-temporal cardiac fibrosis and cardiomyocyte secretory phenotype are observed specifically in infarct regions after myocardial infarction. Integrative analyses of single-cardiomyocyte transcriptome and plasma proteome in human reveal that IGFBP7, which is a cytokine downstream of TGF-β and secreted from failing cardiomyocytes, is the most predictable marker of advanced heart failure. These findings highlight the roles of cardiac fibroblasts in regulating cardiomyocyte homeostasis and cardiac fibrosis through the Htra3-TGF-β-IGFBP7 pathway, which would be a therapeutic target for heart failure.
2022-03-03 | GSE168742 | GEO