Abstract 80: Accumulation of Mitochondrial DNA in Autolysosome Causes Inflammation and Heart Failure Through Toll-Like Receptor 9 (TLR9) Signaling

Abstract

Backgrounds Nuclear DNA in apoptotic cell is digested by lysosomal deoxyribonuclease II (DNase II) in macrophages. Improper DNA digestion can lead to inflammation. We previously reported that cardiac-specific DNase II-deficient mice (CKO) exhibited heart failure after transverse aortic constriction (TAC). We observed inflammatory response and DNA accumulation in autolysosome in TAC-operated CKO heart. They were considered to be mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). In present study, we elucidated the mechanism of inflammation integrated by DNA accumulation in TAC-operated CKO hearts. Furthermore we investigated the pathogenesis of inflammation and heart failure in wild-typeTAC-operated mice. Methods & Results First, we identified the origin of accumulated DNA in lysosome. To label cardiac mtDNA, EdU (5-ethynyl 2’ deoxyuridine) were injected into mice before TAC. In TAC-operated CKO mice, EdU- and LAMP2a (lysosomal marker) or LC3 (autophagosome marker) positive deposits were observed, indicating that mtDNA accumulated in autolysosome. Then, we examined the mechanism how the mtDNA accumulation leads to inflammation. mtDNA has similarities to bacterial DNA, which contains inflammatogenic unmethylated CpG motif. TLR9, localized in the endolysosome, senses DNA with unmethylated CpG motifs. Therefore, we hypothesized that undigested mtDNA is sensed by TLR9. We administrated the inhibitory oligodeoxynucleotides against TLR9 to TAC-operated CKO mice. They attenuated the development of cardiomyopathy in CKO mice. Ablation of Tlr9 also canceled the cardiac phenotype of CKO mice. Next, we examined the involvement of DNA accumulation and TLR9 signaling in wild-type TAC-operated mice. DNase II activity was up-regulated in hypertrophied hearts, but not in failing hearts. LAMP2a- or LC3- positive DNA accumulation was observed in failing hearts. To determine the significance of TLR9 signaling pathway in the pathogenesis of heart failure, we subjected TLR9-deficient mice to TAC. They showed significant resistance to pressure-overload. TLR9-inhibitory oligodeoxynucleotides also improved the mortality in wild-type TAC-operated mice. Conclusion mtDNA-TLR9 axis is involved in inflammation in failing hearts in response to pressure overload.