Background: Osteopontin, also known as cytokine Eta-1, plays an important role in postmyocardial infarction remodeling by regulating collagen accumulation. Aldosterone promotes collagen synthesis and structural remodeling of the heart. The role of osteopontin in aldosterone-induced fibrosis and myocardial remodeling is unknown. Osteopontin expression and left ventricular structural and functional remodeling were determined in wild-type and osteopontin knockout mice after aldosterone infusion.
Methods and results: Immunohistochemical analyses showed increased interstitial osteopontin protein in the wild-type left ventricle after 7 days of aldosterone infusion. After 4 weeks of aldosterone infusion, heart rate was unchanged, and there were similar increases in blood pressure (BP) and heart-to-body weight ratio in both wild-type and knockout mice. Left ventricular end-diastolic diameter was significantly higher, whereas percent fractional shortening was significantly lower (P <.05) in knockout versus wild-type mice after 4 weeks of aldosterone infusion. Aldosterone infusion increased fibrosis and apoptosis (TUNEL-positive) in both wild-type and knockout mice. However, the increase in the extent of fibrosis and apoptosis was significantly lower in knockout hearts.
Conclusions: Increased osteopontin plays an important role in the regulation of aldosterone-induced remodeling with effects on left ventricular dilation, fibrosis, and apoptosis.