Effects of proANPin a preclinical model of uninephrectomy and cardiac ischemia/reperfusion injury: cardiac remodeling and tissue biochemical profiling.

Abstract

Concomitant cardiac and renal dysfunction represent a clinically relevant condition with limited therapeutic options. This study examined the effects of the linear ANP fragment proANPin a preclinical model combining unilateral nephrectomy (UNX) and cardiac ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. Wistar rats underwent UNX followed by I/R and were randomized to receive proANPor vehicle for 4 wk. Cardiac structure and function were evaluated by echocardiography and isolated cardiomyocyte analyses. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was used to assess biochemical composition in cardiac and renal tissue, as well as urine. Chronic UNX induced diastolic impairment with preserved systolic function, which was further aggravated by I/R. ProANPprevented systolic deterioration, reduced myocardial fibrosis, attenuated cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, and improved Cahandling, independent of blood pressure. FTIR imaging identified distinct cardiac (amino acid-, collagen-, and carbohydrate-associated) and renal (free amino acid-, protein-, and lipid-associated) spectral features across experimental groups. Conventional renal indices, including albumin-to-creatinine ratio and 24 h protein excretion, remained unchanged; however, vibrational spectroscopy detected subtle biochemical alterations in renal tissue and urine that were modulated by proANP. In this model of reduced nephron mass with superimposed cardiac injury, proANPexerted marked cardioprotective effects and was associated with coordinated changes in tissue biochemical signatures, supporting further investigation of its therapeutic potential.In a model of reduced nephron mass combined with cardiac ischemia/reperfusion injury, proANPprevented adverse cardiac remodeling independent of blood pressure. Vibrational spectroscopy identified coordinated biochemical alterations in cardiac and renal tissues not detected by conventional assays, providing molecular-level insight into cardiorenal remodeling.