Necrostatin: a potentially novel cardioprotective agent?
BACKGROUND
Necrostatin-1 (Nec-1), a small tryptophan-based molecule, was recently reported to protect the cerebral cortex against ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury. We investigated the actions of Nec-1 and its so-called inactive analog, Nec-1i, in the setting of myocardial I/R injury.


METHODS
The actions of Nec-1 and Nec-1i were examined in cultured C2C12 and H9c2 myocytes, cardiomyocytes isolated from male Sprague-Dawley rats, Langendorff isolated perfused C57Bl/6J mouse hearts and an in vivo open-chest C57Bl/6J mouse heart model.


RESULTS
Nec-1 at 30 microM and 100 microM (but not 100 microM Nec-1i) reduced peroxide-induced cell death in C2C12 cells from 51.2 +/- 1.1% (control) to 26.3 +/- 2.9% (p < 0.01 vs control) and 17.8 +/- 0.9% (p < 0.001), respectively. With H9c2 cells cell death was also reduced from 73.0 +/- 0.4% (control) to 56.7 +/- 0% (30 microM Nec-1, p < 0.05) and 45.4 +/- 3.3% (100 microM Nec-1, p < 0.01). In the isolated perfused heart Nec-1 (30 microM) reduced infarct size (calculated as a percentage of the risk area) from 48.0 +/- 2.0% (control) to 32.1 +/- 5.4% (p < 0.05). Nec-1i (30 microM) also reduced infarct size (32.9 +/- 5.1%, p < 0.05). In anesthetized C57Bl/6J mice Nec-1 (1.65 mg/kg), given intraperitoneally to coincide with reperfusion following left anterior descending artery ligation (30 min), also reduced infarct size from 45.3 +/- 5.1% (control) to 26.6 +/- 4.0% (p < 0.05), whilst Nec-1i (1.74 mg/kg) was ineffective (37.8 +/- 6.0%). Stimulus-induced opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (MPTP) in rat cardiomyocytes, as reflected by the time until mitochondrial depolarisation, was unaffected by Nec-1 or Nec-1i at 30 muM but increased at 100 muM i.e. 91% (p < 0.05 vs control) and 152% (p < 0.001) for Nec-1 and Nec-1i, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
This is the first study to demonstrate that necrostatins inhibit myocardial cell death and reduce infarct size, possibly via a mechanism independent of the MPTP.
The Hatter Cardiovascular Institute, University College London Hospital and Medical School, 67 Chenies Mews, London, WC1E 6HX, UK.
Christopher C T
CC
Smith
Sean M
SM
Davidson
Shiang Y
SY
Lim
James C
JC
Simpkin
John S
JS
Hothersall
Derek M
DM
Yellon
D000818:Animals; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007211:Indoles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D033681:Mitochondrial Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000187:drug effects; D000083162:Mitochondrial Permeability Transition Pore; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015428:Myocardial Reperfusion Injury / Q000188:drug therapy*; D032383:Myocytes, Cardiac / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D020122:tert-Butylhydroperoxide
D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D007093:Imidazoles; D007211:Indoles; D033681:Mitochondrial Membrane Transport Proteins; D000083162:Mitochondrial Permeability Transition Pore; C507699:necrostatin-1; C525517:necrostatin-1i; D020122:tert-Butylhydroperoxide