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TAB2 deficiency induces dilated cardiomyopathy by promoting RIPK1-dependent apoptosis and necroptosis
Haifeng Yin, Xiaoyun Guo, Yi Chen, Yachang Zeng, Xiaoliang Mo, Siqi Hong, Hui He, Jing Li, Rachel Steinmetz, Qinghang Liu
Haifeng Yin, Xiaoyun Guo, Yi Chen, Yachang Zeng, Xiaoliang Mo, Siqi Hong, Hui He, Jing Li, Rachel Steinmetz, Qinghang Liu
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Research Article Cardiology Cell biology

TAB2 deficiency induces dilated cardiomyopathy by promoting RIPK1-dependent apoptosis and necroptosis

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Abstract

Mutations in TGF-β–activated kinase 1 binding protein 2 (TAB2) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of dilated cardiomyopathy and/or congenital heart disease in humans, but the underlying mechanisms are currently unknown. Here, we identified an indispensable role for TAB2 in regulating myocardial homeostasis and remodeling by suppressing receptor-interacting protein kinase 1 (RIPK1) activation and RIPK1-dependent apoptosis and necroptosis. Cardiomyocyte-specific deletion of Tab2 in mice triggered dilated cardiomyopathy with massive apoptotic and necroptotic cell death. Moreover, Tab2-deficient mice were also predisposed to myocardial injury and adverse remodeling after pathological stress. In cardiomyocytes, deletion of TAB2 but not its close homolog TAB3 promoted TNF-α–induced apoptosis and necroptosis, which was rescued by forced activation of TAK1 or inhibition of RIPK1 kinase activity. Mechanistically, TAB2 critically mediates RIPK1 phosphorylation at Ser321 via a TAK1-dependent mechanism, which prevents RIPK1 kinase activation and the formation of RIPK1-FADD-caspase-8 apoptotic complex or RIPK1-RIPK3 necroptotic complex. Strikingly, genetic inactivation of RIPK1 with Ripk1-K45A knockin effectively rescued cardiac remodeling and dysfunction in Tab2-deficient mice. Together, these data demonstrated that TAB2 is a key regulator of myocardial homeostasis and remodeling by suppressing RIPK1-dependent apoptosis and necroptosis. Our results also suggest that targeting RIPK1-mediated cell death signaling may represent a promising therapeutic strategy for TAB2 deficiency–induced dilated cardiomyopathy.

Authors

Haifeng Yin, Xiaoyun Guo, Yi Chen, Yachang Zeng, Xiaoliang Mo, Siqi Hong, Hui He, Jing Li, Rachel Steinmetz, Qinghang Liu

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Figure 1

Cardiomyocyte-specific ablation of TAB2 leads to dilated cardiomyopathy in mice.

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Cardiomyocyte-specific ablation of TAB2 leads to dilated cardiomyopathy ...
(A) Western blotting for the indicated proteins in ventricular extracts from Tab2fl/fl, MerCreMer (MCM), and Tab2fl/fl-MCM mice 2 weeks after treatment with tamoxifen as described in Methods. TAB2 protein level was normalized for the internal control GAPDH and expressed as fold change. *P < 0.05 versus Tab2fl/fl or MCM. n = 4. (B and C) Masson’s trichrome–stained, paraffin-embedded cardiac sections from mice as described in A. Scale bars: 1 mm in B and 50 μm in C. (D) Myocardial fibrosis quantified with MetaMorph software. *P < 0.05 versus Tab2fl/fl or MCM. n = 5–7. (E) Western blot (left) and quantification (right) of the indicated proteins normalized to GAPDH in cardiac extracts from mice indicated in A. (F) Heart weight to body weight ratio (HW/BW) of mice of the indicated genotypes. *P < 0.05 versus Tab2fl/fl or MCM. (G) Lung weight to body weight ratio (LW/BW) of mice of the indicated genotypes. *P < 0.05 versus Tab2fl/fl or MCM. (H) Representative echocardiographic M-mode images from mice indicated in A. The vertical white arrowed lines indicate left ventricular dimension in end-diastole (LVED). (I–K) Echocardiographic assessment of fractional shortening (FS) and left ventricular dimension in end-diastole (LVED) and end-systole (LVES) in mice of the indicated genotypes. *P < 0.05 versus Tab2fl/fl or MCM. n = 5–7. Statistical analysis was performed using 1-way ANOVA with Tukey’s post hoc test.

Copyright © 2026 American Society for Clinical Investigation
ISSN: 0021-9738 (print), 1558-8238 (online)

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