GSTM1 suppresses cardiac fibrosis post-myocardial infarction through inhibiting lipid peroxidation and ferroptosis

Abstract Background Cardiac fibrosis following myocardial infarction (MI) drives adverse ventricular remodeling and heart failure, with cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) playing a central role. GSTM1 is an important member of the glutathione S-transferase (GSTs) family, which plays an important role in main...

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Main Authors: Kai-Jie Chen, Yue Zhang, Xin-Yi Zhu, Shuo Yu, Yao Xie, Cheng-Jiang Jin, Yi-Min Shen, Si-Yu Zhou, Xiao-Ce Dai, Sheng-An Su, Lan Xie, Zheng-Xing Huang, Hui Gong, Mei-Xiang Xiang, Hong Ma
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Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-05-01
Series:Military Medical Research
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s40779-025-00610-6
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author Kai-Jie Chen
Yue Zhang
Xin-Yi Zhu
Shuo Yu
Yao Xie
Cheng-Jiang Jin
Yi-Min Shen
Si-Yu Zhou
Xiao-Ce Dai
Sheng-An Su
Lan Xie
Zheng-Xing Huang
Hui Gong
Mei-Xiang Xiang
Hong Ma
author_facet Kai-Jie Chen
Yue Zhang
Xin-Yi Zhu
Shuo Yu
Yao Xie
Cheng-Jiang Jin
Yi-Min Shen
Si-Yu Zhou
Xiao-Ce Dai
Sheng-An Su
Lan Xie
Zheng-Xing Huang
Hui Gong
Mei-Xiang Xiang
Hong Ma
author_sort Kai-Jie Chen
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Cardiac fibrosis following myocardial infarction (MI) drives adverse ventricular remodeling and heart failure, with cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) playing a central role. GSTM1 is an important member of the glutathione S-transferase (GSTs) family, which plays an important role in maintaining cell homeostasis and detoxification. This study investigated the role and mechanism of GSTM1 in post-MI fibrosis. Methods Multi-omics approaches (proteomics/scRNA-seq) identified GSTM1 as a dysregulated target in post-MI fibroblasts. Using a murine coronary ligation model, we assessed GSTM1 dynamics via molecular profiling, such as Western blotting, immunofluorescence, and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. AAV9-mediated cardiac-specific GSTM1 overexpression was achieved through systemic delivery. In vitro studies employed transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)-stimulated primary fibroblasts with siRNA/plasmid interventions. Mechanistic insights were derived from transcriptomics and lipid peroxidation assays. Results The expression of GSTM1 in mouse CFs after MI was significantly down-regulated at both transcriptional and protein levels. In human dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) patients with severe heart failure, GSTM1 expression was decreased alongside aggravated fibrosis. Overexpression of GSTM1 in post-MI mice improved cardiac function, while significantly reducing infarct size and fibrosis compared with the control group. In vitro models demonstrated that GSTM1 markedly attenuated collagen secretion and activation of fibroblasts, as well as suppressed their proliferation and migration. Further studies revealed that GSTM1 overexpression significantly inhibited the generation of intracellular and mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) under pathological conditions, suggesting that GSTM1 exerts an antioxidative stress effect in post-infarction fibroblasts. Further investigation of molecular mechanisms indicated that GSTM1 may suppress the initiation and progression of fibrosis by modulating lipid metabolism and ferroptosis-related pathways. Overexpression of GSTM1 significantly reduced lipid peroxidation and free ferrous iron levels in fibroblasts and mitochondria, markedly decreased ferroptosis-related indicators, and alleviated oxidative lipid levels [such as 12-hydroxyeicosapentaenoic acid (HEPE) and 9-, 10-dihydroxy octadecenoic acid (DHOME)] under fibrotic conditions. GSTM1 enhanced the phosphorylation of STAT3, thereby upregulating the downstream expression of glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), reducing ROS production, and mitigating fibroblast activation and phenotypic transformation by inhibiting lipid peroxidation. Conclusions This study identifies GSTM1 as a key inhibitor of fibroblast activation and cardiac fibrosis, highlighting its ability to target ferroptosis through redox regulation. AAV-mediated GSTM1 therapy demonstrates significant therapeutic potential for improving outcomes post-MI.
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spelling doaj-art-2bf98490310b4f77a59e321f708005672025-08-20T03:16:40ZengBMCMilitary Medical Research2054-93692025-05-0112112110.1186/s40779-025-00610-6GSTM1 suppresses cardiac fibrosis post-myocardial infarction through inhibiting lipid peroxidation and ferroptosisKai-Jie Chen0Yue Zhang1Xin-Yi Zhu2Shuo Yu3Yao Xie4Cheng-Jiang Jin5Yi-Min Shen6Si-Yu Zhou7Xiao-Ce Dai8Sheng-An Su9Lan Xie10Zheng-Xing Huang11Hui Gong12Mei-Xiang Xiang13Hong Ma14Department of Cardiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Transvascular Implantation Devices, Cardiovascular Key Laboratory of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang UniversityDepartment of Cardiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Transvascular Implantation Devices, Cardiovascular Key Laboratory of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang UniversityDepartment of Cardiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Transvascular Implantation Devices, Cardiovascular Key Laboratory of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang UniversityDepartment of Anesthesiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang UniversityDepartment of Cardiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Transvascular Implantation Devices, Cardiovascular Key Laboratory of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang UniversityDepartment of Cardiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Transvascular Implantation Devices, Cardiovascular Key Laboratory of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang UniversityDepartment of Cardiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Transvascular Implantation Devices, Cardiovascular Key Laboratory of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang UniversityDepartment of Cardiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Transvascular Implantation Devices, Cardiovascular Key Laboratory of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang UniversityDepartment of Cardiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Transvascular Implantation Devices, Cardiovascular Key Laboratory of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang UniversityDepartment of Cardiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Transvascular Implantation Devices, Cardiovascular Key Laboratory of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang UniversityDepartment of Cardiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Transvascular Implantation Devices, Cardiovascular Key Laboratory of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang UniversityCollege of Computer Science and Technology, Zhejiang UniversityDepartment of Cardiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Transvascular Implantation Devices, Cardiovascular Key Laboratory of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang UniversityDepartment of Cardiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Transvascular Implantation Devices, Cardiovascular Key Laboratory of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang UniversityDepartment of Cardiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Transvascular Implantation Devices, Cardiovascular Key Laboratory of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang UniversityAbstract Background Cardiac fibrosis following myocardial infarction (MI) drives adverse ventricular remodeling and heart failure, with cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) playing a central role. GSTM1 is an important member of the glutathione S-transferase (GSTs) family, which plays an important role in maintaining cell homeostasis and detoxification. This study investigated the role and mechanism of GSTM1 in post-MI fibrosis. Methods Multi-omics approaches (proteomics/scRNA-seq) identified GSTM1 as a dysregulated target in post-MI fibroblasts. Using a murine coronary ligation model, we assessed GSTM1 dynamics via molecular profiling, such as Western blotting, immunofluorescence, and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. AAV9-mediated cardiac-specific GSTM1 overexpression was achieved through systemic delivery. In vitro studies employed transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)-stimulated primary fibroblasts with siRNA/plasmid interventions. Mechanistic insights were derived from transcriptomics and lipid peroxidation assays. Results The expression of GSTM1 in mouse CFs after MI was significantly down-regulated at both transcriptional and protein levels. In human dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) patients with severe heart failure, GSTM1 expression was decreased alongside aggravated fibrosis. Overexpression of GSTM1 in post-MI mice improved cardiac function, while significantly reducing infarct size and fibrosis compared with the control group. In vitro models demonstrated that GSTM1 markedly attenuated collagen secretion and activation of fibroblasts, as well as suppressed their proliferation and migration. Further studies revealed that GSTM1 overexpression significantly inhibited the generation of intracellular and mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) under pathological conditions, suggesting that GSTM1 exerts an antioxidative stress effect in post-infarction fibroblasts. Further investigation of molecular mechanisms indicated that GSTM1 may suppress the initiation and progression of fibrosis by modulating lipid metabolism and ferroptosis-related pathways. Overexpression of GSTM1 significantly reduced lipid peroxidation and free ferrous iron levels in fibroblasts and mitochondria, markedly decreased ferroptosis-related indicators, and alleviated oxidative lipid levels [such as 12-hydroxyeicosapentaenoic acid (HEPE) and 9-, 10-dihydroxy octadecenoic acid (DHOME)] under fibrotic conditions. GSTM1 enhanced the phosphorylation of STAT3, thereby upregulating the downstream expression of glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), reducing ROS production, and mitigating fibroblast activation and phenotypic transformation by inhibiting lipid peroxidation. Conclusions This study identifies GSTM1 as a key inhibitor of fibroblast activation and cardiac fibrosis, highlighting its ability to target ferroptosis through redox regulation. AAV-mediated GSTM1 therapy demonstrates significant therapeutic potential for improving outcomes post-MI.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40779-025-00610-6GSTM1FerroptosisCardiac fibrosisMyocardial infarction (MI)Lipid peroxidationGlutathione peroxidase 4
spellingShingle Kai-Jie Chen
Yue Zhang
Xin-Yi Zhu
Shuo Yu
Yao Xie
Cheng-Jiang Jin
Yi-Min Shen
Si-Yu Zhou
Xiao-Ce Dai
Sheng-An Su
Lan Xie
Zheng-Xing Huang
Hui Gong
Mei-Xiang Xiang
Hong Ma
GSTM1 suppresses cardiac fibrosis post-myocardial infarction through inhibiting lipid peroxidation and ferroptosis
Military Medical Research
GSTM1
Ferroptosis
Cardiac fibrosis
Myocardial infarction (MI)
Lipid peroxidation
Glutathione peroxidase 4
title GSTM1 suppresses cardiac fibrosis post-myocardial infarction through inhibiting lipid peroxidation and ferroptosis
title_full GSTM1 suppresses cardiac fibrosis post-myocardial infarction through inhibiting lipid peroxidation and ferroptosis
title_fullStr GSTM1 suppresses cardiac fibrosis post-myocardial infarction through inhibiting lipid peroxidation and ferroptosis
title_full_unstemmed GSTM1 suppresses cardiac fibrosis post-myocardial infarction through inhibiting lipid peroxidation and ferroptosis
title_short GSTM1 suppresses cardiac fibrosis post-myocardial infarction through inhibiting lipid peroxidation and ferroptosis
title_sort gstm1 suppresses cardiac fibrosis post myocardial infarction through inhibiting lipid peroxidation and ferroptosis
topic GSTM1
Ferroptosis
Cardiac fibrosis
Myocardial infarction (MI)
Lipid peroxidation
Glutathione peroxidase 4
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s40779-025-00610-6
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