High-fat diet-induced obesity impairs endothelium-dependent relaxation in rabbits: association with MLCK upregulation and partial ex vivo improvement by ML-7 - Summary - MDSpire

High-fat diet-induced obesity impairs endothelium-dependent relaxation in rabbits: association with MLCK upregulation and partial ex vivo improvement by ML-7

  • By

  • Jiao Li

  • Jiantao Zhou

  • Qingxu Ha

  • Junwei Gu

  • Hui Yuan

  • Juan Cheng

  • Xiaojun Zha

  • Jingjing Teng

  • Liang Li

  • Junli Ding

  • May 11, 2026

  • 0 min

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Objective:

To investigate the impact of high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity on endothelium-dependent relaxation and the role of myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) signaling in a rabbit model, emphasizing the significance of MLCK in vascular health.

Key Findings:
  • HFD-fed rabbits exhibited obesity, dyslipidemia, hyperglycemia, and significant endothelial dysfunction.
  • Increased MLCK expression and p-MLC/MLC ratio were observed in HFD rabbits.
  • ML-7 treatment reduced MLCK expression and partially improved ACh-induced relaxation in aortic rings.
Interpretation:

Obesity-induced endothelial dysfunction is linked to visceral fat accumulation and MLCK upregulation, with ML-7 showing potential for partial restoration of endothelial function ex vivo but not in vivo, highlighting the need for further investigation.

Limitations:
  • ML-7 did not improve FMD in vivo despite ex vivo improvements, indicating a gap in translating findings to clinical settings.
  • The study's findings may not fully translate to human physiology, necessitating caution in extrapolation.
Conclusion:

The study highlights the complexity of vascular dysfunction in obesity and suggests caution in using FMD as a sole measure of endothelial health in preclinical studies, emphasizing the need for comprehensive assessment methods.

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