Effects of a Losartan-Antioxidant Hybrid (GGN1231) on Vascular and Cardiac Health in an Experimental Model of Chronic Renal Failure

Drugs providing antihypertensive and protective cardiovascular actions are of clinical interest in controlling cardiovascular events and slowing the progression of kidney disease. We studied the effect of a hybrid compound, GGN1231 (derived from losartan in which a powerful antioxidant was attached), on the prevention of cardiovascular damage, cardiac hypertrophy, and fibrosis in a rat model of severe chronic renal failure (CRF). CRF by a 7/8 nephrectomy was carried out in male Wistar rats fed with a diet rich in phosphorous (0.9%) and normal calcium (0.6%) for a period of 12 weeks until sacrifice. In week 8, rats were randomized in five groups receiving different drugs including dihydrocaffeic acid as antioxidant (Aox), losartan (Los), dihydrocaffeic acid+losartan (Aox+Los) and GGN1231 as follows: Group 1 (CRF+vehicle group), Group 2 (CRF+Aox group), Group 3 (CRF+Los group), Group 4 (CRF+Aox+Los group), and Group 5 (CRF+GGN1231 group). Group 5, the CRF+GGN1231 group, displayed reduced proteinuria, aortic TNF-α, blood pressure, LV wall thickness, diameter of the cardiomyocytes, ATR1, cardiac TNF-α and fibrosis, cardiac collagen I, and TGF-β1 expression. A non-significant 20% reduction in the mortality was also observed. This study showed the possible advantages of GGN1231, which could help in the management of cardiovascular and inflammatory processes. Further research is needed to confirm and even expand the positive aspects of this compound.

The integrin beta1 modulator Tirofiban prevents adipogenesis and obesity by the overexpression of integrin-linked kinase: a pre-clinical approach in vitro and in vivo

Background

Obesity is caused by the enlargement of the white adipose tissue (WAT) depots, characterized by the hypertrophic enlargement of malfunctioning adipocytes within WAT which increases the storage of triglycerides (TG) in the lipid droplets (LD). Adipogenesis pathways as well as the expression and activity of some extracellular matrix receptors integrins are upregulated. Integrinβ1 (INTB1) is the main isoform involved in WAT remodeling during obesity and insulin resistance-related diseases. We recently described Integrin Linked Kinase (ILK), a scaffold protein recruited by INTB1, as an important mediator of WAT remodeling and insulin resistance. As the few approved drugs to fight obesity have brought long-term cardiovascular side effects and given that the consideration of INTB1 and/or ILK modulation as anti-obesogenic strategies remains unexplored, we aimed to evaluate the anti-obesogenic capacity of the clinically approved anticoagulant Tirofiban (TF), stated in preclinical studies as a cardiovascular protector.

Methods

Fully differentiated adipocytes originating from C3H10T1/2 were exposed to TF and were co-treated with specific INTB1 blockers or with siRNA-based knockdown ILK expression. Lipid-specific dyes were used to determine the TG content in LD. The genetic expression pattern of ILK, pro-inflammatory cytokines (MCP1, IL6), adipogenesis (PPARγ, Leptin), thermogenesis (UCP1), proliferation (PCNA), lipid metabolism (FASN, HSL, ATGL), and metabolite transporters (FABP4, FAT, AQP7) were detected using quantitative PCR. Cytoskeletal actin polymerization was detected by confocal microscopy. Immunoblotting was performed to detect INTB1 phosphorylation at Thr788/9 and ILK activity as phosphorylation levels of protein kinase B (AKT) in Ser473 and glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β) at Ser9. TF was intraperitoneally administered once per day to wildtype and ILK knockdown mice (cKDILK) challenged with a high-fat diet (HFD) or control diet (STD) for 2 weeks. Body and WAT weight gains were compared. The expression of ILK and other markers was determined in the visceral epididymal (epi) and inguinal subcutaneous (sc) WAT.

Results

TF reduced TG content and the expression of adipogenesis markers and transporters in adipocytes, while UCP-1 expression was increased and the expression of lipases, cytokines or PCNA was not affected. Mechanistically, TF rapidly increased and faded the intracellular phosphorylation of INTB1 but not AKT or GSK3β. F-actin levels were rapidly decreased, and INTB1 blockade avoided the TF effect. After 24 h, ILK expression and phosphorylation rates of AKT and GSK3β were upregulated, while ILK silencing increased TG content. INTB1 blockade and ILK silencing avoided TF effects on the TG content and the transcriptional expression of PPARγ and UCP1. In HFD-challenged mice, the systemic administration of TF for several days reduced the weight gain on WAT depots. TF reduced adipogenesis and pro-inflammatory biomarkers and increased lipolysis markers HSL and FAT in epiWAT from HFD, while increased UCP1 in scWAT. In both WATs, TF upregulated ILK expression and activity, while no changes were observed in other tissues. In HFD-fed cKDILK, the blunted ILK in epiWAT worsened weight gain and avoided the anti-obesogenic effect of in vivo TF administration.

Conclusions

ILK downregulation in WAT can be considered a biomarker of obesity establishment. Via an INTB1-ILK axis, TF restores malfunctioning hypertrophied WAT by changing the expression of adipocyte-related genes, increasing ILK expression and activity, and reducing TG storage. TF prevents obesity, a property to be added to its anticoagulant and cardiovascular protective advantages.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13578-022-00746-1.