A Novel Role of Claudin-5 in Prevention of Mitochondrial Fission Against Ischemic/Hypoxic Stress in Cardiomyocytes

Tao Luo, Haiqiong Liu, Baihe Chen, Han Liu, Ahmed Abdel-Latif, Masafumi Kitakaze, Xianbao Wang, Yuanzhou Wu, Dylan Chou, Jin Kyung Kim

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

11 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Downregulation of claudin-5 in the heart is associated with the end-stage heart failure. However, the underlying mechanism ofclaudin-5 is unclear. Here we investigated the molecular actions of claudin-5 in perspective of mitochondria in cardiomyocytes to better understand the role of claudin-5 in cardioprotection during ischemia. Methods: Myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R; 30 min/24 h) and hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R; 24 h/4 h) were used in this study. Confocal microscopy and transmission electron microscope (TEM) were used to observe mitochondrial morphology. Results: Claudin-5 was detected in murine heart tissue and neonatal rat cardiomyocytes (NRCM). Its protein level was severely decreased after myocardial I/R or H/R. Confocal microscopy showedclaudin-5 presented in the mitochondria of NRCM. H/R-induced claudin-5 downregulation was accompanied by mitochondrial fragmentation. The mitofusin 2 (Mfn2) expressionwas dramatically decreased while the dynamin-related protein (Drp) 1 expression was significantly increased after H/R. The TEM indicatedH/R-induced mitochondrial swelling and fission. Adenoviral claudin-5 overexpression reversed these structural disintegration of mitochondria. The mitochondria-centered intrinsic pathway of apoptosis triggered by H/R and indicated by the cytochrome c and cleaved caspase 3 in the cytoplasm of NRCMs was also reduced by overexpressing claudin-5. Claudin-5 overexpression in mouse heart also significantly decreased cleaved caspase 3 and the infarct size in ischemic heart with improved systolic function. Conclusion: We demonstrated for the first time the presence of claudin-5 in the mitochondria in cardiomyocytes and provided the firm evidence for the cardioprotective role of claudin-5 in the preservation of mitochondrial dynamics and cell fate against hypoxia- or ischemia-induced stress.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1593-1606
Number of pages14
JournalCanadian Journal of Cardiology
Volume37
Issue number10
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 2021

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 Canadian Cardiovascular Society

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine

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