Effects of DPP-4 Inhibitors on the Heart in a Rat Model of Uremic Cardiomyopathy

BACKGROUND: Uremic cardiomyopathy contributes substantially to mortality in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) may improve cardiac function, but is mainly degraded by dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4). METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: In a rat model of chronic renal failure, 5/6-nephrectomized [5/6N] rats were treated orally with DPP-4 inhibitors (linagliptin, sitagliptin, alogliptin) or placebo once daily for 4 days from 8 weeks after surgery, to identify the most appropriate treatment for cardiac dysfunction associated with CKD. Linagliptin showed no significant change in blood level AUC(0-∞) in 5/6N rats, but sitagliptin and alogliptin had significantly higher AUC(0-∞) values; 41% and 28% (p = 0.0001 and p = 0.0324), respectively. No correlation of markers of renal tubular and glomerular function with AUC was observed for linagliptin, which required no dose adjustment in uremic rats. Linagliptin 7 µmol/kg caused a 2-fold increase in GLP-1 (AUC 201.0 ng/l*h) in 5/6N rats compared with sham-treated rats (AUC 108.6 ng/l*h) (p = 0.01). The mRNA levels of heart tissue fibrosis markers were all significantly increased in 5/6N vs control rats and reduced/normalized by linagliptin. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: DPP-4 inhibition increases plasma GLP-1 levels, particularly in uremia, and reduces expression of cardiac mRNA levels of matrix proteins and B-type natriuretic peptides (BNP). Linagliptin may offer a unique approach for treating uremic cardiomyopathy in CKD patients, with no need for dose-adjustment

Effects of High Salt-Exposure on the Development of Retina and Lens in 5.5-Day Chick Embryo

Background/Aims: Excess maternal salt intake during pregnancy may alter fetal development. However, our knowledge on how an increased salt intake during pregnancy influences fetal eye development is limited. In this study, we investigated the effects of high-salt treatment on the developing eyes in chick embryos, especially focusing on the development of the retina and the lens. Methods: 5.5-day chick embryos were exposed to 280mosm/l (n=17), or 300mosm/l (n=16) NaCl. The treated embryos were then incubated for 96 hours before they were fixed with 4% paraformaldehyde for H&E staining, whole-mount embryo immunostaining and TUNEL staining. BrdU and PH3 incorporation experiments were performed on the chick embryos after high-salt treatment. RT-PCR analyses were conducted from chick retina tissues. Results: We demonstrated that high-salt treatment altered the size of eyes in chick embryos, induced malformation of the eyes and impaired the development of the lens and the retina. We found an impaired expression of Paired box 6 (PAX6) and neuronal cells in the developing retina as revealed by neurofilament immunofluorescent staining. There was a reduction in the number of BrdU-positive cells and PH3-positive cells in the retina, indicating an impaired cell proliferation with high-salt treatment. High-salt treatment also resulted in an increased number of TUNEL-positive cells in the retina, indicating a higher amount of cell death. RT-PCR data displayed that the expression of the pro-apoptotic molecule nerve growth factor (NGF) in chick retina was increased and CyclinD1 was reduced with high-salt treatment. The size of the lens was reduced and Pax6 expression in the lens was significantly inhibited. High salt-treatment was detrimental to the migration of neural crest cells. Conclusion: Taken together, our study demonstrated that high-salt exposure of 5.5-day chick embryos led to an impairment of retina and lens development, possibly through interfering with Pax6 expression

Chronic kidney disease induces a systemic microangiopathy, tissue hypoxia and dysfunctional angiogenesis

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with excessive mortality from cardiovascular disease (CVD). Endothelial dysfunction, an early manifestation of CVD, is consistently observed in CKD patients and might be linked to structural defects of the microcirculation including microvascular rarefaction. However, patterns of microvascular rarefaction in CKD and their relation to functional deficits in perfusion and oxygen delivery are currently unknown. In this in-vivo microscopy study of the cremaster muscle microcirculation in BALB/c mice with moderate to severe uremia, we show in two experimental models (adenine feeding or subtotal nephrectomy), that serum urea levels associate incrementally with a distinct microangiopathy. Structural changes were characterized by a heterogeneous pattern of focal microvascular rarefaction with loss of coherent microvascular networks resulting in large avascular areas. Corresponding microvascular dysfunction was evident by significantly diminished blood flow velocity, vascular tone, and oxygen uptake. Microvascular rarefaction in the cremaster muscle paralleled rarefaction in the myocardium, which was accompanied by a decrease in transcription levels not only of the transcriptional regulator HIF-1 alpha, but also of its target genes Angpt-2, TIE-1 and TIE-2, Flkt-1 and MMP-9, indicating an impaired hypoxia-driven angiogenesis. Thus, experimental uremia in mice associates with systemic microvascular disease with rarefaction, tissue hypoxia and dysfunctional angiogenesis

Renal Effects of the Novel Selective Adenosine A1 Receptor Blocker SLV329 in Experimental Liver Cirrhosis in Rats

Liver cirrhosis is often complicated by an impaired renal excretion of water and sodium. Diuretics tend to further deteriorate renal function. It is unknown whether chronic selective adenosine A1 receptor blockade, via inhibition of the hepatorenal reflex and the tubuloglomerular feedback, might exert diuretic and natriuretic effects without a reduction of the glomerular filtration rate. In healthy animals intravenous treatment with the novel A1 receptor antagonist SLV329 resulted in a strong dose-dependent diuretic (up to 3.4-fold) and natriuretic (up to 13.5-fold) effect without affecting creatinine clearance. Male Wistar rats with thioacetamide-induced liver cirrhosis received SLV329, vehicle or furosemide for 12 weeks. The creatinine clearance of cirrhotic animals decreased significantly (−36.5%, p<0.05), especially in those receiving furosemide (−41.9%, p<0.01). SLV329 was able to prevent this decline of creatinine clearance. Mortality was significantly lower in cirrhotic animals treated with SLV329 in comparison to animals treated with furosemide (17% vs. 54%, p<0.05). SLV329 did not relevantly influence the degree of liver fibrosis, kidney histology or expression of hepatic or renal adenosine receptors. In conclusion, chronic treatment with SLV329 prevented the decrease of creatinine clearance in a rat model of liver cirrhosis. Further studies will have to establish whether adenosine A1 receptor antagonists are clinically beneficial at different stages of liver cirrhosis

Dealing with Large Sample Sizes: Comparison of a New One Spot Dot Blot Method to Western Blot

Background: Western blot is the gold standard method to determine individual protein expression levels. However, western blot is technically difficult to perform in large sample sizes because it is a time consuming and labor intensive process. Dot blot is often used instead when dealing with large sample sizes, but the main disad- vantage of the existing dot blot techniques, is the absence of signal normalization to a housekeeping protein. Methods: In this study we established a one dot two development signals (ODTDS) dot blot method employing two different signal development systems. The first signal from the protein of interest was detected by horseradish peroxidase (HRP). The second signal, detecting the housekeeping protein, was obtained by using alkaline phos- phatase (AP). Results: Inter-assay results variations within ODTDS dot blot and western blot and intra-assay variations between both methods were low (1.04 - 5.71%) as assessed by coefficient of variation. Conclusions: ODTDS dot blot technique can be used instead of western blot when dealing with large sample sizes without a reduction in results accuracy

Association between placental global DNA methylation and blood pressure during human pregnancy

Objective: Gene-specific placental DNA methylation patterns differ between normal pregnancies and pregnancies complicated by hypertension. However, whether global placental DNA methylation is associated with maternal blood pressure remains controversial. Methods: Using multiple linear regression models, we analysed the association between maternal mean arterial pressure (MAP) at the third trimester of pregnancy and global DNA methylation in the placenta in 922 mothers using LC-ESI-MS/MS. To better characterize the contribution of genetic or epigenetic mechanisms, we performed isolated analyses in mothers with and without a family history of hypertension. Results: Mean placental global DNA methylation was 3.00 ± 0.46%. A significant negative correlation between placental global DNA methylation and mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) in the third trimester could be observed (P = 0.023, r = –0.075). This association remained significant after adjusting for confounders. In placenta samples from mothers with a family history of hypertension, mean maternal MAP was higher (86.1 ± 8.1 vs. 84.6 ± 7.5, P < 0.01) and placental global DNA methylation was lower (2.94 ± 0.43 vs. 3.04 ± 0.47, P < 0.01) compared with samples without a family history of hypertension. Furthermore, the significant independent negative correlation between global placental DNA methylation and MAP was only found in mothers without a family history of hypertension. Conclusion: This study showed an independent negative correlation between placental global DNA methylation and maternal MAP in mothers without a family history of hypertension

Furosemide induces mortality in a rat model of chronic heart failure

OBJECTIVES: In an experimental heart failure model, we tested the hypothesis that furosemide causes excess mortality. BACKGROUND: Post-hoc analysis of large clinical heart failure trails revealed that furosemide treatment might be associated with worsening of morbidity and even mortality in heart failure patients. METHODS AND RESULTS: Myocardial infarction was induced in 7±1week old male Wistar rats by ligation of the left coronary artery. In study 1, animals were randomly assigned to treatment with furosemide (10mg/kg/d via drinking water, n=33) or placebo (n=33) starting 18days after surgery. In study 2, animals received furosemide from day 18 and were then randomized to ongoing treatment with either furosemide only (n=38) or furosemide plus ACE-inhibitor Ramipril (1mg/kg/d, n=38) starting on day 42. In study 1 survival rate in the furosemide group was lower than in the placebo group (hazard ratio {HR} 3.39, 95% confidence interval {CI} 1.14 to 10.09, p=0.028). The furosemide group had a lower body weight (-6%, p=0.028) at the end of the study and a higher sclerosis index of the glomeruli (+9%, p=0.026) than the placebo group. Wet lung weight, infarct size, and cardiac function were similar between the groups. In study 2, the furosemide group had a higher mortality rate than the furosemide+ramipril group (HR 4.55, 95% CI 2.0 to 10.0, p=0.0003). CONCLUSION: In our rat model of heart failure furosemide, provided at a standard dose, was associated with increased mortality. This increased mortality could be prevented by additional administration of an ACE-inhibitor

Fetal Serum Metabolites Are Independently Associated with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

Background/Aims: Gestational diabetes (GDM) might be associated with alterations in the metabolomic profile of affected mothers and their offspring. Until now, there is a paucity of studies that investigated both, the maternal and the fetal serum metabolome in the setting of GDM. Mounting evidence suggests that the fetus is not just passively affected by gestational disease but might play an active role in it. Metabolomic studies performed in maternal blood and fetal cord blood could help to better discern distinct fetal from maternal disease interactions. Methods: At the time of birth, serum samples from mothers and newborns (cord blood samples) were collected and screened for 163 metabolites utilizing tandem mass spectrometry. The cohort consisted of 412 mother/child pairs, including 31 cases of maternal GDM. Results: An initial non-adjusted analysis showed that eight metabolites in the maternal blood and 54 metabolites in the cord blood were associated with GDM. After Benjamini-Hochberg (BH) procedure and adjustment for confounding factors for GDM, fetal phosphatidylcholine acyl-alkyl C 32: 1 and proline still showed an independent association with GDM. Conclusions: This study found metabolites in cord blood which were associated with GDM, even after adjustment for established risk factors of GDM. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study demonstrating an independent association between fetal serum metabolites and maternal GDM. Our findings might suggest a potential effect of the fetal metabolome on maternal GDM