Emerging Researchers National (ERN) Conference

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Dietary Interventions Modulate Cardiac Hypertrophy and Cardiac ACE2/Ang1-7 MasR Axis

Undergraduate #50
Discipline: Biological Sciences
Subcategory: Cell and Molecular Biology

Beatrice Mbaluka - Oakwood University

Omega 6 poly unsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) are proinflammatory where are as Omega 3 poly unsaturated fatty acids are cardio-protective and anti-inflammatory. The recommended Omega 6 to Omega 3 ratio is 3:1 however the average ratio in American diets is 10:1-20:1 and in the Black belt area the average of the ratio is 25:1. As a result the Black Belt area has a very high incidence of Hypertension which is characterized by Cardiac Hypertrophy and an up-regulation of the Renin -Angiotensin System. Hypertension is one of the major contributors for Cardiovascular disease which is the leading cause of death in America. Therefore our lab studied how different ratios of Omega 6 to Omega 3 would affect cardiac hypertrophy and the cardio-protective axis of the RAS system. We hypothesized that decreasing the Omega 6 to Omega 3 PUFA will prevent the development of cardiac hypertrophy and increase Cardiac ACE2/Ang1-7/MasR Axis of the ReninAngiotensin-System in a Spontaneously Hypertensive Rat (SHR). Cardiac hypertrophy was measured by weighing the hearts on a scale. To characterize the cardiac ACE2/Ang1-7/MasR protein expression, we performed western blots. The rats that were fed Omega 6 to Omega 3 in a 25:1 ratio had heavier hearts compared to those with a 3:1 and 1:3 ratio indicating hypertrophy. In addition, animals fed the 1:3 diet had a decrease in Blood Pressure and there was an increase in ACE 2 expression in the 25:1 group. We concluded that the subjects that were fed Omega 6 to Omega 3 in a 1:3 ratio had significantly lower Blood pressure, adding Collard Greens to the diet of 25:1 Omega 6 to Omega 3 PUFA significantly decreases Blood Pressure as well and ACE 2 expression increases with an increase in Omega 6 PUFA as a cardio-protective mechanism.

Funder Acknowledgement(s): Howard Hughes Faculty Fellowship, RCMI: G12MD007585-23, NSF-REU program

Faculty Advisor: Chastity Bradford,

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This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF) under Grant No. DUE-1930047. Any opinions, findings, interpretations, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of its authors and do not represent the views of the AAAS Board of Directors, the Council of AAAS, AAAS’ membership or the National Science Foundation.