DOI
https://doi.org/10.25772/6M9G-W703
Defense Date
2017
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science
Department
Physiology and Biophysics
First Advisor
Stefano Toldo
Second Advisor
Antonio Abbate
Third Advisor
Roland Pittman
Abstract
Background: Heart Failure (HF) is characterized by impaired cardiac function with symptoms of dyspnea, fatigue and exercise intolerance. Western diet (WD), a diet high in saturated fats and sugars, causes systemic increase in IL-18, a cytokine elevated in HF, which induces abnormal myocardial structure and diastolic dysfunction. IL-18 binding protein(IL-18BP) binds IL-18, preventing the binding to the IL-18-receptor. We investigated a therapeutic intervention using recombinant-murine IL-18BP to improve the WD-induced cardiomyopathy in C57BL/6J mice.
Methods: Echocardiography with pulse-wave Doppler and tissue imaging was performed to assess cardiac function. Oral glucose tolerance test was performed to assess metabolic parameters and IL-18 plasma levels were quantified with ELISA.
Results: WD-fed mice had worsened isovolumetric relaxation time (IVRT) and myocardial performance index (MPI), indicating cardiac dysfunction. Daily intraperitoneal injections of 0.5mg/kg IL-18BP for two weeks, significantly improved both IVRT and MPI.
Conclusions: IL-18BP treatment improves cardiac function in a model of WD-induced cardiomyopathy.
Rights
© The Author
Is Part Of
VCU University Archives
Is Part Of
VCU Theses and Dissertations
Date of Submission
5-2-2017