Abstract P163: Prevention Of Cardiac Fibrosis By Dietary Sodium Restriction During Metabolic Syndrome: Involvement Of Endothelial To Mesenchymal Transition

In a rat model of metabolic syndrome (MS), our previous studies have shown that dietary sodium restriction prevents both metabolic and cardiac damages associated with MS. Our aim is now to investigate whether the beneficial effects of sodium restriction could be mediated by endothelial to mesenchymal (EndoMT) transition in the myocardium thereby preventing cardiac fibrosis.High fructose (60%) Sprague Dawley rats were divided into 2 groups: low sodium (<0.01% NaCl, N=20) or normal sodium (0.65% NaCl, N=20) diet for 8 weeks. EndoMT was investigated by q-PCR, WB, and IF on the left ventricles. Transcriptomic analysis was performed using Agilent Rat Gene Expression Microarray. After 8 weeks, fructose-fed rats on normal sodium diet were insulin-resistant and hypertensive, both abnormalities being significantly prevented by sodium restriction. In left ventricles, two mesenchymal proteins, α-smooth muscle actin (αSMA) and vimentin were found significantly reduced using qPCR and WB by sodium restriction (P<0.05), as compared to normal sodium diet. At the opposite, we observed a significant increase in Pecam-1, a specific protein of vascular endothelial cells (P<0.05). Using IF, we detected a co-expression of αSMA and Pecam-1 in 67.3%±4.9 (54 of 88) of cardiac vessels of rats fed normal sodium diet, as compared to 42.3%±3.8 (37 of 88) in rats fed low sodium diet (P<0.05). The transcriptomic study showed that 22 genes, involved in fibrosis, were down-regulated in left ventricles of sodium-restricted rats (P<0.05). By q-PCR, we confirmed that 17 of them were significantly reduced by the low sodium diet (P<0.05). Finally, we established an in vitro model of EndoMT, using primary human aortic endothelial (HAoE) cells that were transdifferentiated with TGF-β2 (10ng/ml). We evidenced in HAoE cells the co-expression of Pecam-1 and collagen-1, as a signature of EndoMT. Especially, fibulin 5, one of the genes identified by transcriptomics was found upregulated (13 folds) in the presence of TGF-β2, confirming its potential role in EndoMT. Our study shows that EndoMT is involved in the prevention of cardiac fibrosis by sodium restriction in our rat model of MS. We also confirmed the involvement of ew genes that could be of interest to improve the management of cardiac fibrosis.

Abstract MP29: A Cloned Anti-aminopeptidase N Scfv Antibody Blocks Enzymatic Activity And Rescues A Low Sodium Phenotype In Proximal Tubule Cells Isolated From Inverse Salt Sensitive Participants

Inverse Salt Sensitivity (ISS), defined as the paradoxical increase in blood pressure of individuals on a low sodium diet compared to a high sodium diet, may be associated with the increase in mortality and morbidity found in individuals on a low sodium diet. Our group has previously found that urine derived human renal proximal tubule cells (RPTC) isolated from ISS participants express higher Aminopeptidase N (APN) protein than cells isolated from salt resistant (SR) participants. An anti-Aminopeptidase N (APN) hybridoma was used construct a single chain variable fragment (scFv) into a bacterial expression system. The purified anti-APN scFv bound to live human renal proximal tubule cells, detected using an Alexa594 directly labelled anti-myc monoclonal antibody by immunofluorescent confocal microscopy. The anti-APN scFv was then tested to determine if it blocks APN enzymatic activity. We have previously shown that under low sodium conditions the amount of reduced-glutathione as determined by live cell fluorescence staining with the redox sensitive dye, monochlorobimane (mBCl), is decreased only in ISS cells under low sodium conditions at the two-hour time point. We hypothesized that the decreased mBCl signal may be due to the increased APN expression and activity altering the Ang II/Ang III ratio and reducing the Ang III activation of the AT 2 R. Low sodium reduced the mBCl signal in ISS (-29.2±4.3%, ISS vs SR, N=3 per group, p<0.05) and the addition of the anti-APN scFv at 1 ug/ml completely blocked the mBCl signal back to levels found in SR in normal salt conditions. In order to verify that the full rescue of this ISS specific response is due to enhanced Ang III – AT 2 R signaling, we next tried to block the effect of the anti-APN scFv by the addition of the AT 2 R antagonist, PD123319 (PD, 1 uM). Addition of PD alone to the ISS LS RPTCs did not significantly alter the mBCl signal, but when PD and anti-APN scFv are added to the LS treated ISS cells, there is complete reversal of the effect of anti-APN scFv alone (-38.1±3.9%, ISS anti-APN scFv + PD vs ISS anti-APN scFv, N=3 per group, p<0.05). The anti-APN scFv has potential therapeutic value by reducing APN enzymatic activity in ISS individuals and inducing the protective AT 2 R arm of the renin angiotensin system in low sodium conditions.

Nox4 Maintains Blood Pressure during Low Sodium Diet

The NADPH oxidase Nox4 is a hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-producing enzyme, with the highest expression in the kidney. As the kidney is involved in volume and blood pressure control through sodium handling, we set out to determine the impact of a low sodium diet on these parameters in WT and Nox4-/- mice. Nox4 expression in the murine kidney was restricted to the proximal tubule. Nevertheless, low-sodium-induced weight loss and sodium sparing function was similar in WT and Nox4-/- mice, disputing an important function of renal Nox4 in sodium handling. In contrast, a low sodium diet resulted in a reduction in systolic blood pressure in Nox4-/- as compared to WT mice. This was associated with a selectively lower pressure to heart-rate ratio, as well as heart to body weight ratio. In general, a low sodium diet leads to activation of sympathetic tone and the renin angiotensin system, which subsequently increases peripheral resistance. Our observations suggest that the control by this system is attenuated in Nox4-/- mice, resulting in lower blood pressure in response to low sodium.

Sodium Sensitivity, Sodium Resistance, and Incidence of Hypertension

Cross-sectional studies have reported that high sodium sensitivity is more common among individuals with hypertension. Experimental studies have also reported various animal models with sodium-resistant hypertension. It is unknown, however, whether sodium sensitivity and resistance precede the development of hypertension. We conducted a feeding study, including a 7-day low-sodium diet (1180 mg/day) followed by a 7-day high-sodium diet (7081 mg/day), among 1718 Chinese adults with blood pressure (BP) <140/90 mm Hg. We longitudinally followed them over an average of 7.4 years. Three BP measurements and 24-hour urinary sodium excretion were obtained on each of 3 days during baseline observation, low-sodium and high-sodium interventions, and 2 follow-up studies. Three trajectories of BP responses to dietary sodium intake were identified using latent trajectory analysis. Mean (SD) changes in systolic BP were −13.7 (5.5), −4.9 (3.0), and 2.4 (3.0) mm Hg during the low-sodium intervention and 11.2 (5.3), 4.4 (4.1), and −0.2 (4.1) mm Hg during the high-sodium intervention ( P <0.001 for group differences) in high sodium-sensitive, moderate sodium-sensitive, and sodium-resistant groups, respectively. Compared with individuals with moderate sodium sensitivity, multiple-adjusted odds ratios (95% CIs) for incident hypertension were 1.43 (1.03–1.98) for those with high sodium sensitivity and 1.43 (1.03–1.99) for those with sodium resistance ( P =0.006 for nonlinear trend). Furthermore, a J-shaped association between systolic BP responses to sodium intake and incident hypertension was identified ( P <0.001). Similar results were observed for diastolic BP. Our study indicates that individuals with either high sodium sensitivity or sodium resistance are at an increased risk for developing hypertension.

A Low-Sodium Diet Boosts Ang (1–7) Production and NO-cGMP Bioavailability to Reduce Edema and Enhance Survival in Experimental Heart Failure

Sodium restriction is often recommended in heart failure (HF) to block symptomatic edema, despite limited evidence for benefit. However, a low-sodium diet (LSD) activates the classical renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS), which may adversely affect HF progression and mortality in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). We performed a randomized, blinded pre-clinical trial to compare the effects of a normal (human-equivalent) sodium diet and a LSD on HF progression in a normotensive model of DCM in mice that has translational relevance to human HF. The LSD reduced HF progression by suppressing the development of pleural effusions (p < 0.01), blocking pathological increases in systemic extracellular water (p < 0.001) and prolonging median survival (15%, p < 0.01). The LSD activated the classical RAAS by increasing plasma renin activity, angiotensin II and aldosterone levels. However, the LSD also significantly up-elevated the counter-regulatory RAAS by boosting plasma angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and angiotensin (1–7) levels, promoting nitric oxide bioavailability and stimulating 3′-5′-cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) production. Plasma HF biomarkers associated with poor outcomes, such as B-type natriuretic peptide and neprilysin were decreased by a LSD. Cardiac systolic function, blood pressure and renal function were not affected. Although a LSD activates the classical RAAS system, we conclude that the LSD delayed HF progression and mortality in experimental DCM, in part through protective stimulation of the counter-regulatory RAAS to increase plasma ACE2 and angiotensin (1–7) levels, nitric oxide bioavailability and cGMP production.

PENERAPAN ANJURAN DIET DASH DIBANDINGKAN DIET RENDAH GARAM BERDASARKAN KONSELING GIZI TERHADAP PENURUNAN TEKANAN DARAH PADA PASIEN HIPERTENSI DI PUSKESMAS LARANGAN UTARA

The low sodium and Diet Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) are diets for reducing high blood pressure. This study aimed to analyze the effect of nutrition counseling on the DASH diet compared to low sodium diet on blood pressure in hypertensive patients. The study design was an experimental study that randomly allocated 34 respondents to DASH diet and 35 respondents to low sodium diet. The ages of respondents were 43 to 76 years and women were 74.3 percent. Nutrition counseling was conducted by researchers to respondents who visited health center or Posbindu Larangan Utara. Nutritional counseling was conducted for an average of 20 minutes using existing brochures. Low sodium diet emphasizes reducing sodium intake while DASH diet emphasis more on consuming lots of vegetables, fruit, nuts and low-fat products. Variables collected were the characteristics of respondent, disease, drugs taken and nutritional status, while blood pressure using a sphygmomanometer, food intake including sodium were measured before and 2 weeks after nutritional counseling. Results showed that there was a significant difference in diastolic blood pressure after patients were given DASH diet compared to low sodium diet (p 0.05) and there was a significant difference in delta of systolic and diastolic reduction in DASH diet compared to low sodium diet. Test also showed a significant reduction in systolic, diastolic blood pressure and sodium intake (p 0.001) in both diet groups after receiving counseling. It concluded that DASH diet can be recommended to decrease blood pressure in hypertensive patients with consider nutritional status. ABSTRAK Diet Rendah Garam (RG) dan Diet Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) adalah diet untuk menurunkan tekanan darah tinggi. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisa pengaruh konseling gizi diet DASH dibandingkan diet RG terhadap tekanan darah pasien hipertensi. Rancangan penelitian adalah eksperimen yang secara acak mengalokasi diet DASH kepada 34 orang dan diet RG kepada 35 orang responden. Usia responden antara 43 hingga 76 tahun dan sebagian besar perempuan (74,3%). Konseling gizi dilakukan oleh tim peneliti kepada pasien hipertensi yang memeriksakan diri ke puskesmas atau posbindu Larangan Utara. Konseling gizi dilakukan rata-rata 20 menit menggunakan brosur yang sudah ada. Diet RG menekankan pengurangan asupan natrium sedangkan diet DASH lebih menekankan ke banyak konsumsi sayur, buah, kacang-kacangan dan produk rendah lemak. Variabel yang dikumpulkan adalah karakteristik responden, penyakit dan obat yang diminum serta status gizi sedangkan tekanan darah menggunakan sfigmomanometer, asupan makanan, zat gizi termasuk natrium diukur sebelum dan 2 minggu setelah konseling gizi dilakukan. Hasil menunjukkan adanya perbedaan yang bermakna pada tekanan darah diastolik setelah pasien diberi diet DASH dibandingkan dengan pasien yang diberi diet RG (p0,05) dan terdapat perbedaan delta penurunan sistolik dan diastolik bermakna pada diet DASH dibanding diet RG. Analisa juga menunjukkan adanya penurunan tekanan darah sistolik, diastolik dan asupan natrium yang bermakna (p0.001) pada kedua kelompok diet setelah mendapat konseling diet DASH dan diet RG. Disimpulkan diet DASH dapat direkomendasikan untuk membantu menurunkan tekanan darah pada pasien hipertensi dengan memperhatikan status gizi. Kata kunci: hipertensi, tekanan darah, diet rendah garam, diet DASH