Cholesterol-lowering gene therapy prevents heart failure with preserved ejection fraction in obese type 2 diabetic mice

Joseph Pierre Aboumsallem, Ilayaraja Muthuramu, Mudit Mishra, Bart De Geest*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

6 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Hypercholesterolemia may be causally related to heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). We aimed to establish a HFpEF model associated with hypercholesterolemia and type 2 diabetes mellitus by feeding a high-sucrose/high-fat (HSHF) diet to C57BL/6J low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLr)−/− mice. Secondly, we evaluated whether cholesterol-lowering adeno-associated viral serotype 8 (AAV8)-mediated LDLr gene transfer prevents HFpEF. AAV8-LDLr gene transfer strongly (p < 0.001) decreased plasma cholesterol in standard chow (SC) mice (66.8 ± 2.5 mg/dl versus 213 ± 12 mg/dl) and in HSHF mice (84.6 ± 4.4 mg/dl versus 464 ± 25 mg/dl). The HSHF diet induced cardiac hypertrophy and pathological remodeling, which were potently counteracted by AAV8-LDLr gene transfer. Wet lung weight was 19.0% (p < 0.001) higher in AAV8-null HSHF mice than in AAV8-null SC mice, whereas lung weight was normal in AAV8-LDLr HSHF mice. Pressure–volume loop analysis was consistent with HFpEF in AAV8-null HSHF mice and showed a completely normal cardiac function in AAV8-LDLr HSHF mice. Treadmill exercise testing demonstrated reduced exercise capacity in AAV8-null HSHF mice but a normal capacity in AAV8-LDLr HSHF mice. Reduced oxidative stress and decreased levels of tumor necrosis factor-α may mediate the beneficial effects of cholesterol lowering. In conclusion, AAV8-LDLr gene therapy prevents HFpEF.

Original languageEnglish
Article number2222
JournalInternational journal of molecular sciences
Volume20
Issue number9
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 May 2019
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Gene therapy
  • Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction
  • Hypercholesterolemia
  • Oxidative stress
  • Type 2 diabetes

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Cholesterol-lowering gene therapy prevents heart failure with preserved ejection fraction in obese type 2 diabetic mice'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this