Early activation of deleterious molecular pathways in the kidney in experimental heart failure with atrial remodeling

• Published in: Physiological reports 2017-05, Vol.5 (9), p.e13283-n/a
• Main Authors: Ichiki, Tomoko, Huntley, Brenda K., Harty, Gail J., Sangaralingham, S. Jeson, Burnett, John C.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aldosterone; Angiotensin; Animals; Apoptosis; Apoptosis - genetics; Atrial Remodeling; Cytokines; Cytokines - genetics; Cytokines - metabolism; DNA microarrays; Dogs; Excretion; Fibrosis; Genes; Heart diseases; Heart failure; Heart Failure - metabolism; Heart Failure - pathology; Inflammation; kidney; Kidney - metabolism; Kidneys; Male; Metabolic Networks and Pathways - genetics; Myocardium - metabolism; natriuretic peptides; Natriuretic Peptides - blood; Original Research; Physiology; Polymerase chain reaction; Protein arrays; Proteins; Renal cortex; Renal failure; Renal function; Renin; Renin - genetics; Renin - metabolism; Sodium; Ventricle; Water-Electrolyte Balance - genetics
• ISSN: 2051-817X
• DOI: 10.14814/phy2.13283

Heart failure (HF) is a major health problem with worsening outcomes when renal impairment is present. Therapeutics for early phase HF may be effective for cardiorenal protection, however the detailed characteristics of the kidney in early‐stage HF (ES‐HF), and therefore treatment for potential renal protection, are poorly defined. We sought to determine the gene and protein expression profiles of specific maladaptive pathways of ES‐HF in the kidney and heart. Experimental canine ES‐HF, characterized by de‐novo HF with atrial remodeling but not ventricular fibrosis, was induced by right ventricular pacing for 10 days. Kidney cortex (KC), medulla (KM), left ventricle (LV), and left atrial (LA) tissues from ES‐HF versus normal canines (n = 4 of each) were analyzed using RT‐PCR microarrays and protein assays to assess genes and proteins related to inflammation, renal injury, apoptosis, and fibrosis. ES‐HF was characterized by increased circulating natriuretic peptides and components of the renin‐angiotensin‐aldosterone system and decreased sodium and water excretion with mild renal injury and up‐regulation of CNP and renin genes in the kidney. Compared to normals, widespread genes, especially genes of the inflammatory pathways, were up‐regulated in KC similar to increases seen in LA. Protein expressions related to inflammatory cytokines were also augmented in the KC. Gene and protein changes were less prominent in the LV and KM. The ES‐HF displayed mild renal injury with widespread gene changes and increased inflammatory cytokines. These changes may provide important clues into the pathophysiology of ES‐HF and for therapeutic molecular targets in the kidney of ES‐HF. The present study has demonstrated the adaption of the kidney and heart to the early stage heart failure in a large animal model with a focus on gene pathways involving inflammatory cytokines as well as genes of renal injury, apoptosis, and fibrosis. Changes in these gene pathways were associated with evidence for mild renal injury in the renal cortex. Thus, our findings may provide important clues into cardiorenal pathophysiology and guide the use of the novel therapeutics in ES‐HF for cardiorenal protection.