Glycolaldehyde-modified proteins cause adverse functional and structural aortic remodeling leading to cardiac pressure overload

Sci Rep. 2020 Jul 22;10(1):12220. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-68974-4.

Abstract

Growing evidence supports the role of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) in the development of diabetic vascular complications and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). We have shown that high-molecular-weight AGEs (HMW-AGEs), present in our Western diet, impair cardiac function. Whether HMW-AGEs affect vascular function remains unknown. In this study, we aimed to investigate the impact of chronic HMW-AGEs exposure on vascular function and structure. Adult male Sprague Dawley rats were daily injected with HMW-AGEs or control solution for 6 weeks. HMW-AGEs animals showed intracardiac pressure overload, characterized by increased systolic and mean pressures. The contraction response to PE was increased in aortic rings from the HMW-AGEs group. Relaxation in response to ACh, but not SNP, was impaired by HMW-AGEs. This was associated with reduced plasma cyclic GMP levels. SOD restored ACh-induced relaxation of HMW-AGEs animals to control levels, accompanied by a reduced half-maximal effective dose (EC50). Finally, collagen deposition and intima-media thickness of the aortic vessel wall were increased with HMW-AGEs. Our data demonstrate that chronic HMW-AGEs exposure causes adverse vascular remodelling. This is characterised by disturbed vasomotor function due to increased oxidative stress and structural changes in the aorta, suggesting an important contribution of HMW-AGEs in the development of CVDs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acetaldehyde / analogs & derivatives*
  • Acetaldehyde / metabolism
  • Acetylcholine / pharmacology
  • Animals
  • Aorta / drug effects
  • Aorta / metabolism*
  • Aorta / physiopathology*
  • Blood Pressure / drug effects
  • Blood Pressure / physiology*
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / metabolism
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / physiopathology
  • Collagen / metabolism
  • Cyclic GMP / metabolism
  • Endothelium, Vascular / drug effects
  • Endothelium, Vascular / metabolism
  • Endothelium, Vascular / physiopathology
  • Glycation End Products, Advanced / metabolism
  • Heart / drug effects
  • Heart / physiopathology*
  • Male
  • Oxidation-Reduction / drug effects
  • Oxidative Stress / drug effects
  • Oxidative Stress / physiology
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Superoxide Dismutase / metabolism
  • Vascular Remodeling / drug effects
  • Vascular Remodeling / physiology*
  • Vasoconstriction / drug effects
  • Vasoconstriction / physiology
  • Vasodilation / drug effects
  • Vasodilation / physiology

Substances

  • Glycation End Products, Advanced
  • Collagen
  • Superoxide Dismutase
  • Acetaldehyde
  • Cyclic GMP
  • Acetylcholine
  • glycolaldehyde