| First Author | Nakagawa A | Year | 2016 |
| Journal | Sci Rep | Volume | 6 |
| Pages | 25009 | PubMed ID | 27146149 |
| Mgi Jnum | J:254103 | Mgi Id | MGI:6101889 |
| Doi | 10.1038/srep25009 | Citation | Nakagawa A, et al. (2016) Activation of endothelial beta-catenin signaling induces heart failure. Sci Rep 6:25009 |
| abstractText | Activation of beta-catenin-dependent canonical Wnt signaling in endothelial cells plays a key role in angiogenesis during development and ischemic diseases, however, other roles of Wnt/beta-catenin signaling in endothelial cells remain poorly understood. Here, we report that sustained activation of beta-catenin signaling in endothelial cells causes cardiac dysfunction through suppressing neuregulin-ErbB pathway in the heart. Conditional gain-of-function mutation of beta-catenin, which activates Wnt/beta-catenin signaling in Bmx-positive arterial endothelial cells (Bmx/CA mice) led to progressive cardiac dysfunction and 100% mortality at 40 weeks after tamoxifen treatment. Electron microscopic analysis revealed dilatation of T-tubules and degeneration of mitochondria in cardiomyocytes of Bmx/CA mice, which are similar to the changes observed in mice with decreased neuregulin-ErbB signaling. Endothelial expression of Nrg1 and cardiac ErbB signaling were suppressed in Bmx/CA mice. The cardiac dysfunction of Bmx/CA mice was ameliorated by administration of recombinant neuregulin protein. These results collectively suggest that sustained activation of Wnt/beta-catenin signaling in endothelial cells might be a cause of heart failure through suppressing neuregulin-ErbB signaling, and that the Wnt/beta-catenin/NRG axis in cardiac endothelial cells might become a therapeutic target for heart failure. |
