pepducin-mediated cardioprotection via beta-arrestin-biased beta2-adrenergic receptor-specific signaling.pdf (2.3 MB)
pepducin-mediated cardioprotection via beta-arrestin-biased beta2-adrenergic receptor-specific signaling.pdf
journal contribution
posted on 2019-03-08, 13:41 authored by Laurel A. Grisanti, Toby P. Thomas, Rhonda L. Carter, Claudio de Lucia, Erhe Gao, Walter J. Koch, Jeffrey L. Benovic, Douglas G. TilleyReperfusion as a therapeutic intervention for acute myocardial infarction-induced cardiac injury itself induces
further cardiomyocyte death. β-arrestin (βarr)-biased β-adrenergic receptor (βAR) activation promotes
survival signaling responses in vitro; thus, we hypothesize that this pathway can mitigate cardiomyocyte death
at the time of reperfusion to better preserve function. However, a lack of efficacious βarr-biased orthosteric
small molecules has prevented investigation into whether this pathway relays protection against ischemic injury
in vivo. We recently demonstrated that the pepducin ICL1-9, a small lipidated peptide fragment designed from
the first intracellular loop of β2AR, allosterically engaged pro-survival signaling cascades in a βarr-dependent
manner in vitro. Thus, in this study we tested whether ICL1-9 relays cardioprotection against
ischemia/reperfusion (I/R)-induced injury in vivo.
Methods: Wild-type (WT) C57BL/6, β2AR knockout (KO), βarr1KO and βarr2KO mice received
intracardiac injections of either ICL1-9 or a scrambled control pepducin (Scr) at the time of ischemia (30 min)
followed by reperfusion for either 24 h, to assess infarct size and cardiomyocyte death, or 4 weeks, to monitor
the impact of ICL1-9 on long-term cardiac structure and function. Neonatal rat ventricular myocytes (NRVM)
were used to assess the impact of ICL1-9 versus Scr pepducin on cardiomyocyte survival and mitochondrial
superoxide formation in response to either serum deprivation or hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) in vitro and to
investigate the associated mechanism(s).
Results: Intramyocardial injection of ICL1-9 at the time of I/R reduced infarct size, cardiomyocyte death and
improved cardiac function in a β2AR- and βarr-dependent manner, which led to improved contractile function
early and less fibrotic remodeling over time. Mechanistically, ICL1-9 attenuated mitochondrial superoxide
production and promoted cardiomyocyte survival in a RhoA/ROCK-dependent manner. RhoA activation could
be detected in cardiomyocytes and whole heart up to 24 h post-treatment, demonstrating the stability of
ICL1-9 effects on βarr-dependent β2AR signaling.
Conclusion: Pepducin-based allosteric modulation of βarr-dependent β2AR signaling represents a novel
therapeutic approach to reduce reperfusion-induced cardiac injury and relay long-term cardiac remodeling
benefits.
further cardiomyocyte death. β-arrestin (βarr)-biased β-adrenergic receptor (βAR) activation promotes
survival signaling responses in vitro; thus, we hypothesize that this pathway can mitigate cardiomyocyte death
at the time of reperfusion to better preserve function. However, a lack of efficacious βarr-biased orthosteric
small molecules has prevented investigation into whether this pathway relays protection against ischemic injury
in vivo. We recently demonstrated that the pepducin ICL1-9, a small lipidated peptide fragment designed from
the first intracellular loop of β2AR, allosterically engaged pro-survival signaling cascades in a βarr-dependent
manner in vitro. Thus, in this study we tested whether ICL1-9 relays cardioprotection against
ischemia/reperfusion (I/R)-induced injury in vivo.
Methods: Wild-type (WT) C57BL/6, β2AR knockout (KO), βarr1KO and βarr2KO mice received
intracardiac injections of either ICL1-9 or a scrambled control pepducin (Scr) at the time of ischemia (30 min)
followed by reperfusion for either 24 h, to assess infarct size and cardiomyocyte death, or 4 weeks, to monitor
the impact of ICL1-9 on long-term cardiac structure and function. Neonatal rat ventricular myocytes (NRVM)
were used to assess the impact of ICL1-9 versus Scr pepducin on cardiomyocyte survival and mitochondrial
superoxide formation in response to either serum deprivation or hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) in vitro and to
investigate the associated mechanism(s).
Results: Intramyocardial injection of ICL1-9 at the time of I/R reduced infarct size, cardiomyocyte death and
improved cardiac function in a β2AR- and βarr-dependent manner, which led to improved contractile function
early and less fibrotic remodeling over time. Mechanistically, ICL1-9 attenuated mitochondrial superoxide
production and promoted cardiomyocyte survival in a RhoA/ROCK-dependent manner. RhoA activation could
be detected in cardiomyocytes and whole heart up to 24 h post-treatment, demonstrating the stability of
ICL1-9 effects on βarr-dependent β2AR signaling.
Conclusion: Pepducin-based allosteric modulation of βarr-dependent β2AR signaling represents a novel
therapeutic approach to reduce reperfusion-induced cardiac injury and relay long-term cardiac remodeling
benefits.
