Dietary Calanus oil antagonizes angiotensin II-induced hypertension and tissue wasting in diet-induced obese mice

BACKGROUND

We have recently shown that Calanus oil, which is extracted from the marine copepod Calanus finmarchicus, reduces fat deposition, suppresses adipose tissue inflammation and improves insulin sensitivity in high fat-fed rodents. This study expands upon our previous observations by examining whether dietary supplementation with Calanus oil could antagonize angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced hypertension and ventricular remodeling in mice given a high fat diet (HFD).

METHODS

C57BL/6J mice were initially subjected to 8 weeks of HFD with or without 2% (w/w) Calanus oil. Thereafter, animals within each group were randomized for the administration of either Ang II (1µg/kg/min) or saline for another two weeks, while still on the same dietary regimen.

RESULTS

Ang II caused a marked decline in body and organ weights in mice receiving non-supplemented HFD, a response which was clearly attenuated in mice receiving Calanus oil supplementation. Furthermore, Ang II-induced elevation in blood pressure was also attenuated in the Calanus oil-supplemented group. As expected, infusion of Ang II produced hypertrophy and up-regulation of marker genes (mRNA level) of both hypertrophy and fibrosis in cardiac muscle, but this response was unaffected by dietary Calanus oil. Fibrosis and inflammation were up-regulated also in the aorta following Ang II infusion. However, the inflammatory response was blocked by Calanus oil supplementation. A final, and unexpected, finding was that dietary intake of Calanus oil caused a robust increase in the level of O-GlcNAcylation in cardiac tissue.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that dietary intake of oil from the marine copepod Calanus finmarchicus could be a beneficial addition to conventional hypertension treatment. The compound attenuates inflammation and the severe metabolic stress caused by Ang II infusion. Although the present study suggests that the anti-hypertensive effect of the oil (or its n-3 PUFAs constituents) is related to its anti-inflammatory action in the vessel wall, other mechanisms such as interaction with intracellular calcium mechanisms or a direct antagonistic effect on Ang II receptors should be examined.

Activation and functional significance of the renin-angiotensin system in mice with cardiac restricted overexpression of tumor necrosis factor

BACKGROUND

The functional significance of cross-regulation between the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) has been established in nonmyocyte cell types; however, the degree and functional significance of the interaction between RAS and TNF has not been characterized in the heart.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We examined the expression of components of the RAS in a line of transgenic mice (MHCsTNF) with cardiac restricted overexpression of TNF. When examined at 4, 8, and 12 weeks of age, the MHCsTNF mice had increased activation of myocardial RAS, as shown by an increase in ACE mRNA level and ACE activity and increased angiotensin II peptide levels. Furthermore, myocardial angiotensin receptor mRNA and protein levels were reduced in the MHCsTNF mice, consistent with homologous desensitization of the receptors. However, expression of renin and angiotensinogen was not increased in MHCsTNF mice compared with littermate controls. To determine the functional significance of RAS activation in the MHCsTNF mice, we treated the mice with an angiotensin type I receptor antagonist, losartan (30 mg/kg), or diluent from 4 to 8 weeks of age. Analysis of cardiac structure with MRI showed that treatment with losartan normalized left ventricular mass and wall thickness. Furthermore, treatment with losartan reduced myocardial collagen content and reduced the incidence of myocyte apoptosis.

CONCLUSIONS

Taken together, these results show that there are functionally significant interactions between RAS and TNF in the heart and that these interactions play an important role in the development and progression of left ventricular remodeling.

Different intrinsic activities of bucindolol, carvedilol and metoprolol in human failing myocardium

1. Clinical studies have shown different effects of beta-blockers on the beta-adrenergic system, tolerability and outcome in patients with heart failure. 2. The study examines beta-adrenoceptor-G-protein coupling and intrinsic activity of bucindolol, carvedilol and metoprolol in human ventricular myocardium. 3. Radioligand binding studies ([(125)I]-Iodocyanopindolol) were performed in membrane preparations of human failing and nonfailing myocardium. Functional experiments were carried out in isolated muscle preparations of human left ventricular myocardium from failing hearts. 4. Bucindolol and carvedilol bound non-selectively to beta(1)- and beta(2)-adrenoceptors and exerted guanine nucleotide modulatable binding. Metoprolol was 35-fold beta(1)-selective and lacked guanine nucleotide modulatable binding. 5. All beta-blockers antagonized isoprenaline-induced enhancement of contractility. 6. In preparations in which the coupling of the stimulatory G-protein to adenylate cyclase was facilitated by forskolin, bucindolol increased force of contraction in three and decreased it in five experiments. Carvedilol increased force in one and decreased it in six experiments. Metoprolol decreased force in all experiments by 89. 4+/-2.2% (P<0.01 metoprolol vs carvedilol and bucindolol). The negative inotropic effect of metoprolol was antagonized by bucindolol. 7. It is concluded that differences in intrinsic activity can be detected in human myocardium and have an impact on cardiac contractility. In human ventricular myocardium, bucindolol displays substantially higher intrinsic activity than metoprolol and carvedilol. Bucindolol can behave as partial agonist or partial inverse agonist depending on the examined tissue. 8. Differences in intrinsic activity may contribute to differences in beta-adrenoceptor regulation and possibly to differences in tolerability and outcomes of patients with heart failure.