scholarly journals Ketone Ester Treatment Improves Cardiac Function and Reduces Pathologic Remodeling in Preclinical Models of Heart Failure

Author(s):  
Salva R. Yurista ◽  
Timothy R. Matsuura ◽  
Herman H.W. Silljé ◽  
Kirsten T. Nijholt ◽  
Kendra S. McDaid ◽  
...  

Background: Accumulating evidence suggests that the failing heart reprograms fuel metabolism toward increased utilization of ketone bodies and that increasing cardiac ketone delivery ameliorates cardiac dysfunction. As an initial step toward development of ketone therapies, we investigated the effect of chronic oral ketone ester (KE) supplementation as a prevention or treatment strategy in rodent heart failure models. Methods: Two independent rodent heart failure models were used for the studies: transverse aortic constriction/myocardial infarction (MI) in mice and post-MI remodeling in rats. Seventy-five mice underwent a prevention treatment strategy with a KE comprised of hexanoyl-hexyl-3-hydroxybutyrate KE (KE-1) diet, and 77 rats were treated in either a prevention or treatment regimen using a commercially available β-hydroxybutyrate-(R)-1,3-butanediol monoester (DeltaG; KE-2) diet. Results: The KE-1 diet in mice elevated β-hydroxybutyrate levels during nocturnal feeding, whereas the KE-2 diet in rats induced ketonemia throughout a 24-hour period. The KE-1 diet preventive strategy attenuated development of left ventricular dysfunction and remodeling post-transverse aortic constriction/MI (left ventricular ejection fraction±SD, 36±8 in vehicle versus 45±11 in KE-1; P =0.016). The KE-2 diet therapeutic approach also attenuated left ventricular dysfunction and remodeling post-MI (left ventricular ejection fraction, 41±11 in MI-vehicle versus 61±7 in MI-KE-2; P <0.001). In addition, ventricular weight, cardiomyocyte cross-sectional area, and the expression of ANP (atrial natriuretic peptide) were significantly attenuated in the KE-2–treated MI group. However, treatment with KE-2 did not influence cardiac fibrosis post-MI. The myocardial expression of the ketone transporter and 2 ketolytic enzymes was significantly increased in rats fed KE-2 diet along with normalization of myocardial ATP levels to sham values. Conclusions: Chronic oral supplementation with KE was effective in both prevention and treatment of heart failure in 2 preclinical animal models. In addition, our results indicate that treatment with KE reprogrammed the expression of genes involved in ketone body utilization and normalized myocardial ATP production following MI, consistent with provision of an auxiliary fuel. These findings provide rationale for the assessment of KEs as a treatment for patients with heart failure.

2018 ◽  
Vol 315 (3) ◽  
pp. H563-H570 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica M. Bradley ◽  
Pablo Spaletra ◽  
Zhen Li ◽  
Thomas E. Sharp ◽  
Traci T. Goodchild ◽  
...  

Cardiac fibroblasts are critical mediators of fibrotic remodeling in the failing heart and transform into myofibroblasts in the presence of profibrotic factors such as transforming growth factor-β. Myocardial fibrosis worsens cardiac function, accelerating the progression to decompensated heart failure (HF). We investigated the effects of a novel inhibitor (NM922; NovoMedix, San Diego, CA) of the conversion of normal fibroblasts to the myofibroblast phenotype in the setting of pressure overload-induced HF. NM922 inhibited fibroblast-to-myofibroblast transformation in vitro via a reduction of activation of the focal adhesion kinase-Akt-p70S6 kinase and STAT3/4E-binding protein 1 pathways as well as via induction of cyclooxygenase-2. NM922 preserved left ventricular ejection fraction ( P < 0.05 vs. vehicle) and significantly attenuated transverse aortic constriction-induced LV dilation and hypertrophy ( P < 0.05 compared with vehicle). NM922 significantly ( P < 0.05) inhibited fibroblast activation, as evidenced by reduced myofibroblast counts per square millimeter of tissue area. Picrosirius red staining demonstrated that NM922 reduced ( P < 0.05) interstitial fibrosis compared with mice that received vehicle. Similarly, NM922 hearts had lower mRNA levels ( P < 0.05) of collagen types I and III, lysyl oxidase, and TNF-α at 16 wk after transverse aortic constriction. Treatment with NM922 after the onset of cardiac hypertrophy and HF resulted in attenuated myocardial collagen formation and adverse remodeling with preservation of left ventricular ejection fraction. Future studies are aimed at further elucidation of the molecular and cellular mechanisms by which this novel antifibrotic agent protects the failing heart. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Our data demonstrated that a novel antifibrotic agent, NM922, blocks the activation of fibroblasts, reduces the formation of cardiac fibrosis, and preserves cardiac function in a murine model of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction.


2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qifeng Zhou ◽  
Scott Kesteven ◽  
Jianxin Wu ◽  
Parwez Aidery ◽  
Meinrad Gawaz ◽  
...  

Mutations in the giant sarcomeric protein titin (TTN) are a major cause for inherited forms of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). We have previously developed a mouse model that imitates a TTN truncation mutation we found in a large pedigree with DCM. While heterozygousTtnknock-in mice do not display signs of heart failure under sedentary conditions, they recapitulate the human phenotype when exposed to the pharmacological stressor angiotensin II or isoproterenol. In this study we investigated the effects of pressure overload by transverse aortic constriction (TAC) in heterozygous (Het)Ttnknock-in mice. Two weeks after TAC, Het mice developed marked impairment of left ventricular ejection fraction(p<0.05), while wild-type (WT) TAC mice did not. Het mice also trended toward increased ventricular end diastolic pressure and volume compared to WT littermates. We found an increase in histologically diffuse cardiac fibrosis in Het compared to WT in TAC mice. This study shows that a pattern of DCM can be induced by TAC-mediated pressure overload in a TTN-truncated mouse model. This model enlarges our arsenal of cardiac disease models, adding a valuable tool to understand cardiac pathophysiological remodeling processes and to develop therapeutic approaches to combat heart failure.


2020 ◽  
Vol 90 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 49-58 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wang Chunbin ◽  
Wang Han ◽  
Cai Lin

Abstract. Vitamin D deficiency commonly occurs in chronic heart failure. Whether additional vitamin D supplementation can be beneficial to adults with chronic heart failure remains unclear. We conducted a meta-analysis to derive a more precise estimation. PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases were searched on September 8, 2016. Seven randomized controlled trials that investigated the effects of vitamin D on cardiovascular outcomes in adults with chronic heart failure, and comprised 592 patients, were included in the analysis. Compared to placebo, vitamin D, at doses ranging from 2,000 IU/day to 50,000 IU/week, could not improve left ventricular ejection fraction (Weighted mean difference, WMD = 3.31, 95% confidence interval, CL = −0.93 to 7.55, P < 0.001, I2 = 92.1%); it also exerts no beneficial effects on the 6 minute walk distance (WMD = 18.84, 95% CL = −24.85 to 62.52, P = 0.276, I2 = 22.4%) and natriuretic peptide (Standardized mean difference, SMD = −0.39, 95% confidence interval CL = −0.48 to 0.69, P < 0.001, I2 = 92.4%). However, a dose-response analysis from two studies demonstrated an improved left ventricular ejection fraction with vitamin D at a dose of 4,000 IU/day (WMD = 6.58, 95% confidence interval CL = −4.04 to 9.13, P = 0.134, I2 = 55.4%). The results showed that high dose vitamin D treatment could potentially benefit adults with chronic heart failure, but more randomized controlled trials are required to confirm this result.


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