Article Impact Level: HIGH Data Quality: STRONG Summary of The American Journal of Cardiology, 210, 201–207. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjcard.2023.09.104 Dr. Bulbul Ahmed et al.
Points
- Pericardial adipose tissue microvascular angiogenic capacity was characterized in subjects undergoing elective cardiac surgeries, focusing on those with coronary artery disease (CAD).
- Subjects with CAD exhibited a twofold reduction in capillary sprouting compared to those without CAD, despite no significant differences in the expression of proangiogenic mediators such as VEGF-A, FGF-2, and angpt1.
- The anti-angiogenic factor thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) mRNA expression was significantly upregulated in CAD subjects, as confirmed by protein western-immunoblot analysis.
- TSP-1 gene knockdown using short hairpin RNA lentiviral delivery significantly improved the angiogenic deficiency observed in CAD subjects, suggesting a potential role of TSP-1 in the mechanisms of ischemic heart disease.
- These findings provide insights into the potential impact of adipose-derived factors on vascular responses and angiogenesis in the context of CAD, highlighting the association between pericardial adipose tissue characteristics and cardiovascular complications.
Summary
The study aimed to characterize the microvascular angiogenic capacity of pericardial adipose tissue in subjects undergoing elective cardiac surgeries, specifically focusing on individuals with coronary artery disease (CAD). The researchers collected pericardial adipose tissue intraoperatively from subjects with and without angiographic obstructive CAD and examined its angiogenic capacity. The results revealed a twofold reduction in capillary sprouting in subjects with CAD compared to those without CAD, despite no significant differences in the expression of proangiogenic mediators such as VEGF-A, FGF-2, and angpt1. However, the mRNA expression of the anti-angiogenic factor thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) was found to be significantly upregulated in CAD subjects, a finding that was confirmed by protein western-immunoblot analysis. Furthermore, the study demonstrated that TSP-1 gene knockdown using short hairpin RNA lentiviral delivery significantly improved the angiogenic deficiency observed in CAD subjects.
The findings suggest that pericardial fat in individuals with CAD may exhibit an antiangiogenic profile, potentially contributing to functional defects in vascularization capacity. The upregulation of TSP-1 in pericardial adipose tissue of CAD subjects, along with the observed improvement in angiogenic deficiency following TSP-1 gene knockdown, highlights the potential role of local paracrine actions of TSP-1 in the mechanisms of ischemic heart disease. These results provide valuable insights into the association between pericardial adipose tissue characteristics and cardiovascular complications, shedding light on the potential impact of adipose-derived factors on vascular responses and angiogenesis in CAD.
Link to the article: https://www.ajconline.org/article/S0002-9149(23)01116-5/abstract
References Ahmed, B., Farb, M. G., Karki, S., D’Alessandro, S., Edwards, N. M., & Gokce, N. (2024). Pericardial Adipose Tissue Thrombospondin-1 Associates With Antiangiogenesis in Ischemic Heart Disease. The American Journal of Cardiology, 210, 201–207. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjcard.2023.09.104
