title: Alpha-lipoic acid attenuates cardiac hypertrophy via inhibition of C/EBPβ activation.
abstract: Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA), a naturally occurring compound, exerts powerful protective effects in numerous cardiovascular disease models. However, the pharmacological property of ALA on cardiac hypertrophy has not been well investigated. The present study was carried out to determine whether ALA exerts a direct anti-hypertrophic effect in cultured cardiomyocytes and whether it modifies the hypertrophic process in vivo. Furthermore, we determined the potential underlying mechanisms for these actions. Treatment of cardiomyocytes with phenylephrine (PE) for 24 h produced a marked hypertrophic effect as evidenced by significantly increased in ANF and BNP mRNA levels, as well as cell surface area. These effects were attenuated by ALA in a concentration-dependent manner with a complete inhibition of hypertrophy at a concentration of 100 µg/mL. PE-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy was associated with increased mRNA and protein levels of C/EBPβ, which were inhibited by pretreatment with ALA. However, when cardiomyocytes were co-transfected with C/EBPβ, ALA failed to inhibit hypertrophic responses. Upregulation of C/EBPβ expression was also evident in rats subjected to 4 weeks of coronary artery ligation (CAL). However, rats treated with ALA demonstrated markedly reduced hemodynamic and hypertrophic responses, which were accompanied by attenuation of upregulation of C/EBPβ. Taken together, our results revealed a robust anti-hypertrophic and anti-remodeling effect of ALA, which is mediated by inhibition of C/EBPβ activation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Chengdu Fifth People's Hospital, Chengdu, Sichuan 611130, China.
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zou
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Chengdu Fifth People's Hospital, Chengdu, Sichuan 611130, China.
authors.forename: Xiaohong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Gan
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Chengdu Fifth People's Hospital, Chengdu, Sichuan 611130, China.
authors.forename: Houfeng
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Chengdu Fifth People's Hospital, Chengdu, Sichuan 611130, China.
authors.forename: Xiaoxiao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Chengdu Fifth People's Hospital, Chengdu, Sichuan 611130, China.
authors.forename: Yuanxin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Chengdu Fifth People's Hospital, Chengdu, Sichuan 611130, China.
authors.forename: Jia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Gansu Provincial People's Hospital, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, China. Electronic address: yxl1668@vip.163.com.
authors.forename: Xiaolai
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Chengdu Fifth People's Hospital, Chengdu, Sichuan 611130, China. Electronic address: 2569987264@qq.com.
authors.forename: Jianguo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lei
mesh_terms: D058646:Adrenergic alpha-1 Receptor Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D022782:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Protein-beta / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006332:Cardiomegaly / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D032383:Myocytes, Cardiac / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D010656:Phenylephrine / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D008063:Thioctic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014803:Vitamin B Complex / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D058646:Adrenergic alpha-1 Receptor Agonists; D022782:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Protein-beta; C545014:Cebpb protein, rat; D014803:Vitamin B Complex; D010656:Phenylephrine; D008063:Thioctic Acid
keywords: Alpha-lipoic acid; C/EBPβ; Cardiac hypertrophy