Carboxyl Terminus of Heat Shock Protein 70-Interacting Protein Inhibits Angiotensin II-Induced Cardiac Remodeling

BACKGROUND The carboxyl terminus of heat shock protein 70-interacting protein (CHIP), an E3 ligase/chaperone, was found to protect cardiomyocytes against apoptosis induced by ischemic injury; however, the functional role of CHIP in remodeling induced by angiotensin II (Ang II) remains unclear. METHODS We generated CHIP-overexpressed transgenic (TG) mice infused with Ang 11 (1,500 ng/kg/min) or saline for days or small interfering RNA (siRNA) knockdown of neonatal rat cardiomyocytes. Heart sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin, Masson trichrome, TdT-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) staining, and immunohistochemistry, and the levels of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappa B) and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) were measured by western blot analysis. RESULTS Seven days after Ang II infusion, cardiac-specific overexpression of CHIP significantly enhanced cardiac contractile performance in mice and attenuated cardiac apoptosis, fibrosis, and inflammation: the number of TUNEL-positive cells, fibrotic areas, macrophage infiltration, and the expression of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), IL-6, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in heart tissues were decreased as compared with wild-type (WT) mice (all P < 0.05). In contrast, CHIP siRNA knockdown markedly increased Any II-induced apoptosis and the expression of proinflammatory cytokines, as compared with siRNA control. The mechanisms underlying these beneficial actions were associated with CHIP-mediated inhibition of NF-kappa B and MAPK (p38 and JNK) pathways. CONCLUSIONS CHIP plays an important role in regulating Ang II-triggered hypertensive cardiac apoptosis, inflammation, and fibrosis.