Mechanisms of Innate Immune Injury in Arrhythmogenic Cardiomyopathy. Mechanisms of Innate Immune Injury in Arrhythmogenic CardiomyopathyIntroduction: We have reported that iPSC-cardiac myocytes from patients with arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ACM) mount an intense innate immune response under basal conditions in vitro. In addition, blocking innate immune signaling via NFκB prevents disease in a mouse model of ACM (Dsg2mut/mut mice). Here, we defined the relative pathogenic roles of immune signaling in cardiac myocytes vs. infiltrating inflammatory cells in Dsg2mut/mut mice. Methods: To define the role of immune signaling in cardiac myocytes, we bred Dsg2mut/mut mice with mice with cardiac myocyte-specific expression of a dominant-negative form of IκBα (DN-IκBα), which prevents nuclear translocation and, thereby, activation of NFκB signaling only in cardiac myocytes. To define the role of inflammatory cells in ACM, we focused on cells expressing C-C motif chemokine receptor-2 (CCR2+ cells), known to mediate adverse cardiac remodeling and fibrosis. We bred Dsg2mut/mut mice with germline deletion of Ccr2 mice (Ccr2-/- mice). We compared phenotypes in Dsg2mut/mut mice with double-mutant Dsg2mut/mut X DN-IκB and Dsg2mut/mut X Ccr2-/- lines. Results: Dsg2mut/mut mice develop marked myocardial fibrosis, reduced LV ejection fraction (EF) and many PVCs. These disease features were all normalized in Dsg2mut/mut X DN-IκB mice. Hearts of Dsg2mut/mut and Dsg2mut/mut X DN-IκB mice contained equal numbers of CD68+ macrophages, but Dsg2mut/mut hearts had many more CCR2+ cells. Cardiac myocyte expression of Tlr4 which activates NFκB, was increased in Dsg2mut/mut mice but not in Dsg2mut/mut X Ccr2-/- mice. Dsg2mut/mut X Ccr2-/- mice showed greatly reduced myocardial fibrosis and PVCs but LV EF was markedly depressed. This suggested that contractile dysfunction in ACM is due not only to loss of muscle but to immune signaling in viable cardiac myocytes as well. To test this hypothesis, we treated Dsg2mut/mut and Dsg2mut/mut X Ccr2-/- mice with the NFκB inhibitor Bay 11-7082. Before treatment, LV EFs were significantly reduced in both groups. Untreated Dsg2mut/mut mice had ongoing deterioration of LV function, whereas treated Dsg2mut/mut mice showed no further disease progression and actually had some improvement in contractile function. However, LV function in treated Dsg2mut/mut X Ccr2-/- mice was virtually normalized. Conclusions: NFκB signaling in cardiac myocytes drives myocardial injury, LV dysfunction and arrhythmias in Dsg2mut/mut mice. It also mobilizes CCR2+ cells to the heart, where they promote myocardial injury and arrhythmias. CCR2+ cells alter gene expression in cardiac myocytes. LV dysfunction in Dsg2mut/mut mice is caused not only by muscle loss but also by negative inotropic effects of inflammation mediated by NFκB in viable cardiac myocytes. These results have obvious implications for ACM patients and suggest that anti-inflammatory therapy may be beneficial even in patients with established disease. Overall design: snRNA-seq and CITE-seq in WT, Dsg2mut, and Dsg2mutxCcr2-/- mice
Transcriptomic analysis of DSG2-cKO mouse heart tissueOverall design: To investigate the underlying mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of ACM, we performed RNA-seq analysis on heart tissue obtained from both 4 and 16-week-old Dsg2-cKO mice as well as their control littermates.
Dataset related to the article "Ca2+ dysregulation in cardiac stromal cells sustains fibro-adipose remodeling in Arrhythmogenic Cardiomyopathy and can be modulated by flecainide"This record contains raw data related to the article "Ca2+ dysregulation in cardiac stromal cells sustains fibro-adipose remodeling in Arrhythmogenic Cardiomyopathy and can be modulated by flecainide" Abstract Background: Cardiac mesenchymal stromal cells (C-MSC) were recently shown to differentiate into adipocytes and myofibroblasts to promote the aberrant remodeling of cardiac tissue that characterizes arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ACM). A calcium (Ca2+) signaling dysfunction, mainly demonstrated in mouse models, is recognized as a mechanism impacting arrhythmic risk in ACM cardiomyocytes. Whether similar mechanisms influence ACM C-MSC fate is still unknown. Thus, we aim to ascertain whether intracellular Ca2+ oscillations and the Ca2+ toolkit are altered in human C-MSC obtained from ACM patients, and to assess their link with C-MSC-specific ACM phenotypes. Methods and results: ACM C-MSC show enhanced spontaneous Ca2+ oscillations and concomitant increased Ca2+/Calmodulin dependent kinase II (CaMKII) activation compared to control cells. This is manly linked to a constitutive activation of Store-Operated Ca2+ Entry (SOCE), which leads to enhanced Ca2+ release from the endoplasmic reticulum through inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors. By targeting the Ca2+ handling machinery or CaMKII activity, we demonstrated a causative link between Ca2+ oscillations and fibro-adipogenic differentiation of ACM C-MSC. Genetic silencing of the desmosomal gene PKP2 mimics the remodelling of the Ca2+ signalling machinery occurring in ACM C-MSC. The anti-arrhythmic drug flecainide inhibits intracellular Ca2+ oscillations and fibro-adipogenic differentiation by selectively targeting SOCE. Conclusions: Altogether, our results extend the knowledge of Ca2+ dysregulation in ACM to the stromal compartment, as an etiologic mechanism of C-MSC-related ACM phenotypes. A new mode of action of flecainide on a novel mechanistic target is unveiled against the fibro-adipose accumulation in ACM.
RNAseq for non-disease heart RVArrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (AC) is an inherited cardiomyopathy characterized by fibrofatty replacement predominantly involved in right ventricle and clinically by ventricular arrhythmias.In this study, we set out to characterize the cardiac novel long-noncoding RNAs using deep RNA sequencing data from human heart tissues. Particularly, we identified AC specific novel lncRNAs that contribute to AC pathophysiology by comparing the lncRNAs transcripts of nine AC explanted hearts (RV), five non-diseased donor hearts (RV), four non-AC failing hearts (dilated cardiomyopathy, RV). To dissect the roles of novel lncRNAs in ARVC from LV, we also include six non-diseased donor hearts (LV) and six ARVC explanted hearts (LV) in the analysis. In the identified novel AC lncRNAs, a large part of them are derived from enhancer regions and acting as cis- elements to potentially regulate lipogenesis or lipid metabolism related genes. Finally, we validated several of these AC specific novel lncRNAs and their potential targets in independent patient samples. Collectively, we identified high-confidence AC specific novel lncRNAs from human samples and suggest their potential roles as cis- elements in AC pathology. Further study of these novel AC lncRNAs could provide new opportunities for diagnosis and therapeutic intervention. Overall design: RNAseq for non-disease heart RV
Unravelling Role of miRNA-mRNA Interactome in Pathophysiology of Arrhythmogenic Cardiomyopathy [miRNA-seq]Arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy is an inherited entity characterized by irregular cell-cell adhesion, cardiomyocyte death, fibro-fatty replacement of ventricular myocytes, leading to malignant ventricular arrythmias, contractile dysfunction and sudden cardiac death. Pathogenic variants in genes that encode desmosome are the predominant cause of arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy. Moreover, signalling pathways such as Wnt/ß-catenin and transforming growth factor-β have been involved in the disease progression. However, still little is known about the molecular pathophysiological mechanisms that underlie arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy pathogenesis. We used mRNA and small RNA sequencing to analyse the transcriptome of health and arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy autopsied human hearts. Our results showed 697 differentially expressed genes, and eight differentially expressed miRNAs. Functional enrichment revealed mitochondrial respiratory-related pathways, impaired response to oxidative stress, apoptotic signalling pathway, inflammatory response-related and extracellular matrix response pathways. Furthermore, analysis of miRNA-mRNA interactome identified eleven negatively correlated miRNA-target pairs for arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy. Our finding revealed novel arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy-related miRNAs with important regulatory function in disease pathogenesis highlighting their value as potential key targets for therapeutic approaches. To investigate the molecular pathophysiological mechanisms underlying arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy. By employing mRNA and small RNA sequencing, we aimed to analyze the transcriptome of healthy and arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy-affected human hearts, identifying differentially expressed genes and miRNAs. Additionally, we sought to elucidate the functional pathways and miRNA-mRNA interactions involved in the disease, with the goal of discovering novel miRNAs with regulatory functions that could serve as potential therapeutic targets for arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy.
Cardiomyocytes and stromal cells cross-talk influences the pathogenesis of arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy: a multi-level analysis uncovers DLK1-NOTCH pathway role in fibro-adipose remodeling. Cardiomyocytes and stromal cells cross-talk influences the pathogenesis of arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy: a multi-level analysis uncovers DLK1-NOTCH pathway role in fibro-adipose remodelingDifferent cell types individually contribute to set the Arrhythmogenic Cardiomyopathy (ACM) phenotype with either functional abnormalities (cardiomyocytes; CM) or fibro-fatty substitution (cardiac mesenchymal stromal cells; cMSC). The relative contribution of the CM and cMSC derangements to determine disease evolution and electrical instability is still poorly understood. Here we showed that a patient-specific multicellular cardiac system, which models the functional interaction between CM and cMSC, provides insight into the relative contribution of different cell types to ACM phenotypes. Overall design: Cell cultures (CM and cMSC) were lysed in RL lysis buffer (Norgen Biotek corp.). RNA was isolated from cells by using a Total RNA Purification kit (Norgen Biotek corp.). The quantification of the isolated RNA was determined by Qubit™ 4 Fluorometer (Invitrogen), and a quality check was performed. The RNA samples that passed the quality check were then sent to Eurofins Ltd Genomic Service for sequencing.RNA libraries were prepared for transcriptome sequencing using standard Illumina protocols in frame of the INVIEW Transcriptome Discover protocol. For library preparation, mRNA was fragmented, and random hexamer-primed cDNA synthesis was performed. Paired-end read sequencing (2 x 150 bp) was performed on the Illumina HiSeq 4000. Reads were aligned on human genome reference (GRCh38/hg38 version 104 ) by BWA software (v0.7.1) and mapped reads were used to quantify the gene expression, exploiting FeatureCounts (v2.0.0) .
Novel heart specific long non-coding RNAs contribute to pathogenesis of Arrhythmogenic Cardiomyopathy [ARVC patients' heart LV]Arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (AC) is an inherited cardiomyopathy characterized by fibrofatty replacement predominantly involved in right ventricle and clinically by ventricular arrhythmias.In this study, we set out to characterize the cardiac novel long-noncoding RNAs using deep RNA sequencing data from human heart tissues. Particularly, we identified AC specific novel lncRNAs that contribute to AC pathophysiology by comparing the lncRNAs transcripts of nine AC explanted hearts (RV), five non-diseased donor hearts (RV), four non-AC failing hearts (dilated cardiomyopathy, RV). To dissect the roles of novel lncRNAs in ARVC from LV, we also include six non-diseased donor hearts (LV; GSE107125) and six ARVC explanted hearts (LV) in the analysis. In the identified novel AC lncRNAs, a large part of them are derived from enhancer regions and acting as cis- elements to potentially regulate lipogenesis or lipid metabolism related genes. Finally, we validated several of these AC specific novel lncRNAs and their potential targets in independent patient samples. Collectively, we identified high-confidence AC specific novel lncRNAs from human samples and suggest their potential roles as cis- elements in AC pathology. Further study of these novel AC lncRNAs could provide new opportunities for diagnosis and therapeutic intervention. Please note that the GSE107157 records represent the 'five non-diseased donor hearts (RV) and six non-diseased donor hearts (LV)' data. Overall design: RNAseq for ARVC patients' heart LV
Identification of PITX2 as a novel factor in arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy pathogenesis [patient line]In this study, we identified a novel heterozygous variant within DSP (c.3562T>C) in a patient diagnosed with ACM. Using CRISPR/Cas9 we corrected patient-derived human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC) and created a knock-in (KI) hiPSC line with the same mutation. Compared to wildtype cardiomyocytes, we observed a prolonged action potential duration (APD) and reduced expression of desmosomal components, which was paralleled by abnormal levels of essential cardiac ion channels. Strikingly, the transcription factor paired-like homeodomain 2 (PITX2), which acts as a repressor of ion channel-related genes, was induced in these cells. Together, we identified PITX2 as a potential missing link between mutations in DSP and the cardiac conductance abnormalities often seen in these patients. hiPSC-derived cardiomyocyte mRNA profiles for DSP p.Tyr1188His/WT and control cells - Patient line.
Epicardial Differentiation Drives Fibro-fatty Remodeling in Arrhythmogenic Cardiomyopathy [scRNA-seq]We performed single cell RNA sequencing (scRNAseq) on epicardial cells generated from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) of an arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy patient and their PKP2 reverted isogenic control. The goal of this experiment was to analyze the process of epicardial to fibro-fatty celluar differentiation in diseased cells and compare the cellular transcirptomes of diseased and healthy cells. Overall design: scRNAseq of PKP2 mutant and reverted hiPSC-derived epicardial cells at day 70 of differentiation
Single cell RNA transcriptome analysis of Epicardial Derived Cells in the Desmoplakin haplo-insufficient Arrhythmogenic Cardiomyopathy mouse. Single cell RNA transcriptome analysis of Epicardial Derived Cells in the Desmoplakin haplo-insufficient Arrhythmogenic Cardiomyopathy mouseTo delineate the role of the epicardium, the initial site of presentation of the ACM phenotype, the Dsp gene, encoding desmosome protein desmoplakin (DSP) was conditionally deleted in the mouse epicardial cells under the transcriptional regulation of Wilms tumor 1 (Wt1) locus. Single cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-Seq) of ~ 40,000 tagged epicardial-derived cells (EDCs), isolated using the dual reporter R26mT/mG mice, showed an increased number of EDCs expressing unique molecular identifiers of fibroblasts as well as a unique subset of epicardial-derived fibroblasts expressing pro-fibrotic genes in the Wt1-Cre: R26mT/mG: Dsp mice. Analysis of pseudo-bulk RNA-Seq data identified ~ 800 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), which were predominantly involved in epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). The DEGs were the targets of TGFB1 among other trophic/mitotic factors, whose activation was verified by immunohistochemistry and quantification of transcript levels of selected TGBF1 pathway genes. Retro-mapping of the DEGs to the cell clusters, identified by scRNA-Seq, denoted epicardial-derived fibroblasts and to a lesser extent the epithelial cells as the main sources of paracrine factors in the myocardium of Wt1-Cre: R26mT/mG: Dsp mice. Overall design: Integrative analysis of epicardial derived single-cell RNA-seq in the Desmoplakin haplo-insufficient Arrhythmogenic Cardiomyopathy mouse model.
RNA-Sequencing of heart tissue obtained from cardiac specific-Dsg2-/- and wild-type (Dsg2+/+) mice at 2-weeks and 10-weeks of ageWe studied how loss of the desmosome associated protein, desmoglein-2 (Dsg2), in the heart leads to Arrhythmogenic Cardiomyopathy with particular interest in the early stages of disease progression. Mice expressing the cardiac αMHC-Cre promoter were crossed with Dsg2 floxed mice in which exon 4-5 of the Dsg2 gene was flanked by loxP sites, resulting in Cre-mediated excision of Dsg2 in cardiac myocytes. Wild type Dsg2+/+ (Cre-, Dsg2flx/flx) and knockout Dsg2-/- (Cre+, Dsg2flx/flx) mice were generated. RNA-seq was performed on heart tissue obtained from wild-type and Dsg2-/- mice at 2-weeks and 10-weeks of age. RNA-Sequencing of heart tissue obtained from cardiac specific-Dsg2-/- and wild-type (Dsg2+/+) mice at 2-weeks and 10-weeks of age
Desmosomal protein degradation as underlying causes of arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy. Desmosomal protein degradation as underlying causes of arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathyArrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ACM) is an inherited progressive cardiomyopathy. The pathophysiological events are well understood, yet the underlying molecular mechanisms remain undefined. Here we use patient originated hiPSC-derived cardiomyocytes bearing a pathogenic PKP2 mutation (PKP2 c.2013delC/WT), a corresponding knock-in mouse model carrying the equivalent murine mutation (Pkp2 c.1755delA/WT), and human explanted ACM hearts, to identify disease driving mechanisms. Pkp2 c.1755delA/WT mice over time displayed signs of ACM as observed by cardiac dysfunction and pathological remodeling. At a molecular level these mice showed a reduction in desmosomal and adherens junction proteins as well as disarray of the intercalated discs in areas of active fibrotic remodeling. These findings were validated in the mutant hiPSC-derived cardiomyocytes as well as human explanted ACM hearts, indicating both the conservation and relevance of protein degradation in the pathogenesis of the disease. Led by proteomics data, we demonstrated that the ubiquitin-proteasome system was responsible for the observed desmosomal protein degradation. These findings show the importance of appropriate disease modeling and provide means for therapeutic intervention for the prevention of ACM disease progression. Overall design: hiPSC-derived cardiomyocyte mRNA profiles for PKP2 c.2013delC/WT and Reverted cells.
Table_1_Blockade of the Adenosine 2A Receptor Mitigates the Cardiomyopathy Induced by Loss of Plakophilin-2 Expression.XLSBackground: Mutations in plakophilin-2 (PKP2) are the most common cause of familial Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy, a disease characterized by ventricular arrhythmias, sudden death, and progressive fibrofatty cardiomyopathy. The relation between loss of PKP2 expression and structural cardiomyopathy remains under study, though paracrine activation of pro-fibrotic intracellular signaling cascades is a likely event. Previous studies have indicated that ATP release into the intracellular space, and activation of adenosine receptors, can regulate fibrosis in various tissues. However, the role of this mechanism in the heart, and in the specific case of a PKP2-initiated cardiomyopathy, remains unexplored. Objectives: To investigate the role of ATP/adenosine in the progression of a PKP2-associated cardiomyopathy. Methods: HL1 cells were used to study PKP2- and Connexin43 (Cx43)-dependent ATP release. A cardiac-specific, tamoxifen-activated PKP2 knock-out murine model (PKP2cKO) was used to define the effect of adenosine receptor blockade on the progression of a PKP2-dependent cardiomyopathy. Results: HL1 cells silenced for PKP2 showed increased ATP release compared to control. Knockout of Cx43 in the same cells blunted the effect. PKP2cKO transcriptomic data revealed overexpression of genes involved in adenosine-receptor cascades. Istradefylline (an adenosine 2A receptor blocker) tempered the progression of fibrosis and mechanical failure observed in PKP2cKO mice. In contrast, PSB115, a blocker of the 2B adenosine receptor, showed opposite effects. Conclusion: Paracrine adenosine 2A receptor activation contributes to the progression of fibrosis and impaired cardiac function in animals deficient in PKP2. Given the limitations of the animal model, translation to the case of patients with PKP2 deficiency needs to be done with caution.
Modeling incomplete penetrance in arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy by human induced pluripotent stem cell derived cardiomyocytesHuman induced pluripotent stem cell derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) are commonly used to model arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ACM), a heritable cardiac disease characterized by severe ventricular arrhythmias, fibrofatty myocardial replacement and progressive ventricular dysfunction. Although ACM is inherited as an autosomal dominant disease, incomplete penetrance and variable expressivity are extremely common, resulting in different clinical manifestations. Here, we propose hiPSC-CMs as a powerful in vitro model to study incomplete penetrance in ACM. Six hiPSC lines were generated from blood samples of three ACM patients carrying a heterozygous deletion of exon 4 in the PKP2 gene, two asymptomatic (ASY) carriers of the same mutation and one healthy control (CTR), all belonging to the same family. Whole exome sequencing was performed in all family members and hiPSC-CMs were examined by ddPCR, western blot, Wes⢠immunoassay system, patch clamp, immunofluorescence and RNASeq. Our results show molecular and functional differences between ACM and ASY hiPSC_x0002_CMs, including a higher amount of mutated PKP2 mRNA, a lower expression of the connexin-43 protein, a lower overall density of sodium current, a higher intracellular lipid accumulation and sarcomere disorganization in ACM compared to ASY hiPSC_x0002_CMs. Differentially expressed genes were also found, supporting a predisposition for a fatty phenotype in ACM hiPSC-CMs. These data indicate that hiPSC-CMs are a suitable model to study incomplete penetrance in ACM. Overall design: Gene expression profiles of total RNA extracted from human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocites from ACM patients and asymptomatic family members. Cells were cultivated either in basal medium condition or in conditions stimulating adipogenic differentiation. Differential expression analysis was carried out using DESeq2 comparing gene expression data between ACM and asymptomatic samples in basal or adipogenic medium.
Mechanisms of Innate Immune Injury in Arrhythmogenic CardiomyopathyIntroduction: We have reported that iPSC-cardiac myocytes from patients with arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ACM) mount an intense innate immune response under basal conditions in vitro. In addition, blocking innate immune signaling via NFκB prevents disease in a mouse model of ACM (Dsg2mut/mut mice). Here, we defined the relative pathogenic roles of immune signaling in cardiac myocytes vs. infiltrating inflammatory cells in Dsg2mut/mut mice. Methods: To define the role of immune signaling in cardiac myocytes, we bred Dsg2mut/mut mice with mice with cardiac myocyte-specific expression of a dominant-negative form of IκBα (DN-IκBα), which prevents nuclear translocation and, thereby, activation of NFκB signaling only in cardiac myocytes. To define the role of inflammatory cells in ACM, we focused on cells expressing C-C motif chemokine receptor-2 (CCR2+ cells), known to mediate adverse cardiac remodeling and fibrosis. We bred Dsg2mut/mut mice with germline deletion of Ccr2 mice (Ccr2-/- mice). We compared phenotypes in Dsg2mut/mut mice with double-mutant Dsg2mut/mut X DN-IκB and Dsg2mut/mut X Ccr2-/- lines. Results: Dsg2mut/mut mice develop marked myocardial fibrosis, reduced LV ejection fraction (EF) and many PVCs. These disease features were all normalized in Dsg2mut/mut X DN-IκB mice. Hearts of Dsg2mut/mut and Dsg2mut/mut X DN-IκB mice contained equal numbers of CD68+ macrophages, but Dsg2mut/mut hearts had many more CCR2+ cells. Cardiac myocyte expression of Tlr4 which activates NFκB, was increased in Dsg2mut/mut mice but not in Dsg2mut/mut X Ccr2-/- mice. Dsg2mut/mut X Ccr2-/- mice showed greatly reduced myocardial fibrosis and PVCs but LV EF was markedly depressed. This suggested that contractile dysfunction in ACM is due not only to loss of muscle but to immune signaling in viable cardiac myocytes as well. To test this hypothesis, we treated Dsg2mut/mut and Dsg2mut/mut X Ccr2-/- mice with the NFκB inhibitor Bay 11-7082. Before treatment, LV EFs were significantly reduced in both groups. Untreated Dsg2mut/mut mice had ongoing deterioration of LV function, whereas treated Dsg2mut/mut mice showed no further disease progression and actually had some improvement in contractile function. However, LV function in treated Dsg2mut/mut X Ccr2-/- mice was virtually normalized. Conclusions: NFκB signaling in cardiac myocytes drives myocardial injury, LV dysfunction and arrhythmias in Dsg2mut/mut mice. It also mobilizes CCR2+ cells to the heart, where they promote myocardial injury and arrhythmias. CCR2+ cells alter gene expression in cardiac myocytes. LV dysfunction in Dsg2mut/mut mice is caused not only by muscle loss but also by negative inotropic effects of inflammation mediated by NFκB in viable cardiac myocytes. These results have obvious implications for ACM patients and suggest that anti-inflammatory therapy may be beneficial even in patients with established disease. snRNA-seq and CITE-seq in WT, Dsg2mut, and Dsg2mutxCcr2-/- mice
Innate immune activation modulates contractile and electrical dysfunction in engineered heart tissue models fordesmoplakin(DSP)cardiomyopathy.Desmosomes are specialized cell-cell junctions critically important in the heart, where their disruption promotes arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ACM). Individuals carrying truncating variants in the desmosomal gene desmoplakin (DSP) often show a prominent inflammatory component in the absence of known antigenic stimuli, termed “hot phase” arrythmia. To assess the role of innate immune activation in DSP-cardiomyopathy, we generated engineered heart tissues (EHTs) from two patients with heterozygous DSP truncation variants (DSPtv, p.E1597X and p.R1951X). We also generated EHTs with homozygous DSP deletion (DSP-/-) for modeling. DSP-/- EHTs revealed impaired force production and reduced conduction velocity compared to isogenic controls, features consistent with ACM. RNA sequencing and protein characterization demonstrated a dramatic increase in innate immune activation in DSP-/- EHTs. Similarly, patient-derived DSPtv EHTs show enhanced sensitivity to inflammatory stimuli seen as reduced contractility and greater cytokine release. Inhibition of NFκB signaling improved baseline force production and mechanical response to strain in DSPtv EHTs, indicating that anti-inflammatory modulation may improve mechanical function in DSP deficient hearts. Furthermore, genomic correction of p.R1951X using adenine base editing reduced inflammatory biomarkers in cultured EHTs. Taken together, these data identify that DSPtv promote innate immune activation, creating an arrhythmogenic substrate in the concealed phase of ACM. To investigate the gene-specific disease processes of desomsomal proteins in ACM, we performed bulk RNA-seq on neonatal rat ventricular myocytes (NRVMs) treated with siRNA to knockdown expression of Desmoplakin (Dsp), Plakoglobin (Jup) and Plakophilin-2 (Pkp2). We then performed differential expression and gene ontology analysis. We then generated engineered heart tissues (EHTs) from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC) that contained homozygous deletion of DSP (DSP-/-) and performed bulk RNA-Seq alongside isogenic controls (DSP+/+) to identify differential gene expression in an alternate genetic model for severe ACM. We then performed differential expression and gene ontology analysis as well as motif enrochment analysis among differentially expressed genes.