The association between RGS4 and choline in cardiac fibrosis

Myocardial fibrosis is caused by the adverse and powerful remodeling of the heart secondary to the death of cardiomyocytes after myocardial infarction. Regulators of G protein Signaling (RGS) 4 is involved in cardiac diseases through regulating G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs).

Cardiac fibrosis models were established through cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) treatment with transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 in vitro and mice subjected to myocardial infarction in vivo. The mRNA expression of RGS4, collagen I/III and α-SMA detected by qRT-PCR. Protein level of RGS4, collagen I, CTGF and α-SMA detected by Western blot. The ejection fraction (EF%) and fractional shortening (FS%) of mice were measured by echocardiography. Collagen deposition of mice was tested by Masson staining.

The expression of RGS4 increased in CFs treatment with TGF-β1 and in MI mice. The model of cardiac fibrosis detected by qRT-PCR and Western blot. It was demonstrated that inhibition of RGS4 expression improved cardiac fibrosis by transfection with small interfering RNA in CFs and injection with lentivirus shRNA in mice. The protective effect of choline against cardiac fibrosis was counteracted by overexpression of RGS4 in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, choline inhibited the protein level of TGF-β1, p-Smad2/3, p-p38 and p-ERK1/2 in CFs treated with TGF-β1, which were restored by RGS4 overexpression.

This study demonstrated that RGS4 promoted cardiac fibrosis and attenuated the anti-cardiac fibrosis of choline. RGS4 may weaken anti-cardiac fibrosis of choline through TGF-β1/Smad and MAPK signaling pathways. Video Abstract: Video Byte of this article.