LAUSR

BACKGROUND During heart failure, the levels of circulatory HSPD1 (HSP60) increase. However, its underlying mechanism is still unknown. The apical domain of HSPD1 is conserved throughout evolution. We found a point mutation in HSPD1 in a familial dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) patient. A similar point mutation in HSPD1 in the zebrafish mutant, nbl, led to loss of its regenerative capacity and development of pericardial edema under heat stress condition. In this study, we aimed to determine the direct involvement of HSPD1 in the development of DCM. METHODS AND RESULTS By Sanger method, we found a point mutation (Thr320Ala) in the apical domain of HSPD1, in one familial DCM patient, which was four amino acids away from the point mutation (Val324Glu) in the nbl mutant zebrafish. The nbl mutants showed atrioventricular block and sudden death at eight months post-fertilization. Histological and microscopic analysis of the nbl mutant hearts showed decreased ventricular wall thickness, elevated level of reactive oxygen species (ROS), increased fibrosis, mitochondrial damage, and increased autophagosomes. mRNA and protein expression of autophagy-related genes significantly increased in nbl mutants. We established HEK293 stable cell lines of WT, nbl-type, and DCM-type HSPD1, with tetracycline-dependent expression. Compared to WT, both nbl- and DCM-type cells showed decreased cell growth, increased expression of ROS and autophagy-related genes, inhibition of the activity of mitochondrial electron transport chain complexes III and IV, and decreased mitochondrial fission and fusion. CONCLUSIONS Mutations in HSPD1 caused mitochondrial dysfunction and induced mitophagy. Mitochondrial dysfunction caused increased ROS and cardiac atrophy. TRANSLATIONAL PERSPECTIVE The aged heart is more susceptible to stress despite the increased compensatory chaperones/co-chaperones activity. Here, we identified a point mutation in HSPD1 in a human DCM family. Using zebrafish, we demonstrated that functional inactivation of HSPD1 resulted in increased ROS level and mitophagy, thereby resulting in heart failure at a relatively early age. Inhibition of ROS activity by antioxidants decreased cell death and mitophagy. This work identifies the key role of HSPD1 in cardiac muscle protection and suggests the supplementation of antioxidants may improve the cardiac function through the mitochondrial ROS pathway in patients with chronic heart failure.