TSH upregulates CYP4B1 through the PI3K/AKT/CREB pathway to promote cardiac hypertrophy

Subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) is closely associated with heart failure and cardiac hypertrophy, yet the underlying mechanism remains unclear.

Cardiomyocytes treated with thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) were used as an in vitro model. Cardiac-specific TSHR knockout mice (CKO) were treated with isoproterenol (ISO) to induce cardiac hypertrophy in vivo. Serum FT4, TSH levels, heart weight, body weight and tibial length of mice were evaluated. Heart function was analyzed by M-mode cardiac ultrasonography. The pathological changes in cardiac tissues were detected by immunohistochemistry, hematoxylin-eosin and WGA staining. mRNA levels of ANP, BNP, α-MHC and β-MHC were evaluated by RT-PCR. Western blot was used to detect pathway related proteins. Besides, the transcriptome sequencing analysis and dual-luciferase reporter assays were used to verify the relevant molecular mechanisms.

TSH significantly promotes cardiomyocyte hypertrophy in cardiomyocytes. Meanwhile, cardiac-specific TSHR knockout significantly reduced ISO-induced cardiac hypertrophy. This was demonstrated by reductions in cell sizes, decreased HW/BW and HW/TL ratios, along with improved expression of hypertrophic genes. Further transcriptome sequencing results showed that TSH can significantly promote the expression of CYP4B1 in vitro. And the knockdown of CYP4B1 repressed TSH-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. Further mechanistic studies revealed that TSH regulated the expression of CYP4B1 hypertrophy through the PI3K/AKT/CREB signaling pathway. Subsequently, the dual-luciferase assays demonstrated that CREB promotes the transcription of CYP4B1 by binding to its promoter region.

Overall, our findings highlight the direct impact of TSH/TSHR on cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and proposed CYP4B1 as a promising target for mitigating cardiac hypertrophy in SCH patients.