Time restricted feeding decreases renal innate immune cells and blood pressure in hypertensive mice

Abstract

Background: Renal innate immune cell accumulation and inflammation are associated with hypertension. Time restricted feeding (TRF) has been reported to decrease inflammation and blood pressure. Whether TRF can decrease blood pressure by decreasing renal innate immune cells in hypertension is unknown. Methods and results: We determined whether TRF can decrease blood pressure in two separate mouse models of hypertension, N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride-induced hypertension (LHTN) and salt-sensitive hypertension (SSHTN). Once hypertension was established after 2 days, TRF (12-h food/12-h no food) for 4 weeks significantly decreased systolic blood pressure in both LHTN and SSHTN mice despite no differences in the amount of food eaten or body weight between groups. Activated macrophages and dendritic cells in the kidneys of both LHTN and SSHTN mice were decreased significantly in mice that underwent TRF. This was associated with an improvement in kidney function (decreased serum creatinine, decreased fractional excretion of sodium, and increased creatinine clearance) which achieved significance in LHTN mice and trended towards improvement in SSHTN mice. Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate that TRF can significantly decrease renal innate immune cells and blood pressure in two mouse models of hypertension.

Update on Immune Mechanisms in Hypertension

“… 65 Time-restricted feeding significantly decreased blood pressure in mice with nitro- l -arginine methyl ester hydrochloride-induced hypertension. 66 There was a significant decrease in activated macrophages and DCs in the kidneys of these mice. 66 As the incidence of SSHTN continues to grow, the role of excess sodium in inflammation should continue to be investigated.…”

“… 66 There was a significant decrease in activated macrophages and DCs in the kidneys of these mice. 66 As the incidence of SSHTN continues to grow, the role of excess sodium in inflammation should continue to be investigated. Further studies focusing on altering gut flora and supplementation of metabolites would be promising for developing therapeutics for the treatment of hypertension.…”

Impact of time-restricted feeding and circadian rhythm fasting on blood pressure

“…Sims et al [1] clearly demonstrate that no access to food from 0800 h until 2000 h for 4 weeks was able to significantly decrease SBP by 10 mmHg, to improve kidney function, and to decrease serum pro-inflammatory cytokine levels in hypertensive mice. Hence, their recommendation to mitigate the impact of hypertension on cardiovascular deaths is that time-restricted feeding (TRF) may serve as an easy, no-cost, safe, and effective strategy to lower blood pressure (BP) in which medications are not readily accessible.…”

“…With almost half of the world population considered hypertensive [1], no single dietary approach will solve this complex problem. However, we would like to emphasize that the search for dietary approaches to prevent or to reduce chronic low-grade inflammation among patients at risk cannot overlook the intersection of TRF with circadian synchrony.…”

Time-restricted feeding: a free and effective method of managing hypertension by ameliorating inflammation?

“…Reducing the levels of these immune cells has been shown to be effective in reducing blood pressure [11,12]. In this issue of the Journal of Hypertension, Sims et al [13] investigated the effect of 4 weeks of TRF (12 h of food and 12 h without food) on inflammation in two rodent models of hypertension. Hypertension was induced over 48 h in mice by administration of either L-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride (L-NAME) (LHTN) or provision of a 4% salt diet, following 2 weeks of L-NAME administration and a 2-week washout period (SSHTN).…”