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Rubio B, Pintado C, Mazuecos L, Benito M, Andrés A, Gallardo N. Central Actions of Leptin Induce an Atrophic Pattern and Improves Heart Function in Lean Normoleptinemic Rats via PPARβ/δ Activation. Biomolecules 2024; 14:1028. [PMID: 39199415 PMCID: PMC11352611 DOI: 10.3390/biom14081028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2024] [Revised: 07/27/2024] [Accepted: 08/16/2024] [Indexed: 09/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Leptin, acting centrally or peripherally, has complex effects on cardiac remodeling and heart function. We previously reported that central leptin exerts an anti-hypertrophic effect in the heart via cardiac PPARβ/δ activation. Here, we assessed the impact of central leptin administration and PPARβ/δ inhibition on cardiac function. Various cardiac properties, including QRS duration, R wave amplitude, heart rate (HR), ejection fraction (EF), end-diastolic left ventricular mass (EDLVM), end-diastolic volume (EDV), and cardiac output (CO) were analyzed. Central leptin infusion increased cardiac PPARβ/δ protein content and decreased HR, QRS duration, and R wave amplitude. These changes induced by central leptin suggested a decrease in the ventricular wall growth, which was confirmed by MRI. In fact, the EDLVM was reduced by central leptin while increased in rats co-treated with leptin and GSK0660, a selective antagonist of PPARβ/δ activity. In summary, central leptin plays a dual role in cardiac health, potentially leading to ventricular atrophy and improving heart function when PPARβ/δ signaling is intact. The protective effects of leptin are lost by PPARβ/δ inhibition, underscoring the importance of this pathway. These findings highlight the therapeutic potential of targeting leptin and PPARβ/δ pathways to combat cardiac alterations and heart failure, particularly in the context of obesity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Blanca Rubio
- Biochemistry Section, Faculty of Sciences and Chemical Technologies, University of Castilla-La Mancha, Avda. Camilo José Cela 10, 13071 Ciudad Real, Spain; (B.R.); (L.M.)
- Molecular Regulation of Heart Failure Research Group, National Cardiovascular Research Center Carlos III (CNIC), Melchor Fernández Almagro 3, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Cristina Pintado
- Biochemistry Section, Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Biochemistry, University of Castilla-La Mancha, Avda. Carlos III s/n, 45071 Toledo, Spain;
- DOE Research Group, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Castilla-La Mancha (IB-UCLM), 13071 Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Lorena Mazuecos
- Biochemistry Section, Faculty of Sciences and Chemical Technologies, University of Castilla-La Mancha, Avda. Camilo José Cela 10, 13071 Ciudad Real, Spain; (B.R.); (L.M.)
- DOE Research Group, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Castilla-La Mancha (IB-UCLM), 13071 Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Marina Benito
- ICTS Bioimagen Complutense (BioImaC), Universidad Complutense de Madrid, P°. de Juan XXIII 1, 28040 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Antonio Andrés
- Biochemistry Section, Faculty of Sciences and Chemical Technologies, University of Castilla-La Mancha, Avda. Camilo José Cela 10, 13071 Ciudad Real, Spain; (B.R.); (L.M.)
- DOE Research Group, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Castilla-La Mancha (IB-UCLM), 13071 Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Nilda Gallardo
- Biochemistry Section, Faculty of Sciences and Chemical Technologies, University of Castilla-La Mancha, Avda. Camilo José Cela 10, 13071 Ciudad Real, Spain; (B.R.); (L.M.)
- DOE Research Group, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Castilla-La Mancha (IB-UCLM), 13071 Ciudad Real, Spain
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Sykora M, Kratky V, Cervenka L, Kopkan L, Tribulova N, Szeiffova Bacova B. The treatment with trandolapril and losartan attenuates pressure and volume overload alternations of cardiac connexin-43 and extracellular matrix in Ren-2 transgenic rats. Sci Rep 2023; 13:20923. [PMID: 38017033 PMCID: PMC10684879 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-48259-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Heart failure (HF) is life-threatening disease due to electro-mechanical dysfunction associated with hemodynamic overload, while alterations of extracellular matrix (ECM) along with perturbed connexin-43 (Cx43) might be key factors involved. We aimed to explore a dual impact of pressure, and volume overload due to aorto-caval fistula (ACF) on Cx43 and ECM as well as effect of renin-angiotensin blockade. Hypertensive Ren-2 transgenic rats (TGR) and normotensive Hannover Sprague-Dawley rats (HSD) that underwent ACF were treated for 15-weeks with trandolapril or losartan. Blood serum and heart tissue samples of the right (RV) and left ventricles (LV) were used for analyses. ACF-HF increased RV, LV and lung mass in HSD and to lesser extent in TGR, while treatment attenuated it and normalized serum ANP, BNP-45 and TBARS. Cx43 protein and its ser368 variant along with PKCε were lower in TGR vs HSD and suppressed in both rat strains due to ACF but prevented more by trandolapril. Pro-hypertrophic PKCδ, collagen I and hydroxyproline were elevated in TGR and increased due to ACF in both rat strains. While SMAD2/3 and MMP2 levels were lower in TGR vs HSD and reduced due to ACF in both strains. Findings point out the strain-related differences in response to volume overload. Disorders of Cx43 and ECM signalling may contribute not only to HF but also to the formation of arrhythmogenic substrate. There is benefit of treatment with trandolapril and losartan indicating their pleiotropic anti-arrhythmic potential. It may provide novel input to therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matus Sykora
- Centre of Experimental Medicine, Institute for Heart Research, Slovak Academy of Sciences, 841 04, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Vojtech Kratky
- Center for Experimental Medicine, Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine, 140 21, Prague, Czech Republic
- Department of Nephrology, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General University Hospital in Prague, 128 08, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Ludek Cervenka
- Center for Experimental Medicine, Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine, 140 21, Prague, Czech Republic
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Cardiology, University Hospital Olomouc and Palacky University, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Libor Kopkan
- Center for Experimental Medicine, Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine, 140 21, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Narcis Tribulova
- Centre of Experimental Medicine, Institute for Heart Research, Slovak Academy of Sciences, 841 04, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Barbara Szeiffova Bacova
- Centre of Experimental Medicine, Institute for Heart Research, Slovak Academy of Sciences, 841 04, Bratislava, Slovakia.
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Szeiffova Bacova B, Andelova K, Sykora M, T EB, Kurahara LH, Slezak J, Tribulova N. Distinct Cardiac Connexin-43 Expression in Hypertrophied and Atrophied Myocardium May Impact the Vulnerability of the Heart to Malignant Arrhythmias. A Pilot Study. Physiol Res 2023; 72:S37-S45. [PMID: 37294117 DOI: 10.33549/physiolres.935025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Our and other studies suggest that myocardial hypertrophy in response to hypertension and hyperthyroidism increases propensity of the heart to malignant arrhythmias, while these are rare in conditions of hypothyroidism or type-1 diabetes mellitus associated with myocardial atrophy. One of the crucial factors impacting the susceptibility of the heart to life-threatening arrhythmias is gap junction channel protein connexin-43 (Cx43), which ensure cell-to-cell coupling for electrical signal propagation. Therefore, we aimed to explore Cx43 protein abundance and its topology in hypertrophic and hypotrophic cardiac phenotype. Analysis were performed in left ventricular tissue of adult male spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR), Wistar Kyoto rats treated for 8-weeks with L-thyroxine, methimazol or strepotozotocin to induce hyperthyroid, hypothyroid and type-1 diabetic status as well as non-treated animals. Results showed that comparing to healthy rats there was a decrease of total myocardial Cx43 and its variant phosphorylated at serine368 in SHR and hyperthyroid rats. Besides, enhanced localization of Cx43 was demonstrated on lateral sides of hypertrophied cardiomyocytes. In contrast, total Cx43 protein and its serine368 variant were increased in atrophied left ventricle of hypothyroid and type-1 diabetic rats. It was associated with less pronounced alterations in Cx43 topology. In parallel, the abundance of PKCepsilon, which phosphorylates Cx43 at serine368 that stabilize Cx43 function and distribution was reduced in hypertrophied heart while enhanced in atrophied once. Findings suggest that differences in the abundance of cardiac Cx43, its variant phosphorylated at serine368 and Cx43 topology may explain, in part, distinct propensity of hypertrophied and atrophied heart to malignant arrhythmias.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Szeiffova Bacova
- Centre of Experimental Medicine, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovak Republic.
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Sykora M, Andelova K, Szeiffova Bacova B, Egan Benova T, Martiskova A, Knezl V, Tribulova N. Hypertension Induces Pro-arrhythmic Cardiac Connexome Disorders: Protective Effects of Treatment. Biomolecules 2023; 13:biom13020330. [PMID: 36830700 PMCID: PMC9953310 DOI: 10.3390/biom13020330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/21/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Prolonged population aging and unhealthy lifestyles contribute to the progressive prevalence of arterial hypertension. This is accompanied by low-grade inflammation and over time results in heart dysfunction and failure. Hypertension-induced myocardial structural and ion channel remodeling facilitates the development of both atrial and ventricular fibrillation, and these increase the risk of stroke and sudden death. Herein, we elucidate hypertension-induced impairment of "connexome" cardiomyocyte junctions. This complex ensures cell-to-cell adhesion and coupling for electrical and molecular signal propagation. Connexome dysfunction can be a key factor in promoting the occurrence of both cardiac arrhythmias and heart failure. However, the available literature indicates that arterial hypertension treatment can hamper myocardial structural remodeling, hypertrophy and/or fibrosis, and preserve connexome function. This suggests the pleiotropic effects of antihypertensive agents, including anti-inflammatory. Therefore, further research is required to identify specific molecular targets and pathways that will protect connexomes, and it is also necessary to develop new approaches to maintain heart function in patients suffering from primary or pulmonary arterial hypertension.
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