Qinshuo Zhao1, Wei Song2, Jingqiu Huang3, Dong Wang4, Changwu Xu5. 1. Department of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, 238 Jiefang Road, Wuhan, 430060, China. 2. Department of Pharmacy, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, 238 Jiefang Road, Wuhan, 430060, China. 3. Department of Ophthalmology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, 430030, China. 4. Department of Cardiology, Wuhan No.1 Hospital, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 215 Zhongshan Avenue, Wuhan, 430022, China. 5. Department of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, 238 Jiefang Road, Wuhan, 430060, China. Electronic address: xuchangwu@whu.edu.cn.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) is one of the major risk factors of cardiovascular diseases. Metformin acts as a cardioprotective role in several cardiovascular diseases, including ischemia/reperfusion, atherosclerosis, and myocardial infarction. However, whether metformin protects against HHcy-induced cardiac hypertrophy is unclear. METHODS AND RESULTS: HHcy model was established in C57BL/6 mice with high L-methionine (L-MET) diet for 12 weeks. AC16 cells were exposed to homocysteine (Hcy) and then intervened with different concentrations of metformin in in vitro studies. The results showed that HHcy was able to induce cardiac hypertrophy, and metformin could abrogate this effect. HHcy increased the fibrosis area and induced apoptosis in the myocardium, whereas metformin could reverse the detrimental effects above. TUNEL assay showed that metformin was able to decrease Hcy-induced apoptosis in AC16 cells. Moreover, western blotting assay revealed that metformin could decrease Hcy-induced expression of Bax and cleaved caspase3, and increase the expression of Bcl-2. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that metformin is able to attenuate HHcy-induced cardiac hypertrophy by decreasing myocardial fibrosis and apoptosis.
BACKGROUND: Hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) is one of the major risk factors of cardiovascular diseases. Metformin acts as a cardioprotective role in several cardiovascular diseases, including ischemia/reperfusion, atherosclerosis, and myocardial infarction. However, whether metformin protects against HHcy-induced cardiac hypertrophy is unclear. METHODS AND RESULTS: HHcy model was established in C57BL/6 mice with high L-methionine (L-MET) diet for 12 weeks. AC16 cells were exposed to homocysteine (Hcy) and then intervened with different concentrations of metformin in in vitro studies. The results showed that HHcy was able to induce cardiac hypertrophy, and metformin could abrogate this effect. HHcy increased the fibrosis area and induced apoptosis in the myocardium, whereas metformin could reverse the detrimental effects above. TUNEL assay showed that metformin was able to decrease Hcy-induced apoptosis in AC16 cells. Moreover, western blotting assay revealed that metformin could decrease Hcy-induced expression of Bax and cleaved caspase3, and increase the expression of Bcl-2. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that metformin is able to attenuate HHcy-induced cardiac hypertrophy by decreasing myocardial fibrosis and apoptosis.