Quantitative proteomics reveals PPAR signaling pathway regulates the cardiomyocyte activity of neonatal mouse heart

Xinyu Li1, Nannan Wang1, Minhui Gui1

  • 1State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.

Proteomics
|June 5, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Understanding cardiac development offers new hope for treating cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Activating the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) pathway shows promise for enhancing cardiomyocyte activity and potentially treating CVDs.

Area of Science:

  • Proteomics and Cardiovascular Research
  • Molecular Mechanisms of Cardiac Development

Background:

  • Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a leading cause of mortality globally, with current treatments having limitations.
  • The postnatal development of the mouse heart, particularly a window of high cardiomyocyte activity, presents a potential therapeutic target for CVDs.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To create a proteomic atlas of cardiac development in mice.
  • To identify key molecular changes and pathways involved in cardiac maturation.
  • To explore potential therapeutic strategies for CVDs based on developmental insights.

Main Methods:

  • Quantitative proteomics using iTRAQ was performed on mouse ventricular tissues from embryonic day 18.5 to postnatal week 8.
  • Analysis identified 3422 quantified proteins and characterized proteomic shifts during cardiac development.
  • Bioinformatic analysis focused on dysregulated proteins and enriched signaling pathways.

Main Results:

  • A comprehensive proteomic atlas of mouse cardiac development was established.
  • Key developmental events, including the metabolic shift from glycolysis to beta-oxidation, were characterized by proteomic changes.
  • Significantly dysregulated proteins associated with cardiac regeneration (e.g., Erbb2, Agrin, Hmgb) and the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) signaling pathway were identified.

Conclusions:

  • The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) signaling pathway is significantly enriched during cardiac development.
  • Activation of the PPAR pathway, using bezafibrate, enhanced cardiomyocyte (H9C2) activity by increasing Cpt1α expression.
  • PPAR pathway activation represents a potential therapeutic strategy for treating cardiovascular diseases.