Alteration of the Fatty Acid Metabolism in the Rat Kidney Caused by the Injection of Serum from Patients with Collapsing Glomerulopathy

Sulforaphane modifies mitochondrial-endoplasmic reticulum associations through reductive stress in cardiomyocytes

Mitochondria-endoplasmic reticulum (ER) communication relies on platforms formed at the ER membrane with the mitochondrial outer membrane contact sites (MERCs). MERCs are involved in several processes including the unfolded protein response (UPR) and calcium (Ca2+) signaling. Therefore, as alterations in MERCs greatly impact cellular metabolism, pharmacological interventions to preserve productive mitochondrial-ER communication have been explored to maintain cellular homeostasis. In this regard, extensive information has documented the beneficial and potential effects of sulforaphane (SFN) in different pathological conditions; however, controversy has arisen regarding the effect of this compound on mitochondria-ER interaction. Therefore, in this study, we investigated whether SFN could induce changes in MERCs under normal culture conditions without damaging stimuli. Our results indicate that non-cytotoxic concentration of 2.5 μM SFN increased ER stress in cardiomyocytes in conjunction with a reductive stress environment, that diminishes ER-mitochondria association. Additionally, reductive stress promotes Ca2+ accumulation in the ER of cardiomyocytes. These data show an unexpected effect of SFN on cardiomyocytes grown under standard culture conditions, promoted by the cellular redox unbalance. Therefore, it is necessary to rationalize the use of compounds with antioxidant properties to avoid triggering cellular side effects.

Interconnection between Cardiac Cachexia and Heart Failure—Protective Role of Cardiac Obesity

Cachexia may be caused by congestive heart failure, and it is then called cardiac cachexia, which leads to increased morbidity and mortality. Cardiac cachexia also worsens skeletal muscle degradation. Cardiac cachexia is the loss of edema-free muscle mass with or without affecting fat tissue. It is mainly caused by a loss of balance between protein synthesis and degradation, or it may result from intestinal malabsorption. The loss of balance in protein synthesis and degradation may be the consequence of altered endocrine mediators such as insulin, insulin-like growth factor 1, leptin, ghrelin, melanocortin, growth hormone and neuropeptide Y. In contrast to many other health problems, fat accumulation in the heart is protective in this condition. Fat in the heart can be divided into epicardial, myocardial and cardiac steatosis. In this review, we describe and discuss these topics, pointing out the interconnection between heart failure and cardiac cachexia and the protective role of cardiac obesity. We also set the basis for possible screening methods that may allow for a timely diagnosis of cardiac cachexia, since there is still no cure for this condition. Several therapeutic procedures are discussed including exercise, nutritional proposals, myostatin antibodies, ghrelin, anabolic steroids, anti-inflammatory substances, beta-adrenergic agonists, medroxyprogesterone acetate, megestrol acetate, cannabinoids, statins, thalidomide, proteasome inhibitors and pentoxifylline. However, to this date, there is no cure for cachexia.