Metformin Protects against H2O2-Induced Cardiomyocyte Injury by Inhibiting the miR-1a-3p/GRP94 Pathway

Bioinformatics analyses of potential microRNAs and their target genes in myocardial infarction patients with diabetes

ObjectivePatients with diabetes are 3-5 times higher at risk for cardiovascular diseases and myocardial infarction (MI). There is a need to find miRNAs and other target genes to reduce mortality rates. The current study aims to find potential miRNAs and target genes among MI patients, MI patients with pre-diabetes (metformin non-users), and MI patients with diabetes (metformin users).MethodThe candidate miRNAs were identified by microarray profiling, and their differential expression was evaluated through real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in control and patient groups. The potential targets for miR-1 and miR-133a were retrieved from the TargetScan, miRWalk, and miRDB databases. The sensitivity and specificity of miRNAs were assessed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses.ResultsMicroarray profiling identified 16 miRNAs with significantly altered expression in all MI patient groups compared with healthy controls. According to this data, two miR-1 and miR-133a (with a high ratio) were selected for further verification. All patient groups exhibited a significant increase in the expression levels of miR-1 and miR-133a. Also, miR-1 and miR-133a levels were lower in metformin-user patients than in non-user patients (p < 0.05). Moreover, interleukins, growth factors, and other related genes were identified as potential targets for miR-1 and miR-133a. The ROC area under the curve (AUC) was 0.973 (95% CI: 0.718-0.884) for circulating miR-1, and 0.969 (95% CI: 0.723-0.876) for miR-133a in patients with diabetes (p < 0.001).ConclusionPrediction of miRNA profiles and network of target genes are valuable in the early diagnosis of MI in individuals without and with diabetes. Metformin treatment is associated with lower expression of MI-related miRNAs, suggesting a potential mechanism for cardiac protection by this agent.

Gp93 safeguards tissue homeostasis by preventing ROS-JNK-mediated apoptosis

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a pivotal role in maintaining tissue homeostasis, yet their overabundance can impair normal cellular functions, induce cell death, and potentially lead to neurodegenerative disorders. This study identifies Drosophila Glycoprotein 93 (Gp93) as a crucial factor that safeguards tissue homeostasis and preserves normal neuronal functions by preventing ROS-induced, JNK-dependent apoptotic cell death. Firstly, loss of Gp93 induces JNK-dependent apoptosis primarily through the induction of ROS. Secondary, neuro-specific depletion of Gp93 results in ROS-JNK-mediated neurodegeneration. Thirdly, overexpression of Gp93 effectively curtails oxidative stress and neurodegeneration caused by paraquat exposure or the aging process. Furthermore, these functions of Gp93 can be substituted by its human ortholog, HSP90B1. Lastly, depletion of HSP90B1 in cultured human cells triggers ROS production, JNK activation, and apoptosis. Thus, this study not only unveils a novel physiological function of Gp93, but also provides valuable insights for understanding the physiological and pathological functions of human HSP90B1.

Diverse Applications of the Anti-Diabetic Drug Metformin in Treating Human Disease

Metformin is a commonly used drug for treating type 2 diabetes. Metformin is an inexpensive drug with low/no side effects and is well tolerated in human patients of different ages. Recent therapeutic strategies for human disease have considered the benefits of drug repurposing. This includes the use of the anti-diabetic drug metformin. Accordingly, the anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-viral, neuroprotective, and cardioprotective potentials of metformin have deemed it a suitable candidate for treating a plethora of human diseases. As results from preclinical studies using cellular and animal model systems appear promising, clinical trials with metformin in the context of non-diabetes-related illnesses have been started. Here, we aim to provide a comprehensive overview of the therapeutic potential of metformin in different animal models of human disease and its suggested relationship to epigenetics and ailments with epigenetic components.

Non-coding RNAs as potential targets in metformin therapy for cancer

Metformin, a widely used oral hypoglycemic drug, has emerged as a potential therapeutic agent for cancer treatment. While initially known for its role in managing diabetes, accumulating evidence suggests that metformin exhibits anticancer properties through various mechanisms. Several cellular or animal experiments have attempted to elucidate the role of non-coding RNA molecules, including microRNAs and long non-coding RNAs, in mediating the anticancer effects of metformin. The present review summarized the current understanding of the mechanisms by which non-coding RNAs modulate the response to metformin in cancer cells. The regulatory roles of non-coding RNAs, particularly miRNAs, in key cellular processes such as cell proliferation, cell death, angiogenesis, metabolism and epigenetics, and how metformin affects these processes are discussed. This review also highlights the role of lncRNAs in cancer types such as lung adenocarcinoma, breast cancer, and renal cancer, and points out the need for further exploration of the mechanisms by which metformin regulates lncRNAs. In addition, the present review explores the potential advantages of metformin-based therapies over direct delivery of ncRNAs, and this review highlights the mechanisms of non-coding RNA regulation when metformin is combined with other therapies. Overall, the present review provides insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the anticancer effects of metformin mediated by non-coding RNAs, offering novel opportunities for the development of personalized treatment strategies in cancer patients.

Novel Approach for Cardioprotection: In Situ Targeting of Metformin via Conductive Hydrogel System

Ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury following myocardial infarction is a major cause of cardiomyocyte death and impaired cardiac function. Although clinical data show that metformin is effective in repairing cardiac I/R injury, its efficacy is hindered by non-specific targeting during administration, a short half-life, frequent dosing, and potential adverse effects on the liver and kidneys. In recent years, injectable hydrogels have shown substantial potential in overcoming drug delivery challenges and treating myocardial infarction. To this end, we developed a natural polymer hydrogel system comprising methacryloylated chitosan and methacryloylated gelatin modified with polyaniline conductive derivatives. In vitro studies demonstrated that the optimized hydrogel exhibited excellent injectability, biocompatibility, biodegradability, suitable mechanical properties, and electrical conductivity. Incorporating metformin into this hydrogel significantly extended the administration cycle, mitigated mitochondrial damage, decreased abnormal ROS production, and enhanced cardiomyocyte function. Animal experiments indicated that the metformin/hydrogel system reduced arrhythmia incidence, infarct size, and improved cardiac mitochondrial and overall cardiac function, promoting myocardial repair in I/R injury. Overall, the metformin-loaded conductive hydrogel system effectively mitigates mitochondrial oxidative damage and improves cardiomyocyte function, thereby offering a theoretical foundation for the potential application of metformin in cardioprotection.

Nicotine Diminishes Alpha2-Adrenergic Receptor-Dependent Protection Against Oxidative Stress in H9c2 Cardiomyocytes

INTRODUCTION

Nicotine is a major component of cigarette smoke with various detrimental cardiovascular effects, including increased oxidative stress in the heart. Agonism of α2-adrenergic receptors (ARs), such as with dexmedetomidine, has been documented to exert cardioprotective effects against oxidative stress and related apoptosis and necroptosis. α2-ARs are membrane-residing G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) that primarily activate Gi/o proteins. They are also subjected to GPCR-kinase (GRK)-2-dependent desensitization, which entails phosphorylation of the agonist-activated receptor by GRK2 to induce its decoupling from G proteins, thus terminating α2AR-mediated G protein signaling.

OBJECTIVE

In the present study, we sought to examine the effects of nicotine on α2AR signaling and effects in H9c2 cardiomyocytes exposed to H2O2 to induce oxidative cellular damage.

METHODS AND RESULTS

As expected, treatment of H9c2 cardiomyocytes with H2O2 significantly decreased cell viability and increased oxidative stress, as assessed by reactive oxygen species (ROS)-associated fluorescence levels (DCF assay) and superoxide dismutase activity. Both H2O2 effects were partly rescued by α2AR activation with brimonidine in control cardiomyocytes but not in cells pretreated with nicotine for 24 hours, in which brimonidine was unable to reduce H2O2-induced cell death and oxidative stress. This was due to severe α2AR desensitization, manifested as very low Gi protein activation by brimonidine, and accompanied by GRK2 upregulation in nicotine-treated cardiomyocytes. Finally, pharmacological inhibition of adenylyl cyclase (AC) blocked H2O2-dependent oxidative damage in nicotine-pretreated H9c2 cardiomyocytes, indicating that α2AR activation protects against oxidative injury via its classic coupling to Gai-mediated AC inhibition.

DISCUSSION/CONCLUSIONS

Nicotine can negate the cardioprotective effects of α2AR agonists against oxidative injury, which may have important implications for patients treated with this class of drugs that are chronic tobacco smokers.

Extensive therapeutic effects, underlying molecular mechanisms and disease treatment prediction of Metformin: a systematic review

Metformin (Met), a first-line management for type 2 diabetes mellitus, has been expansively employed and studied with results indicating its therapeutic potential extending beyond glycemic control. Beyond its established role, this therapeutic drug demonstrates a broad spectrum of action encompassing over 60 disorders, encompassing metabolic conditions, inflammatory disorders, carcinomas, cardiovascular diseases, and cerebrovascular pathologies. There is clear evidence of Met's action targeting specific nodes in the molecular pathways of these diseases and, intriguingly, interactions with the intestinal microbiota and epigenetic processes have been explored. Furthermore, novel Met derivatives with structural modifications tailored to diverse diseases have been synthesized and assessed. This manuscript proffers a comprehensive thematic review of the diseases amenable to Met treatment, elucidates their molecular mechanisms, and employs informatics technology to prospect future therapeutic applications of Met. These data and insights gleaned considerably contribute to enriching our understanding and appreciation of Met's far-reaching clinical potential and therapeutic applicability.

Metformin-mediated epigenetic modifications in diabetes and associated conditions: Biological and clinical relevance

An intricate interplay between genetic and environmental factors contributes to the development of type 2 diabetes (T2D) and its complications. Therefore, it is not surprising that the epigenome also plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of T2D. Hyperglycemia can indeed trigger epigenetic modifications, thereby regulating different gene expression patterns. Such epigenetic changes can persist after normalizing serum glucose concentrations, suggesting the presence of a 'metabolic memory' of previous hyperglycemia which may also be epigenetically regulated. Metformin, a derivative of biguanide known to reduce serum glucose concentrations in patients with T2D, appears to exert additional pleiotropic effects that are mediated by multiple epigenetic modifications. Such modifications have been reported in various organs, tissues, and cellular compartments and appear to account for the effects of metformin on glycemic control as well as local and systemic inflammation, oxidant stress, and fibrosis. This review discusses the emerging evidence regarding the reported metformin-mediated epigenetic modifications, particularly on short and long non-coding RNAs, DNA methylation, and histone proteins post-translational modifications, their biological and clinical significance, potential therapeutic applications, and future research directions.

Effects of Metformin on Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury: New Evidence and Mechanisms

The search for new drugs with the potential to ensure therapeutic success in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases has become an essential pathway to follow for health organizations and committees around the world. In June 2021, the World Health Organization listed cardiovascular diseases as one of the main causes of death worldwide, representing 32% of them. The most common is coronary artery disease, which causes the death of cardiomyocytes, the cells responsible for cardiac contractility, through ischemia and subsequent reperfusion, which leads to heart failure in the medium and short term. Metformin is one of the most-used drugs for the control of diabetes, which has shown effects beyond the control of hyperglycemia. Some of these effects are mediated by the regulation of cellular energy metabolism, inhibiting apoptosis, reduction of cell death through regulation of autophagy and reduction of mitochondrial dysfunction with further reduction of oxidative stress. This suggests that metformin may attenuate left ventricular dysfunction induced by myocardial ischemia; preclinical and clinical trials have shown promising results, particularly in the setting of acute myocardial infarction. This is a review of the molecular and pharmacological mechanisms of the cardioprotective effects of metformin during myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Crosstalk between endoplasmic reticulum stress and non-coding RNAs in cardiovascular diseases

Cells are exposed to various pathological stimulus within the cardiovascular system that challenge cells to adapt and survive. Several of these pathological stimulus alter the normal function of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), leading to the accumulation of unfolded and misfolded proteins, thus triggering the unfolded protein response (UPR) to cope with the stress or trigger apoptosis of damaged cells. Downstream components of the UPR regulate transcription and translation reprogramming to ensure selective gene expression in response to pathological stimulus, including the expression of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs). The ncRNAs play crucial roles in regulating transcription and translation, and their aberrant expression is associated with the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Notably, ncRNAs and ER stress can modulate each other and synergistically affect the development of CVD. Therefore, studying the interaction between ER stress and ncRNAs is necessary for effective prevention and treatment of CVD. In this review, we discuss the UPR signaling pathway and ncRNAs followed by the interplay regulation of ER stress and ncRNAs in CVD, which provides further insights into the understanding of the pathogenesis of CVD and therapeutic strategies. This article is categorized under: RNA in Disease and Development > RNA in Disease.

Cardiovascular complications of diabetes: role of non-coding RNAs in the crosstalk between immune and cardiovascular systems

Diabetes mellitus, a group of metabolic disorders characterized by high levels of blood glucose caused by insulin defect or impairment, is a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and related mortality. Patients with diabetes experience a state of chronic or intermittent hyperglycemia resulting in damage to the vasculature, leading to micro- and macro-vascular diseases. These conditions are associated with low-grade chronic inflammation and accelerated atherosclerosis. Several classes of leukocytes have been implicated in diabetic cardiovascular impairment. Although the molecular pathways through which diabetes elicits an inflammatory response have attracted significant attention, how they contribute to altering cardiovascular homeostasis is still incompletely understood. In this respect, non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are a still largely under-investigated class of transcripts that may play a fundamental role. This review article gathers the current knowledge on the function of ncRNAs in the crosstalk between immune and cardiovascular cells in the context of diabetic complications, highlighting the influence of biological sex in such mechanisms and exploring the potential role of ncRNAs as biomarkers and targets for treatments. The discussion closes by offering an overview of the ncRNAs involved in the increased cardiovascular risk suffered by patients with diabetes facing Sars-CoV-2 infection.

The Role of MicroRNAs in Dilated Cardiomyopathy: New Insights for an Old Entity

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a clinical diagnosis characterized by left ventricular or biventricular dilation and systolic dysfunction. In most cases, DCM is progressive, leading to heart failure (HF) and death. This cardiomyopathy has been considered a common and final phenotype of several entities. DCM occurs when cellular pathways fail to maintain the pumping function. The etiology of this disease encompasses several factors, such as ischemia, infection, autoimmunity, drugs or genetic susceptibility. Although the prognosis has improved in the last few years due to red flag clinical follow-up, early familial diagnosis and ongoing optimization of treatment, due to its heterogeneity, there are no targeted therapies available for DCM based on each etiology. Therefore, a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying the pathophysiology of DCM will provide novel therapeutic strategies against this cardiac disease and their different triggers. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a group of small noncoding RNAs that play key roles in post-transcriptional gene silencing by targeting mRNAs for translational repression or, to a lesser extent, degradation. A growing number of studies have demonstrated critical functions of miRNAs in cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), including DCM, by regulating mechanisms that contribute to the progression of the disease. Herein, we summarize the role of miRNAs in inflammation, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, autophagy, cardiomyocyte apoptosis and fibrosis, exclusively in the context of DCM.

Protective effects of metformin in various cardiovascular diseases: Clinical evidence and AMPK-dependent mechanisms

Metformin, a well-known AMPK agonist, has been widely used as the first-line drug for treating type 2 diabetes. There had been a significant concern regarding the use of metformin in people with cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) due to its potential lactic acidosis side effect. Currently growing clinical and preclinical evidence indicates that metformin can lower the incidence of cardiovascular events in diabetic patients or even non-diabetic patients beyond its hypoglycaemic effects. The underlying mechanisms of cardiovascular benefits of metformin largely involve the cellular energy sensor, AMPK, of which activation corrects endothelial dysfunction, reduces oxidative stress and improves inflammatory response. In this minireview, we summarized the clinical evidence of metformin benefits in several widely studied cardiovascular diseases, such as atherosclerosis, ischaemic/reperfusion injury and arrhythmia, both in patients with or without diabetes. Meanwhile, we highlighted the potential AMPK-dependent mechanisms in in vitro and/or in vivo models.

The role of MicroRNA networks in tissue-specific direct and indirect effects of metformin and its application

Metformin is a first-line oral antidiabetic agent that results in clear benefits in relation to glucose metabolism and diabetes-related complications. The specific regulatory details and mechanisms underlying these benefits are still unclear and require further investigation. There is recent mounting evidence that metformin has pleiotropic effects on the target tissue development in metabolic organs, including adipose tissue, the gastrointestinal tract and the liver. The mechanism of actions of metformin are divided into direct effects on target tissues and indirect effects via non-targeted tissues. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of endogenous, noncoding, negative gene regulators that have emerged as important regulators of a number of diseases, including type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Metformin is involved in many aspects of miRNA regulation, and metformin treatment in T2DM should be associated with other miRNA targets. A large number of miRNAs regulation by metformin in target tissues with either direct or indirect effects has gradually been revealed in the context of numerous diseases and has gradually received increasing attention. This paper thoroughly reviews the current knowledge about the role of miRNA networks in the tissue-specific direct and indirect effects of metformin. Furthermore, this knowledge provides a novel theoretical basis and suggests therapeutic targets for the clinical treatment of metformin and miRNA regulators in the prevention and treatment of cancer, cardiovascular disorders, diabetes and its complications.

Metformin Attenuates Cardiac Hypertrophy Via the HIF-1α/PPAR-γ Signaling Pathway in High-Fat Diet Rats

Coronary artery disease (CAD) and cardiac hypertrophy (CH) are two main causes of ischemic heart disease. Acute CAD may lead to left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). Long-term and sustained CH is harmful and can gradually develop into cardiac insufficiency and heart failure. It is known that metformin (Met) can alleviate CH; however, the molecular mechanism is not fully understood. Herein, we used high-fat diet (HFD) rats and H9c2 cells to induce CH and clarify the potential mechanism of Met on CH. We found that Met treatment significantly decreased the cardiomyocyte size, reduced lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release, and downregulated the expressions of hypertrophy markers ANP, VEGF-A, and GLUT1 either in vivo or in vitro. Meanwhile, the protein levels of HIF-1α and PPAR-γ were both decreased after Met treatment, and administrations of their agonists, deferoxamine (DFO) or rosiglitazone (Ros), markedly abolished the protective effect of Met on CH. In addition, DFO treatment upregulated the expression of PPAR-γ, whereas Ros treatment did not affect the expression of HIF-1α. In conclusion, Met attenuates CH via the HIF-1α/PPAR-γ signaling pathway.

Role of miR-133/Dio3 Axis in the T3-Dependent Modulation of Cardiac mitoK-ATP Expression

The opening of the ATP-sensitive mitochondrial potassium channel (mitok-ATP) is a common goal of cardioprotective strategies in the setting of acute and chronic myocardial disease. The biologically active thyroid hormone (TH), 3-5-3-triiodothyronine (T3), has been indicated as a potential activator of mitoK-ATP but the underlying mechanisms are still elusive. Here we describe a novel role of T3 in the transcriptional regulation of mitoK and mitoSur, the recently identified molecular constituents of the channel. To mimic human ischemic heart damage, we used a rat model of a low T3 state as the outcome of a myocardial ischemia/reperfusion event, and neonatal rat cardiomyocytes (NRCM) challenged with hypoxia or H₂O₂. Either in the in vivo or in vitro models, T3 administration to recover the physiological concentrations was able to restore the expression level of both the channel subunits, which were found to be downregulated under the stress conditions. Furthermore, the T3-mediated transcriptional activation of mitoK-ATP in the myocardium and NRCM was associated with the repression of the TH-inactivating enzyme, deiodinase 3 (Dio3), and an up-regulation of the T3-responsive miR-133a-3p. Mechanistically, the loss and gain of function experiments and reporter gene assays performed in NRCM, have revealed a new regulatory axis whereby the silencing of Dio3 under the control of miR-133a-3p drives the T3-dependent modulation of cardiac mitoK and mitoSur transcription.

HMGCS2 silencing attenuates high glucose-induced in vitro diabetic cardiomyopathy by increasing cell viability, and inhibiting apoptosis, inflammation, and oxidative stress

Diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a diabetic mellitus-related complications and progression of DCM may eventually lead to heart failure, while mechanisms related to DCM pathophysiology remain unclear. The study was undertaken to identify possible hub genes associated with DCM progression through bioinformatics analysis and to validate the role of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA synthase 2 (HMGCS2) in DCM progression using a cellular model of high glucose (HG)-induced DCM. The common differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between GSE173884 and GSE161827 were used for PPI network analysis. Our results identified 17 common DEGs between GSE173384 and GSE161827. Further analysis of the protein–protein interaction network identified nine hub genes and HMGCS2. The in vitro functional assays showed that HG induced up-regulation of HMGCS2, suppressed cardiomyocyte viability, enhanced apoptosis, inflammation, and oxidative stress of cardiomyocytes. Gain-of-function assays showed that HMGCS2 overexpression reduced cell viability, increased apoptosis, caspase-3/-9 activity, up-regulated interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) expression, decreased superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase expression, increased malondialdehyde (MDA) content, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) level but inhibited total antioxidant activity, SOD activity, CAT activity, and glutathione content in cardiomyocytes. Rescue experiments demonstrated HMGCS2 silence attenuated HG-induced decrease in cardiomyocyte viability and increase in cardiomyocyte apoptosis, inflammation, and oxidative stress. All in all, our study identified HMGCS2 as a hub gene in DCM pathophysiology and further functional studies indicated that HMGCS2 may aggravate DCM progression by reducing cardiomyocyte viability, increasing cardiomyocyte apoptosis, and promoting inflammation and oxidative stress in cardiomyocytes.

Highly Purified Eicosapentaenoic Acid Alleviates the Inflammatory Response and Oxidative Stress in Macrophages during Atherosclerosis via the miR-1a-3p/sFRP1/Wnt/PCP-JNK Pathway

Highly purified eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) has shown great effects in the prevention of atherosclerosis. In a murine model, it significantly reduced plaque accumulation, lowered plasma lipid levels, and decreased inflammation levels, which was also observed in vitro. Using microRNA sequencing, we identified differentially expressed microRNAs, among which miR-1a-3p was selected for further validation. Overexpression of miR-1a-3p in RAW264.7 cells worsened lipid accumulation, increased oxidative stress, and exacerbated inflammatory responses whereas its downregulation produced the opposite results. Potential targets of miR-1a-3p were analyzed by prediction tools. Then, secreted frizzled-related protein 1 (sFRP1), an antagonist of the Wnt pathway, was confirmed as the target gene of miR-1a-3p by a dual-luciferase reporter assay. Further research showed that in macrophages, EPA influenced the activation of the Wnt/planar cell polarity-c-Jun N-terminal kinase (Wnt/PCP-JNK) axis, which is consistent with the phenomenon that miR-1a-3p has an impact on this same axis. Collectively, our findings suggest that EPA mitigates inflammatory responses and oxidative responses both in vivo and in vitro by targeting the miR-1a-3p/sFRP1/Wnt/PCP-JNK axis in macrophages, which may explain the cardioprotective role of EPA and promote the application of EPA in clinical practice.

Highly Purified Eicosapentaenoic Acid Alleviates the Inflammatory Response and Oxidative Stress in Macrophages during Atherosclerosis via the miR-1a-3p/sFRP1/Wnt/PCP-JNK Pathway

Highly purified eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) has shown great effects in the prevention of atherosclerosis. In a murine model, it significantly reduced plaque accumulation, lowered plasma lipid levels, and decreased inflammation levels, which was also observed in vitro. Using microRNA sequencing, we identified differentially expressed microRNAs, among which miR-1a-3p was selected for further validation. Overexpression of miR-1a-3p in RAW264.7 cells worsened lipid accumulation, increased oxidative stress, and exacerbated inflammatory responses whereas its downregulation produced the opposite results. Potential targets of miR-1a-3p were analyzed by prediction tools. Then, secreted frizzled-related protein 1 (sFRP1), an antagonist of the Wnt pathway, was confirmed as the target gene of miR-1a-3p by a dual-luciferase reporter assay. Further research showed that in macrophages, EPA influenced the activation of the Wnt/planar cell polarity-c-Jun N-terminal kinase (Wnt/PCP-JNK) axis, which is consistent with the phenomenon that miR-1a-3p has an impact on this same axis. Collectively, our findings suggest that EPA mitigates inflammatory responses and oxidative responses both in vivo and in vitro by targeting the miR-1a-3p/sFRP1/Wnt/PCP-JNK axis in macrophages, which may explain the cardioprotective role of EPA and promote the application of EPA in clinical practice.

A20 (TNFAIP3) alleviates viral myocarditis through ADAR1/miR-1a-3p-dependent regulation

Objective

To investigate the effect of A20 and how A20 is regulated in viral myocarditis (VMC).

Methods

BABL/C mice, primary neonatal rat cardiomyocytes and H9c2 cells were infected with Coxsackie virus B3 (CVB3) to establish animal and cellular models of VMC. H&E staining revealed the pathologic condition of myocardium. ELISA measured the serum levels of creatine kinase, creatine kinase isoenzyme and cardiac troponin I. The effects of A20, miR-1a-3p and ADAR1 were investigated using gain and loss of function approaches. ELISA measured the levels of IL-6, IL-18 and TNF-α in serum or cell culture supernatant. TUNEL staining and flow cytometry assessed the apoptosis of myocardium and cardiomyocytes, respectively. RNA-binding protein immunoprecipitation and dual-luciferase reporter assays verified the binding between A20 and miR-1a-3p. Co-immunoprecipitation assay verified the binding between ADAR1 and Dicer.

Results

A20 was underexpressed and miR-1a-3p was overexpressed in the myocardium of VMC mice as well as in CVB3-infected cardiomyocytes. Overexpression of A20 suppressed cardiomyocyte inflammation and apoptosis in vivo and in vitro. miR-1a-3p promoted CVB3-induced inflammation and apoptosis in cardiomyocytes by binding to A20. The expression of miR-1a-3p was regulated by ADAR1. ADAR1 promoted the slicing of miR-1a-3p precursor by binding to Dicer.

Conclusion

A20, regulated by ADAR1/miR-1a-3p, suppresses inflammation and cardiomyocyte apoptosis in VMC.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12872-021-02438-z.

Oxidative stress pathogenically remodels the cardiac myocyte cytoskeleton via structural alterations to the microtubule lattice

In the failing heart, the cardiac myocyte microtubule network is remodeled, which contributes to cellular contractile failure and patient death. However, the origins of this deleterious cytoskeletal reorganization are unknown. We now find that oxidative stress, a condition characteristic of heart failure, leads to cysteine oxidation of microtubules. Our electron and fluorescence microscopy experiments revealed regions of structural damage within the microtubule lattice that occurred at locations of oxidized tubulin. The incorporation of GTP-tubulin into these damaged, oxidized regions led to stabilized "hot spots" within the microtubule lattice, which suppressed the shortening of dynamic microtubules. Thus, oxidative stress may act inside of cardiac myocytes to facilitate a pathogenic shift from a sparse microtubule network into a dense, aligned network. Our results demonstrate how a disease condition characterized by oxidative stress can trigger a molecular oxidation event, which likely contributes to a toxic cellular-scale transformation of the cardiac myocyte microtubule network.

Effects of Shenfu Qiangxin Drink on H2O2-induced oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes and possible underlying mechanisms

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of Shenfu Qiangxin Drink (SFQXD) on acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and identify the possible underlying mechanisms. Levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and inflammatory factors, including interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in the blood samples of patients with AMI were measured using commercially available kits by visible spectrophotometry after SFQXD administration. The contents of phosphorylated (p-) forkhead box O3a (FOXO3a) was examined using an ELISA kit. In addition, a hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced myocardial injury model was established in vitro using neonatal rat cardiomyocytes. Following treatment with SFQXD, the levels of intracellular ROS, cell apoptosis, oxidative stress- and inflammation-related markers were measured using commercially available kits by visible spectrophotometry. Additionally, western blot analysis was used to measure the expression of sirtuin-4 (SIRT4), p-FOXO3a, acetylated FOXO3a (ace-FOXO3a) and apoptosis-related genes (Bcl-2, Bax, BIM and cleaved caspase-3). Subsequently, to investigate the possible underlying regulatory mechanisms, SIRT4 expression was silenced by transfection with small hairpin RNA against SIRT4, following which changes in the extent of oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis were assessed. The levels of ROS and interleukin (IL)-1β were found to be significantly reduced, whilst FOXO3a phosphorylation was markedly increased following administration with SFQXD. In vitro, SFQXD dose-dependently inhibited H2O2-induced oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes. In addition, FOXO3a phosphorylation was markedly upregulated whilst FOXO3a acetylation was downregulated following treatment of H2O2-induced primary neonatal cardiomyocytes with SFQXD. SIRT4 knockdown also markedly reversed the effects of SFQXD on oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes. In conclusion, these findings demonstrated that SFQXD may alleviate oxidative stress-induced myocardial injury by potentially regulating SIRT4/FOXO3a signaling, suggesting that SFQXD may be of clinical value for the treatment of AMI.

Metformin and insulin-resistant related diseases: Emphasis on the role of microRNAs

Metformin is one of the most prescribed drugs in type II diabetes (T2DM) which has recently found new applications in the prevention and treatment of various illnesses, from metabolic disorders to cardiovascular and age-related diseases. Metformin improves insulin resistance (IR) by modulating metabolic mechanisms and mitochondrial biogenesis. Alternation of microRNAs (miRs) in the treatment of IR-related illnesses has been observed by metformin therapy. MiRs are small non-coding RNAs that play important roles in RNA silencing, targeting the 3'untranslated region (3'UTR) of most mRNAs and inhibiting the translation of related proteins. As a result, their dysregulation is associated with many diseases. Metformin may alter miRs levels in the treatment of various diseases by AMPK-dependent or AMPK-independent mechanisms. Here, we summarized the therapeutic role of metformin by modifying the aberrant expression of miRs as potential biomarkers or therapeutic targets in diseases in which IR plays a key role.

Smart Layer-by-Layer Polymeric Microreactors: pH-Triggered Drug Release and Attenuation of Cellular Oxidative Stress as Prospective Combination Therapy

Polymer capsules fabricated via the layer-by-layer (LbL) approach have emerged as promising biomedical systems for the release of a wide variety of therapeutic agents, owing to their tunable and controllable structure and the possibility to include several functionalities in the polymeric membrane during the fabrication process. However, the limitation of the capsules with a single functionality to overcome the challenges involved in the treatment of complex pathologies denotes the need to develop multifunctional capsules capable of targeting several mediators and/or mechanisms. Oxidative stress is caused by the accumulation of reactive oxygen species [e.g., hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), hydroxyl radicals (•OH), and superoxide anion radicals (•O2-)] in the cellular microenvironment and is a key modulator in the pathology of a broad range of inflammatory diseases. The disease microenvironment is also characterized by the presence of proinflammatory cytokines, increased levels of matrix metalloproteinases, and acidic pH, all of which could be exploited to trigger the release of therapeutic agents. In the present work, multifunctional capsules were fabricated via the LbL approach. Capsules were loaded with an antioxidant enzyme (catalase) and functionalized with a model drug (doxorubicin), which was conjugated to an amine-containing dendritic polyglycerol through a pH-responsive linker. These capsules efficiently scavenge H2O2 from solution, protecting cells from oxidative stress, and release the model drug in acidic microenvironments. Accordingly, in this work, a polymeric microplatform is presented as an unexplored combinatorial approach applicable for multiple targets of inflammatory diseases, in order to perform controlled spatiotemporal enzymatic reactions and drug release in response to biologically relevant stimuli.

Metformin relieves H/R-induced cardiomyocyte injury through miR-19a/ACSL axis - possible therapeutic target for myocardial I/R injury

This study proposed to investigate the function of miR-19a/ACSL axis in hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R)-induced myocardial injury and determine whether metformin exerts its protective effect via miR-19a/ACSL axis. Firstly, bioinformatics analysis of data from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database indicated that miR-19a was downregulated in patients with myocardial infarction (MI) compared to that in control group. H/R model was constructed with AC16 cells in vitro. qRT-PCR assay revealed that miR-19a was downregulated in H/R-treated AC16 cells. Then, CCK-8 assay demonstrated that upregulation of miR-19a significantly alleviated H/R-induced decline of cell viability. Moreover, bioinformatics prediction, western blotting and dual-luciferase reporter assays were performed to check the target genes of miR-19a, and ACSL1 was determined as a downstream target gene of miR-19a. Besides, the analysis based on Comparative Toxicogenomics Database (CTD) suggested that metformin targeting ACSL1 can be used as a potential drug for further research. Biological function experiments in vitro revealed that H/R markedly declined the viability and elevated the apoptosis of AC16 cells, while metformin can significantly mitigate these effects. Furthermore, overexpression of miR-19a significantly strengthened the beneficial effect of metformin on H/R-induced AC16 cells injury, which can be reversed by upregulation of ACSL1. In conclusion, metformin can alleviate H/R-induced cells injury via regulating miR-19a/ACSL axis, which lays a foundation for identifying novel targets for myocardial I/R injury therapy.

Role of AMP-activated protein kinase on cardio-metabolic abnormalities in the development of diabetic cardiomyopathy: A molecular landscape

Cardiovascular complications associated with diabetes mellitus remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality across the world. Diabetic cardiomyopathy is a descriptive pathology that in absence of co-morbidities such as hypertension, dyslipidemia initially characterized by cardiac stiffness, myocardial fibrosis, ventricular hypertrophy, and remodeling. These abnormalities further contribute to diastolic dysfunctions followed by systolic dysfunctions and eventually results in clinical heart failure (HF). The clinical outcomes associated with HF are considerably worse in patients with diabetes. The complexity of the pathogenesis and clinical features of diabetic cardiomyopathy raises serious questions in developing a therapeutic strategy to manage cardio-metabolic abnormalities. Despite extensive research in the past decade the compelling approaches to manage and treat diabetic cardiomyopathy are limited. AMP-Activated Protein Kinase (AMPK), a serine-threonine kinase, often referred to as cellular "metabolic master switch". During the development and progression of diabetic cardiomyopathy, a plethora of evidence demonstrate the beneficial role of AMPK on cardio-metabolic abnormalities including altered substrate utilization, impaired cardiac insulin metabolic signaling, mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress, myocardial inflammation, increased accumulation of advanced glycation end-products, impaired cardiac calcium handling, maladaptive activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, endoplasmic reticulum stress, myocardial fibrosis, ventricular hypertrophy, cardiac apoptosis, and impaired autophagy. Therefore, in this review, we have summarized the findings from pre-clinical and clinical studies and provided a collective overview of the pathophysiological mechanism and the regulatory role of AMPK on cardio-metabolic abnormalities during the development of diabetic cardiomyopathy.

Metformin protects against myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury and cell pyroptosis via AMPK/NLRP3 inflammasome pathway

Ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury is a life-threatening vascular emergency following myocardial infarction. Our previous study showed cardioprotective effects of metformin against myocardial I/R injury. In this study, we further examined the involvement of AMPK mediated activation of NLRP3 inflammasome in this cardioprotective effect of metformin. Myocardial I/R injury was simulated in a rat heart Langendorff model and neonatal rat ventricle myocytes (NRVMs) were subjected to hypoxi/reoxygenation (H/R) to establish an in vitro model. Outcome measures included myocardial infarct size, hemodynamic monitoring, myocardial tissue injury, myocardial apoptotic index and the inflammatory response. myocardial infarct size and cardiac enzyme activities. First, we found that metformin postconditioning can not only significantly alleviated myocardial infarct size, attenuated cell apoptosis, and inhibited myocardial fibrosis. Furthermore, metformin activated phosphorylated AMPK, decreased pro-inflammatory cytokines, TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β, and decreased NLRP3 inflammasome activation. In isolated NRVMs metformin increased cellular viability, decreased LDH activity and inhibited cellular apoptosis and inflammation. Importantly, inhibition of AMPK phosphorylation by Compound C (CC) resulted in decreased survival of cardiomyocytes mainly by inducing the release of inflammatory cytokines and increasing NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Finally, in vitro studies revealed that the NLRP3 activator nigericin abolished the anti-inflammatory effects of metformin in NRVMs, but it had little effect on AMPK phosphorylation. Collectively, our study confirmed that metformin exerts cardioprotective effects by regulating myocardial I/R injury-induced inflammatory response, which was largely dependent on the enhancement of the AMPK pathway, thereby suppressing NLRP3 inflammasome activation.

Metformin protects high glucose‑cultured cardiomyocytes from oxidative stress by promoting NDUFA13 expression and mitochondrial biogenesis via the AMPK signaling pathway

Tissue damage in diabetes is at least partly due to elevated reactive oxygen species production by the mitochondrial respiratory chain during hyperglycemia. Sustained hyperglycemia results in mitochondrial dysfunction and the abnormal expression of mitochondrial genes, such as NADH: Ubiquinone oxidoreductase subunit A13 (NDUFA13). Metformin, an AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activator, protects cardiomyocytes from oxidative stress by improving mitochondrial function; however, the exact underlying mechanisms are not completely understood. The aim of the present study was to investigated the molecular changes and related regulatory mechanisms in the response of H9C2 cardiomyocytes to metformin under high glucose conditions. H9C2 cells were subjected to CCK-8 assay to assess cell viability. Reactive oxygen species generation was measured with DCFH-DA assay. Western blotting was used to analyze the expression levels of NDUFA13, AMPK, p-AMPK and GAPDH. Reverse transcription-quantitative PCR was used to evaluate the expression levels of mitochondrial genes and transcription factors. It was observed that metformin protected H9C2 cardiomyocytes by suppressing high glucose (HG)-induced elevated oxidative stress. In addition, metformin stimulated mitochondrial biogenesis, as indicated by increased expression levels of mitochondrial genes (NDUFA1, NDUFA2, NDUFA13 and manganese superoxide dismutase) and mitochondrial biogenesis-related transcription factors [peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator-1α, nuclear respiratory factor (NRF)-1, and NRF-2] in the metformin + HG group compared with the HG group. Moreover, metformin promoted mitochondrial NDUFA13 protein expression via the AMPK signaling pathway, which was abolished by pretreatment with the AMPK inhibitor, Compound C. The results suggested that metformin protected cardiomyocytes against HG-induced oxidative stress via a mechanism involving AMPK, NDUFA13 and mitochondrial biogenesis.

Metformin and oxyphotodynamic therapy as a novel treatment approach for triple-negative breast cancer

Background

Treatment for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) remains a significant challenge due to a lack of targeted therapies. While photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been utilized as a treatment approach for several types of cancer, oxyphotodynamic therapy (OPDT) is a novel method that improves treatment efficacy by increasing local oxygen concentration. Metformin (MET) has been demonstrated utility as an anti-tumor agent by acting through the adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathway. We hypothesized that MET in combination with heme, a byproduct of 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA), may increase cytotoxicity for cancer treatment. This study aimed to investigate the synergistic effect of MET and ALA with PDT or OPDT on TNBC tumorigenic cells.

Methods

The treatment efficacy and phototoxicity of PDT or OPDT were determined using a cell viability assay. PDT/OPDT experiments were carried out in nine groups based on different combinations and concentrations of ALA and/or MET. To calculate the synergistic effect by compuSyn soft for different groups, cells were incubated with ALA and/or MET at the following concentrations (0, 0.25, 0.5,1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 24, and 32 mM). The fluorescence of ALA-induced protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) and MitoTracker Green were observed under a confocal microscope.

Results

The optimized therapeutic concentration ratio of ALA and MET was determined to be 1:1. The inhibition of cancer growth (IC₅₀) for each group was 14.03, 10.62, 7.71, 18.27, 22.09, 23.96, 4.57, 10.20, and 8.18 mM, respectively. The combination index (CI) values (fa =0.5) of the last three combination groups (groups 7, 8, and 9) were 0.44, 1.70, and 1.47, respectively. PpIX fluorescence intensity of group 9 (ALA-MET-OPDT group) remained the highest among all groups, indicating an enhanced therapeutic effect.

Conclusions

This study introduces OPDT as a novel anti-tumor therapy for TNBC. Furthermore, the combined use of ALA and MET had a synergistic anti-tumor effect in TNBC cells when combined with OPDT.

Metformin preferentially provides neuroprotection following cardiac ischemia/reperfusion in non-diabetic rats

Following acute myocardial infarction, re-establishment of coronary perfusion aggravates further injuries in the heart and remote organs including the brain as a consequence of ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. Since pretreatment with metformin attenuated both cardiac and cerebral I/R injury via AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathways, we hypothesized that metformin given after ischemia mitigates both cardiac and brain pathologies following cardiac I/R. Male Wistar rats were subjected to either cardiac I/R (30 min-ischemia/120 min-reperfusion; n = 30) or sham operation (n = 5). Metformin 200 mg/kg was given intravenously to the cardiac I/R group (n = 10/group), either during ischemia (D-MET) or at the onset of reperfusion (R-MET). Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and arrhythmia scores were determined. The heart and brain tissues were collected to determine the extent of injury, mitochondrial function, and apoptosis. Additionally, microglial morphology, Alzheimer's proteins, and dendritic spine density were determined in the brain. Cardiac I/R led to not only reduced LVEF, cardiac mitochondrial dysfunction, and arrhythmias, but also brain mitochondrial dysfunction, apoptosis, Alzheimer's protein aggregation, microglial activation, and dendritic spine loss. A single dose of metformin did not alter p-AMPK/AMPK in both organs. In the heart, impaired LVEF, arrhythmias, infarct size expansion, mitochondrial dysfunction, and apoptosis were not alleviated. On the contrary, metformin attenuated brain mitochondrial dysfunction, apoptosis, and Alzheimer's protein levels. Microglial morphology and dendritic spine density were additionally preserved in D-MET group. In conclusion, metformin given during ischemia preferentially provides neuroprotection against brain mitochondrial dysfunction, apoptosis, microglial activation, and dendritic spine loss in an AMPK-independent manner following cardiac I/R injury.

Metformin ameliorates cardiac conduction delay by regulating microRNA-1 in mice

Cardiac conduction delay may occur as a common complication of several cardiac diseases. A few therapies and drugs have a good effect on cardiac conduction delay. Metformin (Met) has a protective effect on the heart. This study's aim was to investigate whether Met could ameliorate cardiac conduction delay and its potential mechanism. Cardiac-specific microRNA-1 (miR-1) transgenic (TG) and myocardial infarction (MI) mouse models were used. Mice were administered with Met in an intragastric manner. We found that the expression of miR-1 was significantly up-regulated in H₂O₂ treated cardiomyocytes as well as in TG and MI mice. The protein levels of inwardly rectifying potassium channel 2.1 (Kir2.1) and Connexin43 (CX43) were down-regulated both in cardiomyocytes treated with H₂O₂ as well as cardiac tissues of TG and MI mice, as compared to their controls. Furthermore, the PR and QT intervals were prolonged, action potential duration (APD) was delayed, and conduction velocity (CV) was reduced, with upregulation of miR-1 in the hearts. In the meanwhile, intercalated disc injuries were found in the hearts of MI mice. Interestingly, Met can noticeably inhibit miR-1 upregulation and attenuate the changes mentioned above. Taken together, this suggested that Met could play an important role in improving cardiac conduction delay through inhibition of miR-1 expression. Our study proposes that Met is a potential candidate for the treatment of cardiac conduction delay and provides a new idea of treating arrhythmia with a drug.

Dexmedetomidine alleviates H2O2-induced oxidative stress and cell necroptosis through activating of α2-adrenoceptor in H9C2 cells

Oxidative stress induced necroptosis is important in myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury. Dexmedetomidine (Dex), an α2-adrenoceptor (α2-AR) agonist, has protective effect on oxidative stress induced cell apoptosis, but effects of Dex and Dex-mediated α2-AR activation on oxidant induced necroptosis was unclear. H9C2 cardiomyocytes were pre-treated with or without Dex and α2-AR antagonist yohimbine hydrochloride (YOH) before being exposed to H₂O₂ to induce oxidative cellular damage. Cell viability and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were detected by ELISA kits, protein expressions of Heme Oxygenase 1(HO-1), receptor interacting protein kinase 1 (RIPK1) and receptor interacting protein kinase 3 (RIPK3) were observed by WB, and TUNEL was used to detected cell apoptosis. H₂O₂ significantly decreased cell viability and increased LDH release and necroptotic and apoptotic cell deaths (all p < 0.05, H₂O₂ vs. Control). Dex preconditioning alleviated these injuries induced by H₂O₂. Dex preconditioning significantly increased expression of protein HO-1 and decreased expressions of proteins RIPK1 and RIPK3 induced by H₂O₂, while all these protective effects of Dex were reversed by YOH (all p < 0.05, Dex + H₂O₂ vs. H₂O₂; and YOH + Dex + H₂O₂ vs. Dex + H₂O₂). However, YOH did not prevent this protective effect of Dex against H₂O₂ induced apoptosis (YOH + Dex + H₂O₂ vs. Dex + H₂O₂, p > 0.05). These findings indicated that Dex attenuates H₂O₂ induced cardiomyocyte necroptotic and apoptotic cell death respectively dependently and independently of α2-AR activation.

Effects of metformin on the heart with ischaemia-reperfusion injury: Evidence of its benefits from in vitro, in vivo and clinical reports

Ischaemia reperfusion (I/R) injury following myocardial infarction reperfusion therapy is a phenomenon that results in further loss of cardiomyocytes and cardiac contractility. Among the potential therapeutics to counter cardiac I/R injury, the antidiabetic drug metformin has shown promising experimental results. This review encompasses evidence available from studies of metformin's protective effects on the heart following cardiac I/R in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo, alongside clinical trials. Experimental data describes potential mechanisms of metformin, including activation of AMPK, an energy sensing kinase with many downstream effects. Suggested effects include upregulation of superoxide dismutases (SODs), which reduce oxidative stress and improve mitochondrial function. Additionally, metformin demonstrates anti-apoptotic effects, most likely by inhibiting mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) opening, and anti-inflammatory effects, by JNK inhibition. Recent reports of metformin's role in modulating complex I activity of the electron transport chain following cardiac I/R are also presented and discussed. Furthermore, clinical reports present mixed findings, suggesting that beneficial effects may depend on dosage, timing and condition of patients receiving metformin treatment. Conclusively there is an increased need for prospective, placebo-controlled clinical studies to confirm the mechanisms and to demonstrate that metformin is a suitable and safe drug for treatment of cardiac I/R injury.

AMPK activation inhibits the functions of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC): impact on cancer and aging

AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) has a crucial role not only in the regulation of tissue energy metabolism but it can also control immune responses through its cooperation with immune signaling pathways, thus affecting immunometabolism and the functions of immune cells. It is known that AMPK signaling inhibits the activity of the NF-κB system and thus suppresses pro-inflammatory responses. Interestingly, AMPK activation can inhibit several major immune signaling pathways, e.g., the JAK-STAT, NF-κB, C/EBPβ, CHOP, and HIF-1α pathways, which induce the expansion and activation of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC). MDSCs induce an immunosuppressive microenvironment in tumors and thus allow the escape of tumor cells from immune surveillance. Chronic inflammation has a key role in the expansion and activation of MDSCs in both tumors and inflammatory disorders. The numbers of MDSCs also significantly increase during the aging process concurrently with the immunosenescence associated with chronic low-grade inflammation. Increased fatty acid oxidation and lactate produced by aerobic glycolysis are important immunometabolic enhancers of MDSC functions. However, it seems that AMPK signaling regulates the functions of MDSCs in a context-dependent manner. Currently, the activators of AMPK signaling are promising drug candidates for cancer therapy and possibly for the extension of healthspan and lifespan. We will describe in detail the AMPK-mediated regulation of the signaling pathways controlling the expansion and activation of immunosuppressive MDSCs. We will propose that the beneficial effects mediated by AMPK activation, e.g., in cancers and the aging process, could be induced by the inhibition of MDSC functions.

Mechanism of Metformin on LPS-Induced Bacterial Myocarditis

Aims:

Metformin is commonly used to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus; however, in recent years, it was found to play a potential role in the protection of myocardial injury. In this study, we intended to investigate whether metformin had protective effects on bacterial myocarditis.

Methods and Results:

We stimulated rat cardiac myoblast H9c2 cells with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and administrated with metformin. The results showed that cell viability after LPS stimulation was greatly reduced. The expression levels of phosphorylated p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) and c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNK), nuclear factor (NF)-κB (NF-κB), BAX, and cleaved Caspase3 were significantly increased, while the expression of antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2 showed a prominent decrease compared to control. Nevertheless, the cells activity increased remarkably after metformin administration, and the expression levels of intracellular related proteins showed the opposite trend to that of the LPS group.

Conclusion:

We demonstrate that LPS stimulation may activate intracellular MAPK/JNK and NF-κB signaling pathways and thus induce cell apoptosis. In contrast, metformin reduced apoptosis by inhibiting this signaling pathway and increasing the expression level of Bcl-2. Moreover, it was found that metformin could enhance the ability of cells to antagonize redox damage by regulating the activities of superoxide dismutase and lactate dehydrogenase and subsequently promote the recovery of cardiomyocyte function.

Thyroid hormone protects cardiomyocytes from H2O2-induced oxidative stress via the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway

Oxidative stress plays an important role in the progression of cardiac diseases, including acute myocardial infarction, ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury and heart failure. Growing evidence indicates that thyroid hormone has protective properties against cardiovascular diseases. However, little is known about its effect on oxidative stress in cardiomyocytes or the underlying mechanisms. This study showed that T3 pretreatment in vivo significantly reduced cardiac dysfunction by increasing the left ventricular ejection function and ameliorating the pathological changes induced by I/R-induced injury. In an in vitro experiment, T3 inhibited apoptosis in H₂O₂-treated cardiomyocytes, as evidenced by the decreased expression of Bax, cleaved caspase 3 and 9, and increased expression of Bcl-2. In addition, oxidative stress observed in hearts of mice with I/R injury was significantly alleviated by T3 pretreatment, intracellular ROS and mitochondrial ROS overproduction were effectively inhibited, and similar results were also detected in H₂O₂-treated cardiomyocytes in vitro. T3 significantly increased antioxidant protein (Nrf2 and HO-1) expression levels, and inhibited NOX2 and NOX4 protein expression levels in H₂O₂-treated cardiomyocytes. Moreover, T3 preserved mitochondrial functions upon H₂O₂-induced oxidative stress by increasing mitochondrial membrane potential and promoting the expression of mitochondrial biogenesis genes. Notably, the PI3K/AKT signaling was significantly activated by T3 pretreatment in H₂O₂-induced cardiomyocytes. Together, these findings revealed that T3 could be served as potential therapeutic target for protection against cardiac oxidative stress injury through its antioxidant and anti-apoptosis effects, which are mediated by the activation of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

Cardioprotective effects of constitutively active MEK1 against H2O2-induced apoptosis and autophagy in cardiomyocytes via the ERK1/2 signaling pathway

Oxidative stress injury is one of the main mechanisms of ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury. The extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2) pathway plays an important role in cardioprotective during acute myocardial infarction. In this study, we used constitutively active MEK1 gene (CaMEK) transfection strategy to investigate whether CaMEK provides a protective effect against apoptosis and autophagy induced by Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) in neonatal rat cardiac ventricular cardiomyocytes (NCMs) and the underlying mechanisms. As a result, CaMEK attenuated H₂O₂-induced apoptosis and cytotoxicity in NCMs, evidenced by decreased apoptotic cells and the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2, increased the mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψm) and cell vitality and reduced the level of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). Further studies revealed that CaMEK attenuated H₂O₂-induced autophagy, evidenced by the decreased LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰratio and SQSTM1/p62 (p62) degradation. Furthermore, we demonstrated that CaMEK phosphorylated the ERK1/2 pathway-related proteins, ERK1/2, p70S6K and GSK3β, in NCMs with H₂O₂ stimulation. In contrast, these effects could be reversed by co-treatment with the ERK1/2 inhibitor, PD98059. These results suggest that CaMEK plays an important role in protecting cardiomyocytes against H₂O₂-induced injury and autophagy in NCMs via ERK1/2 pathway. Therefore, transfection of CaMEK may provide a hopeful therapeutic strategy for I/R.