Attenuation of oxidative stress and cardiac dysfunction by bisoprolol in an animal model of dilated cardiomyopathy

Oxidative stress is an important susceptibility factor for dilated cardiomyopathy. We have investigated the effects of bisoprolol, a beta1-selective adrenoceptor blocker, on oxidative stress and the development of cardiac dysfunction in a model of dilated cardiomyopathy. Male TO-2 and control hamsters at 8 weeks of age were treated with bisoprolol (5 mg/kg per day) or vehicle for 4 weeks. Treatment with bisoprolol prevented the progression of cardiac dysfunction in TO-2 hamsters. This drug did not affect the increase in NADPH oxidase activity but prevented the reduction in activity and expression of mitochondrial manganese-dependent superoxide dismutase as well as the increases in the concentrations of interleukin-1beta and tumor necrosis factor-alpha in the left ventricle of TO-2 hamsters. Attenuation of the development of cardiac dysfunction by bisoprolol may thus result in part from normalization of the associated increases in the levels of oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory cytokines in the left ventricle.