With No Lysine Kinase 1 Promotes Metabolic Derangements and RV Dysfunction in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

Sasha Z. Prisco, Megan Eklund, Rashmi Raveendran, Thenappan Thenappan, Kurt W. Prins

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

16 Scopus citations

Abstract

Small molecule inhibition of with no lysine kinase 1 (WNK1) (WNK463) signaling activates adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase signaling and mitigates membrane enrichment of glucose transporters 1 and 4, which decreases protein O-GlcNAcylation and glycation. Quantitative proteomics of right ventricular (RV) mitochondrial enrichments shows WNK463 prevents down-regulation of several mitochondrial metabolic enzymes. and metabolomics analysis suggests multiple metabolic processes are corrected. Physiologically, WNK463 augments RV systolic and diastolic function independent of pulmonary arterial hypertension severity. Hypochloremia, a condition of predicted WNK1 activation in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension, is associated with more severe RV dysfunction. These results suggest WNK1 may be a druggable target to combat metabolic dysregulation and may improve RV function and survival in pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)834-850
Number of pages17
JournalJACC: Basic to Translational Science
Volume6
Issue number11
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 2021

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
Dr Prisco was supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) (F32 HL154533 and T32 HL144472), a University of Minnesota Clinical and Translational Science award (NIH UL1 TR002494), and a University of Minnesota Medical School Academic Investment Educational Program Grant. Dr Thenappan was supported by the Cardiovascular Medical Research and Education Fund and the University of Minnesota Futures Grant. Dr Prins was supported by National Institutes of Health (K08 HL140100), the Cardiovascular Medical Research and Education Fund, a Lillehei Heart Institute Cardiovascular Seed Grant, the University of Minnesota Faculty Research Development Grant, the United Therapeutics Jenesis Award, and an American Lung Association Innovative Award (IA-816386). Dr Thenappan has served on advisory boards for Actelion, United Therapeutics, Altavant Sciences, and Aria CV; and has received research funding for clinical trials from United Therapeutics, Aria CV, Gossimer Bio, and Acceleron. Dr Prins has served on advisory boards for Actelion and Edwards; and has received grant funding from United Therapeutics. All other authors have reported that they have no relationships relevant to the contents of this paper to disclose.

Funding Information:
Echocardiography and confocal microscopy imaging were completed at the University Imaging Center. The authors thank the University of Minnesota Histology and Research Laboratory in the Clinical and Translational Science Institute for their assistance with processing lung histology. The authors thank Drs LeeAnn Higgins and Todd Markowski of the University of Minnesota Center for Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics for their assistance in obtaining the quantitative mass spectrometry data. The authors also thank Cynthia Faraday for her assistance with Figure design.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 The Authors

Keywords

  • lipotoxicity
  • metabolism
  • mitochondria
  • pulmonary arterial hypertension
  • right ventricular dysfunction
  • with no lysine kinase 1

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'With No Lysine Kinase 1 Promotes Metabolic Derangements and RV Dysfunction in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this