Epigenetic regulation of mitochondrial fission and cardiac fibrosis via sFRP3 promoter methylation

作者：S. W. Jiang, Zeyu Zhou, Bin Tu, Kai Song, Li-Chan Lin, Zhiyan Liu, Wei Cao, Jian‐Yuan Zhao, Hui Tao · 发表于：Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences · 年份：2024 · DOI：10.1007/s00018-024-05516-5 · 被引用次数：13 · 研究领域：Cardiac Fibrosis and Remodeling、Peptidase Inhibition and Analysis、Cancer-related gene regulation

In the process of cardiac fibrosis, the balance between the Wnt/β-catenin signalling pathway and Wnt inhibitory factor genes plays an important role. Secreted frizzled-related protein 3 (sFRP3), a Wnt inhibitory factor, has been linked to epigenetic mechanisms. However, the underlying role of epigenetic regulation of sFRP3, which is crucial in fibroblast proliferation and migration, in cardiac fibrosis have not been elucidated. Therefore, we aimed to investigate epigenetic and transcription of sFRP3 in cardiac fibrosis. Using clinical samples and animal models, we investigated the role of sFRP3 promoter methylation in potentially enhancing cardiac fibrosis. We also attempted to characterize the underlying mechanisms using an isoprenaline-induced cardiac fibrosis mouse model and cultured primary cardiac fibroblasts. Hypermethylation of sFRP3 was associated with perpetuation of fibroblast activation and cardiac fibrosis. Additionally, mitochondrial fission, regulated by the Drp1 protein, was found to be significantly altered in fibrotic hearts, contributing to fibroblast proliferation and cardiac fibrosis. Epigenetic modification of sFRP3 promoter methylation also influenced mitochondrial dynamics, linking sFRP3 repression to excessive mitochondrial fission. Moreover, sFRP3 hypermethylation was mediated by DNA methyltransferase 3A (DNMT3A) in cardiac fibrosis and fibroblasts, and DNMT3A knockdown demethylated the sFRP3 promoter, rescued sFRP3 loss, and ameliorated the isoprenal...