Chronotropic and vasoactive properties of the gut bacterial short-chain fatty acids in larval zebrafish.

Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) produced by the gut bacteria have been associated with cardiovascular dysfunction in humans and rodents. However, studies exploring effects of SCFAs on cardiovascular parameters in the zebrafish, an increasingly popular model in cardiovascular research, remain limited. Here, we performed fecal bacterial 16S sequencing and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to determine the composition and abundance of gut microbiota and SCFAs in adult zebrafish. Following this, the acute effects of major SCFAs on heart rate and vascular tone were measured in anesthetized zebrafish larvae using fecal concentrations of butyrate, acetate, and propionate. Finally, we investigated if coincubation with butyrate may lessen the effects of angiotensin II (ANG II) and phenylephrine (PE) on vascular tone in anesthetized zebrafish larvae. We found that the abundance in Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Fusobacteria phyla in the adult zebrafish resembled those reported in rodents and humans. SCFA levels with highest concentration of acetate (27.43 µM), followed by butyrate (2.19 µM) and propionate (1.65 µM) were observed in the fecal samples of adult zebrafish. Immersion in butyrate and acetate produced a ∼20% decrease in heart rate (HR), respectively, with no observed effects of propionate. Butyrate alone also produced an ∼25% decrease in the cross-sectional width of the dorsal aorta (DA) at 60 min (*P < 0.05), suggesting compensatory vasoconstriction, with no effects of either acetate or propionate. In addition, butyrate significantly alleviated the decrease in DA cross-sectional width produced by both ANG II and PE. We demonstrate the potential for zebrafish in investigation of host-microbiota interactions in cardiovascular health.NEW & NOTEWORTHY We highlight the presence of a core gut microbiota and demonstrate in vivo short-chain fatty acid production in adult zebrafish. In addition, we show cardio-beneficial vasoactive and chronotropic properties of butyrate, and chronotropic properties of acetate in anesthetized zebrafish larvae.

Impact of exercise on brain-bone marrow interactions in chronic stress: potential mechanisms preventing stress-induced hypertension.

We examined the effect of chronic restraint stress and the counteractive effects of daily exercise on the molecular basis of the brain-bone marrow (BM) interactions, by especially focusing on the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of the hypothalamus. Male Wistar rats were assigned into control, restraint stress, and stress + daily spontaneous exercise (SE) groups. BM and hypothalamic gene expression profiles were examined through the undertaking of RT-PCR and microarrays, respectively. The inflammatory blood cell population was investigated through flow cytometry. Through the use of immunohistochemistry, we examined the presence of BM-derived C-C chemokine receptor type 2 (CCR2)-expressing microglial cells in the rat PVN. The gene expression levels of BM inflammatory factors such as those of interleukin 1 beta and CCR2, and the inflammatory blood cell population were found to be significantly higher in both restrained groups compared with control group. Interestingly, chronic restraint stress alone activated the recruitment of BM-derived CCR2-expressing microglial cells into the PVN, whereas daily spontaneous exercise prevented it. A notable finding was that restraint stress upregulated relative gene expression of hypothalamic matrix metalloproteinase 3 (MMP3), which increases the permeability of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), and that exercise managed to normalize it. Moreover, relative expression of some hypothalamic genes directly involved in the facilitation of cell migration was downregulated by daily exercise. Our findings suggest that daily spontaneous exercise can reduce the numbers of BM-derived CCR2-expressing microglial cells into the PVN through the prevention of stress-induced changes in the hypothalamic gene expression.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Chronic restraint stress can upregulate MMP3 gene expression in the rat hypothalamus, whereas daily spontaneous exercise can prevent this stress-induced effect. Stress-induced BM-derived inflammatory cell recruitment into the rat PVN can be prevented by daily spontaneous exercise. Stress-induced increase of hypothalamic MMP3 gene expression may be responsible for BBB injury, thereby allowing for BM-derived inflammatory cells to be recruited and to accumulate in the rat PVN, and to be subsequently involved in the onset of stress-induced hypertension.

Subdiaphragmatic vagal nerve stimulation attenuates the development of hypertension and alters nucleus of the solitary tract transcriptional networks in the spontaneously hypertensive rat.

Augmented vagal signaling may be therapeutic in hypertension. Most studies to date have used stimulation of the cervical vagal branches. Here, we investigated the effects of chronic intermittent electric stimulation of the ventral subdiaphragmatic vagal nerve branch (sdVNS) on long-term blood pressure, immune markers, and gut microbiota in the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR), a rodent model of hypertension characterized by vagal dysfunction, gut dysbiosis, and low-grade inflammation. We evaluated the effects of sdVNS on transcriptional networks in the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS), a major cardioregulatory brain region with direct gut vagal projections. Male juvenile SHRs were implanted with radiotelemetry transmitters and vagal nerve cuffs for chronic intermittent electric sdVNS, applied three times per day for 7 consecutive weeks followed by 1 wk of no stimulation. Blood pressure was measured once a week using telemetry in the sdVNS group as well as age-matched sham-stimulated SHR controls. At the endpoint, colonic and circulating inflammatory markers, corticosterone, and circulating catecholamines were investigated. Bacterial 16 s sequencing measured gut bacterial abundance and composition. RNA sequencing evaluated the effects of sdVNS on transcriptional networks in the NTS. SHRs that received sdVNS exhibited attenuated development of hypertension compared with sham animals. No changes in peripheral inflammatory markers, corticosterone, or catecholamines and no major differences in gut bacterial diversity and composition were observed following sdVNS, apart from decreased abundance of Defluviitaleaceale bacterium detected in sdVNS SHRs compared with sham animals. RNA sequencing revealed significant sdVNS-dependent modulation of select NTS transcriptional networks, including catecholaminergic and corticosteroid networks.NEW & NOTEWORTHY We show that stimulation of the ventral subdiaphragmatic vagal nerve branch may be a promising potential approach to treating hypertension. The data are especially encouraging given that rodents received only 30 min per day of intermittent stimulation therapy and in view of the potential of long-term blood pressure effects that are not stimulus-locked.

Genetically engineered Lactobacillus paracasei rescues colonic angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and attenuates hypertension in female Ace2 knock out rats.

Engineered gut microbiota represents a new frontier in medicine, in part serving as a vehicle for the delivery of therapeutic biologics to treat a range of host conditions. The gut microbiota plays a significant role in blood pressure regulation; thus, manipulation of gut microbiota is a promising avenue for hypertension treatment. In this study, we tested the potential of Lactobacillus paracasei, genetically engineered to produce and deliver human angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (Lacto-hACE2), to regulate blood pressure in a rat model of hypertension with genetic ablation of endogenous Ace2 (Ace2-/- and Ace2-/y). Our findings reveal a sex-specific reduction in blood pressure in female (Ace2-/-) but not male (Ace2-/y) rats following colonization with the Lacto-hACE2. This beneficial effect of lowering blood pressure was aligned with a specific reduction in colonic angiotensin II, but not renal angiotensin II, suggesting the importance of colonic Ace2 in the regulation of blood pressure. We conclude that this approach of targeting the colon with engineered bacteria for delivery of ACE2 represents a promising new paradigm in the development of antihypertensive therapeutics.

Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha and the Gastrointestinal Epithelium: Implications for the Gut-Brain Axis and Hypertension.

The colonic epithelium is the site of production and transport of many vasoactive metabolites and neurotransmitters that can modulate the immune system, affect cellular metabolism, and subsequently regulate blood pressure. As an important interface between the microbiome and its host, the colon can contribute to the development of hypertension. In this critical review, we highlight the role of colonic inflammation and microbial metabolites on the gut brain axis in the pathology of hypertension, with special emphasis on the interaction between tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) and short chain fatty acid (SCFA) metabolites. Here, we review the current literature and identify novel pathways in the colonic epithelium related to hypertension. A network analysis on transcriptome data previously generated in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats reveals differences in several pathways associated with inflammation involving TNFα (NF-κB and STAT Expression Targets) as well as oxidative stress. We also identify down-regulation of networks associated with gastrointestinal function, cardiovascular function, enteric nervous system function, and cholinergic and adrenergic transmission. The analysis also uncovered transcriptome responses related to glycolysis, butyrate oxidation, and mitochondrial function, in addition to gut neuropeptides that serve as modulators of blood pressure and metabolic function. We present a model for the role of TNFα in regulating bacterial metabolite transport and neuropeptide signaling in the gastrointestinal system, highlighting the complexity of host-microbiota interactions in hypertension.

Impaired Autonomic Nervous System-Microbiome Circuit in Hypertension.

Hypertension affects an estimated 103 million Americans, yet gaps in knowledge continue to limit its successful management. Rapidly emerging evidence is linking gut dysbiosis to many disorders and diseases including hypertension. The evolution of the -omics techniques has allowed determination of the abundance and potential function of gut bacterial species by next-generation bacterial sequencing, whereas metabolomics techniques report shifts in bacterial metabolites in the systemic circulation of hypertensive patients and rodent models of hypertension. The gut microbiome and host have evolved to exist in balance and cooperation, and there is extensive crosstalk between the 2 to maintain this balance, including during regulation of blood pressure. However, an understanding of the mechanisms of dysfunctional host-microbiome interactions in hypertension is still lacking. Here, we synthesize some of our recent data with published reports and present concepts and a rationale for our emerging hypothesis of a dysfunctional gut-brain axis in hypertension. Hopefully, this new information will improve the understanding of hypertension and help to address some of these knowledge gaps.

Impact of Nutritional Epigenetics in Essential Hypertension: Targeting microRNAs in the Gut-Liver Axis.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To review the current knowledge on interactions between dietary factors and microRNAs (miRNAs) in essential hypertension (EH) pathogenesis. RECENT FINDINGS: There exists an integration of maintenance signals generated by genetic, epigenetic, immune, and environmental (e.g., dietary) factors that work to sustain balance in the gut-liver axis. It is well established that an imbalance in this complex, intertwined system substantially increases the risk for EH. As such, pertinent research has been taken to decipher how each signal operates in isolation and together in EH progression. Recent literature indicates that both macro- and micronutrients interrupt regulatory miRNA expressions and thus, alter multiple cellular processes that contribute to EH and its comorbidities. We highlight how carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, salt, and potassium modify miRNA signatures during EH. The disruption in miRNA expression can negatively impact communication systems such as over activating the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, modulating the vascular smooth muscle cell phenotype, and promoting angiogenesis to favor EH. We also delineate the prognostic value of miRNAs in EH and discuss the pros and cons of surgical vs dietary prophylactic approaches in EH prevention. We propose that dietary-dependent perturbation of the miRNA profile is one mechanism within the gut-liver axis that dictates EH development.

Genetic ablation of bone marrow beta-adrenergic receptors in mice modulates miRNA-transcriptome networks of neuroinflammation in the paraventricular nucleus.

Elucidating molecular pathways regulating neuroimmune communication is critical for therapeutic interventions in conditions characterized by overactive immune responses and dysfunctional autonomic nervous system. We generated a bone marrow-specific adrenergic beta 1 and beta 2 knockout mouse chimera (AdrB1.B2 KO) to determine how sympathetic drive to the bone affects transcripts and miRNAs in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN). This model has previously exhibited a dampened systemic immune response and decreased blood pressure compared with control animals. Reduced sympathetic responsiveness of the bone marrow hematopoietic cells of AdrB1.B2 KO chimera led to suppression of transcriptional networks that included leukocyte cell adhesion and migration and T cell-activation and recruitment. Transcriptome responses related to IL-17a signaling and the renin-angiotensin system were also suppressed in the PVN. Based on the transcriptome response, we next computationally predicted miRNAs in the PVN that may underscore the reduced sympathetic responsiveness of the bone marrow cells. These included miR-27b-3p, miR-150, miR-223-3p, and miR-326. Using real-time PCR, we measured a downregulation in the expression of miR-150-5p, miR-205-5p, miR-223-3p, miR-375-5p, miR-499a-5p, miR-27b-3p, let-7a-5p, and miR-21a-5p in the PVN of AdrB1.B2 KO chimera, confirming computational predictions that these miRNAs are associated with reduced neuro-immune responses and the loss of sympathetic responsiveness in the bone marrow. Intriguingly, directional responses of the miRNA corresponded to mRNAs, suggesting complex temporal or circuit-dependent posttranscriptional control of gene expression in the PVN. This study identifies molecular pathways involved in neural-immune interactions that may act as targets of therapeutic intervention for a dysfunctional autonomic nervous system.

The importance of bone marrow and the immune system in driving increases in blood pressure and sympathetic nerve activity in hypertension.

NEW FINDINGS: What is the topic of this review? This manuscript provides a review of the current understanding of the role of the sympathetic nervous system in regulation of bone marrow-derived immune cells and the effect that the infiltrating bone marrow cells may have on perpetuation of the sympathetic over-activation in hypertension. What advances does it highlight? We highlight the recent advances in understanding of the neuroimmune interactions both peripherally and centrally as they relate to blood pressure control. ABSTRACT: The sympathetic nervous system (SNS) plays a crucial role in maintaining physiological homeostasis, in part by regulating, integrating and orchestrating processes between many physiological systems, including the immune system. Sympathetic nerves innervate all primary and secondary immune organs, and all cells of the immune system express ß-adrenoreceptors. In turn, immune cells can produce cytokines, chemokines and neurotransmitters capable of modulating neuronal activity and, ultimately, SNS activity. Thus, the essential role of the SNS in the regulation of innate and adaptive immune functions is mediated, in part, via ß-adrenoreceptor-induced activation of bone marrow cells by noradrenaline. Interestingly, both central and systemic inflammation are well-established hallmarks of hypertension and its co-morbidities, including an inflammatory process involving the transmigration and infiltration of immune cells into tissues. We propose that physiological states that prolong ß-adrenoreceptor activation in bone marrow can disrupt neuroimmune homeostasis and impair communication between the immune system and SNS, leading to immune dysregulation, which, in turn, is sustained via a central mechanism involving neuroinflammation.

Gut microbiota and neuroinflammation in pathogenesis of hypertension: A potential role for hydrogen sulfide.

Inflammation and gut dysbiosis are hallmarks of hypertension (HTN). Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is an important freely diffusing molecule that modulates the function of neural, cardiovascular and immune systems, and circulating levels of H2S are reduced in animals and humans with HTN. While most research to date has focused on H2S produced endogenously by the host, H2S is also produced by the gut bacteria and may affect the host homeostasis. Here, we review an association between neuroinflammation and gut dysbiosis in HTN, with special emphasis on a potential role of H2S in this interplay.

Elevated bone marrow sympathetic drive precedes systemic inflammation in angiotensin II hypertension.

Increased sympathetic nervous system activity is a hallmark of hypertension (HTN), and it is implicated in altered immune system responses in its pathophysiology. However, the precise mechanisms of neural-immune interaction in HTN remain elusive. We have previously shown an association between elevated sympathetic drive to the bone marrow (BM) and activated BM immune cells in rodent models of HTN. Moreover, microglial-dependent neuroinflammation is also seen in rodent models of HTN. However, the cause-effect relationship between central and systemic inflammatory responses and the sympathetic drive remains unknown. These observations led us to hypothesize that increase in the femoral BM sympathetic nerve activity (fSNA) initiates a cascade of events leading to increase in blood pressure (BP). Here, we investigated the temporal relationship between the BM sympathetic drive, activation of the central and peripheral immune system, and increase in BP in the events leading to established HTN. The present study demonstrates that central infusion of angiotensin II (ANG II) induces early microglial activation in the paraventricular nucleus of hypothalamus, which preceded increase in the fSNA. In turn, activation of fSNA correlated with the timing of increased production and release of CD4+.IL17+ T cells and other proinflammatory cells into circulation and elevation in BP, whereas infiltration of CD4+ cells to the paraventricular nucleus marked establishment of ANG II HTN. This study identifies cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in neural-immune interactions in early and established stages of rodent ANG II HTN. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Early microglia activation in paraventricular nucleus precedes sympathetic activation of the bone marrow. This leads to increased bone marrow immune cells and their release into circulation and an increase in blood pressure. Infiltration of CD4+ T cells into paraventricular nucleus paraventricular nucleus marks late hypertension.

Hypertension-Linked Pathophysiological Alterations in the Gut.

RATIONALE: Sympathetic nervous system control of inflammation plays a central role in hypertension. The gut receives significant sympathetic innervation, is densely populated with a diverse microbial ecosystem, and contains immune cells that greatly impact overall inflammatory homeostasis. Despite this uniqueness, little is known about the involvement of the gut in hypertension. OBJECTIVE: Test the hypothesis that increased sympathetic drive to the gut is associated with increased gut wall permeability, increased inflammatory status, and microbial dysbiosis and that these gut pathological changes are linked to hypertension. METHODS AND RESULTS: Gut epithelial integrity and wall pathology were examined in spontaneously hypertensive rat and chronic angiotensin II infusion rat models. The increase in blood pressure in spontaneously hypertensive rat was associated with gut pathology that included increased intestinal permeability and decreased tight junction proteins. These changes in gut pathology in hypertension were associated with alterations in microbial communities relevant in blood pressure control. We also observed enhanced gut-neuronal communication in hypertension originating from paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus and presenting as increased sympathetic drive to the gut. Finally, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition (captopril) normalized blood pressure and was associated with reversal of gut pathology. CONCLUSIONS: A dysfunctional sympathetic-gut communication is associated with gut pathology, dysbiosis, and inflammation and plays a key role in hypertension. Thus, targeting of gut microbiota by innovative probiotics, antibiotics, and fecal transplant, in combination with the current pharmacotherapy, may be a novel strategy for hypertension treatment.

Transcriptional networks in rodent models support a role for gut-brain communication in neurogenic hypertension: a review of the evidence.

Hypertension (HTN) is the most prevalent condition observed in primary health care. Hypertension shows complex etiology, and neuroinflammation, overactive sympathetic drive, and the microbiome are each associated with the disease. To obtain mechanistic perspective into neurogenic HTN, we first constructed a framework for transcriptional regulators of the disease using the Comparative Toxicogenomics Database. This approach yielded a core group of 178 transcripts that are prevalent in studies of HTN, including leptin and neuropeptide Y. We then conducted a meta-analysis for transcriptome data generated in brain tissue from HTN studies. Eight expression studies were reanalyzed, in which transcriptomics was conducted in hypertensive animal models [spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and high blood pressure (BPH/2J) Schlager mice] (140 microarrays). Most strikingly, a gut-brain connection was a dominant theme in both rodent models of HTN. The transcriptomic data in the rat CNS converged on processes that included gastrointestinal motility and appetite, among others. In the mouse model, pathways converged on gastrointestinal transit. Thus, our data provide a powerful review of current molecular evidence of the interplay between gut and brain in HTN. Analyses of meta-genome data also suggested that transcriptome networks related to natriuresis, thermoregulation, reproduction (lactation and pregnancy), and vasoconstriction were associated to HTN, supporting physiological observations in independent studies by others. Lastly, we present novel transcriptome networks that may contribute to a neurogenic origin of HTN. Using this framework, new therapeutic targets can be proposed and investigated in treatment strategies.

Involvement of bone marrow cells and neuroinflammation in hypertension.

RATIONALE: Microglial activation in autonomic brain regions is a hallmark of neuroinflammation in neurogenic hypertension. Despite evidence that an impaired sympathetic nerve activity supplying the bone marrow (BM) increases inflammatory cells and decreases angiogenic cells, little is known about the reciprocal impact of BM-derived inflammatory cells on neuroinflammation in hypertension. OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that proinflammatory BM cells from hypertensive animals contribute to neuroinflammation and hypertension via a brain-BM interaction. METHODS AND RESULTS: After BM ablation in spontaneously hypertensive rats, and reconstitution with normotensive Wistar Kyoto rat BM, the resultant chimeric spontaneously hypertensive rats displayed significant reduction in mean arterial pressure associated with attenuation of both central and peripheral inflammation. In contrast, an elevated mean arterial pressure along with increased central and peripheral inflammation was observed in chimeric Wistar-Kyoto rats reconstituted with spontaneously hypertensive rat BM. Oral treatment with minocycline, an inhibitor of microglial activation, attenuated hypertension in both the spontaneously hypertensive rats and the chronic angiotensin II-infused rats. This was accompanied by decreased sympathetic drive and inflammation. Furthermore, in chronic angiotensin II-infused rats, minocycline prevented extravasation of BM-derived cells to the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus, presumably via a mechanism of decreased C-C chemokine ligand 2 levels in the cerebrospinal fluid. CONCLUSIONS: The BM contributes to hypertension by increasing peripheral inflammatory cells and their extravasation into the brain. Minocycline is an effective therapy to modify neurogenic components of hypertension. These observations support the hypothesis that BM-derived cells are involved in neuroinflammation, and targeting them may be an innovative strategy for neurogenic resistant hypertension therapy.

Loss of bone marrow adrenergic beta 1 and 2 receptors modifies transcriptional networks, reduces circulating inflammatory factors, and regulates blood pressure.

Hypertension (HTN) is a prevalent condition with complex etiology and pathophysiology. Evidence exists of significant communication between the nervous system and the immune system (IS), and there appears to be a direct role for inflammatory bone marrow (BM) cells in the pathophysiology of hypertension. However, the molecular and neural mechanisms underlying this interaction have not been characterized. Here, we transplanted whole BM cells from the beta 1 and 2 adrenergic receptor (AdrB1(tm1Bkk)AdrB2(tm1Bkk)/J) knockout (KO) mice into near lethally irradiated C57BL/6J mice to generate a BM AdrB1.B2 KO chimera. This allowed us to evaluate the role of the BM beta 1 and beta 2 adrenergic receptors in mediating BM IS homeostasis and regulating blood pressure (BP) in an otherwise intact physiological setting. Fluorescence-activated cell sorting demonstrated that a decrease in systolic and mean BP in the AdrB1.B2 KO chimera is associated with a decrease in circulating inflammatory T cells, macrophage/monocytes, and neutrophils. Transcriptomics in the BM identified 7,419 differentially expressed transcripts between the C57 and AdrB1.B2 KO chimera. Pathway analysis revealed differentially expressed transcripts related to several cell processes in the BM of C57 compared with AdrB1.B2 KO chimera, including processes related to immunity (e.g., T-cell activation, T-cell recruitment, cytokine production, leukocyte migration and function), the cardiovascular system (e.g., blood vessel development, peripheral nerve blood flow), and the brain (e.g., central nervous system development, neurite development) among others. This study generates new insight into the molecular events that underlie the interaction between the sympathetic drive and IS in modulation of BP.

Spontaneous vascular dysfunction in Dahl salt-sensitive male rats raised without a high-salt diet.

Dahl salt-sensitive (SS) rats fed a high-salt diet, but not low-salt, exhibit vascular dysfunction. Several substrains of SS rats exist that differ in their blood pressure phenotypes and salt sensitivity. The goal of this study was to investigate whether the John-Rapp-derived SS rat (SS/Jr), which exhibits spontaneous hypertension on a low-salt diet, presents with hallmarks of vascular dysfunction observed in another experimental model of hypertension independent of dietary salt, the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR). Endothelium-intact aortic rings and mesenteric resistance arteries were isolated from low-salt fed adult male SS/Jr rats and SHRs, or their respective controls, for isometric wire myography. Vessels were challenged with cumulative concentrations of various vasoactive substances, in the absence or presence of nitric oxide synthase or cyclooxygenase inhibitors. Despite showing some differences in their responses to various vasoactive substances, both SS/Jr rats and SHRs exhibited key features of vascular dysfunction, including endothelial dysfunction and hyperresponsiveness to vasocontractile agonists. In conclusion, this study provides evidence to support the utility of the SS/Jr rat strain maintained on a low-salt diet as a valid experimental model for vascular dysfunction, a key feature of human hypertension.

Prenatal nicotine exposure leads to epigenetic alterations in peripheral nervous system signaling genes in the testis of the rat.

BACKGROUND: Prenatal nicotine exposure (PNE) has been documented to cause numerous deleterious effects on fetal development. However, the epigenetic changes promoted by nicotine exposure on germ cells are still not well understood. OBJECTIVES: In this study, we focused on elucidating the impact of prenatal nicotine exposure on regulatory epigenetic mechanisms important for germ cell development. METHODS: Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to nicotine during pregnancy and male progeny was analyzed at 11 weeks of age. Testis morphology was analyzed using frozen testis sections and expression of germ cell markers was examined by RT-qPCR; histone modifications were assessed by Western Blot (WB). DNA methylation analysis was performed by methylation-specific PCR of bisulfite converted DNA. Genome-wide DNA methylation was analyzed using Methylated DNA immunoprecipitation (MeDIP)-seq. We also carried out transcriptomics analysis of pituitary glands by RNA-seq. RESULTS: We show that gestational exposure to nicotine reduces germ cell numbers, perturbs meiosis, affects the expression of germ line reprogramming responsive genes, and impacts the DNA methylation of nervous system genes in the testis. PNE also causes perturbation of gene expression in the pituitary gland of the brain. CONCLUSIONS: Our data demonstrate that PNE leads to perturbation of male spermatogenesis, and the observed effects are associated with changes of peripheral nervous system signaling pathways. Alterations in the expression of genes associated with diverse biological activities such as cell migration, cell adhesion and GABA signaling in the pituitary gland underscore the complexity of the effects of nicotine exposure during pregnancy.

Dysfunctional brain-bone marrow communication: a paradigm shift in the pathophysiology of hypertension.

It is widely accepted that the pathophysiology of hypertension involves autonomic nervous system dysfunction, as well as a multitude of immune responses. However, the close interplay of these systems in the development and establishment of high blood pressure and its associated pathophysiology remains elusive and is the subject of extensive investigation. It has been proposed that an imbalance of the neuro-immune systems is a result of an enhancement of the "proinflammatory sympathetic" arm in conjunction with dampening of the "anti-inflammatory parasympathetic" arm of the autonomic nervous system. In addition to the neuronal modulation of the immune system, it is proposed that key inflammatory responses are relayed back to the central nervous system and alter the neuronal communication to the periphery. The overall objective of this review is to critically discuss recent advances in the understanding of autonomic immune modulation, and propose a unifying hypothesis underlying the mechanisms leading to the development and maintenance of hypertension, with particular emphasis on the bone marrow, as it is a crucial meeting point for neural, immune, and vascular networks.

Small fish, big discoveries: zebrafish shed light on microbial biomarkers for neuro-immune-cardiovascular health.

Zebrafish (Danio rerio) have emerged as a powerful model to study the gut microbiome in the context of human conditions, including hypertension, cardiovascular disease, neurological disorders, and immune dysfunction. Here, we highlight zebrafish as a tool to bridge the gap in knowledge in linking the gut microbiome and physiological homeostasis of cardiovascular, neural, and immune systems, both independently and as an integrated axis. Drawing on zebrafish studies to date, we discuss challenges in microbiota transplant techniques and gnotobiotic husbandry practices. We present advantages and current limitations in zebrafish microbiome research and discuss the use of zebrafish in identification of microbial enterotypes in health and disease. We also highlight the versatility of zebrafish studies to further explore the function of human conditions relevant to gut dysbiosis and reveal novel therapeutic targets.

Interaction between Butyrate and Tumor Necrosis Factor α in Primary Rat Colonocytes.

Butyrate, a short-chain fatty acid, is utilized by the gut epithelium as energy and it improves the gut epithelial barrier. More recently, it has been associated with beneficial effects on immune and cardiovascular homeostasis. Conversely, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) is a pro-inflammatory and pro-hypertensive cytokine. While butyrate and TNFα are both linked with hypertension, studies have not yet addressed their interaction in the colon. Here, we investigated the capacity of butyrate to modulate a host of effects of TNFα in primary rodent colonic cells in vitro. We measured ATP levels, cell viability, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation, and glycolytic activity in colonocytes following exposure to either butyrate or TNFα, or both. To address the potential mechanisms, transcripts related to oxidative stress, cell fate, and cell metabolism (Pdk1, Pdk2, Pdk4, Spr, Slc16a1, Slc16a3, Ppargc1a, Cs, Lgr5, Casp3, Tnfr2, Bax, Bcl2, Sod1, Sod2, and Cat) were measured, and untargeted liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was employed to profile the metabolic responses of colonocytes following exposure to butyrate and TNFα. We found that both butyrate and TNFα lowered cellular ATP levels towards a quiescent cell energy phenotype, characterized by decreased oxygen consumption and extracellular acidification. Co-treatment with butyrate ameliorated TNFα-induced cytotoxicity and the reduction in cell viability. Butyrate also opposed the TNFα-mediated decrease in MMP and mitochondrial-to-intracellular calcium ratios, suggesting that butyrate may protect colonocytes against TNFα-induced cytotoxicity by decreasing mitochondrial calcium flux. The relative expression levels of pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 4 (Pdk4) were increased via co-treatment of butyrate and TNFα, suggesting the synergistic inhibition of glycolysis. TNFα alone reduced the expression of monocarboxylate transporters slc16a1 and slc16a3, suggesting effects of TNFα on butyrate uptake into colonocytes. Of the 185 metabolites that were detected with LC-MS, the TNFα-induced increase in biopterin produced the only significant change, suggesting an alteration in mitochondrial biogenesis in colonocytes. Considering the reports of elevated colonic TNFα and reduced butyrate metabolism in many conditions, including in hypertension, the present work sheds light on cellular interactions between TNFα and butyrate in colonocytes that may be important in understanding conditions of the colon.