Cardiac remodeling in obesity is associated with high gene expression of TLR‐4 and TNF‐α

Abstract

AimEvaluate the correlation between the gene expression of inflammatory markers and cardiac remodeling in obese animals.Methods16 male Wistar rats were assigned to receive water plus standard diet (group C, n = 8) and Ob diet with water plus 25% sucrose (Ob group, n = 8). Weekly body weight (BW) of the animals was assessed and, after 30 weeks of experiment, adiposity index (AI). Cardiac structures measured: diastolic diameter (LVDD); diameter of the aorta (AO), left atrium (LA); The MVE index (LVMI) was calculated by normalizing to body weight estimated LV mass. The LV systolic function was assessed by cardiac output; The LV diastolic function was evaluated by the following indices: peak velocity of early diastolic filling (E wave); peak velocity of late diastolic filling (A wave); ratio between the E and A waves (E/A); deceleration time of E wave (DTE); The study was supplemented by evaluation by tissue Doppler early diastolic (E′) and late (A ′) of the mitral annulus (arithmetic average travel speeds of lateral and septal walls), and the ratio the waves (E/E′ and E′/A′). Left ventricular fragment of the animals was homogenized in TRIzol® for extraction of ribonucleic acid (RNA). After wards, the RNA was submitted to reverse transcription, conversion of RNA to complementary deoxyribonucleic acid (cDNA). cDNA was used in the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using ready‐made assays containing TaqMan MGB (FAM) probe and primer specific for tumoral necrosis factor‐ alpha (TNF‐α) and toll‐like receptor 4 (TLR‐4).ResultsThe Ob group showed significantly higher weight (C = 493.008 ± 50.775, Ob = 562.95 ± 53.69; p < 0.05) and higher adiposity index (C = 4.79 ± 0.73, Ob = 8.68 ± 1.76; p < 0.05). Gene expression of TRL‐4 (C = 1.00 ± 0.337, Ob = 1.584 ± 0.559; p < 0.05) and TNF‐α (C = 1.0 ± 0.485, Ob = 2.897 ± 2.596; p < 0.05) presented significant increase in ob group. Results of cardiac evaluation are described in Table 1 followed by the graphs of correlation.ConclusionHigh gene expression of TLR‐4 and TNF‐α in heart is correlated with cardiac remodeling in obese animals.This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2018 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.