title: Alternative Splicing of Titin Restores Diastolic Function in an HFpEF-Like Genetic Murine Model (TtnΔIAjxn).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) experience elevated filling pressures and reduced ventricular compliance. The splicing factor RNA-binding motif 20 (RBM20) regulates the contour length of titin's spring region and thereby determines the passive stiffness of cardiomyocytes. Inhibition of RBM20 leads to super compliant titin isoforms (N2BAsc) that reduce passive stiffness.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the therapeutic potential of upregulating compliant titin isoforms in an HFpEF-like state in the mouse.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Constitutive and inducible cardiomyocyte-specific RBM20-inhibited mice were produced on a Ttn(ΔIAjxn) background to assess the effect of upregulating compliant titin at the cellular and organ levels. Genetic deletion of the I-band-A-band junction (IAjxn) in titin increases strain on the spring region and causes a HFpEF-like syndrome in the mouse without pharmacological or surgical intervention. The increased strain represents a mechanical analog of deranged post-translational modification of titin that results in increased passive myocardial stiffness in patients with HFpEF. On inhibition of RBM20 in Ttn(ΔIAjxn) mice, compliant titin isoforms were expressed, diastolic function was normalized, exercise performance was improved, and pathological hypertrophy was attenuated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We report for the first time a benefit from upregulating compliant titin isoforms in a murine model with HFpEF-like symptoms. Constitutive and inducible RBM20 inhibition improves diastolic function resulting in greater tolerance to exercise. No effective therapies exists for treating this pervasive syndrome; therefore, our data on RBM20 inhibition are clinically significant.
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine (M.B., M.M., J.S., P.N., K.H., H.G.) and Sarver Molecular Cardiovascular Research Program (M.B., M.M., J.S., P.N., K.H., H.G.), University of Arizona, Tucson.
authors.forename: Mathew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bull
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine (M.B., M.M., J.S., P.N., K.H., H.G.) and Sarver Molecular Cardiovascular Research Program (M.B., M.M., J.S., P.N., K.H., H.G.), University of Arizona, Tucson.
authors.forename: Mei
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Methawasin
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine (M.B., M.M., J.S., P.N., K.H., H.G.) and Sarver Molecular Cardiovascular Research Program (M.B., M.M., J.S., P.N., K.H., H.G.), University of Arizona, Tucson.
authors.forename: Joshua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Strom
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine (M.B., M.M., J.S., P.N., K.H., H.G.) and Sarver Molecular Cardiovascular Research Program (M.B., M.M., J.S., P.N., K.H., H.G.), University of Arizona, Tucson.
authors.forename: Pooja
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nair
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine (M.B., M.M., J.S., P.N., K.H., H.G.) and Sarver Molecular Cardiovascular Research Program (M.B., M.M., J.S., P.N., K.H., H.G.), University of Arizona, Tucson.
authors.forename: Kirk
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hutchinson
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine (M.B., M.M., J.S., P.N., K.H., H.G.) and Sarver Molecular Cardiovascular Research Program (M.B., M.M., J.S., P.N., K.H., H.G.), University of Arizona, Tucson. granzier@email.arizona.edu.
authors.forename: Henk
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Granzier
mesh_terms: D017398:Alternative Splicing / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D064211:Connectin / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D032383:Myocytes, Cardiac / Q000502:physiology; D010805:Physical Conditioning, Animal / Q000502:physiology; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D013318:Stroke Volume / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D064211:Connectin; D020033:Protein Isoforms
keywords: compliance; diastole; diastolic heart failure; hypertrophy; myocardium