Project description:Quercetin has been shown to act as an anti-carcinogen in experimental colorectal cancer (CRC). The aim of the present study was to characterise transcriptome and proteome changes occurring in the distal colon mucosa of rats supplemented with 10 g quercetin/kg diet for 11 weeks. Transcriptome data analysed with Gene Set Enrichment Analysis showed that quercetin significantly downregulated the potentially oncogenic mitogen-activated protein kinase (Mapk) pathway. In addition, quercetin enhanced expression of tumor suppressor genes, including Pten, Tp53 and Msh2, and of cell cycle inhibitors, including Mutyh. Furthermore, dietary quercetin enhanced genes involved in phase I and II metabolism, including Fmo5, Ephx1, Ephx2 and Gpx2. Quercetin increased PPARα target genes, and concomitantly enhanced expression genes in volved in of mitochondrial fatty acid degradation. Proteomics performed in the same samples revealed 33 affected proteins, of which 4 glycolysis enzymes and 3 heatshock proteins were decreased. A proteome-transcriptome comparison showed a low correlation, but both pointed out towards altered energy metabolism. In conclusion, transcriptomics combined with proteomics showed that dietary quercetin evoked changes contrary to those found in colorectal carcinogenesis. These tumor-protective mechanisms were associated with a shift in energy production pathways, pointing at decreased glycolysis in the cytoplasm towards increased fatty acid degradation in the mitochondria. Keywords: Transscriptomics, proteomics, quercetin-exposed and control rats
Project description:We used spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) as an animal model of hypertensive heart disease and treated them with allisartan orally. We continuously monitored the rats' blood pressure levels, measured their body and heart weights, and evaluated their cardiac structure and function using echocardiography. We performed proteome analysis using the tandem mass tag (TMT) technology.
Project description:BACKGROUND: Chronic inflammation contributes significantly to hypertension and associated target organ damage, particularly in the heart and kidneys. Specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs), a class of bioactive lipids primarily derived from omega-3 fatty acids, play key roles in resolving inflammation and maintaining tissue homeostasis. Among them, Maresin 1 (MaR1) has been implicated in cardiovascular regulation and blood pressure control. We hypothesized that MaR1 may mitigate salt-induced hypertension and its related effects in Dahl salt-sensitive (SS) rats. This study evaluated the impact of MaR1 on blood pressure progression, cardiac function, fibrosis, lipid metabolism, gene expression, and circadian rhythms in SS rats fed a high-salt diet. METHODS: SS rats were fed a high-salt diet and treated with MaR1. Mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) were continuously monitored. Echocardiography and histology were used to assess cardiac structure, contractility, and fibrosis. Lipidomic profiling quantified inflammation-resolving lipid mediators, and transcriptomic analysis identified organ-specific gene expression changes. RESULTS: MaR1 treatment did not significantly alter MAP, HR, or cardiac structure and function. Echocardiographic and histological evaluations showed no significant changes in cardiac remodeling, contractility, or collagen deposition in the heart or kidney. However, lipidomic profiling revealed shifts in inflammatory lipid mediators, suggesting immunomodulatory and metabolic effects of MaR1. Transcriptomic analysis demonstrated organ-specific gene expression changes, with upregulation of circadian and metabolic pathways in the heart and modulation of immune signaling in the kidney. Notably, MaR1 influenced circadian blood pressure rhythms, enhancing amplitude and shifting the acrophase, consistent with altered expression of circadian clock genes. CONCLUSIONS: Although MaR1 did not affect hypertension development directly, its modulation of lipid metabolism, inflammatory pathways, and circadian regulation suggests therapeutic potential. Future studies should explore extended treatment durations and combination strategies to fully evaluate its role in cardiovascular and renal disease management.
Project description:Rosiglitazone, a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor g (PPARg) agonist of the thiazolidinedione class, is a major insulin-sensitizing drug widely used to treat type-2 diabetes. Rosiglitazone causes myocardial hypertrophy in rodents and increases the risk of cardiac events in man. To better characterize its cardiac effects, male Wistar rats were orally administered 0, 10 or 80 mg/kg/day rosiglitazone. Male Wistar rats were orally administered 0, 10 or 80 mg/kg/day rosiglitazone once per day for 14 days. Samples were obtained 6, 24, 168 or 336 hours after the final treatment.
Project description:Background: Vitamin D deficiency is associated with cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure, and vitamin D therapy prevents the progression of cardiac hypertrophy in animal models. Here, we examine whether vitamin D therapy regresses pre-existing cardiac hypertrophy, and prevents the progression to heart failure. Methods and Results: When male Dahl salt-sensitive (DSS) rats are fed a high salt (HS) diet, all rats develop cardiac hypertrophy after 5 weeks (H). Thereafter, rats were treated with vehicle (V), paricalcitol (PC, an active vitamin D analog at 200ng, IP 3x/wk), enalapril (EP, 90ug/day), and PC+EP. All groups were continued on the HS diet and evaluated after 4 weeks of therapy. The PC and PC+EP, but not the V and EP-only groups, showed significant regression of pre-existing cardiac hypertrophy. The signs of decompensated heart failure were evident in the vehicle-treated group; these heart failure parameters significantly improved with PC, EP or PC+EP therapy. The expression of PKCe, which is regulated by Ca2+ and known to stimulate cardiac hypertrophy, was significantly increased in the vehicle group, and PC, EP or PC+EP effectively decreased PKCe activation. We also observed normalization of genetic alterations during progression to heart failure with PC treatment. Conclusions: PC treatment resulted in both the regression of pre-existing cardiac hypertrophy, and the attenuation of the progression to heart failure, compared to improvement in progression to heart failure by EP alone. These beneficial findings in the heart were associated with inhibition of PKCe activation, and reversal of gene alterations.
Project description:investigate the potential molecular mechanism by which heparin ameliorates cardiac injury after CA-CPR in rats via proteomic techniques.
Project description:Rosiglitazone, a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor g (PPARg) agonist of the thiazolidinedione class, is a major insulin-sensitizing drug widely used to treat type-2 diabetes. Rosiglitazone causes myocardial hypertrophy in rodents and increases the risk of cardiac events in man. To better characterize its cardiac effects, male Wistar rats were orally administered 0, 10 or 80 mg/kg/day rosiglitazone.
Project description:TMT labeling of mitochondrial enrichments from right ventricular specimens from 3 control rats, 3 monocrotaline rats, and 4 monocrotaline rats treated with WNK463.