Long pentraxin PTX3 exacerbates pressure overload-induced left ventricular dysfunction.
BACKGROUND
Left ventricular hypertrophy is enhanced by an inflammatory state and stimulation of various cytokines. Pentraxin 3 (PTX3) is rapidly produced in response to inflammatory signals, and high plasma PTX3 levels are seen in patients with heart failure. This study aimed to examine the influence of PTX3 on cardiac hypertrophy and left ventricular dysfunction with respect to pressure overload.


RESULTS
PTX3 systemic knockout (PTX3-KO) mice, transgenic mice with cardiac-specific overexpression of PTX3 (PTX3-TG), and the respective wild-type (WT) littermate mice were subjected to transverse aortic constriction (TAC) or a sham operation. Cardiac PTX3 expression increased after TAC in WT mice. In vitro, hydrogen peroxide induced the expression of PTX3 in both cardiac myocytes and cardiac fibroblasts. Recombinant PTX3 phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) in cardiac fibroblasts. Phosphorylation of cardiac ERK1/2 and nuclear factor kappa-B after TAC was attenuated in the PTX3-KO mice but was enhanced in the PTX3-TG mice compared with WT mice. Interleukin-6 and connective tissue growth factor production was lower in the PTX3-KO mice than in the WT mice, but this was augmented in the PTX3-TG mice than in the WT mice. Echocardiography revealed that adverse remodeling with left ventricular dysfunction, as well as with increased interstitial fibrosis, was enhanced in PTX3-TG mice, while these responses were suppressed in PTX3-KO mice.


CONCLUSIONS
The local inflammatory mediator PTX3 directly modulates the hypertrophic response and ventricular dysfunction following an increased afterload.
Department of Cardiology, Pulmonology, and Nephrology, Yamagata University School of Medicine, Yamagata, Japan.
Satoshi
S
Suzuki
Tetsuro
T
Shishido
Akira
A
Funayama
Shunsuke
S
Netsu
Mitsunori
M
Ishino
Tatsuro
T
Kitahara
Toshiki
T
Sasaki
Shigehiko
S
Katoh
Yoichiro
Y
Otaki
Tetsu
T
Watanabe
Yoko
Y
Shibata
Alberto
A
Mantovani
Yasuchika
Y
Takeishi
Isao
I
Kubota
D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D055513:Connective Tissue Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005355:Fibrosis; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000494:pharmacology; D017379:Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D032383:Myocytes, Cardiac / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D058628:Myofibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D010766:Phosphorylation; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D014463:Ultrasonography; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D000099153:Pentraxins
D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D055513:Connective Tissue Growth Factor; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D015850:Interleukin-6; D016328:NF-kappa B; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D000099153:Pentraxins; C526318:CCN2 protein, mouse