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We have studied the association between M3 muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (M3-mAChR) and protein kinase C-ε (PKC-ε) during ischemic myocardial injury using Western blot analysis and immunoprecipitation technique. Myocardial ischemia (MI) induced PKC-ε translocation from cytosolic to membrane fractions. This translocation participated in the phosphorylation of M3-mAChR in membrane fractions, which could be abolished by the inhibitor of PKC, chelerythrine chloride. On the other hand, M3-mAChR could also regulate the expression of PKC-ε in ischemic myocardium. Choline (choline chloride, an M3 receptor agonist, administered at 15 min before occlusion) strengthened the association between PKC-ε and M3-mAChR. However, blockade of M3-mAChR by 4-diphenylacetoxy- N-methylpiperidine methiodide (an M3 receptor antagonist, administered at 20 min before occlusion) completely inhibited the effect of choline on the expression of PKC-ε. We conclude that the translocation of PKC-ε is required for the phosphorylation of M3-mAChR; moreover, increased PKC-ε activity is associated with M3-mAChR during MI. This reciprocal regulation is likely to play a role in heart signal transduction during ischemia between ventricular myocytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pathological cardiac hypertrophy is a compensated response to various stimuli and is considered a key risk factor for heart failure. 7,8-Dihydroxyflavone (7,8-DHF) is a flavonoid derivative that acts as a small-molecule brain-derived neurotrophic factor mimetic. The present study aimed to explore the potential role of 7,8-DHF in cardiac hypertrophy., Methods: Kunming mice and H9c2 cells were exposed to transverse aortic constriction or isoproterenol (ISO) with or without 7,8-DHF, respectively. F-actin staining was performed to calculate the cell area. Transcriptional levels of hypertrophic markers, including ANP, BNP, and β-MHC, were detected. Echocardiography, hematoxylin-eosin staining, and transmission electron microscopy were used to examine the cardiac function, histology, and ultrastructure of ventricles. Protein levels of mitochondria-related factors, such as adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK), and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α), were detected., Results: 7,8-DHF inhibited compensated and decompensated cardiac hypertrophy, diminished the cross-sectional area, and alleviated the mitochondrial disorders of cardiomyocytes. Meanwhile, 7,8-DHF reduced the cell size and repressed the mRNA levels of the hypertrophic markers of ISO-treated cardiomyocytes. In addition, 7,8-DHF activated AMPK and PGC-1α signals without affecting the protein levels of mitochondrial dynamics-related molecules. The effects of 7,8-DHF were eliminanted by Compound C, an AMPK inhibitor., Conclusions: These findings suggest that 7,8-DHF inhibited cardiac hypertrophy and mitochondrial dysfunction by activating AMPK signaling, providing a potential agent for the treatment of pathological cardiac hypertrophy., (© 2022 JGC All rights reserved; www.jgc301.com.)

Fibrosis across diverse organ systems is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality by inducing progressive architectural remodeling and organ dysfunction. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and its receptor tyrosine kinase receptor B (TrkB) play crucial roles in regulating neural survival, development, function and plasticity in the central and the peripheral nervous system. Previous studies demonstrated that the BDNF/TrkB pathway is widely distributed in different cell types such as neuron, epithelial cell, hepatocyte, and cardiomyocyte. Recently, there is increasing recognition that BDNF and TrkB are also expressed in fibroblasts in different organs. Moreover, growing evidence was obtained regarding the functional roles of BDNF/TrkB signaling in organ and tissue fibrosis. Thus, this review summarizes the basic molecular characteristics of the BDNF/TrkB cascade and the findings of the crucial roles and therapeutic value in organ and tissue fibrosis including pulmonary fibrosis, hepatic fibrosis, renal fibrosis, cardiac fibrosis, bladder fibrosis and skin fibrosis. Small molecule BDNF mimetic and BDNF-related non-coding RNAs are also discussed for developing new therapeutic approaches for fibrotic disorders.

Recent studies have revealed the cytoprotective roles of microRNAs (miRNAs) miR-21 and miR-146a against ischemic cardiac injuries. While these studies investigated each of these miRNAs as an independent individual factor, our previous study has suggested the possible interaction between these two miRNAs. The present study was designed to investigate this possibility by evaluating the effects of miR-21 and miR-146a combination on cardiac ischemic injuries and the underlying mechanisms. MiR-21 and miR-146a synergistically decreased apoptosis under ischemia/hypoxic conditions in cardiomyocytes compared with either miR-21 or miR-146a alone. Mice coinjected with agomiR-21 and agomiR-146a had decreased infarct size, increased ejection fraction (EF), and fractional shortening (FS). These effects were greater than those induced by either of the two agomiRs. Furthermore, greater decreases in p38 mitogen-associated protein kinase phosphorylation (p-p38 MAPK) were observed with miR-21: miR-146a combination as compared to application of either of the miRNAs. These data suggest that combination of miR-21 and miR-146a has a greater protective effect against cardiac ischemia/hypoxia-induced apoptosis as compared to these miRNAs applied individually. This synergistic action is mediated by enhanced potency of inhibition of cardiomyocyte apoptosis by the miR-21-PTEN/AKT-p-p38-caspase-3 and miR-146a-TRAF6-p-p38-caspase-3 signal pathways.

We have studied the association between M(3) muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (M(3)-mAChR) and protein kinase C-epsilon (PKC-epsilon) during ischemic myocardial injury using Western blot analysis and immunoprecipitation technique. Myocardial ischemia (MI) induced PKC-epsilon translocation from cytosolic to membrane fractions. This translocation participated in the phosphorylation of M(3)-mAChR in membrane fractions, which could be abolished by the inhibitor of PKC, chelerythrine chloride. On the other hand, M(3)-mAChR could also regulate the expression of PKC-epsilon in ischemic myocardium. Choline (choline chloride, an M(3) receptor agonist, administered at 15 min before occlusion) strengthened the association between PKC-epsilon and M(3)-mAChR. However, blockade of M(3)-mAChR by 4-diphenylacetoxy-N-methylpiperidine methiodide (an M(3) receptor antagonist, administered at 20 min before occlusion) completely inhibited the effect of choline on the expression of PKC-epsilon. We conclude that the translocation of PKC-epsilon is required for the phosphorylation of M(3)-mAChR; moreover, increased PKC-epsilon activity is associated with M(3)-mAChR during MI. This reciprocal regulation is likely to play a role in heart signal transduction during ischemia between ventricular myocytes.

1. The present study was designed to investigate whether the M(3) muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChR) is associated with beta-catenin in the ventricular myocardium during ischaemic myocardial injury and to determine the possible mechanism/s involved. 2. Rat hearts were subjected to coronary artery ligation for 1 and 6 h or 1 month to establish a myocardial ischaemia (MI) model. In the acute MI model, 16 rats were randomized into four groups: (i) control; (ii) ischaemia (rats were subjected to 20 min coronary occlusion); (iii) choline (10 mg/kg, i.v., choline chloride, an M(3) receptor agonist, was administered 15 min before occlusion); and (iv) 4-diphenylacetoxy-N-methylpiperidine methiodide (4-DAMP; 0.12 mg/kg 4-DAMP, an M(3) receptor antagonist, was administered 20 min before occlusion, followed 5 min later by 10 mg/kg, i.v., choline chloride). Immunochemistry, western blot analysis and immunoprecipitation were used to determine the expression and localization of beta-catenin and the M(3) mAChR. 3. Myocardial ischaemia caused a time-dependent increase in the expression of beta-catenin. Moreover, a physical association was found between beta-catenin and the M(3) mAChR in intercalated discs. This association was enhanced by prolonged ischaemia. Administration of choline before ischaemia not only increased beta-catenin expression, but also strengthened the association between beta-catenin and the M(3) mAChR. However, blockade of M(3) mAChR by 4-DAMP completely inhibited the effect of choline on the expression of beta-catenin. In addition, MI increased phosphorylation of the M(3) mAChR. 4. The results indicate that increased beta-catenin activity is associated with M(3) mAChR during MI. This association is likely to play a role in heart signal transduction during ischaemia between neighbouring ventricular myocardiocum.