Abstract 17169: Endothelium-Specific Reduction in Mitochondrial ROS Induces Coronary Angiogenesis in Ischemic Myocardium via Activation of PI3k/Akt/ERG, ERK1/2, and Jag-1 Signaling

Abstract

Introduction: Global reduction in reactive oxygen species (ROS) failed to improve outcomes in cardiovascular disease patients. Recent reports suggest that subcellular, rather than global ROS, play a crucial role in endothelial cell (EC) health. To that end, we generated a novel transgenic mouse model that overexpresses mitochondrial antioxidant MnSOD in EC-specific manner (MnSODVE-OE). Hypothesis: We hypothesized that decreased EC mitochondrial-ROS will improve post-myocardial infarction (MI) cardiac function by inducing coronary angiogenesis in ischemic myocardium. Methods: MnSODVE mice were assigned to Tet-ON (control) or Tet-OFF (MnSODVE-OE) group. To turn off the transgene, Tetracycline (Tet) (2mg/kg) was added to the drinking water (Tet-ON), while Tet-OFF mice did not receive Tet. Both groups underwent left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) ligation surgery to mimic acute MI. Echocardiography was done 28 days after LAD ligation. Capillaries, arteriole density, and proliferating ECs were measured in heart sections using anti-CD31, anti-αSMA, and anti-PCNA immunofluorescence. Western blot, proteomic and phosphoproteomic analyses of mouse heart ECs isolated from MnSODVE (Tet-ON and Tet-OFF) animals were performed to study modulation of signaling cascades. Results: MnSODVE-OE mice demonstrated improved cardiac function (EF and FS increased by 16±7.87% and 21.73±10.31%, respectively, p <0.01), increase in capillary and arteriole densities by 4.13±4.10-fold, p<0.05 and 5.48±3.51-fold, p<0.001, respectively, and in EC proliferation by 1.46±0.80-fold, p <0.01, suggesting de novo coronary angiogenesis. Western blots showed activation of Akt (80.46±3.95% increase in p-Akt/ t-Akt ratio, p<0.05) and ERK1/2 (21.05±4.45% increase in p-ERK/ t-ERK 1/2 ratio, p<0.05). Proteome and phosphoproteome analyses showed upregulation of mitochondrial complex I biogenesis, RNA metabolism, and upregulation of Notch-related proteins ERG and Jag-1 (p<0.05). Student’s t-test was used for data analyses. Conclusions: Taken together, these results suggest that decreased mito-ROS in ECs improves post-MI cardiac function by inducing coronary angiogenesis through activation of PI3k/Akt/ERG, ERK1/2, and Jag-1 signaling.