Mechanisms of control metalloproteinases 2 and 9 expression and activity by focal adhesion kinase un mouse cardiac fibroblasts

Mudancas dinamicas que ocorrem no intersticio do coracao contribuem diretamente para o remodelamento miocardico decorrente de doencas cardiacas tais como infarto do miocardio, cardiopatia hipertensiva e cardiomiopatias. As metaloproteinases de matriz extracelular (MMPs) sao importantes no remodelamento destas doencas. Estimulos mecanicos e neuro-humoral regulam a expressao e atividade de MMPs atraves de multiplos processos. Em estudos previos verificamos que o silenciamento da FAK no VE de camundongos inibe a fibrose e reduz a atividade de MMP2. Objetivamos avaliar o papel da FAK no controle da ativacao de fibroblastos cardiacos de ratos(FCRNs), induzidos por estiramento mecanico. Os FCRNs foram cultivados em placas Bioflex e submetidos a estiramento ciclico (10%) por ate 8 horas, exceto os controles. A expressao e atividade da FAK foram avaliadas por imunoblottings com anticorpos especificos para FAK ou pFAK Tyr397, respectivamente. A expressao das MMPs 2 e 9 foi avaliada em imunoblottings e a atividade por zimografia ambas no sobrenadante da cultura. O estiramento provocou aumento de 2.4 vezes da quantidade de FAK fosforilada em Tyr397, alem da expressao e a atividade de MMP 2 e 9. Alem disto, modificou os parametros de proliferacao dos FCRNs, mostrando aumento de celulas positivas para Ki67 e BrdU. Do mesmo modo, a diferenciacao em miofibroblastos foi ativada(celulas positivas para a-actina de musculo liso (a-SMA). A inibicao genica da FAK atraves da tecnica de interferencia de RNA (siRNAFAK), nos FCRNs, inibiu a expressao de a-SMA, a atividade e a expressao das MMPs 2 e 9. Alem disso, a deplecao da FAK em FCRNs promoveu a diminuicao da fosforilacao em AKT Ser473, TSC-2 Thr1462, e S6 quinase Thr389 em resposta ao estiramento mecanico. A ativacao dos FCRNs foi impedida pelo pre-tratamento com o inibidor do complexo mTOR, rapamicina. Assim mostramos que a FAK medeia a ativacao de FCRNs invocado pelo estresse mecanico, possivelmente atraves da coordenacao da via de sinalizacao mTOR. Os resultados do presente estudo indicam a ativacao da FAK pode ter um papel critico na proliferacao e diferenciacao, e na ativacao de MMPs em FCRNs quando submetidos a estiramento, e ainda o knockdown da FAK apresenta efeitos contrarios, logo, infere-se o papel da FAK na ativacao de fibroblastos cardiacos.Dynamic changes that occur in the heart interstitium contribute directly to the myocardial remodeling due to heart disease such as myocardial infarction, hypertensive heart disease and cardiomyopathies. The extracellular matrixmetalloproteinases (MMPs) play an important role in remodeling in these diseases. Mechanical and neuro-humoral stimuli regulate the MMPs expression/activity through several processes which include the control of expression, activation by cascades of own MMPs and endogenous inhibitors. In recent studies from our laboratory showed that the FAK silencing in the left ventricle of mice inhibits the fibrosis development, and in parallel reduced the MMP2.activity and expression. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of FAK in controlling the MMP 2 and 9 expression and activity in rat cardiac fibroblasts. Cardiac fibroblasts from neonatal rat (FCRNs) were grown on silicon plates and then subjected to cyclic stretch (10%) for up to 8 hours, except the controls. The FAK expression and activity were assessed for imunoblottings through with specific antibodies to FAK or phospho -FAK Tyr397, respectively. The expression of MMP 2 and 9 was evaluated with specific antibodies in imunoblottings and activity through zimography both in the supernatant culture. Furthermore, FCRNs depleted of FAK was defective in AKT Ser473, TSC-2 Thr1462, and S6 kinase Thr389 phosphorylation in response to cyclic stretch. The activation of CF-P3/80 invoked by cyclic stretch was prevented by pre-treatment with the mTOR complex inhibitor rapamycin. These findings demonstrate that FAK signaling plays a critical role in mediating the activation of cardiac fibroblasts invoked by mechanical stress possibly by coordinating the downstream mTOR signaling pathway. The results of this study indicate that the activation of FAK can have a critical role to MMPs activation in cardiac fibroblasts, as well as, the proliferation and differentiation of these cells when subjected to stretching, and the FAK knockdown presents contrary effects, therefore, to corroborate infer the FAK role in differentiation and proliferation cell, and the MMPs balance in cardiac fibroblasts