Small interfering RNA therapy against carbohydrate sulfotransferase 15 inhibits cardiac remodeling in rats with dilated cardiomyopathy

Cell Signal. 2015 Jul;27(7):1517-24. doi: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2015.03.004. Epub 2015 Mar 14.

Abstract

Carbohydrate sulfotransferase 15 (CHST15) is a sulfotransferase responsible for biosynthesis of chondroitin sulfate E (CS-E), which plays important roles in numerous biological events such as biosynthesis of proinflammatory cytokines. However, the effects of CHST15 siRNA in rats with chronic heart failure (CHF) after experimental autoimmune myocarditis (EAM) have not yet been investigated. CHF was elicited in Lewis rats by immunization with cardiac myosin, and after immunization, the rats were divided into two groups and treated with either CHST15 siRNA (2μg/week) or vehicle. Age matched normal rats without immunizations were also included in this study. After 7weeks of treatment, we investigated the effects of CHST15 siRNA on cardiac function, proinflammatory cytokines, and cardiac remodeling in EAM rats. Myocardial functional parameters measured by hemodynamic and echocardiographic studies were significantly improved by CHST15 siRNA treatment in rats with CHF compared with that of vehicle-treated CHF rats. CHST15 siRNA significantly reduced cardiac fibrosis, and hypertrophy and its marker molecules (left ventricular (LV) mRNA expressions of transforming growth factor beta1, collagens I and III, and atrial natriuretic peptide) compared with vehicle-treated CHF rats. CHF-induced increased myocardial mRNA expressions of proinflammatory cytokines [interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β], monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, and matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-2 and -9), and CHST15 were also suppressed by the treatment with CHST15 siRNA. Western blotting study has confirmed the results obtained from mRNA analysis as CHST15 siRNA treated rats expressed reduced levels of inflammatory and cardiac remodeling marker proteins. Our results demonstrate for the first time, that CHST15 siRNA treatment significantly improved LV function and ameliorated the progression of cardiac remodeling in rats with CHF after EAM.

Keywords: CHST15 siRNA; Cardiac remodeling; Chronic heart failure; Experimental autoimmune myocarditis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Atrial Natriuretic Factor / genetics
  • Atrial Natriuretic Factor / metabolism
  • Carbohydrate Sulfotransferases
  • Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / mortality
  • Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / pathology
  • Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / therapy*
  • Collagen Type I / genetics
  • Collagen Type I / metabolism
  • Collagen Type III / genetics
  • Collagen Type III / metabolism
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Echocardiography
  • Hemodynamics
  • Male
  • Mast Cells / cytology
  • Mast Cells / metabolism
  • Matrix Metalloproteinases / metabolism
  • Myocarditis
  • Myocardium / metabolism
  • Myocardium / pathology
  • RNA Interference
  • RNA, Small Interfering / metabolism
  • RNA, Small Interfering / therapeutic use*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Inbred Lew
  • Sulfotransferases / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Sulfotransferases / genetics
  • Sulfotransferases / metabolism*
  • Survival Rate
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / genetics
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / metabolism

Substances

  • Collagen Type I
  • Collagen Type III
  • Cytokines
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta1
  • Atrial Natriuretic Factor
  • Sulfotransferases
  • Matrix Metalloproteinases