Targeting the glucagon receptor improves cardiac function and enhances insulin sensitivity following a myocardial infarction.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND:In heart failure the myocardium becomes insulin resistant which negatively influences cardiac energy metabolism and function, while increasing cardiac insulin signalling improves cardiac function and prevents adverse remodelling in the failing heart. Glucagon's action on cardiac glucose and lipid homeostasis counteract that of insulin's action. We hypothesised that pharmacological antagonism of myocardial glucagon action, using a human monoclonal antibody (mAb A) against glucagon receptor (GCGR), a G-protein coupled receptor, will enhance insulin sensitivity and improve cardiac energy metabolism and function post myocardial infarction (MI). METHODS:Male C57BL/6 mice were subjected to a permanent left anterior descending coronary artery ligation to induce MI, following which they received either saline or mAb A (4 mg kg-1 week-1 starting at 1 week post-MI) for 3 weeks. RESULTS:Echocardiographic assessment at 4 weeks post-MI showed that mAb A treatment improved % ejection fraction (40.0?±?2.3% vs 30.7?±?1.7% in vehicle-treated MI heart, p?

SUBMITTER: Karwi QG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6325856 | biostudies-other | 2019 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other