Browsing by Author "Surma, Michelle"

Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
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    Disruption of both ROCK1 and ROCK2 genes in cardiomyocytes promotes autophagy and reduces cardiac fibrosis during aging
    (Wiley, 2019-06) Shi, Jianjian; Surma, Michelle; Yang, Yang; Wei, Lei; Pediatrics, School of Medicine
    In this study, we investigated the pathophysiological impact of Rho-associated coiled-coil–containing protein kinase (ROCK)1 and ROCK2 double deletion vs. single deletion on cardiac remodeling. Utilizing a cardiomyocyte-specific and tamoxifen-inducible MerCreMer recombinase (MCM), 3 mouse lines (MCM/ROCK1fl/fl/ROCK2fl/fl, MCM/ROCK1fl/fl, and MCM/ROCK2fl/fl) were generated. As early as 5 d after inducible deletion, the double ROCK knockout hearts exhibited reduced phosphorylation of myosin light chain (MLC) and focal adhesion kinase (FAK), supporting a role for ROCK activity in regulating the nonsarcomeric cytoskeleton. Moreover, the autophagy marker microtubule-associated proteins 1A-1B light chain 3B was increased in the double ROCK knockout, and these early molecular features persisted throughout aging. Mechanistically, the double ROCK knockout promoted age-associated or starvation-induced autophagy concomitant with reduced protein kinase B (AKT), mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), Unc-51–like kinase signaling, and cardiac fibrosis. In contrast, ROCK2 knockout hearts showed increased phosphorylated (p)-MLC and p-FAK levels, which were mostly attributable to a compensatory ROCK1 overactivation. Autophagy was inhibited at the baseline accompanying increased mTOR activity, leading to increased cardiac fibrosis in the ROCK2 knockout hearts. Finally, the loss of ROCK1 had no significant effect on p-MLC and p-FAK levels, mTOR signaling, or autophagy at baseline. In summary, deletions of ROCK isoforms in cardiomyocytes have different, even opposite, effects on endogenous ROCK activity and the MLC/FAK/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway, which is involved in autophagy and fibrosis of the heart.
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    Enhanced mitochondrial biogenesis promotes neuroprotection in human pluripotent stem cell derived retinal ganglion cells
    (Springer Nature, 2023-02-24) Surma, Michelle; Anbarasu, Kavitha; Dutta, Sayanta; Olivera Perez, Leonardo J.; Huang, Kang-Chieh; Meyer, Jason S.; Das, Arupratan; Ophthalmology, School of Medicine
    Mitochondrial dysfunctions are widely afflicted in central nervous system (CNS) disorders with minimal understanding on how to improve mitochondrial homeostasis to promote neuroprotection. Here we have used human stem cell differentiated retinal ganglion cells (hRGCs) of the CNS, which are highly sensitive towards mitochondrial dysfunctions due to their unique structure and function, to identify mechanisms for improving mitochondrial quality control (MQC). We show that hRGCs are efficient in maintaining mitochondrial homeostasis through rapid degradation and biogenesis of mitochondria under acute damage. Using a glaucomatous Optineurin mutant (E50K) stem cell line, we show that at basal level mutant hRGCs possess less mitochondrial mass and suffer mitochondrial swelling due to excess ATP production load. Activation of mitochondrial biogenesis through pharmacological inhibition of the Tank binding kinase 1 (TBK1) restores energy homeostasis, mitigates mitochondrial swelling with neuroprotection against acute mitochondrial damage for glaucomatous E50K hRGCs, revealing a novel neuroprotection mechanism.
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    Novel Insights into the Roles of Rho Kinase in Cancer
    (Springer, 2016-08) Wei, Lei; Surma, Michelle; Shi, Stephanie; Lambert-Cheatham, Nathan; Shi, Jianjian; Department of Pediatrics, IU School of Medicine
    Rho-associated coiled-coil kinase (ROCK) is a major downstream effector of the small GTPase RhoA. The ROCK family, consisting of ROCK1 and ROCK2, plays a central role in the organization of the actin cytoskeleton, and is involved in a wide range of fundamental cellular functions such as contraction, adhesion, migration, proliferation, and apoptosis. Since the discovery of effective inhibitors such as fasudil and Y27632, the biological roles of ROCK have been extensively explored in numerous diseases, including cancer. Accumulating evidence supports the concept that ROCK plays important roles in tumor development and progression through regulating many key cellular functions associated with malignancy, including tumorigenicity, tumor growth, metastasis, angiogenesis, tumor cell apoptosis/survival and chemoresistance as well. This review focuses on the new advances of the most recent 5 years from the studies on the roles of ROCK in cancer development and progression; the discussion is mainly focused on the potential value of ROCK inhibitors in cancer therapy.
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    ROCK2 inhibition enhances the thermogenic program in white and brown fat tissue in mice
    (Wiley, 2020-01) Wei, Lei; Surma, Michelle; Yang, Yang; Tersey, Sarah; Shi, Jianjian; Pediatrics, School of Medicine
    The RhoA/ROCK-mediated actin cytoskeleton dynamics have been implicated in adipogenesis. The two ROCK isoforms, ROCK1 and ROCK2, are highly homologous. The contribution of ROCK2 to adipogenesis in vivo has not been elucidated. The present study aimed at the in vivo and in vitro roles of ROCK2 in the regulation of adipogenesis and the development of obesity. We performed molecular, histological and metabolic analyses in ROCK2+/− and ROCK2+/KD mouse models, the latter harboring an allele with a kinase-dead (KD) mutation. Both ROCK2+/− and ROCK2+/KD mouse models showed a lean body mass phenotype during aging, associated with increased amounts of beige cells in subcutaneous white adipose tissue (sWAT) and increased thermogenic gene expression in all fat depots. ROCK2+/− mice on a high-fat diet showed increased energy expenditure accompanying by reduced obesity, and improved insulin sensitivity. In vitro differentiated ROCK2+/− stromal-vascular (SV) cells revealed increased beige adipogenesis associated with increased thermogenic gene expressions. Treatment with a selective ROCK2 inhibitor, KD025, to inhibit ROCK2 activity in differentiated SV cells reproduced the pro-beige phenotype of ROCK2+/− SV cells. In conclusion, ROCK2 activity-mediated actin cytoskeleton dynamics contribute to the inhibition of beige adipogenesis in WAT, and also promotes age-related and diet-induced fat mass gain and insulin resistance.