Therapeutic Targets for DOX-Induced Cardiomyopathy: Role of Apoptosis vs. Ferroptosis

Regulation of optimized new Shengmai powder on cardiomyocyte apoptosis and ferroptosis in ischemic heart failure rats: The mediating role of phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase/protein kinase B/tumor protein 53 signaling pathway

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Optimized New Shengmai Powder (ONSMP) is a sophisticated traditional Chinese medicinal formula renowned for bolstering vital energy, optimizing blood circulation, and mitigating fluid retention. After years of clinical application, ONSMP has shown a significant impact in improving myocardial injury and cardiac function and has a positive effect on treating heart failure. However, many unknowns exist about the molecular biological mechanisms of how ONSMP exerts its therapeutic effects, which require further research and exploration.

AIM OF THE STUDY

Exploring the potential molecular biological mechanisms by which ONSMP ameliorates cardiomyocyte apoptosis and ferroptosis in ischemic heart failure (IHF).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

First, we constructed a rat model of IHF by inducing acute myocardial infarction through surgery and using echocardiography, organ coefficients, markers of heart failure, antioxidant markers, and histopathological examination to assess the effects of ONSMP on cardiomyocyte apoptosis and ferroptosis in IHF rats. Next, we used bioinformatics analysis techniques to analyze the active components, signaling pathways, and core targets of ONSMP and calculated the interactions between core targets and corresponding elements. Finally, we detected the positive expression of apoptosis and ferroptosis markers and core indicators of signaling pathways by immunohistochemistry; detected the mean fluorescence intensity of core indicators of signaling pathways by immunofluorescence; detected the protein expression of signaling pathways and downstream effector molecules by western blotting; and detected the mRNA levels of p53 and downstream effector molecules by quantitative polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTS

ONSMP can activate the Ser83 site of ASK by promoting the phosphorylation of the PI3K/AKT axis, thereby inhibiting the MKK3/6-p38 axis and the MKK4/7-JNK axis signaling to reduce p53 expression, and can also directly target and inhibit the activity of p53, ultimately inhibiting p53-mediated mRNA and protein increases in PUMA, SAT1, PIG3, and TFR1, as well as mRNA and protein decreases in SLC7A11, thereby inhibiting cardiomyocyte apoptosis and ferroptosis, effectively improving cardiac function and ventricular remodeling in IHF rat models.

CONCLUSION

ONSMP can inhibit cardiomyocyte apoptosis and ferroptosis through the PI3K/AKT/p53 signaling pathway, delaying the development of IHF.

Programmed death of cardiomyocytes in cardiovascular disease and new therapeutic approaches

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) have a complex pathogenesis and pose a major threat to human health. Cardiomyocytes have a low regenerative capacity, and their death is a key factor in the morbidity and mortality of many CVDs. Cardiomyocyte death can be regulated by specific signaling pathways known as programmed cell death (PCD), including apoptosis, necroptosis, autophagy, pyroptosis, and ferroptosis, etc. Abnormalities in PCD can lead to the development of a variety of cardiovascular diseases, and there are also molecular-level interconnections between different PCD pathways under the same cardiovascular disease model. Currently, the link between programmed cell death in cardiomyocytes and cardiovascular disease is not fully understood. This review describes the molecular mechanisms of programmed death and the impact of cardiomyocyte death on cardiovascular disease development. Emphasis is placed on a summary of drugs and potential therapeutic approaches that can be used to treat cardiovascular disease by targeting and blocking programmed cell death in cardiomyocytes.

Red ginseng prevents doxorubicin-induced cardiomyopathy by inhibiting cell death via activating the Nrf2 pathway

BACKGROUND

Doxorubicin (DXR) is an effective chemotherapeutic agent. DOX-induced cardiomyopathy (DICM), a major limitation of DXR, is a complication with limited treatment options. We previously reported that Red Ginseng (steamed and dried the root of Panax Ginseng cultivated for over six years; RGin) is beneficial for the treatment of DICM. However, the mechanism underlying the action of RGin remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the mechanism of action underlying the efficacy of RGin in the treatment of DICM.

METHODS

Four-week-old DBA/2 mice were divided into: vehicle, DXR, RGin, and DXR + RGin (n = 10/group). Mice were treated with DXR (4 mg/kg, once a week, accumulated 20 mg/kg, i.p.) or RGin (0.5 g/kg, three times a week, i.p.). To evaluate efficacy, the survival rate and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) were measured as a measure of cardiac function, and cardiomyocytes were subjected to Masson trichrome staining. To investigate the mechanism of action, western blotting was performed to evaluate the expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), heme oxygenase 1, transferrin receptor (TfR), and other related proteins. Data were analyzed using the Easy R software. Between-group comparisons were performed using one-way analysis of variance and analyzed using a post-hoc Tukey test. Survival rates were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared using the log-rank test. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant in all analyses.

RESULTS

RGin treatment prolongs survival and protects against reduced LVEF. In the DXR group, Nrf2 was not activated and cell death was accelerated. Furthermore, there was an increase in the TfR levels, suggesting abnormal iron metabolism. However, the DXR + RGin group showed activation of the Nrf2 pathway and suppression of myocardial cell death. Furthermore, there was no increase in TfR expression, suggesting that there were no abnormalities in iron metabolism. Therefore, the mechanism of action of RGin in DICM involves an increase in antioxidant activity and inhibition of cell death through activation of the Nrf2 pathway.

CONCLUSION

RGin is a useful therapeutic candidate for DICM. Its efficacy is supported by the activation of the Nrf2 pathway, which enhances antioxidant activity and inhibits cell death.

Gypenosides exert cardioprotective effects by promoting mitophagy and activating PI3K/Akt/GSK-3β/Mcl-1 signaling

Background

Gynostemma pentaphyllum (Thunb.) Makino, a well-known edible and medicinal plant, has anti-aging properties and is used to treataging-associated conditions such as diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular diseases. Gypenosides (GYPs) are the primary constituents of G. pentaphyllum. Increasing evidence indicates that GYPs are effective at preserving mitochondrial homeostasis and preventing heart failure (HF). This study aimed to uncover the cardioprotective mechanisms of GYPs related to mitochondrial regulation.

Methods

The bioactive components in GYPs and the potential targets in treating HF were obtained and screened using the network pharmacology approach, followed by drug-disease target prediction and enrichment analyses. The pharmacological effects of GYPs in cardioprotection, mitochondrial function, mitochondrial quality control, and underlying mechanisms were further investigated in Doxorubicin (Dox)-stimulated H9c2 cardiomyocytes.

Results

A total of 88 bioactive compounds of GYPs and their respective 71 drug-disease targets were identified. The hub targets covered MAPK, EGFR, PI3KCA, and Mcl-1. Enrichment analysis revealed that the pathways primarily contained PI3K/Akt, MAPK, and FoxO signalings, as well as calcium regulation, protein phosphorylation, apoptosis, and mitophagy process. In Dox-stimulated H9c2 rat cardiomyocytes, pretreatment with GYPs increased cell viability, enhanced cellular ATP content, restored basal oxygen consumption rate (OCR), and improved mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP). Furthermore, GYPs improved PINK1/parkin-mediated mitophagy without influencing mitochondrial fission/fusion proteins and the autophagic LC3 levels. Mechanistically, the phosphorylation of PI3K, Akt, GSK-3β, and the protein level of Mcl-1 was upregulated by GYP treatment.

Conclusion

Our findings reveal that GYPs exert cardioprotective effects by rescuing the defective mitophagy, and PI3K/Akt/GSK-3β/Mcl-1 signaling is potentially involved in this process.

Research progress of circular RNAs in myocardial ischemia

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a type of single-stranded RNA that forms a covalently closed continuous loop. Its structure, stability, properties, and cell- and tissue-specificity have gained considerable recognition in the research and clinical sectors, as its role has been observed in different diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases, cancers, and central nervous system diseases, etc. Cardiovascular disease is still named as the number one cause of death globally, with myocardial ischemia (MI) accounting for 15 % of mortality annually. A number of circRNAs have been identified and are being studied for their ability to reduce MI by inhibiting the molecular mechanisms associated with myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury, such as inflammation, oxidative stress, autophagy, apoptosis, and so on. CircRNAs play a significant role as crucial regulatory elements at transcriptional levels, regulating different proteins, and at posttranscriptional levels, having interactions with RNA-binding proteins, ribosomal proteins, micro-RNAS, and long non-coding RNAS, making it possible to exert their effects through the circRNA-miRNA-mRNA axis. CircRNAs are a potential novel biomarker and therapeutic target for myocardial ischemia and cardiovascular diseases in general. The purpose of this review is to summarize the relationship, function, and mechanism observed between circRNAs and MI injury, as well as to provide directions for future research and clinical trials.

Vaccarin Ameliorates Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiotoxicity via Inhibition of p38 MAPK Mediated Mitochondrial Dysfunction

Doxorubicin is a frequently used chemotherapeutic agent for treating various malignancies. However, it leads to severe cardiotoxic side effects, such as heart failure, and elevates the risk of sudden cardiac death among cancer patients. While oxidative stress has been identified as the primary cause of doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity, therapeutic antioxidant approaches have yielded unsatisfactory outcomes. The aim of this study is to explore the therapeutic potential of vaccarin, an active flavonoid glycoside extracted from traditional Chinese herbal agent Semen Vaccariae, in doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity. We observed that vaccarin significantly ameliorates doxorubicin-induced heart dysfunction in mouse model and suppresses oxidative stress mediated cell apoptosis via specifically inhibiting the activation of p38 MAPK pathway. In vitro, we observed that vaccarin alleviates doxorubicin-induced mitochondrial membrane depolarization and ROS generation in H9c2 cell, but the p38 MAPK agonist anisomycin reverses these effects. Our findings provide a promising natural antioxidant to protect against DOX-induced cardiotoxicity.

GSH and Ferroptosis: Side-by-Side Partners in the Fight against Tumors

Glutathione (GSH), a prominent antioxidant in organisms, exhibits diverse biological functions and is crucial in safeguarding cells against oxidative harm and upholding a stable redox milieu. The metabolism of GSH is implicated in numerous diseases, particularly in the progression of malignant tumors. Consequently, therapeutic strategies targeting the regulation of GSH synthesis and metabolism to modulate GSH levels represent a promising avenue for future research. This study aimed to elucidate the intricate relationship between GSH metabolism and ferroptosis, highlighting how modulation of GSH metabolism can impact cellular susceptibility to ferroptosis and consequently influence the development of tumors and other diseases. The paper provides a comprehensive overview of the physiological functions of GSH, including its structural characteristics, physicochemical properties, sources, and metabolic pathways, as well as investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying GSH regulation of ferroptosis and potential therapeutic interventions. Unraveling the biological role of GSH holds promise for individuals afflicted with tumors.

Cardioprotective potentials of myricetin on doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity based on biochemical and transcriptomic analysis

Doxorubicin (DOX) is a commonly used anthracycline in cancer chemotherapy. The clinical application of DOX is constrained by its cardiotoxicity. Myricetin (MYR) is a natural flavonoid widely present in many plants with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. However, MYR's beneficial effects and mechanisms in alleviating DOX-induced cardiotoxicity (DIC) remain unknown. C57BL/6 mice were injected with 15 mg/kg of DOX to establish the DIC, and MYR solutions were administrated by gavage to investigate its cardioprotective potentials. Histopathological analysis, physiological indicators assessment, transcriptomics analysis, and RT-qPCR were used to elucidate the potential mechanism of MYR in DIC treatment. MYR reduced cardiac injury produced by DOX, decreased levels of cTnI, AST, LDH, and BNP, and improved myocardial injury and fibrosis. MYR effectively prevented DOX-induced oxidative stress, such as lowered MDA levels and elevated SOD, CAT, and GSH activities. MYR effectively suppressed NLRP3 and ASC gene expression levels to inhibit pyroptosis while regulating Caspase1 and Bax levels to reduce cardiac cell apoptosis. According to the transcriptomic analysis, glucose and fatty acid metabolism were associated with differential gene expression. KEGG pathway analysis revealed differential gene enrichment in PPAR and AMPK pathways, among others. Following validation, MYR was found to alleviate DIC by regulating glycolipid metabolism and AMPK pathway-related genes. Our findings demonstrated that MYR could mitigate DIC by regulating the processes of oxidative stress, apoptosis, and pyroptosis. MYR is critical in improving DOX-induced myocardial energy metabolism abnormalities mediated by the AMPK signaling pathway. In conclusion, MYR holds promise as a therapeutic strategy for DIC.

Licochalcone A alleviates ferroptosis in doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity via the PI3K/AKT/MDM2/p53 pathway

Licochalcone A (Lico A), a flavonoid found in licorice, possesses multiple pharmacological activities in modulating oxidative stress, glycemia, inflammation, and lipid metabolism. This study aimed to explore the potential mechanism of Lico A in mitigating ferroptosis associated with doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity (DIC). Initially, network pharmacology analysis was applied to identify the active components present in licorice and their targeted genes associated with DIC. Subsequently, to assess the role of Lico A in a DIC mouse model, electrocardiograms, myocardial injury markers, and myocardial histopathological changes were measured. Additionally, cell viability, reactive oxygen species (ROS), ferrous iron, glutathione/glutathione disulfide (GSH/GSSG), and malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured in the cell model as hallmarks of ferroptosis. Finally, the PI3K/AKT/MDM2/p53 signaling pathway and ferroptosis-related proteins were measured in vitro and in vivo. Bioinformatics results revealed that 8 major compounds of licorice, including Lico A, primarily regulated targets such as p53 and the PI3K/AKT signaling pathways in DIC. In the mouse model of DIC, Lico A significantly ameliorated serum biomarkers, histopathology, and electrocardiogram abnormalities. Pretreatment with Lico A enhanced the viability of H9C2 cells treated with doxorubicin. Furthermore, Lico A administration resulted in decreased levels of ROS, ferrous iron, and MDA and increased levels of GSH/GSSG. At the protein level, Lico A increased the phosphorylation of PI3K/AKT/MDM2, reduced p53 accumulation, and induced the upregulation of SLC7A11 and GPX4 expression. However, selective inhibition of PI3K/AKT and plasmid-based overexpression of p53 significantly abolished the anti-ferroptosis functions of Lico A. In conclusion, Lico A attenuates DIC by suppressing p53-mediated ferroptosis through activating PI3K/AKT/MDM2 signaling.

Targeting Nrf2 signaling pathway: new therapeutic strategy for cardiovascular diseases

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death globally, with oxidative stress (OS) identified as a primary contributor to their onset and progression. Given the elevated incidence and mortality rates associated with CVDs, there is an imperative need to investigate novel therapeutic strategies. Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), ubiquitously expressed in the cardiovascular system, has emerged as a promising therapeutic target for CVDs due to its role in regulating OS and inflammation. This review aims to delve into the mechanisms and actions of the Nrf2 pathway, highlighting its potential in mitigating the pathogenesis of CVDs.

The role and mechanism of epigenetics in anticancer drug-induced cardiotoxicity

Cardiovascular disease is the main factor contributing to the global burden of diseases, and the cardiotoxicity caused by anticancer drugs is an essential component that cannot be ignored. With the development of anticancer drugs, the survival period of cancer patients is prolonged; however, the cardiotoxicity caused by anticancer drugs is becoming increasingly prominent. Currently, cardiovascular disease has emerged as the second leading cause of mortality among long-term cancer survivors. Anticancer drug-induced cardiotoxicity has become a frontier and hot topic. The discovery of epigenetics has given the possibility of environmental changes in gene expression, protein synthesis, and traits. It has been found that epigenetics plays a pivotal role in promoting cardiovascular diseases, such as heart failure, coronary heart disease, and hypertension. In recent years, increasing studies have underscored the crucial roles played by epigenetics in anticancer drug-induced cardiotoxicity. Here, we provide a comprehensive overview of the role and mechanisms of epigenetics in anticancer drug-induced cardiotoxicity.

Role of gut microbiota in doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity: from pathogenesis to related interventions

Doxorubicin (DOX) is a broad-spectrum and highly efficient anticancer agent, but its clinical implication is limited by lethal cardiotoxicity. Growing evidences have shown that alterations in intestinal microbial composition and function, namely dysbiosis, are closely linked to the progression of DOX-induced cardiotoxicity (DIC) through regulating the gut-microbiota-heart (GMH) axis. The role of gut microbiota and its metabolites in DIC, however, is largely unelucidated. Our review will focus on the potential mechanism between gut microbiota dysbiosis and DIC, so as to provide novel insights into the pathophysiology of DIC. Furthermore, we summarize the underlying interventions of microbial-targeted therapeutics in DIC, encompassing dietary interventions, fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), probiotics, antibiotics, and natural phytochemicals. Given the emergence of microbial investigation in DIC, finally we aim to point out a novel direction for future research and clinical intervention of DIC, which may be helpful for the DIC patients.

USP36-mediated PARP1 deubiquitination in doxorubicin-induced cardiomyopathy

Doxorubicin (Dox) is a potent antineoplastic agent, but its use is curtailed by severe cardiotoxicity, known as Dox-induced cardiomyopathy (DIC). The molecular mechanism underlying this cardiotoxicity remains unclear. Our current study investigates the role of Ubiquitin-Specific Protease 36 (USP36), a nucleolar deubiquitinating enzyme (DUB), in the progression of DIC and its mechanism. We found increased USP36 expression in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes and H9C2 cells exposed to Dox. Silencing USP36 significantly mitigated Dox-induced oxidative stress injury and apoptosis in vitro. Mechanistically, USP36 upregulation positively correlated with Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP1) expression, and its knockdown led to a reduction in PARP1 levels. Further investigation revealed that USP36 could bind to and mediate the deubiquitination of PARP1, thereby increasing its protein stability in cardiomyocytes upon Dox exposure. Moreover, overexpression of wild-type (WT) USP36 plasmid, but not its catalytically inactive mutant (C131A), stabilized PARP1 in HEK293T cells. We also established a DIC model in mice and observed significant upregulation of USP36 in the heart. Cardiac knockdown of USP36 in mice using a type 9 recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV9)-shUSP36 significantly preserved cardiac function after Dox treatment and protected against Dox-induced structural changes within the myocardium. In conclusion, these findings suggest that Dox promotes DIC progression by activating USP36-mediated PARP1 deubiquitination. This novel USP36/PARP1 axis may play a significant regulatory role in the pathogenesis of DIC.

The interplay between autophagy and ferroptosis presents a novel conceptual therapeutic framework for neuroendocrine prostate cancer

In American men, the incidence of prostate cancer (PC) is the highest among all types of cancer, making it the second leading cause of mortality associated with cancer. For advanced or metastatic PC, antiandrogen therapies are standard treatment options. The administration of these treatments unfortunately carries the potential risk of inducing neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC). Neuroendocrine differentiation (NED) serves as a crucial indicator of prostate cancer development, encompassing various factors such as phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin (PI3K/AKT/mTOR), Yes-associated protein 1 (YAP1), AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), miRNA. The processes of autophagy and ferroptosis (an iron-dependent form of programmed cell death) play pivotal roles in the regulation of various types of cancers. Clinical trials and preclinical investigations have been conducted on many signaling pathways during the development of NEPC, with the deepening of research, autophagy and ferroptosis appear to be the potential target for regulating NEPC. Due to the dual nature of autophagy and ferroptosis in cancer, gaining a deeper understanding of the developmental programs associated with achieving autophagy and ferroptosis may enhance risk stratification and treatment efficacy for patients with NEPC.

Mass Production of Rg1-Loaded Small Extracellular Vesicles Using a 3D Bioreactor System for Enhanced Cardioprotective Efficacy of Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiotoxicity

BACKGROUND

Small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) obtained from human umbilical cord mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have shown cardioprotective efficacy in doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity (DIC). However, their clinical application is limited due to the low yield and high consumption. This study aims to achieve large-scale production of sEVs using a three-dimensional (3D) bioreactor system. In addition, sEVs were developed to deliver Ginsenoside Rg1 (Rg1), a compound derived from traditional Chinese medicine, Ginseng, that has cardioprotective properties but limited bioavailability, to enhance the treatment of DIC.

METHODS

The 3D bioreactor system with spinner flasks was used to expand human umbilical cord MSCs and collect MSC-conditioned medium. Subsequently, sEVs were isolated from the conditioned medium using differential ultra-centrifugation (dUC). The sEVs were loaded with Ginsenoside Rg1 by electroporation and evaluated for cardioprotective efficacy using Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) analysis, Annexin V/PI staining and live cell count of H9c2 cells under DIC.

RESULTS

Using the 3D bioreactor system with spinner flasks, the expansion of MSCs reached ~600 million, and the production of sEVs was up to 2.2 × 1012 particles in five days with significantly reduced bench work compared to traditional 2D flasks. With the optimized protocol, the Ginsenoside Rg1 loading efficiency of sEVs by electroporation was ~21%, higher than sonication or co-incubation. Moreover, Rg1-loaded sEVs had attenuated DOX-induced cardiotoxicity with reduced apoptosis compared to free Ginsenoside Rg1 or sEVs.

CONCLUSIONS

The 3D culture system scaled up the production of sEVs, which facilitated the Rg1 delivery and attenuated cardiomyocyte apoptosis, suggesting a potential treatment of DOX-induced cardiotoxicity.

Pharmacological activation of GPX4 ameliorates doxorubicin-induced cardiomyopathy

Due to the cardiotoxicity of doxorubicin (DOX), its clinical application is limited. Lipid peroxidation caused by excessive ferrous iron is believed to be a key molecular mechanism of DOX-induced cardiomyopathy (DIC). Dexrazoxane (DXZ), an iron chelator, is the only drug approved by the FDA for reducing DIC, but it has many side effects and cannot be used as a preventive drug in clinical practice. Single-nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNA-seq) analysis identified myocardial and epithelial cells that are susceptible to DOX-induced ferroptosis. The glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) activator selenomethione (SeMet) significantly reduced polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and oxidized lipid levels in vitro. Consistently, SeMet significantly decreased DOX-induced lipid peroxidation in H9C2 cells and mortality in C57BL/6 mice compared to DXZ, ferrostatin-1, and normal saline. SeMet can effectively reduce serum markers of cardiac injury in C57BL/6 mice and breast cancer patients. Depletion of the GPX4 gene in C57BL/6 mice resulted in an increase in polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) levels and eliminated the protective effect of SeMet against DIC. Notably, SeMet exerted antitumor effects on breast cancer models with DOX while providing cardiac protection for the same animal without detectable toxicities. These findings suggest that pharmacological activation of GPX4 is a valuable and promising strategy for preventing the cardiotoxicity of doxorubicin.

AI-assisted mass spectrometry imaging with in situ image segmentation for subcellular metabolomics analysis

Subcellular metabolomics analysis is crucial for understanding intracellular heterogeneity and accurate drug-cell interactions. Unfortunately, the ultra-small size and complex microenvironment inside the cell pose a great challenge to achieving this goal. To address this challenge, we propose an artificial intelligence-assisted subcellular mass spectrometry imaging (AI-SMSI) strategy with in situ image segmentation. Based on the nanometer-resolution MSI technique, the protonated guanine and threonine ions were respectively employed as the nucleus and cytoplasmic markers to complete image segmentation at the subcellular level, avoiding mutual interference of signals from various compartments in the cell. With advanced AI models, the metabolites within the different regions could be further integrated and profiled. Through this method, we decrypted the distinct action mechanism of isomeric drugs, doxorubicin (DOX) and epirubicin (EPI), only with a stereochemical inversion at C-4'. Within the cytoplasmic region, fifteen specific metabolites were discovered as biomarkers for distinguishing the drug action difference between DOX and EPI. Moreover, we identified that the downregulations of glutamate and aspartate in the malate-aspartate shuttle pathway may contribute to the higher paratoxicity of DOX. Our current AI-SMSI approach has promising applications for subcellular metabolomics analysis and thus opens new opportunities to further explore drug-cell specific interactions for the long-term pursuit of precision medicine.

Advances in Ferroptosis-Inducing Agents by Targeted Delivery System in Cancer Therapy

Currently, cancer remains one of the most significant threats to human health. Treatment of most cancers remains challenging, despite the implementation of diverse therapies in clinical practice. In recent years, research on the mechanism of ferroptosis has presented novel perspectives for cancer treatment. Ferroptosis is a regulated cell death process caused by lipid peroxidation of membrane unsaturated fatty acids catalyzed by iron ions. The rapid development of bio-nanotechnology has generated considerable interest in exploiting iron-induced cell death as a new therapeutic target against cancer. This article provides a comprehensive overview of recent advancements at the intersection of iron-induced cell death and bionanotechnology. In this respect, the mechanism of iron-induced cell death and its relation to cancer are summarized. Furthermore, the feasibility of a nano-drug delivery system based on iron-induced cell death for cancer treatment is introduced and analyzed. Secondly, strategies for inducing iron-induced cell death using nanodrug delivery technology are discussed, including promoting Fenton reactions, inhibiting glutathione peroxidase 4, reducing low glutathione levels, and inhibiting system Xc-. Additionally, the article explores the potential of combined treatment strategies involving iron-induced cell death and bionanotechnology. Finally, the application prospects and challenges of iron-induced nanoagents for cancer treatment are discussed.

Involvement of Ferroptosis Induction and Oxidative Phosphorylation Inhibition in the Anticancer-Drug-Induced Myocardial Injury: Ameliorative Role of Pterostilbene

Patients with cancer die from cardiac dysfunction second only to the disease itself. Cardiotoxicity caused by anticancer drugs has been emphasized as a possible cause; however, the details remain unclear. To investigate this mechanism, we treated rat cardiomyoblast H9c2 cells with sunitinib, lapatinib, 5-fluorouracil, and cisplatin to examine their effects. All anticancer drugs increased ROS, lipid peroxide, and iron (II) levels in the mitochondria and decreased glutathione peroxidase-4 levels and the GSH/GSSG ratio. Against this background, mitochondrial iron (II) accumulates through the unregulated expression of haem oxygenase-1 and ferrochelatase. Anticancer-drug-induced cell death was suppressed by N-acetylcysteine, deferoxamine, and ferrostatin, indicating ferroptosis. Anticancer drug treatment impairs mitochondrial DNA and inhibits oxidative phosphorylation in H9c2 cells. Similar results were observed in the hearts of cancer-free rats treated with anticancer drugs in vitro. In contrast, treatment with pterostilbene inhibited the induction of ferroptosis and rescued the energy restriction induced by anticancer drugs both in vitro and in vivo. These findings suggest that induction of ferroptosis and inhibition of oxidative phosphorylation are mechanisms by which anticancer drugs cause myocardial damage. As pterostilbene ameliorates these mechanisms, it is expected to have significant clinical applications.

Molecular mechanisms of ferroptosis in cardiovascular disease

Ferroptosis is a newly recognized type of regulated cell death that is characterized by the accumulation of iron and lipid peroxides in cells. Studies have shown that ferroptosis plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of various diseases, including cardiovascular diseases. In cardiovascular disease, ferroptosis is associated with ischemia-reperfusion injury, myocardial infarction, heart failure, and atherosclerosis. The molecular mechanisms underlying ferroptosis include the iron-dependent accumulation of lipid peroxidation products, glutathione depletion, and dysregulation of lipid metabolism, among others. This review aims to summarize the current knowledge of the molecular mechanisms of ferroptosis in cardiovascular disease and discuss the potential therapeutic strategies targeting ferroptosis as a treatment for cardiovascular disease.

The m6A demethylase fat mass and obesity-associated protein mitigates pyroptosis and inflammation in doxorubicin-induced heart failure via the toll-like receptor 4/NF-κB pathway

Background

Doxorubicin (Dox) can induce cardiotoxicity, thereby restricting the utility of this potent drug. Herein, the study ascertained the mechanism of the N6-methyladenosine (m6A) demethylase fat mass and obesity-associated protein (FTO) in pyroptosis and inflammation during Dox-induced heart failure (HF).

Methods

Serum samples were collected from HF patients for detection of the expression of FTO and toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4). Dox-treated H9C2 cardiomyocytes were chosen for in vitro HF modeling, followed by measurement of FTO and TLR4 expression. Cardiomyocytes were detected for viability, apoptosis, spatial distribution of NOD-, LRR- and pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3), and the levels of lactic dehydrogenase, inflammatory factors, oxidative stress markers, and pyroptosis-related proteins. The m6A levels of mRNA were examined. RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) and mRNA stability measurement were used to determine mRNA and protein expression, and RNA m6A dot blot and methylated-RIP assay were performed to detect m6A methylation levels. The expression of p-NF-κB p65 and p-IκB-α was measured by western blotting.

Results

In the serum of HF patients, FTO was elevated while TLR4 was decreased. Dox treatment reduced FTO expression and increased m6A methylation levels and TLR4 expression in H9C2 cells. Overexpression of FTO and knockdown of TLR4 reduced apoptosis, cytotoxicity, inflammation, pyroptosis, oxidative stress, NLRP3 co-localization, and fluorescence intensity in Dox-induced H9C2 cells. Mechanistically, FTO resulted in reduced binding activity of YTHDF1 to TLR4 mRNA via m6A demethylation of TLR4, thus declining TLR4, p-NF-κB p65, and p-IκB-α expression. TLR4 knockdown counteracted the effects of FTO knockdown on Dox-induced H9C2 cells.

Conclusions

FTO alleviated Dox-induced HF by blocking the TLR4/NF-κB pathway.

FGF12 restrains mitochondria-dependent ferroptosis in doxorubicin-induced cardiomyocytes through the activation of FGFR1/AMPK/NRF2 signaling

Fibroblast growth factor-12 (FGF12) has been reported to play important role in regulating heart diseases. We aimed to explore the role of FGF12 in doxorubicin (DOX)-induced myocardial injury. DOX-induced mice and DOX-induced HL-1 cells were used as the myocardial injury in vivo and in vitro. Then, FGF12, Anp, Bnp, and Myh7 expression was detected. The pathological injury in myocardium tissue was observed by H&E staining. The levels of markers related to myocardial damage and oxidative stress were assessed. Then, immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence staining were used to detect FGF12 and 4-HNE expression. Ferroptosis were detected by Prussian blue staining and western blot. The FGFR1/AMPK/NRF2 signaling was measured by western blot. FGF12 expression was downregulated in DOX-induced mice myocardium tissues. FGF12 overexpression alleviated DOX-induced myocardial tissue pathological injury and reduced Anp, Bnp, and Myh7 expression. Additionally, the levels of CK-MB, LDH and cTnT in serum were decreased after FGF12 upregulation in DOX-induced mice. Moreover, FGF12 overexpression reduced the levels of ROS, MDA, and 4-HNE but increased SOD and GSH-Px activities. Meanwhile, FGF12 led to less deposition of iron ion, decreased ACSL4, PTGS2 and increased GPX4, FTH1 expression. Additionally, FGF12 activated the expressions of FGFR1, p-AMPK, and NRF2. Moreover, FGFR1 silencing reversed the protective effects of FGF12 overexpression on cell viability, oxidative stress, ferroptosis, and FGFR1/AMPK/NRF2 pathway. To sum up, FGF12 inhibited mitochondria-dependent ferroptosis in cardiomyocytes induced by DOX through activation of FGFR1/AMPK/NRF2 signaling. These findings clarify a new mechanism of DOX-induced cardiac injury and provide a promising target to limit the disease development.

Baicalin-peptide supramolecular self-assembled nanofibers effectively inhibit ferroptosis and attenuate doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity

Doxorubicin, an anthracycline chemotherapeutic agent, elicits a deleterious cardiotoxicity known as doxorubicin-induced cardiomyopathy (DIC) that circumscribes its chemotherapy utility for malignancies. Recent empirical evidence implicates ferroptosis, an iron-dependent form of regulated cell death, as playing a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of DIC. We postulated that anti-ferroptosis agents may constitute a novel therapeutic strategy for mitigating DIC. To test this hypothesis, we engineered baicalin-peptide supramolecular self-assembled nanofibers designed to selectively target the angiotensin II type I receptor (AT1R), which is upregulated in doxorubicin-damaged cardiomyocytes. This enabled targeted delivery of baicalin, a natural antioxidant compound, to inhibit ferroptosis in the afflicted myocardium. In vitro, the nanofibers ameliorated cardiomyocyte death by attenuating peroxide accumulation and suppressing ferroptosis. In a murine model of DIC, AT1R-targeted baicalin delivery resulted in efficacious cardiac accumulation and superior therapeutic effects compared to systemic administration. This investigation delineates a promising framework for developing targeted therapies that alleviate doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity by inhibiting the ferroptosis pathway in cardiomyocytes.

Qishen granule attenuates doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity by protecting mitochondrial function and reducing oxidative stress through regulation of Sirtuin3

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Doxorubicin (DOX) is one of the most potent chemotherapy drugs available today. However, the adverse effect of cardiotoxicity limits its clinical application. New approaches are being investigated for the treatment of doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity (DIC). Doxorubicin is enriched in mitochondria and it could induce imbalance of protein modification, including acetylation of mitochondria proteins, thereby inducing DIC. Restoration of mitochondria function is an effective way to attenuate DIC. The formula for traditional Chinese medicine Granules of Qishen (QSG) was derived from the classic formula "Zhen-Wu-Tang" which has been extensively used in the treatment of myocardial infarction. It consists of six traditional Chinese medicines, including Astragalus membranaceus var. mongholicus (Bunge) P.K.Hsiao (Fabaceae), Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge (Lamiaceae), Lonicera japonica Thunb. (Caprifoliaceae), Aconitum carmichaelii Debeaux (Ranunculaceae), Scrophularia ningpoensis Hemsl. (Scrophulariaceae), and Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch. (Fabaceae). QSG is a potential anti-DIC formula. A better understanding of the effectiveness and pharmacological mechanisms of QSG will aid in the prevention and treatment of DIC.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The purpose of this research was to explore the effectiveness of QSG in the treatment of DIC and to explore whether QSG could protect mitochondrial function and reduce oxidative damage by activating Sirtuin3(SIRT3)/Acetylated-superoxide dismutase 2(Ac-SOD2) signaling pathway.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

DOX was injected into mice through the tail vein to construct a mouse model of DOX-induced cardiotoxicity to explore the therapeutic effect of QSG in animals. Meanwhile, the H9C2 cell model was used to study the mechanism of QSG. The cardiac function was evaluated by echocardiography, hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining and measurement of serum levels of creatine kinase isoenzymes (CK-MB) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). Oxidative damage was evaluated by 2',7'-dichlorodihydro fluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA) staining and Mito-SOX Red staining. Levels of total superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) content were measured by following the instructions of commercially available kits. In order to detect the changes in mitochondrial membrane potential, cells were stained using the mitochondrial membrane potential detection kit (JC-1). Western blot analysis was applied to detect protein expressions of SIRT3, Ac-SOD2, Acetylation Lysine (Ac-Lys), Bax and Bcl-2. H9C2 cells were treated with SIRT3 inhibitor, in order to determine if QSG had effects via the SIRT3/Ac-SOD2 pathway.

RESULTS

In vivo studies showed that QSG ameliorated doxorubicin-induced damage of cardiac function in DIC mice model. The ejection fraction (EF) and fractional shortening (FS) were all up-regulated by QSG treatment. QSG decreased MDA levels and increased SOD activity. Meanwhile, doxorubicin induced high level of protein acetylation and QSG restored the acetylated protein back to normal levels. In particular, QSG upregulated expression of SIRT3 and downregulated Ac-SOD level. In vitro study demonstrated that QSG restored mitochondrial membrane potential, increased ATP level and reduced mitochondrial ROS production. When H9C2 cells were co-incubated with SIRT3 inhibitor, the efficacies of QSG on mitochondrial function were abrogated. Meanwhile, the regulative effects of QSG on SIRT3/Ac-SOD2 pathway were also abolished.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrates that QSG is effective in treating DIC. QSG ameliorates oxidative damage and protects mitochondrial function partly by restoring protein acetylation level and by activating the SIRT3/Ac-SOD2 pathway.

Doxorubicin-Based Ionic Nanomedicines for Combined Chemo-Phototherapy of Cancer

Synergistic combination therapy approach offers lots of options for delivery of materials with anticancer properties, which is a very promising strategy to treat a variety of malignant lesions with enhanced therapeutic efficacy. The current study involves a detailed investigation of combination ionic nanomedicines where a chemotherapeutic drug is coupled with a photothermal agent to attain dual mechanisms (chemotherapy (chemo) and photothermal therapy (PTT)) to improve the drug's efficacy. An FDA-approved Doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX·HCl) is electrostatically attached with a near-infrared cyanine dye (ICG, IR783, and IR820), which serves as a PTT drug using ionic liquid chemistry to develop three ionic material (IM)-based chemo-PTT drugs. Carrier-free ionic nanomedicines (INMs) are derived from ionic materials (IMs). The photophysical properties of the developed combination IMs and their INMs were studied in depth. The phototherapeutic efficiency of the combination drugs was evaluated by measuring the photothermal conversion efficiency and singlet-oxygen quantum yield. The improved photophysical properties of the combination nanomedicines in comparison to their parent compounds significantly enhanced INMs' photothermal efficiency. Cellular uptake, dark and light toxicity studies, and cell death mechanisms of the chemo-PTT nanoparticles were also studied in vitro. The combination INMs exhibited enhanced cytotoxicity compared to their respective parent compounds. Moreover, the apoptosis cell death mechanism was almost doubled for combination nanomedicine than the free DOX, which is attributed to enhanced cellular uptake. Examination of the combination index and improved in vitro cytotoxicity results revealed a great synergy between chemo and PTT drugs in the developed combination nanomedicines.

Targeting ferroptosis and ferritinophagy: new targets for cardiovascular diseases

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a leading factor driving mortality worldwide. Iron, an essential trace mineral, is important in numerous biological processes, and its role in CVDs has raised broad discussion for decades. Iron-mediated cell death, namely ferroptosis, has attracted much attention due to its critical role in cardiomyocyte damage and CVDs. Furthermore, ferritinophagy is the upstream mechanism that induces ferroptosis, and is closely related to CVDs. This review aims to delineate the processes and mechanisms of ferroptosis and ferritinophagy, and the regulatory pathways and molecular targets involved in ferritinophagy, and to determine their roles in CVDs. Furthermore, we discuss the possibility of targeting ferritinophagy-induced ferroptosis modulators for treating CVDs. Collectively, this review offers some new insights into the pathology of CVDs and identifies possible therapeutic targets.

The Dual Roles of Activating Transcription Factor 3 (ATF3) in Inflammation, Apoptosis, Ferroptosis, and Pathogen Infection Responses

Transcription factors are pivotal regulators in the cellular life process. Activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3), a member of the ATF/CREB (cAMP response element-binding protein) family, plays a crucial role as cells respond to various stresses and damage. As a transcription factor, ATF3 significantly influences signal transduction regulation, orchestrating a variety of signaling pathways, including apoptosis, ferroptosis, and cellular differentiation. In addition, ATF3 serves as an essential link between inflammation, oxidative stress, and immune responses. This review summarizes the recent advances in research on ATF3 activation and its role in regulating inflammatory responses, cell apoptosis, and ferroptosis while exploring the dual functions of ATF3 in these processes. Additionally, this article discusses the role of ATF3 in diseases related to pathogenic microbial infections. Our review may be helpful to better understand the role of ATF3 in cellular responses and disease progression, thus promoting advancements in clinical treatments for inflammation and oxidative stress-related diseases.

Recent progress in the role of endogenous metal ions in doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity

Doxorubicin is a widely used anticancer drug in clinical practice for the treatment of various human tumors. However, its administration is associated with cardiotoxicity. Administration of doxorubicin with low side effects for cancer treatment and prevention are, accordingly, urgently required. The human body harbors various endogenous metal ions that exert substantial influences. Consequently, extensive research has been conducted over several decades to investigate the potential of targeting endogenous metal ions to mitigate doxorubicin's side effects and impede tumor progression. In recent years, there has been a growing body of research indicating the potential efficacy of metal ion-associated therapeutic strategies in inhibiting doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity (DIC). These strategies offer a combination of favorable safety profiles and potential clinical utility. Alterations in intracellular levels of metal ions have been found to either facilitate or mitigate the development of DIC. For instance, ferroptosis, a cellular death mechanism, and metal ions such as copper, zinc, and calcium have been identified as significant contributors to DIC. This understanding can contribute to advancements in cancer treatment and provide valuable insights for mitigating the cardiotoxic effects of other therapeutic drugs. Furthermore, potential therapeutic strategies have been investigated to alleviate DIC in clinical settings. The ultimate goal is to improve the efficacy and safety of Dox and offer valuable insights for future research in this field.

Long noncoding RNA RMRP ameliorates doxorubicin-induced apoptosis by interacting with PFN1 in a P53-Dependent manner

Doxorubicin (DOX) often causes acute or chronic cardiotoxicity during its application. LncRNA RMRP has been reported to be associated with several biological processes, such as cartilage-hair hypoplasia, but the relationship between RMRP and DOX-induced cardiotoxicity and chronic heart failure remains obscure. To test this hypothesis, GSE124401 and GSE149870 were processed for bioinformatics, and differentially expressed RMRP was then verified in the peripheral blood of 21 patients with heart failure compared with 7 controls. For in vitro validation, we used AC16 and HEK-293T cells. qPCR was used to detect the mRNA expression levels. The degree of apoptosis was detected by Western blot and TUNEL staining. Furthermore, the interaction between RMRP and PFN1 mRNA was verified by dual-luciferase reporter assays. In bioinformatics, RMRP showed significant downregulation, which was verified in clinical samples (p < 0.001) and DOX-treated AC16 models (p < 0.0001). Next, overexpression of RMRP could significantly alleviate DOX-induced apoptosis, and a potential downstream molecule of RMRP, PFN1, was also negatively associated with this change. RESCUE experiments further confirmed that PFN1 could be regulated by RMRP at both the RNA and protein levels, serving as a downstream mediator of RMRP's cardioprotective effects. This interaction was then confirmed to be a direct combination (p < 0.0001). Finally, we found that overexpression of RMRP could inhibit the expression of p53 and its phosphorylation level by suppressing PFN1. In summary, RMRP could exert cardioprotective effects via the PFN1/p53 axis, holding great promise for serving as a therapeutic target and potential biomarker.

Allogeneic mitochondrial transplantation ameliorates cardiac dysfunction due to doxorubicin: An in vivo study

Damage to the mitochondria may lead to serious conditions that are difficult to treat. Doxorubicin is one of the most widely used chemotherapeutic drugs for the treatment of malignancies in children and adults, and reportedly causes damage to the mitochondria. Unfortunately, the dangerous cardiac side effects of doxorubicin appear when the patient is in the midst of a vigorous fight against the disease, either by taking doxorubicin alone or in combination with other drugs. This study aimed to determine whether exogenous healthy and functional mitochondria are internalized by cells, can it help the survival of these cells, and can reduce cardiotoxicity. For this purpose, isolated, pure, and functional exogenous mitochondria were injected into the tail vein of a rat model of doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity. After that, the heart function of the rats and their antioxidant status, inflammatory markers, and histopathological examination were investigated. Our findings show that intravenous mitochondrial transplantation provided efficient mitochondrial uptake and reduced cardiotoxicity by reducing ROS production, lipid peroxidation, and inflammation. In addition, the levels of ATP and antioxidant enzymes increased after mitochondrial transplantation; therefore all of these complex processes resulted in the reduction of apoptosis and necrosis in rat heart tissue. These promising results open the way to more effective cancer treatment without the side effects of related drugs. Transplanting exogenous mitochondria probably enhances the cell's mitochondrial network, potentially treating mitochondria-related disorders such as cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases, although the exact relationship between mitochondrial damage and these conditions remains unclear.

Everolimus prevents doxorubicin-induced apoptosis in H9c2 cardiomyocytes but not in MCF-7 cancer cells: Cardioprotective roles of autophagy, mitophagy, and AKT

Cardiotoxicity is a severe side effect of the chemotherapeutic agent doxorubicin (DOX). We recently showed that DOX-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis and death were attenuated through autophagy pre-induction. Herein, we assessed how the autophagy/mitophagy-inducing antitumor drug everolimus (EVL) affected DOX-induced cytotoxicity in the rat cardiomyocyte cell line H9c2 and human breast cancer cell line MCF-7. Apoptosis was assessed using annexin V assay. Autophagy and mitophagy were assessed using fluorescence assays. Cellular protein levels were determined using western blotting. Pretreatment with EVL (1 nM) before DOX exposure inhibited mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) activity, induced autophagy and mitophagy, and activated protein kinase B (AKT) in H9c2 cells. In mitochondria, DOX (1 μM) induced structural damage (decreased membrane potential and release of cytochrome c), increased superoxide levels, decreased apoptosis inhibitor Bcl-2, and increased apoptosis inducer Bax, leading to apoptosis and reduced viability in H9c2 cells. EVL pretreatment suppressed DOX-induced changes. EVL anti-apoptotic effects were inhibited by treatment with MK-2206, a selective AKT inhibitor. Furthermore, EVL suppressed DOX-induced cardiotoxicity through autophagy/mitophagy and AKT activation but did not attenuate DOX-induced apoptosis or reduction in viability in MCF-7 cells. Altogether, EVL can protect cardiomyocytes from DOX-induced apoptosis and toxicity without reducing DOX antitumor effects, allowing safer chemotherapy.

Pharmacotherapy for Cancer Treatment-Related Cardiac Dysfunction and Heart Failure in Childhood Cancer Survivors

The number of childhood cancer survivors is increasing rapidly. According to American Association for Cancer Research, there are more than 750,000 childhood cancer survivors in the United States and Europe. As the number of childhood cancer survivors increases, so does cancer treatment-related cardiac dysfunction (CTRCD), leading to heart failure (HF). It has been reported that childhood cancer survivors who received anthracyclines are 15 times more likely to have late cancer treatment-related HF and have a 5-fold higher risk of death from cardiovascular (CV) disease than the general population. CV disease is the leading cause of death in childhood cancer survivors. The increasing need to manage cancer survivor patients has led to the rapid creation and adaptation of cardio-oncology. Cardio-oncology is a multidisciplinary science that monitors, treats, and prevents CTRCD. Many guidelines and position statements have been published to help diagnose and manage CTRCD, including those from the American Society of Clinical Oncology, the European Society of Cardiology, the Canadian Cardiovascular Society, the European Society of Medical Oncology, the International Late Effects of Childhood Cancer Guideline Harmonization Group, and many others. However, there remains a gap in identifying high-risk patients likely to develop cardiomyopathy and HF in later life, thus reducing primary and secondary measures being instituted, and when to start treatment when there is echocardiographic evidence of left ventricular (LV) dysfunctions without symptoms of HF. There are no randomized controlled clinical trials for treatment for CTRCD leading to HF in childhood cancer survivors. The treatment of HF due to cancer treatment is similar to the guidelines for general HF. This review describes the latest pharmacologic therapy for preventing and treating LV dysfunction and HF in childhood cancer survivors based on expert consensus guidelines and extrapolating data from adult HF trials.

FGF21 protects against doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity by inhibiting connexin 43 ubiquitination

BACKGROUND

Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) regulates glycolipid metabolism and insulin homeostasis and acts as a cardioprotective factor by protecting against myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury, hypertension, and vascular dysfunction. FGF21 has been reported to prevent Doxorubicin (Dox)-induced cardiotoxicity, and the related signaling pathway is worthy of further study. Connexin43 (Cx43) protein was reduced by Dox treatment, especially low phosphorylated form of Cx43. Thus the aim of study is to explore the protection effect of FGF21 on Dox induced cardiotoxicity by improving the expression of Cx43 and the involved signaling pathway.

METHODS AND RESULTS

FGF21 inhibited apoptosis in Dox-treated mice and cardiomyocytes. FGF21 increased the levels of connexin43 phosphorylated at serine (S) 282 (p-Cx43 S282) and total Cx43 to inhibit Dox-induced apoptosis. By RNA sequencing, we found that deubiquitinase monocyte chemoattractant protein-induced protein 1 (MCPIP1) expression was increased by FGF21. We further found that FGF21 induced the phosphorylation of fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (FGFR1), extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 and 2 (Erk1/2), and Elk. Phosphorylated Elk translocated to the nucleus and increased the expression of MCPIP1. Then, MCPIP1 bound neural precursor cell expressed developmentally downregulated protein 4 (Nedd4), an E3 ubiquitination ligase, as shown by co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP), and suppressed Cx43 ubiquitination and degradation, competitively inhibiting the binding of Cx43 with Nedd4. Thus Nedd4 could not bind and ubiquitinate Cx43, leading to the up-regulation of Cx43 and phosphorylation of Cx43 at S282.

CONCLUSIONS

FGF21 inhibited the effects of Dox on cardiomyocytes by elevating the phosphorylation of Cx43 at S282 and total Cx43 expression. This study suggests a previously unknown mechanism for the FGF21-mediated enhancement of cardiomyocyte survival and provides an effective approach to protect against the adverse cardiac effects of Dox.

The mechanism of ferroptosis and its related diseases

Ferroptosis, a regulated form of cellular death characterized by the iron-mediated accumulation of lipid peroxides, provides a novel avenue for delving into the intersection of cellular metabolism, oxidative stress, and disease pathology. We have witnessed a mounting fascination with ferroptosis, attributed to its pivotal roles across diverse physiological and pathological conditions including developmental processes, metabolic dynamics, oncogenic pathways, neurodegenerative cascades, and traumatic tissue injuries. By unraveling the intricate underpinnings of the molecular machinery, pivotal contributors, intricate signaling conduits, and regulatory networks governing ferroptosis, researchers aim to bridge the gap between the intricacies of this unique mode of cellular death and its multifaceted implications for health and disease. In light of the rapidly advancing landscape of ferroptosis research, we present a comprehensive review aiming at the extensive implications of ferroptosis in the origins and progress of human diseases. This review concludes with a careful analysis of potential treatment approaches carefully designed to either inhibit or promote ferroptosis. Additionally, we have succinctly summarized the potential therapeutic targets and compounds that hold promise in targeting ferroptosis within various diseases. This pivotal facet underscores the burgeoning possibilities for manipulating ferroptosis as a therapeutic strategy. In summary, this review enriched the insights of both investigators and practitioners, while fostering an elevated comprehension of ferroptosis and its latent translational utilities. By revealing the basic processes and investigating treatment possibilities, this review provides a crucial resource for scientists and medical practitioners, aiding in a deep understanding of ferroptosis and its effects in various disease situations.

Cinnamaldehyde alleviates doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity by decreasing oxidative stress and ferroptosis in cardiomyocytes

Although doxorubicin (DOX) is an efficient chemotherapeutic drug for human tumors, severe cardiotoxicity restricts its clinical use. Cinnamaldehyde (CA), a bioactive component isolated from Cinnamonum cassia, possesses potent anti-oxidative and anti-apoptotic potentials. The major aim of this study was to evaluate the protective role of CA against DOX-induced cardiotoxicity. To this end, cardiomyocyte injury models were developed using DOX-treated H9c2 cells and DOX-treated rats, respectively. Herein, we found that CA treatment increased cardiomyocyte viability and attenuated DOX-induced cardiomyocyte death in vitro. CA further protected rats against DOX-induced cardiotoxicity, as indicated by elevated creatine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels, myocardium injury, and myocardial fibrosis. CA alleviated DOX-induced myocardial oxidative stress by regulating reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione (GSH) levels. Mechanistically, CA markedly accelerated nuclear translocation of nuclear erythroid factor 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and increased heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expression. Consequently, CA decreased DOX-induced cardiomyocyte ferroptosis, while Erastin (a ferroptosis agonist) treatment destroyed the effect of CA on increasing cardiomyocyte viability. Taken together, the current results demonstrate that CA alleviates DOX-induced cardiotoxicity, providing a promising opportunity to increase the clinical application of DOX.

Tumor targeted cancer membrane-camouflaged ultra-small Fe nanoparticles for enhanced collaborative apoptosis and ferroptosis in glioma

Glioma is recognized as the most common and aggressive primary brain tumor in adults. Owing to the occurrence of drug resistance and the failure of drug to penetrate the blood-brain barrier (BBB), there is no effective strategy for the treatment of glioma. The main objective of this study was to develop a biomimetic glioma C6 cell membrane (C6M) derived nanovesicles (DOX-FN/C6M-NVs) loaded with doxorubicin (DOX) and ultra-small Fe nanoparticles (FN) for accomplishing the effective brain tumor-targeted delivery of DOX and improving anti-cancer efficacy via inducing collaborative apoptosis and ferroptosis. The findings revealed that employing C6M-NVs as a carrier significantly improved the therapeutic efficacy by enabling evasion of immune surveillance, facilitating targeted drug delivery to tumor sites, and minimizing cardiotoxicity and adverse effects associated with DOX. DOX-FN/C6M-NVs exhibited more potent anti-tumor effects as compared with free DOX by promoting DOX-mediated apoptosis and accelerating ferroptosis via the mediation of FN. This study suggested that DOX-FN/C6M-NVs as the potential inducer of ferroptosis and apoptosis conferred effective tumor suppression in the treatment of glioma.

Targeting oxidative stress as a preventive and therapeutic approach for cardiovascular disease

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) continue to exert a significant impact on global mortality rates, encompassing conditions like pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), atherosclerosis (AS), and myocardial infarction (MI). Oxidative stress (OS) plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis and advancement of CVDs, highlighting its significance as a contributing factor. Maintaining an equilibrium between reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidant systems not only aids in mitigating oxidative stress but also confers protective benefits on cardiac health. Herbal monomers can inhibit OS in CVDs by activating multiple signaling pathways, such as increasing the activity of endogenous antioxidant systems and decreasing the level of ROS expression. Given the actions of herbal monomers to significantly protect the normal function of the heart and reduce the damage caused by OS to the organism. Hence, it is imperative to recognize the significance of herbal monomers as prospective therapeutic interventions for mitigating oxidative damage in CVDs. This paper aims to comprehensively review the origins and mechanisms underlying OS, elucidate the intricate association between CVDs and OS, and explore the therapeutic potential of antioxidant treatment utilizing herbal monomers. Furthermore, particular emphasis will be placed on examining the cardioprotective effects of herbal monomers by evaluating their impact on cardiac signaling pathways subsequent to treatment.

Regulated cell death pathways in cardiomyopathy

Heart disease is a worldwide health menace. Both intractable primary and secondary cardiomyopathies contribute to malignant cardiac dysfunction and mortality. One of the key cellular processes associated with cardiomyopathy is cardiomyocyte death. Cardiomyocytes are terminally differentiated cells with very limited regenerative capacity. Various insults can lead to irreversible damage of cardiomyocytes, contributing to progression of cardiac dysfunction. Accumulating evidence indicates that majority of cardiomyocyte death is executed by regulating molecular pathways, including apoptosis, ferroptosis, autophagy, pyroptosis, and necroptosis. Importantly, these forms of regulated cell death (RCD) are cardinal features in the pathogenesis of various cardiomyopathies, including dilated cardiomyopathy, diabetic cardiomyopathy, sepsis-induced cardiomyopathy, and drug-induced cardiomyopathy. The relevance between abnormity of RCD with adverse outcome of cardiomyopathy has been unequivocally evident. Therefore, there is an urgent need to uncover the molecular and cellular mechanisms for RCD in order to better understand the pathogenesis of cardiomyopathies. In this review, we summarize the latest progress from studies on RCD pathways in cardiomyocytes in context of the pathogenesis of cardiomyopathies, with particular emphasis on apoptosis, necroptosis, ferroptosis, autophagy, and pyroptosis. We also elaborate the crosstalk among various forms of RCD in pathologically stressed myocardium and the prospects of therapeutic applications targeted to various cell death pathways.

The effects and mechanism of LncRNA NORAD on doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity

In recent years, the role and mechanism of long non-coding RNA (LncRNA) in cardiovascular diseases have received increasing attention. The chemotherapy agent, doxorubicin (DOX), is one of the most effective drugs for various cancers, but its efficacy is limited by its cardiotoxicity. Therefore, further exploration is required for the molecular mechanism of DOX-induced cardiotoxicity. This study intended to investigate the role of LncRNA Non-coding RNA activated by DNA damage (NORAD) in DOX-induced cardiotoxicity, for which we adopted the AC16 human cardiomyocyte cell line for the exploration. The results showed that LncRNA NORAD knockdown could increase DOX-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis and mitochondrial ROS level. LncRNA NORAD overexpression obtained reverse results, which further validated its role in DOX-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis and mitochondrial ROS level. Moreover, cardiotoxicity was induced in both LncRNA NORAD-knockout and wild-type mice with DOX, showing that gene knockout aggravated pathologic lesions in the myocardial tissues of mice. Taken together, LncRNA NORAD affected DOX-induced cardiotoxicity via mitochondrial apoptosis, fission (PUM-MFF), and autophagy (p53-Parkin) pathways both in vivo and in vitro. AVAILABILITY OF DATA AND MATERIALS: The datasets of this study are available on request to the corresponding author.

Research progress on activation transcription factor 3: A promising cardioprotective molecule

Activation transcription factor 3 (ATF3), a member of the ATF/cyclic adenosine monophosphate response element binding family, can be induced by a variety of stresses. Numerous studies have indicated that ATF3 plays multiple roles in the development and progression of cardiovascular diseases, including atherosclerosis, hypertrophy, fibrosis, myocardial ischemia-reperfusion, cardiomyopathy, and other cardiac dysfunctions. In past decades, ATF3 has been demonstrated to be detrimental to some cardiac diseases. Current studies have indicated that ATF3 can function as a cardioprotective molecule in antioxidative stress, lipid metabolic metabolism, energy metabolic regulation, and cell death modulation. To unveil the potential therapeutic role of ATF3 in cardiovascular diseases, we organized this review to explore the protective effects and mechanisms of ATF3 on cardiac dysfunction, which might provide rational evidence for the prevention and cure of cardiovascular diseases.

The dual role of ferroptosis in anthracycline-based chemotherapy includes reducing resistance and increasing toxicity

In conjunction with previous studies, we have noted that ferroptosis, as an emerging mode of regulated cell death (RCD), is intimately related to anthracycline pharmacotherapy. Not only does ferroptosis significantly modulate tumour resistance and drug toxicity, which are core links of the relevant chemotherapeutic process, but it also appears to play a conflicting role that has yet to be appreciated. By targeting the dual role of ferroptosis in anthracycline-based chemotherapy, this review aims to focus on the latest findings at this stage, identify the potential associations and provide novel perspectives for subsequent research directions and therapeutic strategies.

miR-21-5p prevents doxorubicin-induced cardiomyopathy by downregulating BTG2

Cardiomyocyte apoptosis has been characterized as one of the major mechanisms underlying doxorubicin (DOX)-induced cardiomyopathy. MicroRNA-21-5p (miR-21-5p) was reported to mitigate ischemia-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis and cardiac injury. However, to our knowledge, the functional role of miR-21-5p in DOX-induced cardiomyopathy is unclear. In this study, we explored the role of miR-21-5p in DOX-induced cardiac injury. The expression level of miR-21-5p was detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Dual luciferase reporter assay was used to verify the potential target gene of miR-21-5p. The apoptosis rate of NRCMs was detected by TUNEL staining assay. Western blot analysis was used to detect the protein expression levels of Bax, Bcl-2, Caspase3, cleaved-Caspase3 and BTG2. For animal studies, mice were injected with AAV9-miR-21-5p or AAV9-Empty viruses, and treated with DOX at a dose of 5 mg/kg per week through intraperitoneally administration. After 4 weeks of DOX treatment, mice were subjected to echocardiography to measure the left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) and fractional shortening (FS). Results showed that miR-21-5p was upregulated in both DOX-treated primary cardiomyocytes and mouse heart tissues. Interestingly, enhanced miR-21-5p expression inhibited DOX-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis and oxidative stress, while decreased miR-21-5p expression promoted cardiomyocyte apoptosis and oxidative stress. Furthermore, cardiac overexpression of miR-21-5p protected against DOX-induced cardiac injury. The mechanistic study indicated that BTG2 was a target gene of miR-21-5p. The anti-apoptotic effect of miR-21-5p could be inhibited by BTG2 overexpression. Conversely, inhibition of BTG2 rescued the pro-apoptotic effect of miR-21-5p inhibitor. Taken together, our study showed that miR-21-5p could prevent DOX-induced cardiomyopathy by downregulating BTG2.

Knockdown of BAP31 Overcomes Hepatocellular Carcinoma Doxorubicin Resistance through Downregulation of Survivin

The expression of B-cell receptor associated protein 31 (BAP31) is increased in many tumor types, and it is reported to participate in proliferation, migration, and apoptosis. However, the relationship between BAP31 and chemoresistance is uncertain. This study investigated the role of BAP31 in regulating the doxorubicin (Dox) resistance of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The expression of proteins was assessed by Western blotting. The correlation between BAP31 expression and Dox resistance was examined by MTT and colony formation assays. Apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry and TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling assays. Western blot and immunofluorescence analyses were performed in the knockdown cell lines to explore the possible mechanisms. In this study, BAP31 was strongly expressed, and knockdown of BAP31 increased Dox chemosensitivity in cancer cells. Furthermore, the expression of BAP31 was higher in the Dox-resistant HCC cells than that in their parental cells; knockdown of BAP31 reduced the half maximal inhibitory concentration value and overcame Dox resistance in Dox-resistant HCC cells. In HCC cells, knockdown of BAP31 increased Dox-induced apoptosis and enhanced Dox chemosensitivity in vitro and in vivo. The potential mechanism by which BAP31 increased Dox-induced apoptosis is that BAP31 inhibited survivin expression by promoting FoxO1 nucleus-cytoplasm translocation. Knockdown of BAP31 and survivin had a synergistic effect on Dox chemosensitivity by enhancing the apoptosis of HCC cells. These findings reveal that BAP31 knockdown enhances Dox chemosensitivity through the downregulation of survivin, suggesting that BAP31 is a potential therapeutic target for improving the treatment response of HCC with resistance to Dox.

MST1: A future novel target for cardiac diseases

Major heart diseases pose a serious threat to human health. Finding early diagnostic markers and key therapeutic targets is an urgent scientific problem in this field. Mammalian sterile 20-like kinase 1 (MST1) is a protein kinase, and the occurrence of many heart diseases is related to the continuous activation of the MST1 gene. With the deepening of the research, the potential role of MST1 in promoting the development of heart disease has become more apparent. Therefore, to better understand the role of MST1 in the pathogenesis of heart disease, this work systematically summarizes the role of MST1 in the pathogenesis of heart disease, gives a comprehensive overview of its possible strategies in the diagnosis and treatment of heart disease, and analyzes its potential significance as a marker for the diagnosis and treatment of heart disease.

Hydrogen sulfide alleviates mitochondrial damage and ferroptosis by regulating OPA3-NFS1 axis in doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity

Ferroptosis is a major cause of cardiotoxicity induced by doxorubicin (DOX). Previous studies have shown that hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) inhibits ferroptosis in cardiomyocytes and myoblasts, but the underlying mechanism has not been fully elucidated. In this study, we investigated the role of H₂S in protecting against DOX-induced cardiotoxicity both in vivo and in vitro, and elucidated the potential mechanisms involved. We found that DOX downregulated the expression of glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) and NFS1, and upregulated the expression of acyl-coenzyme A synthetase long-chain family member 4 (ACSL4) expression level, resulting in increased lipid peroxidation and ferroptosis. Additionally, DOX inhibited MFN2 expression and increased DRP1 and FIS1 expression, leading to abnormal mitochondrial structure and function. In contrast, exogenous H₂S inhibited DOX-induced ferroptosis by restoring GPX4 and NFS1 expression, and reducing lipid peroxidation in H9C2 cells. This effect was similar to that of the ferroptosis antagonist ferrostatin-1 (Fer-1) in protecting against DOX-induced cardiotoxicity. We further demonstrated that the protective effect of H₂S was mediated by the key mitochondrial membrane protein optic atrophy 3 (OPA3), which was downregulated by DOX and restored by exogenous H₂S. Overexpression of OPA3 alleviated DOX-induced mitochondrial dysfunction and ferroptosis both in vivo and in vitro. Mechanistically, NFS1 has an inhibitory effect on ferroptosis, and NFS1 deficiency increases the susceptibility of cardiomyocytes to ferroptosis. OPA3 is involved in the regulation of ferroptosis by interacting with NFS1. Post-translationally, DOX promoted OPA3 ubiquitination, while exogenous H₂S antagonized OPA3 ubiquitination by promoting OPA3 s-sulfhydration. In summary, our findings suggested that H₂S protects against DOX-induced cardiotoxicity by inhibiting ferroptosis via targeting the OPA3-NFS1 axis. This provides a potential therapeutic strategy for the treatment of DOX-induced cardiotoxicity.

Biomimetic Nanozymes Suppressed Ferroptosis to Ameliorate Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiotoxicity via Synergetic Effect of Antioxidant Stress and GPX4 Restoration

Mitochondria-dependent ferroptosis plays an important role in the pathogenesis of doxorubicin (DOX)-induced cardiotoxicity (DIC), which remains a clinical challenge due to the lack of effective interventions. Cerium oxide (CeO₂), a representative nanozyme, has attracted much attention because of its antioxidant properties. This study evaluated CeO₂-based nanozymes for the prevention and treatment of DIC in vitro and in vivo by adding nanoparticles (NPs), which were synthesized by biomineralization, to the culture or giving them to the mice, and the ferroptosis-specific inhibitor ferrostatin-1 (Fer-1) was used as control. The prepared NPs exhibited an excellent antioxidant response and glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4)-depended bioregulation, with the additional merits of bio-clearance and long retention in the heart. The experiments showed that NP treatment could significantly reverse myocardial structural and electrical remodeling, and reduce myocardial necrosis. These cardioprotective therapeutic effects were associated with their ability to alleviate oxidative stress, mitochondrial lipid peroxidation, and mitochondrial membrane potential damage, with a superior efficiency to the Fer-1. The study also found that the NPs significantly restored the expression of GPX4 and mitochondrial-associated proteins, thereby restoring mitochondria-dependent ferroptosis. Therefore, the study provides some insights into the role of ferroptosis in DIC. It also shows that CeO₂-based nanozymes could be a promising prevention and treatment candidate as a novel cardiomyocyte ferroptosis protector to mitigate DIC and improve prognosis and quality of life in cancer patients.

Construction of a ceRNA network of regulated ferroptosis in doxorubicin-induced myocardial injury

Background

Ferroptosis and long-noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play crucial roles in doxorubicin (DOX)-induced myocardial injury (DIMI). Nevertheless, there is no research to construct competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) network between lncRNAs and ferroptosis-related key gene. So our research was designed to screen ferroptosis-related genes from differentially expressed mRNAs in DIMI and construct lncRNAs regulated ferroptosis-related key gene ceRNAs network.

Methods

The male mice were injected with DOX intraperitoneally to induce myocardial injury, myocardial injury was evaluated by hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining, and ferroptosis-related protein-glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPx4) protein expression was detected. The differentially expressed lncRNAs and mRNAs were detected by microarray, and the ferroptosis-related genes were screened to construct a protein-protein associations (PPA) network, the highest maximal clique centrality (MCC) score gene were identified by Cytoscape software, miRNAs bound to key genes and lncRNAs bound to miRNAs were predicted; then, the obtained lncRNAs were intersected with differentially expressed lncRNAs detected by microarray. Finally, the lncRNA/miRNA/mRNA ceRNA network of the highest MCC score gene regulating ferroptosis in DIMI was constructed. The expressions of the key components in ceRNA network were detected by qRT-PCR.

Results

Compared with the control group, in the DOX group, myocardial enzymes and HE staining showed that myocardium structure was changed, and GPx4 protein expression was decreased. The differentially expressed 10,265 lncRNAs and 6,610 mRNAs in the DOX group were detected via microarray. Among them, 114 ferroptosis-related genes were obtained to construct PPA networks, and Becn1 was identified as the key gene. Finally, the ceRNA network including Becn1, three miRNAs and four lncRNAs was constructed by predicting data of the Starbase database. The relative expressions of these components in ceRNA net were up-regulated and consistent with microarray results.

Conclusions

Based on the microarray detection results and bioinformatics analysis, we screened ferroptosis-related gene Becn1 and constructed the lncRNA/miRNA/mRNA ceRNA network of regulated ferroptosis in DIMI.

Combination of Spirulina platensis, Ganoderma lucidum and Moringa oleifera Improves Cardiac Functions and Reduces Pro-Inflammatory Biomarkers in Preclinical Models of Short-Term Doxorubicin-Mediated Cardiotoxicity: New Frontiers in Cardioncology?

Anthracyclines are essential adjuvant therapies for a variety of cancers, particularly breast, gastric and esophageal cancers. Whilst prolonging cancer-related survival, these agents can induce drug-related cardiotoxicity. Spirulina, Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum) and Moringa are three nutraceuticals with anti-inflammatory effects that are currently used in cancer patients as complementary and alternative medicines to improve quality of life and fatigue. We hypothesize that the nutraceutical combination of Spirulina, Reishi and Moringa (Singo) could reduce inflammation and cardiotoxicity induced by anthracyclines. Female C57Bl/6 mice were untreated (Sham, n = 6) or treated for 7 days with short-term doxorubicin (DOXO, n = 6) or Singo (Singo, n = 6), or pre-treated with Singo for 3 days and associated with DOXO for remaining 7 days (DOXO−Singo, n = 6). The ejection fraction and radial and longitudinal strain were analyzed through transthoracic echocardiography (Vevo 2100, Fujifilm, Tokyo, Japan). The myocardial expressions of NLRP3, DAMPs (galectin-3 and calgranulin S100) and 13 cytokines were quantified through selective mouse ELISA methods. Myocardial fibrosis, necrosis and hypertrophy were analyzed through immunohistochemistry (IHC). Human cardiomyocytes were exposed to DOXO (200 nM) alone or in combination with Singo (at 10, 25 and 50 µg/mL) for 24 and 48 h. Cell viability and inflammation studies were also performed. In preclinical models, Singo significantly improved ejection fraction and fractional shortening. Reduced expressions of myocardial NLRP3 and NF-kB levels in cardiac tissues were seen in DOXO−Singo mice vs. DOXO (p < 0.05). The myocardial levels of calgranulin S100 and galectin-3 were strongly reduced in DOXO−Singo mice vs. DOXO (p < 0.05). Immunohistochemistry analysis indicates that Singo reduces fibrosis and hypertrophy in the myocardial tissues of mice during exposure to DOXO. In conclusion, in the preclinical model of DOXO-induced cardiotoxicity, Singo is able to improve cardiac function and reduce biomarkers involved in heart failure and fibrosis.

Breviscapine remodels myocardial glucose and lipid metabolism by regulating serotonin to alleviate doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity

Aims: The broad-spectrum anticancer drug doxorubicin (Dox) is associated with a high incidence of cardiotoxicity, which severely affects the clinical application of the drug and patients’ quality of life. Here, we assess how Dox modulates myocardial energy and contractile function and this could aid the development of relevant protective drugs.

Methods: Mice were subjected to doxorubicin and breviscapine treatment. Cardiac function was analyzed by echocardiography, and Dox-mediated signaling was assessed in isolated cardiomyocytes. The dual cardio-protective and anti-tumor actions of breviscapine were assessed in mouse breast tumor models.

Results: We found that Dox disrupts myocardial energy metabolism by decreasing glucose uptake and increasing fatty acid oxidation, leading to a decrease in ATP production rate, an increase in oxygen consumption rate and oxidative stress, and further energy deficits to enhance myocardial fatty acid uptake and drive DIC development. Interestingly, breviscapine increases the efficiency of ATP production and restores myocardial energy homeostasis by modulating the serotonin-glucose-myocardial PI3K/AKT loop, increasing glucose utilization by the heart and reducing lipid oxidation. It enhances mitochondrial autophagy via the PINK1/Parkin pathway, eliminates damaged mitochondrial accumulation caused by Dox, reduces the degree of cardiac fibrosis and inflammation, and restores cardiac micro-environmental homeostasis. Importantly, its low inflammation levels reduce myeloid immunosuppressive cell infiltration, and this effect is synergistic with the anti-tumor effect of Dox.

Conclusion: Our findings suggest that disruption of the cardiac metabolic network by Dox is an important driver of its cardiotoxicity and that serotonin is an important regulator of myocardial glucose and lipid metabolism. Myocardial energy homeostasis and timely clearance of damaged mitochondria synergistically contribute to the prevention of anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity and improve the efficiency of tumor treatment.

Integrated multi-omics analysis of adverse cardiac remodeling and metabolic inflexibility upon ErbB2 and ERRα deficiency

Functional oncogenic links between ErbB2 and ERRα in HER2+ breast cancer patients support a therapeutic benefit of co-targeted therapies. However, ErbB2 and ERRα also play key roles in heart physiology, and this approach could pose a potential liability to cardiovascular health. Herein, using integrated phosphoproteomic, transcriptomic and metabolic profiling, we uncovered molecular mechanisms associated with the adverse remodeling of cardiac functions in mice with combined attenuation of ErbB2 and ERRα activity. Genetic disruption of both effectors results in profound effects on cardiomyocyte architecture, inflammatory response and metabolism, the latter leading to a decrease in fatty acyl-carnitine species further increasing the reliance on glucose as a metabolic fuel, a hallmark of failing hearts. Furthermore, integrated omics signatures of ERRα loss-of-function and doxorubicin treatment exhibit common features of chemotherapeutic cardiotoxicity. These findings thus reveal potential cardiovascular risks in discrete combination therapies in the treatment of breast and other cancers.

Murine hearts deficient in ErbB2 and/or ERRα are used to profile the adverse cardiac remodeling associated with potential targeted breast cancer treatments by phosphoproteomic, transcriptomic and metabolomic profiling.