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Biomedical subjects

Michael R Zile

Publications and source records attributed to Michael R Zile.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Accelerated LV remodeling after myocardial infarction in TIMP-1-deficient mice: effects of exogenous MMP inhibition.

Alterations in matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tissue inhibitors of MMPs (TIMPs) have been implicated in adverse left ventricular (LV) remodeling after myocardial infarction (MI). However, the direct mechanistic role of TIMPs in the post-MI remodeling process has not been completely established. The goal of this project was to define the effects of altering endogenous MMP inhibitory control through combined genetic and pharmacological approaches on post-MI remodeling in mice. This study examined the effects of MMP inhibition (MMPi) with PD-166793 (30 mg.kg(-1).day(-1)) on LV geometry and function (conductance volumetry) after MI in wild-type (WT) mice and mice deficient in the TIMP-1 gene [TIMP-1 knockout (TIMP1-KO)]. At 3 days after MI (coronary ligation), mice were randomized into four groups: WT-MI/MMPi (n = 10), TIMP1-KO-MI/MMPi (n = 10), WT-MI (n = 22), and TIMP1-KO-MI (n = 23). LV end-diastolic volume (EDV) and ejection fraction were determined 14 days after MI. Age-matched WT (n = 20) and TIMP1-KO (n = 28) mice served as reference controls. LVEDV was similar under control conditions in WT and TIMP1-KO mice (36 +/- 2 and 40 +/- 2 microl, respectively) but was greater in TIMP1-KO-MI than in WT-MI mice (48 +/- 2 vs. 61 +/- 5 microl, P < 0.05). LVEDV was reduced from MI-only values in WT-MI/MMPi and TIMP1-KO-MI/MMPi mice (42 +/- 2 and 36 +/- 2 microl, respectively, P < 0.05) but was reduced to the greatest degree in TIMP1-KO mice (P < 0.05). LV ejection fraction was reduced in both groups after MI and increased in TIMP1-KO-MI/MMPi, but not in WT-MI/MMPi, mice. These unique results demonstrated that myocardial TIMP-1 plays a regulatory role in post-MI remodeling and that the accelerated myocardial remodeling induced by TIMP-1 gene deletion can be pharmacologically "rescued" by MMP inhibition. These results define the importance of local endogenous control of MMP activity with respect to regulating LV structure and function after MI.

Animals↗

Diastolic heart failure--abnormalities in active relaxation and passive stiffness of the left ventricle.

BACKGROUND: Patients with signs and symptoms of heart failure and a normal left ventricular ejection fraction are said to have diastolic heart failure. It has traditionally been thought that the pathophysiological cause of heart failure in these patients is an abnormality in the diastolic properties of the left ventricle; however, this hypothesis remains largely unproven. METHODS: We prospectively identified 47 patients who met the diagnostic criteria for definite diastolic heart failure; all the patients had signs and symptoms of heart failure, a normal ejection fraction, and an increased left ventricular end-diastolic pressure. Ten patients who had no evidence of cardiovascular disease served as controls. Left ventricular diastolic function was assessed by means of cardiac catheterization and echocardiography. RESULTS: The patients with diastolic heart failure had abnormal left ventricular relaxation and increased left ventricular chamber stiffness. The mean (+/-SD) time constant for the isovolumic-pressure decline (tau) was longer in the group with diastolic heart failure than in the control group (59+/-14 msec vs. 35+/-10 msec, P=0.01). The diastolic pressure-volume relation was shifted up and to the left in the patients with diastolic heart failure as compared with the controls. The corrected left ventricular passive-stiffness constant was significantly higher in the group with diastolic heart failure than in the control group (0.03+/-0.01 vs. 0.01+/-0.01, P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with heart failure and a normal ejection fraction have significant abnormalities in active relaxation and passive stiffness. In these patients, the pathophysiological cause of elevated diastolic pressures and heart failure is abnormal diastolic function.

Case-Control Studies↗

Lack of relationship between Doppler indices of diastolic function and left ventricular pressure transients in patients with definite diastolic heart failure.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to compare invasive with noninvasive indices of diastolic function in a well-defined group of patients with diastolic dysfunction and a history of diastolic heart failure. BACKGROUND: Patients with heart failure and a normal left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction comprise a very large portion of the heart failure population and most are thought to have diastolic heart failure. While clinical and Doppler criteria for diastolic dysfunction and diastolic heart failure have been developed, there remains some controversy about the need for invasive cardiac catheterization and/or echo-Doppler evaluation of LV diastolic function. To date, there is no consensus as to the utility of these 2 methods in the diagnosis of diastolic heart failure. METHODS: Forty-seven patients (mean age 58 +/- 11 years) with a history of congestive heart failure and preserved ejection fraction (> or =50%) by echocardiography underwent a combined hemodynamic/echo-Doppler study. Patients with coronary disease were excluded. Invasive parameters of LV diastolic function (tau, LV diastolic pressures) and Doppler parameters (peak E, peak A, E/A ratio, isovolumic relaxation time, and E deceleration time) were measured using standard techniques. RESULTS: There was a close correlation between invasively-determined parameters (tau vs end diastolic pressure: r = 0.62, P <.001). The relationships between standard Doppler parameters and LV diastolic pressures were uniformly poor. However, the relationship between Doppler isovolumic relaxation time and tau improved considerably when patients were subgrouped by hemodynamic load. CONCLUSIONS: Standard echo-Doppler indices of diastolic function correlate poorly with LV diastolic pressure transients. The diagnosis of diastolic heart failure cannot be made on the basis of a single echo-Doppler parameter but, rather, all parameters must be examined in concert and used in combination with clinical observations.

Cardiac Catheterization↗

Left ventricular diastolic dysfunction and diastolic heart failure.

Thirty to fifty percent of patients presenting with signs and symptoms of heart failure have a normal left ventricular (LV) systolic ejection fraction. The clinical examination cannot distinguish these patients (diastolic heart failure) from those with a depressed ejection fraction (systolic heart failure), but echocardiography can. The management of diastolic heart failure has two major objectives. The first is to reverse the consequences of diastolic dysfunction (e.g., venous congestion), and the second is to eliminate or reduce the factors responsible for diastolic dysfunction (e.g., myocardial hypertrophy, fibrosis, and ischemia).

Diastole↗

Role of microtubules versus myosin heavy chain isoforms in contractile dysfunction of hypertrophied murine cardiocytes.

In large mammals there is a correlation between microtubule network densification and contractile dysfunction in severe pressure-overload hypertrophy. In small mammals there is a similar correlation for the shift to beta-myosin heavy chain (MHC), a MHC isoform having a slower ATPase Vmax. In this study, murine left ventricular (LV) pressure overload invoked both mechanisms: microtubule network densification and beta-MHC expression. Cardiac beta-MHC was also augmented without altering tubulin levels by two load-independent means, chemical thyroidectomy and transgenesis. In hypertrophy, contractile function of the LV and its cardiocytes decreased proportionally; microtubule depolymerization restored normal cellular contraction. In hypothyroid mice having a complete shift from alpha-MHC to beta-MHC, contractile function of the LV and its cardiocytes also decreased, but microtubule depolymerization had no effect on cellular contraction. In transgenic mice having a cardiac beta-MHC increase similar to that in hypertrophy, contractile function of the LV and its cardiocytes was normal, and microtubule depolymerization had no effect. Thus, although both mechanisms may cause contractile dysfunction, for the extent of MHC isoform switching seen even in severe murine LV pressure-overload hypertrophy, microtubule network densification appears to have the more important role.

Animals↗

Selective matrix metalloproteinase inhibition with developing heart failure: effects on left ventricular function and structure.

The matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are an endogenous family of proteolytic enzymes implicated to contribute to LV remodeling. However, broad-spectrum MMP inhibition (MMPi), particularly inhibition of interstitial collagenase (MMP-1), may not be clinically applicable. This study examined the effects of selective MMPi (sparing MMP-1) in a model of developing congestive heart failure. Pigs were randomly assigned to 3 groups: (1) rapid pacing for 3 weeks (240 bpm, n=10); (2) selective MMPi (20 mg/kg per day-PO;PGE7113313) and rapid pacing (n=12); and (3) controls (n=10). LV peak wall stress increased from controls with rapid pacing (140+/-6 versus 319+/-18 g/cm2; P<0.05) and was reduced with selective MMPi (208+/-9 g/cm2; P<0.05. Preload recruitable stroke work was reduced with rapid pacing (4.3+/-0.4 versus 1.2+/-0.2 dyne. cm/mm Hg; P<0.05) and was increased with selective MMPi (2.6+/-0.3 dyne. cm/mm Hg; P<0.05). Plasma norepinephrine increased by 6-fold in the rapid pacing group (P<0.05) and was reduced from untreated values with selective MMPi (P<0.05). At the myocardial level, myocyte cross-sectional area was increased with selective MMPi but fibrillar collagen volume fraction remained unchanged relative to control values. These results suggest that targeting a selective portfolio of myocardial MMP species for inhibition may provide a more rational therapeutic strategy in the setting of congestive heart failure.

Animals↗

Myocardial infarct expansion and matrix metalloproteinase inhibition.

BACKGROUND: A potential mechanism for left ventricular (LV) remodeling after myocardial infarction (MI) is activation of the matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). This study examined the effects of MMP inhibition (MMPi) on regional LV geometry and MMP levels after MI. METHODS AND RESULTS: In pigs instrumented with radiopaque markers to measure regional myocardial geometry, MI was created by ligating the obtuse marginals of the circumflex artery. In the first study, pigs were randomized to MMPi (n=7; PD166793, 20 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1)) or MI only (n=7) at 5 days after MI, and measurements were performed at 2 weeks. Regional MI areas were equivalent at randomization and were increased in the MI-only group at 2 weeks after MI compared with the MMPi group. In the second study, pigs randomized to MMPi (n=9) or MI only (n=8) were serially followed up for 8 weeks. At 8 weeks after MI, LV end-diastolic dimension was lower with MMPi than in the MI-only group (4.7+/-0.1 versus 5.1+/-0.1 cm, P<0.05). Regional MI area was reduced with MMPi at 8 weeks after MI (1.3+/-0.1 versus 1.7+/-0.1 cm2, P<0.05). MMPi reduced ex vivo MMP proteolytic activity. In the MI region, membrane-type MMP levels were normalized and levels of the endogenous tissue inhibitor of MMPs (TIMP-1) were increased compared with normal levels with MMPi. These effects were not observed in the MI-only group. CONCLUSIONS: MMPi attenuated the degree of post-MI LV dilation and expansion of the infarct during the late phase of MI healing. In addition, exogenous MMPi caused region-specific modulation of certain MMP and TIMP species.

Animals↗

Changes in extracellular collagen matrix alter myocardial systolic performance.

The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that acute disruption of fibrillar collagen will decrease myocardial systolic performance without changing cardiomyocyte contractility. Isolated papillary muscles were treated either with plasmin (0.64 U/ml, 240 min) or untreated and served as same animal control. Plasmin treatment caused matrix metalloproteinase activation and collagen degradation as measured by gelatin zymography, hydroxyproline assays, and scanning electron microscopy. Plasmin caused a significant decrease in myocardial systolic performance. Isotonic shortening extent and isometric developed tension decreased from 0.17 +/- 0.01 muscle length (ML) and 45 +/- 4 mN/mm(2) in untreated muscles to 0.09 +/- 0.01 ML and 36 +/- 3 mN/mm(2) in treated muscles (P < 0.05). However, plasmin treatment (0.64 U/ml, 240 min) did not alter shortening extent or velocity in isolated cardiomyocytes. Acute disruption of the fibrillar collagen network caused a decrease in myocardial systolic performance without changing cardiomyocyte contractility. These data support the hypothesis that fibrillar collagen facilitates transduction of cardiomyocyte contraction into myocardial force development and helps to maintain normal myocardial systolic performance.

Animals↗

Deficiency of TIMP-1 exacerbates LV remodeling after myocardial infarction in mice.

Recent studies have been directed at modulating the heart failure process through inhibition of activated matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). We hypothesized that a loss of MMP inhibitory control by tissue inhibitor of MMP (TIMP)-1 deficiency alters the course of postinfarction chamber remodeling and induced chronic myocardial infarction (MI) in wild-type (WT) and TIMP-1(-/-) mice. Left ventricular (LV) pressure-volume loops obtained from WT and TIMP-1(-/-) mice demonstrated that LV end-diastolic volume [52 +/- 4 (WT) vs. 71 +/- 6 (TIMP-1(-/-)) microl] and LV end-diastolic pressure [9.0 +/- 1.2 (WT) vs. 12.7 +/- 1.4 (TIMP-1(-/-)) mmHg] were significantly increased in the TIMP-1(-/-) mice 2 wk after MI. LV contractility was reduced to a similar degree in the WT and TIMP-1(-/-) groups after MI, as indicated by a significant fall in the LV end-systolic pressure-volume relationship. Ventricular weight and cross-sectional areas of LV myocytes were significantly increased in TIMP-1(-/-) mice, indicating that the hypertrophic response was more pronounced. The observed significant loss of fibrillar collagen in the TIMP-1(-/-) controls may have been an important contributory factor for the observed LV alterations in the TIMP-1(-/-) mice after MI. These findings demonstrate that TIMP-1 deficiency amplifies adverse LV remodeling after MI in mice and emphasizes the importance of local endogenous control of cardiac MMP activity by TIMP-1.

Animals↗

Cardiac-specific expression and hypertrophic upregulation of the feline Na(+)-Ca(2+) exchanger gene H1-promoter in a transgenic mouse model.

The NCX1 gene contains three promoters (H1, K1, and Br1), and as a result of alternative promoter usage and alternative splicing, there are multiple tissue-specific variants of the Na(+)-Ca(2+) exchanger. We have proposed that for NCX1, the H1 promoter regulates expression in the heart, the K1 promoter regulates expression in the kidney, and the Br1 promoter regulates expression in the brain as well as low-level ubiquitous expression. Here, using a transgenic mouse model, we test the role of the DNA region including -1831 to 67 bp of intron 1, encompassing exon H1 of the feline NCX1 gene (NCX1H1). The NCX1H1 promoter was sufficient for driving the normal spatiotemporal pattern of NCX1 expression in cardiac development. The luciferase reporter gene was expressed in a heart-restricted pattern both in early embryos (embryonic days 8 to 14) and in later embryos (after embryonic day 14), when NCX1 is also expressed in other tissues. In the adult, no luciferase activity was detected in the kidney, liver, spleen, uterus, or skeletal muscle; minimal activity was detected in the brain; and very high levels of luciferase expression were detected in the heart. Transverse aortic constriction-operated mice showed significantly increased left ventricular mass after 7 days. In addition, there was a 2-fold upregulation of NCX1H1 promoter activity in the left ventricle in animals after 7 days of pressure overload compared with both control and sham-operated animals. This work demonstrates that the NCX1H1 promoter directs cardiac-specific expression of the exchanger in both the embryo and adult and is also sufficient for the upregulation of NCX1 in response to pressure overload.

Animals↗

Randomized trial comparing partial versus complete chordal-sparing mitral valve replacement: effects on left ventricular volume and function.

OBJECTIVE: The merits of retaining the subvalvular apparatus during mitral valve replacement for chronic mitral regurgitation have been demonstrated in numerous retrospective clinical investigations but not in a randomized study. In this report we analyzed the early and late effects of complete versus partial chordal preservation on left ventricular mechanics. METHODS: Forty-seven patients undergoing isolated surgical correction of mitral insufficiency were prospectively randomized to either total or partial chordal-sparing mitral valve replacement. Complete data from 36 patients were available for analysis. Of these individuals, 15 had preservation of the posterior leaflet only (P-MVR group), and 21 had complete preservation of all chordal structures (C-MVR group). Echocardiography was performed preoperatively, at the time of discharge, and after 1 year to determine dimensions, wall stress, left ventricular mass, and ejection function. RESULTS: End-diastolic volume decreased in both groups initially but continued to decline only in the C-MVR cohort. Similarly, although end-systolic volume decreased over time with total chordal preservation, no notable changes were observed in the P-MVR group. In the C-MVR group, end-systolic stress decreased initially but rose slightly by 1 year. In contrast, end-systolic stress remained unchanged at discharge in the P-MVR group and increased at 1 year. In terms of systolic performance, ejection fraction declined after surgical intervention with partial chordal-sparing techniques and did not improve by 1 year. Ejection fraction returned to the preoperative level after an initial decrease in the C-MVR group. Finally, left ventricular mass was reduced in the C-MVR cohort versus no change in the P-MVR group. CONCLUSION: Complete retention of the mitral subvalvular apparatus during mitral valve replacement confers a significant early advantage by reducing left ventricular chamber size and systolic afterload compared with partial chordal preservation. Furthermore, left ventricular ejection performance continues to improve over time, probably because of more favorable left ventricular remodeling.

Adult↗

Constitutive properties of hypertrophied myocardium: cellular contribution to changes in myocardial stiffness.

Recent studies have suggested that pressure overload hypertrophy (POH) alters the viscoelastic properties of individual cardiocytes when studied in isolation. However, whether these changes in cardiocyte properties contribute causally to changes in the material properties of the cardiac muscle as a whole is unknown. Accordingly, a selective, isolated, acute change in cardiocyte constitutive properties was imposed in an in vitro system capable of measuring the resultant effect on the material properties of the composite cardiac muscle. POH caused an increase in both myocardial elastic stiffness, from 20.5 +/- 1.3 to 28.4 +/- 1.8, and viscous damping, from 15.2 +/- 1.1 to 19.8 +/- 1.5 s (normal vs. POH, P < 0.05), respectively. Recent studies have shown that cardiocyte constitutive properties could be acutely altered by depolymerizing the microtubules with colchicine. Colchicine caused a significant decrease in the viscous damping in POH muscles (19.8 +/- 1.5 s at baseline vs. 14.7 +/- 1.3 s after colchicine, P < 0.05). Therefore, myocardial material properties can be altered by selectively changing the constitutive properties of one element within this muscle tissue, the cardiocyte. Changes in the constitutive properties of the cardiocytes themselves contribute to the abnormalities in myocardial stiffness and viscosity that develop during POH.

Animals↗