TLR4 Activation Promotes the Progression of Experimental Autoimmune Myocarditis to Dilated Cardiomyopathy by Inducing Mitochondrial Dynamic Imbalance

Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2018 Jun 26:2018:3181278. doi: 10.1155/2018/3181278. eCollection 2018.

Abstract

Mitochondrial dynamic imbalance associates with several cardiovascular diseases. However, the role of mitochondrial dynamics in TLR4 activation-mediated dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) progress remains unknown. A model of experimental autoimmune myocarditis (EAM) was established in BALB/c mice on which TLR4 activation by LPS-EB or TLR4 inhibition by LPS-RS was performed to induce chronic inflammation for 5 weeks. TLR4 activation promoted the transition of EAM to DCM as demonstrated by increased cardiomyocyte apoptosis, myocardial fibrosis, ventricular dilatation, and declined heart function. TLR4 inhibition mitigated the above DCM changes. Transmission electron microscope study showed that mitochondria became fragmented, also with damaged crista in ultrastructure in EAM mice. TLR4 activation aggravated the above mitochondrial aberration, and TLR4 inhibition alleviated it. The mitochondrial dynamic imbalance and damage in DCM development were mainly associated with OPA1 downregulation, which may be caused by elevated TNF-α level and ROS stress after TLR4 activation. Furthermore, OMA1/YME1L abnormal degradation was involved in the OPA1 dysfunction, and intervening OMA1/YME1L in H9C2 significantly alleviated mitochondrial fission, ultrastructure damage, and cell apoptosis induced by TNF-α and ROS. These data indicate that TLR4 activation resulted in OPA1 dysfunction, promoting mitochondrial dynamic imbalance and damage, which may involve in the progress of EAM to DCM.

MeSH terms

  • Adenosine Triphosphate / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / genetics
  • Apoptosis / physiology
  • Autoimmune Diseases / genetics
  • Autoimmune Diseases / metabolism*
  • Blotting, Western
  • Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / genetics
  • Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / metabolism*
  • Echocardiography
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Lipid Peroxidation / physiology
  • Male
  • Metalloproteases
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
  • Mitochondria / metabolism
  • Mitochondrial Dynamics / genetics
  • Mitochondrial Dynamics / physiology
  • Mitochondrial Proteins
  • Myocardium / metabolism
  • Myocytes, Cardiac / metabolism
  • Nervous System Autoimmune Disease, Experimental
  • Rats
  • Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Toll-Like Receptor 4 / genetics
  • Toll-Like Receptor 4 / metabolism*

Substances

  • Mitochondrial Proteins
  • Tlr4 protein, mouse
  • Toll-Like Receptor 4
  • Adenosine Triphosphate
  • Metalloproteases
  • OMA1 protein, mouse