1
|
Riociguat normalizes altered lung expression of serotonin-related genes and renal damage markers in experimental pulmonary hypertension. Eur Heart J 2022. [DOI: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehac544.1922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Introduction
Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) leads to a progressive increase in pulmonary vascular resistance, right heart failure, adverse cardiorenal interactions and mortality. Preclinical studies have shown an association between elevated serotonin (5-HT) levels and disease progression, however, the local pathogenic roles of individual components of serotoninergic system in the lung in PAH remain less well defined.
Purpose
To test the hypothesis that experimental PAH is associated with alterations in the expression of serotoninergic genes in the lung and right ventricle and that short treatment of experimental PAH with riociguat could have an impact on the serotoninergic system. In addition, we examined whether riociguat could alleviate renal damage associated with cardiorenal interactions in PAH.
Methods
We used rat monocrotaline model of PAH (60 mg/kg, s.c.). 2 weeks after MCT, we treated two groups with riociguat (10 mg/kg/d, p.o.) until week 4 when rats were sacrificed. We divided rats into 4 groups. CON-control group, MCT-rats with established PAH, RIO-healthy rats with administered riociguat, and MCT+RIO-rats with established PAH treated with riociguat. We used RT-qPCR to monitor mRNA changes of brain natriuretic peptide (Nppb), components of serotoninergic system in the lungs and right ventricle, biomarkers of renal tubular damage Kim1 and podocyte damage Nphs1, an indicator of neurohumoral activation renin (Ren) and marker of renal hypoxia erythropoietin (Epo). In addition, we measured plasma NT-proBNP, serotonin, cGMP and a heart failure marker sST2 using ELISA.
Results
As expected, MCT caused RV hypertrophy and increased lung weight (p<0.05 vs CON). We observed a 10-fold increase of Nppb in the RV (p<0.05 vs CON), however, plasma levels of NT-proBNP and sST2 did not change. Short-term RIO did not revert these changes. MCT increased cGMP plasma concentration by more than 80% (p<0.05 vs CON), RIO did not influence plasma cGMP levels. However, in the lungs, MCT increased the expression Tph1, Htr1b and Htr2b genes and decreased that of Sert. Riociguat treatment in MCT+RIO normalized these changes (p<0.05 vs MCT) with the exception of decreased Sert expression. In the kidney, we observed a 5-fold increase in expression of Kim1 and a 50% increase in Nphs1 mRNA by MCT (p<0.05 vs CON), expression of both genes were normalized in MCT+RIO (p<0.05 vs MCT). MCT-related increases in Ren and Epo expressions were unaffected by RIO.
Conclusion
Serotonin-related genes alterations in the lungs of rats with experimental PAH are indicative of increased serotonin signalling and they are partly normalized after of short-term treatment with riociguat. At the same time, riociguat had beneficial effects on renal damage markers in PAH without affecting neurohumoral activation associated with PAH.
Funding Acknowledgement
Type of funding sources: Public Institution(s). Main funding source(s): Research and Development Support AgencyScientific Grant Agency of the Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sports of the Slovak Republic
Collapse
|
2
|
Necroptosis, unlike pyroptosis mediates right ventricular damage in pulmonary arterial hypertension. Cardiovasc Res 2022. [DOI: 10.1093/cvr/cvac066.208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Funding Acknowledgements
Type of funding sources: Public Institution(s). Main funding source(s): Scientific Grant Agency of the Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport of the Slovak Republic
The Slovak Research and Development Agency
Introduction
Necroptosis has been found to underlie myocardial damage in various pathological states, however its role as well as its potential interconnection to another cell damaging processes under conditions of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) remains insufficiently understood.
Purpose
In view of these facts, we aimed to investigate the signalling of both necroptosis and pyroptosis in the lung and right ventricular (RV) tissue affected by PAH and we also examined the circulating levels of receptor-interacting protein kinase 3 (RIP3).
Methods
Male Wistar rats were administrated either vehicle (Control group) or monocrotaline (MCT) (60 mg/kg, s. c.) to induce PAH. The MCT-treated animals were sacrificed 4 weeks after the treatment (MCT group) or prematurely, based on rapid health deterioration, thereby indicating the advanced stage of PAH (ptMCT group). Pulse oximetry, gravimetry and evaluation of myocardial damage markers were used to assess the development of PAH. The molecular analyses (ELISA, RT-qPCR and immunoblotting) were used to examine the potential underlying mechanisms of tissue damage due to cell death.
Results
In the RVs, the expression of both pThr231/Ser232-RIP3 and pSer345-mixed linkage kinase domain-like protein was elevated equally in both PAH stages, strongly indicating promotion of necroptosis. Contrary in the lungs affected by PAH, the upregulation of pThr231/Ser232-RIP3 likely proceeded to pyroptotic rather than necroptotic cell death activation, as evidenced by caspase-1 and N-terminal gasdermin D increase. Moreover, we found that the plasma RIP3 levels increased with the severity of PAH stage and positively correlated with RV hypertrophy, but not with cardiac hemodynamic stress markers.
Conclusions
In summary, we showed for the first time that PAH-induced damage of RV and lung tissue might be mediated by different necrosis-like cell death forms with a crucial role pThr231/Ser232-RIP3. Furthermore, we suggested that the plasma RIP3 might serve as an additional diagnostic and prognostic marker of cardiac damage due to PAH.
Collapse
|