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Periostin and periostin-like factor in the human heart: possible therapeutic targets
Judith Litvin1, Andrew Blagg, Anbin Mu
1Cardiovascular Research Group, Temple University Medical School, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA. judith.litvin@temple.edu
Insights
Periostin-like factor (PLF) is crucial for adult cardiac myocyte growth after mechanical overload, suggesting its potential as a therapeutic target for heart disease. Differences between periostin and PLF are functionally significant.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Biology
- Molecular Cardiology
- Regenerative Medicine
Background:
- Human cardiomyopathies remain difficult to diagnose and treat despite identified signaling pathways.
- Periostin and periostin-like factor (PLF) are proteins involved in heart development and disease.
- These proteins show promise as potential therapeutic agents for heart conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of periostin-like factor (PLF) in adult cardiac myocytes.
- To assess PLF's function in response to mechanical stress in the heart.
- To explore PLF as a potential therapeutic target for heart disease.
Main Methods:
- Gene expression analysis (Affymetrix GeneChip, northern blot) to determine periostin and PLF levels in humans.
- Western blot analysis to quantify PLF in a rat model of myocardial loading/unloading.
- In vivo and in vitro studies using adenovirus to overexpress PLF, assessing cardiac myocyte size and protein synthesis.
Main Results:
- Human periostin and PLF expression patterns were analyzed.
- PLF levels were measured in a rat model simulating heart stress.
- Overexpression of PLF influenced cardiac myocyte growth and protein synthesis.
Conclusions:
- Periostin-like factor (PLF) is critical for adult cardiac myocyte hypertrophy following mechanical overload.
- PLF emerges as a significant therapeutic target for treating heart disease.
- Functional distinctions exist between periostin and PLF, warranting further investigation.
Background:
Although numerous signaling pathways have been identified in adult heart disease, our ability to diagnose and treat human cardiomyopathies remains limited. A family of proteins, which includes periostin and periostin-like factor (PLF), has been identified during heart development and disease. Based on recent findings, these proteins are candidate therapeutic agents for heart disease.
Methods:
Affymetrix GeneChip Expression Analysis as well as northern and western blot analyses were used to determine periostin and PLF expression in humans. Periostin-like factor levels were determined, by western blot analysis, in the rat animal model used to study myocardial loading and unloading. In vivo and in vitro effects of overexpressing PLF by infection with adenovirus were assessed by calculating cardiac myocyte cross-sectional area and determining the level of protein synthesis, respectively.
Results And Conclusions:
Our findings on PLF suggest that this periostin isoform plays a crucial role in adult cardiac myocyte growth following mechanical overload, thus, implicating its potential as a therapeutic target. In addition, we believe that the differences between the periostin and PLF are of functional significance.
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