Eccentric and concentric cardiac hypertrophy induced by exercise training: microRNAs and molecular determinants

Among the molecular, biochemical and cellular processes that orchestrate the development of the different phenotypes of cardiac hypertrophy in response to physiological stimuli or pathological insults, the specific contribution of exercise training has recently become appreciated. Physiological cardiac hypertrophy involves complex cardiac remodeling that occurs as an adaptive response to static or dynamic chronic exercise, but the stimuli and molecular mechanisms underlying transduction of the hemodynamic overload into myocardial growth are poorly understood. This review summarizes the physiological stimuli that induce concentric and eccentric physiological hypertrophy, and discusses the molecular mechanisms, sarcomeric organization, and signaling pathway involved, also showing that the cardiac markers of pathological hypertrophy (atrial natriuretic factor, β-myosin heavy chain and α-skeletal actin) are not increased. There is no fibrosis and no cardiac dysfunction in eccentric or concentric hypertrophy induced by exercise training. Therefore, the renin-angiotensin system has been implicated as one of the regulatory mechanisms for the control of cardiac function and structure. Here, we show that the angiotensin II type 1 (AT1) receptor is locally activated in pathological and physiological cardiac hypertrophy, although with exercise training it can be stimulated independently of the involvement of angiotensin II. Recently, microRNAs (miRs) have been investigated as a possible therapeutic approach since they regulate the translation of the target mRNAs involved in cardiac hypertrophy; however, miRs in relation to physiological hypertrophy have not been extensively investigated. We summarize here profiling studies that have examined miRs in pathological and physiological cardiac hypertrophy. An understanding of physiological cardiac remodeling may provide a strategy to improve ventricular function in cardiac dysfunction.

Liberacion de endotelina-1 por angiotensina ii en miocitos cardiacos aislados / Angiotensin II-induced endothelin-1 release in cardiac myocytes

Muchos de los efectos de la angiotensina II (Ang II) son mediados en realidad por la acción de endotelina (ET) endógena liberada y/o producida en respuesta a la Ang II. En este trabajo evaluamos la interacción Ang II/ET-1, sus consecuencias en la contractilidad cardíaca y el papel de las especies reactivas del oxígeno (EROs). Se usaron cardiomiocitos aislados de gato. La Ang II, 1 nM, produjo un efecto inotrópico positivo (EIP) de 31.8±3.8% que fue cancelado por inhibición de los receptores AT1, de los receptores de ET, del intercambiador Na+/H+ (NHE), del modo inverso del intercambiador Na+/Ca2+ (NCX) o por el secuestro de EROs. La Ang II, 100 nM, produjo un EIP de 70.5±7.6% que fue cancelado por inhibición de los receptores AT1y bloqueado en parte por inhibición de los receptores de ET, del NHE, del modo inverso del NCX o por el secuestro de EROs. La Ang II, 1 nM, incrementó el ARNm de la preproET-1 lo cual fue anulado por el bloqueo de los receptores AT1. Los resultados permiten concluir que el EIP de la Ang II es debido a la acción de la ET-1 endógena liberada/formada por la Ang II. La ET-1 produce: estimulación del NHE, activación del modo inverso del NCX y un consecuente EIP. Dentro de esta cascada también participarían los EROs.

Many of the effects thought to be due to angiotensin II (Ang II) are due to the release/formation of endothelin (ET). We tested whether Ang II elicits its positive inotropic effect (PIE) by the action of endogenous ET-1 and the role played by the reactive oxygen species (ROS) in this mechanism. Experiments were performed in cat isolated ventricular myocytes in which sarcomere shortening (SS) was measured to asses contractility after pharmacological interventions and the effect of Ang II on inotropism were analyzed. Ang II 1 nM increased SS by 31.8±3.8% (p<0.05). This PIE was cancelled by AT1 receptor blockade, by ET-1 receptors blockade, by Na+/H+ exchanger (NHE) inhibition, by reverse mode Na+/Ca2+ exchanger (NCX) blockade or by ROS scavenging. Ang II 100 nM increases SS by 70.5±7.6% (p<0.05). This PIE was completely abolished by AT1 receptors blockade and were partially bocked by ET-1 receptors blockade, by NHE inhibition, by reverse mode NCX blockade or by ROS scavenging. Ang II increased preproET-1 mRNA, effect that was blunted by AT1 receptors blockade. We conclude that Ang II induces (through its AT1 receptor) release/formation of ET-1, which acting in autocrine fashion on ET receptors of the isolated myocytes increases inotropism through NHE stimulation and NCX reverse mode activation. The participation of ROS is involved is this chain of events.

Effect of losartan and enalapril on cognitive deficit caused by Goldblatt induced hypertension.

The present study was designed to evaluate the learning and memory, in an altered physiological state associated with increased blood pressure and activated renin angiotensin system in Wistar rats. The role of angiotensin in cognitive function was assessed by treatment with angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor enalapril (2 mg/kg), angiotensin 1 receptor (AT(1)) antagonist losartan (5 mg/kg) and their combination. The experimental renal hypertension was induced by the method of Goldblatt. Learning and memory was assessed using the radial arm maze test. Acetylcholine esterase (AChE) levels in the pons medulla, hippocampus, striatum and frontal cortex were measured as a cholinergic marker of learning and memory. Results indicate that in comparison to normotensive rats, renal hypertensive rats committed significantly higher number of errors and took more trials and days to learn the radial arm maze learning and exhibited memory deficit in the radial arm maze retrieval after two weeks of retention interval, indicating impaired acquisition and memory. Treatment with enalapril, losartan and their combination attenuated the observed memory deficits indicating a possible role of renin angiotensin system in cognitive function. AChE level was reduced in hippocampus and frontal cortex of renal hypertensive rats which could be attributed to the observed memory deficit in hypertensive rats. It can be concluded that, renal hypertensive rats had a poor acquisition, retrieval of the learned behavior, perhaps a possible disturbance in memory consolidation process and that this state was reversed with ACE inhibitor enalapril and AT 1 receptor antagonist losartan.