Fucoxanthin regulates Nrf2/Keap1 signaling to alleviate myocardial hypertrophy in diabetic rats / 南方医科大学学报

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the protective effect of fucoxanthin (FX) against diabetic cardiomyopathy and explore the underlying mechanism.@*METHODS@#Rat models of diabetes mellitus (DM) induced by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (60 mg/kg) were randomized into DM model group, fucoxanthin treatment (DM+FX) group and metformin treatment (DM+ Met) group, and normal rats with normal feeding served as the control group. In the two treatment groups, fucoxanthin and metformin were administered after modeling by gavage at the daily dose of 200 mg/kg and 230 mg/kg, respectively for 12 weeks, and the rats in the DM model group were given saline only. HE staining was used to examine the area of cardiac myocyte hypertrophy in each group. The expression levels of fibrotic proteins TGF-β1 and FN proteins in rat hearts were detected with Western blotting. In the cell experiment, the effect of 1 μmol/L FX on H9C2 cell hypertrophy induced by exposure to high glucose (HG, 45 mmol/L) was evaluated using FITC-labeled phalloidin. The mRNA expression levels of the hypertrophic factors ANP, BNP and β-MHC in H9C2 cells were detected using qRT-PCR. The protein expressions of Nrf2, Keap1, HO-1 and SOD1 proteins in rat heart tissues and H9C2 cells were determined using Western blotting. The DCFH-DA probe was used to detect the intracellular production of reactive oxygen species (ROS).@*RESULTS@#In the diabetic rats, fucoxanthin treatment obviously alleviated cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and myocardial fibrosis, increased the protein expressions of Nrf2 and HO-1, and decreased the protein expressions of Keap1 in the heart tissue (P < 0.05). In H9C2 cells with HG exposure, fucoxanthin significantly inhibited the enlargement of cell surface area, lowered the mRNA expression levels of ANP, BNP and β-MHC (P < 0.05), promoted Nrf2 translocation from the cytoplasm to the nucleus, and up-regulated the protein expressions its downstream targets SOD1 and HO-1 (P < 0.05) to enhance cellular antioxidant capacity and reduce intracellular ROS production.@*CONCLUSION@#Fucoxanthin possesses strong inhibitory activities against diabetic cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and myocardial fibrosis and is capable of up-regulating Nrf2 signaling to promote the expression of its downstream antioxidant proteins SOD1 and HO-1 to reduce the level of ROS.

Cinnamyl alcohol attenuates vasoconstriction by activation of K+ channels via NO-cGMP-protein kinase G pathway and inhibition of Rho-kinase

Cinnamyl alcohol (CAL) is known as an antipyretic, and a recent study showed its vasodilatory activity without explaining the mechanism. Here we demonstrate the vasodilatory effect and the mechanism of action of CAL in rat thoracic aorta. The change of tension in aortic strips treated with CAL was measured in an organ bath system. In addition, vascular strips or human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were used for biochemical experiments such as Western blot and nitrite and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) measurements. CAL attenuated the vasoconstriction of phenylephrine (PE, 1 microM)-precontracted aortic strips in an endothelium-dependent manner. CAL-induced vasorelaxation was inhibited by pretreatment with NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME; 10(-4) M), methylene blue (MB; 10(-5) M) and 1 H-[1,2,4]-oxadiazolole-[4,3-a] quinoxalin-10one, (ODQ; 10(-6) or 10(-7) M) in the endothelium-intact aortic strips. Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP; 10(-8) or 10(-9) M) did not affect the vasodilatory effect of CAL. The phosphorylation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and generation of nitric oxide (NO) were stimulated by CAL treatment in HUVECs and inhibited by treatment with L-NAME. In addition, cGMP and PKG1 activation in aortic strips treated with CAL were also significantly inhibited by L-NAME. Furthermore, CAL relaxed Rho-kinase activator calpeptin-precontracted aortic strips, and the vasodilatory effect of CAL was inhibited by the ATP-sensitive K+ channel inhibitor glibenclamide (Gli; 10(-5) M) and the voltage-dependent K+ channel inhibitor 4-aminopyridine (4-AP; 2 x 10(-4) M). These results suggest that CAL induces vasorelaxation by activating K+ channels via the NO-cGMP-PKG pathway and the inhibition of Rho-kinase.

Avances en la genética molecular de la obesidad / Advances in the molecular genetics of the obesity

In the last decade, specially after the discovery of leptin, several neuropeptides that regulate energy intake and expenditure have been described in animal models. This has partially unvelied the underlying mechanisms that regulate body composition and weight and therefore a promise of a more effective treatment of obesity and its comorbidities is ad portas

Atrial natriuretic peptide induces rat peritoneal mast cell activation by cGMP-independent and calcium uptake-dependent mechanism

Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), a 28 amino acid basic polypeptide, is known to induce histamine release from human and rat mast cells in vitro and cause a wheel formation in rat skin. However, cellular events associated with histamine release are not clearly understood. In this study, we have examined the calcium flux and cGMP formation associated with histamine release in the ANP-treated mast cells. ANP, in vitro, induced mast cell degranulation and histamine release in a dose-dependent manner. ANP also induced an enhanced calcium uptake into cells and increased the cellular level of cGMP in mast cells. A high level of calcium in the media caused an inhibition of ANP-dependent histamine release but enhanced the level of intracellular cGMP of mast cells. ANP inducing a dose-dependent increase in vascular permeability of rat skin was confirmed by the extravasation of the circulating Evans blue. The results indicate ANP induced the histamine release and an increase in vascular permeability through mast cell degranulation in cGMP-independent and calcium uptake-dependent manner.

Atrial natriuretic peptide prevents bronchoconstriction in vitro.

Under in vitro conditions atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) caused specific relation of bronchoconstriction induced by tosyl arginine methyl ester (TAME) on rat trachea. This supports the hypothesis that ANP is a relaxant of airway as well as vascular smooth muscle and since lung tissue contains ANP and ANP receptors, it is hypothesized that the lungs may be a target organ for ANP. It is concluded that ANP had definite bronchodilating properties on rat trachea mounted in vitro and could be a possible antagonist of TAME.

Síndrome hepatorrenal / Hepatorenal syndrome

In this article the author presents the definition, clinical features, laboratory findings, patho-physiology and management of the hepatorrenal syndrome

Central interaction between atrial natriuretic peptide and angiotensin II in the control of sodium intake and excretion in female rats

We investigated the effects of estrogen on sodium intake and excretion induced by angiotestin II (ANG II), atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) or ANG II plus ANP injected into median preoptic nucleus MnPO). Female Holtzman rats weighing 250-300 g were used. Sodium ingestion and excretion 120 min after the injection of 0.5 mul of 0.15 M NaCl into the MnPO were 0.3 + 7 muEq in intact rats, 0.5 + 0.2 ml (N = 10) and 27 + 6 muEq in ovariectmized rats, and 0.2 + 0.08 (N = 11) and 36 + 8 muEq in estrogen-treated ovariectomized (50 mug/day for 21 days) rats, respectively. ANG II (21 muM) injection in intact, ovariectomized, and estrogen-treated ovariectomized rats increased sodium intake (3.8 + 0.4, 1.8 + 0.3 and 1.2 + 0.2 ml/120 min, respectively) (N = 11) and increased sodium excretion (166 + 18,82 + 22 and 86 + 22 and 86 + 12 muEq/120 min, respectively (N = 11). ANP (65 muM) injection in intact (N = 11), ovariectomized (N = 10) and estrogen-treated ovariectomized (N = 10) rats increased sodium intake (1.4 + 0.2, 1.8 + 0.3, and 1.7 + 0.3 ml/120 min, respectively) and sodium excretion (178 + 19, 187 + 9, and 232 + 29 muEq/120 min, respectively). Concomitant injection of ANG II and ANP into the MnPO of intact (N = 12), ovariectomized (N = 10) and estrogentreated ovariectomized (N = 10) rats caused smaller effects than those produced by each peptide given alone: 1.3 + 0.2, 0.9 + 0.2 and 0.3 + 0.1 ml/120 min for sodium intake, respectively, and 86 + 9,58 + 7, and 22 + 4 muEq/120 min for sodium excretion, respectively. Taken together, these results demonstrate that there is an antagonistic interaction of ANP and ANG II on sodium intake and excretion, and that reproductive hormones affect this interaction.

Atrial natriuretic peptide modulates the effect of angiotensin II on the concentration of free calcium in the cytosol of Mandin-Darby canine kidney cells

The effect of angiotensin II (ANG II) and atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) on intracellular free calcium concentration [ Ca²+]i was investigated in Mandin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells in culture. Changes in [Ca²+]i were monitored fluorometrically with the Ca²+ -sensitive probel fura -2/AM at 37ºC using Perkin-Elmer LS-5 spectrofluorimeter (excitation 340/380 nm,slite 3 nm; emission 520 nm, slit 10 nm). MDCK cells exhibited a mean baseline [Ca²+]i of 98 ñ 10 nM. the addition of increasing concentrations of SNG II (1 pM to 1 µM) to the cell suspension led to a progressive increase in [Ca²+]i to 2-3 times basal levels. In contrast, addition of 1 µM ANP to the cell suspension led to a very rapid 60 percent decrease in [Ca²+]i. The addition of 1 pM to 1 µM ANG II immediately after 1 µM ANP caused an increase in [Ca²+]i which never exceded the basal level in the absence of ANP. The data indicate that ANG II increases cell [Ca²+]i as expected, and provide the new observation that ANP reduces [Ca²+]i in these cells. Further more, ANP reduces the increase in [Ca²+]i elicited by ANG II, thus modulating the effect of ANG II on [Ca²+]i

Renal vascular and excretory resistance to atrial natriuretic peptide in pre-cirrhotic, bile-duct ligated rats

Renal response to atrial natriuretic peptide in chronic cholestasis was studied in anaesthetized rats and in their isolated perfused kidneys. Cholestasis was induced by bile duct section after ligature, while controls were sham operated. Three weeks after surgery, cholestatic rats showed moderate arterial hypotension, elevated diuresis and no differences in urinary sodium, glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and fractional sodium excretion (FENa), when compared to controls. Isolated kidneys of cholestatic rats had equal basal diuresis and less natriuresis than the controls. Cholestatic rats presented blunted natriuretic and diuretic responses to iv injections of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP 0.5 microgram), associated with reduced increments in GFR and FENa, when compared with controls. Similarly, the diuretic-natriuretic response of isolated kidneys to ANP (3.5 x 10(-9) M) was greatly attenuated in this group. ANP did not increase perfusion pressure in cholestatic rats, as it did in controls. These results indicate that animals with chronic cholestasis present refractoriness to ANP, which might be mediated by a direct impairment at the renal vascular and tubular sites for ANP action

Efectos del peptido natriurético atrial (PNA) en la isquemia aguda y reprefusión miocárdica en el perro: su impacto en el campo de los radicales libres de oxigeno

Se ha demostrado in vitro que las arritmias de reprefusión son prevenibles con una perfusión de PNA, y reportado in vivo que se produce un aumento en la concentración de radicales libres de oxígeno durante la isquemia cardiaca y más a un durante la reperfusión, particularmente en los casos con fibrilación ventricular. Por otra parte, se ha visto que el PNA tiene un efecto citoprotector frente a las alteraciones celulares inducidas por los radicales libres de oxígeno en los hepatocitos en cultivos. Para establecer si el PNA tiene un potencial terapéutico sobre los cambios isquémicos y las alteraciones del ritmo en el miocardio, se usó un modelo canino de isquemia y reperfusión administrándole un bolus de PNA en forma de Extracto Crudo de Tejido Atrial (ECTA) previo a la ligadura de la arteria coronaria. El PNA demostró tener un efecto protector tanto contra los cambios isquémicos como los del ritmo. Estas observaciones sugieren un potencial terapéutico en el manejo de las enfermedades isquémicas del miocardio. Por su importancia actual y futura, se amplía en la discusión acerca de las implicaciones de los radicales libres de oxígeno en función de la nueva visión que se tiene del PNA en este campo

Angiotensin II antiserum decreases luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone in the median eminence and preoptic aea of the rat

Ovariectomized female rats were sacrificed 3 h after intracerebroventricular microijnjection of normal rabbit serum (NRS), specific antiserum against angiotensin II (AB-AII) or atrial natriuretic factor (AB-ANF). AB-AII decreased plasma LH by 50% and LH-RH content by 70% in the median eminence and medial preoptic area, respectively, but did not change plasma FSH when compared to animals which receivede NRS. There was no difference in these parameters when the animals were injected with AB-ANF or NRS.These results indicate that endogenous AII plays a physiological role in LH release acting directly or indirectly through LH-RH neurons of the median eminence and medial peroptic area

Efectos del péptido natriurético atrial sobre las arritmias cardiacas inducidas por acepromazina en la rata: reporte preliminar (AU)

Recientemente se ha demostrado en la células de Purkinje del sistema de conducción intraventricular cardiaco, la presencia del Péptido Natriurético Atrial (PNA), así como receptores y m RNA para el mismo, lo que sugiere una función autocrina para esta hormona y una posible función moduladora del impulso a través de este sistema. El propósito del presente estudio fue determinar si el PNA tenía un potencial terapéutico sobre las arritmias cardiacas, utilizandose Acepromazina como sustancia arritmogénica. Para tal fin se administró PNA, en la forma electrocardiográfico (ECG) de la rata, que esta hormona tiene un efecto preventivo y supresivo. Estos hallazgos sugieren un efecto modular del PNA sobre la conducción y/o automatismo cardiaco, y por ende, un potencial terapéutico antiarritmico para esta hormona

Peptideo natriurético atrial: um hormônio produzido pelo coraçäo; revisäo / Atrial natriuretic peptide: hormone elaborated by the heart; review

O autor faz uma revisao acerca do peptideo natriuretico atrial(PNA), o qual se trata de um hormonio recentemente descoberto e que e elaborado no coracao(principalmente no atrio direito). O PNA parece agir de maneira efetiva no controle dos niveis de aldosterona, bem como promovendo diurese,natriurese, vasodilatacao e aumentando o debito cardiaco. O PNA e em potencial um grande agente terapeutico no tratamento da insuficiencia cardiaca congestiva, hipertensao essencial, cirrose hepatica e colapso renal traumatico, tudo isso sem os efeitos colaterais das doencas atualmente utilizadas. Os principais obstaculos a utilizacao clinica corrente do PNA sao a sua evanescencia de acao e o fato de que este e inativo por via oral

Atrial natriuretic factors (ANF) and antidiuretic agents

Se demuesta que, en ratas anestesiadas y perfundidas con solución isotónica de glucosa, la administracíon i.v. previa de lisil-vasopresina, en dosis de 0.1 a 10 m, no inhibe la respuesta diurética y salurética del FNA (2.5 ug); en cambio, la dosis de 50 mU, que produce una elevación transitoria, pero acentuada de la presión arterial, intensifica el efecto del FNA. La pepsanurina obtenida de la hidrólisis de globulinas de 20 ml de plasma humano, administrada i.p., 40 a 60 m antes de la administración i.v. de FNA, produce una significativa inhibición de la respuesta diurética natriurética