Changes of Necroptosis in Irbesartan Medicated Cardioprotection in Diabetic Rats

Qingmei Xu1, Xin Tan1, Wei Xian1

  • 1Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, Anhui, 233004, People's Republic of China.

Insights

Irbesartan protects diabetic rats from heart damage by inhibiting the RIP1-RIP3-MLKL necroptosis pathway. This study reveals a novel mechanism for irbesartan

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Research
  • Diabetology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) is linked to microvascular issues, renin-angiotensin system (RAS) activation, inflammation, and apoptosis.
  • Irbesartan, an angiotensin II receptor blocker, is known to affect the RAS, but its precise mechanism in DCM remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the expression of the RIP1-RIP3-MLKL necroptosis pathway in the myocardium of diabetic rats.
  • To evaluate the protective effects of irbesartan on myocardial damage in a diabetic rat model.

Main Methods:

  • 30 Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into control, high glucose/high caloric, diabetes mellitus (4 and 8 weeks), and irbesartan-treated diabetic groups.
  • Evaluated cardiac function, inflammatory injury, myocardial histology, and expression of RIP1, RIP3, and MLKL at mRNA and protein levels.

Main Results:

  • Diabetes progression worsened cardiac function, increased heart weight to body weight ratio, and elevated myocardial RIP1, RIP3, and MLKL expression.
  • Irbesartan treatment improved cardiac function, reduced inflammation, decreased heart weight to body weight ratio, and attenuated myocardial fibrosis.
  • The cardioprotective effects of irbesartan correlated with reduced myocardial RIP1, RIP3, and MLKL mRNA and protein levels.

Conclusions:

  • Irbesartan demonstrates a significant cardioprotective effect in diabetic rats.
  • The mechanism of irbesartan's protection may involve the inhibition of the RIP1-RIP3-MLKL necroptosis pathway in the diabetic heart.
Abstract