AARS2 ameliorates myocardial ischemia via fine-tuning PKM2-mediated metabolism

AARS2, an alanyl-tRNA synthase, is essential for protein translation, but its function in mouse hearts is not fully addressed. Here, we found that cardiomyocyte-specific deletion of mouse AARS2 exhibited evident cardiomyopathy with impaired cardiac function, notable cardiac fibrosis, and cardiomyocy...

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Main Authors: Zongwang Zhang, Lixia Zheng, Yang Chen, Yuanyuan Chen, Junjie Hou, Chenglu Xiao, Xiaojun Zhu, Shi-Min Zhao, Jing-Wei Xiong
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: eLife Sciences Publications Ltd 2025-05-01
Series:eLife
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Online Access:https://elifesciences.org/articles/99670
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author Zongwang Zhang
Lixia Zheng
Yang Chen
Yuanyuan Chen
Junjie Hou
Chenglu Xiao
Xiaojun Zhu
Shi-Min Zhao
Jing-Wei Xiong
author_facet Zongwang Zhang
Lixia Zheng
Yang Chen
Yuanyuan Chen
Junjie Hou
Chenglu Xiao
Xiaojun Zhu
Shi-Min Zhao
Jing-Wei Xiong
author_sort Zongwang Zhang
collection DOAJ
description AARS2, an alanyl-tRNA synthase, is essential for protein translation, but its function in mouse hearts is not fully addressed. Here, we found that cardiomyocyte-specific deletion of mouse AARS2 exhibited evident cardiomyopathy with impaired cardiac function, notable cardiac fibrosis, and cardiomyocyte apoptosis. Cardiomyocyte-specific AARS2 overexpression in mice improved cardiac function and reduced cardiac fibrosis after myocardial infarction (MI), without affecting cardiomyocyte proliferation and coronary angiogenesis. Mechanistically, AARS2 overexpression suppressed cardiomyocyte apoptosis and mitochondrial reactive oxide species production, and changed cellular metabolism from oxidative phosphorylation toward glycolysis in cardiomyocytes, thus leading to cardiomyocyte survival from ischemia and hypoxia stress. Ribo-Seq revealed that Aars2 overexpression increased pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2) protein translation and the ratio of PKM2 dimers to tetramers that promote glycolysis. Additionally, PKM2 activator TEPP-46 reversed cardiomyocyte apoptosis and cardiac fibrosis caused by AARS2 deficiency. Thus, this study demonstrates that AARS2 plays an essential role in protecting cardiomyocytes from ischemic pressure via fine-tuning PKM2-mediated energy metabolism, and presents a novel cardiac protective AARS2-PKM2 signaling during the pathogenesis of MI.
format Article
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institution Kabale University
issn 2050-084X
language English
publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher eLife Sciences Publications Ltd
record_format Article
series eLife
spelling doaj-art-e3475e5c1caf46f789d672aed47fad912025-08-20T03:49:32ZengeLife Sciences Publications LtdeLife2050-084X2025-05-011310.7554/eLife.99670AARS2 ameliorates myocardial ischemia via fine-tuning PKM2-mediated metabolismZongwang Zhang0https://orcid.org/0009-0008-3711-0090Lixia Zheng1Yang Chen2https://orcid.org/0009-0006-2087-8875Yuanyuan Chen3Junjie Hou4Chenglu Xiao5Xiaojun Zhu6Shi-Min Zhao7Jing-Wei Xiong8https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8438-4782Beijing Key Laboratory of Cardiometabolic Molecular Medicine, Institute of Molecular Medicine, College of Future Technology, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, and State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Peking University, Beijing, ChinaBeijing Key Laboratory of Cardiometabolic Molecular Medicine, Institute of Molecular Medicine, College of Future Technology, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, and State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Peking University, Beijing, ChinaBeijing Key Laboratory of Cardiometabolic Molecular Medicine, Institute of Molecular Medicine, College of Future Technology, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, and State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Peking University, Beijing, ChinaBeijing Key Laboratory of Cardiometabolic Molecular Medicine, Institute of Molecular Medicine, College of Future Technology, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, and State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Peking University, Beijing, ChinaSchool of Basic Medical Sciences and The Second Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, ChinaSchool of Basic Medical Sciences and The Second Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, ChinaBeijing Key Laboratory of Cardiometabolic Molecular Medicine, Institute of Molecular Medicine, College of Future Technology, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, and State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Peking University, Beijing, ChinaObstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University, State Key Lab of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, ChinaBeijing Key Laboratory of Cardiometabolic Molecular Medicine, Institute of Molecular Medicine, College of Future Technology, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, and State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Peking University, Beijing, China; School of Basic Medical Sciences and The Second Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, ChinaAARS2, an alanyl-tRNA synthase, is essential for protein translation, but its function in mouse hearts is not fully addressed. Here, we found that cardiomyocyte-specific deletion of mouse AARS2 exhibited evident cardiomyopathy with impaired cardiac function, notable cardiac fibrosis, and cardiomyocyte apoptosis. Cardiomyocyte-specific AARS2 overexpression in mice improved cardiac function and reduced cardiac fibrosis after myocardial infarction (MI), without affecting cardiomyocyte proliferation and coronary angiogenesis. Mechanistically, AARS2 overexpression suppressed cardiomyocyte apoptosis and mitochondrial reactive oxide species production, and changed cellular metabolism from oxidative phosphorylation toward glycolysis in cardiomyocytes, thus leading to cardiomyocyte survival from ischemia and hypoxia stress. Ribo-Seq revealed that Aars2 overexpression increased pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2) protein translation and the ratio of PKM2 dimers to tetramers that promote glycolysis. Additionally, PKM2 activator TEPP-46 reversed cardiomyocyte apoptosis and cardiac fibrosis caused by AARS2 deficiency. Thus, this study demonstrates that AARS2 plays an essential role in protecting cardiomyocytes from ischemic pressure via fine-tuning PKM2-mediated energy metabolism, and presents a novel cardiac protective AARS2-PKM2 signaling during the pathogenesis of MI.https://elifesciences.org/articles/99670AARS2PKM2cardiomyocytesglycolysiscardiac remodeling
spellingShingle Zongwang Zhang
Lixia Zheng
Yang Chen
Yuanyuan Chen
Junjie Hou
Chenglu Xiao
Xiaojun Zhu
Shi-Min Zhao
Jing-Wei Xiong
AARS2 ameliorates myocardial ischemia via fine-tuning PKM2-mediated metabolism
eLife
AARS2
PKM2
cardiomyocytes
glycolysis
cardiac remodeling
title AARS2 ameliorates myocardial ischemia via fine-tuning PKM2-mediated metabolism
title_full AARS2 ameliorates myocardial ischemia via fine-tuning PKM2-mediated metabolism
title_fullStr AARS2 ameliorates myocardial ischemia via fine-tuning PKM2-mediated metabolism
title_full_unstemmed AARS2 ameliorates myocardial ischemia via fine-tuning PKM2-mediated metabolism
title_short AARS2 ameliorates myocardial ischemia via fine-tuning PKM2-mediated metabolism
title_sort aars2 ameliorates myocardial ischemia via fine tuning pkm2 mediated metabolism
topic AARS2
PKM2
cardiomyocytes
glycolysis
cardiac remodeling
url https://elifesciences.org/articles/99670
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