Abstract
Abstract Background and Aims Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is a clinically important risk factor for mortality and often observed in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Serum FGF23 levels are elevated in CKD patients, and the relationship between elevated FGF23 and LVH has been reported in the previous studies. However, whether elevated FGF23 is a cause or result of LVH and whether FGF23 directly or indirectly affects LVH remain unclear. Therefore, we investigated changes in heart weight, CKD-mineral and bone disorder (MBD) parameters, including FGF23, and renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) related-factors in the setting of LVH and CKD using a mouse model. Method In the present study, twenty-four C57BL/6J mice were used and divided into 4 groups; control group (N=6), CKD group (N=6), LVH group (N=6), and LVH+CKD group (N=6). The mice in the CKD group underwent left 2/3 nephrectomy at 11 weeks of age and right nephrectomy at 12 weeks of age. Those in the LVH group underwent transverse aortic constriction (TAC) at 10 weeks of age. Those in the LVH+CKD group, TAC at 10 weeks of age, and left 2/3 nephrectomy at 11 weeks of age, and right nephrectomy at 12 weeks of age were performed. At 16 weeks of age, echocardiography was performed for all the mice, and they were sacrificed for blood and urine analysis, histopathological analysis and evaluating mRNA expressions of CKD-MBD- and RAAS-related factors in the heart. Results The systolic blood pressure was significantly higher in the LVH+CKD group and the CKD group than in the control group. The heart weight/body weight ratio in the LVH+CKD group was the highest, and that in the LVH was higher than that in the CKD group. Although serum creatinine and phosphate levels increased in CKD condition, those were comparable between the CKD and LVH+CKD groups. The urinary albumin excretion also increased in the CKD and LVH+CKD groups compared to the LVH and control groups. Serum FGF23 levels increased in the LVH and CKD group compared to the control group, and those in the LVH+CKD group were the highest among all the study groups. The cardiac mRNA expressions of FGF23, angiotensinogen (ANG), angiotensin type 1 receptor (AT1R), and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) were also increased by induction of LVH and CKD, and those in the LVH+CKD group significantly increased compared to other groups. Heart weight/body weight ratio was significantly correlated with serum FGF23 levels and mRNA expression of FGF23, ANG, AT1R, ACE. In addition, significant correlations of serum FGF23 levels and cardiac mRNA expression of FGF23 with cardiac mRNA expressions of RAAS-related factors were observed. Conclusion Our results suggest that serum FGF23 levels and cardiac mRNA expression of FGF23 increase with the development of LVH and CKD and the changes is possibly enhanced through the colocalized activation of RAAS.
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