Cardiac Remodeling Induced by All-Trans Retinoic Acid is Detrimental in Normal Rats.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: This study aimed to discern whether the cardiac alterations caused by retinoic acid (RA) in normal adult rats are physiologic or pathologic. METHODS AND RESULTS: Wistar rats were assigned into four groups: control animals (C, n = 20) received a standard rat chow; animals fed a diet supplemented with 0.3 mg/kg/day all-trans-RA (AR1, n = 20); animals fed a diet supplemented with 5 mg/kg/day all-trans-RA (AR2, n = 20); and animals fed a diet supplemented with 10 mg/kg/day all-trans-RA (AR3, n = 20). After 2 months, the animals were submitted to echocardiogram, isolated heart study, histology, energy metabolism status, oxidative stress condition, and the signaling pathway involved in the cardiac remodeling induced by RA. RA increased myocyte cross-sectional area in a dose-dependent manner. The treatment did not change the morphological and functional variables, assessed by echocardiogram and isolated heart study. In contrast, RA changed catalases, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidases and was associated with increased values of lipid hydroperoxide, suggesting oxidative stress. RA also reduced citrate synthase, enzymatic mitochondrial complex II, ATP synthase, and enzymes of fatty acid metabolism and was associated with increased enzymes involved in glucose use. In addition, RA increased JNK 1/2 expression, without changes in TGF-ß, PI3K, AKT, NFκB, S6K, and ERK. CONCLUSION: In normal rats, RA induces cardiac hypertrophy in a dose-dependent manner. The non-participation of the PI3K/Akt pathway, associated with the participation of the JNK pathway, oxidative stress, and changes in energy metabolism, suggests that cardiac remodeling induced by RA supplementation is deleterious.

Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) or lycopene supplementation attenuates ventricular remodeling after myocardial infarction through different mechanistic pathways.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of tomato or lycopene supplementation on cardiac remodeling after myocardial infarction (MI). Male Wistar rats were assigned to four groups: the sham group (animals that underwent simulated surgery) that received a standard chow (S; n=18), the infarcted group that received a standard chow (MI; n=13), the infarcted group supplemented with lycopene (1 mg of lycopene/kg body weight/day) (MIL; n=16) and the infarcted group supplemented with tomato (MIT; n=16). After 3 months, morphological, functional and biochemical analyses were performed. The groups MIL and MIT showed decreased interstitial fibrosis induced by infarction. Tomato supplementation attenuated the hypertrophy induced by MI. In addition, tomato and lycopene improved diastolic dysfunction evaluated by echocardiographic and isolated heart studies, respectively. The MI group showed higher levels of cardiac TNF-α compared to the MIL and MIT groups. Decreased nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 was measured in the MIL group. Lipid hydroperoxide levels were higher in the infarcted groups; however, the MIT group had a lower concentration than did the MI group [S=223±20.8, MI=298±19.5, MIL=277±26.6, MIT=261±28.8 (nmol/g); n=8; P<.001]. We also examined left ventricle miRNA expression; when compared to the S group, the MIL group uniquely down-regulated the expression of eight miRNAs. No miRNA was found to be up-regulated uniquely in the MIT and MIL groups. In conclusion, tomato or lycopene supplementation attenuated the cardiac remodeling process and improved diastolic function after MI. However, the effect of lycopene and tomato supplementation occurred through different mechanistic pathways.

Mechanisms involved in the beneficial effects of spironolactone after myocardial infarction.

INTRODUCTION: Our objective was to analyze the effect of spironolactone on cardiac remodeling after experimental myocardial infarction (MI), assessed by matricellular proteins levels, cardiac collagen amount and distribution, myocardial tissue metalloproteinase inhibitor-1 (TIMP-1) concentration, myocyte hypertrophy, left ventricular architecture, and in vitro and in vivo cardiac function. METHODS: Wistar rats were assigned to 4 groups: control group, in which animals were submitted to simulated surgery (SHAM group; n=9); group that received spironolactone and in which animals were submitted to simulated surgery (SHAM-S group, n=9); myocardial infarction group, in which animals were submitted to coronary artery ligation (MI group, n=15); and myocardial infarction group with spironolactone supplementation (MI-S group, n=15). The rats were observed for 3 months. RESULTS: The MI group had higher values of left cardiac chambers and mass index and lower relative wall thicknesses compared with the SHAM group. In addition, diastolic and systolic functions were worse in the MI groups. However, spironolactone did not influence any of these variables. The MI-S group had a lower myocardial hydroxyproline concentration and myocyte cross-sectional area compared with the MI group. Myocardial periostin and collagen type III were lower in the MI-S group compared with the MI-group. In addition, TIMP-1 concentration in myocardium was higher in the MI-S group compared with the MI group. CONCLUSIONS: The predominant consequence of spironolactone supplementation after MI is related to reductions in collagens, with discrete attenuation of other remodeling variables. Importantly, this effect may be modulated by periostin and TIMP-1 levels.