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Re: In Response
Letter to Editor regarding the article "Adiposity of the heart", Revisited
The History of Fatty Heart
Adiposity of the Heart, Revisited
ADIPOSITY AROUND THE HEART
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Lidia S Szczepaniak, PhD University of Texas, Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Texas, Jonathan McGJonathan M. McGavock, PhD, Ronald G. Victor, MD; Roger H. Unger, MD
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lidia.szczepaniak{at}utsouthwestern.edu Lidia S Szczepaniak, et al.
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We are gratified by letters regarding our review and we thank for interesting indications for future studies. Dr. Kanna's suggestion of a relationship between lipid overload of cardiomyocytes and abnormal cardiac late potentials may provide a valuable new dimension in evaluation of the obese heart. It will be of interest to learn if measures that reverse the cardiac steatosis overturn the abnormal late potentials. The role of elevated free fatty acids in the development of cardiac arrhythmias has been explored by others (1,2,3) and may be a primary cause of abnormal late potentials in individuals with type 2 diabetes or metabolic syndrome. Dr. Leslie points out that Austin Flint described fatty heart disease 150 years ago; however he was not the first. The history of fatty heart dates back to seventeen’s century. Sir William Harvey described "cor adiposum" in his 1628 treatise. In 1812 Baron de Corvisart, the physician of Napoleon I, described "fatty degeneration" of the heart, which sounds suspiciously like lipotoxicity. It was also mentioned by Laennec in 1838. The enthusiasm and interest in fatty heart investigations significantly lessened in 1931 when Paul Dudley White, the dean of American College of Cardiology, expressed doubt concerning the existence of fatty heart as a clinical entity. We have not included these references and the one Dr. Leslie cites, as we reviewed the current literature. Dr. Zema writes that our statement that acyl CoA synthetase produces cardiac steatosis is "incorrect". We respectfully disagree with Dr. Zema, and we suspect that he must be unaware of the elegant studies conducted by Jean Schaffer's group in which overexpression of acyl CoA synthetase (ACS) in cardiomyocytes produced dramatic myocardial steatosis and lipotoxic cardiomyopathy. We recognize that ACS is not the major enzyme responsible for triglyceride synthesis, but rather catalyzes the initial step in fatty acid metabolism within the myocardium, by converting free fatty acids to long chain acyl CoA esters. Under normal conditions, fatty acids uptake and oxidation is tightly coupled, however under certain circumstances (including obesity and transgenic manipulation), excessive flux through this enzyme can lead to intracellular triglyceride accumulation. At first fatty acids are esterified to triacylglycerol, but ultimately they enter the ceramide and other cytotoxic pathways. Fatty acid synthesis inside the cardiomyocytes may also contribute to the fatty acid overload, but in human’s obesity most of the surplus is derived directly from ingested fat (chylomicrons) or fat synthesized in the liver and delivered to cardiomyocytes as VLDL. Dr. Iacobellis makes an extremely important point concerning the relationships between epicardial fat and cardiomyocytes. As he points out, there may indeed be both a metabolic and a paracrine hormonal interplay between these tissues that could account for the consequences of obesity on the heart. It will be of interest to learn if there are vascular connections between the epicardial fat tissue and the myocardium. 1. Manzella D et al. (2002) Elevated post-prandial free fatty acids are associated with cardiac sympathetic overactivity in type II diabetic patients. Diabetologia 45: 1737–1738 2. Manzella D et al. (2001) Role of free fatty acids on cardiac autonomic nervous system in noninsulin-dependent diabetic patients: effects of metabolic control. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 86: 2769–2774 3. Paolisso G et al. (1997) Association of fasting plasma free fatty acid concentration and frequency of ventricular premature complexes in nonischemic non-insulin-dependent diabetic patients. Am J Cardiol 80: 932–937 Conflict of Interest:None declared |
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Balavenkatesh Kanna, MD, MPH Lincoln Hospital, Affiliated to Weill Medical College of Cornell University
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bvkanna{at}aol.com Balavenkatesh Kanna
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In reference to the review by McGavock et al (1) on adiposity of the heart, it is of great interest to note that emerging scientific evidence shows myocardial lipid content may be a biomarker of cardiac disease in obese patients. In our study on signal averaged electrocardiogram (SAECG) in obesity (2), we found that abnormal cardiac late potentials occur among obese individuals without clinical cardiac disease symptoms independent of their hypertension or diabetes status. However, hypertension was associated with an increase in abnormalities on SAECG in both obese and non-obese subjects in our study. We believe that our findings of enhanced arrhythmogenecity of the ventricular myocardium as reflected by abnormal cardiac late potentials in obesity without cardiac disease could be corroborated with the findings of increased intra-myocardial lipid content demonstrated on magnetic resonance spectroscopic studies among obese individuals. (3) References: 1. McGavock J, Victor RU, Roger H, Szczepaniak, LS. Adiposity of the Heart, Revisited. Annals of Int Med. 2006. 144(7):517-524. 2. Lalani AP, Kanna B, John J, Ferrick KJ, Huber MS, Shapiro LE. Abnormal signal-averaged electrocardiogram (SAECG) in obesity. Obes Res. 2000; 8: 20–28. 3. Szczepaniak LS, Dobbins RL, Metzger GJ, Sartoni-D'Ambrosia G, Arbique D, Vongpatanasin W, et al. Myocardial triglycerides and systolic function in humans: in vivo evaluation by localized proton spectroscopy and cardiac imaging. Magn Reson Med. 2003; 49:417-23. Conflict of Interest:None declared |
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Bruce R. Leslie, MD, FACP
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Bruce_Leslie{at}ivax.com Bruce R. Leslie
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To The Editor: Readers of the article by McGavock, et al. (1) may be interested to know that the renowned American physician Austin Flint was among the first to describe fatty heart, nearly 150 years ago. In his textbook on diseases of the heart, Flint wrote: "Morbid growth or hypertrophy of the adipose tissue...is often associated with that tendency to superabundance of fat which constitutes obesity. This tendency is directed towards the heart, after middle life, in persons of indolent and luxurious habits...." (2). Flint's observations were made during his tenure as visiting attending physician at New Orleans' Charity Hospital, where he also described the heart murmur that bears his name. 1. McGavock JM, Victor RG, Unger RH, Szczepaniak LS. Adiposity of the heart, revisited. Ann Intern Med. 2006;144 (7):517-24. 2. Flint A. A practical treatise on the diagnosis, pathology, and treatment of diseases of the heart. Philadelphia: Blanchard and Lea; 1859. p. 93. Conflict of Interest:None declared |
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Michael J. Zema, MD Chief of Cardiology, BMHMC Patchogue NY Clin Prof Medicine, SUNY
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MZema{at}BMHMC.org Michael J. Zema
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To the Editor: The recent review paper by McGavock et.al. (1) probably incorrectly states on p.19, paragraph four, lines one and four that “… overexpression of long chain acyl-CoA synthetase, an enzyme involved in triglyceride synthesis produces an example of cardiac-restricted steatosis." Long chain Acyl-CoA synthetase is an initial enzyme involved with fatty acid beta- oxidation which after subsequent dehydrogenase and hydrolase reactions results in formation of acetyl CoA which upon formation usually enters the Krebs (citric acid) cycle for intracellular energy production. Alternatively of course, these two carbon fragments may be resynthesized back up to fatty acids such as palmitate although the controlling intracellular signaling factors usually do not favor beta-oxidation and fatty acid resynthesis concomitantly. The correct enzyme to which the authors should probably be referring and which is appropriately referenced in their Figure 3 Legend is the short chain 2 carbon substrate avid enzyme acetyl-CoA synthetase which synthesizes acetyl CoA from acetate and CoA, utilizing high energy phosphate in the form of ATP and requiring magnesium as cofactor. In the presence of citrate and isocitrate formed by the Krebs cycle in the setting of adequate amounts of acetyl CoA, the rate limiting enzyme in fatty acid synthesis, acetyl CoA carboxylase, transforming excess acetyl CoA to malonyl CoA is activated via a process of polymerization of the enzyme subunits. Through a subsequent series of enzymatic reactions including synthetase, reductase , dehydrase and deacylase steps, production of fatty acids, the building blocks of triglycerides is underway leading in this case to their overproduction and cardiac steatosis. References: 1. McGavock JM, Victor RG, Unger RH, Szczepaniak LS. Adiposity of the Heart, Revisited. Ann Intern Med. 2006;144 (7):517-24. Conflict of Interest:None declared |
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Gianluca Iacobellis, MD, PhD Cardiovascular Obesity Research and Management at the Michael G deGroote School of Medicine, McMaste, Arya M Sharma
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gianluca{at}cardio.on.ca Gianluca Iacobellis, et al.
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Dear Editor, we read with great interest the review “Adiposity of the Heart, revisited” by McGavock and collegueas. The concept of a relationship of myocardial lipid content with generalized adiposity and potentially with cardiac morphology and function in obese subjects is intriguing. We also agree that intramyocardial fat content detected by magnetic resonance spectroscopy could be a target for drugs that interact with the adipose tissue. Nevertheless, if McGavock et al. reviewed the importance of the adiposity of the heart we would like to point out the the relationship of the adiposity around the heart with visceral adiposity and cardiac structure in humans. There is now compelling evidence that the epicardial fat tissue, the visceral fat around the heart, is clearly metabolically active and source of various bioactive molecules, as well as adiponectin, inflammatory markers, free fatty acids, that might significantly affect cardiac morphology (2-3). We also previously showed that epicardial fat strongly reflects abdominal visceral adiposity, rather than body mass index, and is associated with metabolic syndrome and impaired insulin sensitivity (4-6). As the epicardial adipose mass reflects intra-abdominal visceral fat, we proposed that echocardiographic assessment of this tissue might serve as a reliable marker of visceral adiposity (4-6). A body of evidences suggests that visceral fat, rather than generalized adiposity, plays an important role in the development of an unfavorable metabolic and cardiovascular risk profile. Echocardiographic assessment of (epicardial) visceral fat would certainly be less expensive than magnetic resonance imaging and an easy diagnostic and therapeutic target. The presence of excessive epicardial fat adds to the weight of the ventricles and increases the effort involved in pumping blood around the body. Autopsy and echocardiographic findings strongly suggest that an increase in myocardial mass during cardiac hypertrophy is associated with a consensual and proportional increase in epicardial adipose mass (2,7). A number of studies suggest the concept of paracrine interactions between epicardial adipose depots and the myocardium (2). The adipose and muscular component of the heart share the same coronary blood supply and no structures resembling a fascia, as found on skeletal muscle, separate the adipose and myocardial layers in humans (2).Thus, the close anatomical relationship of epicardial adipose tissue to the adjacent myocardium should readily allow local, paracrine, interactions between these tissues. Taken together, these observations suggest that both extra and intra cardiac adiposity could locally modulate the morphology and function of the heart and be easy and reliable biomarkers and therapeutic targets. Future studies in this direction are warranted. References 1. McGavock JM, Victor RG, Unger RH, Szczepaniak LS; American College of Physicians and the American Physiological Society. Adiposity of the heart, revisited. Ann Intern Med. 2006;144:517-24 2. Iacobellis G, Corradi D, Sharma AM Epicardial adipose tissue: anatomical, biomolecular and clinical relation to the heart Nat Cardiovasc Clin Pract Med 2005;2:536-43 3. Iacobellis G, Pistilli D , Gucciardo M, Leonetti F, Mirali F, Brancaccio G, Gallo P, di Gioia CR. Adiponectin expression in human epicardial adipose tissue in vivo is lower in patients with coronary artery disease Cytokine. 2005; 29:251-5 4. Iacobellis G, Assael F, Ribaudo MC, Zappaterreno A, Alessi G, Di Mario U, Leonetti F Epicardial fat from echocardiography: a new method for visceral adipose tissue prediction. Obes Res 2003; 11:304–310 5. Iacobellis G, Ribaudo MC, Assael F, Vecci E, Tiberti C, Zappaterreno A, Di Mario U, Leonetti F Echocardiographic epicardial adipose tissue is related to anthropometric and clinical parameters of metabolic syndrome: a new indicator of cardiovascular risk. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2003; 88:5163-8. 6. Iacobellis G, Leonetti F. Epicardial adipose tissue and insulin resistance in obese subjects . J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2005;;90:6300-2 7. Iacobellis G, Ribaudo MC, Zappaterreno A, Iannucci CV, Leonetti F Relation between epicardial adipose tissue and left ventricular mass. Am J Cardiol. 2004; 94:1084-7. Corresponding author: Gianluca Iacobellis MD PhD Cardiovascular Obesity Research & Management McMaster University Hamilton General Hospital 237 Barton Street East Hamilton, ON, L8L 2X2 Tel> +1-905-527-4322 Ext. 44301 Fax> +1-905-522-4538 Email gianluca@cardio.on.ca Conflict of Interest:None declared |
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