Zeb2: A novel regulator of cardiac fibroblast to myofibroblast transition
Loading...
Date
2014-01, 2015-04, 2014-04
Authors
Jahan, Fahmida
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Company of biologists Ltd.
Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology
Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology
Abstract
Cardiac fibroblast to myofibroblast phenoconversion is a critical step during the development of cardiac fibrosis. Myofibroblasts chronically remodel extracellular matrix that results in myocardial stiffening, cardiac dysfunction and eventually heart failure. Previously we showed that Meox2, a homeobox transcription factor, can inhibit myofibroblast phenoconversion. Here we show that Zeb2, a repressor of Meox2, plays a crucial role during this phenoconversion process. Zeb2 overexpression significantly upregulates the expression of three key myofibroblast markers: α-SMA, SMemb and ED-A fibronectin in primary rat cardiac myofibroblast. We show that Zeb2 is highly expressed in myofibroblast nuclei whereas it is minimally expressed in fibroblast nuclei. Zeb2 overexpression in myofibroblasts results in a less migratory and more contractile mature myofibroblast phenotype. Moreover, Zeb2 overexpression represses Meox2 expression in endothelial cells. Thus, the current study enhances our understanding of the mechanism behind myofibroblast phenoconversion and provides a basis for developing Zeb2-based novel anti-fibrotic drug in the future.
Description
Keywords
Zeb2, Meox2, Cardiac fibroblast, Myofibroblast, Phenoconversion, Cardiac fibrosis
Citation
Cunnington, R.H., et al., The Ski-Zeb2-Meox2 pathway provides a novel mechanism for regulation of the cardiac myofibroblast phenotype. J Cell Sci, 2014. 127(Pt 1): p. 40-9.
Jahan, F., et al., Control of Cardiac Fibroblast Phenotype by the Meox2/Zeb2 Signalling Switch. The FASEB Journal,2014. vol. 28 no. 1 Supplement LB47
Jahan, F., et al., Zeb2: A novel regulator of cardiac fibroblast to myofibroblast transition. The FASEB Journal, 2015. vol. 29 no. 1 Supplement 556.1
Jahan, F., et al., Control of Cardiac Fibroblast Phenotype by the Meox2/Zeb2 Signalling Switch. The FASEB Journal,2014. vol. 28 no. 1 Supplement LB47
Jahan, F., et al., Zeb2: A novel regulator of cardiac fibroblast to myofibroblast transition. The FASEB Journal, 2015. vol. 29 no. 1 Supplement 556.1