scholarly journals Protective Effects of Sacubitril/Valsartan on Cardiac Fibrosis and Function in Rats With Experimental Myocardial Infarction Involves Inhibition of Collagen Synthesis by Myocardial Fibroblasts Through Downregulating TGF-β1/Smads Pathway

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meifang Wu ◽  
Yanguang Guo ◽  
Ying Wu ◽  
Kaizu Xu ◽  
Liming Lin

Objectives: To investigate the effect and mechanism of sacubitril/valsartan on myocardial fibrosis in rats following experimental myocardial infarction and in TGF-β1-treated myocardial fibroblasts.Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were subjected to coronary artery ligation to establish myocardial infarction and intragastrically fed vehicle, valsartan (Val, 32 mg/kg, once-daily) or sacubitril/valsartan (Sac/Val, 68 mg/kg, once-daily) for 4 weeks. In parallel, myocardial fibroblasts (MFs) isolated from neonatal SD rats were exposed to hypoxia and treated with TGF-β1 (5 ng/ml) plus vehicle, Val (107–10–5 M) or Sac/Val (107–105 M). Rat cardiac function and fibrosis were measured by echocardiography and histological method, respectively. MFs viability and collagen synthesis were determined by cell counting kit-8 and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. Protein expressions of TGF-β1, Smad3, phosphorylated Smad3 (p-Smad3), and p-Smad3 subcellular localization were detected by immunoblotting and immunocytochemistry.Results: Sac/Val significantly improved cardiac structure and function in rats after myocardial infarction, including decreased left ventricular end-diastolic diameter and interventricular septal thickness, increased ejection fraction, and reduced myocardial collagen volume fraction and type Ⅰ and type Ⅲ collagen levels, and this effect was superior to that of Val. Besides, Sac/Val inhibited myocardial TGF-β1 and p-Smad3 protein expression better than Val. Mechanically, Sac/Val significantly attenuated TGF-β1-induced proliferation and collagen synthesis of MFs, and inhibit Smad3 phosphorylation and nucleus translocation, and this effect outperformed Val. Overexpression and silencing of Smad3 enhanced and reversed the inhibitory effects of Sac/Val on TGF-β1-induced collagen synthesis by MFs, respectively.Conclusions: Sacubitril/valsartan improves cardiac function and fibrosis in rats after experimental myocardial infarction, and this effect is related to the inhibition of collagen synthesis in myocardial fibroblasts by inhibiting the TGF/Smads signaling pathway.

Author(s):  
Xiurui Ma ◽  
Zhen Dong ◽  
Jingyi Liu ◽  
Leilei Ma ◽  
Xiaolei Sun ◽  
...  

Abstract Purpose Ketone body oxidation yields more ATP per mole of consumed oxygen than glucose. However, whether an increased ketone body supply in hypoxic cardiomyocytes and ischemic hearts is protective or not remains elusive. The goal of this study is to determine the effect of β-hydroxybutyrate (β-OHB), the main constituent of ketone bodies, on cardiomyocytes under hypoxic conditions and the effects of ketogenic diet (KD) on cardiac function in a myocardial infarction (MI) mouse model. Methods Human peripheral blood collected from patients with acute myocardial infarction and healthy volunteers was used to detect the level of β-OHB. N-terminal proB-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels and left ventricular ejection fractions (LVEFs) were measured to study the relationship between plasma β-OHB and cardiac function. Adult mouse cardiomyocytes and MI mouse models fed a KD were used to research the effect of β-OHB on cardiac damage. qPCR, western blot analysis, and immunofluorescence were used to detect the interaction between β-OHB and glycolysis. Live/dead cell staining and imaging, lactate dehydrogenase, Cell Counting Kit-8 assays, echocardiography, and 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining were performed to evaluate the cardiomyocyte death, cardiac function, and infarct sizes. Results β-OHB level was significantly higher in acute MI patients and MI mice. Treatment with β-OHB exacerbated cardiomyocyte death and decreased glucose absorption and glycolysis under hypoxic conditions. These effects were partially ameliorated by inhibiting hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) degradation via roxadustat administration in hypoxia-stimulated cardiomyocytes. Furthermore, β-OHB metabolisms were obscured in cardiomyocytes under hypoxic conditions. Additionally, MI mice fed a KD exhibited exacerbated cardiac dysfunction compared with control chow diet (CD)-fed MI mice. Conclusion Elevated β-OHB levels may be maladaptive to the heart under hypoxic/ischemic conditions. Administration of roxadustat can partially reverse these harmful effects by stabilizing HIF-1α and inducing a metabolic shift toward glycolysis for energy production.


2018 ◽  
Vol 45 (5) ◽  
pp. 1797-1806 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anbang Han ◽  
Yingdong Lu ◽  
Qi Zheng ◽  
Jian Zhang ◽  
YiZhou Zhao ◽  
...  

Background/Aims: Qiliqiangxin (QL), a traditional Chinese medicine, has been demonstrated to be effective and safe for the treatment of chronic heart failure. Left ventricular (LV) remodeling causes depressed cardiac performance and is an independent determinant of morbidity and mortality after myocardial infarction (MI). Our previous studies have shown that QL exhibits cardiac protective effects against heart failure after MI. The objective of this study was to explore the effects of QL on myocardial fibrosis in rats with MI and to investigate the underlying mechanism of these effects. Methods: A rat model of acute myocardial infarction was induced by ligating the left anterior descending coronary artery. The rats were treated with QL (1.0 g/kg/day) for 4 weeks after surgery. Echocardiography and histology examination were performed to evaluate heart function and fibrosis, respectively. Protein levels of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), phosphorylated Smad3 (p-Smad3), phosphorylated Smad7 (p-Smad7), collagen I (Col- I), alpha smooth muscle actin (a-SMA), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin 6 (IL-6), nuclear factor κB (NF-κB), and phosphorylated inhibitor of kappa B alpha (p-IκBα) were measured by western blot analysis. Results: QL treatment ameliorated adverse cardiac remodeling 8 weeks after AMI, including better preservation of cardiac function, decreased inflammation, and reduced fibrosis. In addition, QL treatment reduced Col-I, a-SMA, TGF-β1, and p-Smad3 expression levels but increased p-Smad7 levels in postmyocardial infarct rat hearts. QL administration also reduced the elevated levels of cardiac inflammation mediators, such as TNF-α and IL-6, as well as NF-κB and p-IκBα expression. Conclusions: QL therapy exerted protective effects against cardiac remodeling potentially by inhibiting TGF-β1/Smad3 and NF-κB signaling pathways, thereby preserving cardiac function, as well as reducing myocardial inflammation and fibrosis.


2007 ◽  
Vol 293 (5) ◽  
pp. H3216-H3220 ◽  
Author(s):  
James S. Swaney ◽  
Hemal H. Patel ◽  
Utako Yokoyama ◽  
N. Chin Lai ◽  
Matthew Spellman ◽  
...  

Myocardial infarction (MI) results in left ventricular remodeling (e.g., ventricular hypertrophy, dilatation, and fibrosis). Fibrosis contributes to increased myocardial stiffening, impaired ventricular filling and function, and reduced cardiac output. Adenylyl cyclase (AC) expression and activity are reduced in animal models of heart failure. Stimulation of AC can inhibit extracellular matrix production in isolated cardiac fibroblasts; however, a role for reduced AC expression and activity in fibrosis associated with cardiac remodeling after chronic MI has never been determined. We tested the hypothesis that AC expression and activity are reduced in cardiac fibroblasts after chronic (18 wk) MI. Rats underwent coronary artery ligation or sham surgery (control), and echocardiography was used to assess left ventricular remodeling 1, 3, 5, 7, 10, 12, and 18 wk after surgery. Cardiac fibroblasts were isolated from the noninfarcted myocardium and compared for differences in AC activity and collagen synthesis. End-diastolic dimension was increased [control: 0.76 ± 0.02 cm and MI: 1.0 ± 0.02 cm (means ± SE), P < 0.001] and fractional shortening was decreased (control: 44 ± 2% and MI: 17 ± 2%, P < 0.001) in MI compared with control rats. Basal and forskolin-stimulated cAMP production were decreased by 90% and 93%, respectively, and AC5/6 expression was decreased 39% in fibroblasts isolated from MI rats compared with sham controls. Serum-stimulated collagen production was increased twofold and forskolin-mediated inhibition of collagen synthesis was reduced in fibroblasts from MI rats compared with controls. Our data demonstrate that AC expression and activity are reduced and collagen production is increased in cardiac fibroblasts of rats after MI.


2003 ◽  
Vol 284 (5) ◽  
pp. H1560-H1569 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria A. Cavasin ◽  
Steadman S. Sankey ◽  
Ai-Li Yu ◽  
Shreevidya Menon ◽  
Xiao-Ping Yang

Premenopausal women are much less prone to develop cardiovascular disease than men of similar age, but this advantage no longer applies after menopause. We previously found that male mice have a significantly higher rate of cardiac rupture than females during the acute phase of myocardial infarction (MI); however, the effects of sexual hormones on chronic remodeling are unknown. We hypothesized that estrogen (E) may protect the heart from chronic remodeling and deterioration of function post-MI, whereas testosterone (T) may have adverse effects. Mice (4 wk old) of both genders were divided into four groups: female groups consisted of 1) sham ovariectomy (S-Ovx) + placebo (P) (S-Ovx + P), 2) S-Ovx + T, 3) Ovx + P, and 4) Ovx + T; and male groups consisted of 1) sham castration (S-Cas)+ P (S-Cas + P), 2) S-Cas + 17β-estradiol (E), 3) Cas + P, and 4) Cas + E. MI was induced 6 wk later. Echocardiography was performed to assess cardiac function and left ventricular dimensions (LVD). Myocyte cross-sectional area (MCSA) was measured at the end of the study. In females, both testosterone and ovariectomy decreased ejection fraction (EF) and increased LVD, and when combined they aggravated cardiac function and remodeling further. Testosterone significantly increased MCSA. In males, castration or estrogen increased EF and reduced LVD, whereas castration significantly reduced MCSA. Our data suggest that estrogen prevents deterioration of cardiac function and remodeling after MI, but testosterone worsens cardiac dysfunction and remodeling and has a pronounced effect when estrogen levels are reduced.


Hypertension ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 62 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hongmei Peng ◽  
Jiang Xu ◽  
Xiao-Ping Yang ◽  
Xiangguo Dai ◽  
Edward Petersion ◽  
...  

N-acetyl-seryl-aspartyl-lysyl-proline (Ac-SDKP) has anti-inflammatory, anti-fibrotic and pro-angiogenic effects. We previously observed that Ac-SDKP reduces incidence of cardiac rupture in mice with acute myocardial infarction (MI), which is associated with its anti-inflammatory and pro-angiogenic properties. We hypothesized that Ac-SDKP, via its anti-fibrotic and pro-angiogenic actions, ameliorates left ventricular (LV) dilatation and fibrosis, thus improving cardiac function post-MI. C57BL/6J mice were divided into three groups: 1) sham MI, 2) MI + vehicle (VEH), and 3) MI + Ac-SDKP. Ac-SDKP (1.6 mg/kg/day) was given immediately after MI induction ( i.p. via osmotic pump) for 5 weeks. Cardiac remodeling and function were assessed by echocardiography, and interstitial collagen fraction (ICF) and capillary density was determined histologically. We found that Ac-SDKP 1) reduced LV remodeling, evidenced by decreased LV chamber dimensions and areas, and reduced ICF and increased capillary density, with no changes in posterior wall thickness and LV weight (LVW), and 2) improved cardiac function, demonstrated by increased fractional shortening (FS) and ejection fraction (EF) (Table). We conclude that in murine models of MI, Ac-SDKP protects the heart from more severe remodeling and dysfunction, possibly via its anti-fibrotic and pro-angiogenic actions. Thus, the use of Ac-SDKP or its analogues could be a new and effective alternative in restoring cardiac function in patients after MI.


Author(s):  
С.А. Крыжановский ◽  
И.Б. Цорин ◽  
Е.О. Ионова ◽  
В.Н. Столярук ◽  
М.Б. Вититнова ◽  
...  

Цель исследования - разработка трансляционной модели хронической сердечной недостаточности (ХСН) у крыс, позволяющей, с одной стороны, изучить тонкие механизмы, лежащие в основе данной патологии, а с другой стороны, выявить новые биомишени для поиска и изучения механизма действия инновационных лекарственных средств. Методика. Использован комплекс эхокардиографических, морфологических, биохимических и молекулярно-биологических исследований, позволяющий оценивать и дифференцировать этапы формирования ХСН. Результаты. Динамические эхокардиографические исследования показали, что ХСН формируется через 90 дней после воспроизведения переднего трансмурального инфаркта миокарда. К этому времени у животных основной группы отмечается статистически значимое по сравнению со 2-ми сут. после воспроизведения экспериментального инфаркта миокарда снижение ФВ левого желудочка сердца (соответственно 55,9 ± 1,4 и 63,9 ± 1,6%, р = 0,0008). Снижение насосной функции сердца (на 13% по сравнению со 2-ми сут. после операции и на ~40% по сравнению с интактными животными) сопровождается увеличением КСР и КДР (соответственно с 2,49 ± 0,08 до 3,91 ± 0,17 мм, р = 0,0002, и с 3,56 ± 0,11 до 5,20 ± 0,19 мм, р = 0,0001), то есть к этому сроку развивается сердечная недостаточность. Результаты эхокардиографических исследований подтверждены данными морфометрии миокарда, продемонстрировавшими дилатацию правого и левого желудочков сердца. Параллельно проведенные гистологические исследования свидетельствуют о наличии патогномоничных для данной патологии изменений миокарда (постинфарктный кардиосклероз, компенсаторная гипертрофия кардиомиоцитов, очаги исчезновения поперечной исчерченности мышечных волокон и т.д.) и признаков венозного застоя в легких и печени. Биохимические исследования выявили значимое увеличение концентрации в плазме крови биохимического маркера ХСН - мозгового натрийуретического пептида. Данные молекулярно-биологических исследований позволяют говорить о наличии гиперактивности ренин-ангиотензин-альдостероновой и симпатоадреналовой систем, играющих ключевую роль в патогенезе ХСН. Заключение. Разработана трансляционная модель ХСН у крыс, воспроизводящая основные клинико-диагностические критерии этого заболевания. Показано наличие корреляции между морфометрическими, гистологическими, биохимическими и молекулярными маркерами прогрессирующей ХСН и эхокардиографическими диагностическими признаками, что позволяет использовать неинвазивный метод эхокардиографии, характеризующий состояние внутрисердечной гемодинамики, в качестве основного критерия оценки наличия/отсутствия данной патологии. Aim. Development of a translational model for chronic heart failure (CHF) in rats to identify new biotargets for finding and studying mechanisms of innovative drug effect in this disease. Methods. A set of echocardiographic, morphological, biochemical, and molecular methods was used to evaluate and differentiate stages of CHF development. Results. Dynamic echocardiographic studies showed that CHF developed in 90 days after anterior transmural myocardial infarction. By that time, left ventricular ejection fraction was significantly decreased in animals of the main group compared with rats studied on day 2 after experimental myocardial infarction (55.9 ± 1.4% vs . 63.9 ± 1.6%, respectively, p<0.0008). The decrease in heart’s pumping function (by 13% compared with day 2 after infarction and by approximately 40% compared to intact animals) was associated with increased ESD and EDD (from 2.49 ± 0.08 to 3.91 ± 0.17 mm, p = 0.0002, and from 3.56 ± 0.11 to 5.20 ± 0.19 mm, respectively, p = 0.0001); therefore, heart failure developed by that time. The results of echocardiographic studies were confirmed by myocardial morphometry, which demonstrated dilatation of both right and left ventricles. Paralleled histological studies indicated presence of the changes pathognomonic for this myocardial pathology (postinfarction cardiosclerosis, compensatory hypertrophy of cardiomyocytes, foci of disappeared transverse striation of muscle fibers, etc.) and signs of venous congestion in lungs and liver. Biochemical studies demonstrated a significant increase in plasma concentration of brain natriuretic peptide, a biochemical marker of CHF. Results of molecular studies suggested hyperactivity of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone and sympathoadrenal systems, which play a key role in the pathogenesis of CHF. Conclusions. A translational model of CHF in rats was developed, which reproduced major clinical and diagnostic criteria for this disease. Morphometric, histological, biochemical, and molecular markers for progressive CHF were correlated with echocardiographic diagnostic signs, which allows using this echocardiographic, noninvasive method characterizing the intracardiac hemodynamics as a major criterion for the presence / absence of this pathology.


2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (7) ◽  
pp. 862-873 ◽  
Author(s):  
Salva R. Yurista ◽  
Herman H.W. Silljé ◽  
Silke U. Oberdorf‐Maass ◽  
Elisabeth‐Maria Schouten ◽  
Mario G. Pavez Giani ◽  
...  

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