Fibulin-2 is essential for angiotensin II-induced myocardial fibrosis mediated by transforming growth factor (TGF)-β

Lab Invest. 2016 Jul;96(7):773-83. doi: 10.1038/labinvest.2016.52. Epub 2016 Apr 25.

Abstract

Fibrosis is an ominous pathological process in failing myocardium, but its pathogenesis is poorly understood. We recently reported that loss of an extracellular matrix (ECM) protein, fibulin-2, protected against ventricular dysfunction after myocardial infarction (MI) in association with absence of activation of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β signaling and suppressed upregulation of ECM protein expression during myocardial remodeling. Here we investigated the role of fibulin-2 in the development of myocardial hypertrophy and fibrosis induced by continuous pressor-dosage of angiotensin II (Ang II) infusion. Both wild type (WT) and fibulin-2 null (Fbln2KO) mice developed comparable hypertension and myocardial hypertrophy by Ang II infusion. However, myocardial fibrosis with significant upregulation of collagen type I and III mRNA was only seen in WT but not in Fbln2KO mice.Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 mRNA and its downstream signal, Smad2, were significantly upregulated in WT by Ang II, whereas there were no Ang II-induced changes in Flbn2KO, suggesting fibulin-2 is necessary for Ang II-induced TGF-β signaling that induces myocardial fibrosis. To test whether fibulin-2 is sufficient for Ang II-induced TGF-β upregulation, isolated Flbn2KO cardiac fibroblasts were treated with Ang II after transfecting with fibulin-2 expression vector or pretreating with recombinant fibulin-2 protein. Ang II-induced TGF-β signaling in Fbln2KO cells was partially rescued by exogenous fibulin-2, suggesting that fibulin-2 is required and probably sufficient for Ang II-induced TGF-β activation. Smad2 phosphorylation was induced just by adding recombinant fibulin-2 to KO cells, suggesting that extracellular interaction between fibulin-2 and latent TGF-β triggered initial TGF-β activation. Our study indicates that Ang II cannot induce TGF-β activation without fibulin-2 and that fibulin-2 has an essential role in Ang II-induced TGF-β signaling and subsequent myocardial fibrosis. Fibulin-2 can be considered as a critical regulator of TGF-β that induces myocardial fibrosis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Angiotensin II / administration & dosage
  • Angiotensin II / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins / deficiency
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Cardiomegaly / etiology
  • Cardiomegaly / metabolism
  • Cardiomegaly / pathology
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Extracellular Matrix Proteins / deficiency
  • Extracellular Matrix Proteins / genetics
  • Extracellular Matrix Proteins / metabolism*
  • Fibrosis
  • Heart Failure / etiology
  • Heart Failure / metabolism
  • Heart Failure / pathology
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Models, Cardiovascular
  • Myocardium / metabolism*
  • Myocardium / pathology*
  • Signal Transduction
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / metabolism*
  • Ventricular Remodeling

Substances

  • Calcium-Binding Proteins
  • Extracellular Matrix Proteins
  • Tgfb1 protein, mouse
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta1
  • fibulin 2
  • Angiotensin II