Leptin-Activated Crosstalk Among Brain, Brown Adipose Tissue, and Heart Drives Cardiac Protection After Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury [miRNA-seq]

Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death worldwide, with coronary artery disease being the primary contributor. Our recent studies suggest that activation of leptin receptors (LepRs) in the brain can improve cardiac function following myocardial infarction. However, the mechanism by which this cardioprotective effect is transmitted from the brain to the heart remains unclear. We hypothesize that brain LepR activation stimulates brown adipose tissue (BAT) to secrete extracellular vesicles (EVs) enriched with cardioprotective factors. These EVs may safeguard the heart by modulating cardiac mitochondrial function and collagen deposition. Our findings indicate that BAT ablation or BAT sympathetic denervation diminishes the cardioprotective effects of brain LepR activation. We also observed an increased concentration of EVs within BAT of rats treated with ICV leptin compared to vehicle-treated controls, an effect abolished by BAT denervation. Furthermore, knockdown of Rab27a in BAT reduced the cardioprotective benefits of brain LepR activation. MicroRNA (miR)-29c-3p was identified as a cargo of leptin-stimulated BAT-derived EVs and appears to play a key role in mitigating cardiac fibrosis after IR injury in leptin-treated animals. Thus, activation of LepR in the brain protects the heart after IR injury via sympathetic mediated BAT-derived EVs enriched with miR-29c-3p. Overall design: Sprague-Dawley rats with BAT intact, BAT ablation, or BAT sympathetic denervation were implanted with an intracerebroventricular (ICV) cannula for continuous leptin or vehicle delivery over 28 days after cardiac ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury. Cardiac function was assessed weekly via echocardiography and by ventricular catheterization at the end of the protocol. EVs were isolated from BAT for analysis. Rab27a, a protein required for EV release, was knocked down using adeno-associated virus, and EV tracking was conducted using a double fluorescent reporter mouse model. Our findings indicate that BAT ablation or BAT sympathetic denervation diminishes the cardioprotective effects of brain LepR activation. We also observed an increased concentration of EVs within BAT of rats treated with ICV leptin compared to vehicle-treated controls, an effect abolished by BAT denervation. Furthermore, knockdown of Rab27a in BAT reduced the cardioprotective benefits of brain LepR activation. MicroRNA (miR)-29c-3p was identified as a cargo of leptin-stimulated BAT-derived EVs and appears to play a key role in mitigating cardiac fibrosis after IR injury in leptin-treated animals.