Inhibition of Endothelial–Mesenchymal Transition Mediated by Activin Receptor Type IIA Attenuates Valvular Injury Induced by Group A Streptococcus in Lewis Rats

Background: Rheumatic heart disease (RHD), which is caused mainly by Group A Streptococcus, leads to fibrotic damage to heart valves. Recently, endothelial‒mesenchymal transition (EndMT), in which activin plays an important role, has been shown to be an important factor in RHD val...

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Main Authors: Zirong Lu, Yuan Li, Chuanghong Lu, Zhongyuan Meng, Ling Bai, Feng Huang, Zhiyu Zeng
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: IMR Press 2025-01-01
Series:Frontiers in Bioscience-Landmark
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Online Access:https://www.imrpress.com/journal/FBL/30/1/10.31083/FBL26370
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author Zirong Lu
Yuan Li
Chuanghong Lu
Zhongyuan Meng
Ling Bai
Feng Huang
Zhiyu Zeng
author_facet Zirong Lu
Yuan Li
Chuanghong Lu
Zhongyuan Meng
Ling Bai
Feng Huang
Zhiyu Zeng
author_sort Zirong Lu
collection DOAJ
description Background: Rheumatic heart disease (RHD), which is caused mainly by Group A Streptococcus, leads to fibrotic damage to heart valves. Recently, endothelial‒mesenchymal transition (EndMT), in which activin plays an important role, has been shown to be an important factor in RHD valvular injury. However, the mechanism of activin activity and EndMT in RHD valvular injury is not clear. Methods: Our study was divided into two parts: in vivo and in vitro. We constructed a small interfering RNA (ACVR2A-siRNA) by silencing activin receptor type IIA (ACVR2A) and an adeno-associated virus (AAV-ACVR2A) containing a sequence that silenced ACVR2A. The EndMT cell model was established via human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), and the RHD animal model was established via female Lewis rats. ACVR2A-siRNA and AAV-ACVR2A were used in the above experiments. Results: EndMT occurred in the valvular tissues of RHD rats, and activin and its associated intranuclear transcription factors were also activated during this process, with inflammatory infiltration and fibrotic damage also occurring in the valvular tissues. After inhibition of ACVR2A, EndMT in valvular tissues was also inhibited, and inflammatory infiltration and fibrosis were reduced. Endothelial cell experiments suggested that mesenchymal transition could be stimulated by activin and that inhibition of ACVR2A attenuated mesenchymal transition. Conclusions: Activin plays an important role in signal transduction during EndMT after activation, and inhibition of ACVR2A may attenuate RHD valvular damage by mediating EndMT. Targeting ACVR2A may be a therapeutic strategy to alleviate RHD valvular injury.
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issn 2768-6701
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spelling doaj-art-a1096c18c04c46468b38ff97321745232025-01-25T08:55:52ZengIMR PressFrontiers in Bioscience-Landmark2768-67012025-01-013012637010.31083/FBL26370S2768-6701(24)01555-7Inhibition of Endothelial–Mesenchymal Transition Mediated by Activin Receptor Type IIA Attenuates Valvular Injury Induced by Group A Streptococcus in Lewis RatsZirong Lu0Yuan Li1Chuanghong Lu2Zhongyuan Meng3Ling Bai4Feng Huang5Zhiyu Zeng6Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, 530021 Nanning, Guangxi, ChinaDepartment of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, 530021 Nanning, Guangxi, ChinaDepartment of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, 530021 Nanning, Guangxi, ChinaDepartment of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, 530021 Nanning, Guangxi, ChinaDepartment of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, 530021 Nanning, Guangxi, ChinaDepartment of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, 530021 Nanning, Guangxi, ChinaDepartment of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, 530021 Nanning, Guangxi, ChinaBackground: Rheumatic heart disease (RHD), which is caused mainly by Group A Streptococcus, leads to fibrotic damage to heart valves. Recently, endothelial‒mesenchymal transition (EndMT), in which activin plays an important role, has been shown to be an important factor in RHD valvular injury. However, the mechanism of activin activity and EndMT in RHD valvular injury is not clear. Methods: Our study was divided into two parts: in vivo and in vitro. We constructed a small interfering RNA (ACVR2A-siRNA) by silencing activin receptor type IIA (ACVR2A) and an adeno-associated virus (AAV-ACVR2A) containing a sequence that silenced ACVR2A. The EndMT cell model was established via human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), and the RHD animal model was established via female Lewis rats. ACVR2A-siRNA and AAV-ACVR2A were used in the above experiments. Results: EndMT occurred in the valvular tissues of RHD rats, and activin and its associated intranuclear transcription factors were also activated during this process, with inflammatory infiltration and fibrotic damage also occurring in the valvular tissues. After inhibition of ACVR2A, EndMT in valvular tissues was also inhibited, and inflammatory infiltration and fibrosis were reduced. Endothelial cell experiments suggested that mesenchymal transition could be stimulated by activin and that inhibition of ACVR2A attenuated mesenchymal transition. Conclusions: Activin plays an important role in signal transduction during EndMT after activation, and inhibition of ACVR2A may attenuate RHD valvular damage by mediating EndMT. Targeting ACVR2A may be a therapeutic strategy to alleviate RHD valvular injury.https://www.imrpress.com/journal/FBL/30/1/10.31083/FBL26370activinacvr2arheumatic heart diseaseendothelial–mesenchymal transitionvalvular injury
spellingShingle Zirong Lu
Yuan Li
Chuanghong Lu
Zhongyuan Meng
Ling Bai
Feng Huang
Zhiyu Zeng
Inhibition of Endothelial–Mesenchymal Transition Mediated by Activin Receptor Type IIA Attenuates Valvular Injury Induced by Group A Streptococcus in Lewis Rats
Frontiers in Bioscience-Landmark
activin
acvr2a
rheumatic heart disease
endothelial–mesenchymal transition
valvular injury
title Inhibition of Endothelial–Mesenchymal Transition Mediated by Activin Receptor Type IIA Attenuates Valvular Injury Induced by Group A Streptococcus in Lewis Rats
title_full Inhibition of Endothelial–Mesenchymal Transition Mediated by Activin Receptor Type IIA Attenuates Valvular Injury Induced by Group A Streptococcus in Lewis Rats
title_fullStr Inhibition of Endothelial–Mesenchymal Transition Mediated by Activin Receptor Type IIA Attenuates Valvular Injury Induced by Group A Streptococcus in Lewis Rats
title_full_unstemmed Inhibition of Endothelial–Mesenchymal Transition Mediated by Activin Receptor Type IIA Attenuates Valvular Injury Induced by Group A Streptococcus in Lewis Rats
title_short Inhibition of Endothelial–Mesenchymal Transition Mediated by Activin Receptor Type IIA Attenuates Valvular Injury Induced by Group A Streptococcus in Lewis Rats
title_sort inhibition of endothelial mesenchymal transition mediated by activin receptor type iia attenuates valvular injury induced by group a streptococcus in lewis rats
topic activin
acvr2a
rheumatic heart disease
endothelial–mesenchymal transition
valvular injury
url https://www.imrpress.com/journal/FBL/30/1/10.31083/FBL26370
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