scholarly journals Overexpression of Bax Protein and Enhanced Apoptosis in the Left Ventricle of Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats

Hypertension ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 280-286 ◽  
Author(s):  
María Antonia Fortuño ◽  
Susana Ravassa ◽  
Juan Carlos Etayo ◽  
Javier Díez
2000 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 307-315 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan A. Rodríguez-Feo ◽  
José Fortes ◽  
Ester Aceituno ◽  
Jerónimo Farré ◽  
Rocío Ayala ◽  
...  

Circulation ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 116 (suppl_16) ◽  
Author(s):  
SureshVarma Penumathsa ◽  
Srikanth Koneru ◽  
Mahesh Thirunavukkarasu ◽  
Lijun Zhan ◽  
Nilanjana Maulik

Hypertension the major risk factor for many cardiovascular diseases is a result of multiple causes along with excessive generation of reactive oxygen species resulting in imbalance of redox status. Thioredoxin-1 (Trx-1) is a redox regulatory multifunctional protein with anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic and antioxidant effects. In the present study we investigated the therapeutic potential of Adeno-Trx-1 in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). The rats were assigned to four different groups (n = 24) such as (1) normotensive Wistar Kyoto (WKY) (2) SHR (3) SHR +Adeno-Lac-Z (SHRLac-Z) and (4) SHR +Adeno-Trx-1 (SHRTrx-1). Echo-guided gene delivery to the anterior wall of left ventricle was performed using 1x109 pfu of adenovirus constructed with Trx-1 and Lac-Z. Two days after injection of adeno virus, the hearts were subjected to permanent left anterior descending coronary artery occlusion (MI). Left ventricular functions by Echocardiography were examined after 30 days of MI as the significant changes in left ventricle were observed after 4 weeks of MI. Decreased left ventricular inner diameter (7 vs 9 mm) and increased ejection fraction (52 vs 42 %), fractional shortening (28 vs 22 %) was observed in SHRTrx-1 compared to SHR. Infarct size, cardiomyocyte apoptosis and protein expression profiles (by Confocal and Western blot analysis) were observed at predetermined time points i.e after 24 and 48 hours of MI respectively. Decreased infarct size (52% vs 67%), cardiomyocyte apoptosis by TUNEL assay (161 vs 240) and increased expression of Trx-1 and HO-1 were observed in SHRTrx-1 compared to SHR. Confocal results were also confirmed by Western blot analysis. Results documented increased expression of Trx-1 (1.8 fold) and HO-1 (1.4 fold) in SHRTrx-1 as compared to SHR. In addition, we have also observed increased expression of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 (1.7 fold) in SHRTrx-1 treated group compared SHR. Thus our results demonstrate for the first time that the cardioprotective effect of Adeno-Trx-1 therapy in SHR is Trx-1/HO-1/Bcl-2 mediated and may represent a novel mechanism for therapy against hypertension induced post infarction heart failure.


2006 ◽  
Vol 101 (4) ◽  
pp. 1149-1161 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joe Quadrilatero ◽  
James W. E. Rush

Apoptosis is a highly conserved process that plays an important role in controlling tissue development, homeostasis, and architecture. Dysregulation of apoptosis is a hallmark of numerous human pathologies including hypertension. In the present work we studied the effect of hypertension on apoptosis and the expression of several apoptotic signaling and/or regulatory proteins in four functionally and metabolically distinct muscles. Specifically, we examined these markers in soleus, red gastrocnemius, white gastrocnemius, and left ventricle (LV) of 20-wk-old normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Compared with WKY rats SHR had a significantly greater heart weight, LV weight, and mean arterial pressure. In general, SHR skeletal muscle had increased Bax protein, procaspase-3 protein, caspase-3 activity, cleaved poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase protein, and DNA fragmentation as well as decreased Bcl-2 protein and a lower Bcl-2-to-Bax ratio. Subcellular distribution studies demonstrated increased levels of apoptosis-inducing factor protein in cytosolic or nuclear extracts as well as elevated nuclear Bax protein in SHR skeletal muscle. Moreover, heat shock protein 70 in red gastrocnemius and soleus was significantly correlated to several apoptotic factors. With the exception of lower heat shock protein 90 levels in SHR no additional differences in any apoptotic markers were observed in LV between groups. Collectively, this report provides the first evidence that apoptotic signaling is altered in skeletal muscle of hypertensive animals, an effect that may be mediated by both caspase-dependent and -independent mechanisms. This proapoptotic state may provide some understanding for the morphological and functional abnormalities observed in skeletal muscle of hypertensive animals.


2005 ◽  
Vol 108 (4) ◽  
pp. 349-355 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniele G. BEZERRA ◽  
Carlos A. MANDARIM-de-LACERDA

The aim of the present study was to investigate the possibility of different effects of the hydrophobic statin simvastatin and the hydrophilic statin pravastatin on the remodelling process in the overloaded left ventricle and renal cortex of SHRs (spontaneously hypertensive rats). Fifteen SHRs were treated for 40 days with simvastatin, pravastatin or placebo (water) via orogastric administration. Left ventricle and renal cortex were examined by light microscopy and stereology. LV (left ventricular) cardiomyocyte nuclei (N[cmn]) and glomeruli (N[gl]) numbers were estimated by the dissector method. BP (blood pressure) and serum triacylglycerols (triglycerides) were lower in the statin-treated groups than in the untreated control group. The volume density of the interstitial connective tissue was smaller and length density of the intramyocardial arteries, as well as the arteries/cardiomyocyte ratio, was greater in the statin-treated groups than in the control group. No difference was observed between the two statin-treated groups. The cross-sectional cardiomyocyte area was significantly smaller in the simvastatin-treated group than in the control or pravastatin-treated groups, and it was smaller in the pravastatin-treated group than in the control group. N[cmn] and N[gl] were greater in the two statin-treated groups than in the control group, but no significant difference was observed between the two statin-treated groups. In conclusion, administration of the statins simvastatin and pravastatin to SHRs effectively prevented the elevation in BP and serum triaclyglycerols, and also attenuated adverse cardiac and kidney remodelling by preventing LV hypertrophy, enhancing myocardial vascularization with the decrease in interstitial fibrosis and attenuating cardiomyocyte and glomerular loss.


2009 ◽  
Vol 37 (6) ◽  
pp. 2645-2651 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fang-fang Liu ◽  
Zhi-yong Ma ◽  
Duo-ling Li ◽  
Jin-bo Feng ◽  
Kai Zhang ◽  
...  

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