Visceral Adipose Tissue Promotes Pressure-Induced Heart Failure Associated with Circulating Fatty Acids

Visceral adipose tissue (VAT) is the main source of circulating fatty acids (FAs) that provides the energy substrate for the heart. Till now, studies have not shown a clear association between individual circulating FAs and heart failure (HF). In this study, we aimed to investigate the changes in circulating FAs in HF mice and their association with VAT by removing epididymal white adipose tissue (eWAT). Here, we found that the serum levels of four fatty acids, namely arachidic acid, behenic acid, lignoceric acid, and docosapentaenoic acid, were significantly decreased in pressure-induced HF mice via transverse aortic constriction (TAC) surgery accompanied with cardiac enlargement and fibrosis. Most importantly, removal of eWAT in mice led to a significant decrease in the levels of the above-mentioned fatty acids without any significant difference between the HF and sham groups. Accordingly, cardiac enlargement and fibrosis were significantly alleviated. We concluded that VAT excision alleviated TAC-induced cardiac failure by decreasing serum arachidic acid, behenic acid, lignoceric acid, and docosapentaenoic acid levels.