Cardioprotection by triiodothyronine following caloric restriction via long noncoding RNAs

Abstract

Severe caloric-restriction compromises thyroid hormone (TH) status, apparently to save energy and proteins for enduring stress stimulus. However, a persistent decrease in TH levels may compromise heart function. We hypothesized that supplementation of low dose active TH or targeting hypoxia-inducible factor-1-alpha, HIF-1α (a strong activator of deiodinase enzyme that degrades peripheral active THs) will prevent deterioration of cardiac performance. Adult mice were subjected to acute fasting based on institutional animal protocols with ad libitum access to water. The following groups were studied: Control mice with free access to food; severe caloric restriction fasting only group; Fasting with Triiodo-l-Thyronine (T3); Fasting with HIF-1α inhibitor (BAY). Cardiac hemodynamic and electrophysiological studies were performed and role of long noncoding RNAs were explored. Following severe caloric-restriction, we found that body weights, and heart weights to a partial extent, were decreased. Low-dose T3 treatment attenuated left ventricular hemodynamic impairment in indices of cardiac contractility and relaxation. In electrophysiology studies, fasting mice developed atrial tachyarrhythmias upon induction. This reverted to control levels following T3 treatment. There was a significant increase in atrioventricular conduction time and significant decrease in heart rate following fasting. Both these changes were attenuated following T3 treatment. Furthermore, BAY partially improved hemodynamics. Compared to the severe caloric-restriction group, both T3 and BAY reduced MALAT1 and GAS5 long noncoding RNA expression. These new findings indicate that T3 and BAY protect from cardiac decompensation secondary to acute severe caloric-restriction partly mediated by long noncoding RNAs.

Keywords: Calorie restriction; Fasting; Heart; Long noncoding RNA; Starvation; Thyroid hormones.