小鼠主动脉弓缩窄模型的建立及评价

目的通过显微外科技术建立小鼠主动脉弓缩窄压力超负荷模型,探讨心脏形态及功能变化的规律。方法135只雄性昆明小鼠随机分为主动脉弓缩窄组75只和假手术组60只。在术前、术后1周、4周、6周、8周1、2周进行高频心脏超声、血流动力学、心脏病理学检测,并对器官称重,对死亡原因进行分析。结果（1）主动脉弓缩窄手术成功率为88%;（2）与假手术组比较,术后4周,缩窄组小鼠出现左室向心性肥厚,左心室收缩期、舒张期后壁厚度（Pwsth;Pwdth）、左心室重量指数（LVMI）显著增加（P〈0.05）,术后6、8、12周上述指标呈轻度上升趋势;术后4、68、、12周,缩窄组小鼠动脉收缩压（SBP）、动脉舒张压（DBP）、左心室收缩压（LVSP）、左心室舒张末压（LVEDP）显著增加（P〈0.05）;术后8周,缩窄组小鼠表现为离心性肥厚,左心室收缩末期、舒张末期内径（LVESd;LVEDd）显著增加（P〈0.05）;术后12周,缩窄组小鼠出现失代偿性心力衰竭,左心室射血分数（EF%）、左心室压力上升和下降最大速率（dp/dtmax;dp/dtmin）显著降低（P〈0.05）,与8周缩窄组比较,12周缩窄组SBP、DBP、LVSP、LVEDP显著降低（P〈0.05）。结论通过主动脉弓缩窄,可以建立稳定的小鼠压力超负荷诱导左室向心性肥厚致心衰的动物模型,类似人类心肌肥厚向心衰发展的病理过程,是用于临床研究的一种较理想动物模型。     

大鼠心力衰竭模型的构建与鉴定

目的比较主动脉弓缩窄和腹主动脉缩窄复制心力衰竭衰模型的异同,探索快速有效的心衰动物模型。方法将大鼠分为主动脉缩窄手术组,腹主动脉缩窄手术组和对照组（C组）。主动脉缩窄手术组实施颈部手术,在主动脉弓处缩窄动脉直径;腹主动脉缩窄手术组实施腹部手术,在腹主动脉处缩窄动脉直径;C组实施颈部手术但不实施动脉缩窄手术。各组实验动物均正常喂养4～6周后进行心脏的超声检测和心脏血流动力学检测。结果心脏超声结果显示：主动脉弓缩窄手术组左心室壁厚度和左心室腔内径在术后4周明显高于正常组;而腹主动脉缩窄手术组左心室壁厚度和左心室腔内径在术后4周较正常组没有明显增加。术后6周,腹主动脉缩窄手术组左心室壁厚度和左心室腔内径都明显增加,而主动脉弓缩窄手术组左心室壁厚度没有明显改变,左心室腔内经明显增加。血流动力学指标显示：主动脉弓缩窄手术组LVESP、LVEDP、LVDP、±dp/dtmax都明显低于腹主动脉缩窄手术组。结论主动脉弓缩窄手术复制心肌肥大导致心功能衰竭模型效果明显快于腹主动脉缩窄手术复制的心肌肥大导致心功能衰竭模型。     

大鼠胸主动脉缩窄诱导心肌肥厚模型的建立

目的建立大鼠胸主动脉部分缩窄诱导心肌肥厚动物模型。方法雄性SD大鼠30只,随机分为两组：胸主动脉缩窄组20只和同期假手术组10只。在右无名动脉和左颈总动脉之间将主动脉结扎于8G针头上,随后将针头退出即可。术后10周,采用超声心动图检测心脏、观察心脏的大体剖面以及HE染色、测量心肌肥厚指数评价心肌肥厚的效果。结果术后10周,肉眼观：模型组心脏体积明显大于对照组。M型超声示：模型组较假手术组缩短分数下降,左室内径和室壁厚度明显增加。超声测量结果示：模型组与假手术组比较：室间隔厚度增加明显（2.527±0.269 vs.1.943±0.1）mm,（P〈0.01）;后壁厚度增加明显（2.492±0.242 vs.1.902±0.076）mm,（P〈0.01）;缩短分数略减小（49±7.681 vs.55.7±9.828）（P〉0.05）;左室舒张末期内径、左室收缩末期内径及射血分数均无明显变化。心脏肥厚指数明显增大（3.196±0.11 vs.1.785±0.099）,P〈0.01。结论胸主动脉缩窄可以导致大鼠心肌肥厚,为研究心室肥厚、心肌功能障碍以及心肌重构提供了一个很好的模型。     

新基因C10orf97参与压力超负荷性心肌肥厚

目的检测新基因C10orf97是否参与压力超负荷型心肌肥厚病程。方法通过缩窄大鼠胸主动脉横支构建压力超负荷诱导的心肌肥厚模型,在缩窄手术后的连续时间点应用血流动力学检测评价心室重构和心功能,应用实时荧光定量PCR法检测心肌肥厚标志基因心房利钠肽和C10orf97的mRNA表达。结果主动脉缩窄手术后,大鼠心脏显著肥厚,心脏体重比逐渐增加,心功能先受损后代偿性增强。心房利钠肽表达显著上调,在缩窄后第15天升高为假手术组40倍。C10orf97基因的表达在缩窄后第2天即显著上调为假手术组的2倍,在第4天降低,随后逐渐上升,第15天时表达量升高为假手术组的3倍。结论C10orf97基因参与了压力超负荷引起的心肌肥厚病程。     

金丝桃苷对主动脉弓缩窄所致的小鼠心肌肥厚的保护作用

目的:研究金丝桃苷(hyperoside, HYP)对主动脉弓缩窄所致小鼠病理性心肌肥厚的保护作用及其机制。方法:将32只C57BL/6J小鼠随机分为4组:假手术(Sham)组、单纯给药(HYP)组、主动脉弓缩窄(TAC)组及主动脉弓缩窄给药(TAC+HYP)组,每组8只。采用经典的主动脉弓缩窄术建立小鼠压力负荷型心肌肥厚模型。TAC术后4周,超声心动图仪检测心脏功能;左心室导管监测血流动力学指标;分离心脏、肺脏和胫骨计算心/体比、肺/体比和心/胫比,HE染色计算心肌细胞平均横截面积,Masson染色观察心肌纤维化程度,试剂盒检测心肌组织中SOD的活性和MDA的含量;DHE荧光探针检测心肌组织ROS生成量;Western blotting检测SIRT3、NOX 4、Collagen-1和Collagen-3蛋白表达,实时定量PCR检测SIRT3、ANP、α-MHC、β-MHC的m RNA表达情况。结果:与Sham组相比,TAC组小鼠的LVPWD值增加,LVSP和LVEDP值上升,LVEF、LVFS、E/A和±dp/dtmax值均降低;HM/BW、LW/BW和HW/TL值升高,心肌细胞横截面积增加;心肌组织胶原沉积加重;肥厚基因ANP的m RNA表达水平显著上升,α-MHC/β-MHC的比例倒置;心肌组织SOD活性降低,MDA和ROS生成量增加;SIRT3信号表达明显降低(均P<0.05)。给予HYP药物处理后,TAC+HYP组小鼠的心脏功能、血流动力学改变、心肌细胞肥厚程度、心肌组织纤维化和氧化应激水平均明显改善,并且心肌细胞SIRT3信号表达也显著增强(均P<0.05)。结论:HYP能够通过减轻心肌组织氧化应激损伤,抑制心肌纤维化进展,改善压力负荷引起的病理性心肌肥厚,且其作用机制可能与激活SIRT3信号有关。     

腹主动脉缩窄小鼠心脏结构和功能的动态变化*

目的: 探讨腹主动脉缩窄小鼠在向心衰发展的过程中心脏结构和功能的动态变化。方法: 健康雄性昆明小鼠,随机分为模型组、假手术组和对照组。模型组采用腹主动脉缩窄的方法制备慢性心力衰竭小鼠模型,假手术组只分离出腹主动脉但不结扎,对照组不做任何处理。模型组组内分为2周组、4周组、6周组和8周组,每组10只。观察各组小鼠行为学表现、心电图、超声心动图和心肌组织病理学的变化。结果: 模型组与对照组相比:模型组小鼠术后2周开始出现行为学改变并且仅有2周组小鼠出现IVSS降低(P＜0.05);术后4周开始出现病理性J波、EF降低(P＜0.05)、IVSD增加(P＜0.05)和心肌损伤;术后6周开始出现LVPWD和LVPWS增加(P＜0.05);术后8周开始出现LV mass corrected增加(P＜0.05)。各组小鼠心率、R幅值、T幅值、ST段、PR间期、QT间期、QTc等数据差异均无显著性。结论: 腹主动脉缩窄导致小鼠出现心衰的过程中出现了EF降低、室间隔肥厚、病理性J波、左室后壁肥厚以及左室质量增加等变化。     

钠氢交换体1 在病理性心肌肥厚大鼠心肌组织及血浆中的表达

目的:研究异丙肾上腺素诱导的病理性心肌肥厚大鼠心肌组织及血浆中钠氢交换体1(sodium-hydrogen exchanger 1,NHE-1)的表达,探讨NHE1在心肌肥厚发生和发展中的作用。方法:30只雄性SD大鼠随机并平均分为2组:病理性心肌肥厚组和对照组,每组15只,病理性心肌肥厚组(以下简称ISO组)予以ISO(异丙肾上腺素)连续每日以20、10和5mg/kg的剂量递减皮下注射,再以3mg/kg的剂量维持皮下注射7d,对照组予相同剂量生理盐水皮下注射。给药结束后进行心脏超声检测左室舒张末径(LVEDD)、左室收缩末径(LVESD)、室间隔厚度(IVST)、短轴缩短率(FS)、左室射血分数(LVEF)。分别测定各组大鼠体重(BW)、心室重量(VW)、左心室重量(LVW),计算心室重量指数VWI(VW/BW)、左心室重量指数LVW(ILVW/BW)。取血检测血浆中NHE-1的浓度,并取心肌组织观察病理形态学特征,用免疫组化法检测心肌组织中NHE-1的表达量。结果:与对照组相比,ISO组大鼠LVEF、IVST显著增加(P<0.05),LVESD明显降低(P<0.05),VWI、LVWI明显增加(P<0.01),血浆NHE-1浓度明显升高(P<0.01),心肌组织NHE-1表达增多(P<0.01)。结论:NHE-1可能在病理性心肌肥厚的发生和发展过程中起着重要作用。     

压力后负荷增高大鼠心肌肥厚向心力衰竭的转变

目的观察单纯腹主动脉缩窄造成的心肌肥厚能否转变成为心力衰竭。方法实验选用8周龄的Wistar大鼠,使用7-0号尼龙线对其肾上腹主动脉进行缩窄手术,造成后负荷性心肌肥厚模型(LVH,n=10),同时设置假手术组(Sham,n=10)和正常组(Con,n=10)作为对照。术后第20周和第38周使用超声多普勒和多导生理仪对大鼠血流动力学进行检测。解剖后取出心脏,计算心脏/体重比,并通过HE染色和天狼猩红染色观察心脏形态和纤维化程度。结果腹主动脉结扎后第20周,LVH组大鼠心室壁肥厚,舒张功能下降(E/Aratio:LVH组:1.0±0.25,Con组:1.6±0.12)。术后38周,左心室壁肥厚程度有所下降,但是心室腔扩大,心脏收缩和舒张功能明显下降(EF:LVH组:44.8±8.42,Con组:70.9±5.19;MaxdP/dt:LVH组:4916±1267.3,Con组:14225±932.1;MindP/dt:LVH组:-3246±1217.3,Con组:-12138±725.2)。腹主动脉缩窄术后的动物心脏重量明显增加(3.58±0.32vs.2.34±0.15),HE染色和天狼猩红染色显示LVH组大鼠在术后38周心脏纤维化明显。结论腹主动脉缩窄造成的后负荷增高动物模型首先出现向心性心肌肥厚,伴以舒张功能下降,进而收缩功能下降,发展为心力衰竭。     

氯沙坦对原发性高血压患者左心室肥厚及血清MMP-9的影响

目的:探讨氯沙坦对原发性高血压伴左心室肥厚患者左心室结构及血清MMP-9的影响.方法:86例原发性高血压伴左心室肥厚患者分为氯沙坦治疗组(n=46)和对照组(n=40).在治疗前及治疗后8w,测定收缩压和舒张压,用彩色多普勒超声诊断仪测量舒张期左心室后壁厚度(PWT),舒张期室间隔厚度(IVST),左心室舒张末内径(LVID),并计算左室重量指数(LVMI)以判定左心室肥厚程度,另外,采用酶联免疫吸附法(ELISA)检测血清MMP-9.结果:治疗8w后,两组患者的收缩压、舒张压、LVMI值、血清MMP-9均较治疗前低(P<0.01或P<0.05),且氯沙坦治疗组患者的收缩压、舒张压、LVMI值、血清MMP-9较对照组低(P<0.01或P<0.05).结论:氯沙坦能降低原发性高血压血压、逆转左心室肥厚,并且能降低血清MMP-9表达.     

心脏组织特异性表达 Neuregulin -2转基因小鼠的建立及心脏功能分析

目的：神经调节蛋白2（ neuregulin-2, NRG2）可促进神经系统发育,基因缺失表现早期生长延迟, NRG2在心脏中也有表达,但其在心脏发育尤其是病理刺激时对心脏结构及功能的影响尚未见报道。本文目的是建立心脏组织特异性表达NRG2转基因小鼠,分析其在正常及压力负荷刺激时对心脏结构及功能的影响。方法将人NRG2基因插入到心脏特异性启动子α-MHC下游,构建转基因表达载体,显微注射法建立NRG2转基因小鼠,PCR鉴定转基因小鼠基因型,western blot鉴定NRG2蛋白在心脏中的表达并筛选高表达的转基因品系,主动脉缩窄术（ transverse aortic constriction , TAC）制备压力负荷诱导的心肌肥厚小鼠模型。利用超声影像分析和病理学观察小鼠心脏结构和功能改变。结果建立了心脏组织特异性高表达NRG2转基因小鼠品系。与同窝阴性转基因小鼠相比,转基因小鼠左心室舒张末期后壁厚度（LVPWD）明显增加,3月龄时可达15．6％（P＜0．05）,经压力负荷刺激后,NRG2转基因手术小鼠心室壁增厚程度显著下降,心室腔增大,同时心肌排列紊乱程度和纤维化程度明显比NTG手术小鼠严重。结论在压力负荷下,转基因表达NRG2缩短了肥厚过程,同时加速了心衰进程。     

Overexpression of microRNA-99a Attenuates Cardiac Hypertrophy

Pathological cardiomyocyte hypertrophy is associated with significantly increased risk of heart failure, one of the leading medical causes of mortality worldwide. MicroRNAs are known to be involved in pathological cardiac remodeling. However, whether miR-99a participates in the signaling cascade leading to cardiac hypertrophy is unknown. To evaluate the role of miR-99a in cardiac hypertrophy, we assessed the expression of miR-99a in hypertrophic cardiomyocytes induced by isoprenaline (ISO)/angiotensin-II (Ang II) and in mice model of cardiac hypertrophy induced by transverse aortic constriction (TAC). Expression of miR-99a was evaluated in these hypertrophic cells and hearts. We also found that miR-99a expression was highly correlated with cardiac function of mice with heart failure (8 weeks after TAC surgery). Overexpression of miR-99a attenuated cardiac hypertrophy in TAC mice and cellular hypertrophy in stimuli treated cardiomyocytes through down-regulation of expression of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). These results indicate that miR-99a negatively regulates physiological hypertrophy through mTOR signaling pathway, which may provide a new therapeutic approach for pressure-overload heart failure.     

Thyroid hormone inhibits ERK phosphorylation in pressure overload-induced hypertrophied mouse hearts through a receptor-mediated mechanism

Pressure overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy results in a pathological type of hypertrophy with activation of signaling cascades like the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway, which promotes negative cardiac remodeling and decreased contractile function. In contrast, thyroid hormone mediates a physiological type of hypertrophy resulting in enhanced contractile function. In addition, thyroid hormone action is diminished in pressure overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy. We hypothesized that thyroid hormone status modulates ERK activity and that administration of thyroid hormone could alter the activity of this kinase in cardiac hypertrophy induced by pressure overload. ERK is activated by phosphorylation; accordingly, we investigated phosphorylation of ERK in hearts of control, hypothyroid, and hyperthyroid mice. In addition, the effect of T3 treatment on ERK phosphorylation in hypertrophied hearts from transverse aortic-constricted (TAC) mice was investigated. Results showed that phosphorylated ERK (p-ERK) was decreased by 25% in hyperthyroid mice. In contrast, hypothyroid mice presented increased p-ERK by 80%. TAC mice presented a greater than fourfold increase of p-ERK compared with control mice. Interestingly, T3 administration dramatically canceled TAC-induced ERK phosphorylation (36% lower compared with control). Raf-1 is upstream of the ERK pathway. TAC mice presented a 45% increase in phospho-Raf-1 (Ser338). T3 treatment inhibited this effect of pressure overload and further decreased p-Raf-1 (Ser338) by 37%, compared with control. Overexpression of thyroid hormone receptor-α in cultured cardiomyocytes potentiated the inhibitory effect of T3 on ERK phosphorylation. We concluded that thyroid hormone has an inhibitory effect on the Raf-1/ERK pathway. Furthermore, treatment of TAC mice with T3 inhibited Raf-1/ERK pathway by a thyroid hormone receptor-dependent mechanism.     

Activated protein C protects against pressure overload-induced hypertrophy through AMPK signaling

We found that the anticoagulant plasma protease, activated protein C (APC), stimulates the energy sensor kinase, AMPK, in the stressed heart by activating protease-activated receptor 1 (PAR1) on cardiomyocytes. Wild-type (WT) and AMPK-kinase dead (KD) transgenic mice were subjected to transverse aortic constriction (TAC) surgery. The results demonstrated that while no phenotypic differences can be observed between WT and AMPK-KD mice under normal physiological conditions, AMPK-KD mice exhibit significantly larger hearts after 4 weeks of TAC surgery. Analysis by echocardiography suggested that the impairment in the cardiac function of AMPK-KD hearts is significantly greater than that of WT hearts. Immunohistochemical staining revealed increased macrophage infiltration and ROS generation in AMPK-KD hearts after 4 weeks of TAC surgery. Immunoblotting results demonstrated that the redox markers, pShc⁶⁶, 4-hydroxynonenal and ERK, were all up-regulated at a higher extent in AMPK-KD hearts after 4 weeks of TAC surgery. Administration of APC-WT and the signaling selective APC-2Cys mutant, but not the anticoagulant selective APC-E170A mutant, significantly attenuated pressure overload-induced hypertrophy and fibrosis. Macrophage infiltration and pShc⁶⁶ activation caused by pressure overload were also inhibited by APC and APC-2Cys but not by APC-E170A. Therefore, the cardiac AMPK protects against pressure overload-induced hypertrophy and the signaling selective APC-2Cys may have therapeutic potential for treating hypertension-related hypertrophy without increasing the risk of bleeding.     

Activation or inactivation of cardiac Akt/mTOR signaling diverges physiological from pathological hypertrophy

Cardiomyocyte hypertrophy differs according to the stress exerted on the myocardium. While pressure overload-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy is associated with depressed contractile function, physiological hypertrophy after exercise training associates with preserved or increased inotropy. We determined the activation state of myocardial Akt signaling with downstream substrates and fetal gene reactivation in exercise-induced physiological and pressure overload-induced pathological hypertrophies. C57BL/6J mice were either treadmill trained for 6 weeks, 5 days/week, at 85-90% of maximal oxygen uptake (VO(2max)), or underwent transverse aortic constriction (TAC) for 1 or 8 weeks. Total and phosphorylated protein levels were determined with SDS-PAGE, and fetal genes by real-time RT-PCR. In the physiologically hypertrophied heart after exercise training, total Akt protein level was unchanged, but Akt was chronically hyperphosphorylated at serine 473. This was accompanied by activation of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), measured as phosphorylation of its two substrates: the ribosomal protein S6 kinase-1 (S6K1) and the eukaryotic translation initiation factor-4E binding protein-1 (4E-BP1). Exercise training did not reactivate the fetal gene program (beta-myosin heavy chain, atrial natriuretic factor, skeletal muscle actin). In contrast, pressure overload after TAC reactivated fetal genes already after 1 week, and partially inactivated the Akt/mTOR pathway and downstream substrates after 8 weeks. In conclusion, changes in opposite directions of the myocardial Akt/mTOR signal pathway appears to distinguish between physiological and pathological hypertrophies; exercise training associating with activation and pressure overload associating with inactivation of the Akt/mTOR pathway.     

Cardiac myocyte-specific ablation of follistatin-like 3 attenuates stress-induced myocardial hypertrophy

Transforming growth factor-β family cytokines have diverse actions in the maintenance of cardiac homeostasis. Follistatin-like 3 (Fstl3) is an extracellular regulator of certain TGF-β family members, including activin A. The aim of this study was to examine the role of Fstl3 in cardiac hypertrophy. Cardiac myocyte-specific Fstl3 knock-out (KO) mice and control mice were subjected to pressure overload induced by transverse aortic constriction (TAC). Cardiac hypertrophy was assessed by echocardiography and histological and biochemical methods. KO mice showed reduced cardiac hypertrophy, pulmonary congestion, concentric LV wall thickness, LV dilatation, and LV systolic dysfunction after TAC compared with control mice. KO mice displayed attenuated increases in cardiomyocyte cell surface area and interstitial fibrosis following pressure overload. Although activin A was similarly up-regulated in KO and control mice after TAC, a significant increase in Smad2 phosphorylation only occurred in KO mice. Knockdown of Fstl3 in cultured cardiomyocytes inhibited PE-induced cardiac hypertrophy. Conversely, adenovirus-mediated Fstl3 overexpression blocked the inhibitory action of activin A on hypertrophy and Smad2 activation. Transduction with Smad7, a negative regulator of Smad2 signaling, blocked the antihypertrophic actions of activin A stimulation or Fstl3 ablation. These findings identify Fstl3 as a stress-induced regulator of hypertrophy that controls myocyte size via regulation of Smad signaling.     

The antioxidant tempol attenuates pressure overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy and contractile dysfunction in mice fed a high-fructose diet

We have previously shown that high-sugar diets increase mortality and left ventricular (LV) dysfunction during pressure overload. The mechanisms behind these diet-induced alterations are unclear but may involve increased oxidative stress in the myocardium. The present study examined whether high-fructose feeding increased myocardial oxidative damage and exacerbated systolic dysfunction after transverse aortic constriction (TAC) and if this effect could be attenuated by treatment with the antioxidant tempol. Immediately after surgery, TAC and sham mice were assigned to a high-starch diet (58% of total energy intake as cornstarch and 10% fat) or high-fructose diet (61% fructose and 10% fat) with or without the addition of tempol [0.1% (wt/wt) in the chow] and maintained on the treatment for 8 wk. In response to TAC, fructose-fed mice had greater cardiac hypertrophy (55.1% increase in the heart weight-to-tibia length ratio) than starch-fed mice (22.3% increase in the heart weight-to-tibia length ratio). Treatment with tempol significantly attenuated cardiac hypertrophy in fructose-fed TAC mice (18.3% increase in the heart weight-to-tibia ratio). Similarly, fructose-fed TAC mice had a decreased LV area of fractional shortening (from 38+/-2% in sham to 22+/-4% in TAC), which was prevented by tempol treatment (33+/-3%). Markers of lipid peroxidation in fructose-fed TAC hearts were also blunted by tempol. In conclusion, tempol significantly blunted markers of cardiac hypertrophy, LV remodeling, contractile dysfunction, and oxidative stress in fructose-fed TAC mice.     

Midkine exacerbates pressure overload-induced cardiac remodeling

Midkine is a multifunctional growth factor, and its serum levels are increased with the functional severity of heart failure. This study aimed to examine the role of midkine in heart failure pathogenesis. Midkine expression levels were increased in the kidney and lung after transverse aortic constriction (TAC) surgery, but not sufficiently increased in the heart. After TAC, phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase1/2 and AKT, and the expression levels of foetal genes in the heart were considerably increased in transgenic mice with cardiac-specific overexpression of midkine (MK-Tg) compared with wild-type (WT) mice. MK-Tg mice showed more severe cardiac hypertrophy and dysfunction, and showed lower survival rate after TAC than WT mice. We conclude that midkine plays a critical role in cardiac hypertrophy and remodelling.     

Interleukin-18 knockout mice display maladaptive cardiac hypertrophy in response to pressure overload

Interleukin (IL)-18 is a cardiotropic proinflammatory cytokine chronically elevated in the serum of patients with cardiac hypertrophy (LVH). The purpose of this study was to examine the role of IL-18 in pressure-overload hypertrophy using wild type (WT) and IL-18 -/- (null) mice. Adult male C57Bl/6 mice underwent transaortic constriction (TAC) for 7days or sham surgery. Heart weight/body weight ratios showed blunted hypertrophy in IL-18 null TAC mice compared to WT TAC animals. Microarray analyses indicated differential expression of hypertrophy-related genes in WT versus IL-18 nulls. Northern, Western, and EMSA analyses showed Akt and GATA4 were increased in WT but unchanged in IL-18 null mice. Our results demonstrate blunted hypertrophy with reduced expression of contractile-, hypertrophy-, and remodeling-associated genes following pressure overload in IL-18 null mice, and suggest that IL-18 plays a critical role in the hypertrophic response.     

LKB1IP promotes pathological cardiac hypertrophy by targeting PTEN/Akt signalling pathway

Pathological cardiac hypertrophy represents a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Liver kinase B1 interacting protein 1 (LKB1IP) was identified as the binding protein of tumour suppressor LKB1. However, the role of LKB1IP in the development of pathological cardiac hypertrophy has not been explored. The aim of this study was to investigate the function of LKB1IP in cardiac hypertrophy in response to hypertrophic stimuli. We investigated the cardiac level of LKB1IP in samples from patients with heart failure and mice with cardiac hypertrophy induced by isoproterenol (ISO) or transverse aortic constriction (TAC). LKB1IP knockout mice were generated and challenged with ISO injection or TAC surgery. Cardiac function, hypertrophy and fibrosis were then examined. LKB1IP expression was significantly up-regulated on hypertrophic stimuli in both human and mouse cardiac samples. LKB1IP knockout markedly protected mouse hearts against ISO- or TAC-induced cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis. LKB1IP overexpression aggravated ISO-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, and its inhibition attenuated hypertrophy in vitro. Mechanistically, LKB1IP activated Akt signalling by directly targeting PTEN and then inhibiting its phosphatase activity. In conclusion, LKB1IP may be a potential target for pathological cardiac hypertrophy.