Pak2 Regulation of Nrf2 Serves as a Novel Signaling Nexus Linking ER Stress Response and Oxidative Stress in the Heart

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Pablo Binder - , University of Manchester (Author)
  • Binh Nguyen - , University of Manchester (Author)
  • Lucy Collins - , University of Manchester (Author)
  • Min Zi - , University of Manchester (Author)
  • Wei Liu - , University of Manchester (Author)
  • Foteini Christou - , University of Manchester (Author)
  • Xiaojing Luo - , TUD Dresden University of Technology (Author)
  • Susanne S. Hille - , Kiel University, Deutsches Zentrum für Herz-Kreislaufforschung (DZHK) (Author)
  • Norbert Frey - , Heidelberg University  (Author)
  • Elizabeth J. Cartwright - , University of Manchester (Author)
  • Jonathan Chernoff - , Fox Chase Cancer Center (Author)
  • Oliver J. Müller - , Kiel University, Deutsches Zentrum für Herz-Kreislaufforschung (DZHK) (Author)
  • Kaomei Guan - , Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University Medicine (Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital) (Author)
  • Xin Wang - , University of Manchester (Author)

Abstract

Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER) stress and oxidative stress have been highly implicated in the pathogenesis of cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure (HF). However, the mechanisms involved in the interplay between these processes in the heart are not fully understood. The present study sought to determine a causative link between Pak2-dependent UPR activation and oxidative stress via Nrf2 regulation under pathological ER stress. We report that sustained ER stress and Pak2 deletion in cardiomyocytes enhance Nrf2 expression. Conversely, AAV9 mediated Pak2 delivery in the heart leads to a significant decrease in Nrf2 levels. Pak2 overexpression enhances the XBP1-Hrd1 UPR axis and ameliorates tunicamycin induced cardiac apoptosis and dysfunction in mice. We found that Pak2 deletion and altered proteostasis render Nrf2 detrimental by switching from its antioxidant role to renin-angiotensin aldosterone system (RAAS) gene regulator. Mechanistically, Pak2 mediated Hrd1 expression targets Nrf2 for ubiquitination and degradation thus preventing its aberrant activation. Moreover, we find a significant increase in Nrf2 with a decrease in Pak2 in human myocardium of dilated heart disease. Using human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (iPSC-CMs), we find that Pak2 is able to ameliorate Nrf2 induced RAAS activation under ER stress. These findings demonstrate that Pak2 is a novel Nrf2 regulator in the stressed heart. Activation of XBP1-Hrd1 is attributed to prevent ER stress-induced Nrf2 RAAS component upregulation. This mechanism explains the functional dichotomy of Nrf2 in the stressed heart. Thus, Pak2 regulation of Nrf2 homeostasis may present as a potential therapeutic route to alleviate detrimental ER stress and heart failure.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number851419
Number of pages16
JournalFrontiers in cardiovascular medicine
Volume9
Publication statusPublished - 8 Mar 2022
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

WOS 000779575800001

Keywords

Sustainable Development Goals

Keywords

  • ER stress, gene therapy, heart failure, oxidative stress, proteostasis, RAAS and oxidative stress, Heart failure, Oxidative stress, Proteostasis, Gene therapy