The role of fibromodulin in myocardial fibrosis in a diabetic cardiomyopathy rat model

Diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) is pathologically characterized by excessive deposition of extracellular matrix proteins, leading to myocardial fibrosis. Fibromodulin (Fmod) plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of fibrotic diseases. However, the role and mechanism of Fmod in DCM‐related myocardial...

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Main Authors: Xiyan Dai, Fan Yang, Dongping Chen, Lu Yang, Zhihui Dong, Can Chen, Jianmin Xiao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-03-01
Series:FEBS Open Bio
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/2211-5463.13935
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author Xiyan Dai
Fan Yang
Dongping Chen
Lu Yang
Zhihui Dong
Can Chen
Jianmin Xiao
author_facet Xiyan Dai
Fan Yang
Dongping Chen
Lu Yang
Zhihui Dong
Can Chen
Jianmin Xiao
author_sort Xiyan Dai
collection DOAJ
description Diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) is pathologically characterized by excessive deposition of extracellular matrix proteins, leading to myocardial fibrosis. Fibromodulin (Fmod) plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of fibrotic diseases. However, the role and mechanism of Fmod in DCM‐related myocardial fibrosis remain unclear. In the present study, we established a DCM rat model and an in vitro model of rat primary cardiac fibroblasts (RPCFs) exposed to high glucose. We assessed mRNA and protein expression levels of Col1a1, Col3a1, α‐SMA and Fmod in both models. Fmod‐overexpressing (ov‐Fmod) and Fmod‐knockdown (si‐Fmod) rat cardiac fibroblasts (RCFs) were generated. Subsequently, whole RNA sequencing was conducted on ov‐Fmod RCFs. The gene Col15a1 was evaluated in the DCM rat and all cell models. The correlation between plasma levels of Fmod and Col15a1 in DCM rat models was assessed. Transcription and protein levels of Fmod, Col1a1, Col3a1 and α‐SMA were significantly elevated in DCM rat hearts and RPCFs. In ov‐Fmod RCFs, fibrosis markers were similarly increased, except for Col3a1, which decreased. The Col1a1/Col3a1 ratio was elevated. Conversely, knocking down Fmod yielded opposite results. Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analyses indicated that Fmod participates in multiple fibrosis‐related pathways, affecting Col15a1. Expression of Col15a1 was significantly decreased in all models, compared to controls, except in si‐Fmod RCFs. Importantly, Col15a1 and Fmod in plasma exhibited an inverse relationship in DCM. In summary, Fmod is implicated in DCM, with Fmod overexpression downregulating Col15a1 and increasing the Col1a1/Col3a1 ratio. This mechanism may influence diastolic heart failure in DCM by modulating myocardial stiffness and elasticity.
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spelling doaj-art-8160b9e635a04f2aa9386b56d8f76ddb2025-08-20T02:58:00ZengWileyFEBS Open Bio2211-54632025-03-0115343644610.1002/2211-5463.13935The role of fibromodulin in myocardial fibrosis in a diabetic cardiomyopathy rat modelXiyan Dai0Fan Yang1Dongping Chen2Lu Yang3Zhihui Dong4Can Chen5Jianmin Xiao6Binhaiwan Central Hospital of Dongguan ChinaBinhaiwan Central Hospital of Dongguan ChinaBinhaiwan Central Hospital of Dongguan ChinaBinhaiwan Central Hospital of Dongguan ChinaBinhaiwan Central Hospital of Dongguan ChinaBinhaiwan Central Hospital of Dongguan ChinaBinhaiwan Central Hospital of Dongguan ChinaDiabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) is pathologically characterized by excessive deposition of extracellular matrix proteins, leading to myocardial fibrosis. Fibromodulin (Fmod) plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of fibrotic diseases. However, the role and mechanism of Fmod in DCM‐related myocardial fibrosis remain unclear. In the present study, we established a DCM rat model and an in vitro model of rat primary cardiac fibroblasts (RPCFs) exposed to high glucose. We assessed mRNA and protein expression levels of Col1a1, Col3a1, α‐SMA and Fmod in both models. Fmod‐overexpressing (ov‐Fmod) and Fmod‐knockdown (si‐Fmod) rat cardiac fibroblasts (RCFs) were generated. Subsequently, whole RNA sequencing was conducted on ov‐Fmod RCFs. The gene Col15a1 was evaluated in the DCM rat and all cell models. The correlation between plasma levels of Fmod and Col15a1 in DCM rat models was assessed. Transcription and protein levels of Fmod, Col1a1, Col3a1 and α‐SMA were significantly elevated in DCM rat hearts and RPCFs. In ov‐Fmod RCFs, fibrosis markers were similarly increased, except for Col3a1, which decreased. The Col1a1/Col3a1 ratio was elevated. Conversely, knocking down Fmod yielded opposite results. Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analyses indicated that Fmod participates in multiple fibrosis‐related pathways, affecting Col15a1. Expression of Col15a1 was significantly decreased in all models, compared to controls, except in si‐Fmod RCFs. Importantly, Col15a1 and Fmod in plasma exhibited an inverse relationship in DCM. In summary, Fmod is implicated in DCM, with Fmod overexpression downregulating Col15a1 and increasing the Col1a1/Col3a1 ratio. This mechanism may influence diastolic heart failure in DCM by modulating myocardial stiffness and elasticity.https://doi.org/10.1002/2211-5463.13935diabetic cardiomyopathyfibromodulinmyocardial fibrosis
spellingShingle Xiyan Dai
Fan Yang
Dongping Chen
Lu Yang
Zhihui Dong
Can Chen
Jianmin Xiao
The role of fibromodulin in myocardial fibrosis in a diabetic cardiomyopathy rat model
FEBS Open Bio
diabetic cardiomyopathy
fibromodulin
myocardial fibrosis
title The role of fibromodulin in myocardial fibrosis in a diabetic cardiomyopathy rat model
title_full The role of fibromodulin in myocardial fibrosis in a diabetic cardiomyopathy rat model
title_fullStr The role of fibromodulin in myocardial fibrosis in a diabetic cardiomyopathy rat model
title_full_unstemmed The role of fibromodulin in myocardial fibrosis in a diabetic cardiomyopathy rat model
title_short The role of fibromodulin in myocardial fibrosis in a diabetic cardiomyopathy rat model
title_sort role of fibromodulin in myocardial fibrosis in a diabetic cardiomyopathy rat model
topic diabetic cardiomyopathy
fibromodulin
myocardial fibrosis
url https://doi.org/10.1002/2211-5463.13935
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