Dietary supplements and vascular function in hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are complications that can lead to maternal and infant mortality and morbidity. Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are generally defined as hypertension and may be accompanied by other end organ damages including proteinuria, maternal organ disturbances including renal insufficiency, neurological complications, thrombocytopenia, impaired liver function, or uteroplacental dysfunction such as fetal growth restriction and stillbirth. Although the causes of these hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are multifactorial and elusive, they seem to share some common vascular-related mechanisms, including diseased spiral arteries, placental ischemia, and endothelial dysfunction. Recently, preeclampsia is being considered as a vascular disorder. Unfortunately, due to the complex etiology of preeclampsia and safety concerns on drug usage during pregnancy, there is still no effective pharmacological treatments available for preeclampsia yet. An emerging area of interest in this research field is the potential beneficial effects of dietary intervention on reducing the risk of preeclampsia. Recent studies have been focused on the association between deficiencies or excesses of some nutrients and complications during pregnancy, fetal growth and development, and later risk of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases in the offspring. In this review, we discuss the involvement of placental vascular dysfunction in preeclampsia. We summarize the current understanding of the association between abnormal placentation and preeclampsia in a vascular perspective. Finally, we evaluate several studied dietary supplementations to prevent and reduce the risk of preeclampsia, targeting placental vascular development and function, leading to improved pregnancy and postnatal outcomes.

Circadian Rhythm: Potential Therapeutic Target for Atherosclerosis and Thrombosis.

Every organism has an intrinsic biological rhythm that orchestrates biological processes in adjusting to daily environmental changes. Circadian rhythms are maintained by networks of molecular clocks throughout the core and peripheral tissues, including immune cells, blood vessels, and perivascular adipose tissues. Recent findings have suggested strong correlations between the circadian clock and cardiovascular diseases. Desynchronization between the circadian rhythm and body metabolism contributes to the development of cardiovascular diseases including arteriosclerosis and thrombosis. Circadian rhythms are involved in controlling inflammatory processes and metabolisms, which can influence the pathology of arteriosclerosis and thrombosis. Circadian clock genes are critical in maintaining the robust relationship between diurnal variation and the cardiovascular system. The circadian machinery in the vascular system may be a novel therapeutic target for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. The research on circadian rhythms in cardiovascular diseases is still progressing. In this review, we briefly summarize recent studies on circadian rhythms and cardiovascular homeostasis, focusing on the circadian control of inflammatory processes and metabolisms. Based on the recent findings, we discuss the potential target molecules for future therapeutic strategies against cardiovascular diseases by targeting the circadian clock.

Perivascular Adipose Tissue Oxidative Stress in Obesity.

Perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) adheres to most systemic blood vessels in the body. Healthy PVAT exerts anticontractile effects on blood vessels and further protects against cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. Healthy PVAT regulates vascular homeostasis via secreting an array of adipokine, hormones, and growth factors. Normally, homeostatic reactive oxygen species (ROS) in PVAT act as secondary messengers in various signalling pathways and contribute to vascular tone regulation. Excessive ROS are eliminated by the antioxidant defence system in PVAT. Oxidative stress occurs when the production of ROS exceeds the endogenous antioxidant defence, leading to a redox imbalance. Oxidative stress is a pivotal pathophysiological process in cardiovascular and metabolic complications. In obesity, PVAT becomes dysfunctional and exerts detrimental effects on the blood vessels. Therefore, redox balance in PVAT emerges as a potential pathophysiological mechanism underlying obesity-induced cardiovascular diseases. In this review, we summarise new findings describing different ROS, the major sources of ROS and antioxidant defence in PVAT, as well as potential pharmacological intervention of PVAT oxidative stress in obesity.

Deletion of adipocyte NOS3 potentiates high-fat diet-induced hypertension and vascular remodelling via chemerin.

AIMS: Obesity is an epidemic that is a critical contributor to hypertension and other cardiovascular diseases. Current paradigms suggest that endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS/NOS3) in the vessel wall is the primary regulator of vascular function and blood pressure. However, recent studies have revealed the presence of eNOS/NOS3 in the adipocytes of white adipose tissues and perivascular adipose tissues (PVATs). The current understanding of the role of adipocyte NOS3 is based mainly on studies using global knockout models. The present study aimed to elucidate the functional significance of adipocyte NOS3 for vascular function and blood pressure control. METHODS AND RESULTS: We generated an adipocyte-specific NOS3 knockout mouse line using adiponectin promoter-specific Cre-induced gene inactivation. Control and adipocyte-specific NOS3 knockout (A-NOS3 KO) mice were fed a high-fat diet (HFD). Despite less weight gain, A-NOS3 KO mice exhibited a significant increase in blood pressure after HFD feeding, associated with exacerbated vascular dysfunction and remodelling. A-NOS3 KO mice also showed increased expression of signature markers of inflammation and hypoxia in the PVATs. Among the differentially expressed adipokines, we have observed an upregulation of a novel adipokine, chemerin, in A-NOS3 KO mice. Chemerin was recently reported to link obesity and vascular dysfunction. Treatment with chemerin neutralizing antibody normalized the expression of remodelling markers in the aorta segments cultured in serum from HFD-fed A-NOS3 KO mice ex vivo. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that NOS3 in adipocytes is vital in maintaining vascular homeostasis; dysfunction of adipocyte NOS3 contributes to obesity-induced vascular remodelling and hypertension.

Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase in the Perivascular Adipose Tissue.

Perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) is a special type of ectopic fat depot that adheres to most vasculatures. PVAT has been shown to exert anticontractile effects on the blood vessels and confers protective effects against metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. PVAT plays a critical role in vascular homeostasis via secreting adipokine, hormones, and growth factors. Endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS; also known as NOS3 or NOSIII) is well-known for its role in the generation of vasoprotective nitric oxide (NO). eNOS is primarily expressed, but not exclusively, in endothelial cells, while recent studies have identified its expression in both adipocytes and endothelial cells of PVAT. PVAT eNOS is an important player in the protective role of PVAT. Different studies have demonstrated that, under obesity-linked metabolic diseases, PVAT eNOS may be even more important than endothelium eNOS in obesity-induced vascular dysfunction, which may be attributed to certain PVAT eNOS-specific functions. In this review, we summarized the current understanding of eNOS expression in PVAT, its function under both physiological and pathological conditions and listed out a few pharmacological interventions of interest that target eNOS in PVAT.

l-Citrulline ameliorates pathophysiology in a rat model of superimposed preeclampsia.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Preeclampsia, characterized by hypertension, proteinuria and restriction of fetal growth, is one of the leading causes of maternal and perinatal mortality. So far, there is no effective pharmacological therapy for preeclampsia. The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of supplementation with l-citrulline in Dahl salt-sensitive rats, a model of superimposed preeclampsia. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: Parental Dahl salt-sensitive rats were treated with l-citrulline (2.5 g·L-1 in drinking water) from the day of mating to the end of lactation period. Blood pressure was monitored throughout pregnancy and markers of preeclampsia were assessed. Endothelial function of the pregnant Dahl salt-sensitive rats was assessed by wire myograph. KEY RESULTS: In Dahl salt-sensitive rats, l-citrulline supplementation significantly reduced maternal blood pressure, proteinuria and levels of circulating soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1. l-Citrulline improved maternal endothelial function by augmenting the production of nitric oxide in the aorta and improving endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor-mediated vasorelaxation in resistance arteries. l-Citrulline supplementation improved placental insufficiency and fetal growth, which were associated with an enhancement of angiogenesis and reduction of fibrosis and senescence in the placentas. In addition, l-citrulline down-regulated genes involved in the TLR4 and NF-κB signalling pathways. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS: This study shows that l-citrulline supplementation reduced gestational hypertension and improved placentation and fetal growth in a rat model of superimposed preeclampsia. l-Citrulline supplementation may provide an effective and safe therapeutic strategy for preeclampsia that benefits both the mother and the fetus.

Resveratrol and the Interaction between Gut Microbiota and Arterial Remodelling.

Arterial remodelling refers to the alteration in the structure of blood vessel that contributes to the progression of hypertension and other cardiovascular complications. Arterial remodelling is orchestrated by the crosstalk between the endothelium and vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC). Vascular inflammation participates in arterial remodelling. Resveratrol is a natural polyphenol that possesses anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and has beneficial effects in both the endothelium and VSMC. Resveratrol has been studied for the protective effects in arterial remodelling and gut microbiota, respectively. Gut microbiota plays a critical role in the immune system and inflammatory processes. Gut microbiota may also regulate vascular remodelling in cardiovascular complications via affecting endothelium function and VSMC proliferation. Currently, there is new evidence showing that gut microbiota regulate the proliferation of VSMC and the formation of neointimal hyperplasia in response to injury. The change in population of the gut microbiota, as well as their metabolites (e.g., short-chain fatty acids) could critically contribute to VSMC proliferation, cell cycle progression, and migration. Recent studies have provided strong evidence that correlate the effects of resveratrol in arterial remodelling and gut microbiota. This review aims to summarize recent findings on the resveratrol effects on cardiovascular complications focusing on arterial remodelling and discuss the possible interactions of resveratrol and the gut microbiota that modulate arterial remodelling.

Circadian Rhythm in Adipose Tissue: Novel Antioxidant Target for Metabolic and Cardiovascular Diseases.

Obesity is a major risk factor for most metabolic and cardiovascular disorders. Adipose tissue is an important endocrine organ that modulates metabolic and cardiovascular health by secreting signaling molecules. Oxidative stress is a common mechanism associated with metabolic and cardiovascular complications including obesity, type 2 diabetes, and hypertension. Oxidative stress can cause adipose tissue dysfunction. Accumulating data from both humans and experimental animal models suggest that adipose tissue function and oxidative stress have an innate connection with the intrinsic biological clock. Circadian clock orchestrates biological processes in adjusting to daily environmental changes according to internal or external cues. Recent studies have identified the genes and molecular pathways exhibiting circadian expression patterns in adipose tissue. Disruption of the circadian rhythmicity has been suggested to augment oxidative stress and aberrate adipose tissue function and metabolism. Therefore, circadian machinery in the adipose tissue may be a novel therapeutic target for the prevention and treatment of metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. In this review, we summarize recent findings on circadian rhythm and oxidative stress in adipose tissue, dissect the key components that play a role in regulating the clock rhythm, oxidative stress and adipose tissue function, and discuss the potential use of antioxidant treatment on metabolic and cardiovascular diseases by targeting the adipose clock.

Impact of Lifestyles (Diet and Exercise) on Vascular Health: Oxidative Stress and Endothelial Function.

Healthy lifestyle and diet are associated with significant reduction in risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. Oxidative stress and the imbalance between prooxidants and antioxidants are linked to cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. Changes in antioxidant capacity of the body may lead to oxidative stress and vascular dysfunction. Diet is an important source of antioxidants, while exercise offers many health benefits as well. Recent findings have evidenced that diet and physical factors are correlated to oxidative stress. Diet and physical factors have debatable roles in modulating oxidative stress and effects on the endothelium. Since endothelium and oxidative stress play critical roles in cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, dietary and physical factors could have significant implications on prevention of the diseases. This review is aimed at summarizing the current knowledge on the impact of diet manipulation and physical factors on endothelium and oxidative stress, focusing on cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. We discuss the friend-and-foe role of dietary modification (including different diet styles, calorie restriction, and nutrient supplementation) on endothelium and oxidative stress, as well as the potential benefits and concerns of physical activity and exercise on endothelium and oxidative stress. A fine balance between oxidative stress and antioxidants is important for normal functions in the cells and interfering with this balance may lead to unfavorable effects. Further studies are needed to identify the best diet composition and exercise intensity.

Perivascular Adipose Tissue as a Target for Antioxidant Therapy for Cardiovascular Complications.

Perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) is the connective tissue surrounding most of the systemic blood vessels. PVAT is now recognized as an important endocrine tissue that maintains vascular homeostasis. Healthy PVAT has anticontractile, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidative roles. Vascular oxidative stress is an important pathophysiological event in cardiometabolic complications of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and hypertension. Accumulating data from both humans and experimental animal models suggests that PVAT dysfunction is potentially linked to cardiovascular diseases, and associated with augmented vascular inflammation, oxidative stress, and arterial remodeling. Reactive oxygen species produced from PVAT can be originated from mitochondria, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidases, and uncoupled endothelial nitric oxide synthase. PVAT can also sense vascular paracrine signals and response by secreting vasoactive adipokines. Therefore, PVAT may constitute a novel therapeutic target for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. In this review, we summarize recent findings on PVAT functions, ROS production, and oxidative stress in different pathophysiological settings and discuss the potential antioxidant therapies for cardiovascular diseases by targeting PVAT.

The roles of gut microbiota and circadian rhythm in the cardiovascular protective effects of polyphenols.

Polyphenols are secondary metabolites of plants that have been widely studied for their health benefits as antioxidants. In the last decade, several clinical trials and epidemiological studies have shown that long-term consumption of polyphenol-rich diet protects against chronic diseases such as cancers and cardiovascular diseases. Current cardiovascular studies have also suggested an important role of gut microbiota and circadian rhythm in the pathogenesis metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. It is known that polyphenols can modulate the composition of core gut microbiota and interact with circadian clocks. In this article, we summarize recent findings, review the molecular mechanisms and the potential of polyphenols as dietary supplements for regulating gut microbiota and circadian rhythms, and discuss future research directions. LINKED ARTICLES: This article is part of a themed section on The Pharmacology of Nutraceuticals. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v177.6/issuetoc.

Involvement of Gut Microbiota, Microbial Metabolites and Interaction with Polyphenol in Host Immunometabolism.

Immunological and metabolic processes are inextricably linked and important for maintaining tissue and organismal health. Manipulation of cellular metabolism could be beneficial to immunity and prevent metabolic and degenerative diseases including obesity, diabetes, and cancer. Maintenance of a normal metabolism depends on symbiotic consortium of gut microbes. Gut microbiota contributes to certain xenobiotic metabolisms and bioactive metabolites production. Gut microbiota-derived metabolites have been shown to be involved in inflammatory activation of macrophages and contribute to metabolic diseases. Recent studies have focused on how nutrients affect immunometabolism. Polyphenols, the secondary metabolites of plants, are presented in many foods and beverages. Several studies have demonstrated the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of polyphenols. Many clinical trials and epidemiological studies have also shown that long-term consumption of polyphenol-rich diet protects against chronic metabolic diseases. It is known that polyphenols can modulate the composition of core gut microbiota and interact with the immunometabolism. In the present article, we review the mechanisms of gut microbiota and its metabolites on immunometabolism, summarize recent findings on how the interaction between microbiota and polyphenol modulates host immunometabolism, and discuss future research directions.

Fetal programming effects of pentaerythritol tetranitrate in a rat model of superimposed preeclampsia.

Preeclampsia is a common medical condition during pregnancy and a major cause of maternal and prenatal mortality. The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of maternal treatment with pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN) in Dahl salt-sensitive rats (DSSR), a model of superimposed preeclampsia. F0 parental DSSR were treated with PETN (50 mg/kg) from the time point of mating to the end of lactation. Maternal PETN treatment improved fetal growth and had no effect on blood pressure in DSSR offspring fed with normal chow or high-salt diet. Upon high-fat diet (HFD) feeding, offspring from PETN-treated mother showed improved glucose tolerance despite similar weight gain. Unexpectedly, maternal PETN treatment significantly potentiated the HFD-induced blood pressure elevation in male DSSR offspring. Endothelium-derived hyperpolarization factor (EDHF)-mediated vasodilation was similar between NCD-fed and HFD-fed control offspring but was markedly reduced in HFD-fed PETN offspring. EDHF genes were downregulated in the vasculature of HFD-fed PETN offspring, which was associated with epigenetic changes in histone modifications. In conclusion, maternal PETN treatment in DSSR shows both beneficial and unfavorable effects. It improves fetal growth and ameliorates glucose tolerance in the offspring. Although maternal PETN treatment has no effect on blood pressure in offspring fed with normal chow or high-salt diet, the offspring is at higher risk to develop HFD-induced hypertension. PETN may potentiate the blood pressure response to HFD by epigenetic modifications of EDHF genes. KEY MESSAGES: The core findings of this article suggest that maternal PETN treatment of DSSR, a rat model of a spontaneous superimposed preeclampsia, leads to • Improvement of fetal growth; • No changes of maternal blood pressure or markers of preeclampsia; • Amelioration of HFD-induced glucose intolerance in adult offspring; • No changes in blood pressure development of the offspring on normal chow or high salt-diet; • Potentiation of blood pressure elevation of the offspring on HFD.

Renal Effects of Fetal Reprogramming With Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats.

AIMS: Current antihypertensive therapies cannot cure hypertension and a life-long medication is necessary. Maternal treatment may represent a promising strategy for hypertension treatment. We have previously shown that maternal treatment of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) with pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN) leads to a persistent blood pressure reduction in the female offspring. The underlying mechanisms include improved endothelial function resulting from long-lasting epigenetic changes. In the present study, we address the renal effects of maternal PETN treatment. METHODS AND RESULTS: F0 parental SHR were fed with either normal chow or PETN-containing (1 g/kg) chow ad libitum from the time point of mating to the end of lactation period. The F1 offspring received normal chow without PETN from the time point of weaning (at the age of 3 weeks). At the age of 16 weeks, female PETN offspring showed lower blood pressure than the control. No difference was observed in male offspring. All following experiments were performed with kidneys from 16-week-old female offspring. Maternal PETN treatment reduced the mRNA and protein expression of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) and basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF2), resulting from epigenetic modifications found at the proximal promoter regions. The expression levels of mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) and factors in the MR signalling pathway (Rac1 and Sgk1) were also reduced by PETN. Major profibrotic cytokines, including Wnt4, TNF-alpha, TGF-beta, and MMP9, were downregulated by PETN, which was associated with reduced collagen deposition and glomerulus sclerosis in the kidney of PETN offspring. In addition, PETN treatment also decreased the markers of inflammation and immune cell infiltration in the kidneys. CONCLUSIONS: PETN maternal treatment leads to epigenetic changes in the kidney of female SHR offspring. The reduced renal inflammation, alleviated kidney fibrosis, and decreased MR signalling are potential mechanisms contributing to the observed blood pressure-lowering effect.

The Role of Sirtuin1 in Regulating Endothelial Function, Arterial Remodeling and Vascular Aging.

Sirtuin1 (SIRT1), which belongs to a highly conserved family of protein deacetylase, is one of the best-studied sirtuins. SIRT1 is involved in a variety of biological processes, including energy metabolism, cell proliferation and survival, chromatin dynamics, and DNA repair. In the vasculature, SIRT1 is ubiquitously expressed in endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, and perivascular adipose tissues (PVAT). Endothelial SIRT1 plays a unique role in vasoprotection by regulating a large variety of proteins, including endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS). In endothelial cells, SIRT1 and eNOS regulate each other synergistically through positive feedback mechanisms for the maintenance of endothelial function. Recent studies have shown that SIRT1 plays a vital role in modulating PVAT function, arterial remodeling, and vascular aging. In the present article, we summarize recent findings, review the molecular mechanisms and the potential of SIRT1 as a therapeutic target for the treatment of vascular diseases, and discuss future research directions.

Assessment of Vascular Tone Responsiveness using Isolated Mesenteric Arteries with a Focus on Modulation by Perivascular Adipose Tissues.

Altered vascular tone responsiveness to pathophysiological stimuli contributes to the development of a wide range of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. Endothelial dysfunction represents a major culprit for the reduced vasodilatation and enhanced vasoconstriction of arteries. Adipose (fat) tissues surrounding the arteries play important roles in the regulation of endothelium-dependent relaxation and/or contraction of the vascular smooth muscle cells. The cross-talks between the endothelium and perivascular adipose tissues can be assessed ex vivo using mounted blood vessels by a wire myography system. However, optimal settings should be established for arteries derived from animals of different species, ages, genetic backgrounds and/or pathophysiological conditions.

Endothelial SIRT1 prevents age-induced impairment of vasodilator responses by enhancing the expression and activity of soluble guanylyl cyclase in smooth muscle cells.

AIMS: Aged arteries are characterized by attenuated vasodilator and enhanced vasoconstrictor responses, which contribute to the development of diseases such as arterial hypertension, atherosclerosis, and heart failure. SIRT1 is a longevity regulator exerting protective functions against vascular ageing, although the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. This study was designed to elucidate the signalling pathways involved in endothelial SIRT1-mediated vasodilator responses in the arteries of young and old mice. In particular, the contributions of nitric oxide (NO), endothelial NO synthase (eNOS), cyclooxygenase (COX), and/or soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC) were examined. METHODS AND RESULTS: Wild type (WT) or eNOS knockout (eKO) mice were cross-bred with those overexpressing human SIRT1 selectively in the vascular endothelium (EC-SIRT1). Arteries were collected from the four groups of mice (WT, EC-SIRT1, eKO, and eKO-SIRT1) to measure isometric relaxations/contractions in response to various pharmacological agents. Reduction of NO bioavailability, hyper-activation of COX signalling, and down-regulation of sGC collectively contributed to the decreased vasodilator and increased vasoconstrictor responses in arteries of old WT mice. Overexpression of endothelial SIRT1 did not block the reduction in NO bioavailability but attenuated the hyper-activation of COX-2, thus protecting mice from age-induced vasoconstrictor responses in arteries of EC-SIRT1 mice. Deficiency of eNOS did not affect endothelial SIRT1-mediated anti-contractile activities in arteries of eKO-SIRT1 mice. Mechanistic studies revealed that overexpression of endothelial SIRT1 enhanced Notch signalling to up-regulate sGCß1 in smooth muscle cells. Increased expression and activity of sGC prevented age-induced hyper-activation of COX-2 as well as the conversion of endothelium-dependent relaxations to contractions in arteries of EC-SIRT1 mice. CONCLUSION: Age-induced down-regulation of sGC and up-regulation of COX-2 in arteries are at least partly attributable to the loss-of-endothelial SIRT1 function. Enhancing the endothelial expression and function of SIRT1 prevents early vascular ageing and maintains vasodilator responses, thus representing promising drug targets for cardiovascular diseases.

Local enrichment of fatty acid-binding protein 4 in the pericardial cavity of cardiovascular disease patients.

BACKGROUND: The pericardial fluid may be representative of the interstitium of the heart. The aim of this study was to discriminate in cardiovascular disease patients between adipocytokines that are produced locally by the heart and those supplied by the circulation. METHODS: Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) were used to determine levels of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-pBNP), fatty acid-binding protein 4 (FABP4), leptin, lipocalin-2, neutrophil elastase, proteinase-3, high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and adiponectin in venous plasma and pericardial fluid harvested during elective cardio-thoracic surgery (n = 132-152). RESULTS: In pericardial fluid compared to plasma, the levels were significantly smaller (p < 0.001) for leptin, lipocalin-2, neutrophil elastase, proteinase-3, hsCRP and adiponectin. For these biomarkers, the ratio of pericardial fluid-to-plasma level ([PF]/[P], median (interquartile range)) was 0.65 (0.47-1.01), 0.78 (0.56-1.09), 0.23 (0.11-0.60), 0.17 (0.09-0.36), 0.14 (0.08-0.35), and 0.25 (0.15-0.34), respectively. In contrast, pericardial fluid was significantly enriched (p < 0.001) in NT-pBNP ([PF]/[P]: 1.9 (1.06-2.73)) and even more so for FABP4 ([PF]/[P]: 3.90 (1.47-9.77)). Moreover, in pericardial fluid, the adipocytokines interrelated all significantly positive and correlated negative to hsCRP, whereas for NT-pBNP only a significantly positive correlation with adiponectin was found. These interrelations were distinct from those in the plasma, as were the correlations of the pericardial biomarkers with patient characteristics compared to plasma. CONCLUSIONS: In cardiovascular disease patients, the pericardial cavity is a distinct adipocytokine microenvironment in which especially FABP4 is mainly derived from the heart.

Measuring non-polyaminated lipocalin-2 for cardiometabolic risk assessment.

AIMS: Lipocalin-2 is a pro-inflammatory molecule characterized by a highly diversified pattern of expression and structure-functional relationships. In vivo, this molecule exists as multiple variants due to post-translational modifications and/or protein-protein interactions. Lipocalin-2 is modified by polyamination, which enhances the clearance of this protein from the circulation and prevents its excessive accumulation in tissues. On the other hand, animal studies suggest that non-polyaminated lipocalin-2 (npLcn2) plays a causal role in the pathogenesis of obesity-associated medical complications. The present study examined the presence of npLcn2 in samples from healthy volunteers or patients with cardiac abnormalities and evaluated npLcn2 as a biomarker for cardiometabolic risk assessment. METHODS AND RESULTS: Immunoassays were developed to quantify npLcn2 in blood and urine samples collected from 100 volunteers (59 men and 41 women), or venous plasma and pericardial fluid samples obtained from 37 cardiothoracic surgery patients. In healthy volunteers, npLcn2 levels in serum are significantly higher in obese and overweight than in lean subjects. After adjustment for age, gender, smoking, and body mass index (BMI), serum npLcn2 levels are positively correlated with heart rate, circulating triglycerides, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), and creatinine in plasma. The npLcn2 levels in urine are significantly increased in subjects with metabolic syndrome and positively correlated with BMI, heart rate, circulating triglycerides, and urinary aldosterone. In cardiothoracic surgery patients, the circulating concentrations of npLcn2 are higher (more than two-fold) than those of healthy volunteers and positively correlated with the accumulation of this protein in the pericardial fluid. Heart failure patients exhibit excessive expression and distribution of npLcn2 in mesothelial cells and adipocytes of the parietal pericardium, which are significantly correlated with the elevated plasma levels of npLcn2, total cholesterol, and creatinine. CONCLUSIONS: Quantitative and qualitative evaluation of npLcn2 in human biofluid samples and tissue samples can be applied for risk assessment of healthy individuals and disease management of patients with obesity-related cardiometabolic and renal complications.

Cloning and Characterization of Sirtuin3 (SIRT3).

Mitochondria play a pivotal role in maintaining cellular homeostasis and regulating longevity. SIRT3 is a mitochondrial sirtuin mediating the deacetylation of various metabolic and antioxidant enzymes, in turn controlling energy metabolism, stress resistance, and the pace of ageing. To study the function of SIRT3, a proteomics-based approach is employed for identifying the protein-binding partners of this enzyme in mitochondria.