Constitutive expression of cardiomyocyte Klf9 precipitates metabolic dysfunction and spontaneous heart failure

Abstract

Metabolic adaptations and flexibility during development and disease play an essential in cardiomyocyte function and survival. We recently reported Glucocorticoid receptor (GR)-Krüppel-like factor 9 (Klf9) axis in mediating metabolic adaptations in cardiomyocytes stimulated with Dexamethasone. Klf9 expression decreases in hypertrophic and failing hearts, suggesting its importance in cardiac homeostasis and its potential contribution to dysfunction under pressure overload. Genome wide Klf9 occupancy in adult hearts revealed 2,242 genes directly associated with Klf9, with enrichment in metabolic pathways, autophagy, ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis, and cellular senescence. We generated and characterized a conditional cardiac specific Klf9 knock-In (Klf9KI) mice, which developed progressive cardiac hypertrophy, cardiac dysfunction and cardiac failure by 8wks of age, with mortality by 12-14wks. RNA-seq analysis at 1wk, 4wks, and 8wks showed stage-specific transcriptional changes. At 1 week, 64.81% of differentially expressed genes were downregulated, aligning with Klf9's predicted role as a transcriptional repressor. At 4wks and 8wks, more genes were upregulated, suggesting more of secondary targets in response to cardiac phenotype. KEGG pathway analysis showed dysregulation in lipid, carbohydrate and glutathione metabolism, transcriptional regulation, apoptosis, and innate immunity. Untargeted Metabolomics at 4wks identified significant alterations in tissue metabolite levels, particularly in pathways involving fatty acid metabolism, amino acids, and glucose, correlating with transcriptome data. Mitochondrial function assays revealed progressive dysregulation. At 2 weeks, complex I activity was significantly reduced, while complex II and IV activities were partially preserved. By 4 weeks, all measured respiratory complexes showed significant declines, consistent with decline in mitochondrial function. These mitochondrial deficits preceded overt cardiac dysfunction and likely contributed to the development of hypertrophy and failure. In conclusion, constitutive Klf9 overexpression disrupts transcriptional and metabolic homeostasis, driving progressive hypertrophy, cardiac dysfunction, and failure.