HuR-dependent expression of Wisp1 is necessary for TGF β-induced cardiac myofibroblast activity

Cardiac fibrosis is regulated by the activation and phenotypic switching of quiescent cardiac fibroblasts to active myofibroblasts, which have extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling and contractile functions which play a central role in cardiac remodeling in response to injury. Here, we show that expression and activity of the RNA binding protein HuR is increased in cardiac fibroblasts upon transformation to an active myofibroblast. Pharmacological inhibition of HuR significantly blunts the TGF β-dependent increase in ECM remodeling genes, total collagen secretion, in vitro scratch closure, and collagen gel contraction in isolated primary cardiac fibroblasts, suggesting a suppression of TGFβ-induced myofibroblast activation upon HuR inhibition.

Source: Journal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology - November 10, 2022 Category: Cytology Authors: Lisa C. Green, Samuel Slone, Sarah R. Anthony, Adrienne R. Guarnieri, Sharon Parkins, Shannon M. Shearer, Michelle L. Nieman, Sudeshna Roy, Jeffrey Aube, Xiaoqing Wu, Liang Xu, Onur Kanisicak, Michael Tranter Source Type: research