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Vilskersts R, Kigitovica D, Korzh S, Videja M, Vilks K, Cirule H, Skride A, Makrecka-Kuka M, Liepinsh E, Dambrova M. Protective Effects of Meldonium in Experimental Models of Cardiovascular Complications with a Potential Application in COVID-19. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 23:45. [PMID: 35008470 PMCID: PMC8744985 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23010045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Revised: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Right ventricular (RV) and left ventricular (LV) dysfunction is common in a significant number of hospitalized coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. This study was conducted to assess whether the improved mitochondrial bioenergetics by cardiometabolic drug meldonium can attenuate the development of ventricular dysfunction in experimental RV and LV dysfunction models, which resemble ventricular dysfunction in COVID-19 patients. Effects of meldonium were assessed in rats with pulmonary hypertension-induced RV failure and in mice with inflammation-induced LV dysfunction. Rats with RV failure showed decreased RV fractional area change (RVFAC) and hypertrophy. Treatment with meldonium attenuated the development of RV hypertrophy and increased RVFAC by 50%. Mice with inflammation-induced LV dysfunction had decreased LV ejection fraction (LVEF) by 30%. Treatment with meldonium prevented the decrease in LVEF. A decrease in the mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation with a concomitant increase in pyruvate metabolism was noted in the cardiac fibers of the rats and mice with RV and LV failure, respectively. Meldonium treatment in both models restored mitochondrial bioenergetics. The results show that meldonium treatment prevents the development of RV and LV systolic dysfunction by enhancing mitochondrial function in experimental models of ventricular dysfunction that resembles cardiovascular complications in COVID-19 patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reinis Vilskersts
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Pharmacology, Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, LV-1006 Riga, Latvia; (S.K.); (M.V.); (K.V.); (H.C.); (M.M.-K.); (E.L.); (M.D.)
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Rigas Stradins University, LV-1007 Riga, Latvia
| | - Dana Kigitovica
- Department of Internal Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Rigas Stradins University, LV-1007 Riga, Latvia; (D.K.); (A.S.)
- Department of Nephrology, Pauls Stradins Clinical University Hospital, LV-1012 Riga, Latvia
| | - Stanislava Korzh
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Pharmacology, Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, LV-1006 Riga, Latvia; (S.K.); (M.V.); (K.V.); (H.C.); (M.M.-K.); (E.L.); (M.D.)
| | - Melita Videja
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Pharmacology, Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, LV-1006 Riga, Latvia; (S.K.); (M.V.); (K.V.); (H.C.); (M.M.-K.); (E.L.); (M.D.)
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Rigas Stradins University, LV-1007 Riga, Latvia
| | - Karlis Vilks
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Pharmacology, Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, LV-1006 Riga, Latvia; (S.K.); (M.V.); (K.V.); (H.C.); (M.M.-K.); (E.L.); (M.D.)
- Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of Latvia, LV-1050 Riga, Latvia
| | - Helena Cirule
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Pharmacology, Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, LV-1006 Riga, Latvia; (S.K.); (M.V.); (K.V.); (H.C.); (M.M.-K.); (E.L.); (M.D.)
| | - Andris Skride
- Department of Internal Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Rigas Stradins University, LV-1007 Riga, Latvia; (D.K.); (A.S.)
- Department of Rare Diseases, Pauls Stradins Clinical University Hospital, LV-1012 Riga, Latvia
| | - Marina Makrecka-Kuka
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Pharmacology, Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, LV-1006 Riga, Latvia; (S.K.); (M.V.); (K.V.); (H.C.); (M.M.-K.); (E.L.); (M.D.)
| | - Edgars Liepinsh
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Pharmacology, Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, LV-1006 Riga, Latvia; (S.K.); (M.V.); (K.V.); (H.C.); (M.M.-K.); (E.L.); (M.D.)
| | - Maija Dambrova
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Pharmacology, Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, LV-1006 Riga, Latvia; (S.K.); (M.V.); (K.V.); (H.C.); (M.M.-K.); (E.L.); (M.D.)
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Rigas Stradins University, LV-1007 Riga, Latvia
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