Detailed Record



Cardiac Molecular Analysis Reveals Aging‐Associated Metabolic Alterations Promoting Glycosaminoglycans Accumulation via Hexosamine Biosynthetic Pathway


Abstract Age is a prominent risk factor for cardiometabolic disease, often leading to heart structural and functional changes. However, precise molecular mechanisms underlying cardiac remodeling and dysfunction exclusively resulting from physiological aging remain elusive. Previous research demonstrated age‐related functional alterations in baboons, analogous to humans. The goal of this study is to identify early cardiac molecular alterations preceding functional adaptations, shedding light on the regulation of age‐associated changes. Unbiased transcriptomics of left ventricle samples are performed from female baboons aged 7.5–22.1 years (human equivalent ≈30–88 years). Weighted‐gene correlation network and pathway enrichment analyses are performed, with histological validation. Modules of transcripts negatively correlated with age implicated declined metabolism‐oxidative phosphorylation, tricarboxylic acid cycle, glycolysis, and fatty‐acid β‐oxidation. Transcripts positively correlated with age suggested a metabolic shift toward glucose‐dependent anabolic pathways, including hexosamine biosynthetic pathway (HBP). This shift is associated with increased glycosaminoglycan synthesis, modification, precursor synthesis via HBP, and extracellular matrix accumulation, verified histologically. Upregulated extracellular matrix‐induced signaling coincided with glycosaminoglycan accumulation, followed by cardiac hypertrophy‐related pathways. Overall, these findings revealed a transcriptional shift in metabolism favoring glycosaminoglycan accumulation through HBP before cardiac hypertrophy. Unveiling this metabolic shift provides potential targets for age‐related cardiac diseases, offering novel insights into early age‐related mechanisms.
Authors Luís F. Grilo ORCID , Kip D. Zimmerman ORCID , Sobha Puppala ORCID , Jeannie Chan ORCID , Hillary F. Huber ORCID , Ge Li ORCID , Avinash Jadhav , Benlian Wang , Cun Li University of WyomingORCID , Geoffrey D. Clarke ORCID , Thomas C. Register ORCID , Paulo J. Oliveira ORCID , Peter W. Nathanielsz University of WyomingORCID , Michael Olivier ORCID , Susana P. Pereira ORCID , Laura A. Cox ORCID
Journal Info Wiley | Advanced Science , vol: 11 , iss: 38
Publication Date 8/9/2024
ISSN 2198-3844
TypeKeyword Image article
Open Access gold Gold Access
DOI https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202309211
KeywordsKeyword Image Metabolic pathway (Score: 0.55755126)