Asiatic acid protects against pressure overload-induced heart failure in mice by inhibiting mitochondria-dependent apoptosis.

Background: Mitochondrial dysfunction and subsequent cardiomyocyte apoptosis significantly contribute to pressure overload-induced heart failure (HF). A highly oxidative environment leads to mitochondrial damage, further exacerbating this condition. Asiatic acid (AA), a proven antioxidant and anti-hypertrophic agent, might provide a solution, but its role and mechanisms in chronic pressure overload-induced HF remain largely unexplored.

Methods: We induced pressure overload in mice using transverse aortic constriction (TAC) and treated them with AA (100 mg/kg/day) or vehicle daily by oral gavage for 8 weeks. The effects of AA on mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress-associated signaling pathways, and overall survival were evaluated. Additionally, an in vitro model using hydrogen peroxide-exposed neonatal rat cardiomyocytes was established to further investigate the role of AA in oxidative stress-induced mitochondrial apoptosis.

Results: AA treatment significantly improved survival and alleviated cardiac dysfunction in TAC-induced HF mice. It preserved mitochondrial structure, reduced the LVW/BW ratio by 20.24%, mitigated TAC-induced mitochondrial-dependent apoptosis by significantly lowering the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and cleaved caspase-9/3 levels, and attenuated oxidative stress. AA treatment protected cardiomyocytes from hydrogen peroxide-induced apoptosis, with concurrent modulation of mitochondrial-dependent apoptosis pathway-related proteins and the JNK pathway.

Conclusions: Our findings suggest that AA effectively combats chronic TAC-induced and hydrogen peroxide-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis through a mitochondria-dependent mechanism. AA reduces cellular levels of oxidative stress and inhibits the activation of the JNK pathway, highlighting its potential therapeutic value in the treatment of HF.