All-trans retinoic acid protects against doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity by activating the ERK2 signalling pathway

Doxorubicin is a powerful antineoplastic agent for treating a wide range of cancers. However, doxorubicin cardiotoxicity of the heart has largely limited its clinical use. All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) plays an important role in many cardiac biological processes, but its protective effects on doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity remain unknown. Here, we studied the effect of ATRA on doxorubicin cardiotoxicity and the underlying mechanisms.

Cellular viability assays, Western blotting and mitochondrial respiration analyses were employed to evaluate the cellular response to ATRA in H9c2 cells and primary cardiomyocytes. Quantitative PCR and gene knockdown were performed to investigate the underlying molecular mechanisms of ATRA's effects on doxorubicin cardiotoxicity.

ATRA significantly inhibited doxorubicin-induced apoptosis in H9c2 cells and primary cardiomyocytes. ATRA was more effective against doxorubicin cardiotoxicity than resveratrol and dexrazoxane. ATRA also suppressed reactive oxygen species generation and restored expression levels of mRNA and proteins in the phase II detoxifying enzyme system: nuclear factor-E2-related factor 2, manganese superoxide dismutase, haem oxygenase-1, and mitochondrial function (mitochondrial membrane integrity, mitochondrial DNA copy numbers and mitochondrial respiration capacity, biogenesis and dynamics). Both a ERK1/2 inhibitor (U0126) and ERK2 siRNA, but not ERK1 siRNA, abolished the protective effect of ATRA against doxorubicin-induced toxicity in H9c2 cells. Remarkably, ATRA did not compromise the anticancer efficacy of doxorubicin in gastric carcinoma cells.

ATRA protected cardiomyocytes against doxorubicin-induced toxicity, by activating the ERK2 pathway, without compromising its anticancer efficacy. Therefore, ATRA is a promising candidate as a cardioprotective agent against doxorubicin cardiotoxicity.