Lactobacillus plantarum probiotic induces Nrf2-mediated antioxidant signaling and eNOS expression resulting in improvement of myocardial diastolic function. - GreenMedInfo Summary

Yorkshire swine were fed standard diet (n=7) or standard diet containing caffeic acid with L. plantarum (n=7) for three weeks. Next, an ameroid constrictor was placed around the left coronary circumflex artery, and the dietary regimens were continued. At fourteen weeks, cardiac function, myocardial perfusion, vascular density, and molecular signaling in ischemic myocardium were evaluated.The L. plantarum-caffeic acid augmented Nrf2 in the ischemic myocardium, and induced Nrf2-regulated antioxidant enzymes heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), NADPH dehydrogenase quinone 1 (NQO-1), and thioredoxin reductase (TRXR-1). Improved left ventricular diastolic function and decreased myocardial collagen expression were seen in animals receiving the L. plantarum-caffeic acid supplements. The expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) was increased in ischemic myocardial tissue of the treatment group, while levels of asymmetric dimethyl arginine (ADMA), hypoxia inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α), and phosphorylated MAPK (pMAPK) were decreased. Collateral dependent myocardial perfusion was unaffected while arteriolar and capillary densities were reduced as determined by a-smooth muscle cell actin and CD31 immunofluorescence in ischemic myocardial tissue. Dietary supplementationwith L. plantarum and caffeic acid is a safe and effective method of enhancing Nrf2-mediated antioxidant signaling cascade in ischemic myocardium. Although this experimental diet was associated with a reduction in hypoxic stimuli, decreased vascular density and without any change in collateral-dependent perfusion, the net effect of an increase in antioxidant activity and eNOS expression resulted in improvement in diastolic function.