Fig. 6: Cardiac overexpression of Asb10 deteriorates pathological cardiac hypertrophy under pressure overload.

Mice were randomly divided into 4 groups: AAV9-EV+Sham, AAV9-Asb10+Sham, AAV9-EV + TAC and AAV9-Asb10 + TAC. AAV9 infection was achieved via tail vein injection. Four weeks after injection, mice received either TAC or sham surgery. The cardiac function of mice was assessed using a non-invasive high-resolution imaging system. Mice were then sacrificed, and left ventricular tissues were collected for further detection. A Representative color mode echo images of blood flow in the aortic arch area (upper panel) and M mode images of echocardiography from 4 groups (lower panel). N = 7 (EV+Sham, Asb10+Sham, EV + TAC) and 10 (Asb10 + TAC). B Ejection fraction (EF%) of mice in the late phase of TAC. N = 7 (EV + Sham, Asb10+Sham, EV + TAC) and 10 (Asb10 + TAC). C Representative visual images of hearts from 4 groups. Scale bar = 1 cm. N = 7 (EV+Sham, Asb10+Sham, EV + TAC) and 10 (Asb10 + TAC). D Heart weight and body weight ratio (HW/BW). N = 7 (EV+Sham, Asb10+Sham, EV + TAC) and 10 (Asb10 + TAC). E Representative H&E staining images of mice. Scale bar = 1 mm. N = 7 (EV+Sham, Asb10+Sham, EV + TAC) and 10 (Asb10 + TAC). F Representative WGA immunofluorescence staining images showing cardiomyocyte cross-sectional area. The right panel showed the quantifications. Scale bar = 200 μm. N = 216 (EV+Sham), 180 (Asb10+Sham), 240 (EV + TAC), 255 (Asb10 + TAC). G Representative Masson’s and Sirius Red images showing cardiac interstitial fibrosis. The right panel showed the quantifications. Scale bar = 200 μm. N = 7 (EV+Sham, Asb10+Sham, EV + TAC) and 10 (Asb10 + TAC). H Protein expression of hypertrophic and fibrotic markers with GAPDH as loading control as determined by western blot. N = 7 (EV+Sham, Asb10+Sham, EV + TAC) and 10 (Asb10 + TAC). I Relative mRNA expression of pathological hypertrophic markers (upper panel) and cardiac fibrotic markers (lower panel) as detected by qPCR. N = 7 (EV+Sham, Asb10+Sham, EV + TAC) and 10 (Asb10 + TAC). Two-way ANOVA followed by Turkey’s multiple comparisons test was conducted. Data were represented as Mean ± SEM. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001, ****P < 0.0001.