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Echocardiographic and Histological Examination of Cardiac Morphology in the Mouse
Published on: October 26, 2017
Expression of BMP4 in myocardium and vascular tissue of obese mice
Ting Wu1, Qiu-Yang Ling1, Cheng Zhong2
1Department of Cardiology, Wuxi Clinical Hospital, Anhui Medical University, Wuxi, Jiangsu Province China.
Background:
Obesity is regarded as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4) is a proinflammatory and profibrotic factor, and the reduced expression of this molecule in obese mice seems to be inconsistent with the known proinflammatory effects of obesity. Therefore, we studied BMP4 expression and inflammation in the myocardial tissue and aortas of obese mice.
Methods And Results:
Four-week-old ob/ob mice were used as the experimental group, and C57BL/6 mice comprised the control group. Animals were sacrificed after a 12-week full diet, and then the blood, heart, abdominal aorta, and inguinal adipose tissue were collected. The expression of BMP4 mRNA and protein in the heart and aorta was significantly higher in the experimental group than in the control group, but expression was lower in adipose tissue. Inflammation measured by the expression of IL-1β and IL-9 mRNA and protein and Smad1 and phosphorylated Smad1/5/8 protein in the heart and aorta was higher in the experimental group than in the control group. In addition, the expression of BMP4 in the serum was significantly higher in the experimental group than in the control group.
Conclusion:
BMP4 is significantly overexpressed in the myocardial tissue and aortas of obese mice, and mediates local inflammatory responses.
Insights
Obesity increases Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4 (BMP4) in heart and aorta, driving inflammation. This contrasts with lower BMP4 in fat tissue, suggesting a complex role in obesity-related cardiovascular disease.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Science
- Obesity Research
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Obesity is a known cardiovascular disease risk factor.
- Bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4) is implicated in inflammation and fibrosis.
- Previous findings on BMP4 expression in obesity were contradictory.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate BMP4 expression and inflammation in obese mouse models.
- To clarify the role of BMP4 in obesity-induced cardiovascular changes.
Main Methods:
- Utilized ob/ob mice as an obese model and C57BL/6 mice as controls.
- Collected heart, aorta, adipose tissue, and serum after a 12-week diet.
- Assessed mRNA and protein expression of BMP4, IL-1β, IL-9, Smad1, and pSmad1/5/8.
Main Results:
- BMP4 mRNA and protein were significantly elevated in the hearts and aortas of obese mice.
- Conversely, BMP4 expression was reduced in adipose tissue of obese mice.
- Inflammatory markers (IL-1β, IL-9, Smad1/pSmad1/5/8) were upregulated in the heart and aorta.
- Serum BMP4 levels were also significantly higher in obese mice.
Conclusions:
- Bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4) is overexpressed in the heart and aorta of obese mice.
- Elevated BMP4 in these tissues contributes to local inflammatory responses.
- BMP4 may play a critical role in mediating cardiovascular complications of obesity.
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