Lebogang Mokotedi

• PhD
• Senior Lecturer at Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University

Background: The contribution of microRNAs remain poorly understood in the context of hypertensive cardiac pathology. Aim: The role of miR-146a-5p, miR-155-5p, and miR-29b-5p in cardiac hypertrophy and dysfunction was investigated in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Methods: Seven-month-old SHR (n=7 male, n=9 female), and normotensive Wistar K...

Hypertension drives the development of concentric left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). However, the relative contribution of pentraxin‐3 (PTX‐3), a novel marker for inflammatory cardiovascular disease, in the hypertrophic response to pressure overload has not been adequately elucidated. We investigated the role of PTX‐3 in the development of LVH in...

This study assessed the impact of sweetened alcohol and naringin on cardiac function in Sprague‐Dawley rats. Male (n = 40) and female (n = 40) rats were allocated to control, sweetened alcohol (SOH), naringin (NA), and sweetened alcohol with naringin (SOH + NA) groups. SOH and SOH + NA rats received 10% alcohol + 20% fructose in gelatine; SOH + NA...

Background MicroRNAs have been implicated in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease. However, the contribution of microRNAs remain poorly understood in the context of hypertensive cardiac pathology. Aim We investigated the role of miR-146a-5p, -155-5p, and -29b-5p in the development of cardiac hypertrophy and dysfunction in male and female spo...

Elevated systemic inflammation contributes to pathogenesis of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), but molecular mechanisms are poorly understood. Although left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction is the main cause of HFpEF, subclinical systolic dysfunction also contributes. We have previously shown that rats with collagen-ind...

Background Titin phosphorylation contributes to left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction. The independent effects of inflammation on the molecular pathways that regulate titin phosphorylation are unclear. Methods We investigated the effects of collagen-induced inflammation and subsequent tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) inhibition on mRNA expres...

Background Interleukin-6 (IL-6) receptor blockers improve systemic inflammation however, their inconsistent effects on lipid metabolism and drug-induced liver injuries warrant further investigation. This study aimed to determine the effects of IL-6 receptor blocker therapy on lipid metabolism and liver morphology in collagen-induced arthritis. Met...

Chronic inflammation causes dysregulated expression of microRNAs. Aberrant microRNA expression is associated with endothelial dysfunction. In this study we determined whether TNF-α inhibition impacted the expression of miRNA-146a-5p and miRNA-155-5p, and whether changes in the expression of these miRNAs were related to inflammation-induced changes...

Objective: To determine the mechanisms of inflammation-induced left ventricular (LV) remodeling and effects of blocking circulating tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) in a model of systemic inflammation. Methods: Seventy Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups: the control group, the collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) group, and the an...

Objectives: To determine biologic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug effects on inflammation-induced cardiac geometry and function changes. Methods: Male and female Sprague-Dawley rats (n=92) were divided into four groups: control group, collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) group, anti-TNF-α group and anti-IL-6 group. Inflammation was induced by...

Background High-grade inflammation may play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of left ventricular (LV) dysfunction. Evidence to support a role of systemic inflammation in mediating impaired LV function in experimental models of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) remains limited. The aim of the present study was to determine the effects of high-grade system...

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) impacts arterial and diastolic function. This study examined whether arterial properties can determine diastolic function in RA. In 173 RA patients, arterial function measures including carotid femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV), central systolic and pulse pressure, pulse pressure amplification, and the magnitude and timing...

We determined the role of high-grade inflammation on endothelial function and its association with biomarkers of endothelial dysfunction in collagen-induced arthritis. Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into a control (n = 12) or collagen-induced arthritis (CIA; n = 21) group. To induce arthritis, Bovine-type-II collagen emulsified in incomplete Freu...

The effect of hyperlipidemia on the cardiovascular system is uncertain in females. The aim of the present study was to determine whether administration of a lipogenic diet alters cardiovascular parameters in female rats. Fifty female Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned into 2 groups of rats receiving a standard or a high-fat, high-sucrose diet (HFHS)...

Background Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) experience an increased risk of developing heart failure with a preserved ejection fraction. Although there is some evidence to support a role of chronic inflammation in the pathogenesis of impaired left ventricular (LV) function in RA,¹ the direct effects of inflammatory cytokines on the LV functi...

Background Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) experience an increased frequency of heart failure with a preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) (1). The treatment of HFpEF is currently suboptimal. Elucidation of the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms of HFpEF may provide potential targets for its management. Diastolic dysfunction often prece...

Sodium (Na)-intake increases vascular reactivity. Whether low potassium (K)-intake affects vascular reactivity associated blood pressure (BP) changes is uncertain. This study aimed to determine whether Na-induced increases in BP and vascular reactivity are altered by low K-intake. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned to three dietary groups for s...

This study compared the estimated prevalence and potential determinants of left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction upon applying different classification criteria in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). LV diastolic function was assessed echocardiographically by pulsed Doppler ( E/A ), tissue Doppler ( E/e′ , lateral and septal e′ ), and left atrial volu...

Background Heart failure contributes to the excess mortality experienced by patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) (1). Impaired diastolic function represents a pre-clinical cardiac alteration which is highly predictive of cardiac events and often progresses to heart failure. Diastolic dysfunction is the most common cause of heart failure in patie...

Supplementary Table 1: Traditional risk factors and RA characteristics associated with diastolic function and left ventricular geometry. Supplemental Table 2: Non-significant associations of traditional risk factors and RA characteristics with markers of diastolic function and left ventricular geometry.

Objective: The aim of this work was to determine whether adrenergic-induced left ventricular (LV) dilation and eccentric remodeling in pressure-overload hypertrophy is sex specific. Methods and results: Chronic β-adrenoreceptor activation was produced in male and female spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) by means of daily administration of i...