Cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction and oxidative stress induced by fructose overload in an experimental model of hypertension and menopause

Background: Metabolic syndrome is characterized by the association of 3 or more risk factors, including: abdominal obesity associated with an excess of abdominal fat, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia and hypertension. Moreover, the prevalence of hypertension and metabolic dysfunctions sharply increases after the menopause. However, the mechanisms involved in these changes are not well understood. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess the effects of fructose overload on cardiovascular autonomic modulation, inflammation and cardiac oxidative stress in an experimental model of hypertension and menopause. Methods: Female SHR rats were divided into (n = 8/group): hypertensive (H), hypertensive ovariectomized (HO) and hypertensive ovariectomized undergoing fructose overload (100 g/L in drinking water) (FHO). Arterial pressure (AP) signals were directly recorded. Cardiac autonomic modulation was evaluated by spectral analysis. Oxidative stress was evaluated in cardiac tissue. Results: AP was higher in the FHO group when compared to the other groups. Fructose overload promoted an increase in body and fat weight, triglyceride concentration and a reduction in insulin sensitivity. IL-10 was reduced in the FHO group when compared to the H group. TNF-α was higher in the FHO when compared to all other groups. Lipoperoxidation was higher and glutathione redox balance was reduced in the FHO group when compared to other groups, an indication of increased oxidative stress. A negative correlation was found between IL-10 and adipose tissue. Conclusion: Fructose overload promoted an impairment in cardiac autonomic modulation associated with inflammation and oxidative stress in hypertensive rats undergoing ovarian hormone deprivation.Fil: Conti, Filipe Fernandes. Universidad Nove de Julho; BrasilFil: Brito, Janaina de Oliveira. Universidad Nove de Julho; BrasilFil: Bernardes, Nathalia. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Dias, Danielle da Silva. Universidad Nove de Julho; BrasilFil: Sanches, Iris Callado. Universidad Nove de Julho; BrasilFil: Malfitano, Christiane. Universidad Nove de Julho; BrasilFil: Llesuy, Susana Francisca. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Departamento de Química Analítica y Fisicoquímica; ArgentinaFil: Irigoyen, Maria-Claudia. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: De Angelis, Kátia. Universidad Nove de Julho; Brasi

Noninvasive and invasive evaluation of cardiac dysfunction in experimental diabetes in rodents

BACKGROUND: Because cardiomyopathy is the leading cause of death in diabetic patients, the determination of myocardial function in diabetes mellitus is essential. In the present study, we provide an integrated approach, using noninvasive echocardiography and invasive hemodynamics to assess early changes in myocardial function of diabetic rats. METHODS: Diabetes was induced by streptozotocin injection (STZ, 50 mg/kg). After 30 days, echocardiography (noninvasive) at rest and invasive left ventricular (LV) cannulation at rest, during and after volume overload, were performed in diabetic (D, N = 7) and control rats (C, N = 7). The Student t test was performed to compare metabolic and echocardiographic differences between groups at 30 days. ANOVA was used to compare LV invasive measurements, followed by the Student-Newman-Keuls test. Differences were considered significant at P < 0.05 for all tests. RESULTS: Diabetes impaired LV systolic function expressed by reduced fractional shortening, ejection fraction, and velocity of circumferential fiber shortening compared with that in the control group. The diabetic LV diastolic dysfunction was evidenced by diminished E-waves and increased A-waves and isovolumic relaxation time. The myocardial performance index was greater in diabetic compared with control rats, indicating impairment in diastolic and systolic function. The LV systolic pressure was reduced and the LV end-diastolic pressure was increased at rest in diabetic rats. The volume overload increased LVEDP in both groups, while LVEDP remained increased after volume overload only in diabetic rats. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that STZ-diabetes induces systolic and diastolic dysfunction at rest, and reduces the capacity for cardiac adjustment to volume overload. In addition, it was also demonstrated that rodent echocardiography can be a useful, clinically relevant tool for the study of initial diabetic cardiomyopathy manifestations in asymptomatic patients

Baroreflex Impairment Precedes Cardiometabolic Dysfunction in an Experimental Model of Metabolic Syndrome: Role of Inflammation and Oxidative Stress

This study analyzes whether autonomic dysfunction precedes cardiometabolic alterations in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) with fructose overload. Animals were randomly distributed into three groups: control, hypertensive and hypertensive with fructose overload. Fructose overload (100 g/L) was initiated at 30 days old, and the animals (n = 6/group/time) were evaluated after 7, 15, 30 and 60 days of fructose consumption. Fructose consumption reduced baroreflex sensitivity by day 7, and still induced a progressive reduction in baroreflex sensitivity over the time. Fructose consumption also increased TNFα and IL-6 levels in the adipose tissue and IL-1β levels in the spleen at days 15 and 30. Fructose consumption also reduced plasmatic nitrites (day 15 and 30) and superoxide dismutase activity (day 15 and 60), but increased hydrogen peroxide (day 30 and 60), lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation (day 60). Fructose consumption increased arterial pressure at day 30 (8%) and 60 (11%). Fructose consumption also induced a late insulin resistance at day 60, but did not affect glucose levels. In conclusion, the results show that baroreflex sensitivity impairment precedes inflammatory and oxidative stress disorders, probably by inducing hemodynamic and metabolic dysfunctions observed in metabolic syndrome.Fil: Bernardes, Nathalia. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Da Silva Dias, Danielle. Universidade Nove de Julho; BrasilFil: Fernandes Stoyell Conti, Filipe. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: De Oliveira Brito Monzani, Janaina. Universidade Nove de Julho; BrasilFil: Malfitano, Christiane. Universidade Nove de Julho; BrasilFil: Garcia Caldini, Elia. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Ulloa, Luis. Universidade Nove de Julho; BrasilFil: Llesuy, Susana Francisca. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Departamento de Química Analítica y Fisicoquímica. Cátedra de Química General e Inorgánica; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Bioquímica y Medicina Molecular. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad Medicina. Instituto de Bioquímica y Medicina Molecular; ArgentinaFil: Irigoyen, Maria Cláudia. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: De Angelis, Kátia. Universidade Nove de Julho; Brasi

Combined Aerobic and Resistance Exercise Training Improve Hypertension Associated With Menopause

The prevalence of hypertension sharply increases in menopausal women. Recent studies have demonstrated that aerobic or resistance training may help control hypertension. In this study, we report that combining aerobic and resistance training may provide an effective therapeutic approach for hypertension control, attenuating inflammation and oxidative stress in ovariectomized rats. Female Wistar and spontaneous hypertensive rats (SHR) were distributed into four groups: sedentary control (C), sedentary hypertensive (HR), sedentary hypertensive ovariectomized (HR-O), and combined trained hypertensive ovariectomized (T-HR-O). Combined exercise training was performed on a motor treadmill (aerobic training) and on a ladder adapted to rats (resistance training), in alternate days for 8 weeks. Direct arterial pressure was recorded and oxidative stress and inflammation were evaluated in cardiac and renal tissue. Ovariectomy increases increased mean arterial blood pressure, sympathetic modulation, and oxidative stress in SHR. Combining aerobic and resistance training reduced mean arterial blood pressure (12% vs. HR-O), heart rate (8% vs. HR-O), vascular sympathetic modulation (40% vs. HR-O), and improved baroreflex sensitivity. Combined training reduced cardiac inflammation (TNF and IL-6) and cardiac and renal lipoperoxidation (59% and 57%, respectively vs. HR-O). It also enhanced cardiac (71%) and renal (76%) total antioxidant capacity when compared to HR-O group. In conclusion, combining aerobic and resistance training improves mean arterial blood pressure, cardiovascular autonomic control, preventing cardiac and renal oxidative stress and inflammation in an experimental hypertension model with surgical menopause induced with ovariectomy

Aerobic exercise inhibits acute lung injury: from mouse to human evidence Exercise reduced lung injury markers in mouse and in cells

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is defined as hypoxemic respiratory failure with intense pulmonary inflammation, involving hyperactivation of endothelial cells and neutrophils. Given the anti-inflammatory effects of aerobic exercise (AE), this study investigated whether AE performed daily for 5 weeks would inhibit extra-pulmonary LPS-induced ARDS. C57Bl/6 mice were distributed into Control, Exercise, LPS and Exercise+ LPS groups. AE was performed on a treadmill for 5x/week for four weeks before LPS administration. 24hours after the final AE physical test, animals received 100ug of LPS intra-peritoneally. In addition, whole blood cell culture, neutrophils and human endothelial cells were pre-incubated with IL-10, an anti-inflammatory cytokine induced by exercise. AE reduced total protein levels (p<0.01) and neutrophil accumulation in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) (p<0.01) and lung parenchyma (p<0.01). AE reduced BAL inflammatory cytokines IL-1 beta, IL-6 and GM-CSF (p<0.001), CXCL1/KC, IL-17, TNF-alpha and IGF-1 (p<0.01). Systemically, AE reduced IL-1 beta, IL-6 and IFN-gamma (p<0.001), CXCL1/KC (p<0.01) and TNF-alpha (p<0.05). AE increased IL-10 levels in serum (p<0.001) and BAL (p<0.001). Furthermore, AE increased superoxide dismutase SOD (p<0.01) and decreased superoxide anion accumulation in the lungs (p<0.01). Lastly, pre-incubation with IL-10 significantly reduced LPS-induced activation of whole blood cells, neutrophils and HUVECs, as observed by reduced production of IL-1 beta, IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-alpha. Our data suggest that AE inhibited LPS-induced lung inflammation by attenuating inflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress markers in mice and human cell culture via enhanced IL-10 production.Sao Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) [2012/15165-2]Conselho Nacional de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento (CNPq) [311335-2015-2]Comissao de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nivel Superior (CAPES) [12804/13-4, 1303/13-9]FAPESP [2013/24076-6, 2014/23196-0, 2012/14604-8, 2012/25435-7, 2012/24880-7]CAPESNove Julho Univ, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilBrazilian Inst Teaching & Res Pulm & Exercise Imm, Sao Jose Dos Campos, SP, BrazilFed Univ Sao Paulo UNIFESP, Postgrad Program Sci Human Movement & Rehabil, Santos, SP, BrazilUniv Brasil, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilUniv Sao Paulo, Sch Med, Dept Pathol LIM 59, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilUniv Fed Lavras UFLA, Sci Dept Hlth, Lavras, MG, BrazilFed Univ Sao Paulo UNIFESP, Campus Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilHarbor UCLA Med Ctr, Div Resp & Crit Care Physiol & Med, Los Angeles Biomed Res Inst, Torrance, CA 90509 USAUniv Tubingen, Inst Clin & Expt Transfus Med IKET, Tubingen, GermanyFed Univ Sao Paulo UNIFESP, Postgrad Program Sci Human Movement & Rehabil, Santos, SP, BrazilFed Univ Sao Paulo UNIFESP, Campus Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilFAPESP [2012/15165-2]CNPq [311335-2015-2]CAPES [12804/13-4, 1303/13-9]FAPESP [2013/24076-6, 2014/23196-0, 2012/14604-8, 2012/25435-7, 2012/24880-7]Web of Scienc

Modulation of the viability of cardiac fibroblasts in culture against hypoxia: role of different concentrations of glucose

Estudos mostram que a exposição ao meio hiperglicêmico ou diabetes protege o coração contra insultos patológicos, incluindo isquemia. A ativação de fatores anti-apoptóticos e proliferativos parece estar envolvida com esta cardioproteção. Este estudo foi desenhado para investigar a modulação da viabilidade de fibroblastos cardíacos submetidos à hipóxia tratados previamente com meio hiperglicêmico, e os efeitos de 15 dias de infarto do miocárdio (IM) na função ventricular em ratos diabéticos sobre os fatores de morte e sobrevida celular. Foram utilizados ratos Wistar machos e as análises foram realizadas no ventrículo esquerdo. Para as análises in vitro, os fibroblastos cardíacos foram obtidos por digestão enzimática (tripsina/colagenase), e cultivados em dois meios: baixa Glicose (5mM) e alta Glicose (25mM análogo ao plasma diabético). As células confluentes (80%) foram submetidas à hipóxia por incubadora modular com gás (5,6% de CO2 e 94,4% de N2); após as células foram mantidas em estufa a 37ºC por 6; 12; 24; 48 e 72hs. Experimentos de citometria de fluxo foram realizados para análise da viabilidade celular e fragmentação de DNA, ambas para verificação de apoptose e confirmadas pelas medidas de AnexinaV/FITC/IP. A expressão do fator de crescimento endotelial vascular (VEGF) foi medida no sobrenadante dos meios por ELISA. Para as análises in vivo, os ratos foram divididos (N=8/grupo) em grupos: controle (C), diabético (D), infartado (I) e diabético infartado (DI). Quinze dias após a indução do diabetes ou não, com injeção de estroptozotocina (50mg/Kg) ou tampão citrato, os grupos I e DI foram submetidos à ligadura da artéria coronária. Após 15 dias de IM e/ou 30 de diabetes, a função cardíaca (sistólica e diastólica) foi analisada por ecocardiograma, além da avaliação do tamanho do IM em 24 horas e 15 dias. As citocinas inflamatórias foram medidas por ELISA, a expressão gênica dos fatores de morte e sobrevida celular foram avaliados por PCR em tempo real, a atividade da caspase 3 foi medida por espectrofluorimetria, e a expressão protéica dos transportadores de glicose (GLUT) por Western blotting. A densidade capilar e a fibrose do coração foram quantificadas por análise histológica. A viabilidade celular mostrou homogenia em todos os tempos de hipóxia e em ambos os tratamentos de glicose. Em 6 horas verificamos fragmentação do DNA com marcação dos fosfolípides de membrana (apoptose) e % elevada de morte em ambos os tratamentos até 12hs. Após 24hs, ocorreu adaptação, havendo aumento de VEGF e diminuição da fragmentação do DNA com 48hs; após 72hs, observou-se apenas que o VEGF continuava aumentado. No meio hiperglicêmico, os valores de VEGF estavam maiores e a fragmentação menor quando comparados ao meio hipoglicêmico. O grupo DI apresentou melhora na função sistólica (fração de ejeção e de encurtamento), acompanhada de manutenção da função diastólica (tempo de relaxamento isovolumétrico e tempo de desaceleração do pico E), redução de 36% do tamanho do IM, redução das citocinas pró-inflamatórias (TNF- e IL-1), com ativação da apoptose (expressão aumentada de Fas, p53, Bax e atividade de caspase 3) e aumento dos fatores de sobrevivência celular (Bcl-2, HIF-1, VEGFa e IL8r). Além disso, o grupo DI apresentou aumento do GLUT-1 com diminuição do escore de fibrose e aumento da densidade capilar; resultados comparados ao grupo I. Este cenário é, provavelmente, um mecanismo de compensação, associado ao saldo positivo entre genes regulatórios relacionados com a sobrevivência celular programada, redução de citocinas inflamatórias, aumento da utilização de glicose como substrato energético, redução da fibrose e angiogênese. Em conjunto, estes achados sugerem uma maior plasticidade e resistência celular de fibroblastos cardíacos frente à hipóxia sendo esta favorecida pela hiperglicemia crônica em ratos diabéticosStudies showed that exposure to hyperglycemia or diabetes protects the heart against pathological insults, including ischemia. The activation of anti-apoptotic factors and proliferation seem to be involved in this cardioprotection. This study was designed to investigate the feasibility of modulation of hyperglycemic-environment pretreated-cardiac fibroblasts subjected to hypoxia, and the effects of 15 days of myocardial infarction on ventricular function in diabetic rats and on the causes of death and cell survival. Male Wistar rats were used and the analyses were performed in the left ventricle. For in vitro experiments, cardiac fibroblasts were obtained by enzymatic digestion (trypsin/collagenase) and they were cultivated in two different mediums: Low Glucose (5mM) and High Glucose (25mM similar to diabetic plasma). Confluent cells (80%) were subjected to hypoxia by modular incubator with gas (5.6% CO2 and 94.4% N2).at 37 ° C for 6, 12, 24, 48 and 72h. Flow cytometry was employed to the analysis of cell viability and DNA fragmentation, both for verification of apoptosis process and confirmed by AnexinaV / FITC / IP. The expression of vascular growth factor (VEGF) was measured in the supernatant medium by ELISA. For in vivo experiments, the rats were divided (N = 8/group) in control (C), diabetic (D), infarcted (I) and diabetic infarcted (DI).groups After 15 days of induction of diabetes by estreptozotocin (50mg/kg) or citrate buffer, the I and DI groups underwent coronary artery ligation. After 15 days of myocardium infarction (MI) and/or 30 of diabetes, cardiac function (systolic and diastolic) was analyzed by echocardiogram, as well as the size of infarction at both, 24 hours and 15 days. The inflammatory cytokines were measured by ELISA, the gene expression of factors for death and cell survival by real-time PCR, the activity of caspase 3 by spectrofluorimetry, the protein expression of glucose transporters (GLUT) by Western- blotting and, lastly, capillary density and fibrosis by histological analysis. Cell viability showed homogeneous at all times of hypoxia and in both glucose treatments. In 6 hours we found DNA fragmentation in the main phospholipid membrane (apoptosis) and high % of death in both treatments until 12 hours. After 24 hours, the cells entered into adaptation and after 48 hours it was verified an increase in VEGF expression and a decrease in DNA fragmentation. At 72 hours, no significant differences in the fragmentation were observed; however, there was an increase in VEGF expression. In the hyperglycemic medium we observed higher values of VEGF expression and less DNA fragmentation when compared to the hypoglycemic medium. In the DI group systolic function (% ejection fraction and fractional shortening) was better than in the I group and it was accompanied by the maintenance of diastolic function (IVRT and deceleration time of peak E). There was also a 36% reduction in infarction size in the DI group and reduced pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF- and IL-1) with activation of apoptosis (increased expression of Fas, p53, Bax and caspase 3 activity) and increased cell survival factors (Bcl-2, HIF-1, VEGF and IL8r). Moreover, DI rats also showed an increase in GLUT-1 with decreased scores of fibrosis and increased capillary density when compared to the I group. This scenario is probably a compensatory mechanism associated with the positive balance of regulatory genes related to programmed cell survival, reduction of inflammatory cytokines, increased use of glucose as energy substrate, reduction of fibrosis and angiogenesis. Altogether, these findings suggest a greater plasticity and cellular resistance of cardiac fibroblasts to hypoxia and this is favored by chronic hyperglycemia in diabetic rats