Triterpenoid dihydro-CDDO-trifluoroethyl amide protects against maladaptive cardiac remodeling and dysfunction in mice: a critical role of Nrf2.

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND AIMS:

Nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) appears to be an attractive therapeutic target for the treatment of cardiac disease. We investigated whether a synthetic triterpenoid derivative of dihydro-CDDO-trifluoroethylamide (dh404), a novel Nrf2 activator, protects against pathological cardiac responses to hemodynamic stress in mice.

METHODS:

Cardiac maladaptive remodeling and dysfunction were established by transverse aortic constriction (TAC) in mice. Hypertrophic growth of rat neonatal cardiomyocytes was induced by angiotensin II (Ang II). Cell death of rat neonatal cardiomyocytes was induced with hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂). Cellular proliferation of rat neonatal cardiac fibroblasts was induced by Ang II, norepinephrine (NE) and phenylephrine (PE). Protein expression was assessed by immunochemical staining and Western blots. Gene expression was determined by real time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (Q-PCR).

RESULTS:

TAC suppressed myocardial Nrf2 expression, increased myocardial 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal and 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine levels, and induced cardiac hypertrophy, fibrosis and apoptosis, and overt heart failure and death in mice. Administration of dh404 inhibited the pathological cardiac remodeling and dysfunction, and reduced the mortality. Moreover, dhd404 elevated myocardial levels of Nrf2 and Nrf2 nuclear translocation with a dramatic suppression of the oxidative stress in the heart. Dh404 inhibited hypertrophic growth and death in primary culture of rat neonatal cardiomyocytes and suppressed proliferation in primary culture of rat neonatal cardiac fibroblasts. However, these effects of dh404 were blunted by knocking down of Nrf2.

CONCLUSION:

These findings demonstrate that dh404 prevents pathological cardiac remodeling and dysfunction by activating Nrf2, indicating a therapeutic potential of dh404 for cardiac disease.

• Authors: Yifan Xing, Ting Niu, Wenjuan Wang, Jinqing Li, Siying Li, Joseph S Janicki, Stacey Ruiz, Colin J Meyer, Xing Li Wang, Dongqi Tang, Yuxia Zhao, Taixing Cui
• Journal: PloS one (PLoS One) Vol. 7 Issue 9 Pg. e44899 ( 2012) ISSN: 1932-6203 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 23028668 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• NF-E2-Related Factor 2
• Nfe2l2 protein, mouse
• dh404 compound
• Oleanolic Acid

Topics

• Active Transport, Cell Nucleus (drug effects)
• Animals
• Cell Nucleus (drug effects, metabolism)
• Constriction
• Fibrosis (drug therapy)
• Heart (drug effects, physiopathology)
• Heart Failure (metabolism, pathology, physiopathology, prevention & control)
• Hypertrophy (drug therapy)
• Male
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred C57BL
• Myocardium (metabolism, pathology)
• NF-E2-Related Factor 2 (metabolism)
• Oleanolic Acid (analogs & derivatives, pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Oxidative Stress (drug effects)
• Pressure (adverse effects)
• Up-Regulation (drug effects)
• Ventricular Remodeling (drug effects)