This study states that Cardiac hypertrophy is a key biological response to injurious stresses such as pressure overload and, when excessive, can lead to heart failure. Innate immune activation by danger signals, through intracellular pattern recognition receptors such as nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain 1 (Nod1) and its adaptor receptor-interacting protein 2 (RIP2), might play a major role in cardiac remodeling and progression to heart failure. We hypothesize that Nod1/RIP2 are major contributors to cardiac hypertrophy, but may not be sufficient to fully express the phenotype alone. To elucidate the contribution of Nod1/RIP2 signaling to cardiac hypertrophy, we randomized Nod1–/–, RIP2–/–, or wild-type mice to transverse aortic constriction or sham operations. Cardiac hypertrophy, fibrosis, and cardiac function were examined in these mice.
Nod1 and RIP2 proteins were upregulated in the heart after transverse aortic constriction, and this was paralleled by increased expression of mitochondrial proteins, including mitochondrial antiviral signaling protein (MAVS). Nod1–/– and RIP2–/– mice subjected to transverse aortic constriction exhibited better survival, improved cardiac function, and decreased cardiac hypertrophy.
Reference link- https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.119.041213
