(-)-Epicatechin (EC) attenuated high fructose (HF)-induced modifications in perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) in rats

HID EJ; LISTA F; ASO M; CERNADAS G; FELLET A; BALASZCZUK AM; FRAGA CG; ARRECHE N; GALLEANO M

Londres

Conferencia; 10th International Conference on Polyphenols and Health; 2022

PVAT can release a variety of factors with paracrine effects, e.g. cytokines and oxidants, which influence vascular tone. PVAT dysfunction can aggravate hypertension, and the use of dietary compounds to attenuate these effects is a valuable tool. The aim of this work was to study the impact of EC administration on PVAT modifications induced by a HF diet in rats in terms of redox and inflammatory aspects. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups: C, control diet and water as beverage; CEC, EC (20 mg/kg BW/d) in the diet and water; HF, control diet and 10% (w/v) fructose in the water; and HFEC, EC in the diet and fructose in the water. After 8 w, blood pressure (BP) was determined, animals were euthanized and blood (plasma), aorta, and PVAT (from thoracic aorta) were obtained. EC supplementation attenuated BP increase induced by HF diet in parallel with changes observed in PVAT expansion. In addition, adipocyte size was not modified for the treatments, suggesting that the expansion was due to adipocytes hyperplasia. NADPH oxidase (NOX) activity was evaluated in PVAT as superoxide anion production, was C= 0.6±0.1, CEC= 1.2±0.2, HF= 4.0±0.5*, and HFEC= 2.0±0.1 AU (*p˂0.05 vs all, ANOVA, Tukey’s test). NLRP3 inflammasome pathway was studied at systemic and tissue levels. No differences in blood plasma IL-1β were detected among the four experimental groups. IL-1β expression in PVAT was C= 100±4, CEC= 130±4, HF= 174±10*, and HFEC= 170±10* AU (*p˂0.05 vs C and CEC, ANOVA, Tukey’s test). As conclusion, in terms of PVAT modifications, EC could contribute to the antihypertensive effect attenuating the pro-oxidant environment, without effects on NLRP3 inflammatory pathway. Further studies will be necessary to identify the NOX isoforms involved in this effect. PIP-CONICET 11220170100585CO, PICT 2018-03052, and UBACyT 20020170100586BA (MG); UBACyT 20020190100157BA (CF).