Cardiac fibroblast activation and hyaluronan synthesis in response to hyperglycemia and diet-induced insulin resistance

Sci Rep. 2019 Feb 12;9(1):1827. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-36140-6.

Abstract

Diabetic patients are at a greater risk of heart failure due to diabetic cardiomyopathy and worsened outcome post-myocardial infarction. While the molecular mechanisms remain unclear, fibrosis and chronic inflammation are common characteristics of both conditions. Diabetes mellitus (types I and II) results in excessive hyaluronan (HA) deposition in vivo, and hyperglycemia stimulates HA synthesis for several cell types in vitro. HA-rich extracellular matrix contributes to fibrotic, hyperplastic and inflammatory disease progression. We hypothesized that excessive hyperglycemia-driven HA accumulation may contribute to pathological fibroblast activation and fibrotic remodelling in diabetic patients. Therefore, we analysed the impact of both hyperglycemia and diet-induced obesity and insulin resistance on HA matrix formation and cardiac fibroblast activation. Here we report that cardiac fibroblasts isolated from mice on a diabetogenic diet acquire pro-fibrotic gene expression without a concomitant increase in HA matrix deposition. Additionally, hyperglycemia alone does not stimulate HA synthesis or cardiac fibroblast activation in vitro, suggesting that the direct effect of hyperglycemia on fibroblasts is not the primary driver of fibrotic remodelling in cardiac diabetic maladaptation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animal Feed*
  • Animals
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / metabolism
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / metabolism
  • Diabetic Cardiomyopathies / pathology
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Disease Progression
  • Extracellular Matrix / metabolism
  • Fibroblasts / metabolism*
  • Fibrosis
  • Hyaluronic Acid / metabolism*
  • Hyperglycemia / metabolism*
  • Inflammation
  • Insulin Resistance*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Myocardium / metabolism*
  • Obesity / complications
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / metabolism

Substances

  • Tgfb1 protein, mouse
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta1
  • Hyaluronic Acid