Relationship between Innate Immune Response Toll-Like Receptor 4 (TLR-4) and the Pathophysiological Process of Obesity Cardiomyopathy.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Obesity is a chronic low-grade inflammation condition related to cardiac disorders. However, the mechanism responsible for obesity-related cardiac inflammation is unclear. The toll-like receptor 4 (TLR-4) belongs to a receptor of the transmembrane family responsible for the immune response whose activation stimulates the production of proinflammatory cytokines.

OBJECTIVE:

To test whether the activation of the TLR-4 receptor participates in the obesity cardiomyopathy process, due to cytokine production through NF-ĸB activation.

METHODS:

Male Wistar rats were randomized into two groups: the control group (C, n= 8 animals) that received standard diet/water and the obese group (OB, n= 8 animals) that were fed a high sugar-fat diet and water plus 25% of sucrose for 30 weeks. Nutritional analysis: body weight, adiposity index, food, water, and caloric intake. Obesity-related disorders analysis: plasma glucose, uric acid and triglycerides, HOMA-IR, systolic blood pressure, TNF-α in adipose tissue. Cardiac analysis included: TLR-4 and NF-ĸB protein expression, TNF-α and IL-6 levels. Comparison by unpaired Student's t-test or Mann- Whitney test with a p-value < 0.05 as statistically significant.

RESULTS:

The OB group showed obesity, high glucose, triglycerides, uric acid, HOMA, systolic blood pressure, and TNF-α in adipose tissue. OB group presented cardiac remodeling and diastolic dysfunction. TLR-4 and NF-ĸB expression and cytokine levels were higher in OB.

CONCLUSION:

Our findings conclude that, in an obesogenic condition, the inflammation derived from cardiac TLR-4 activation can be a mechanism able to lead to remodeling and cardiac dysfunction.

• Authors: Pedro Henrique Rizzi Alves, Artur Junio Togneri Ferron, Mariane Róvero Costa, Fabiana Kurokawa Hasimoto, Cristina Schmitt Gregolin, Jéssica Leite Garcia, Dijon Henrique Salomé de Campos, Antônio Carlos Cicogna, Letícia de Mattei, Fernando Moreto, Silméia Garcia Zanati Bazan, Fabiane Valentini Francisqueti-Ferron, Camila Renata Corrêa
• Journal: Arquivos brasileiros de cardiologia (Arq Bras Cardiol) Vol. 117 Issue 1 Pg. 91-99 (07 2021) ISSN: 1678-4170 [Electronic] Brazil
• Vernacular Title: Relação entre Resposta Imune Inata do Receptor Toll-Like-4 (TLR-4) e o Processo Fisiopatológico da Cardiomiopatia da Obesidade.
• PMID: 34320076 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Toll-Like Receptor 4

Topics

• Animals
• Cardiomyopathies
• Immunity, Innate
• Inflammation
• Male
• Obesity
• Rats
• Rats, Wistar
• Toll-Like Receptor 4