TGF-β1-PML SUMOylation-peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase NIMA-interacting 1 (Pin1) form a positive feedback loop to regulate cardiac fibrosis.

Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling pathway is involved in fibrosis in most, if not all forms of cardiac diseases. Here, we evaluate a positive feedback signaling the loop of TGF-β1/promyelocytic leukemia (PML) SUMOylation/Pin1 promoting the cardiac fibrosis. To test this hypothesis, the mice underwent transverse aortic constriction (3 weeks) were developed and the morphological evidence showed obvious interstitial fibrosis with TGF-β1, Pin1 upregulation, and increase in PML SUMOylation. In neonatal mouse cardiac fibroblasts (NMCFs), we found that exogenous TGF-β1 induced the upregulation of TGF-β1 itself in a time- and dose-dependent manner, and also triggered the PML SUMOylation and the formation of PML nuclear bodies (PML-NBs), and consequently recruited Pin1 into nuclear to colocalize with PML. Pharmacological inhibition of TGF-β signal or Pin1 with LY364947 (3 μM) or Juglone (3 μM), the TGF-β1-induced PML SUMOylation was reduced significantly with downregulation of the messenger RNA and protein for TGF-β1 and Pin1. To verify the cellular function of PML by means of gain- or loss-of-function, the positive feedback signaling loop was enhanced or declined, meanwhile, TGF-β-Smad signaling pathway was activated or weakened, respectively. In summary, we uncovered a novel reciprocal loop of TGF-β1/PML SUMOylation/Pin1 leading to myocardial fibrosis.