iridoids and Heart-Failure

Background and aims: Genipin, an iridoid derived from geniposide by β-glucosidase hydrolysis, has shown potential benefit in the treatment of heart function insufficiency despite its unclear therapeutic mechanism. This study aimed to investigate the primary cardioprotective mechanism of genipin. We hypothesized that genipin demonstrated the antiapoptosis and anti-inflammation for cardiac protection by inhibiting the cyclooxidase 2 (COX2)-prostaglandin D2 (PGD2) and murine double minute 2 (MDM2)-p53 pathways. Methods: The normal Sprague-Dawley rats were made into myocardial infarction models by conventional methods. Animals were treated with genipin for 5 weeks after myocardial infarction (MI). Morphometric and hemodynamic measurements were performed 5 weeks post-MI. Biological and molecular experiments were performed after the termination. Results: Both morphometry and hemodynamics in systole and diastole were significantly impaired in the model group but restored close to basal level after treatment with genipin. Genipin also restored the post-MI upregulated expressions of cytochrome c, p53, COX2, and PGD2 and downregulated expression of MDM2 to the approximate baseline. Genipin inhibited apoptotic and inflammatory pathways to prevent post-MI structure-function remodeling. Conclusions: This study showed the cardioprotective mechanism of genipin and implied its potential clinical application for the treatment of ischemic heart failure.

Topics: Animals; Cyclooxygenase 2; Heart Failure; Iridoids; Myocardial Infarction; Prostaglandin D2; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Signal Transduction; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53

The cardiac expression of the mitochondrial uncoupling protein (UCP)-2 is increased in patients with heart failure. However, the underlying causes as well as the possible consequences of these alterations during the transition from hypertrophy to heart failure are still unclear. To investigate the role of UCP-2 mechanistically, expression of UCP-2 was silenced by small interfering RNA in adult rat ventricular cardiomyocytes. We demonstrate that a downregulation of UCP-2 by siRNA in cardiomyocytes preserves contractile function in the presence of angiotensin II. Furthermore, silencing of UCP-2 was associated with an upregulation of glucose transporter type (Glut)-4, increased glucose uptake, and reduced intracellular lactate levels, indicating improvement of the oxidative glucose metabolism. To study this adaptation in vivo, spontaneously hypertensive rats served as a model for cardiac hypertrophy due to pressure overload. During compensatory hypertrophy, we found low UCP-2 levels with an upregulation of Glut-4, while the decompensatory state with impaired function was associated with an increase of UCP-2 and reduced Glut-4 expression. By blocking the aldosterone receptor with spironolactone, both cardiac function as well as UCP-2 and Glut-4 expression levels of the compensated phase could be preserved. Furthermore, we were able to confirm this by left ventricular (LV) biopsies of patients with end-stage heart failure. The results of this study show that UCP-2 seems to impact the cardiac glucose metabolism during the transition from hypertrophy to failure by affecting glucose uptake through Glut-4. We suggest that the failing heart could benefit from low UCP-2 levels by improving the efficiency of glucose oxidation. For this reason, UCP-2 inhibition might be a promising therapeutic strategy to prevent the development of heart failure.

Topics: Animals; Blood Pressure; Cardiomegaly; Cell Survival; Chronic Disease; Female; Glucose; Glucose Transporter Type 4; Heart Failure; Heart Ventricles; Humans; Hypertension; Iridoids; Male; Mitochondria, Heart; Models, Cardiovascular; Myocytes, Cardiac; Rats, Wistar; Spironolactone; Uncoupling Protein 2

Much of the beneficial effects of olive products have been attributed to oleuropein. This study examined the effects of oleuropein in rats with heart failure induced by permanent ligation of left coronary arteries. Twenty-four hours after the operation, the rats were assigned to five groups including a sham assigned to receive vehicle (1 ml/day) and four coronary ligated groups assigned to receive vehicle or oleuropein at 5, 10, or 20 mg/kg/day. Five weeks later, echocardiographic and hemodynamic parameters, serum concentrations of oxidative stress, and inflammatory markers were determined. Myocardial infarction group receiving vehicle showed impaired hemodynamic and echocardiographic parameters as evidenced by decreased left ventricular systolic pressure, rate of rise and decrease of left ventricular pressure, stroke volume, ejection fraction, and cardiac output. In addition, significant reduction in superoxide dismutase and glutathione reductase was observed. Oleuropein treatment prevented the reduction of these variables. Moreover, the group had a significantly higher infarct size and serum malondialdehyde, interleukin-1β, and tumor necrosis factor-α than those of the sham group. Treatment with oleuropein prevented the increase of these variables. The results show that oleuropein attenuates the progression of heart failure, possibly by antioxidative and antiinflammatory effects.

Topics: Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Antioxidants; Biomarkers; Disease Models, Animal; Disease Progression; Glutathione Reductase; Heart Failure; Hemodynamics; Inflammation Mediators; Interleukin-1beta; Iridoid Glucosides; Iridoids; Male; Malondialdehyde; Myocardial Infarction; Oxidative Stress; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Superoxide Dismutase; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; Ventricular Function, Left