Endothelial Sirtuin 3 Dictates Glucose Transport to Cardiomyocyte and Sensitizes Pressure Overload-Induced Heart Failure.

BACKGROUND: Alterations of energetic metabolism are suggested to be an important contributor to pressure overload (PO)-induced heart failure. Our previous study reveals that knockout of endothelial Sirtuin 3 (SIRT3) alters glycolysis and impairs diastolic function. We hypothesize that endothelial SIRT3 regulates glucose utilization of cardiomyocytes and sensitizes PO-induced heart failure. METHODS AND RESULTS: SIRT3 endothelial cell knockout mice and their control SIRT3 LoxP mice were subjected to PO by transverse aortic constriction for 7 weeks. The ratio of heart weight to tibia length was increased in both strains of mice, in which SIRT3 endothelial cell knockout mice+transverse aortic constriction exhibited more severe cardiac hypertrophy. Coronary blood flow and systolic function were significantly decreased in SIRT3 endothelial cell knockout mice+transverse aortic constriction compared with SIRT3 LoxP mice+transverse aortic constriction, as evidenced by lower systolic/diastolic ratio, ejection fraction, and fractional shortening. PO-induced upregulation of apelin and glucose transporter 4 were significantly reduced in the hearts of SIRT3 endothelial cell knockout mice. In vitro, levels of hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha and glucose transporter 1 and glucose uptake were significantly reduced in SIRT3 knockout endothelial cells. Furthermore, hypoxia-induced apelin expression was abolished together with reduced apelin-mediated glucose uptake in SIRT3 knockout endothelial cells. Exposure of cardiomyocyte with apelin increased expression of glucose transporter 1 and glucose transporter 4. This was accompanied by a significant increase in glycolysis. Supplement of apelin in SIRT3 knockout hypoxic endothelial cell media increased glycolysis in the cardiomyocytes. CONCLUSIONS: Knockout of SIRT3 disrupts glucose transport from endothelial cells to cardiomyocytes, reduces cardiomyocyte glucose utilization via apelin in a paracrine manner, and sensitizes PO-induced heart failure. Endothelial SIRT3 may regulate cardiomyocyte glucose availability and govern the function of the heart.