Crosstalk between FGF23- and angiotensin II-mediated Ca 2+ signaling in pathological cardiac hypertrophy

Heart failure (HF) manifestation and progression are driven by systemic activation of neuroendocrine signaling cascades, such as the renin–angiotensin aldosterone system (RAAS). Fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23), an endocrine hormone, is linked to HF and cardiovascular mortality. It is also a mediator of left-ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). In vivo, high circulating levels of FGF23 are associated with an altered systemic RAAS response. FGF23 is proposed to trigger pathological signaling mediated by Ca2+-regulated transcriptional pathways. In the present study, we investigated Ca2+-dependent signaling of FGF23 in ventricular cardiomyocytes and its association with angiotensin II (ATII). In neonatal rat ventricular myocytes (NRVMs), both ATII and FGF23 induced hypertrophy as observed by an increase in cell area and hypertrophic gene expression. Furthermore, FGF23 activates nuclear Ca2+-regulated CaMKII–HDAC4 pathway, similar to ATII. In addition to a global increase in cytoplasmic Ca2+, FGF23, like ATII, induced inositol 1, 4, 5-triphosphate (IP3)-induced Ca2+ release from the nucleoplasmic Ca2+ store, associated with cellular hypertrophy. Interestingly, ATII receptor antagonist, losartan, significantly attenuated FGF23-induced changes in Ca2+ homeostasis and cellular hypertrophy suggesting an involvement of ATII receptor-mediated signaling. In addition, application of FGF23 increased intracellular expression of ATII peptide and its secretion in NRVMs, confirming the participation of ATII. In conclusion, FGF23 and ATII share a common mechanism of IP3-nuclear Ca2+-dependent cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. FGF23-mediated cellular hypertrophy is associated with increased production and secretion of ATII by cardiomyocytes. These findings indicate a pathophysiological role of the cellular angiotensin system in FGF23-induced hypertrophy in ventricular cardiomyocytes.