A dual role for integrin‐linked kinase and β1‐integrin in modulating cardiac aging. Issue 3 (9th January 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Nishimura, Mayuko; Kumsta, Caroline; Kaushik, Gaurav; Diop, Soda B.; Ding, Yun; Bisharat‐Kernizan, Jumana; Catan, Hannah; Cammarato, Anthony; Ross, Robert S.; Engler, Adam J.; Bodmer, Rolf; Hansen, Malene; Ocorr, Karen
• Is Part Of: Aging cell. Volume 13:Issue 3(2014:Jun.)
• Page Start: 431
• Page End: 440
• Publication Date: 2014-01-09
• Subjects: Cells -- Aging -- Periodicals; 571.8783605
• DOI: 10.1111/acel.12193
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1474-9718

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="acel12193-abs-0001"> <title>Summary</title> <p>Cardiac performance decreases with age, which is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease and mortality in the aging human population, but the molecular mechanisms underlying cardiac aging are still poorly understood. Investigating the role of integrin‐linked kinase (<italic>ilk</italic>) and β1‐integrin (<italic>myospheroid, mys</italic>) in <italic>Drosophila</italic>, which colocalize near cardiomyocyte contacts and Z‐bands, we find that reduced <italic>ilk</italic> or <italic>mys</italic> function prevents the typical changes of cardiac aging seen in wildtype, such as arrhythmias. In particular, the characteristic increase in cardiac arrhythmias with age is prevented in <italic>ilk</italic> and <italic>mys</italic> heterozygous flies with nearly identical genetic background, and they live longer, in line with previous findings in <italic>Caenorhabditis elegans</italic> for <italic>ilk</italic> and in <italic>Drosophila</italic> for <italic>mys</italic>. Consistent with these findings, we observed elevated β1‐integrin protein levels in old compared with young wild‐type flies, and cardiac‐specific overexpression of <italic>mys</italic> in young flies causes aging‐like heart dysfunction. Moreover, moderate cardiac‐specific knockdown of integrin‐linked kinase (ILK)/integrin pathway‐associated genes also prevented the decline in cardiac performance with age. In contrast, strong cardiac knockdown of <italic>ilk</italic> or ILK‐associated genes can severely compromise cardiac integrity, including cardiomyocyte adhesion and overall heart function. These data suggest that <italic>ilk/mys</italic> function is necessary for establishing and maintaining normal heart structure and function, and appropriate fine‐tuning of this pathway can retard the age‐dependent decline in cardiac performance and extend lifespan. Thus, ILK/integrin‐associated signaling emerges as an important and conserved genetic mechanism in longevity, and as a new means to improve age‐dependent cardiac performance, in addition to its vital role in maintaining cardiac integrity.</p> </abstract>