1Medizinische Fakultät Mannheim der Universität Heidelberg Abteilung für kardiovaskuläre Physiologie Mannheim, Deutschland; 2Universitätsklinikum Frankfurt Institut für kardiovaskuläre Regeneration Frankfurt am Main, Deutschland; 3Newcastle University School of Dental Sciences Newcastle, Großbritannien
Previously, we reported that the transcription factor Sox9 serves as master regulator of fibrotic remodeling in endothelial cells (ECs) in preclinical models of heart failure with preserved or reduced ejection fraction. One important adverse effect of Sox9 overexpression in ECs was to reduce vascular and nerve density. In addition, it was recently shown that the neurovascular interface is an important modulator of cardiac impairment in aged hearts. Whether endothelial Sox9 orchestrates cardiac failure during aging, has so far not been investigated.
Objective
Aim of the study was to investigate the impact of endothelial Sox9 on the development of fibrotic cardiac disease in aged mice.
Methods & Results
Cell type-specific RNA sequencing revealed induction of Sox9 in several cardiac cell types during aging in mice (up to 24 months vs. 3 months of age). We validated global cardiac and especially endothelial induction of Sox9 utilizing immunofluorescence. In order to investigate the role of endothelial Sox9 during aging, we specifically inactivated Sox9 in endothelial cells by using Sox9fl/fl and Cdh5-CreERT2 mice injected with Tamoxifen at the age of 2 months (Sox9EC-KO). We monitored the mice up to 24 months of age. While Sox9fl/fl control mice developed diastolic cardiac dysfunction at the age of approximately 18 months, Sox9EC-KO mice were protected as shown by normalized global longitudinal strain and LV end-diastolic pressure. Additionally, aged Sox9EC-KO mice developed less fibrosis and displayed a more physiologic shape of cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, as shown by uniform increase of cross-sectional area and length. Interestingly, while Sox9fl/fl control mice suffered from reduction of both capillary and nerve density in the myocardium, aged Sox9EC-KO mice preserved both throughout the study, as shown by isolectin B4 and tubulin beta 3 staining.
Conclusions
Inactivation of Sox9 in endothelial cells protects from aging-induced cardiac fibrosis and failure while preserving myocardial capillary and nerve density. Hence, Sox9 in ECs might serve as therapeutic target in aging-related heart failure.