Enhanced Peripheral Chemoreflex Drive Is Associated with Cardiorespiratory Disorders in Mice with Coronary Heart Disease.

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a prevalent cardiovascular disease characterized by coronary artery blood flow reductions caused by lipid deposition and oxidation within the coronary arteries. Dyslipidemia is associated with local tissue damage by oxidative stress/inflammation and carotid bodies (CB) peripheral chemoreceptors are heavily modulated by both reactive oxygen species and pro-inflammatory molecules (i.e., cytokines). Despite this, it is not know whether CB-mediated chemoreflex drive may be affected in CHD. In the present study, we evaluated peripheral CB-mediated chemoreflex drive, cardiac autonomic function, and the incidence of breathing disorders in a murine model of CHD. Compared to age-matched control mice, CHD mice showed enhanced CB-chemoreflex drive (twofold increase in the hypoxic ventilatory response), cardiac sympathoexcitation, and irregular breathing disorders. Remarkably, all these were closely linked to the enhanced CB-mediated chemoreflex drive. Our results showed that mice with CHD displayed an enhanced CB chemoreflex, sympathoexcitation, and disordered breathing and suggest that CBs may be involved in chronic cardiorespiratory alterations in the setting of CHD.

Effects of enriched-potassium diet on cardiorespiratory outcomes in experimental non-ischemic chronic heart failure.

BACKGROUND: Chronic heart failure (CHF) is a global health problem. Increased sympathetic outflow, cardiac arrhythmogenesis and irregular breathing patterns have all been associated with poor outcomes in CHF. Several studies showed that activation of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) play a key role in CHF pathophysiology. Interestingly, potassium (K+) supplemented diets showed promising results in normalizing RAS axis and autonomic dysfunction in vascular diseases, lowering cardiovascular risk. Whether subtle increases in dietary K+ consumption may exert similar effects in CHF has not been previously tested. Accordingly, we aimed to evaluate the effects of dietary K+ supplementation on cardiorespiratory alterations in rats with CHF. METHODS: Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats underwent volume overload to induce non-ischemic CHF. Animals were randomly allocated to normal chow diet (CHF group) or supplemented K+ diet (CHF+K+ group) for 6 weeks. Cardiac arrhythmogenesis, sympathetic outflow, baroreflex sensitivity, breathing disorders, chemoreflex function, respiratory-cardiovascular coupling and cardiac function were evaluated. RESULTS: Compared to normal chow diet, K+ supplemented diet in CHF significantly reduced arrhythmia incidence (67.8 ± 15.1 vs. 31.0 ± 3.7 events/hour, CHF vs. CHF+K+), decreased cardiac sympathetic tone (ΔHR to propranolol: - 97.4 ± 9.4 vs. - 60.8 ± 8.3 bpm, CHF vs. CHF+K+), restored baroreflex function and attenuated irregular breathing patterns. Additionally, supplementation of the diet with K+ restores normal central respiratory chemoreflex drive and abrogates pathological cardio-respiratory coupling in CHF rats being the outcome an improved cardiac function. CONCLUSION: Our findings support that dietary K+ supplementation in non-ischemic CHF alleviate cardiorespiratory dysfunction.

Neuroinflammation in heart failure: new insights for an old disease.

Heart failure (HF) is a complex clinical syndrome affecting roughly 26 million people worldwide. Increased sympathetic drive is a hallmark of HF and is associated with disease progression and higher mortality risk. Several mechanisms contribute to enhanced sympathetic activity in HF, but these pathways are still incompletely understood. Previous work suggests that inflammation and activation of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) increases sympathetic drive. Importantly, chronic inflammation in several brain regions is commonly observed in aged populations, and a growing body of evidence suggests neuroinflammation plays a crucial role in HF. In animal models of HF, central inhibition of RAS and pro-inflammatory cytokines normalizes sympathetic drive and improves cardiac function. The precise molecular and cellular mechanisms that lead to neuroinflammation and its effect on HF progression remain undetermined. This review summarizes the most recent advances in the field of neuroinflammation and autonomic control in HF. In addition, it focuses on cellular and molecular mediators of neuroinflammation in HF and in particular on brain regions involved in sympathetic control. Finally, we will comment on what is known about neuroinflammation in the context of preserved vs. reduced ejection fraction HF.

Episodic stimulation of central chemoreceptor neurons elicits disordered breathing and autonomic dysfunction in volume overload heart failure.

Enhanced central chemoreflex (CC) gain is observed in volume overload heart failure (HF) and is correlated with autonomic dysfunction and breathing disorders. The aim of this study was to determine the role of the CC in the development of respiratory and autonomic dysfunction in HF. Volume overload was surgically created to induce HF in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Radiotelemetry transmitters were implanted for continuous monitoring of blood pressure and heart rate. After recovering from surgery, conscious unrestrained rats were exposed to episodic hypercapnic stimulation [EHS; 10 cycles/5 min, inspiratory fraction of carbon dioxide (FICO2) 7%] in a whole body plethysmograph for recording of cardiorespiratory function. To determine the contribution of CC to cardiorespiratory variables, selective ablation of chemoreceptor neurons within the retrotrapezoid nucleus (RTN) was performed via injection of saporin toxin conjugated to substance P (SSP-SAP). Vehicle-treated rats (HF+Veh and Sham+Veh) were used as controls for SSP-SAP experiments. Sixty minutes post-EHS, minute ventilation was depressed in sham animals relative to HF animals (ΔV̇e: -5.55 ± 2.10 vs. 1.24 ± 1.35 mL/min 100 g, P < 0.05; Sham+Veh vs. HF+Veh). Furthermore, EHS resulted in autonomic imbalance, cardiorespiratory entrainment, and ventilatory disturbances in HF+Veh but not Sham+Veh rats, and these effects were significantly attenuated by SSP-SAP treatment. Also, the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) was significantly lower in HF+SSP-SAP rats compared with HF+Veh rats (AHI: 5.5 ± 0.8 vs. 14.4 ± 1.3 events/h, HF+SSP-SAP vs. HF+Veh, respectively, P < 0.05). Finally, EHS-induced respiratory-cardiovascular coupling in HF rats depends on RTN chemoreceptor neurons because it was reduced by SSP-SAP treatment. Overall, EHS triggers ventilatory plasticity and elicits cardiorespiratory abnormalities in HF that are largely dependent on RTN chemoreceptor neurons.

Rostral ventrolateral medullary catecholaminergic neurones mediate irregular breathing pattern in volume overload heart failure rats.

KEY POINTS: A strong association between disordered breathing patterns, elevated sympathetic activity, and enhanced central chemoreflex drive has been shown in experimental and human heart failure (HF). The aim of this study was to determine the contribution of catecholaminergic rostral ventrolateral medulla catecholaminergic neurones (RVLM-C1) to both haemodynamic and respiratory alterations in HF. Apnoea/hypopnoea incidence (AHI), breathing variability, respiratory-cardiovascular coupling, cardiac autonomic control and cardiac function were analysed in HF rats with or without selective ablation of RVLM-C1 neurones. Partial lesion (∼65%) of RVLM-C1 neurones reduces AHI, respiratory variability, and respiratory-cardiovascular coupling in HF rats. In addition, the deleterious effects of central chemoreflex activation on cardiac autonomic balance and cardiac function in HF rats was abolished by ablation of RVLM-C1 neurones. Our findings suggest that RVLM-C1 neurones play a pivotal role in breathing irregularities in volume overload HF, and mediate the sympathetic responses induced by acute central chemoreflex activation. ABSTRACT: Rostral ventrolateral medulla catecholaminergic neurones (RVLM-C1) modulate sympathetic outflow and breathing under normal conditions. Heart failure (HF) is characterized by chronic RVLM-C1 activation, increased sympathetic activity and irregular breathing patterns. Despite studies showing a relationship between RVLM-C1 and sympathetic activity in HF, no studies have addressed a potential contribution of RVLM-C1 neurones to irregular breathing in this context. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine the contribution of RVLM-C1 neurones to irregular breathing patterns in HF. Sprague-Dawley rats underwent surgery to induce volume overload HF. Anti-dopamine ß-hydroxylase-saporin toxin (DßH-SAP) was used to selectively lesion RVLM-C1 neurones. At 8 weeks post-HF induction, breathing pattern, blood pressures (BP), respiratory-cardiovascular coupling (RCC), central chemoreflex function, cardiac autonomic control and cardiac function were studied. Reduction (∼65%) of RVLM-C1 neurones resulted in attenuation of irregular breathing, decreased apnoea-hypopnoea incidence (11.1 ± 2.9 vs. 6.5 ± 2.5 events h-1 ; HF+Veh vs. HF+DßH-SAP; P < 0.05) and improved cardiac autonomic control in HF rats. Pathological RCC was observed in HF rats (peak coherence >0.5 between breathing and cardiovascular signals) and was attenuated by DßH-SAP treatment (coherence: 0.74 ± 0.12 vs. 0.54 ± 0.10, HF+Veh vs. HF+DßH-SAP rats; P < 0.05). Central chemoreflex activation had deleterious effects on cardiac function and cardiac autonomic control in HF rats that were abolished by lesion of RVLM-C1 neurones. Our findings reveal that RVLM-C1 neurones play a major role in irregular breathing patterns observed in volume overload HF and highlight their contribution to cardiac dysautonomia and deterioration of cardiac function during chemoreflex activation.

Ablation of brainstem C1 neurons improves cardiac function in volume overload heart failure.

Activation of the sympathetic nervous system is a hallmark of heart failure (HF) and is positively correlated with disease progression. Catecholaminergic (C1) neurons located in the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) are known to modulate sympathetic outflow and are hyperactivated in volume overload HF. However, there is no conclusive evidence showing a contribution of RVLM-C1 neurons to the development of cardiac dysfunction in the setting of HF. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the role of RVLM-C1 neurons in cardiac autonomic control and deterioration of cardiac function in HF rats. A surgical arteriovenous shunt was created in adult male Sprague-Dawley rats to induce HF. RVLM-C1 neurons were selectively ablated using cell-specific immunotoxin (dopamine-ß hydroxylase saporin [DßH-SAP]) and measures of cardiac autonomic tone, function, and arrhythmia incidence were evaluated. Cardiac autonomic imbalance, arrhythmogenesis and cardiac dysfunction were present in HF rats and improved after DßH-SAP toxin treatment. Most importantly, the progressive decline in fractional shortening observed in HF rats was reduced by DßH-SAP toxin. Our results unveil a pivotal role played by RVLM-C1 neurons in cardiac autonomic imbalance, arrhythmogenesis and cardiac dysfunction in volume overload-induced HF.

Revisiting the physiological effects of exercise training on autonomic regulation and chemoreflex control in heart failure: does ejection fraction matter?

Heart failure (HF) is a global public health problem that, independent of its etiology [reduced (HFrEF) or preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF)], is characterized by functional impairments of cardiac function, chemoreflex hypersensitivity, baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) impairment, and abnormal autonomic regulation, all of which contribute to increased morbidity and mortality. Exercise training (ExT) has been identified as a nonpharmacological therapy capable of restoring normal autonomic function and improving survival in patients with HFrEF. Improvements in autonomic function after ExT are correlated with restoration of normal peripheral chemoreflex sensitivity and BRS in HFrEF. To date, few studies have addressed the effects of ExT on chemoreflex control, BRS, and cardiac autonomic control in HFpEF; however, there are some studies that have suggested that ExT has a beneficial effect on cardiac autonomic control. The beneficial effects of ExT on cardiac function and autonomic control in HF may have important implications for functional capacity in addition to their obvious importance to survival. Recent studies have suggested that the peripheral chemoreflex may also play an important role in attenuating exercise intolerance in HFrEF patients. The role of the central/peripheral chemoreflex, if any, in mediating exercise intolerance in HFpEF has not been investigated. The present review focuses on recent studies that address primary pathophysiological mechanisms of HF (HFrEF and HFpEF) and the potential avenues by which ExT exerts its beneficial effects.

Topical Application of Connexin43 Hemichannel Blocker Reduces Carotid Body-Mediated Chemoreflex Drive in Rats.

The carotid body (CB) is the main arterial chemoreceptor involved in oxygen sensing. Upon hypoxic stimulation, CB chemoreceptor cells release neurotransmitters, which increase the frequency of action potentials in sensory nerve fibers of the carotid sinus nerve. The identity of the molecular entity responsible for oxygen sensing is still a matter of debate; however several ion channels have been shown to be involved in this process. Connexin-based ion channels are expressed in the CB; however a definitive role for these channels in mediating CB oxygen sensitivity has not been established. To address the role of these channels, we studied the effect of blockers of connexin-based ion channels on oxygen sensitivity of the CB. A connexin43 (Cx43) hemichannel blocking agent (CHBa) was applied topically to the CB and the CB-mediated hypoxic ventilatory response (FiO2 21, 15, 10 and 5%) was measured in adult male Sprague-Dawley rats (~250 g). In normoxic conditions, CHBa had no effect on tidal volume or respiratory rate, however Cx43 hemichannels inhibition by CHBa significantly impaired the CB-mediated chemoreflex response to hypoxia. CHBa reduced both the gain of the hypoxic ventilatory response (HVR) and the maximum HVR by ~25% and ~50%, respectively. Our results suggest that connexin43 hemichannels contribute to the CB chemoreflex response to hypoxia in rats. Our results suggest that CB connexin43 hemichannels may be pharmacological targets in disease conditions characterized by CB hyperactivity.

Cardiac diastolic and autonomic dysfunction are aggravated by central chemoreflex activation in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction rats.

KEY POINTS: Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is associated with disordered breathing patterns, and sympatho-vagal imbalance. Although it is well accepted that altered peripheral chemoreflex control plays a role in the progression of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying deterioration of cardiac function in HFpEF are poorly understood. We found that central chemoreflex is enhanced in HFpEF and neuronal activation is increased in pre-sympathetic regions of the brainstem. Our data showed that activation of the central chemoreflex pathway in HFpEF exacerbates diastolic dysfunction, worsens sympatho-vagal imbalance and markedly increases the incidence of cardiac arrhythmias in rats with HFpEF. ABSTRACT: Heart failure (HF) patients with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) display irregular breathing, sympatho-vagal imbalance, arrhythmias and diastolic dysfunction. It has been shown that tonic activation of the central and peripheral chemoreflex pathway plays a pivotal role in the pathophysiology of HF with reduced ejection fraction. In contrast, no studies to date have addressed chemoreflex function or its effect on cardiac function in HFpEF. Therefore, we tested whether peripheral and central chemoreflexes are hyperactive in HFpEF and if chemoreflex activation exacerbates cardiac dysfunction and autonomic imbalance. Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 32) were subjected to sham or volume overload to induce HFpEF. Resting breathing variability, chemoreflex gain, cardiac function and sympatho-vagal balance, and arrhythmia incidence were studied. HFpEF rats displayed [mean ± SD; chronic heart failure (CHF) vs. Sham, respectively] a marked increase in the incidence of apnoeas/hypopnoeas (20.2 ± 4.0 vs. 9.7 ± 2.6 events h-1 ), autonomic imbalance [0.6 ± 0.2 vs. 0.2 ± 0.1 low/high frequency heart rate variability (LF/HFHRV )] and cardiac arrhythmias (196.0 ± 239.9 vs. 19.8 ± 21.7 events h-1 ). Furthermore, HFpEF rats showed increase central chemoreflex sensitivity but not peripheral chemosensitivity. Accordingly, hypercapnic stimulation in HFpEF rats exacerbated increases in sympathetic outflow to the heart (229.6 ± 43.2% vs. 296.0 ± 43.9% LF/HFHRV , normoxia vs. hypercapnia, respectively), incidence of cardiac arrhythmias (196.0 ± 239.9 vs. 576.7 ± 472.9 events h-1 ) and diastolic dysfunction (0.008 ± 0.004 vs. 0.027 ± 0.027 mmHg µl-1 ). Importantly, the cardiovascular consequences of central chemoreflex activation were related to sympathoexcitation since these effects were abolished by propranolol. The present results show that the central chemoreflex is enhanced in HFpEF and that acute activation of central chemoreceptors leads to increases of cardiac sympathetic outflow, cardiac arrhythmogenesis and impairment in cardiac function in rats with HFpEF.

Superoxide dismutase 2 deficiency is associated with enhanced central chemoreception in mice: Implications for breathing regulation.

AIMS: In mammals, central chemoreception plays a crucial role in the regulation of breathing function in both health and disease conditions. Recently, a correlation between high levels of superoxide anion (O2.-) in the Retrotrapezoid nucleus (RTN), a main brain chemoreceptor area, and enhanced central chemoreception has been found in rodents. Interestingly, deficiency in superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2) expression, a pivotal antioxidant enzyme, has been linked to the development/progression of several diseases. Despite, the contribution of SOD2 on O2.- regulation on central chemoreceptor function is unknown. Accordingly, we sought to determine the impact of partial deletion of SOD2 expression on i) O2.-accumulation in the RTN, ii) central ventilatory chemoreflex function, and iii) disordered-breathing. Finally, we study cellular localization of SOD2 in the RTN of healthy mice. METHODS: Central chemoreflex drive and breathing function were assessed in freely moving heterozygous SOD2 knockout mice (SOD2+/- mice) and age-matched control wild type (WT) mice by whole-body plethysmography. O2.- levels were determined in RTN brainstem sections and brain isolated mitochondria, while SOD2 protein expression and tissue localization were determined by immunoblot, RNAseq and immunofluorescent staining, respectively. RESULTS: Our results showed that SOD2+/- mice displayed reductions in SOD2 levels and high O2.- formation and mitochondrial dysfunction within the RTN compared to WT. Additionally, SOD2+/- mice displayed a heightened ventilatory response to hypercapnia and exhibited overt signs of altered breathing patterns. Both, RNAseq analysis and immunofluorescence co-localization studies showed that SOD2 expression was confined to RTN astrocytes but not to RTN chemoreceptor neurons. Finally, we found that SOD2+/- mice displayed alterations in RTN astrocyte morphology compared to RTN astrocytes from WT mice. INNOVATION & CONCLUSION: These findings provide first evidence of the role of SOD2 in the regulation of O2.- levels in the RTN and its potential contribution on the regulation of central chemoreflex function. Our results suggest that reductions in the expression of SOD2 in the brain may contribute to increase O2.- levels in the RTN being the outcome a chronic surge in central chemoreflex drive and the development/maintenance of altered breathing patterns. Overall, dysregulation of SOD2 and the resulting increase in O2.- levels in brainstem respiratory areas can disrupt normal respiratory control mechanisms and contribute to breathing dysfunction seen in certain disease conditions characterized by high oxidative stress.

Chronic intermittent hypoxia promotes glomerular hyperfiltration and potentiates hypoxia-evoked decreases in renal perfusion and PO2.

Introduction: Sleep apnea (SA) is highly prevalent in patients with chronic kidney disease and may contribute to the development and/or progression of this condition. Previous studies suggest that dysregulation of renal hemodynamics and oxygen flux may play a key role in this process. The present study sought to determine how chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH) associated with SA affects regulation of renal artery blood flow (RBF), renal microcirculatory perfusion (RP), glomerular filtration rate (GFR), and cortical and medullary tissue PO2 as well as expression of genes that could contribute to renal injury. We hypothesized that normoxic RBF and tissue PO2 would be reduced after CIH, but that GFR would be increased relative to baseline, and that RBF, RP, and tissue PO2 would be decreased to a greater extent in CIH vs. sham during exposure to intermittent asphyxia (IA, FiO2 0.10/FiCO2 0.03). Additionally, we hypothesized that gene programs promoting oxidative stress and fibrosis would be activated by CIH in renal tissue. Methods: All physiological variables were measured at baseline (FiO2 0.21) and during exposure to 10 episodes of IA (excluding GFR). Results: GFR was higher in CIH-conditioned vs. sham (p < 0.05), whereas normoxic RBF and renal tissue PO2 were significantly lower in CIH vs. sham (p < 0.05). Reductions in RBF, RP, and renal tissue PO2 during IA occurred in both groups but to a greater extent in CIH (p < 0.05). Pro-oxidative and pro-fibrotic gene programs were activated in renal tissue from CIH but not sham. Conclusion: CIH adversely affects renal hemodynamic regulation and oxygen flux during both normoxia and IA and results in changes in renal tissue gene expression.

Sleep dysregulation in sympathetic-mediated diseases: implications for disease progression.

The autonomic nervous system (ANS) plays an important role in the coordination of several physiological functions including sleep/wake process. Significant changes in ANS activity occur during wake-to-sleep transition maintaining the adequate cardiorespiratory regulation and brain activity. Since sleep is a complex homeostatic function, partly regulated by the ANS, it is not surprising that sleep disruption trigger and/or evidence symptoms of ANS impairment. Indeed, several studies suggest a bidirectional relationship between impaired ANS function (i.e. enhanced sympathetic drive), and the emergence/development of sleep disorders. Furthermore, several epidemiological studies described a strong association between sympathetic-mediated diseases and the development and maintenance of sleep disorders resulting in a vicious cycle with adverse outcomes and increased mortality risk. However, which and how the sleep/wake control and ANS circuitry becomes affected during the progression of ANS-related diseases remains poorly understood. Thus, understanding the physiological mechanisms underpinning sleep/wake-dependent sympathetic modulation could provide insights into diseases involving autonomic dysfunction. The purpose of this review is to explore potential neural mechanisms involved in both the onset/maintenance of sympathetic-mediated diseases (Rett syndrome, congenital central hypoventilation syndrome, obstructive sleep apnoea, type 2 diabetes, obesity, heart failure, hypertension, and neurodegenerative diseases) and their plausible contribution to the generation of sleep disorders in order to review evidence that may serve to establish a causal link between sleep disorders and heightened sympathetic activity.

Cardiovascular and autonomic dysfunction in long-COVID syndrome and the potential role of non-invasive therapeutic strategies on cardiovascular outcomes.

A significant percentage of COVID-19 survivors develop long-lasting cardiovascular sequelae linked to autonomic nervous system dysfunction, including fatigue, arrhythmias, and hypertension. This post-COVID-19 cardiovascular syndrome is one facet of "long-COVID," generally defined as long-term health problems persisting/appearing after the typical recovery period of COVID-19. Despite the fact that this syndrome is not fully understood, it is urgent to develop strategies for diagnosing/managing long-COVID due to the immense potential for future disease burden. New diagnostic/therapeutic tools should provide health personnel with the ability to manage the consequences of long-COVID and preserve/improve patient quality of life. It has been shown that cardiovascular rehabilitation programs (CRPs) stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system, improve cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), and reduce cardiovascular risk factors, hospitalization rates, and cognitive impairment in patients suffering from cardiovascular diseases. Given their efficacy in improving patient outcomes, CRPs may have salutary potential for the treatment of cardiovascular sequelae of long-COVID. Indeed, there are several public and private initiatives testing the potential of CRPs in treating fatigue and dysautonomia in long-COVID subjects. The application of these established rehabilitation techniques to COVID-19 cardiovascular syndrome represents a promising approach to improving functional capacity and quality of life. In this brief review, we will focus on the long-lasting cardiovascular and autonomic sequelae occurring after COVID-19 infection, as well as exploring the potential of classic and novel CRPs for managing COVID-19 cardiovascular syndrome. Finally, we expect this review will encourage health care professionals and private/public health organizations to evaluate/implement non-invasive techniques for the management of COVID-19 cardiovascular sequalae.

Medullary astrocytes mediate irregular breathing patterns generation in chronic heart failure through purinergic P2X7 receptor signalling.

BACKGROUND: Breathing disorders (BD) (apnoeas/hypopneas, periodic breathing) are highly prevalent in chronic heart failure (CHF) and are associated with altered central respiratory control. Ample evidence identifies the retrotrapezoid nucleus (RTN) as an important chemosensitivity region for ventilatory control and generation of BD in CHF, however little is known about the cellular mechanisms underlying the RTN/BD relationship. Within the RTN, astrocyte-mediated purinergic signalling modulates respiration, but the potential contribution of RTN astrocytes to BD in CHF has not been explored. METHODS: Selective neuron and/or astrocyte-targeted interventions using either optogenetic and chemogenetic manipulations in the RTN of CHF rats were used to unveil the contribution of the RTN on the development/maintenance of BD, the role played by astrocytes in BD and the molecular mechanism underpinning these alterations. FINDINGS: We showed that episodic photo-stimulation of RTN neurons triggered BD in healthy rats, and that RTN neurons ablation in CHF animals eliminates BD. Also, we found a reduction in astrocytes activity and ATP bioavailability within the RTN of CHF rats, and that chemogenetic restoration of normal RTN astrocyte activity and ATP levels improved breathing regularity in CHF. Importantly, P"X/ P2X7 receptor (P2X7r) expression was reduced in RTN astrocytes from CHF rats and viral vector-mediated delivery of human P2X7 P2X7r into astrocytes increases ATP bioavailability and abolished BD. INTERPRETATION: Our results support that RTN astrocytes play a pivotal role on BD generation and maintenance in the setting CHF by a mechanism encompassing P2X7r signalling. FUNDING: This study was funded by the National Research and Development Agency of Chile (ANID).

Lipid-Encapsuled Grape Tannins Prevent Oxidative-Stress-Induced Neuronal Cell Death, Intracellular ROS Accumulation and Inflammation.

The central nervous system (CNS) is particularly vulnerable to oxidative stress and inflammation, which affect neuronal function and survival. Nowadays, there is great interest in the development of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds extracted from natural products, as potential strategies to reduce the oxidative/inflammatory environment within the CNS and then preserve neuronal integrity and brain function. However, an important limitation of natural antioxidant formulations (mainly polyphenols) is their reduced in vivo bioavailability. The biological compatible delivery system containing polyphenols may serve as a novel compound for these antioxidant formulations. Accordingly, in the present study, we used liposomes as carriers for grape tannins, and we tested their ability to prevent neuronal oxidative stress and inflammation. Cultured catecholaminergic neurons (CAD) were used to establish the potential of lipid-encapsulated grape tannins (TLS) to prevent neuronal oxidative stress and inflammation following an oxidative insult. TLS rescued cell survival after H2O2 treatment (59.4 ± 8.8% vs. 90.4 ± 5.6% H2O2 vs. TLS+ H2O2; p < 0.05) and reduced intracellular ROS levels by ~38% (p < 0.05), despite displaying negligible antioxidant activity in solution. Additionally, TLS treatment dramatically reduced proinflammatory cytokines' mRNA expression after H2O2 treatment (TNF-α: 400.3 ± 1.7 vs. 7.9 ± 1.9-fold; IL-1ß: 423.4 ± 1.3 vs. 12.7 ± 2.6-fold; p < 0.05; H2O2 vs. TLS+ H2O2, respectively), without affecting pro/antioxidant biomarker expression, suggesting that liposomes efficiently delivered tannins inside neurons and promoted cell survival. In conclusion, we propose that lipid-encapsulated grape tannins could be an efficient tool to promote antioxidant/inflammatory cell defense.

Peripheral chemoreflex modulation of renal hemodynamics and renal tissue PO2 in chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction.

Aberrant carotid body chemoreceptor (CBC) function contributes to increased sympathetic nerve activity (SNA) and reduced renal blood flow (RBF) in chronic heart failure (CHF). Intermittent asphyxia (IA) mimicking sleep apnea is associated with additional increases in SNA and may worsen reductions in RBF and renal PO2 (RPO2) in CHF. The combined effects of decreased RBF and RPO2 may contribute to biochemical changes precipitating renal injury. This study sought to determine the role of CBC activity on glomerular filtration rate (GFR), RBF and RPO2 in CHF, and to assess the additive effects of IA. Furthermore, we sought to identify changes in gene expression that might contribute to renal injury. We hypothesized that GFR, RBF, and RPO2 would be reduced in CHF, that decreases in RBF and RPO2 would be worsened by IA, and that these changes would be ameliorated by CBC ablation (CBD). Finally, we hypothesized that CHF would be associated with pro-oxidative pro-fibrotic changes in renal gene expression that would be ameliorated by CBD. CHF was induced in adult male Sprague Dawley rats using coronary artery ligation (CAL). Carotid body denervation was performed by cryogenic ablation. GFR was assessed in conscious animals at the beginning and end of the experimental period. At 8-weeks post-CAL, cardiac function was assessed via echocardiography, and GFR, baseline and IA RBF and RPO2 were measured. Renal gene expression was measured using qRT-PCR. GFR was lower in CHF compared to sham (p < 0.05) but CBD had no salutary effect. RBF and RPO2 were decreased in CHF compared to sham (p < 0.05), and this effect was attenuated by CBD (p < 0.05). RBF and RPO2 were reduced to a greater extent in CHF vs. sham during exposure to IA (p < 0.05), and this effect was attenuated by CBD for RBF (p < 0.05). Downregulation of antioxidant defense and fibrosis-suppressing genes was observed in CHF vs. sham however CBD had no salutary effect. These results suggest that aberrant CBC function in CHF has a clear modulatory effect on RBF during normoxia and during IA simulating central sleep apnea.

Exercise intolerance in volume overload heart failure is associated with low carotid body mediated chemoreflex drive.

Mounting an appropriate ventilatory response to exercise is crucial to meeting metabolic demands, and abnormal ventilatory responses may contribute to exercise-intolerance (EX-inT) in heart failure (HF) patients. We sought to determine if abnormal ventilatory chemoreflex control contributes to EX-inT in volume-overload HF rats. Cardiac function, hypercapnic (HCVR) and hypoxic (HVR) ventilatory responses, and exercise tolerance were assessed at the end of a 6 week exercise training program. At the conclusion of the training program, exercise tolerant HF rats (HF + EX-T) exhibited improvements in cardiac systolic function and reductions in HCVR, sympathetic tone, and arrhythmias. In contrast, HF rats that were exercise intolerant (HF + EX-inT) exhibited worse diastolic dysfunction, and showed no improvements in cardiac systolic function, HCVR, sympathetic tone, or arrhythmias at the conclusion of the training program. In addition, HF + EX-inT rats had impaired HVR which was associated with increased arrhythmia susceptibility and mortality during hypoxic challenges (~ 60% survival). Finally, we observed that exercise tolerance in HF rats was related to carotid body (CB) function as CB ablation resulted in impaired exercise capacity in HF + EX-T rats. Our results indicate that: (i) exercise may have detrimental effects on cardiac function in HF-EX-inT, and (ii) loss of CB chemoreflex sensitivity contributes to EX-inT in HF.

Exercise training reduces brainstem oxidative stress and restores normal breathing function in heart failure.

Enhanced central chemoreflex drive and irregular breathing are both hallmarks in heart failure (HF) and closely related to disease progression. Central chemoreceptor neurons located within the retrotrapezoid nucleus (RTN) are known to play a role in breathing alterations in HF. It has been shown that exercise (EX) effectively reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) in HF rats. However, the link between EX and ROS, particularly at the RTN, with breathing alterations in HF has not been previously addressed. Accordingly, we aimed to determine: i) ROS levels in the RTN in HF and its association with chemoreflex drive, ii) whether EX improves chemoreflex/breathing function by reducing ROS levels, and iii) determine molecular alterations associated with ROS generation within the RTN of HF rats and study EX effects on these pathways. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were allocated into 3 experimental groups: Sham (n = 5), volume overloaded HF (n = 6) and HF (n = 8) rats that underwent EX training for 6 weeks (60 min/day, 25 m/min, 10% inclination). At 8 weeks post-HF induction, breathing patterns and chemoreflex function were analyzed by unrestrained plethysmography. ROS levels and anti/pro-oxidant enzymes gene expression were analyzed in the RTN. Our results showed that HF rats have high ROS levels in the RTN which were closely linked to the enhanced central chemoreflex and breathing disorders. Also, HF rats displayed decreased expression of antioxidant genes in the RTN compared with control rats. EX training increases antioxidant defense in the RTN, reduces ROS formation and restores normal central chemoreflex drive and breathing regularity in HF rats. This study provides evidence for a role of ROS in central chemoreception in the setting of HF and support the use of EX to reduce ROS in the brainstem of HF animals and reveal its potential as an effective mean to normalize chemoreflex and breathing function in HF.

Inhibition of Brainstem Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Rescues Cardiorespiratory Dysfunction in High Output Heart Failure.

Recent evidence shows that chronic activation of catecholaminergic neurons of the rostral ventrolateral medulla is crucial in promoting autonomic imbalance and cardiorespiratory dysfunction in high output heart failure (HF). Brainstem endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) is known to promote cardiovascular dysfunction; however, no studies have addressed the potential role of brainstem ERS in cardiorespiratory dysfunction in high output HF. In this study, we assessed the presence of brainstem ERS and its potential role in cardiorespiratory dysfunction in an experimental model of HF induced by volume overload. High output HF was surgically induced via creation of an arterio-venous fistula in adult male Sprague-Dawley rats. Tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA), an inhibitor of ERS, or vehicle was administered intracerebroventricularly for 4 weeks post-HF induction. Compared with vehicle treatment, TUDCA improved cardiac autonomic balance (LFHRV/HFHRV ratio, 3.02±0.29 versus 1.14±0.24), reduced cardiac arrhythmia incidence (141.5±26.7 versus 35.67±12.5 events/h), and reduced abnormal respiratory patterns (Apneas: 11.83±2.26 versus 4.33±1.80 events/h). TUDCA administration (HF+Veh versus HF+TUDCA, P<0.05) attenuated cardiac hypertrophy (HW/BW 4.4±0.3 versus 4.0±0.1 mg/g) and diastolic dysfunction. Analysis of rostral ventrolateral medulla gene expression confirmed the presence of ERS, inflammation, and activation of renin-angiotensin system pathways in high output HF and showed that TUDCA treatment completely abolished ERS and ERS-related signaling. Taken together, these results support the notion that ERS plays a role in cardiorespiratory dysfunction in high output HF and more importantly that reducing brain ERS with TUDCA treatment has a potent salutary effect on cardiac function in this model.