研究者詳細 - 竹藤　幹人

Adipolin protects against renal injury via PPARα-dependent reduction of inflammasome activation.

Fang L, Ohashi K, Hayakawa S, Ogawa H, Otaka N, Kawanishi H, Takikawa T, Ozaki Y, Takahara K, Tatsumi M, Takefuji M, Shimizu Y, Bando YK, Fujishima Y, Maeda N, Shimomura I, Murohara T, Ouchi N

iScience 26 巻 ( 5 ) 頁： 106591 - 106591 2023年5月

記述言語：英語掲載種別：研究論文（学術雑誌）出版者・発行元：iScience

Although chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major health problem worldwide, its underlining mechanism is incompletely understood. We previously identified adipolin as an adipokine which provides benefits for cardiometabolic diseases. Here, we investigated the role of adipolin in the development of CKD. Adipolin-deficiency exacerbated urinary albumin excretion, tubulointerstitial fibrosis and oxidative stress of remnant kidneys in mice after subtotal nephrectomy through inflammasome activation. Adipolin positively regulated the production of ketone body, β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) and expression of a catalytic enzyme producing BHB, HMGCS2 in the remnant kidney. Treatment of proximal tubular cells with adipolin attenuated inflammasome activation through the PPARα/HMGCS2-dependent pathway. Furthermore, systemic administration of adipolin to wild-type mice with subtotal nephrectomy ameliorated renal injury, and these protective effects of adipolin were diminished in PPARα-deficient mice. Thus, adipolin protects against renal injury by reducing renal inflammasome activation through its ability to induce HMGCS2-dependent ketone body production via PPARα activation.

DOI： 10.1016/j.isci.2023.106591

How Should Weight Control and Caloric Intervention Be Implemented for Obese Heart Failure Patients?

Okumura T, Hiraiwa H, Takefuji M, Murohara T

Cardiology 148 巻 ( 2 ) 頁： 103 - 105 2023年

Benefits and Precautions in Using B-Type Natriuretic Peptide　- N-Terminal-Pro-B-Type Natriuretic Peptide Conversion Formula.

Okumura T, Hiraiwa H, Takefuji M, Murohara T

Circulation journal : official journal of the Japanese Circulation Society 86 巻 ( 12 ) 頁： 2019 - 2020 2022年11月

Omentin attenuates angiotensin II-induced abdominal aortic aneurysm formation in apolipoprotein E-knockout mice. 査読有り国際誌

Fang L, Ohashi K, Otaka N, Ogawa H, Hiramatsu-Ito M, Kawanishi H, Bando YK, Shibata R, Shimizu Y, Kato K, Takikawa T, Ozaki Y, Takefuji M, Murohara T, Ouchi N

Cardiovascular research 118 巻 ( 6 ) 頁： 1597 - 1610 2022年5月

記述言語：英語掲載種別：研究論文（学術雑誌）出版者・発行元：Cardiovascular Research

Aims: Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is an increasing and life-threatening disease. Obesity contributes to an increased risk of AAA. Omentin is a circulating adipokine, which is downregulated in obese complications. Here, we examined whether omentin could modulate angiotensin (Ang) II-induced AAA formation in apolipoprotein E-knockout (apoE-KO) mice. Methods and results: apoE-KO mice were crossed with transgenic mice expressing the human omentin gene in fat tissue (OMT-Tg mice) to generate apoE-KO/OMT-Tg mice. apoE-KO/OMT-Tg and apoE-KO mice were subjected to continuous Ang II infusion by using osmotic mini pumps. apoE-KO/OMT-Tg mice exhibited a lower incidence of AAA formation and a reduced maximal diameter of AAA compared with apoE-KO mice. apoE-KO/OMT-Tg mice showed attenuated disruption of medial elastic fibres in response to Ang II compared with apoE-KO mice. apoE-KO/OMT-Tg mice also displayed reduced expression levels of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) 9, MMP2, and pro-inflammatory genes in aortic walls compared with apoE-KO mice. Furthermore, systemic administration of omentin also attenuated AAA formation and disruption of medial elastic fibres in response to Ang II in apoE-KO mice. Treatment of human monocyte-derived macrophages with omentin protein attenuated expression of MMP9 and pro-inflammatory mediators, and MMP9 activation after stimulation with lipopolysaccharide. Treatment of human vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) with omentin protein reduced expression and activation of MMP2 after stimulation with tumour necrosis factor α. Omentin treatment increased phosphorylation levels of Akt in human macrophages and VSMCs. The suppressive effects of omentin on MMP9 and MMP2 expression were reversed by inhibition of integrin-αVβ3/PI3-kinase/Akt signalling in macrophages and VSMCs, respectively. Conclusion: These data suggest that omentin acts as an adipokine that can attenuate Ang II-induced development of AAA through suppression of MMP9 and MMP2 expression and inflammatory response in the vascular wall.

DOI： 10.1093/cvr/cvab179

Serum autotaxin as a novel prognostic marker in patients with non-ischaemic dilated cardiomyopathy. 査読有り国際誌

Araki T, Okumura T, Hiraiwa H, Mizutani T, Kimura Y, Kazama S, Shibata N, Oishi H, Kuwayama T, Kondo T, Morimoto R, Takefuji M, Murohara T

ESC heart failure 9 巻 ( 2 ) 頁： 1304 - 1313 2022年4月

記述言語：英語掲載種別：研究論文（学術雑誌）出版者・発行元：ESC Heart Failure

Aims: Autotaxin (ATX) promotes myocardial inflammation, fibrosis, and the subsequent cardiac remodelling through lysophosphatidic acid production. However, the prognostic impact of serum ATX in non-ischaemic dilated cardiomyopathy (NIDCM) has not been clarified. We investigated the prognostic impact of serum ATX in patients with NIDCM. Methods and results: We enrolled 104 patients with NIDCM (49.8 ± 13.4 years, 76 men). We divided the patients into two groups using different cutoffs of median serum ATX levels for men and women: high-ATX group and low-ATX group. Cardiac events were defined as a composite of cardiac death and heart failure resulting in hospitalization. Median ATX level was 203.5 ng/mL for men and 257.0 ng/mL for women. Brain natriuretic peptide levels [224.0 (59.6–689.5) pg/mL vs. 96.5 (40.8–191.5) pg/mL, P = 0.010] were higher in the high-ATX group than low-ATX group, whereas high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and collagen volume fraction levels in endomyocardial biopsy samples were not significantly different between the two groups. Kaplan–Meier survival analysis revealed that the event-free survival rate was significantly lower in the high-ATX group than low-ATX group (log-rank; P = 0.007). Cox proportional hazard analysis revealed that high-ATX was an independent determinant of composite cardiac events. In both sexes, serum ATX levels did not correlate with high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels and collagen volume fraction but had a weak correlation with brain natriuretic peptide levels (men; spearman's rank: 0.274, P = 0.017, women; spearman's rank: 0.378, P = 0.048). Conclusion: High serum ATX levels can be associated with increasing adverse clinical outcomes in patients with NIDCM. These results indicate serum ATX may be a novel biomarker or therapeutic target in NIDCM.

DOI： 10.1002/ehf2.13817

Factor Xa inhibitor, edoxaban ameliorates renal injury after subtotal nephrectomy by reducing epithelial-mesenchymal transition and inflammatory response. 査読有り国際誌

Fang L, Ohashi K, Ogawa H, Otaka N, Kawanishi H, Takikawa T, Ozaki Y, Takahara K, Tatsumi M, Takefuji M, Murohara T, Ouchi N

Physiological reports 10 巻 ( 5 ) 頁： e15218 2022年3月

記述言語：英語掲載種別：研究論文（学術雑誌）出版者・発行元：Physiological Reports

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is an increasing and life-threatening disease worldwide. Recent evidence indicates that blood coagulation factors promote renal dysfunction in CKD patients. Activated factor X (FXa) inhibitors are safe and first-line drugs for the prevention of thrombosis in patients with atrial fibrillation. Here, we investigated the therapeutic effects of edoxaban on CKD using the mouse 5/6 nephrectomy model. Eight-week-old wild-type mice were subjected to 5/6 nephrectomy surgery and randomly assigned to two groups, edoxaban or vehicle admixture diet. Edoxaban treatment led to reduction of urinary albumin excretion and plasma UN levels compared with vehicle group, which was accompanied with reduced glomerular cross-sectional area and cell number. Edoxaban treatment also attenuated fibrinogen positive area in the remnant kidneys after subtotal nephrectomy. Moreover, edoxaban treatment resulted in attenuated tubulointerstitial fibrosis after 5/6 nephrectomy, which was accompanied by reduced expression levels of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers, inflammatory mediators, and oxidative stress markers in the remnant kidneys. Treatment of cultured proximal tubular cells, HK-2 cells, with FXa protein led to increased expression levels of EMT markers, inflammatory mediators, and oxidative stress markers, which were abolished by pretreatment with edoxaban. Treatment of HK-2 cells with edoxaban attenuated FXa-stimulated phosphorylation levels of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and NF-κB. Our findings indicate that edoxaban can improve renal injury after subtotal nephrectomy by reducing EMT and inflammatory response, suggesting that FXa inhibition could be a novel therapeutic target for CKD patients with atrial fibrillation.

DOI： 10.14814/phy2.15218

Neuron-derived neurotrophic factor protects against dexamethasone-induced skeletal muscle atrophy. 査読有り国際誌

Ozaki Y, Ohashi K, Otaka N, Ogawa H, Kawanishi H, Takikawa T, Fang L, Tatsumi M, Takefuji M, Enomoto T, Darwish M, Iijima Y, Iijima T, Murohara T, Ouchi N

Biochemical and biophysical research communications 593 巻頁： 5 - 12 2022年2月

記述言語：英語掲載種別：研究論文（学術雑誌）出版者・発行元：Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications

Skeletal muscle atrophy caused by various conditions including aging, nerve damage, and steroid administration, is a serious health problem worldwide. We recently reported that neuron-derived neurotrophic factor (NDNF) functions as a muscle-derived secreted factor, also known as myokine, which exerts protective actions on endothelial cell and cardiomyocyte function. Here, we investigated whether NDNF regulates skeletal muscle atrophy induced by steroid administration and sciatic denervation. NDNF-knockout (KO) mice and age-matched wild-type (WT) mice were subjected to continuous dexamethasone (DEX) treatment or sciatic denervation. NDNF-KO mice exhibited decreased gastrocnemius muscle weight and reduced cross sectional area of myocyte fiber after DEX treatment or sciatic denervation compared with WT mice. Administration of an adenoviral vector expressing NDNF (Ad-NDNF) or recombinant NDNF protein to gastrocnemius muscle of WT mice increased gastrocnemius muscle weight after DEX treatment. NDNF-KO mice showed increased expression of ubiquitin E3-ligases, including atrogin-1 and MuRF-1, in gastrocnemius muscle after DEX treatment, whereas Ad-NDNF reduced expression of atrogin-1 and MuRF-1 in gastrocnemius muscle of WT mice after DEX treatment. Pretreatment of cultured C2C12 myocytes with NDNF protein reversed reduced myotube diameter and increased expression of atrogin-1 and MuRF-1 after DEX stimulation. Treatment of C2C12 myocytes increased Akt phosphorylation. Pretreatment of C2C12 myotubes with the PI3-kinase/Akt inhibitor reversed NDNF-induced increase in myotube fiber diameter after DEX treatment. In conclusion, our findings indicated that NDNF prevents skeletal muscle atrophy in vivo and in vitro through reduction of ubiquitin E3-ligases expression, suggesting that NDNF could be a novel therapeutic target of muscle atrophy.

DOI： 10.1016/j.bbrc.2022.01.028

心不全におけるGタンパク質シグナル

竹藤幹人

心臓 54 巻 ( 2 ) 頁： 261 - 267 2022年2月

Corticotropin releasing hormone receptor 2 antagonist, RQ-00490721, for the prevention of pressure overload-induced cardiac dysfunction. 査読有り国際誌

Mori Y, Tsuchihira A, Yoshida T, Yoshida S, Fujiuchi A, Ohmi M, Isogai Y, Sakaguchi T, Eguchi S, Tsuda T, Kato K, Ohashi K, Ouchi N, Park HM, Murohara T, Takefuji M

Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie 146 巻頁： 112566 - 112566 2022年2月

記述言語：英語掲載種別：研究論文（学術雑誌）出版者・発行元：Biomedicine and Pharmacotherapy

Background: G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) regulate the pathological and physiological functions of the heart. GPCR antagonists are widely used in the treatment of chronic heart failure. Despite therapeutic advances in the treatments for cardiovascular diseases, heart failure is a major clinical health problem, with significant mortality and morbidity. Corticotropin releasing hormone receptor 2 (CRHR2) is highly expressed in cardiomyocytes, and cardiomyocyte-specific deletion of the genes encoding CRHR2 suppresses pressure overload-induced cardiac dysfunction. This suggests that the negative modulation of CRHR2 may prevent the progression of heart failure. However, there are no systemic drugs against CRHR2. Findings: We developed a novel, oral, small molecule antagonist of CRHR2, RQ-00490721, to investigate the inhibition of CRHR2 as a potential therapeutic approach for the treatment of heart failure. In vitro, RQ-00490721 decreased CRHR2 agonist-induced 3′, 5′-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) production. In vivo, RQ-00490721 showed sufficient oral absorption and better distribution to peripheral organs than to the central nervous system. Oral administration of RQ-00490721 inhibited the CRHR2 agonist-induced phosphorylation of cAMP-response element binding protein (CREB) in the heart, which regulates a transcription activator involved in heart failure. RQ-00490721 administration was not found to affect basal heart function in mice but protected them from pressure overload-induced cardiac dysfunction. Interpretation: Our results suggest that RQ-00490721 is a promising agent for use in the treatment of chronic heart failure.

DOI： 10.1016/j.biopha.2021.112566

LPL/AQP7/GPD2 promotes glycerol metabolism under hypoxia and prevents cardiac dysfunction during ischemia. 査読有り国際共著国際誌

Ishihama S, Yoshida S, Yoshida T, Mori Y, Ouchi N, Eguchi S, Sakaguchi T, Tsuda T, Kato K, Shimizu Y, Ohashi K, Okumura T, Bando YK, Yagyu H, Wettschureck N, Kubota N, Offermanns S, Kadowaki T, Murohara T, Takefuji M

FASEB journal : official publication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology 35 巻 ( 12 ) 頁： e22048 2021年12月

記述言語：英語掲載種別：研究論文（学術雑誌）出版者・発行元：FASEB Journal

In the heart, fatty acid is a major energy substrate to fuel contraction under aerobic conditions. Ischemia downregulates fatty acid metabolism to adapt to the limited oxygen supply, making glucose the preferred substrate. However, the mechanism underlying the myocardial metabolic shift during ischemia remains unknown. Here, we show that lipoprotein lipase (LPL) expression in cardiomyocytes, a principal enzyme that converts triglycerides to free fatty acids and glycerol, increases during myocardial infarction (MI). Cardiomyocyte-specific LPL deficiency enhanced cardiac dysfunction and apoptosis following MI. Deficiency of aquaporin 7 (AQP7), a glycerol channel in cardiomyocytes, increased the myocardial infarct size and apoptosis in response to ischemia. Ischemic conditions activated glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase 2 (GPD2), which converts glycerol-3-phosphate into dihydroxyacetone phosphate to facilitate adenosine triphosphate (ATP) synthesis from glycerol. Conversely, GPD2 deficiency exacerbated cardiac dysfunction after acute MI. Moreover, cardiomyocyte-specific LPL deficiency suppressed the effectiveness of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα) agonist treatment for MI-induced cardiac dysfunction. These results suggest that LPL/AQP7/GPD2-mediated glycerol metabolism plays an important role in preventing myocardial ischemia-related damage.

DOI： 10.1096/fj.202100882R

Prognostic impact of transcardiac gradient of follistatin-like 1 reflecting hemodynamics in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy. 査読有り国際誌

Oishi H, Okumura T, Ohashi K, Kimura Y, Kazama S, Shibata N, Arao Y, Kato H, Kuwayama T, Yamaguchi S, Tatsumi M, Kondo T, Hiraiwa H, Morimoto R, Takefuji M, Ouchi N, Murohara T

Journal of cardiology 78 巻 ( 6 ) 頁： 524 - 532 2021年12月

記述言語：英語掲載種別：研究論文（学術雑誌）出版者・発行元：Journal of Cardiology

Background: Follistatin-like 1 (FSTL1) is a myocyte-secreted glycoprotein that could play a role in myocardial maintenance in response to harmful stimuli. We investigated the association between serum FSTL1 levels, especially focused on transcardiac gradient and the hemodynamics, to explore the prognostic impact of FSTL1 levels in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Methods: Thirty-two ambulatory patients with DCM (23 men; mean age 59 years) were prospectively enrolled. Blood samples were simultaneously collected from the aortic root (Ao), coronary sinus (CS), as well as from the peripheral vein during cardiac catheterization in stable conditions. The transcardiac gradient of FSTL1 was calculated by the difference between serum FSTL1 levels of CS and Ao (FSTL1CS-Ao). Patients were divided into two groups based on the median of FSTL1CS-Ao: Low FSTL1CS-Ao group, <0 ng/mL; High FSTL1CS-Ao group, ≥0 ng/mL. Cardiac events were defined as a composite of cardiac deaths and hospitalizations for worsening heart failure. Results: Mean left ventricular ejection fraction and median plasma B-type natriuretic peptide levels were 30.9% and 92.3 pg/mL, respectively. FSTL1CS-Ao was negatively correlated with pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (r = -0.400, p = 0.023). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that event-free survival rate was significantly lower in the Low FSTL1CS-Ao group than in the High FSTL1CS-Ao group (p = 0.013). Cox regression analyses revealed that the transcardiac gradient of FSTL1 was an independent predictor for cardiac events. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that the cut-off value of FSTL1CS-Ao for the prediction of cardiac events was -4.09 ng/mL with sensitivity of 82% and specificity of 86% (area under the curve, 0.87). Conclusions: Fifty percent of patients had negative transcardiac gradient of FSTL1. Reduced transcardiac gradient of FSTL1 might be a novel prognostic predictor in DCM patients with impaired hemodynamics.

DOI： 10.1016/j.jjcc.2021.07.005

Adverse Effect of Circadian Rhythm Disorder on Reparative Angiogenesis in Hind Limb Ischemia. 国際誌

Serum autotaxin level predicts future cardiac events in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy 査読有り

Araki, T; Okumura, T; Mizutani, T; Kimura, Y; Kazama, S; Shibata, N; Oishi, H; Kuwayama, T; Hiraiwa, H; Kondo, T; Morimoto, R; Takefuji, M; Murohara, T

EUROPEAN HEART JOURNAL 42 巻頁： 1730 - 1730 2021年10月

Tsuzuki K, Shimizu Y, Suzuki J, Pu Z, Yamaguchi S, Fujikawa Y, Kato K, Ohashi K, Takefuji M, Bando YK, Ouchi N, Calvert JW, Shibata R, Murohara T

Journal of the American Heart Association 10 巻 ( 16 ) 頁： e020896 2021年8月

記述言語：英語掲載種別：研究論文（学術雑誌）出版者・発行元：Journal of the American Heart Association

BACKGROUND: Circadian rhythm disorders, often seen in modern lifestyles, are a major social health concern. The aim of this study was to examine whether circadian rhythm disorders would influence angiogenesis and blood perfusion recovery in a mouse model of hind limb ischemia. METHODS AND RESULTS: A jet-lag model was established in C57BL/6J mice using a light-controlled isolation box. Control mice were kept at a light/dark 12:12 (12-hour light and 12-hour dark) condition. Concentrations of plasma vascular endothelial growth factor and circulating endothelial progenitor cells in control mice formed a circadian rhythm, which was diminished in the jet-lag model (P<0.05). The jet-lag condition deteriorated tissue capillary formation (P<0.001) and tissue blood perfusion recovery (P<0.01) in hind limb ischemia, which was associated with downregulation of vascular endothelial growth factor expression in local ischemic tissue and in the plasma. Although the expression of clock genes (ie, Clock, Bmal1, and Cry) in local tissues was upregulated after ischemic injury, the expression levels of cryptochrome (Cry) 1 and Cry2 were inhibited by the jet-lag condition. Next, Cry1 and Cry2 double-knockout mice were examined for blood perfusion recoveries and a reparative angiogenesis. Cry1 and Cry2 double-knockout mice revealed suppressed capillary density (P<0.001) and suppressed tissue blood perfusion recovery (P<0.05) in the hind limb ischemia model. Moreover, knockdown of CRY1/2 in human umbilical vein endothelial cells was accompanied by increased expression of WEE1 and decreased expression of HOXC5. This was associated with decreased proliferative capacity, migration ability, and tube formation ability of human umbilical vein endothelial cells, respectively, leading to impairment of angiogenesis. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that circadian rhythm disorder deteriorates reparative ischemia-induced angiogenesis and that maintenance of circadian rhythm plays an important role in angiogenesis.

DOI： 10.1161/JAHA.121.020896