0000000000587726
AUTHOR
Wilhelm Roell
Myocardial hypertrophy is associated with inflammation and activation of endocannabinoid system in patients with aortic valve stenosis.
article i nfo Article history: Received 1 February 2013 Accepted 22 March 2013 Aims: Endocannabinoids and their receptors have been associated with cardiac adaptation to injury, inflam- mation and fibrosis. Experimental studies suggested a role for inflammatory reaction and active remodeling in myocardial hypertrophy, but they have not been shown in human hypertrophy. We investigated the asso- ciation of the endocannabinoid system with myocardial hypertrophy in patients with aortic stenosis. Main methods: Myocardial biopsies were collected from patients with aortic stenosis (AS) and atrial myxoma as controls during surgery. Histological and molecular analysis of endocannabinoids and their r…
P80Cannabinoid receptor CB2 prevents development of heart failure in a murine model of pressure overload
Purpose: Cardiac adaptation to pressure overload is associated with inflammatory reaction, which untreated leads to myocardial fibrosis and heart failure. We have recently demonstrated that endogenous cannabinoids and the cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2) are activated and associated with persistent inflammation in hypertrophic myocardium of patients with aortic valve stenosis. Therefore, we investigated the role of the CB2 in a mouse model of pressure overload. Methods: Transverse aortic constriction was performed in CB2-/--mice and their wildtype littermates (CB2+/+; n=8-12/group). Taqman® RT-qPCR analysis was performed after 3 and 7 days. After M-mode echocardiography and Millar® pressure-vol…
Perlecan is critical for heart stability
Aims Perlecan is a heparansulfate proteoglycan found in basement membranes, cartilage, and several mesenchymal tissues that form during development, tumour growth, and tissue repair. Loss-of-function mutations in the perlecan gene in mice are associated with embryonic lethality caused primarily by cardiac abnormalities probably due to hemopericards. The aim of the present study was to investigate the mechanism underlying the early embryonic lethality and the pathophysiological relevance of perlecan for heart function. Methods and results Perlecan-deficient murine embryonic stem cells were used to investigate the myofibrillar network and the electrophysiological properties of single cardiomy…
Impaired border zone formation and adverse remodeling after reperfused myocardial infarction in cannabinoid CB2 receptor deficient mice.
Abstract Aims Reperfusion of myocardial infarction is associated with inflammatory reaction and subsequent myocardial remodeling with a rapid scar formation in mice. The cannabinoid receptor CB2 has been associated with cardioprotection and regulation of macrophage function. We investigated its role in remodeling of reperfused infarction. Main methods One hour LAD-occlusion was followed by reperfusion over 6 h and 1, 3 and 7 days in wild-type C57/BL6J (WT) and CB2 receptor-deficient (Cnr2 −/− ) mice (n = 8/group). Hearts were processed for functional, morphological and mRNA/protein analysis, and tissue concentration of endocannabinoids was determined using liquid chromatography-multiple rea…