Plasma glucose, triglycerides, VLDL, leptin and resistin levels as potential biomarkers for myocardial fat in mice. / Niveles plasmáticos de glucosa, triglicéridos, VLDL, leptina y resistina como potenciales biomarcadores de la grasa miocárdica en ratones.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: The increase in myocardial fat has been proposed as one of the main precursors of myocardial dysfunction due to diabetic aetiology, independently of coronary artery disease. However, biomarkers reflecting the myocardial fat content for the clinical detection of this pathology are currently lacking. METHODS: Correlations between cardiac triglyceride content and plasma levels of major altered molecules during diabetes and cardiac mRNA levels of genes involved in cardiac metabolism (Cd36 and Pdk4) have been explored in a murine model of insulin resistance induced by a high-fat diet. RESULTS: In insulin-resistant mice, the fatty diet increased myocardial triglyceride levels, compared to control animals fed with a standard diet. The content of cardiac triglycerides was directly associated with plasma levels of glucose, triglycerides, VLDL, resistin and leptin. In addition, an inverse correlation was observed between the content of cardiac triglycerides and the cardiac mRNA levels of Cd36 and Pdk4. CONCLUSIONS: Our data reveal that the cardiac triglyceride content is associated with altered plasma biochemical profile and reprogramming of gene expression aimed to mitigate the impact of ectopic lipid accumulation in the myocardium.