In the heart, as in cancer, metabolism provides energy and building blocks for the cell. James Watson (of The Double Helix fame) recently pronounced that in cancer, targeting metabolism may be a more promising approach to treatment than targeting transforming genes. At a time when cellular regeneration receives much attention, the intracellular dynamics of metabolism must be considered as well. In earlier work supported by this grant, we identified two metabolic signals serving as regulators of protein turnover in the heart: a low [ATP] / [AMP] ratio as regulator for protein degradation, and glucose 6-phosphate as regulator of the mTOR growth signaling pathway. We learned that in the heart, like in cancer cells, a phenomenon known as the Warburg Effect drives metabolic rearrangements which are linked to enable cell growth. Perhaps even more importantly, we learned that the oncometabolite D-2-hydroxyglutarate impairs cardiac function by inhibiting a Krebs cycle enzyme. Our overall objective is now to solidify the concept of a link between cancer cell metabolism, and cardiac cell metabolism, cardiac structure, and cardiac function independently from any chemotherapeutic agents or pharmacological interventions.
Specific Aim 1 will define the role of oncometabolic signals as regulators of cardiac remodeling.
Specific Aim 2 will define the role of reductive carboxylation as a mediator for metabolic structural and functional remodeling of the heart using the oncometabolite D-2-hydroxyglutarate as a model.
Specific Aim 3 will extend the findings to address specific structural, proteomic and epigenetic mechanisms of remodeling in the metabolically deregulated state of D-2- hydroxyglutarate. In summary, as we continue our work on the intracellular self-renewal of the cardiomyocyte, we expect to identify new regulatory proteins and enzymes that drive adaptation to metabolic stress in the heart. Our long-term goal is to develop a platform for new metabolic strategies to support the failing human heart by integrating specific, dynamic aspects of cancer cell metabolism with heart metabolism. In short, metabolic systems do not exist in isolation and their understanding may be exploited for the treatment of heart failure.

Public Health Relevance

The defining feature of every cell is the dynamic state of its constituents. Our ongoing work on intracellular self- renewal of the heart has exposed two metabolic pathways, which are prominent in cancer cells and which weaken the heart in the absence of any chemotherapeutic agents. Based on shared features of metabolism we are now proposing to exploit dynamics of metabolic pathways to improve both structure and function of the failing heart.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
2R01HL061483-15
Application #
9448457
Study Section
Cardiac Contractility, Hypertrophy, and Failure Study Section (CCHF)
Program Officer
Adhikari, Bishow B
Project Start
1999-01-01
Project End
2021-11-30
Budget Start
2017-12-08
Budget End
2018-11-30
Support Year
15
Fiscal Year
2018
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Texas Health Science Center Houston
Department
Internal Medicine/Medicine
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
800771594
City
Houston
State
TX
Country
United States
Zip Code
77030
Stoll, Barbara J; Taegtmeyer, Heinrich (2018) Challenges for Today's Pediatric Physician-Scientists. JAMA Pediatr 172:220-221
Eblimit, Zeena; Thevananther, Sundararajah; Karpen, Saul J et al. (2018) TGR5 activation induces cytoprotective changes in the heart and improves myocardial adaptability to physiologic, inotropic, and pressure-induced stress in mice. Cardiovasc Ther 36:e12462
Nam, Deok Hwa; Kim, Eunah; Benham, Ashley et al. (2018) Transient activation of AMPK preceding left ventricular pressure overload reduces adverse remodeling and preserves left ventricular function. FASEB J :fj201800602R
Taegtmeyer, Heinrich; Karlstaedt, Anja (2018) Letter by Taegtmeyer and Karlstaedt Regarding Article, ""Lower Risk of Heart Failure and Death in Patients Initiated on Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter-2 Inhibitors Versus Other Glucose-Lowering Drugs: The CVD-REAL Study (Comparative Effectiveness of Cardiov Circulation 137:986-987
Maack, Christoph; Lehrke, Michael; Backs, Johannes et al. (2018) Heart failure and diabetes: metabolic alterations and therapeutic interventions: a state-of-the-art review from the Translational Research Committee of the Heart Failure Association-European Society of Cardiology. Eur Heart J 39:4243-4254
Chen, Guobao; Bracamonte-Baran, William; Diny, Nicola L et al. (2018) Sca-1+ cardiac fibroblasts promote development of heart failure. Eur J Immunol 48:1522-1538
Brewer, Rachel A; Collins, Helen E; Berry, Ryan D et al. (2018) Temporal partitioning of adaptive responses of the murine heart to fasting. Life Sci 197:30-39
Karlstaedt, Anja; Schiffer, Walter; Taegtmeyer, Heinrich (2018) Actionable Metabolic Pathways in Heart Failure and Cancer-Lessons From Cancer Cell Metabolism. Front Cardiovasc Med 5:71
Garcia, M Iveth; Karlstaedt, Anja; Chen, Jessica J et al. (2017) Functionally redundant control of cardiac hypertrophic signaling by inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors. J Mol Cell Cardiol 112:95-103
Vitrac, Heidi; MacLean, David M; Karlstaedt, Anja et al. (2017) Dynamic Lipid-dependent Modulation of Protein Topology by Post-translational Phosphorylation. J Biol Chem 292:1613-1624

Showing the most recent 10 out of 103 publications