AJP-Heart and Circulatory Physiology Podcast

Exercise and Chemoreflex Control of Renal Blood Flow in Chronic Heart Failure

It is well known that reduced kidney function in chronic heart failure (CHF) patients leads to morbidity and mortality in a significant proportion of this clinical population. So how does exercise training fit into the picture? In this podcast, Deputy Editor Merry Lindsey (University of Mississippi Medical Center) interviews lead author Noah Marcus (Des Moines University) and content expert Timothy Musch (Kansas State University) about the innovative work by Marcus and colleagues utilizing a unique rabbit exercise training experimental model of poor renal function in CHF with reduced renal perfusion. We tackle a number of intriguing questions in this author interview! Does enhanced carotid body chemoreceptor activity mediate tonic and/or hypoxia-induced reductions in renal blood flow in heart failure? Can exercise training be used as a non-pharmacological treatment to improve renal blood flow in heart failure patients? Do rabbits really run on a treadmill? Listen to find out.

Noah J. Marcus, Carolin Pügge, Jai Mediratta, Alicia M. Schiller, Rodrigo Del Rio, Irving H. Zucker, Harold D. Schultz Exercise training attenuates chemoreflex-mediated reductions of renal blood flow in heart failure Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, published July 15, 2015, DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00268.2015.

Angiotensin II and Reflex Vasoconstriction with Age

What are the key age-related differences in the reflex vasoconstrictor response in skin microvessels, and how are angiotensin II and Rho-kinase activation involved? These questions and more are answered in our latest podcast on the work by Lang and Kolb. Listen as Associate Editor Debra Diz (Wake Forest University School of Medicine) interviews lead author James Lang (Des Moines University) and content expert Caitlin Thompson-Torgerson (Anne Arundel Community College) about this intriguing work which has clear thermoregulatory ramifications for older adults. Is there a potential upstream role for reactive oxygen species in upregulating Angiotensin II? How can the primary effects of aging in a healthy older adult cohort be extrapolated to disease states such as diabetes? Listen to find out.

James A. Lang , Kelsey E. Kolb Angiotensin II type I receptor blockade attenuates reflex cutaneous vasoconstriction in aged but not young skin Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, published May 15, 2015, DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00017.2015.

Environmentally Persistent Free Radicals Increase Post Ischemic Dysfunction

What is the role of environmentally persistent free radicals (EPFRs) in increasing cardiac vulnerability to subsequent myocardial infarction ischemia/reperfusion injury? Guest Editor Loren Wold (The Ohio State University) interviews lead author Kurt Varner (Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center New Orleans) and content expert Kevin Lord (University of the Incarnate Word) in this lively and engaging podcast which explores the work by Burn et al. Using a nose-only inhalation technique, Burn and Varner sought to mimic “real world” air pollution exposure to EPRFs and reduce any potential inflammation response from intratracheal installation of particulate matter. Which components of particulate matter contribute most to oxidative stress? How does the work by Burn and Varner fit into next-generation tobacco products, such as e-cigarettes? Listen to find out.

Brendan R. Burn , Kurt J. Varner Environmentally persistent free radicals compromise left ventricular function during ischemia/reperfusion injury Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, published May 1, 2015, DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00891.2014.

Mechanotransduction and Redox Signals

Why cover only one article in a podcast, when we can discuss five articles at once? In this podcast on a unique Review article, Associate Editor Nancy Kanagy (University of New Mexico) interviews senior author and symposium organizer Shampa Chatterjee (University of Pennsylvania) and leading expert Mark Nelson (University of Vermont) about five reports presented at the 1st Pan American Congress of Physiological Sciences: Physiology Without Borders held in August 2014 in Iguassu Falls, Brazil. Under the umbrella topic of mechanosignaling and downstream redox-dependent responses, what links the mechanical forces at the cell membrane to the intracellular responses? Several key new findings were presented at the meeting. Among them, researchers have found that numerous elements on the cytoskeleton, such as PECAM and caveolae (caveolin-1), work together to form a mechanosome. Is the key to understanding the response to mechanosensing defining the machinery within the multifarious mechanosomes? How do we translate observations in cultured cells to responses in intact tissues and animals? Listen and learn.

Shampa Chatterjee, Keigi Fujiwara, Nestor G. Perez, Masuko Ushio-Fukai, Aron B. Fisher Mechanosignaling in the Vasculature: Emerging Concepts in Sensing, Transduction and Physiological Responses Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, published online April 11, 2015, DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00105.2015.

TTD Reverses Human Cardiac Myofibroblast Activation

How does Tetrandrine (TTD) directly affect human cardiac fibroblasts, and can it benefit heart failure patients? In this new podcast, Deputy Editor Merry Lindsey (University of Mississippi Medical Center) interviews lead author Paul Fedak (University of Calgary) and content expert Jason Gardner (Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center) about the exciting new work by Teng et al which investigates the potential therapeutic agent TTD, a calcium channel blocker with anti-fibrotic effects in human patients. In addition to in vivo studies, Fedak and co-authors used a unique micro gel technique to isolate a single human fibroblast and identify its influence on local matrix remodeling. Given that the primary dysfunction associated with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFPEF) is reduced relaxation due to extensive fibrosis, the results shown by Fedak and colleagues are particularly interesting. TTD was shown in their animal model to reverse fibrosis and restore cardiac compliance in vivo, but had little effect on fibroblast production of collagen. What is next in this fascinating story? Listen to find out.

Guoqi Teng, Daniyil Svystonyuk, Holly E.M. Mewhort, Jeannine D. Turnbull, Darrell D. Belke, Henry J. Duff, Paul W.M. Fedak Tetrandrine reverses human cardiac myofibroblast activation and myocardial fibrosis Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, published online April 11, 2015, doi: 10.1152/ajpheart.00126.2015.

MSNA and Trigeminal Nerve Stimulation

Ever wonder how the impressive diving reflex seen in seals might be related to human physiology? In this engaging podcast, Guest Editor Nisha Charkoudian (U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine) interviews lead author James P. Fisher (University of Birmingham, United Kingdom) and Zeljko Dujic (University of Split School of Medicine, Croatia) about a fascinating new study by Fisher and colleagues designed to investigate whether the sympathetic effects of the trigeminal nerve reflex have additive effects with the reflexes due to exercise. The authors used ice packs applied the face to stimulate the trigeminal nerve, and added handgrip exercise to evaluate whether excessive sympathoexcitation could result. What was the response of muscle sympathetic nerve activity when hand-grip exercise was added to the facial cooling-stimulation of the diving reflex? What implications does this study have for elite breath-hold divers, for recreational divers, or for patient populations who want to participate in water sports? Listen and find out.

James P. Fisher, Igor A. Fernandes, Thales C. Barbosa, Eliza Prodel, John H. Coote, Antonio Claudio L. Nóbrega, Lauro C. Vianna Diving and exercise: The interaction of trigeminal receptors and muscle metaboreceptors on muscle sympathetic nerve activity in humans Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, published March 1, 2105, DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00728.2014.

Ca2+, Trpm2 and Mitochondria

Is calcium entry into the heart via Trpm2 channels critical for maintaining cardiomyocyte bioenergetics and function? Listen as Associate Editor Ronglih Liao (Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School) interviews senior author Joseph Cheung (Temple University School of Medicine) and content expert Nazareno Paolocci (Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine) about the fascinating and comprehensive new study by Hoffman et al. By challenging conventional wisdom that calcium entry through Trpm2 channels worsens ischemia-reperfusion injury, Cheung and collaborators were surprised to discover the reverse—that by knocking out Trpm2 channels, ischemia-reperfusion injury was far worse than expected. Did Cheung and colleagues find that Trpm2 protects cardiomyocytes from ischemia-reperfusion dysfunction? Listen now.

Nicholas E. Hoffman, Barbara A. Miller, JuFang Wang, John W. Elrod, Sudasan Rajan, Erhe Gao, Jianliang Song, Xue-Qian Zhang, Iwona Hirschler-Laszkiewicz, Santhanam Shanmughapriya, Walter J. Koch, Arthur M. Feldman, Muniswamy Madesh, Joseph Y. Cheung Ca2+ entry via Trpm2 is essential for cardiac myocyte bioenergetics maintenance Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, published March 15, 2015, doi: 10.1152/ajpheart.00720.2014.

Caveolin-1 and Angiotensin Receptor Interaction in Obesity

What is the role of angiotensin receptor trafficking in small artery constriction, and what is its contribution to obesity-associated microvascular dysfunction? In this podcast Associate Editor Fabio Recchia (Temple University and Scuola Superiore S. Anna, Pisa) interviews lead author Zsolt Bagi (Georgia Regents University) and content expert Prasad Katakam (Tulane University School of Medicine) about the novel work by Czikora et al., which explores the hypothesis that the interaction between type 1 angiotensin II receptor and caveolin-1 is essential to prevent sustained angiotensin-II induced constriction in resistance arteries. Given the close association between obesity and hypertension, are there potential clinical applications for this work, with the goal to help restore normal regulatory function of caveolin-1 in obese human patients? Listen and learn.

Istvan Czikora, Attila Feher, Rudolf Lucas, David J. R. Fulton, Zsolt Bagi Caveolin-1 prevents sustained angiotensin II-induced resistance artery constriction and obesity-induced high blood pressure Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, published March 1, 2015. DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00649.2014.

Cardiac Mineralocorticoid Receptors Diastolic Dysfunction

What role does a “Western diet” –one largely centered around high fat and high fructose corn syrup intake—play in the metabolic syndrome of insulin resistance, diabetes, and obesity? Deputy Editor Dr. Merry Lindsey (University of Mississippi Medical Center) interviews first author Dr. Brian Bostick (University of Missouri) and content expert Dr. Nikolaos Frangogiannis (Albert Einstein College of Medicine) in this latest podcast exploring the unique bedside-to-bench work by Bostick and colleagues. Using the recent TOPCAT trial as a springboard, Bostick and co-authors examined whether spironolactone had any beneficial effects on mice with obesity and over-nutrition induced diastolic dysfunction. Listen as we explore how treatment with spironolactone affected M1 and M2 macrophages differently. With more than half of heart failure patients admitted to hospitals today suffering from diastolic dysfunction, does spironolactone have promising therapeutic applications related to obesity and cardiac function?

Brian Bostick, Javad Habibi, Vincent G. DeMarco, Guanghong Jia, Timothy L. Domeier, Michelle D. Lambert, Annayya R. Aroor, Ravi Nistala, Shawn B. Bender, Mona Garro, Melvin R. Hayden, Lixin Ma, Camila Manrique Acevedo, James R. Sowers Mineralocorticoid Receptor Blockade Prevents Western Diet-induced Diastolic Dysfunction in Female Mice Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, published online March 7, 2015, doi: 10.1152/ajpheart.00898.2014.

Cardiac Steatosis Potentiates Angiotensin II Effects in the Heart

How does the fatty heart—clinically known as cardiac steatosis—respond to other stimuli, like hypertension? In this podcast, Associate Editor Ajay Shah (King's College London) interviews lead author Denis Glenn (University of California San Francisco) and content expert Hemal Patel (University of California San Diego) about the intriguing work by Glenn and colleagues which used angiotensin II as a proxy for hypertension in a mouse model of cardiac steatosis to study the mechanisms behind the increased sensitivity to angiotensin and the effect on fibrosis and heart function. Listen as we weave together the concepts of a “double-hit” disease model, lipid levels and their potential effects on Ang II receptor signaling, and of course, an 18th Century reference to cor adiposum and its modern day equivalent—fatty deposition in the heart. How can this work be translated to the clinic? Listen and learn.

Denis J. Glenn, Michelle C. Cardema, Wei Ni, Yan Zhang, Yerem Yeghiazarians, Dmitry Grapov, Oliver Fiehn, David G. Gardner Cardiac Steatosis Potentiates Angiotensin II Effects in the Heart Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, published February 15, 2015. DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00742.2014.