Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: chronic low-intensity interval exercise training preserves myocardial O2 balance and diastolic function

J Appl Physiol (1985). 2013 Jan 1;114(1):131-47. doi: 10.1152/japplphysiol.01059.2012. Epub 2012 Oct 25.

Abstract

We have previously reported chronic low-intensity interval exercise training attenuates fibrosis, impaired cardiac mitochondrial function, and coronary vascular dysfunction in miniature swine with left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy (Emter CA, Baines CP. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 299: H1348-H1356, 2010; Emter CA, et al. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 301: H1687-H1694, 2011). The purpose of this study was to test two hypotheses: 1) chronic low-intensity interval training preserves normal myocardial oxygen supply/demand balance; and 2) training-dependent attenuation of LV fibrotic remodeling improves diastolic function in aortic-banded sedentary, exercise-trained (HF-TR), and control sedentary male Yucatan miniature swine displaying symptoms of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. Pressure-volume loops, coronary blood flow, and two-dimensional speckle tracking ultrasound were utilized in vivo under conditions of increasing peripheral mean arterial pressure and β-adrenergic stimulation 6 mo postsurgery to evaluate cardiac function. Normal diastolic function in HF-TR animals was characterized by prevention of increased time constant of isovolumic relaxation, normal LV untwisting rate, and enhanced apical circumferential and radial strain rate. Reduced fibrosis, normal matrix metalloproteinase-2 and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase-4 mRNA expression, and increased collagen III isoform mRNA levels (P < 0.05) accompanied improved diastolic function following chronic training. Exercise-dependent improvements in coronary blood flow for a given myocardial oxygen consumption (P < 0.05) and cardiac efficiency (stroke work to myocardial oxygen consumption, P < 0.05) were associated with preserved contractile reserve. LV hypertrophy in HF-TR animals was associated with increased activation of Akt and preservation of activated JNK/SAPK. In conclusion, chronic low-intensity interval exercise training attenuates diastolic impairment by promoting compliant extracellular matrix fibrotic components and preserving extracellular matrix regulatory mechanisms, preserves myocardial oxygen balance, and promotes a physiological molecular hypertrophic signaling phenotype in a large animal model resembling heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

Publication types

  • Research Support, American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Arterial Pressure / genetics
  • Arterial Pressure / physiology
  • Citrate (si)-Synthase / genetics
  • Citrate (si)-Synthase / metabolism
  • Collagen Type III / genetics
  • Collagen Type III / metabolism
  • Connectin
  • Diastole / genetics
  • Diastole / physiology*
  • Extracellular Matrix / genetics
  • Extracellular Matrix / metabolism
  • Fibrosis / genetics
  • Fibrosis / metabolism
  • Fibrosis / physiopathology
  • Heart / physiology*
  • Heart Failure / genetics
  • Heart Failure / metabolism
  • Heart Failure / physiopathology*
  • Heart Failure / rehabilitation*
  • Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / genetics
  • Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / metabolism
  • Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / physiopathology
  • MAP Kinase Kinase 4 / genetics
  • MAP Kinase Kinase 4 / metabolism
  • Male
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / genetics
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / metabolism
  • Muscle Proteins / genetics
  • Muscle Proteins / metabolism
  • Myocardial Contraction / genetics
  • Myocardial Contraction / physiology
  • Myocardium / metabolism*
  • Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / genetics
  • Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / metabolism
  • Oxygen / metabolism*
  • Oxygen Consumption / genetics
  • Oxygen Consumption / physiology
  • Physical Conditioning, Animal / physiology*
  • Protein Kinases / genetics
  • Protein Kinases / metabolism
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / genetics
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / metabolism
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • Regional Blood Flow / genetics
  • Regional Blood Flow / physiology
  • Sarcomeres / genetics
  • Sarcomeres / metabolism
  • Sarcomeres / physiology
  • Swine
  • Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-4
  • Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases / genetics
  • Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases / metabolism
  • Ventricular Function, Left / genetics
  • Ventricular Function, Left / physiology
  • Ventricular Remodeling / genetics
  • Ventricular Remodeling / physiology

Substances

  • Collagen Type III
  • Connectin
  • Muscle Proteins
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases
  • Natriuretic Peptide, Brain
  • Citrate (si)-Synthase
  • Protein Kinases
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
  • MAP Kinase Kinase 4
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 2
  • Oxygen