The beneficial effects of ranolazine on cardiac function after myocardial infarction are greater in diabetic than in nondiabetic rats

Right ventricular dysfunction following surgical repair of tetralogy of Fallot: Molecular pathways and therapeutic prospects

Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) is the most common cyanotic congenital heart disease (CHD). Although surgical correction of TOF is possible, patients often face challenges related to right ventricle dysfunction (RVD) post-surgery, which can significantly impact their long-term survival. The causes of RVD in TOF patients are complex, involving both the unique structural characteristics of the TOF heart and damage resulting from surgical interventions. Residual anatomical issues following TOF repair are often unavoidable, placing the RV under stress and leading to the activation of multiple molecular pathways. This review comprehensively outlines the causes of RVD in patients after TOF surgery, particularly focusing the molecular pathways that contribute to RVD, including established signaling pathways as well as emerging pathways identified through transcriptomic analysis of RV myocardium in TOF patients. We also highlight the features of these molecular pathways concerning RVD, as well as the influence of gender disparities on these molecular pathways. By interpreting the causes and molecular mechanisms underlying RVD after TOF surgery, this review provides new insights for managing RVD in repaired TOF, potentially paving the way for targeted therapies aimed at improving long-term outcomes for those affected by RVD.

Ranolazine: a better understanding of pathophysiology and patient profile to guide treatment of chronic stable angina

Chronic stable angina pectoris, the most prevalent symptomatic manifestation of coronary artery disease, greatly impairs quality of life and is associated with an increased risk for adverse cardiovascular outcomes. Better understanding of the pathophysiologic mechanisms of myocardial ischemia permitted new therapeutic strategies to optimize the management of angina patients. Ideally, antianginal drug treatment should be tailored to individual patient's profile and chosen according to the pathophysiology, hemodynamic profile, adverse effects, potential drug interactions and comorbidities. In this respect, and because of its peculiar mechanism of action, ranolazine represents an alternative therapeutic approach in patients with chronic stable angina and may be considered the first choice in presence of comorbidities that difficult the use of traditional therapies.

Diabetes mellitus aggravates ranolazine-induced ECG changes in rats

PURPOSE

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is known to affect the pharmacokinetics of drugs. In this study, we evaluated the effect of DM on the liver content of CYP 3A2 enzyme. We also explored the ECG changes after administration of ranolazine in non-DM and DM rats.

METHODS

First phase: 24 male Wistar rats were separated into 4 groups. The control group (n = 6) received normal saline and the DM groups (n = 18) were treated with a single dose (55 mg/kg) of streptozocin (STZ; i.p. injection), then were held for 10, 20, and 30 days, respectively. After study duration for each group, the liver CYP 3A2 protein content was determined using western blotting. Second phase: 48 male Wistar rats were classified into two groups of non-DM and DM; and each group was divided into 4 subgroups (n: 6). Experimental groups received oral doses of 20, 40, and 80 mg/kg ranolazine. DM and non-DM control groups received normal saline. Treatment lasted for 28 days, and then the ECG was recorded.

RESULTS

Experimental DM induced by STZ caused a significant decrement in liver CYP3A2 protein content of rats on days 10 and 20 (P < 0.01), and 30 (P < 0.05) compared to the control animals. Significant increases in QT and corrected QT (QTc) intervals (P < 0.01), and bradycardia (P < 0.01) without any significant effect on PR and QRS intervals were observed in DM in comparison with non-DM groups after ranolazine treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

In summary, DM induction in animals resulted in CYP 3A2 inhibition and the prolongation of QT and QTc interval as well as bradycardia after ranolazine treatment.

Skeletal Muscle Metabolism: Origin or Prognostic Factor for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Development?

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive and selective loss of motor neurons, amyotrophy and skeletal muscle paralysis usually leading to death due to respiratory failure. While generally considered an intrinsic motor neuron disease, data obtained in recent years, including our own, suggest that motor neuron protection is not sufficient to counter the disease. The dismantling of the neuromuscular junction is closely linked to chronic energy deficit found throughout the body. Metabolic (hypermetabolism and dyslipidemia) and mitochondrial alterations described in patients and murine models of ALS are associated with the development and progression of disease pathology and they appear long before motor neurons die. It is clear that these metabolic changes participate in the pathology of the disease. In this review, we summarize these changes seen throughout the course of the disease, and the subsequent impact of glucose–fatty acid oxidation imbalance on disease progression. We also highlight studies that show that correcting this loss of metabolic flexibility should now be considered a major goal for the treatment of ALS.

Metabolic and Cognitive Effects of Ranolazine in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Data from an in vivo Model

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a risk factor for cognitive impairment. Ranolazine, an anti-ischemic drug used in the treatment of angina pectoris, has been shown to possess hypoglycemic properties in pre-clinical and clinical studies. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of ranolazine on glucose metabolism and cognitive function in a T2DM model of Wistar rats. Diabetes was induced by a high fat diet (HFD) and streptozotocin (STZ). The control group received a normal caloric diet (NCD) and sodium citrate buffer. Metformin, an effective hypoglycemic drug, was employed as a positive control. Animals were divided into the following groups: HFD/STZ + Ranolazine, HFD/STZ + Metformin, HFD/STZ + Vehicle, NCD + Vehicle, NCD + Ranolazine, and NCD + Metformin. Rats received ranolazine (20 mg/kg), metformin (300 mg/kg), or water, for 8 weeks. At the end of the treatments, all animals underwent to an intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test (IPGTT) and behavioral tests, including passive avoidance, novel object recognition, forced swimming, and elevate plus maze tests. Interleukin-6 plasma levels in the six treatment groups were assessed by Elisa assay. Body mass composition was estimated by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Glucose responsiveness significantly improved in the HFD/STZ + Ranolazine (p < 0.0001) and HFD/STZ + Metformin (p = 0.003) groups. There was a moderate effect on blood glucose levels in the NCD + Ranolazine and NCD + Metformin groups. Lean body mass was significantly increased in the HFD/STZ + Ranolazine and HFD/STZ + Metformin animals, compared to HFD/STZ + Vehicle animals. Ranolazine improved learning and long-term memory in HFD/STZ + Ranolazine compared to HFD/STZ + Vehicle (p < 0.001) and ameliorated the pro-inflammatory profile of diabetic mice. These results support the hypothesis of a protective effect of ranolazine against cognitive decline caused by T2DM.

Positioning Metabolism as a Central Player in the Diabetic Heart

In type 2 diabetes (T2D), the leading cause of death is cardiovascular complications. One mechanism contributing to cardiac pathogenesis is alterations in metabolism, with the diabetic heart exhibiting increased fatty acid oxidation and reduced glucose utilisation. The processes classically thought to underlie this metabolic shift include the Randle cycle and changes to gene expression. More recently, alternative mechanisms have been proposed, most notably, changes in post-translational modification of mitochondrial proteins in the heart. This increased understanding of how metabolism is altered in the diabetic heart has highlighted new therapeutic targets, with an aim to improve cardiac function in T2D. This review focuses on metabolism in the healthy heart and how this is modified in T2D, providing evidence for the mechanisms underlying this shift. There will be emphasis on the current treatments for the heart in diabetes, alongside efforts for metabocentric pharmacological therapies.

Cardioprotective effect of ranolazine in nondiabetic and diabetic male rats subjected to isoprenaline-induced acute myocardial infarction involves modulation of AMPK and inhibition of apoptosis

Diabetes increases the sensitivity of myocardium to ischemic damage and impairs response of the myocardium to cardioprotective interventions. The present study aimed to elucidate the potential cardioprotective effect provided by ranolazine during myocardial infarction in nondiabetic and diabetic male rats. As AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) has been shown to be involved in the cellular response to ischemic injury, in this context, the present animal study evaluated the modulating role of ranolazine in the AMPK expression in isoprenaline-induced myocardial ischemic rat model. Male rats were divided into 2 experiments: experiment I and II (nondiabetic and diabetic rats) and assigned to normal control, saline control for isoprenaline, isoprenaline control, and ranolazine-treated groups. Ranolazine administration revealed effectiveness in attenuating the severity of isoprenaline-induced myocardial injury in both nondiabetic and diabetic rats as revealed by ECG signs, histopathological score, and apoptotic markers via abrogating the increments in the inflammatory and oxidative stress markers and modulating AMPK expression. Therefore, the current cardioprotective effect of ranolazine was, at least in part, mediated through inhibition of apoptosis and modulation of AMPK expression, encouraging considering the utility of ranolazine in protection from acute myocardial infarction.

Mitochondrial dysfunction and its impact on diabetic heart

Mitochondrial dysfunction and associated oxidative stress are strongly linked to cardiovascular, neurodegenerative, and age associated disorders. More specifically cardiovascular diseases are common in patients with diabetes and significant contributor to the high mortality rates associated with diabetes. Studies have shown that the heart failure risk is increased in diabetic patients even after adjusting for coronary artery disease and hypertension. Although the actual basis of the increased heart failure risk is multifactorial, increasing evidences suggest that imbalances in mitochondrial function and associated oxidative stress play an important role in this process. This review summarizes these abnormalities in mitochondrial function and discusses potential underlying mechanisms. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Oxidative Stress and Mitochondrial Quality in Diabetes/Obesity and Critical Illness Spectrum of Diseases - edited by P. Hemachandra Reddy.

Beneficial Effects of Magnesium Treatment on Heart Rate Variability and Cardiac Ventricular Function in Diabetic Rats

BACKGROUND

Diabetes mellitus induces life-threatening cardiovascular complications such as cardiac autonomic neuropathy and ventricular dysfunction and is associated with hypomagnesemia. In this study, we investigated the short-term effects of magnesium (Mg²⁺) treatment on streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic cardiac complications.

METHODS

Adult Wistar rats were treated once with STZ (50 mg/kg, intraperitoneally [ip]) or vehicle (citrate) and then daily for 7 days with MgSO₄ (270 mg/kg, ip) or saline. On the eighth day, in vivo tail-pulse plethysmography was recorded for heart rate variability (HRV) analysis, and ex vivo Langendorff-based left ventricular (LV) pressure-volume parameters were measured using an intraventricular balloon. Measurements of plasma lipid and Mg²⁺ levels as well as blood glucose and cardiac tissue Mg²⁺ levels were also performed.

RESULTS

Treatment with Mg²⁺ prevented diabetes-induced alterations in the standard deviation of the averages of normal-to-normal (NN) intervals (SDANN), root mean square differences of successive NN intervals (RMSSD), heart rate, and low-frequency (LF) power-high-frequency (HF) power ratio. In addition, Mg²⁺ restored orthostatic stress-induced changes in SDANN, RMSSD, and LF-HF ratio in diabetic rats. In isolated hearts, Mg²⁺ reversed the diabetes-induced decrease in LV end-diastolic elastance and the right shift of end-diastolic equilibrium volume intercept, without altering LV-developed pressure or end-systolic elastance. However, Mg²⁺ did not prevent the elevation in blood glucose, total cholesterol, and triglycerides or the decrease in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in diabetes. Plasma- or cardiac tissue Mg²⁺ was not different among the treatment groups.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that Mg²⁺ treatment may attenuate diabetes-induced reduction in HRV and improve LV diastolic distensibility, without preventing hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia. Thus, Mg²⁺ may have a modulatory role in the early stages of diabetic cardiovascular complications.

Metabolic abnormalities of the heart in type II diabetes

Type 2 diabetes mellitus escalates the risk of heart failure partly via its ability to induce a cardiomyopathic state that is independent of coronary artery disease and hypertension. Although the pathogenesis of diabetic cardiomyopathy has yet to be fully elucidated, aberrations in cardiac substrate metabolism and energetics are thought to be key drivers. These aberrations include excessive fatty acid utilisation and storage, suppressed glucose oxidation and impaired mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation. An appreciation of how these abnormalities arise and synergise to promote adverse cardiac remodelling is critical to their effective amelioration. This review focuses on disturbances in myocardial fuel (fatty acids and glucose) flux and energetics in type 2 diabetes, how these disturbances relate to the development of diabetic cardiomyopathy and the potential therapeutic agents that could be used to correct them.