Project description:Full Title: Transition from Compensated Hypertrophy to Systolic Heart Failure in the Spontaneously Hypertensive Rat: Structure, Function, and Transcript Analysis Gene expression changes and left ventricular remodeling associated with the transition to systolic heart failure (HF) were determined in the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR). By combining transcriptomics of left ventricles from six SHR with HF with changes in function and structure we aimed to better understand the molecular events underlying the onset of systolic HF compared to six age-matched, SHR with compensated hypertrophy. Left ventricle (LV) ejection fraction was depressed (82±4 to 52±3 %) in compensated vs. failing animals. Systolic blood pressure decreased and LV end-diastolic and systolic volume increased with HF. Failing SHR hearts also demonstrated increases in left and right ventricular mass relative to non-failing SHRs. LV papillary muscle force development and shortening velocity decreased, β-adrenergic responsiveness was depressed, myocardial stiffness and myocardial fibrosis increased with HF relative to non-failing animals. Initial micro-array analysis revealed that 1,431 transcripts were differentially expressed with HF compared to non-failing SHR (p<0.05). Of the identified transcripts, lipopolysaccharide binding protein, the most highly expressed transcript with HF, was negatively correlated to myocardial force while elevated expression of the collagen cross-linking enzyme lysyl oxidase correlated positively with muscle stiffness. Besides these individual transcripts, gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) identified multiple enriched pathways with HF, most prominent of the altered signaling pathways involved TGF-β and insulin signaling. GESA analysis additionally identified altered gene sets involving inflammation, oxidative stress, cell degradation and cell death, among others (all p<0.01). In contrast to diastolic HF where few transcripts are reported to be altered, our data indicate multiple genes and pathways involved in a variety of biological processes characterize the onset of systolic HF, consistent with many functional and structural changes present in the failing hypertensive heart. Overall design: Comprehensive gene expression profiling of heart failure Rat model vs control.
Project description:Full Title: Transition from Compensated Hypertrophy to Systolic Heart Failure in the Spontaneously Hypertensive Rat: Structure, Function, and Transcript Analysis Gene expression changes and left ventricular remodeling associated with the transition to systolic heart failure (HF) were determined in the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR). By combining transcriptomics of left ventricles from six SHR with HF with changes in function and structure we aimed to better understand the molecular events underlying the onset of systolic HF compared to six age-matched, SHR with compensated hypertrophy. Left ventricle (LV) ejection fraction was depressed (82±4 to 52±3 %) in compensated vs. failing animals. Systolic blood pressure decreased and LV end-diastolic and systolic volume increased with HF. Failing SHR hearts also demonstrated increases in left and right ventricular mass relative to non-failing SHRs. LV papillary muscle force development and shortening velocity decreased, β-adrenergic responsiveness was depressed, myocardial stiffness and myocardial fibrosis increased with HF relative to non-failing animals. Initial micro-array analysis revealed that 1,431 transcripts were differentially expressed with HF compared to non-failing SHR (p<0.05). Of the identified transcripts, lipopolysaccharide binding protein, the most highly expressed transcript with HF, was negatively correlated to myocardial force while elevated expression of the collagen cross-linking enzyme lysyl oxidase correlated positively with muscle stiffness. Besides these individual transcripts, gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) identified multiple enriched pathways with HF, most prominent of the altered signaling pathways involved TGF-β and insulin signaling. GESA analysis additionally identified altered gene sets involving inflammation, oxidative stress, cell degradation and cell death, among others (all p<0.01). In contrast to diastolic HF where few transcripts are reported to be altered, our data indicate multiple genes and pathways involved in a variety of biological processes characterize the onset of systolic HF, consistent with many functional and structural changes present in the failing hypertensive heart. Comprehensive gene expression profiling of heart failure Rat model vs control.
Project description:The cardiac expression of the mitochondrial uncoupling protein (UCP)-2 is increased in patients with heart failure. However, the underlying causes as well as the possible consequences of these alterations during the transition from hypertrophy to heart failure are still unclear. To investigate the role of UCP-2 mechanistically, expression of UCP-2 was silenced by small interfering RNA in adult rat ventricular cardiomyocytes. We demonstrate that a downregulation of UCP-2 by siRNA in cardiomyocytes preserves contractile function in the presence of angiotensin II. Furthermore, silencing of UCP-2 was associated with an upregulation of glucose transporter type (Glut)-4, increased glucose uptake, and reduced intracellular lactate levels, indicating improvement of the oxidative glucose metabolism. To study this adaptation in vivo, spontaneously hypertensive rats served as a model for cardiac hypertrophy due to pressure overload. During compensatory hypertrophy, we found low UCP-2 levels with an upregulation of Glut-4, while the decompensatory state with impaired function was associated with an increase of UCP-2 and reduced Glut-4 expression. By blocking the aldosterone receptor with spironolactone, both cardiac function as well as UCP-2 and Glut-4 expression levels of the compensated phase could be preserved. Furthermore, we were able to confirm this by left ventricular (LV) biopsies of patients with end-stage heart failure. The results of this study show that UCP-2 seems to impact the cardiac glucose metabolism during the transition from hypertrophy to failure by affecting glucose uptake through Glut-4. We suggest that the failing heart could benefit from low UCP-2 levels by improving the efficiency of glucose oxidation. For this reason, UCP-2 inhibition might be a promising therapeutic strategy to prevent the development of heart failure.
Project description:We previously found that in the hearts of hypertensive Dahl salt-sensitive rats, ?IIPKC levels increase during the transition from compensated cardiac hypertrophy to cardiac dysfunction. Here we showed that a six-week treatment of these hypertensive rats with a ?IIPKC-specific inhibitor, ?IIV5-3, prolonged their survival by at least 6weeks, suppressed myocardial fibrosis and inflammation, and delayed the transition from compensated hypertrophy to cardiac dysfunction. In addition, changes in the levels of the Ca(2+)-handling proteins, SERCA2 and the Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchanger, as well as troponin I phosphorylation, seen in the control-treated hypertensive rats were not observed in the ???PKC-treated rats, suggesting that ???PKC contributes to the regulation of calcium levels in the myocardium. In contrast, treatment with the selective inhibitor of ?IPKC, an alternative spliced form of ?IIPKC, had no beneficial effects in these rats. We also found that ?IIV5-3, but not ?IV5-3, improved calcium handling in isolated rat cardiomyocytes and enhanced contractility in isolated rat hearts. In conclusion, our data using an in vivo model of cardiac dysfunction (late-phase hypertrophy), suggest that ?IIPKC contributes to the pathology associated with heart failure and thus an inhibitor of ?IIPKC may be a potential treatment for this disease.
Project description:The spontaneously hypertensive rat strain is a frequently used disease model. In a previous study, we measured translational efficiency from this strain and BN-Lx animals. Here, we describe long RNA sequencing reads from ribosomal RNA depleted samples from the same animals. This data can be used to investigate splicing-related events.RNA was extracted from rat liver and heart left ventricle from BN-Lx and SHR/Ola rats in biological replicates. Ribosomal RNA was removed and the samples subjected to directional high-throughput RNA-sequencing. Read and alignment statistics indicate high quality of the data. The raw sequencing reads are freely available on the NCBI short read archive and can be used for further research on tissue and strain differences, or analysed together with other published high-throughput data from the same animals.
Project description:Stilbenoids are bioactive polyphenols, and resveratrol (trans-3,5,40-trihydroxystilbene) is a representative stilbenoid that reportedly exerts cardioprotective actions. As resveratrol exhibits low oral bioavailability, we turned our attention to other stilbenoid compounds with a history of medicinal use and/or improved bioavailability. We determined the effects of gnetol (trans-3,5,20,60-tetrahydroxystilbene) and pterostilbene (trans-3,5-dimethoxy-40-hydroxystilbene) on cardiac hypertrophy. In vitro, gnetol and pterostilbene prevented endothelin-1-induced indicators of cardiomyocyte hypertrophy including cell enlargement and protein synthesis. Gnetol and pterostilbene stimulated AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), and inhibition of AMPK, using compound C or shRNA knockdown,abolished these anti-hypertrophiceffects. In contrast,resveratrol, gnetol, nor pterostilbene reduced blood pressure or hypertrophy in the spontaneously hypertensive heart failure (SHHF) rat. In fact, AMPK levels were similar between Sprague-Dawley and SHHF rats whether treated by stilbenoids or not. These data suggest that the anti-hypertrophic actions of resveratrol (and other stilbenoids?) do not extend to the SHHF rat, which models heart failure superimposed on hypertension. Notably, SHHF rat hearts exhibited prolonged isovolumic relaxationtime(an indicator of diastolicdys function),and this was improved by stilbenoid treatment.In conclusion, stilbenoid-based treatment as a viable strategy to prevent pathological cardiac hypertrophy,a major risk factor for heart failure,may be context-dependent and requires furtherstudy.
Project description:Cardiac hypertrophy is recognized as an independent risk factor for cardiac failure. Efficient management of hypertensive heart disease requires identification of factors that can possibly mediate the transition from hypertrophy to failure. Resident cardiac stem cells have a prominent role in the maintenance of cardiac tissue homeostasis. Decline in the proportion of healthy cardiac stem cells (CSCs) can affect tissue regeneration. In pathological conditions, apart from natural aging, an adverse microenvironment can lead to decrease in efficiency of CSCs. A systematic analysis of cardiac stem cell characteristics in pathological conditions has not been reported so far. Therefore, this study was designed with the objective of examining the age associated variation in stem cell attributes of Spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) in comparison with normotensive Wistar rat. Spontaneously hypertensive rat was used as the experimental model since the cardiac remodeling resembles the clinical course of hypertensive heart disease. CSCs were isolated from atrial explants. Stem cell attributes were assessed in 1-week, 6, 12 and 18-month-old male SHR, in comparison with age matched Wistar rats. In 1-week-old pups, stem cell attributes of SHR and Wistar were comparable. Migration potential, proliferative capacity, TERT expression, telomerase activity and the proportion of c-kit+ cells decreased with age, both in SHR and Wistar. DNA damage and the proportion of senescent CSCs increased with age both in SHR and Wistar rats. Age associated increase was observed in the oxidative stress of stem cells, possibly mediated by the enhanced oxidative stress in the microenvironment. The changes were more pronounced in SHR, and as early as six months of age, there was significant decrease in efficiency of CSCs of SHR compared to Wistar. The density of healthy CSCs determined as a fraction of the differentiated cells was remarkably low in 18-month-old SHR. Age associated decrease in functionally efficient CSCs was therefore accelerated in SHR. Considering the vital role of CSCs in the maintenance of a healthy myocardium, decrease in functionally efficient CSCs can be a precipitating factor in pathological cardiac remodeling. Elevated ROS levels in CSCs of SHR lends scope for speculation that decrease in efficiency of CSCs is mediated by oxidative stress; and that modulation of the microenvironment by therapeutic interventions can restore a healthy stem cell population and facilitate maintenance of cardiac homeostasis and prevent cardiac decompensation.
Project description:The intercalated disc of cardiac myocytes is emerging as a crucial structure in the heart. Loss of intercalated disc proteins like N-cadherin causes lethal cardiac abnormalities, mutations in intercalated disc proteins cause human cardiomyopathy. A comprehensive screen for novel mechanisms in failing hearts demonstrated that expression of the lysosomal integral membrane protein-2 (LIMP-2) is increased in cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure in both rat and human myocardium. Complete loss of LIMP-2 in genetically engineered mice did not affect cardiac development; however these LIMP-2 null mice failed to mount a hypertrophic response to increased blood pressure but developed cardiomyopathy. Disturbed cadherin localization in these hearts suggested that LIMP-2 has important functions outside lysosomes. Indeed, we also find LIMP-2 in the intercalated disc, where it associates with cadherin. RNAi-mediated knockdown of LIMP-2 decreases the binding of phosphorylated b-catenin to cadherin, while overexpression of LIMP-2 has the opposite effect. Taken together, our data show that lysosomal integrated membrane protein-2 is crucial to mount the adaptive hypertrophic response to cardiac loading. We demonstrate a novel role for LIMP-2 as an important mediator of the intercalated disc. Experiment Overall Design: overall design: Experiment Overall Design: 3 groups of rats, 1 sample per rat: Experiment Overall Design: - compensated = Ren2 rat, hypertensive, no heart failure (N=6) Experiment Overall Design: - failure = Ren2 rat, hypertensive, no heart failure (N=4) Experiment Overall Design: - SD = control group, non-hypertensive (N=4)
Project description:The outcome of the surgical repair in congenital heart disease correlates with the degree of myocardial damage. In this study, we determined whether mitochondrial DNA depletion is a sensitive marker of right ventricular (RV) damage and whether impaired mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) replication contributes to the transition from compensated hypertrophy to failure.RV samples obtained from 31 patients undergoing cardiac surgery were compared with 5 RV samples from nonfailing hearts (control). Patients were divided into compensated hypertrophy and failure groups, based on preoperative echocardiography, catheterization, and/or MRI data. Mitochondrial enzyme activities (citrate synthase and succinate dehydrogenase) were maintained during hypertrophy and decreased by ?40% (P<0.05 versus control) at the stage of failure. In contrast, mtDNA content was progressively decreased in the hypertrophied RV through failure (by 28±8% and 67±11%, respectively, P<0.05 for both), whereas mtDNA-encoded gene expression was sustained by increased transcriptional activity during compensated hypertrophy but not in failure. Mitochondrial DNA depletion was attributed to reduced mtDNA replication in both hypertrophied and failing RV, and it was independent of PGC-1 downregulation but was accompanied by reduced expression of proteins constituting the mtDNA replication fork. Decreased mtDNA content in compensated hypertrophy was also associated with pathological changes of mitochondria ultrastructure.Impaired mtDNA replication causes early and progressive depletion of mtDNA in the RV of the patients with congenital heart disease during the transition from hypertrophy to failure. Decreased mtDNA content probably is a sensitive marker of mitochondrial injury in this patient population.
Project description:Gene copy number variation plays a large role in the evolution of genomes. In Rattus norvegicus and other rodent species, the Y-chromosome has accumulated multiple copies of Sry loci. These copy number variations have been previously linked with changes in phenotype of animal models such as the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR). This study characterizes the Y-chromosome in the Sry region of Rattus norvegicus, while addressing functional variations seen in the Sry protein products.Eleven Sry loci have been identified in the SHR with one (nonHMG Sry) containing a frame shift mutation. The nonHMGSry is found and conserved in the related WKY and SD rat strains. Three new, previously unidentified, Sry loci were identified in this study (Sry3BII, Sry4 and Sry4A) in both SHR and WKY. Repetitive element analysis revealed numerous LINE-L1 elements at regions where conservation is lost among the Sry copies. In addition we have identified a retrotransposed copy of Med14 originating from spliced mRNA, two autosomal genes (Ccdc110 and HMGB1) and a normal mammalian Y-chromosome gene (Zfy) in the Sry region of the rat Y-chromosome. Translation of the sequences of each Sry gene reveals eight proteins with amino acid differences leading to changes in nuclear localization and promoter activation of a Sry-responsive gene. Sry-? (coded by the Sry2 locus) has an increased cytoplasmic fraction due to alterations at amino acid 21. Sry-? has altered gene regulation of the Sry1 promoter due to changes at amino acid 76.The duplication of Sry on the Rattus norvegicus Y-chromosome has led to proteins with altered functional ability that may have been selected for functions in addition to testis determination. Additionally, several other genes not normally found on the Y-chromosome have duplicated new copies into the region around the Sry genes. These suggest a role of active transposable elements in the evolution of the mammalian Y-chromosome in species such as Rattus norvegicus.