Chun Gui1, Zhi-Yu Zeng1, Qi Chen2, Ya-Wei Luo3, Lang Li1, Lin-Lin Chen1. 1. Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China. 2. Electrophysiology Research Laboratory, Texas Heart Institute/CHI St. Luke Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA. 3. Department of Cardiology, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIMS: Microvascular insufficiency takes a critical role in the development of diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM). So this study was designed to investigate the effects of Neuregulin-1 (NRG-1) treatment on myocardial angiogenesis and the changes of VEGF/Flk1 and Ang-1/Tie-2 signaling in the rat model of DCM. METHODS: Diabetic rats were induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of Streptozotocin. 12 weeks after the diabetes induction, the rats with NRG-1 treatment were treated with tail vein injection of NRG-1 at the dose of 10µg/kg/d for consecutive 10 days. Cardiac function was assessed using catheter MPA cardiac function analysis system. Myocardial blood flow (MBF) was assessed with stable-isotope labeled microspheres. Capillary density was measured by CD31 immunohistochemistry. The protein expression and receptors phosphorylation were assessed using western blot. RESULTS: Left ventricular function, capillary density and MBF were significantly reduced in DCM group when compared with those in the control group (P< 0.01, P< 0.01 and P< 0.05 respectively). Left ventricular function and capillary density were significantly increased in NRG-1 treatment group when compared with those in the DCM group (P< 0.05 and P< 0.05 respectively). The expression of VEGF and Ang-1 and the phosphorylation of Flk1 and Tie-1 were significantly decreased in DCM group as compared with those in the control group. However, those in the NRG-1 treatment group were significantly increased as compared with those in the DCM group. In vitro, NRG-1 treatment increased significantly the expression of VEGF and Ang-1 in human coronary artery smooth muscle cells. CONCLUSIONS: NRG-1 can increase the myocardial angiogenesis of DCM, probably via the direct effects of NRG-1 and via the increasing expression of VEGF and Ang-1. These findings may contribute to developing a novel approach to reverse the impaired angiogenic responses in diabetes or coronary artery disease.
BACKGROUND/AIMS: Microvascular insufficiency takes a critical role in the development of diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM). So this study was designed to investigate the effects of Neuregulin-1 (NRG-1) treatment on myocardial angiogenesis and the changes of VEGF/Flk1 and Ang-1/Tie-2 signaling in the rat model of DCM. METHODS:Diabeticrats were induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of Streptozotocin. 12 weeks after the diabetes induction, the rats with NRG-1 treatment were treated with tail vein injection of NRG-1 at the dose of 10µg/kg/d for consecutive 10 days. Cardiac function was assessed using catheter MPA cardiac function analysis system. Myocardial blood flow (MBF) was assessed with stable-isotope labeled microspheres. Capillary density was measured by CD31 immunohistochemistry. The protein expression and receptors phosphorylation were assessed using western blot. RESULTS:Left ventricular function, capillary density and MBF were significantly reduced in DCM group when compared with those in the control group (P< 0.01, P< 0.01 and P< 0.05 respectively). Left ventricular function and capillary density were significantly increased in NRG-1 treatment group when compared with those in the DCM group (P< 0.05 and P< 0.05 respectively). The expression of VEGF and Ang-1 and the phosphorylation of Flk1 and Tie-1 were significantly decreased in DCM group as compared with those in the control group. However, those in the NRG-1 treatment group were significantly increased as compared with those in the DCM group. In vitro, NRG-1 treatment increased significantly the expression of VEGF and Ang-1 in human coronary artery smooth muscle cells. CONCLUSIONS:NRG-1 can increase the myocardial angiogenesis of DCM, probably via the direct effects of NRG-1 and via the increasing expression of VEGF and Ang-1. These findings may contribute to developing a novel approach to reverse the impaired angiogenic responses in diabetes or coronary artery disease.