Long-term Intake of Pasta Containing Barley (1–3)Beta-D-Glucan Increases Neovascularization-mediated Cardioprotection through Endothelial Upregulation of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor and Parkin

Abstract

Barley (1–3)β-D-Glucan (BBG) enhances angiogenesis. Since pasta is very effective in providing a BBG-enriched diet, we hypothesized that the intake of pasta containing 3% BBG (P-BBG) induces neovascularization-mediated cardioprotection. Healthy adult male C57BL/6 mice fed P-BBG (n = 15) or wheat pasta (Control, n = 15) for five-weeks showed normal glucose tolerance and cardiac function. With a food intake similar to the Control, P-BBG mice showed a 109% survival rate (P < 0.01 vs. Control) after cardiac ischemia (30 min)/reperfusion (60 min) injury. Left ventricular (LV) anion superoxide production and infarct size in P-BBG mice were reduced by 62 and 35% (P < 0.0001 vs. Control), respectively. The capillary and arteriolar density of P-BBG hearts were respectively increased by 12 and 18% (P < 0.05 vs. Control). Compared to the Control group, the VEGF expression in P-BBG hearts was increased by 87.7% (P < 0.05); while, the p53 and Parkin expression was significantly increased by 125% and cleaved caspase-3 levels were reduced by 33% in P-BBG mice. In vitro, BBG was required to induce VEGF, p53 and Parkin expression in human umbelical vascular endothelial cells. Moreover, the BBG-induced Parkin expression was not affected by pifithrin-α (10 uM/7days), a p53 inhibitor. In conclusion, long-term dietary supplementation with P-BBG confers post-ischemic cardioprotection through endothelial upregulation of VEGF and Parkin.

Molecular Mechanism of Functional Ingredients in Barley to Combat Human Chronic Diseases

“…A water-soluble polysaccharide (BP-1, molecular weight 6:7 × 10 4 Da) from hulless barley can improve the immune ability of immunosuppressive mice through increasing the serum levels of IL-2, TNFα, and IFN-γ, such as BP-1 (80 mg/kg and 160 mg/kg) can not only significantly increase the number of bone marrow cells and peripheral blood white blood cells, as well as enhance the production of IL-2, TNF-α, IFN-γ, IgG, and IgM in the spleen and serum levels for improving the immune function, but also promote the proliferation and phagocytosis activity of macrophages as well as repair the damage induced by CTX in the spleen cells of immunosuppressive mice [115]. Table 2), which shows a 109% survival rate after cardiac ischemia (30 min)/reperfusion (60 min) injury, reduces left ventricular anion superoxide production (62%) and infarct size (35%), and increases the capillary (12%) and arteriolar density (18%) and VEGF expression (87.7%) of hearts in mice [116]. The products of barley grains can reduce the cardiometabolic risk and regulate the blood glucose and appetite hormones in 11-16 h after intake; however, its mechanisms are gut fermentation of indigestible carbohydrates [117].…”

“…β-Glucans can be used as candidates for the medication in the treatment of human chronic diseases [133]. β-Glucans have many bioactivities including antidiabetes; anticancer; antiobesity; anti-inflammation; immunomodulation; cardioprotection; lower cholesterol and lower blood pressure; improve bowel health, gastroprotection, and hepatoprotection; reduce chronic kidney disease and metabolic syndrome; prevent the risk of heart and cardiovascular diseases; and accelerate wound healing activities (Figure 1, Tables 2 and 3) [13,18,98,111,116,122,123,127,133,[143][144][145][146][147][148][149]. The major mechanisms of β-glucans of barley involve in the prevention of chronic diseases are as follows: β-glucans can interact with intestinal lipids and bile salt to reduce cholesterol levels and subsequently prevent diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and metabolic syndrome [143].…”

“…Barley β-glucan can reduce blood pressure and cardiovascular diseases that alters the composition of gut microbiota, decrease body mass index, waist circumference, and triglyceride levels [98] and also reduce the systemic inflammatory profile, prevent alveolar bone loss, and improve βcell function in diabetic animals [147]. Barley β-glucans can not only regulate immune responses and connect innate and adaptive immunity [13] but also have cardioprotective mechanism of promoted angiogenesis through endothelial upregulation of the vascular growth factor [116]. The hypocholesterolaemic effect of β-glucan in barley is due to the increased bile acid synthesis [148] and improved bowel health by inhibited feed intake and increased cecal fermentation [149].…”

ADAMTS13 Deficiency Shortens the Life Span of Mice With Experimental Diabetes

“…Cardiac function in mice anesthetized with 2 vol% isoflurane in O 2 (0.5 L/min) was assessed by transthoracic echocardiography through the use of a commercially available echocardiograph equipped with a 12-MHz probe (MyLab30; Esaote, Genova, Italy) (24,25). Warmed echo gel was placed on the shaved chest, and each parameter was measured through B-mode-guided M-mode imaging in the parasternal short-axis view at the level of the papillary muscles.…”

Cardioprotection gain with apelin‐13: A matter of signalling

“…Even if apelin‐13, a novel adipokine, helps increase the NO levels in the post‐infarct heart, the indispensable role of the PI3K/Akt signalling in protecting the heart against ischaemia‐reperfusion injury (IRI) needs to be ascertained. The uncertainties may be attributed to previous experimental evidences demonstrating cardioprotection without selective activation of PI3K/Akt pathway and to the pathophysiological environment of the ischaemic myocardium that varies depending on the extent and progression of cardiac injury. Understanding myocardial signalling pathways will potentially contribute to a cause for heightened interest in personalized cardioprotection with more tailored and safe drugs.…”