Cited by 276Hippo pathway signaling and YAP/TAZCardiomyopathy and Myosin StudiesCardiovascular Effects of Exercise

The Hippo Pathway Is Activated and Is a Causal Mechanism for Adipogenesis in Arrhythmogenic Cardiomyopathy

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Chen, Suet Nee, Gurha, Priyatansh, Lombardi, Raffaella, Ruggiero, Alessandra, Willerson, James T., Marian, A.J.·2014·Circulation Research

Abstract

RATIONALE: Mutations in the intercalated disc proteins, such as plakophilin 2 (PKP2), cause arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (AC). AC is characterized by the replacement of cardiac myocytes by fibro-adipocytes, cardiac dysfunction, arrhythmias, and sudden death. OBJECTIVE: To delineate the molecular pathogenesis of AC. METHODS AND RESULTS: Localization and levels of selected intercalated disc proteins, including signaling molecules, were markedly reduced in human hearts with AC. Altered protein constituents of intercalated discs were associated with activation of the upstream Hippo molecules in the human hearts, in Nkx2.5-Cre:Dsp(W/F) and Myh6:Jup mouse models of AC, and in the PKP2 knockdown HL-1 myocytes (HL-1(PKP2:shRNA)). Level of active protein kinase C-α isoform, which requires PKP2 for activity, was reduced. In contrast, neurofibromin 2 (or Merlin), a molecule upstream of the Hippo pathway and that is inactivated by protein kinase C-α isoform, was activated. Consequently, the downstream Hippo molecules mammalian STE20-like protein kinases 1/2 (MST1/2), large tumor suppressor kinases 1/2 (LATS1/2), and Yes-associated protein (YAP) (the latter is the effector of the pathway) were phosphorylated. Coimmunoprecipitation detected binding of phosphorylated YAP, phosphorylated β-catenin, and junction protein plakoglobin (the latter translocated from the junction). RNA sequencing, transcript quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and reporter assays showed suppressed activity of SV40 transcriptional enhancer factor domain (TEAD) and transcription factor 7-like 2 (TCF7L2), which are transcription factors of the Hippo and the canonical Wnt signaling, respectively. In contrast, adipogenesis was enhanced. Simultaneous knockdown of Lats1/2, molecules upstream to YAP, rescued inactivation of YAP and β-catenin and adipogenesis in the HL-1(PKP2:shRNA) myocytes. CONCLUSIONS: Molecular remodeling of the intercalated discs leads to pathogenic activation of the Hippo pathway, suppression of the canonical Wnt signaling, and enhanced adipogenesis in AC. The findings offer novel mechanisms for the pathogenesis of AC.

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Crossref · 10.1161/circresaha.114.302810

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  • Suppression of canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling leads to ACM, prominently through competition with nuclear localization of JUP, rather than through β-catenin degradation.

    “In a landmark study by Garcia-Gras E et al. [77], these authors demonstrated that suppression of canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling leads to ACM, prominently through competition with nuclear localization of JUP, rather than through β-catenin degradation [77,79,80].”

    From A Paradigm Shift: Arrhythmogenic Cardiomyopathy Is an Inflammatory Disease (2026) · cites this paper as [79]

    The Results section ('Suppression of the canonical Wnt signaling'; page unavailable) reports suppressed canonical Wnt activity in ACM models. But the paper does not establish competition with nuclear JUP as the principal mechanism: its Discussion instead proposes sequestration of β-catenin through interactions with YAP and JUP. Its degradation experiments do not establish the claimed contrast between nuclear competition and β-catenin degradation. (LLM, conf=0.86)

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  • Loss of nuclear YAP in conjunction with Wnt/β-catenin suppression further drives adipogenesis and maladaptive fibrotic repair.

    “The loss of nuclear YAP in conjunction with Wnt/β-catenin suppression further drives adipogenesis and maladaptive fibrotic repair [79,80].”

    From A Paradigm Shift: Arrhythmogenic Cardiomyopathy Is an Inflammatory Disease (2026) · cites this paper as [79]

    The Discussion (page not provided) links increased membrane localization of YAP and β-catenin, suppressed Hippo and canonical Wnt signaling, and enhanced adipogenesis in arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy models. It describes Wnt suppression as a possible contributor, however, and does not establish that these changes drive maladaptive fibrotic repair. (LLM, conf=0.86)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • In ACM, prior studies have demonstrated aberrant Hippo pathway activation and subsequent YAP inactivation.

    “Conversely, in ACM, prior studies have demonstrated aberrant Hippo pathway activation and subsequent YAP inactivation [79].”
  • Recent evidence implicates fibro-adipogenic progenitors and epicardial-derived cells as primary sources, and they typically show epicardial to endocardial migration.

    “Recent evidence implicates fibro-adipogenic progenitors and epicardial-derived cells as primary sources, and they typically show an epicardial to endocardial migration [77,79,83,84].”

    From A Paradigm Shift: Arrhythmogenic Cardiomyopathy Is an Inflammatory Disease (2026) · cites this paper as [79]

    The Results section reports Hippo-pathway changes in epicardial regions, but does not identify epicardial-derived cells or trace their migration. The References list names studies of cardiac progenitors as adipocyte sources; this paper’s text does not establish that fibro-adipogenic progenitors and epicardial-derived cells are primary sources or that they typically migrate toward the endocardium (searched: epicardial, progenitor, migration). (LLM, conf=0.75)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

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Authors
Chen, S. N., Gurha, P., Lombardi, R., Ruggiero, A., Willerson, J. T., & Marian, A. J.
Affiliations
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (US)
Venue
Circulation Research
Published
2014-01-31
Volume
114
Issue
3
Pages
454-468
ISSN
  • 0009-7330 (ISSN-L)
  • 1524-4571
OpenAlex
W2170939446
Cited by
275
References
62
Citations by year
2026: 14 · 2025: 23 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 24 · 2022: 21 · 2021: 34 · 2020: 20 · 2019: 21 · 2018: 22 · 2017: 32 · 2016: 17 · 2015: 21 · 2014: 15
FWCI
10.25
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Circulation Research (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institute on Aging (R21AG038597)
  • National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (R34HL105563, R01HL088498)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cell Biology › Hippo pathway signaling and YAP/TAZ
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine › Cardiomyopathy and Myosin Studies
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine › Cardiovascular Effects of Exercise
Keywords
arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy, Hippo signaling pathway, adipogenesis, plakophilin-2, intercalated discs, protein kinase C alpha, Merlin, YAP, MST1/2, LATS1/2, Wnt/β-catenin signaling, β-catenin, plakoglobin
MeSH terms
Hippo Signaling Pathway, Animals, Cell Line, Humans, Signal Transduction, Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases, Mice, Knockout, Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia, Adipogenesis, Mice

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