Proline improves cardiac remodeling following myocardial infarction and attenuates cardiomyocyte apoptosis via redox regulation

Biochem Pharmacol. 2020 Aug:178:114065. doi: 10.1016/j.bcp.2020.114065. Epub 2020 May 31.

Abstract

At present, ischemic heart failure (HF) caused by coronary heart disease (CHD) has a high morbidity and mortality, placing a heavy burden on global human health. L-Proline (Pro), a nonessential amino acid and the foundation of proteins in the human body, was found to be protective against oxidative stress in various diseases. However, the role of Pro in cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains unclear. In vivo, adult mice were subjected to left anterior descending (LAD) artery ligation for 4 weeks with or without Pro treatment. In vitro, H9c2 cardiomyocytes were pretreated with or without Pro, followed by treatment with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) (200 μM) for 6 and 12 h. Our data showed that Pro metabolism was disturbing after myocardial infarction (MI). Pro treatment improved cardiac remodeling, reduced infarct size, and decreased oxidative stress and apoptosis in mouse hearts after MI. Pro inhibited the H2O2-induced increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) in H9c2 cells and protected against H2O2-induced apoptosis. Mechanistically, by RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) and pathway analysis, Pro was shown to exert a protective effect through H2O2 catabolic processes and apoptotic processes, especially oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS). Taken together, our findings suggested that Pro protects against MI injury at least partially via redox regulation, highlighting the potential of Pro as a novel therapy for ischemic HF caused by CHD.

Keywords: Apoptosis; Cardiac remodeling; L-Proline; Myocardial infarction; Oxidative stress.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / drug effects*
  • Apoptosis / physiology
  • Cell Line
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Myocardial Infarction / drug therapy
  • Myocardial Infarction / metabolism*
  • Myocardial Infarction / pathology
  • Myocytes, Cardiac / drug effects*
  • Myocytes, Cardiac / metabolism*
  • Myocytes, Cardiac / pathology
  • Oxidation-Reduction / drug effects
  • Oxidative Stress / drug effects
  • Oxidative Stress / physiology
  • Proline / pharmacology*
  • Proline / therapeutic use
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism
  • Ventricular Remodeling / drug effects*
  • Ventricular Remodeling / physiology

Substances

  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • Proline