Chronic heart failure induces early defenestration of liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) in mice

Aim: Chronic heart failure (CHF) is often linked to liver malfunction and systemic endothelial dysfunction. However, whether cardio-hepatic interactions in heart failure involve dysfunction of liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) is not known. Here we characterize LSECs phenotype in early and end stages of chronic heart failure in a murine model.

Methods: Right ventricle (RV) function, features of congestive hepatopathy, and the phenotype of primary LSECs were characterized in Tgαq*44 mice, with cardiomyocyte-specific overexpression of the Gαq protein, at the age of 4- and 12-month representative for early and end-stage phases of CHF, respectively.

Results: 4- and 12-month-old Tgαq*44 mice displayed progressive impairment of RV function and alterations in hepatic blood flow velocity resulting in hepatic congestion with elevated GGT and bilirubin plasma levels and decreased albumin concentration without gross liver pathology. LSECs isolated from 4- and 12-month-old Tgαq*44 mice displayed significant loss of fenestrae with impaired functional response to cytochalasin B, significant changes in proteome related to cytoskeleton remodeling, and altered vasoprotective function. However, LSECs barrier function and bioenergetics were largely preserved. In 4- and 12-month-old Tgαq*44 mice, LSECs defenestration was associated with prolonged postprandial hypertriglyceridemia and in 12-month-old Tgαq*44 mice with proteomic changes of hepatocytes indicative of altered lipid metabolism.

Conclusion: Tgαq*44 mice displayed right-sided HF and altered hepatic blood flow leading to LSECs dysfunction involving defenestration, shift in eicosanoid profile, and proteomic changes. LSECs dysfunction appears as an early and persistent event in CHF, preceding congestive hepatopathy and contributing to alterations in lipoprotein transport and CHF pathophysiology.