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Coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) is associated with cardiac dysfunction and predictive of cardiac mortality in obesity, especially in females. Clinical data further support that CMD associates with development of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction and that mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) antagonism may be more efficacious in obese female, versus male, HFpEF patients. Accordingly, we examined the impact of smooth muscle cell (SMC)-specific MR deletion on obesity-associated coronary and cardiac diastolic dysfunction in female mice. Obesity was induced in female mice via western diet (WD) feeding alongside littermates fed standard diet. Global MR blockade with spironolactone prevented coronary and cardiac dysfunction in obese females and specific deletion of SMC-MR was sufficient to prevent obesity-associated coronary and cardiac diastolic dysfunction. Cardiac gene expression profiling suggested reduced cardiac inflammation in WD-fed mice with SMC-MR deletion independent of blood pressure, aortic stiffening, and cardiac hypertrophy. Further mechanistic studies utilizing single-cell RNA sequencing of non-cardiomyocyte cell populations revealed novel impacts of SMC-MR deletion on the cardiac cellulome in obese mice. Specifically, WD feeding induced inflammatory gene signatures in non-myocyte populations including B/T cells, macrophages, and endothelium as well as increased coronary VCAM-1 protein expression, independent of cardiac fibrosis, that was prevented by SMC-MR deletion. Further, SMC-MR deletion induced a basal reduction in cardiac mast cells and prevented WD-induced cardiac pro-inflammatory chemokine expression and leukocyte recruitment. These data reveal a central role for SMC-MR signaling in obesity-associated coronary and cardiac dysfunction, thus supporting the emerging paradigm of a vascular origin of cardiac dysfunction in obesity.

Coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) is associated with cardiac dysfunction and predictive of cardiac mortality in obesity, especially in females. Emerging evidence suggests development of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction in females with CMD and that mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) antagonism may be more efficacious in obese female, versus male, HFpEF patients. Accordingly, we examined the hypothesis that smooth muscle cell (SMC)-specific MR deletion prevents obesity-associated coronary and cardiac diastolic dysfunction in females. Obesity was induced in female mice via western diet (WD) feeding alongside littermates fed standard diet. Initial studies revealed that global MR blockade with spironolactone prevented impaired coronary vasodilation and diastolic dysfunction in obese females. Importantly, specific deletion of SMC-MR similarly prevented obesity-associated coronary and cardiac dysfunction. Cardiac gene expression profiling suggested reduced cardiac inflammation in WD-fed mice with SMC-MR deletion independent of blood pressure, aortic stiffening, and cardiac hypertrophy. Further mechanistic studies utilizing single-cell RNA sequencing of non-cardiomyocyte cell populations revealed novel impacts of SMC-MR deletion on the cardiac cellulome in obese mice. Specifically, WD feeding induced inflammatory gene signatures in multiple non-myocyte populations (B/T cells, macrophages, and endothelium), independent of cardiac fibrosis, that was prevented by SMC-MR deletion. Further, SMC-MR deletion induced a basal reduction in cardiac mast cells and prevented WD-induced cardiac pro-inflammatory chemokine expression and leukocyte recruitment. These data reveal a central role for SMC-MR signaling in obesity-associated coronary and cardiac dysfunction thus supporting the emerging paradigm of a vascular origin of cardiac dysfunction in obesity.

Human exposure to carbon black (CB) is inevitable due to its widespread applications in the medical, industrial and consumer sectors. With an ageing population, it is imperative that the effects of (nano)particle exposure in individuals with compromised immunity or infection are considered. Since barrier immunity provides the first line of defence against CB and the human skin and lung pathogen, Staphylococcus aureus, this work focuses on studying the impact of CB exposure upon compromised immunity during infection on human skin and lung epithelial cells in vitro. The principal aim of the work was to develop an epithelial cell model to characterise (co-)exposure to CB and S. aureus. The work used two human epithelial cell lines, HaCaT (skin) and A549 (lung), ELISA technology to assess the (pro-)inflammatory response, aseptic microbiology techniques to grow S. aureus and a Zetasizer, EDX spectroscopy, and both scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM and TEM) to characterise the CB under the conditions used in the study. Physicochemical characterisation of CB confirmed its shape, dramatic polydispersity and potential to aggregate. CB significantly inhibited S. aureus growth, but in a biological media dependent manner. CB did not induce cytokines or antimicrobial peptides from skin and lung epithelial cells, when given alone. In contrast, S. aureus induced a robust interleukin (IL)-8 response in both skin and lung epithelial cells. IL-6 and human beta defensin (hβD)-2 could only be detected when cells were stimulated with S. aureus. However, co-exposure to CB (100µg/ml) and S. aureus resulted in significant inhibition of IL-8 (compared to S. aureus only induced levels). Furthermore, the same co-exposure induced significantly more hβD-2 (compared to S. aureus alone). The ability to detect pathogen responses to particle, in addition to epithelial responses to particle and pathogen is an advance on assessing cell responses under ‘healthy’ conditions and supports the need for developing exposure models under stressed or immunosuppressed conditions. This model will be useful for studying mechanisms of exposure in at-risk groups, including factory workers, the elderly and immunocompromised. Advanced models, that better represent human pathophysiology are essential for understanding cellular mechanisms of toxicity in the 21st Century.

Impaired coronary microvascular function (e.g., reduced dilation and coronary flow reserve) predicts cardiac mortality in obesity, yet underlying mechanisms and potential therapeutic strategies remain poorly understood. Mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) antagonism improves coronary microvascular function in obese humans and animals. Whether MR blockade improves in vivo regulation of coronary flow, a process involving voltage-dependent K+ (Kv) channel activation, or reduces coronary structural remodeling in obesity is unclear. Thus, the goals of this investigation were to determine the effects of obesity on coronary responsiveness to reductions in arterial PO2 and potential involvement of Kv channels and whether the benefit of MR blockade involves improved coronary Kv function or altered passive structural properties of the coronary microcirculation. Hypoxemia increased coronary blood flow similarly in lean and obese swine; however, baseline coronary vascular resistance was significantly higher in obese swine. Inhibition of Kv channels reduced coronary blood flow and augmented coronary resistance under baseline conditions in lean but not obese swine and had no impact on hypoxemic coronary vasodilation. Chronic MR inhibition in obese swine normalized baseline coronary resistance, did not influence hypoxemic coronary vasodilation, and did not restore coronary Kv function (assessed in vivo, ex vivo, and via patch clamping). Lastly, MR blockade prevented obesity-associated coronary arteriolar stiffening independent of cardiac capillary density and changes in cardiac function. These data indicate that chronic MR inhibition prevents increased coronary resistance in obesity independent of Kv channel function and is associated with mitigation of obesity-mediated coronary arteriolar stiffening.

Impaired coronary microvascular function (e.g., reduced dilation and coronary flow reserve) predicts cardiac mortality in obesity, yet underlying mechanisms and potential therapeutic strategies remain poorly understood. Mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) antagonism improves coronary microvascular function in obese humans and animals. Whether MR blockade improves in vivo regulation of coronary flow, a process involving voltage-dependent K(+) (K(v)) channel activation, or reduces coronary structural remodeling in obesity is unclear. Thus, the goals of this investigation were to determine the effects of obesity on coronary responsiveness to reductions in arterial PO(2) and potential involvement of K(v) channels and whether the benefit of MR blockade involves improved coronary K(v) function or altered passive structural properties of the coronary microcirculation. Hypoxemia increased coronary blood flow similarly in lean and obese swine, however baseline coronary vascular resistance was significantly higher in obese swine. Inhibition of K(v) channels reduced coronary blood flow and augmented coronary resistance under baseline conditions in lean but not obese swine and had no impact on hypoxemic coronary vasodilation. Chronic MR inhibition in obese swine normalized baseline coronary resistance, did not influence hypoxemic coronary vasodilation, and did not restore coronary K(v) function (assessed in vivo, ex vivo, and via patch clamping). Lastly, MR blockade prevented obesity-associated coronary arteriolar stiffening independent of cardiac capillary density and changes in cardiac function. These data indicate that chronic MR inhibition prevents increased coronary resistance in obesity independent of K(v) channel function and is associated with mitigation of obesity-mediated coronary arteriolar stiffening.

Elevated plasma aldosterone (Aldo) levels are associated with greater risk of cardiac ischemic events and cardiovascular mortality. Adenosine-mediated coronary vasodilation is a critical cardioprotective mechanism during ischemia; however, whether this response is impaired by increased Aldo is unclear. We hypothesized that chronic Aldo impairs coronary adenosine-mediated vasodilation via downregulation of vascular K(+) channels. Male C57BL/6J mice were treated with vehicle (Con) or subpressor Aldo for 4 wk. Coronary artery function, assessed by wire myography, revealed Aldo-induced reductions in vasodilation to adenosine and the endothelium-dependent vasodilator acetylcholine but not to the nitric oxide donor sodium nitroprusside. Coronary vasoconstriction to endothelin-1 and the thromboxane A(2) mimetic U-46619 was unchanged by Aldo. Additional mechanistic studies revealed impaired adenosine A(2A), not A(2B), receptor-dependent vasodilation by Aldo with a tendency for Aldo-induced reduction of coronary A(2A) gene expression. Adenylate cyclase inhibition attenuated coronary adenosine dilation but did not eliminate group differences, and adenosine-stimulated vascular cAMP production was similar between Con and Aldo mice. Similarly, blockade of inward rectifier K(+) channels reduced but did not eliminate group differences in adenosine dilation whereas group differences were eliminated by blockade of Ca(2+)-activated K(+) (K(Ca)) channels that blunted and abrogated adenosine and A(2A)-dependent dilation, respectively. Gene expression of several coronary K(Ca) channels was reduced by Aldo. Together, these data demonstrate Aldo-induced impairment of adenosine-mediated coronary vasodilation involving blunted A(2A)-K(Ca)-dependent vasodilation, independent of blood pressure, providing important insights into the link between plasma Aldo and cardiac mortality and rationale for aldosterone antagonist use to preserve coronary microvascular function. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Increased plasma aldosterone levels are associated with worsened cardiac outcomes in diverse patient groups by unclear mechanisms. We identified that, in male mice, elevated aldosterone impairs coronary adenosine-mediated vasodilation, an important cardioprotective mechanism. This aldosterone-induced impairment involves reduced adenosine A(2A), not A(2B), receptor-dependent vasodilation associated with downregulation of coronary K(Ca) channels and does not involve altered adenylate cyclase/cAMP signaling. Importantly, this effect of aldosterone occurred independent of changes in coronary vasoconstrictor responsiveness and blood pressure. Listen to this article’s corresponding podcast at https://ajpheart.podbean.com/e/attenuation-of-coronary-adenosine-dilation-by-aldosterone/.

Prevalence studies of Borrelia burgdorferi and Anaplasma phagocytophilum have been rare for ticks from southwestern Pennsylvania. We collected 325 Ixodes scapularis ticks between 2011 and 2012 from four counties in southwestern Pennsylvania. We tested for the presence of Borrelia burgdorferi and Anaplasma phagocytophilum using PCR. Of the ticks collected from Pennsylvania, B. burgdorferi (causative agent of Lyme disease) was present in 114/325 (35%) and Anaplasma phagocytophilum (causative agent of Human Granulocytic Anaplasmosis) was present in 48/325 (15%) as determined by PCR analysis.