scholarly journals Telmisartan ameliorates cardiac fibrosis and diastolic function in cardiorenal heart failure with preserved ejection fraction

2021 ◽  
pp. 153537022110350
Author(s):  
Di Chang ◽  
Ting-Ting Xu ◽  
Shi-Jun Zhang ◽  
Yu Cai ◽  
Shu-Dan Min ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heart Failure ◽  
Growth Factor ◽  
Ejection Fraction ◽  
Diastolic Function ◽  
Rat Model ◽  
Cardiac Fibrosis ◽  
Left Ventricular ◽  
Male Rats ◽  
Preserved Ejection Fraction ◽  
Collagen Iii

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major contributor to the development of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), whereas the underlying mechanism of cardiorenal HFpEF is still elusive. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of cardiac fibrosis in a rat model of cardiorenal HFpEF and explore whether treatment with Telmisartan, an inhibitor of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS), can ameliorate cardiac fibrosis and preserve diastolic function in cardiorenal HFpEF. Male rats were subjected to 5/6 subtotal nephrectomy (SNX) or sham operation (Sham), and rats were allowed four weeks to recover and form a stable condition of CKD. Telmisartan or vehicle was then administered p.o. (8 mg/kg/d) for 12 weeks. Blood pressure, brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), echocardiography, and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging were acquired to evaluate cardiac structural and functional alterations. Histopathological staining, real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and western blot were performed to evaluate cardiac remodeling. SNX rats showed an HFpEF phenotype with increased BNP, decreased early to late diastolic transmitral flow velocity (E/A) ratio, increased left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy and preserved ejection fraction (EF). Pathology revealed increased cardiac fibrosis in cardiorenal HFpEF rats compared with the Sham group, while chronic treatment with Telmisartan significantly decreased cardiac fibrosis, accompanied by reduced markers of fibrosis (collagen I and collagen III) and profibrotic cytokines (α-smooth muscle actin, transforming growth factor-β1, and connective tissue growth factor). In addition, myocardial inflammation was decreased after Telmisartan treatment, which was in a linear correlation with cardiac fibrosis. Telmisartan also reversed LV hypertrophy and E/A ratio, indicating that Telmisartan can improve LV remodeling and diastolic function in cardiorenal HFpEF. In conclusion, cardiac fibrosis is central to the pathology of cardiorenal HFpEF, and RAAS modulation with Telmisartan is capable of alleviating cardiac fibrosis and preserving diastolic dysfunction in this rat model.

scholarly journals Application of the current HFA-ESC consensus guidelines on diagnosis of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction to a population referred for echocardiography

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
K Liang ◽  
R Hearse-Morgan ◽  
S Fairbairn ◽  
Y Ismail ◽  
AK Nightingale
Keyword(s):  
Heart Failure ◽  
Atrial Fibrillation ◽  
Ejection Fraction ◽  
Diastolic Function ◽  
Global Longitudinal Strain ◽  
Diagnostic Algorithm ◽  
Left Ventricular ◽  
Lv Function ◽  
Preserved Ejection Fraction ◽  
Consensus Guidelines

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. BACKGROUND The recent Heart Failure Association (HFA) of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) consensus guidelines on diagnosis of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) have developed a simple diagnostic algorithm for clinical use. PURPOSE To assess whether echocardiogram (echo) parameters needed to assess diastolic function are routinely collected in patients referred for assessment of heart failure symptoms. METHODS Retrospective analysis of echo referrals in January 2020 were assessed for parameters of diastolic function as per step 2 of the HF-PEFF diagnostic algorithm.  Echo images and clinical reports were reviewed. Electronic records were utilised to obtain clinical history, blood results (NT-proBNP) and demographic data. RESULTS 1330 patients underwent an echo in our department during January 2020. 83 patients were referred with symptoms of heart failure without prior history of cardiac disease; 20 patients found to have impaired left ventricular (LV) function were excluded from analysis. Of the 63 patients with possible HFpEF, HF-PEFF score was low in 18, intermediate in 33 and high in 12. Median age was 68 years (range 32 to 97 years); 25% had a BMI >30. There was a high prevalence of hypertension (52%), diabetes (19%) and atrial fibrillation (40%) (cf. Table 1). Body surface area (BSA) was documented in 65% of echo reports. Most echo parameters were recorded with the exception of global longitudinal strain (GLS) and indexed LV mass (cf. image 1). NT-proBNP was recorded in only 20 patients (31.7%). 12 patients with an intermediate HF-PEFF score could have been re-categorised to a high score depending on GLS and NT-proBNP (which were not recorded). CONCLUSION More than three quarters of echoes acquired in our department obtained the relevant parameters to assess diastolic function. The addition of BSA, and inclusion of NT-proBNP, and GLS would have been additive to a third of ‘intermediate’ patients to determine definite HFpEF. Our study demonstrates that the current HFA-ESC diagnostic algorithm and HF-PEFF scoring system are easy to use, highly relevant and applicable to current clinical practice. Age >70 years 29 (46.0%) Obesity (BMI >30) 16 (25.4%) Diabetes 12 (19%) Hypertension 33 (52.4%) Atrial Fibrillation 25 (39.7%) ECG abnormalities 18 (28.5%) Table 1. Prevalence of Clinical Risk Factors Abstract Figure. Image 1. HFPEFF score & echo parameters

scholarly journals A Porcine Model of Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction Induced by Chronic Pressure Overload Characterized by Cardiac Fibrosis and Remodeling

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Weijiang Tan ◽  
Xiang Li ◽  
Shuang Zheng ◽  
Xiaohui Li ◽  
Xiaoshen Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Heart Failure ◽  
Ejection Fraction ◽  
Cardiac Fibrosis ◽  
Pressure Overload ◽  
Left Ventricular ◽  
Left Ventricular Ejection ◽  
Pathological Examination ◽  
Type I ◽  
Preserved Ejection Fraction

Heart failure is induced by multiple pathological mechanisms, and current therapies are ineffective against heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). As there are limited animal models of HFpEF, its underlying mechanisms have not yet been elucidated. Here, we employed the descending aortic constriction (DAC) technique to induce chronic pressure overload in the left ventricles of Tibetan minipigs for 12 weeks. Cardiac function, pathological and cellular changes, fibrotic signaling activation, and gene expression profiles were explored. The left ventricles developed concentric hypertrophy from weeks 4 to 6 and transition to dilation starting in week 10. Notably, the left ventricular ejection fraction was maintained at >50% in the DAC group during the 12-week period. Pathological examination, biochemical analyses, and gene profile analysis revealed evidence of inflammation, fibrosis, cell death, and myofilament dephosphorylation in the myocardium of HFpEF model animals, together with gene expression shifts promoting cardiac remodeling and downregulating metabolic pathways. Furthermore, we noted the activation of several signaling proteins that impact cardiac fibrosis and remodeling, including transforming growth factor-β/SMAD family members 2/3, type I/III/V collagens, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, extracellular signal-regulated kinase, matrix metalloproteinases 2 and 9, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 1 and 2, interleukins 6 and 1β, and inhibitor of κBα/nuclear factor-κB. Our findings demonstrate that this chronic pressure overload-induced porcine HFpEF model is a powerful tool to elucidate the mechanisms of this disease and translate preclinical findings.

Abstract P490: Vascular Rarefaction And Decreased Angiogenic Potential In The Development Of Left Ventricular Diastolic Dysfunction In Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction

2021 ◽  
Vol 129 (Suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Katie Anne Fopiano ◽  
Yanna Tian ◽  
Vadym Buncha ◽  
Liwei Lang ◽  
Zsolt Bagi
Keyword(s):  
Heart Failure ◽  
Ejection Fraction ◽  
Diastolic Dysfunction ◽  
Rat Model ◽  
Ex Vivo ◽  
Diastolic Heart Failure ◽  
Left Ventricular ◽  
Coronary Microvascular Dysfunction ◽  
Preserved Ejection Fraction ◽  
Angiogenic Potential

Coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) develops in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF, also known as diastolic heart failure), but the nature of the underlying pathomechanisms behind this prevalent disease remain poorly understood. The hypothesis tested was that coronary microvascular rarefaction contributes to left ventricle (LV) diastolic function in HFpEF. The obese ZSF1 rat model of human HFpEF was employed and using transthoracic echocardiography it was found that 18-week-old male obese ZSF1 rats exhibited a significantly reduced E/A ratio (E=early, A=late mitral inflow peak velocities) and increased DT (E wave deceleration time) with no change in ejection fraction, indicating diastolic dysfunction. Coronary arteriolar and capillary trees were labeled using Tomato Lectin (Lycopersicon esculentum) DyLight®594 and were imaged by fluorescent confocal microscopy to generate image stacks for 3D reconstruction. Unbiased automated tracing of the microvasculature was done using VesselLucida360 software (MBF) followed by a morphometric analysis (VesselLucida Explorer). It was found that total vessel length and the number of vessel’s branching nodes were reduced in the obese ZSF1 rats, whereas the total vessel’s volumes remained consistent, when compared to the lean ZSF1 controls. These changes in the microvasculature were accompanied by decreased angiogenesis in the coronary arteries in the obese ZSF1 rats when compared to the lean ZSF1 rats using an ex vivo endothelial sprouting assay. From these results, it was concluded that vascular rarefaction and decreased angiogenesis both play a role in the development of LV diastolic dysfunction in the obese ZSF1 rat model of human HFpEF.

scholarly journals Sitagliptin reduces inflammation, fibrosis and preserves diastolic function in a rat model of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction

2017 ◽  
Vol 174 (22) ◽  
pp. 4070-4086 ◽  
Author(s):  
Grazia Esposito ◽  
Donato Cappetta ◽  
Rosa Russo ◽  
Alessia Rivellino ◽  
Loreta Pia Ciuffreda ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heart Failure ◽  
Ejection Fraction ◽  
Diastolic Function ◽  
Rat Model ◽  
Preserved Ejection Fraction

scholarly journals Effects of Cardiomyocyte-Specific Deletion of STAT3–A Murine Model of Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Weilin Zhao ◽  
Yanjia Chen ◽  
Wenbo Yang ◽  
Yanxin Han ◽  
Zhiyan Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heart Failure ◽  
Ejection Fraction ◽  
Diastolic Function ◽  
Cardiac Fibrosis ◽  
Diastolic Pressure ◽  
Growth Stimulation ◽  
Bioinformatic Analysis ◽  
Preserved Ejection Fraction ◽  
Passive Stiffness ◽  
Specific Deletion

Aims: There is a high incidence of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), but the options of treatment are limited. A new animal model of HFpEF is urgently needed for in-depth research on HFpEF. Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) may affect the passive stiffness of myocardium, which determines cardiac diastolic function. We hypothesized that cardiomyocyte-specific deletion of STAT3 increases cardiac passive stiffness, which results the murine features of HFpEF.Methods and Results: Cardiomyocyte-specific deletion of STAT3 (STAT3cKO) mice was generated by the Cre/FLOXp method. The STAT3cKO mice showed heavier cardiac fibrosis and cardiac hypertrophy comparing with wild-type (WT) mice. Furthermore, STAT3cKO mice showed increased serum brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) level, and growth stimulation expressed gene 2 (ST2) level. Other indicators reflecting cardiac passive stiffness and diastolic function, including end diastolic pressure volume relation, MV A value, MV E value, E/A and E/E' had different fold changes. All these changes were accompanied by decreasing levels of protein kinase G (PKG). Bioinformatic analysis of STAT3cKO mice hearts suggested cGMP-PKG signaling pathway might participate in the pathogenesis of HFpEF by means of adjusting different biological functions.Conclusions: Cardiomyocyte-specific deletion of STAT3 results in a murine HFpEF model which imitates the clinical characteristics partly by affecting cardiac PKG levels. Better understanding of the factors influencing HFpEF may finally provided innovative therapies.

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