John Fassett - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by John Fassett

PLOS ONE, Sep 26, 2013

Aberrant cardiomyocyte microtubule growth is a feature of pressure overload induced cardiac hyper... more Aberrant cardiomyocyte microtubule growth is a feature of pressure overload induced cardiac hypertrophy believed to contribute to left ventricular (LV) dysfunction. Microtubule Actin Cross-linking Factor 1 (MACF1/Acf7) is a 600 kd spectraplakin that stabilizes and guides microtubule growth along actin filaments. MACF1 is expressed in the heart, but its impact on cardiac microtubules, and how this influences cardiac structure, function, and adaptation to hemodynamic overload is unknown. Here we used inducible cardiac-specific MACF1 knockout mice (MACF1 KO) to determine the impact of MACF1 on cardiac microtubules and adaptation to pressure overload (transverse aortic constriction (TAC).In adult mouse hearts, MACF1 expression was low under basal conditions, but increased significantly in response to TAC. While MACF1 KO had no observable effect on heart size or function under basal conditions, MACF1 KO exacerbated TAC induced LV hypertrophy, LV dilation and contractile dysfunction. Interestingly, subcellular fractionation of ventricular lysates revealed that MACF1 KO altered microtubule distribution in response to TAC, so that more tubulin was associated with the cell membrane fraction. Moreover, TAC induced microtubule redistribution into this cell membrane fraction in both WT and MACF1 KO mice correlated strikingly with the level of contractile dysfunction (r 2 = 0.786, p,.001). MACF1 disruption also resulted in reduction of membrane caveolin 3 levels, and increased levels of membrane PKCa and b1 integrin after TAC, suggesting MACF1 function is important for spatial regulation of several physiologically relevant signaling proteins during hypertrophy. Together, these data identify for the first time, a role for MACF1 in cardiomyocyte microtubule distribution and in adaptation to hemodynamic overload.

European Journal of Pharmacology, May 1, 2022

Molecular Pharmacology, 2018

According to current views, oxidation of aldehyde dehydrogenase-2 (ALDH2) during glyceryltrinitra... more According to current views, oxidation of aldehyde dehydrogenase-2 (ALDH2) during glyceryltrinitrate (GTN) biotransformation is essentially involved in vascular nitrate tolerance and explains the dependence of this reaction on added thiols. Using a novel fluorescent intracellular nitric oxide (NO) probe expressed in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), we observed ALDH2-catalyzed formation of NO from GTN in the presence of exogenously added dithiothreitol (DTT), whereas only a short burst of NO, corresponding to a single turnover of ALDH2, occurred in the absence of DTT. This short burst of NO associated with oxidation of the reactive C302 residue in the active site was followed by formation of low-nanomolar NO, even without added DTT, indicating slow recovery of ALDH2 activity by an endogenous reductant. In addition to the thiol-reversible oxidation of ALDH2, thiol-refractive inactivation was observed, particularly under high-turnover conditions. Organ bath experiments with rat aortas showed that relaxation by GTN lasted longer than that caused by the NO donor diethylamine/NONOate, in line with the long-lasting nanomolar NO generation from GTN observed in VSMCs. Our results suggest that an endogenous reductant with low efficiency allows sustained generation of GTN-derived NO in the lownanomolar range that is sufficient for vascular relaxation. On a longer time scale, mechanism-based, thiol-refractive irreversible inactivation of ALDH2, and possibly depletion of the endogenous reductant, will render blood vessels tolerant to GTN. Accordingly, full reactivation of oxidized ALDH2 may not occur in vivo and may not be necessary to explain GTN-induced vasodilation. This work was supported by the Fonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung in Austria [Grant P24946].

Basic research in cardiology, May 1, 2017

Inflammatory responses play an important role in the development of left ventricular (LV) hypertr... more Inflammatory responses play an important role in the development of left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy and dysfunction. Recent studies demonstrated that increased T-cell infiltration and T-cell activation contribute to LV hypertrophy and dysfunction. Dendritic cells (DCs) are professional antigen-presenting cells that orchestrate immune responses, especially by modulating T-cell function. In this study, we investigated the role of bone marrow-derived CD11c(+) DCs in transverse aortic constriction (TAC)-induced LV fibrosis and hypertrophy in mice. We observed that TAC increased the number of CD11c(+) cells and the percentage of CD11c(+) MHCII(+) (major histocompatibility complex class II molecule positive) DCs in the LV, spleen and peripheral blood in mice. Using bone marrow chimeras and an inducible CD11c(+) DC ablation model, we found that depletion of bone marrow-derived CD11c(+) DCs significantly attenuated LV fibrosis and hypertrophy in mice exposed to 24 weeks of moderate TAC. C...

Current Topics in Developmental Biology, 2005

Cell behavior is strongly influenced by the extracellular matrix (ECM) to which cells adhere. Bot... more Cell behavior is strongly influenced by the extracellular matrix (ECM) to which cells adhere. Both chemical determinants within ECM molecules and mechanical properties of the ECM network regulate cellular response, including proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. Type I collagen is the most abundant ECM protein in the body with a complex structure that can be altered in vivo by proteolysis, cross-linking, and other processes. Because of collagen&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;s complex and dynamic nature, it is important to define the changes in cell response to different collagen structures and its underlying mechanisms. This chapter reviews current knowledge of potential mechanisms by which type I collagen affects cell behavior, and it presents data that elucidate specific intracellular signaling pathways by which changes in type I collagen structure differentially regulate hepatocyte cell cycle progression and differentiation. A network of polymerized fibrillar type I collagen (collagen gel) induces a highly differentiated but growth-arrested phenotype in primary hepatocytes, whereas a film of monomeric collagen adsorbed to a rigid dish promotes cell cycle progression and dedifferentiation. Studies presented here demonstrate that protein kinase A (PKA) activity is significantly elevated in hepatocytes on type I collagen gel relative to collagen film, and inhibition of this elevated PKA activity can promote hepatocyte cell cycle progression on collagen gel. Additional studies are presented that examine changes in hepatocyte cell cycle progression and differentiation in response to increased rigidity of polymerized collagen gel by fiber cross-linking. Potential mechanisms underlying these cellular responses and their implications are discussed.

Circulation, Oct 16, 2007

<jats:p> Extracellular SOD ( <jats:bold>SOD3</jats:bold> ) contributes only a s... more <jats:p> Extracellular SOD ( <jats:bold>SOD3</jats:bold> ) contributes only a small fraction to total SOD activity in the normal heart, but is strategically located to scavenge free radicals in the extracellular compartment. SOD3 expression is decreased in the failing heart, but whether SOD3 can abrogate oxidative stress or modify left ventricular (LV) remodeling following myocardial infarction (MI) is unclear. To examine this question, we studied LV remodeling in SOD3 KO mice and wild type mice following MI. Under unstressed conditions, SOD3 KO had no effect on myocardial total SOD activity, SOD1 or SOD2 protein content, or myocardial nitrotyrosine or superoxide anion production, and caused no change in LV ejection fraction. However, 4 weeks or 8 weeks after MI, SOD3 KO mice developed more LV hypertrophy (8 weeks after MI, ventricular mass increased 1.64-fold in KO mice as compared to 1.35-fold in wild type mice, p<0.01) and had a greater reduction of LV ejection fraction (8 weeks after MI, LV ejection fraction was 35±2.4% in wild type mice as compared to 30±2.0% in KO mice, p<0.01). As compared with wild type mice, SOD3 KO mice had significantly greater increases of myocardial nitrotyrosine and superoxide anion production, a significantly greater decrease of ANP in the peri-infarct zone, and a significant more decrease of SERCA2a in both the peri-infarct and remote zones. In addition, MI caused greater activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways in SOD3 KO mice, as demonstrated by significantly greater increases of p-p38 <jats:sup>Thr180/</jats:sup> <jats:sub>Tyr182</jats:sub> , p-Erk <jats:sup>Thr202/Tyr204</jats:sup> and p-JNK <jats:sup>Thr183/Tyr185</jats:sup> in SOD3 KO mice 8 weeks after MI. The finding that SOD3 KO had no effect on myocardial total SOD activity, but significantly exacerbated MI induced LV remodeling implies that the specific extracellular location of SOD3 is more important than its contribution to overall SOD activity in protecting the heart against contractile dysfunction following myocardial infarct. </jats:p>

This manuscnpt has been reproduced from the microfilm master. UMI films the text directly from th... more This manuscnpt has been reproduced from the microfilm master. UMI films the text directly from the original or copy submitted. Thus, some thesis and dissertation copies are in typewriter tace, while others may be from any type of computer printer. The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. Broken or indistinct print, colored or poor quality illustrations and photographs, print bleedthrough, substandard margins, and improper alignment can adversely affiect reproduction. In the unlikely event that the author dkJ not send UMI a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if unauthorized copyright material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletk)n. Oversize materials (e.g., maps, drawings, charts) are reproduced by sectioning the original, beginning at the upper left-hand comer and continuing from left to right in equal sections with small overiaps. Photographs included in the original manuscript have been reproduced xerographically in this copy. Higher quality 6' x 9' black and wtiite photographic prints are available for any photographs or illustrations appearing in this copy for an additional charge. Contact UMI directly to order.

The Journal of biological chemistry, Jan 11, 2016

Aldehyde dehydrogenase-2 (ALDH2) catalyzes vascular bioactivation of the antianginal drug nitrogl... more Aldehyde dehydrogenase-2 (ALDH2) catalyzes vascular bioactivation of the antianginal drug nitroglycerin (GTN), resulting in activation of soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) and cGMP-mediated vasodilation. We have previously shown that a minor reaction of ALDH2-catalyzed GTN bioconversion, accounting for about 5% of the main clearance-based turnover yielding inorganic nitrite, results in direct NO formation and concluded that this minor pathway could provide the link between vascular GTN metabolism and activation of sGC. However, lack of detectable NO at therapeutically relevant GTN concentrations (≤1 μm) in vascular tissue called into question the biological significance of NO formation by purified ALDH2. We addressed this issue and used a novel, highly sensitive genetically encoded fluorescent NO probe (geNOp) to visualize intracellular NO formation at low GTN concentrations (≤1 μm) in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) expressing an ALDH2 mutant that reduces GTN to NO but l...

Nitric oxide : biology and chemistry / official journal of the Nitric Oxide Society, Jan 22, 2016

Scavenging of nitric oxide (NO) often interferes with studies on NO signaling in cell-free prepar... more Scavenging of nitric oxide (NO) often interferes with studies on NO signaling in cell-free preparations. We observed that formation of cGMP by NO-stimulated purified soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) was virtually abolished in the presence of cytosolic preparations of porcine coronary arteries, with the scavenging activity localized in the tunica media (smooth muscle layer). Electrochemical measurement of NO release from a donor compound and light absorbance spectroscopy showed that cytosolic preparations contained a reduced heme protein that scavenged NO. This protein, which reacted with anti-human hemoglobin antibodies, was efficiently removed from the preparations by haptoglobin affinity chromatography. The cleared cytosols showed only minor scavenging of NO according to electrochemical measurements and did not decrease cGMP formation by NO-stimulated sGC. In contrast, the column flow-through caused a nearly 2-fold increase of maximal sGC activity (from 33.1 ± 1.6 to 54.9 ± 2.2 μmo...

Hypertension, 2014

Studies have reported that development of congestive heart failure is associated with increased e... more Studies have reported that development of congestive heart failure is associated with increased endoplasmic reticulum stress. Double stranded RNA-activated protein kinase R-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase (PERK) is a major transducer of the endoplasmic reticulum stress response and directly phosphorylates eukaryotic initiation factor 2α, resulting in translational attenuation. However, the physiological effect of PERK on congestive heart failure development is unknown. To study the effect of PERK on ventricular structure and function, we generated inducible cardiac-specific PERK knockout mice. Under unstressed conditions, cardiac PERK knockout had no effect on left ventricular mass, or its ratio to body weight, cardiomyocyte size, fibrosis, or left ventricular function. However, in response to chronic transverse aortic constriction, PERK knockout mice exhibited decreased ejection fraction, increased left ventricular fibrosis, enhanced cardiomyocyte apoptosis, and exacerbated lung ...

Molecular Biology of the Cell, 2005

Adhesion to type 1 collagen elicits different responses dependent on whether the collagen is in f... more Adhesion to type 1 collagen elicits different responses dependent on whether the collagen is in fibrillar (gel) or monomeric form (film). Hepatocytes adherent to collagen film spread and proliferate, whereas those adherent to collagen gel remain rounded and growth arrested. To explore the role of potential intracellular inhibitory signals responsible for collagen gel-mediated growth arrest, cAMP-dependent protein kinase A (PKA) was examined in hepatocytes adherent to collagen film or gel. PKA activity was higher in hepatocytes on collagen gel than on film during G1 of the hepatocyte cell cycle. Inhibition of PKA using H89 increased cell spreading on collagen gel in an EGF-dependent manner, whereas activation of PKA using 8-Br-cAMP decreased cell spreading on collagen film. PKA inhibition also restored ERK activation, cyclin D1 expression and G1-S progression on collagen gel, but had no effect on cells adherent to collagen film. Analysis of EGF receptor phosphorylation revealed that ...

Hypertension, 2011

The normal expression of myocardial mitochondrial enzymes is essential to maintain the cardiac en... more The normal expression of myocardial mitochondrial enzymes is essential to maintain the cardiac energy reserve and facilitate responses to stress, but the molecular mechanisms to maintain myocardial mitochondrial enzyme expression have been elusive. Here we report that congestive heart failure is associated with a significant decrease of myocardial estrogen-related receptor-α (ERRα), but not peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor - γ coactivator 1α, in human heart failure samples. In addition, chronic pressure overload in mice caused a decrease of ERRα expression that was significantly correlated to the degree of left ventricular dysfunction, pulmonary congestion, and decreases of a group of myocardial energy metabolism–related genes. We found that the metabolic sensor AMP activated protein kinase (AMPK) regulates ERRα expression in vivo and in vitro. AMPKα2 knockout decreased myocardial ERRα (both mRNA and protein) and its downstream targets under basal conditions, with no chang...

Hepatology, 2002

Substantial evidence suggests that cyclin D1 plays a pivotal role in the control of the hepatocyt... more Substantial evidence suggests that cyclin D1 plays a pivotal role in the control of the hepatocyte cell cycle in response to mitogenic stimuli, whereas the closely related protein cyclin D3 has not been extensively evaluated. In the current study, we examined the regulation of cyclins D1 and D3 during hepatocyte proliferation in vivo after 70% partial hepatectomy (PH) and in culture. In contrast to cyclin D1, which was nearly undetectable in quiescent liver and substantially up-regulated after PH, cyclin D3 was constitutively expressed and induced only modestly. In the regenerating liver, the concentration of cyclin D3 was only about 10% of that of cyclin D1. Cyclin D1 formed complexes primarily with cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (cdk4), which were markedly activated in the regenerating liver and readily sequestered the cell cycle inhibitory proteins, p21 and p27. Cyclin D3 bound to both cdk4 and cdk6. Cyclin D3/cdk6 activity was readily detectable in quiescent liver and changed little after PH, and this complex appeared to play a minor role in sequestering p21 and p27. In cultured hepatocytes, epidermal growth factor or insulin had little effect, but the combination of these agents substantially induced cyclin D1 and cell cycle progression. Inhibition of Mek1 or phosphoinositide 3-kinase markedly inhibited cyclin D1 expression and replication. In contrast, cyclin D3 was expressed in the absence of mitogens and was only modestly affected by these manipulations. In addition, growth-inhibitory extracellular matrix conditions inhibited cyclin D1 but not cyclin D3 expression. In conclusion, these results support the concept that cyclin D1 is critically regulated by extracellular stimuli that control proliferation, whereas cyclin D3 is regulated through different pathways and plays a distinct role in the liver.

Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2013

Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) is an endogenous nitric oxide synthase inhibitor that blocks n... more Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) is an endogenous nitric oxide synthase inhibitor that blocks nitric oxide production, while congestive heart failure is associated with increased plasma and tissue ADMA content. Increased plasma ADMA is a strong and independent predictor of all-cause mortality in the community and the strongest predictor of mortality in patients after myocardial infarction. Recent studies demonstrated that dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase-1 (DDAH1) is the critical enzyme for ADMA degradation and thereby plays an important role in maintaining cardiovascular nitric oxide bioavailability. Interestingly, activation of the farnesoid X receptor (FXR) through the bile acid ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) or synthetic FXR agonists, such as GW4064, can increase DDAH1 expression. Thus, modulating DDAH1 activity through FXR receptor agonists such as UDCA could be a therapeutic target for treating reduced nitric oxide bioavailability in congestive heart failure and other ca...

Endocrinology, 2000

Mitogen-regulated proteins (also known as proliferin; mrp/plf) are nonclassical members of the PR... more Mitogen-regulated proteins (also known as proliferin; mrp/plf) are nonclassical members of the PRL/GH family. They are expressed at high levels during midgestation when they are thought to induce angiogenesis and uterine growth. There are between four and six mrp/plf genes, and three different complementary DNAs have been cloned. Here we identify a fourth mrp/plf gene (mrp4) that we have cloned and characterized. MRP4 is 91% identical in amino acid sequence with the other MRP/PLF proteins but is missing two glycosylation sites that are present in the other forms. Consistent with the loss of two of three glycosylation sites, the expressed form of MRP4 has a lower apparent molecular weight compared with other MRP/ PLFs. In vivo, mrp4 is expressed in the placenta and the adult skin. Expression of mrp4 messenger RNA peaks in the placenta on day 12. In the skin, mrp4 expression is specific to the ears and tails of mice. Our results suggest that, as well as having growth and angiogenic effects during pregnancy, the MRP/PLFs may have functions in nonreproductive tissues. Unique among the members of the mrp/plf family for its expression in the hair follicles of the tail and ear, MRP4 is expected to have a singular role in the growth and development of these follicles.

Endocrinology, 1999

The aim of this investigation was to examine signaling between the placenta and uterus during pre... more The aim of this investigation was to examine signaling between the placenta and uterus during pregnancy. To do this, we determined the tissue messenger RNA and protein levels of members of a glycopeptide hormone family known to stimulate the proliferation of uterine cells and related these levels to the growth of the uterus during pregnancy in the mouse. This hormone family is known as mitogen-regulated protein (MRP); alternatively proliferin (PLF). Three mrp/plf genes, plf1, mrp3 and mrp4, are expressed by the placenta with different developmental profiles. The major increase of about 4-fold in DNA content of the uterus occurs between days 9 and 14 when MRP/PLFs are present in the placenta. By contrast, the gestational changes in estradiol-17␤ levels in placental and uterine tissues and in circulation do not correlate with the period of uterine growth. The previously reported mitogenic activity of the MRP/PLFs and their gestational profiles suggest that one or more of these proteins stimulates uterine proliferation during gestation. Evidence is also presented that expression of MRP3 and/or PLF1, but not MRP4, is negatively regulated by feedback from the uterus. Our results are consistent with the hypothesis that MRP/PLFs stimulate uterine proliferation in vivo and that a uterine factor shuts off PLF1 and/or MRP3 synthesis in the latter half of gestation.