Apelin-13 administration protects against ischaemia/reperfusion-mediated apoptosis through the FoxO1 pathway in high-fat diet-induced obesity.

Background And Purpose: Apelin-13, an endogenous ligand for the apelin (APJ) receptor, behaves as a potent modulator of metabolic and cardiovascular disorders. Here, we examined the effects of apelin-13 on myocardial injury in a mouse model combining ischaemia/reperfusion (I/R) and obesity and explored their underlying mechanisms.

Experimental Approach: Adult male C57BL/6J mice were fed a normal diet (ND) or high-fat diet (HFD) for 6 months and then subjected to cardiac I/R.

Apelin regulates FoxO3 translocation to mediate cardioprotective responses to myocardial injury and obesity.

The increasing incidence of obesity accentuates the importance of identifying mechanisms and optimal therapeutic strategies for patients with heart failure (HF) in relation to obesity status. Here, we investigated the association between plasma level of apelin, an adipocyte-derived factor, and clinicopathological features of obese and non-obese patients with HF. We further explored potential regulatory mechanisms of cardiac cell fate responses in conditions combining myocardial injury and obesity.

Evaluation of polyelectrolyte complex-based scaffolds for mesenchymal stem cell therapy in cardiac ischemia treatment.

Three-dimensional (3D) scaffolds hold great potential for stem cell-based therapies. Indeed, recent results have shown that biomimetic scaffolds may enhance cell survival and promote an increase in the concentration of therapeutic cells at the injury site. The aim of this work was to engineer an original polymeric scaffold based on the respective beneficial effects of alginate and chitosan.

Alginate scaffolds for mesenchymal stem cell cardiac therapy: influence of alginate composition.

Despite the success of alginate scaffolds and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) therapy in cardiac failure treatment, the impact of the physicochemical environment provided by alginate matrices on cell behavior has never been investigated. The purpose of this work was double: to determine the alginate composition influence on (1) encapsulated rat MSC viability, paracrine activity, and phenotype in vitro and (2) cardiac implantability and in vivo biocompatibility of patch shape scaffolds. Two alginates, differing in composition and thus presenting different mechanical properties when hydrogels, were characterized.

Apelin prevents cardiac fibroblast activation and collagen production through inhibition of sphingosine kinase 1.

Aims: Activation of cardiac fibroblasts and their differentiation into myofibroblasts is a key event in the progression of cardiac fibrosis that leads to end-stage heart failure. Apelin, an adipocyte-derived factor, exhibits a number of cardioprotective properties; however, whether apelin is involved in cardiac fibroblast activation and myofibroblast formation remains unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of apelin in activated cardiac fibroblasts, the potential related mechanisms and impact on cardiac fibrotic remodelling process.

The effect of losartan treatment on the response of diabetic cardiomyocytes to ATP depletion.

The present work aimed to investigate the effect of losartan treatment of healthy and diabetic rats on cardiomyocyte response to ATP depletion. Cells were isolated from normoglycemic (N) and streptozotocin-injected (55 mg/kg) rats (D) treated or not treated with losartan (20 mg/kg/day in the drinking water; NL and DL, respectively) for 3 weeks. In each group of cells, enzyme activities such as glucose-6-phosphate (G6PDH) and glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenases (G3PDH), lactate/pyruvate, glycogen levels and citrate synthase were measured as an index of glycolytic dysregulation and mitochondrial mass, respectively.

Pargyline reduces renal damage associated with ischaemia-reperfusion and cyclosporin.

Background: The slow deterioration of the kidney graft is characterized histologically by interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy (IFTA). Immunological and non-immunological stress is the main cause of progression towards IFTA. Our study focused on the non-immunological injuries induced by ischaemia-reperfusion (IR) and cyclosporin (CsA) toxicity, which remain the two stress factors putting a damper on the outcome of the renal graft.

Losartan counteracts the hyper-reactivity to angiotensin II and ROCK1 over-activation in aortas isolated from streptozotocin-injected diabetic rats.

Background: In streptozotocin-injected rats (STZ-rats), we previously demonstrated a role for angiotensin II (AT-II) in cardiac remodelling and insulin resistance partially counteracted by in vivo treatment with losartan, an AT-II receptor antagonist.We now aimed to investigate the effect of treating diabetic STZ-rats with losartan on diabetes vascular response to vasoconstrictors.

Methods: Male Wistar rats were randomly divided in four groups, two of them were assigned to receive losartan in the drinking water (20 mg/kg/day) until the experiment ending (3 weeks afterward).

Activity and expression of semicarbazide-sensitive benzylamine oxidase in a rodent model of diabetes: interactive effects with methylamine and alpha-aminoguanidine.

Previous data indicate that methylamine injection in fasted healthy mice produced a hypophagic effect dependent of neuronal K(v)1.6 channels expression and increased by alpha-aminoguanidine, an inhibitor of semicarbazide-sensitive benzylamine oxidase enzymes mainly involved in amine degradation. In the present work we have investigated: 1) the level of expression and activity of the semicarbazide-sensitive benzylamine oxidase; 2) the effect of methylamine alone and in the presence of alpha-aminoguanidine on food intake of genetic obese and type II diabetes mice (the db/db mice).

n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids supplementation decreases asymmetric dimethyl arginine and arachidonate accumulation in aging spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Background: Plasma accumulation of asymmetric dimethyl arginine (ADMA) is considered as a risk factor for endothelial dysfunction and a strong predictor for coronary heart diseases. Eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA) increasing plasma levels have been positively associated with reduced cardiovascular mortality with a mechanism( s) yet unclear. We hypothesised that ADMA reduction might be a part of EPA and DHA beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system.