Abstract-Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), aldosterone, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) are implicated in myocardial remodeling. Although ROS, cytokines, and neurohormones regulate MMP in cardiac fibroblasts, it is unknown whether aldosterone regulates MMP in cardiomyocytes. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that aldosterone regulates MMP in cultured adult rat ventricular myocytes (ARVMs). ARVMs were treated with aldosterone for 24 hours, and MMP-2 and MMP-9 activities were measured by zymography. Aldosterone (50 nmol/L) increased MMP-2 (43Ϯ5%) and MMP-9 (55Ϯ15%; PϽ0.001 for both) activities.

Aldosterone infusion results in left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and hypertension and may involve profibrotic and proinflammatory mechanisms. In turn, hypertension is the major cause of diastolic heart failure (HF). Adiponectin, an adipose-derived plasma protein, exerts antiinflammatory and anti-hypertrophic effects and is implicated in the development of hypertension and systolic HF. We thus tested the hypothesis that hypoadiponectinemia in aldosterone-induced hypertension exacerbated cardiac remodeling and diastolic HF. Wild-type (WT) or adiponectin-deficient (APNKO) mice underwent saline or aldosterone infusion and uninephrectomy and were fed 1% salt water for 4 wk. Blood pressure was increased in aldosterone-infused WT (132 +/- 2 vs. 109 +/- 3 mm Hg; P < 0.01) and further augmented in APNKO mice (140 +/- 3 mm Hg; P < 0.05 vs. aldosterone-infused WT). LVH was increased in aldosterone-infused WT vs. WT mice (LV/body weight ratio, 4.8 +/- 0.2 vs. 4.1 +/- 0.2 mg/g) and further increased in aldosterone-infused APNKO mice (LV/body weight ratio, 6.0 +/- 0.4 mg/g). Left ventricular ejection fraction was not decreased in either aldosterone-infused WT or APNKO hearts. Pulmonary congestion however was worse in APNKO mice (P < 0.01). The ratio of early ventricular filling over late ventricular filling (E/A) and the ratio of mitral peak velocity of early filling to early diastolic mitral annular velocity (E/e'), measures of diastolic function, were increased in aldosterone-infused WT hearts and further increased in APNKO hearts (P < 0.05 for both). Renal function and cardiac fibrosis were no different between both aldosterone-infused groups. Aldosterone increased matrix metalloproteinase-2 expression in WT hearts (P < 0.05 vs. WT and P < 0.01 vs. APNKO). Myocardial atrial natriuretic peptide, interferon-gamma, and TNF-alpha expression were increased in aldosterone-infused WT hearts. Expression of these proteins was further increased in aldosterone-infused APNKO hearts. Therefore, hypoadiponectinemia in hypertension-induced diastolic HF exacerbates LVH, diastolic dysfunction, and diastolic HF. Whether or not adiponectin replacement prevents the progression to diastolic HF will warrant further study.

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