Heart failure (HP) is a common, disabling and deadly condition that causes high rates of morbidity and mortality worldwide. It is widely recognised that the failing heart is energy-starved, and that restoring energy homeostasis is a promising approach towards improving cardiac output. This thesis aims to address the role of energetics in the failing heart, by focussing on modulation of the creatine transporter (CrT). Creatine (Cr), together with the phosphocreatine shuttle, plays a vital role in maintaining energy supplies via ATP in times of high energy demand. Key to the regulation of intracellular [Cr] is the CrT, a Na+ and Cl - dependent membrane transporter. Previous CrT genetic mouse models include a knockout model, found to still express cardiac CrT, and a cardiac-specific CrT overexpressing (OE) model with large variations in myocardial [Cr] between animals and Cr levels high enough to cause spontaneous hypertrophy. To overcome the shortfalls of this CrT-OE model, a novel in vivo model of temporal inducible expression of CrT is described, using a cardiac-specific tetracycline inducible (Tet-On) system . ..,. .A' Ten transgenic lines (RCT) were created with a construct containing . zhe CrT-HA (CrT cDNA with an haemagglutinin epitope tag), following successful doxycyline-inducibility in vitro. Eight lines showed germline transmission, with LV CrT OE achieved in an individual mouse that displayed double LV [Cr] compared to WT. Issues with the inducer line (rtTA) were ruled out by its use in the creation of a luciferase overexpressing mouse line; all mice tested demonstrated LV luciferase expression in response to doxycycline feeding. The failure to overexpress CrT could be attributed to position or copy number dependent suppression, or to position effect variegation in the case of the single OE mouse obtained. Subsequent work focus sed on regulatory pathways in vitro in a cell line of mouse fibroblasts stably overexpressing CrT·HA. Post-translational modifications (PTMs) had been previously suggested to regulate CrT activity. Two N-linked glycosylation sites exist, in addition to the putative phosphorylation sites. Inhibition of glycosylation by tunicamycin led to decreased CrT activity, reflected by decreased Cr uptake capacity. Strategies to confirm the presence of phosphorylation were employed, including isolation of CrT -HA by immunoprecipitation and subsequent LC-MS / MS analysis to identify PTMs. Although the presence of CrT was confirmed in 5 different sized species- one previously unreported- inadequate sequence coverage prevented identification of any PTM sites. Tyrosine phosphorylation was not detected using a phosphospecific antibody on immunopurified CrT -HA. Candidate signalling pathways in vitro were then investigated to elucidate CrT regulation, namely the IGF-IR signalling pathway. This study included a cardiomyocyte-like mouse cell line (HL-l) in addition to 3T3-CrT -HA. Exposure of cells to extracellular insulin, growth hormone and IGF-1 led to increased Cr uptake of 125% - 300% of normal. Pharmacological inhibition of the downstream kinases PKA and PKC reduced the effect of insulin and GH, while PMA, sapintoxin (STX) and Go 6976 induced CrT activity. The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is also a candidate regulator of CrT, as incubation with rapamycin decreased Cr uptake in 3T3-CrT -HA. Finally, a targeted approach on transcription factors in the 5'UTR region of mouse CrT identified HEYl as a highly conserved site. In siRNA experiments, HEYl was found to exert a mild effect on CrT activity, suggesting that regulation at the transcriptional level merits further investigation. Together, this work has provided novel insights into the modulation of CrT in vitro, identifying molecular and pharmacological targets in a known therapeutic signalling pathway. Further work could potentially develop these findings by identifying candidate compounds that would increase CrT activity, potentially in a tissue-specific manner. 3

Dados recentes do nosso laboratório sugerem que a enzima dipeptidil peptidase IV (DPPIV), uma serino-protease que pode ser encontrada ancorada na membrana celular de diversos tipos celulares ou na forma solúvel no plasma, possui um papel importante na fisiopatologia da insuficiência cardíaca (IC). Mais especificamente, demonstramos que a atividade da DPPIV circulante está associada com piores desfechos cardiovasculares em modelo experimental e pacientes com IC. Ademais, observamos que a inibição crônica da DPPIV atenua o desenvolvimento e/ou a progressão da IC em ratos submetidos à injúria do miocárdio. Entretanto, não é sabido se a inibição desta peptidase é capaz de reverter a disfunção cardiorrenal em ratos com IC estabelecida. Assim, este trabalho teve como objetivo testar a hipótese que a inibição da DPPIV exerce efeitos terapêuticos em ratos com IC. Para tal, ratos com IC foram tratados diariamente com o inibidor da DPPIV Vildagliptina (80 ou 120 mg/kg/dia) ou veículo (HF) durante quatro semanas. Ratos Sham não-tratados foram utilizados como controle. Análises ecocardiográficas demonstraram que ratos HF exibiram área fracional (FAC) menor e tempo de relaxamento isovolumétrico (TRIV) maior que ratos Sham. Por sua vez, o tratamento com a dose maior de Vildagliptina foi capaz de aumentar a FAC e diminuir o TRIV. Esta melhora funcional foi acompanhada por melhoras estruturais, visto que a inibição da DPPIV foi capaz de reduzir a hipertrofia cardíaca e a deposição de colágeno intersticial no miocárdio remanescente de ratos tratados com Vildagliptina em comparação aos ratos HF. Adicionalmente, ratos com IC exibiram maior teor de água nos pulmões, menor excreção urinária de sódio, menor fluxo urinário e menor ritmo de filtração glomerular em comparação ao grupo Sham. Por sua vez, o manuseio renal de sal e água foi completamente restaurado pelo tratamento crônico com 120 mg/kg/dia Vildagliptina. A normalização da função renal induzida pela inibição crônica da DPPIV foi associada com um aumento da expressão do receptor do peptídeo-1 semelhante ao glucagon (GLP-1) e maior ativação da proteína cinase A em córtex renal, isto é, da via de sinalização deflagrada pela ligação GLP-1/GLP-1R. Além disso, os níveis pós-prandiais do GLP-1, principal substrato da DPPIV que exerce ações insulinotrópicas, cardio e renoprotetoras, estavam mais baixos em ratos HF que em ratos Sham. Esta diminuição dos níveis circulantes de GLP-1 (ativo e total) em ratos HF foi acompanhada de intolerância à glicose bem como de maiores níveis plasmáticos de insulina. A inibição da DPPIV com Vildagliptina melhorou a biodisponibilidade e a secreção de GLP-1 após carga oral de glicose. Em conjunto, estes resultados sugerem que a inibição da DPPIV melhora a função cardiorrenal e metabólica de ratos com IC. Além disso, a secreção e a biodisponibilidade do GLP-1 encontram-se prejudicadas em ratos com IC e o tratamento com Vildagliptina é capaz de restaurar a sinalização mediada por este peptídeo. Assim, os inibidores da DPPIV podem ser eficazes não apenas para a prevenção, mas também para o tratamento da insuficiência cardíaca em ratos / Recent data from our laboratory suggest that the enzyme dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPPIV), a serine protease that can be found anchored in the cell membrane of different cell types or in the soluble form in plasma, plays an important role in the pathophysiology of heart failure (HF). More specifically, we have demonstrated that the activity of circulating DPPIV is associated with poorer cardiovascular outcomes in an experimental model and patients with HF. In addition, we have found that chronic inhibition of DPPIV attenuates the development and/or progression of HF in rats with myocardial injury. However, it is unknown whether the inhibition of this peptidase is able to reverse the cardiorenal dysfunction in rats with established HF. Therefore, this study aimed to test the hypothesis that inhibition of DPPIV exerts therapeutic effects in rats with HF. To this end, HF rats were treated daily with the DPPIV inhibitor vildagliptin (80 or 120 mg/kg/day) or vehicle (HF) for four weeks. Untreated Sham rats were used as controls. Echocardiographic analysis demonstrated that HF rats exhibit lower fractional area change (FAC) and higher isovolumetric relaxation time (IVRT) than Sham rats. On the other hand, treatment with the highest dose of vildagliptin was able to increase FAC and decrease IVRT. These functional improvements were accompanied by structural improvements, since inhibition of DPPIV was also able to reduce cardiac hypertrophy and interstitial collagen deposition in the remaining myocardium of rats treated with vildagliptin rats compared to HF. In addition, HF rats exhibited higher water content in the lungs, lower urinary sodium excretion, lower urinary flow and lower glomerular filtration rate compared to the Sham group. In turn, the renal handling of salt and water was completely restored by chronic treatment with vildagliptin 120 mg/kg/day. Normalization of the renal function induced by chronic inhibition of DPPIV was associated with an increase in the expression of the glucagon like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) and enhanced protein kinase A activation in the renal cortex, the signaling pathway triggered by bind between GLP-1/GLP-1R. In addition, the postprandial levels of GLP-1, the main substrate of DPPIV that exerts insulinotropic, cardio and renoprotective actions, were lower in HF rats than in Sham. This decrease in circulating levels of GLP-1 (active and total) in HF rats was accompanied by impaired glucose tolerance and higher plasma insulin levels. The inhibition of the DPPIV with vildagliptin improved the bioavailability and secretion after an oral glucose load. Taken together, these results suggest that the inhibition of DPPIV ameliorates the cardiorenal and metabolic function of rats with HF. Furthermore, bioavailability and secretion of GLP-1 are impaired in HF rats and vildagliptin is able to restore the signaling mediated by this peptide. Therefore, DPPIV inhibitors can be effective not only in preventing but also for the treatment of HF in rats

Dados recentes do nosso laboratório sugerem que a enzima dipeptidil peptidase IV (DPPIV), uma serino-protease que pode ser encontrada ancorada na membrana celular de diversos tipos celulares ou na forma solúvel no plasma, possui um papel importante na fisiopatologia da insuficiência cardíaca (IC). Mais especificamente, demonstramos que a atividade da DPPIV circulante está associada com piores desfechos cardiovasculares em modelo experimental e pacientes com IC. Ademais, observamos que a inibição crônica da DPPIV atenua o desenvolvimento e/ou a progressão da IC em ratos submetidos à injúria do miocárdio. Entretanto, não é sabido se a inibição desta peptidase é capaz de reverter a disfunção cardiorrenal em ratos com IC estabelecida. Assim, este trabalho teve como objetivo testar a hipótese que a inibição da DPPIV exerce efeitos terapêuticos em ratos com IC. Para tal, ratos com IC foram tratados diariamente com o inibidor da DPPIV Vildagliptina (80 ou 120 mg/kg/dia) ou veículo (HF) durante quatro semanas. Ratos Sham não-tratados foram utilizados como controle. Análises ecocardiográficas demonstraram que ratos HF exibiram área fracional (FAC) menor e tempo de relaxamento isovolumétrico (TRIV) maior que ratos Sham. Por sua vez, o tratamento com a dose maior de Vildagliptina foi capaz de aumentar a FAC e diminuir o TRIV. Esta melhora funcional foi acompanhada por melhoras estruturais, visto que a inibição da DPPIV foi capaz de reduzir a hipertrofia cardíaca e a deposição de colágeno intersticial no miocárdio remanescente de ratos tratados com Vildagliptina em comparação aos ratos HF. Adicionalmente, ratos com IC exibiram maior teor de água nos pulmões, menor excreção urinária de sódio, menor fluxo urinário e menor ritmo de filtração glomerular em comparação ao grupo Sham. Por sua vez, o manuseio renal de sal e água foi completamente restaurado pelo tratamento crônico com 120 mg/kg/dia Vildagliptina. A normalização da função renal induzida pela inibição crônica da DPPIV foi associada com um aumento da expressão do receptor do peptídeo-1 semelhante ao glucagon (GLP-1) e maior ativação da proteína cinase A em córtex renal, isto é, da via de sinalização deflagrada pela ligação GLP-1/GLP-1R. Além disso, os níveis pós-prandiais do GLP-1, principal substrato da DPPIV que exerce ações insulinotrópicas, cardio e renoprotetoras, estavam mais baixos em ratos HF que em ratos Sham. Esta diminuição dos níveis circulantes de GLP-1 (ativo e total) em ratos HF foi acompanhada de intolerância à glicose bem como de maiores níveis plasmáticos de insulina. A inibição da DPPIV com Vildagliptina melhorou a biodisponibilidade e a secreção de GLP-1 após carga oral de glicose. Em conjunto, estes resultados sugerem que a inibição da DPPIV melhora a função cardiorrenal e metabólica de ratos com IC. Além disso, a secreção e a biodisponibilidade do GLP-1 encontram-se prejudicadas em ratos com IC e o tratamento com Vildagliptina é capaz de restaurar a sinalização mediada por este peptídeo. Assim, os inibidores da DPPIV podem ser eficazes não apenas para a prevenção, mas também para o tratamento da insuficiência cardíaca em ratos / Recent data from our laboratory suggest that the enzyme dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPPIV), a serine protease that can be found anchored in the cell membrane of different cell types or in the soluble form in plasma, plays an important role in the pathophysiology of heart failure (HF). More specifically, we have demonstrated that the activity of circulating DPPIV is associated with poorer cardiovascular outcomes in an experimental model and patients with HF. In addition, we have found that chronic inhibition of DPPIV attenuates the development and/or progression of HF in rats with myocardial injury. However, it is unknown whether the inhibition of this peptidase is able to reverse the cardiorenal dysfunction in rats with established HF. Therefore, this study aimed to test the hypothesis that inhibition of DPPIV exerts therapeutic effects in rats with HF. To this end, HF rats were treated daily with the DPPIV inhibitor vildagliptin (80 or 120 mg/kg/day) or vehicle (HF) for four weeks. Untreated Sham rats were used as controls. Echocardiographic analysis demonstrated that HF rats exhibit lower fractional area change (FAC) and higher isovolumetric relaxation time (IVRT) than Sham rats. On the other hand, treatment with the highest dose of vildagliptin was able to increase FAC and decrease IVRT. These functional improvements were accompanied by structural improvements, since inhibition of DPPIV was also able to reduce cardiac hypertrophy and interstitial collagen deposition in the remaining myocardium of rats treated with vildagliptin rats compared to HF. In addition, HF rats exhibited higher water content in the lungs, lower urinary sodium excretion, lower urinary flow and lower glomerular filtration rate compared to the Sham group. In turn, the renal handling of salt and water was completely restored by chronic treatment with vildagliptin 120 mg/kg/day. Normalization of the renal function induced by chronic inhibition of DPPIV was associated with an increase in the expression of the glucagon like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) and enhanced protein kinase A activation in the renal cortex, the signaling pathway triggered by bind between GLP-1/GLP-1R. In addition, the postprandial levels of GLP-1, the main substrate of DPPIV that exerts insulinotropic, cardio and renoprotective actions, were lower in HF rats than in Sham. This decrease in circulating levels of GLP-1 (active and total) in HF rats was accompanied by impaired glucose tolerance and higher plasma insulin levels. The inhibition of the DPPIV with vildagliptin improved the bioavailability and secretion after an oral glucose load. Taken together, these results suggest that the inhibition of DPPIV ameliorates the cardiorenal and metabolic function of rats with HF. Furthermore, bioavailability and secretion of GLP-1 are impaired in HF rats and vildagliptin is able to restore the signaling mediated by this peptide. Therefore, DPPIV inhibitors can be effective not only in preventing but also for the treatment of HF in rats