Metabolic cardioprotection by pyruvate: recent progress.
Pyruvate, a natural metabolic fuel and antioxidant in myocardium and other tissues, exerts a variety of cardioprotective actions when provided at supraphysiological concentrations. Pyruvate increases cardiac contractile performance and myocardial energy state, bolsters endogenous antioxidant systems, and protects myocardium from ischemia-reperfusion injury and oxidant stress. This article reviews and discusses basic and clinically oriented research conducted over the last several years that has yielded fundamental information on pyruvate's inotropic and cardioprotective mechanisms. Particular attention is placed on pyruvate's enhancement of sarcoplasmic reticular Ca2+ transport, its antioxidant properties, and its ability to mitigate reversible and irreversible myocardial injury. These research efforts are establishing the essential foundation for clinical application of pyruvate therapy in numerous settings including cardiopulmonary bypass surgery, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, myocardial stunning, and cardiac failure.
Department of Integrative Physiology, University of North Texas Health Science Center, 3500 Camp Bowie Boulevard, Fort Worth, TX 76107-2699, USA. malletr@hsc.unt.edu
Robert T
RT
Mallet
Jie
J
Sun
E Marty
EM
Knott
Arti B
AB
Sharma
Albert H
AH
Olivencia-Yurvati
D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009202:Cardiomyopathies / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism*; D019289:Pyruvic Acid / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000975:Antioxidants; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D019289:Pyruvic Acid