Takanobu Yamamoto

Silent Information Regulator 1 Protects the Heart From Ischemia/Reperfusion

Background Sirt1, a class III histone deacetylase, retards aging and protects the heart from oxidative stress. We here examined whether Sirt1 is protective against myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R).Background— Silent information regulator 1 (Sirt1), a class III histone deacetylase, retards aging and protects the heart from oxidative stress. We here examined whether Sirt1 is protective against myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R). Methods and Results— Protein and mRNA expression of Sirt1 is significantly reduced by I/R. Cardiac-specific Sirt1−/− mice exhibited a significant increase (44±5% versus 15±5%; P=0.01) in the size of myocardial infarction/area at risk. In transgenic mice with cardiac-specific overexpression of Sirt1, both myocardial infarction/area at risk (15±4% versus 36±8%; P=0.004) and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling-positive nuclei (4±3% versus 10±1%; P<0.003) were significantly reduced compared with nontransgenic mice. In Langendorff-perfused hearts, the functional recovery during reperfusion was significantly greater in transgenic mice with cardiac-specific overexpression of Sirt1 than in nontransgenic mice. Sirt1 positively regulates expression of prosurvival molecules, including manganese superoxide dismutase, thioredoxin-1, and Bcl-xL, whereas it negatively regulates the proapoptotic molecules Bax and cleaved caspase-3. The level of oxidative stress after I/R, as evaluated by anti-8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine staining, was negatively regulated by Sirt1. Sirt1 stimulates the transcriptional activity of FoxO1, which in turn plays an essential role in mediating Sirt1-induced upregulation of manganese superoxide dismutase and suppression of oxidative stress in cardiac myocytes. Sirt1 plays an important role in mediating I/R-induced increases in the nuclear localization of FoxO1 in vivo. Conclusions— These results suggest that Sirt1 protects the heart from I/R injury through upregulation of antioxidants and downregulation of proapoptotic molecules through activation of FoxO and decreases in oxidative stress.

Nicotinamide Mononucleotide, an Intermediate of NAD+ Synthesis, Protects the Heart from Ischemia and Reperfusion

Nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (Nampt), the rate-limiting enzyme for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) synthesis, and Sirt1, an NAD+-dependent histone deacetylase, protect the heart against ischemia/reperfusion (I/R). It remains unknown whether Nampt mediates the protective effect of ischemic preconditioning (IPC), whether nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN, 500 mg/kg), a product of Nampt in the NAD+ salvage pathway, mimics the effect of IPC, or whether caloric restriction (CR) upregulates Nampt and protects the heart through a Sirt1-dependent mechanism. IPC upregulated Nampt protein, and the protective effect of IPC against ischemia (30 minutes) and reperfusion (24 hours) was attenuated at both early and late phases in Nampt +/− mice, suggesting that Nampt plays an essential role in mediating the protective effect of IPC. In order to mimic the effect of Nampt, NMN was administered by intraperitoneal injection. NMN significantly increased the level of NAD+ in the heart at baseline and prevented a decrease in NAD+ during ischemia. NMN protected the heart from I/R injury when it was applied once 30 minutes before ischemia or 4 times just before and during reperfusion, suggesting that exogenous NMN protects the heart from I/R injury in both ischemic and reperfusion phases. The protective effect of NMN was accompanied by decreases in acetylation of FoxO1, but it was not obvious in Sirt1 KO mice, suggesting that the effect of NMN is mediated through activation of Sirt1. Compared to control diet (90% calories), CR (60% calories for 6 weeks) in mice led to a significant reduction in I/R injury, accompanied by upregulation of Nampt. The protective effect of CR against I/R injury was not significant in cardiac-specific Sirt1 KO mice, suggesting that the protective effect of CR is in part mediated through the Nampt-Sirt1 pathway. In conclusion, exogenous application of NMN and CR protects the heart by both mimicking IPC and activating Sirt1.

Yes-associated Protein Isoform 1 (Yap1) Promotes Cardiomyocyte Survival and Growth to Protect against Myocardial Ischemic Injury

Background: Yap1 regulates cardiac development, yet the function of Yap1 in the adult heart remains unknown. Results: Yap1 promotes cardiomyocyte survival, hypertrophy, and proliferation and protects against chronic myocardial infarction (MI). Conclusion: Yap1 is critical for basal heart homeostasis, and Yap1 deficiency exacerbates myocardial injury. Significance: Increasing cardiomyocyte survival and proliferation may afford protection in vivo against MI injury. Yap1 is an important regulator of cardiomyocyte proliferation and embryonic heart development, yet the function of endogenous Yap1 in the adult heart remains unknown. We studied the role of Yap1 in maintaining basal cardiac function and in modulating injury after chronic myocardial infarction (MI). Cardiomyocyte-specific homozygous inactivation of Yap1 in the postnatal heart (YapF/FCre) elicited increased myocyte apoptosis and fibrosis, dilated cardiomyopathy, and premature death. Heterozygous deletion (Yap+/FCre) did not cause an overt cardiac phenotype compared with YapF/F control mice at base line. In response to stress (MI), nuclear Yap1 was found selectively in the border zone and not in the remote area of the heart. After chronic MI (28 days), Yap+/FCre mice had significantly increased myocyte apoptosis and fibrosis, with attenuated compensatory cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, and further impaired function versus Yap+/F control mice. Studies in isolated cardiomyocytes demonstrated that Yap1 expression is sufficient to promote increased cell size and hypertrophic gene expression and protected cardiomyocytes against H2O2-induced cell death, whereas Yap1 depletion attenuated phenylephrine-induced hypertrophy and augmented apoptosis. Finally, we observed a significant decrease in cardiomyocyte proliferation in Yap+/FCre hearts compared with Yap+/F controls after MI and demonstrated that Yap1 is sufficient to promote cardiomyocyte proliferation in isolated cardiomyocytes. Our findings suggest that Yap1 is critical for basal heart homeostasis and that Yap1 deficiency exacerbates injury in response to chronic MI.

Protection of the Heart Against Ischemia/Reperfusion by Silent Information Regulator 1

Myocardial ischemia followed by ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) induces irreversible damage to cardiac muscle. Medical treatment that effectively prevents I/R injury would alleviate the consequent development of cardiac remodeling and failure. Mechanisms that extend life span often make organisms resistant to stress, and an accumulation of such mechanisms may prevent aging and susceptibility to age-associated diseases. Sirtuins are a group of molecules involved in longevity and stress resistance. Stimulation of silent information regulator 1 (Sirt1), the mammalian ortholog of yeast Sir2 and a member of the sirtuin family, extends the life span of mice fed a high-fat diet and retards aging in the heart. Recent evidence suggests that stimulation of Sirt1 mimics ischemic preconditioning and protects the heart from I/R injury, suggesting an intriguing possibility of using longevity factors to treat cardiac disease. Here, we discuss the cardioprotective effects of Sirt1 and possible underlying mechanisms.

Peroxisome Proliferator Activated Receptor-α Association With Silent Information Regulator 1 Suppresses Cardiac Fatty Acid Metabolism in the Failing Heart

Background—Heart failure is accompanied by changes in cardiac metabolism characterized by reduced fatty acid (FA) utilization. However, the underlying mechanism and its causative involvement in the progression of heart failure are poorly understood. The peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-&agr; (PPAR&agr;)/retinoid X receptor (RXR) heterodimer promotes transcription of genes involved in FA metabolism through binding to the PPAR response element, called direct repeat 1 (DR1). Silent information regulator 1 (Sirt1) is a histone deacetylase, which interacts with PPAR&agr;. Methods and Results—To investigate the role of PPAR&agr; in the impaired FA utilization observed during heart failure, genetically altered mice were subjected to pressure overload. The DNA binding of PPAR&agr;, RXR&agr;, and Sirt1 to DR1 was evaluated with oligonucleotide pull-down and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays. Although the binding of PPAR&agr; to DR1 was enhanced in response to pressure overload, that of RXR&agr; was attenuated. Sirt1 competes with RXR&agr; to dimerize with PPAR&agr;, thereby suppressing FA utilization in the failing heart. DR1 sequence analysis indicated that the typical DR1 sequence favors PPAR&agr;/RXR&agr; heterodimerization, whereas the switch from RXR&agr; to Sirt1 takes place on degenerate DR1s. Sirt1 bound to PPAR&agr; through a region homologous to the PPAR&agr; binding domain in RXR&agr;. A short peptide corresponding to the RXR&agr; domain not only inhibited the interaction between PPAR&agr; and Sirt1 but also improved FA metabolism and ameliorated cardiac dysfunction. Conclusions—A change in the heterodimeric partner of PPAR&agr; from RXR&agr; to Sirt1 is responsible for the impaired FA metabolism and cardiac dysfunction in the failing heart.Background —Heart failure (HF) is accompanied by changes in cardiac metabolism characterized by reduced fatty acid (FA) utilization. However, the underlying mechanism and its causative involvement in the progression of HF are poorly understood. The peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-α (PPARα)/retinoid X receptor (RXR) heterodimer promotes transcription of genes involved in FA metabolism through binding to the PPAR response element, called direct repeat 1 (DR1). Silent information regulator 1 (Sirt1) is a histone deacetylase which interacts with PPARα. Methods and Results —To investigate the role of PPARα in the impaired FA utilization observed during HF, genetically altered mice were subjected to pressure overload (PO). The DNA binding of PPARα, RXRα and Sirt1 to DR1 was evaluated with oligonucleotide pull-down and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays. Although the binding of PPARα to DR1 was enhanced in response to PO, that of RXRα was attenuated. Sirt1 competes with RXRα to dimerize with PPARα, thereby suppressing FA utilization in the failing heart. DR1 sequence analysis indicated that the typical DR1 sequence favors PPARα/RXRα heterodimerization, whereas the switch from RXRα to Sirt1 takes place on degenerate DR1s. Sirt1 bound to PPARα through a region homologous to the PPARα binding domain in RXRα. A short peptide corresponding to the RXRα domain not only inhibited the interaction between PPARα and Sirt1 but also improved FA metabolism and ameliorated cardiac dysfunction. Conclusions —A change in the heterodimeric partner of PPARα from RXRα to Sirt1 is responsible for the impaired FA metabolism and cardiac dysfunction in the failing heart.

The function of nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase in the heart.

In addition to its roles as a coenzyme and an electron transfer molecule, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) has emerged as a substrate of sirtuins, a family of enzymes that control aging and metabolism. Nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (Nampt), a rate-limiting enzyme in the NAD+ salvage pathway, plays an important role in controlling the level of NAD+ and the activity of Sirt1 in the heart and the cardiomyocytes therein. Nampt protects the heart from ischemia and reperfusion injury by stimulating Sirt1. In this review, we summarize what is currently known regarding the function of Nampt in the heart.

PPARα Association With Sirt1 Suppresses Cardiac Fatty Acid Metabolism in the Failing Heart

Background—Heart failure is accompanied by changes in cardiac metabolism characterized by reduced fatty acid (FA) utilization. However, the underlying mechanism and its causative involvement in the progression of heart failure are poorly understood. The peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-&agr; (PPAR&agr;)/retinoid X receptor (RXR) heterodimer promotes transcription of genes involved in FA metabolism through binding to the PPAR response element, called direct repeat 1 (DR1). Silent information regulator 1 (Sirt1) is a histone deacetylase, which interacts with PPAR&agr;. Methods and Results—To investigate the role of PPAR&agr; in the impaired FA utilization observed during heart failure, genetically altered mice were subjected to pressure overload. The DNA binding of PPAR&agr;, RXR&agr;, and Sirt1 to DR1 was evaluated with oligonucleotide pull-down and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays. Although the binding of PPAR&agr; to DR1 was enhanced in response to pressure overload, that of RXR&agr; was attenuated. Sirt1 competes with RXR&agr; to dimerize with PPAR&agr;, thereby suppressing FA utilization in the failing heart. DR1 sequence analysis indicated that the typical DR1 sequence favors PPAR&agr;/RXR&agr; heterodimerization, whereas the switch from RXR&agr; to Sirt1 takes place on degenerate DR1s. Sirt1 bound to PPAR&agr; through a region homologous to the PPAR&agr; binding domain in RXR&agr;. A short peptide corresponding to the RXR&agr; domain not only inhibited the interaction between PPAR&agr; and Sirt1 but also improved FA metabolism and ameliorated cardiac dysfunction. Conclusions—A change in the heterodimeric partner of PPAR&agr; from RXR&agr; to Sirt1 is responsible for the impaired FA metabolism and cardiac dysfunction in the failing heart.Background —Heart failure (HF) is accompanied by changes in cardiac metabolism characterized by reduced fatty acid (FA) utilization. However, the underlying mechanism and its causative involvement in the progression of HF are poorly understood. The peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-α (PPARα)/retinoid X receptor (RXR) heterodimer promotes transcription of genes involved in FA metabolism through binding to the PPAR response element, called direct repeat 1 (DR1). Silent information regulator 1 (Sirt1) is a histone deacetylase which interacts with PPARα. Methods and Results —To investigate the role of PPARα in the impaired FA utilization observed during HF, genetically altered mice were subjected to pressure overload (PO). The DNA binding of PPARα, RXRα and Sirt1 to DR1 was evaluated with oligonucleotide pull-down and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays. Although the binding of PPARα to DR1 was enhanced in response to PO, that of RXRα was attenuated. Sirt1 competes with RXRα to dimerize with PPARα, thereby suppressing FA utilization in the failing heart. DR1 sequence analysis indicated that the typical DR1 sequence favors PPARα/RXRα heterodimerization, whereas the switch from RXRα to Sirt1 takes place on degenerate DR1s. Sirt1 bound to PPARα through a region homologous to the PPARα binding domain in RXRα. A short peptide corresponding to the RXRα domain not only inhibited the interaction between PPARα and Sirt1 but also improved FA metabolism and ameliorated cardiac dysfunction. Conclusions —A change in the heterodimeric partner of PPARα from RXRα to Sirt1 is responsible for the impaired FA metabolism and cardiac dysfunction in the failing heart.

Sirt1 Protects the Heart from Ischemia/Reperfusion

Background Sirt1, a class III histone deacetylase, retards aging and protects the heart from oxidative stress. We here examined whether Sirt1 is protective against myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R).Background— Silent information regulator 1 (Sirt1), a class III histone deacetylase, retards aging and protects the heart from oxidative stress. We here examined whether Sirt1 is protective against myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R). Methods and Results— Protein and mRNA expression of Sirt1 is significantly reduced by I/R. Cardiac-specific Sirt1−/− mice exhibited a significant increase (44±5% versus 15±5%; P=0.01) in the size of myocardial infarction/area at risk. In transgenic mice with cardiac-specific overexpression of Sirt1, both myocardial infarction/area at risk (15±4% versus 36±8%; P=0.004) and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling-positive nuclei (4±3% versus 10±1%; P<0.003) were significantly reduced compared with nontransgenic mice. In Langendorff-perfused hearts, the functional recovery during reperfusion was significantly greater in transgenic mice with cardiac-specific overexpression of Sirt1 than in nontransgenic mice. Sirt1 positively regulates expression of prosurvival molecules, including manganese superoxide dismutase, thioredoxin-1, and Bcl-xL, whereas it negatively regulates the proapoptotic molecules Bax and cleaved caspase-3. The level of oxidative stress after I/R, as evaluated by anti-8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine staining, was negatively regulated by Sirt1. Sirt1 stimulates the transcriptional activity of FoxO1, which in turn plays an essential role in mediating Sirt1-induced upregulation of manganese superoxide dismutase and suppression of oxidative stress in cardiac myocytes. Sirt1 plays an important role in mediating I/R-induced increases in the nuclear localization of FoxO1 in vivo. Conclusions— These results suggest that Sirt1 protects the heart from I/R injury through upregulation of antioxidants and downregulation of proapoptotic molecules through activation of FoxO and decreases in oxidative stress.

An Ideal PPAR Response Element Bound to and Activated by PPARα

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α (PPARα), a nuclear receptor, plays an important role in the transcription of genes involved in fatty acid metabolism through heterodimerization with the retinoid x receptor (RXR). The consensus sequence of the PPAR response element (PPRE) is composed of two AGGTCA-like sequences directionally aligned with a single nucleotide spacer. PPARα and RXR bind to the 5’ and 3’ hexad sequences, respectively. However, the precise sequence definition of the PPRE remains obscure, and thus, the consensus sequence currently available remains AGGTCANAGGTCA with unknown redundancy. The vague PPRE sequence definition poses an obstacle to understanding how PPARα regulates fatty acid metabolism. Here we show that, rather than the generally accepted 6-bp sequence, PPARα actually recognized a 12-bp DNA sequence, of which the preferred binding sequence was WAWVTRGGBBAH. Additionally, the optimized RXRα hexad binding sequence was RGKTYA. Thus, the optimal PPARα/RXRα heterodimer binding sequence was WAWVTRGGBBAHRGKTYA. The single nucleotide substitution, which reduces binding of RXRα to DNA, attenuated PPARα-induced transcriptional activation, but this is not always true for PPARα. Using the definition of the PPRE sequence, novel PPREs were successfully identified. Taken altogether, the provided PPRE sequence definition contributes to the understanding of PPARα signaling by identifying PPARα direct target genes with functional PPARα response elements.

Effectiveness of the proximal optimization technique for longitudinal stent elongation caused by post‐balloon dilatation

OBJECTIVES To evaluate the effectiveness of the proximal optimization technique (POT) to prevent longitudinal stent elongation. BACKGROUND The mechanism of stent elongation, which occurs after post-balloon dilation, is still unclear. METHODS A total of 103 lesions treated with optical coherence tomography guided coronary intervention between May 2013 and November 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. Lesions were divided according to the circumferential degree of malapposition at the stent edge immediately after deployment into well-apposed group (<180°) and malapposed group (≥180°). Post-dilation was performed from distal to proximal within the stent until August 2016 (non-POT cohort), and POT was applied thereafter (POT cohort). In the POT cohort, post-dilation was done at the proximal portion of the stent with sufficiently large balloon to minimize malapposition followed by distal dilatations. Stent elongation length was defined as the change in stent length from stent deployment to after post-dilatation. RESULTS In the non-POT cohort, 72 lesions, including 54 lesions in the well-apposed group and 18 in the malapposed group were analyzed. Stent elongation length was significantly longer in the malapposed group than in the well-apposed group (1.51 ± 1.34 mm vs 0.13 ± 0.84 mm, P < 0.01). In the POT cohort, 31 lesions including 21 in the well-apposed group and 10 in the malapposed group were analyzed. Stent elongation length was not significantly different between the groups (-0.09 ± 0.91 mm vs 0.30 ± 0.99 mm, P = 0.29). CONCLUSIONS Malapposition of the stent edge is responsible for longitudinal stent elongation caused by post-dilatation. POT appeared to effectively prevent longitudinal stent elongation.