# P53 acetylation in microvascular rarefaction and heart failure

> **NIH NIH R56** · UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI MED CTR · 2022 · $387,500

## Abstract

Summary: Coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) is a hallmark of hypertension and diabetes.
Mitochondrial Sirtuin 3 (SIRT3) is strongly associated with human cardiovascular diseases such as
hypertension and diabetes as well as the childhood heart disease of Friedreich’s Ataxia (FRDA). We
demonstrate that Sirt3 regulates endothelial (EC) metabolic switch between mitochondrial respiration
and glycolysis. Knockout of Sirt3 in EC resulted in a significant decrease in glycolysis, whereas
exhibited more prominent production of mitochondrial ROS formation. Disrupting EC metabolism may
lead to CMD and impair EC/cardiomyocyte communications which promote hypertensive cardiac
hypertrophy. Our study also showed that knockout of Sirt3 in EC resulted in a significant increase in
p53 acetylation and exacerbation of pressure-overload induced capillary rarefaction and cardiac
hypertrophy. Using a novel p53 acetylation-deficient mutant mouse, we will test our new hypothesis
that reduction of Sirt3 promotes p53 acetylation, thus leads to abnormal metabolic reprogramming and
mitochondrial (Mito)-ferroptosis. These alterations may promote microvascular rarefaction and cardiac
dysfunction. Aim 1: To explore the regulatory role of p53 acetylation in EC glycolytic metabolism and
ferroptosis. We will test whether: (a) mutation of p53 acetylation improves glycolysis by reducing
TIGAR expression; (b) inhibition of p53 acetylation blunts Mito-ferroptosis in Sirt3KO-EC via TIGAR;
and (c) inhibition of p53 acetylation prevents EC ferroptosis/senescence and attenuates
cardiomyocyte fibrosis. Aim 2: To define the role of p53 acetylation and ferroptosis in heart failure-
associated microvascular rarefaction. Using p53 acetylation and endothelial Sirt3ECKO double
knockout mice, we will determine whether mutations of p53 acetylation or inhibition of ferroptosis
inhibits ferroptosis and mitochondrial ROS formation, attenuates capillary rarefaction, improves
coronary flow reserve (CFR), and reduces cardiac hypertrophy in a pressure-overload induced heart
failure mouse model. Aim 3: To define the regulatory role of TIGAR in Sirt3KO-induced ferroptosis and
CMD. Using endothelial TIGAREC-KO/Sirt3cKO mice, we will first define TIGAR-dependent EC
glycolysis on microvascular rarefaction and diastolic dysfunction in Sirt3cKO mice; Using
cardiomyocyte TIGAR-cKO/Sirt3cKO mice, we will further examine TIGAR-dependent cardiomyocyte
Mito-acetylation, Mito-Fe2+ and ferroptosis on Sirt3cKO-induced HF. The innovation includes that: (1)
identification of p53 acetylation as a novel regulator of EC metabolic reprogramming and Mito-
ferroptosis in hypertensive microvascular rarefaction; and (2) elucidate of molecular mechanisms of
Mito-TIGAR in the regulation of CMD. Our study has basic and clinical translational significance for
the understanding of Sirt3 in human mitochondrial disease such as Friedreich’s Ataxia (FRDA).

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10705328
- **Project number:** 1R56HL164321-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI MED CTR
- **Principal Investigator:** Heng Zeng
- **Activity code:** R56 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $387,500
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-09-23 → 2024-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10705328

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10705328, P53 acetylation in microvascular rarefaction and heart failure (1R56HL164321-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10705328. Licensed CC0.

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