Astragaloside IV mitigates hypoxia-induced cardiac hypertrophy through calpain-1-mediated mTOR activation

Astragaloside IV (AsIV), a key functioning element of Astragalus membranaceus, has been recognized for its potential cardiovascular protective properties. However, there is a need to elucidate the impacts of AsIV on myocardial hypertrophy under hypoxia conditions and its root mechanisms.

This study scrutinized the influence of AsIV on cardiac injury under hypoxia, with particular emphasis on the role of calpain-1 (CAPN1) in mediating mTOR pathways.

Hypoxia-triggered cardiac hypertrophy was examined in vivo with CAPN1 knockout and wild-type C57BL/6 mice and in vitro with H9C2 cells. The impacts of AsIV, 3-methyladenine, and CAPN1 inhibition on hypertrophy, autophagy, apoptosis, [Ca²⁺]_i, and CAPN1 and mTOR levels in cardiac tissues and H9C2 cells were investigated.

Both AsIV treatment and CAPN1 knockout mitigated hypoxia-induced cardiac hypertrophy, autophagy, and apoptosis in mice and H9C2 cells. Moreover, AsIV, 3-methyladenine, and CAPN1 inhibition augmented p-mTOR level but reduced [Ca²⁺]_i and CAPN1 level. Additionally, lentivirus-mediated CAPN1 overexpression in H9C2 cells exacerbated myocardial hypertrophy, apoptosis, and p-mTOR inhibition under hypoxia. Specifically, AsIV treatment reversed the impacts of increased CAPN1 expression on cardiac injury and the inhibition of p-mTOR.

These findings suggest that AsIV may alleviate cardiac hypertrophy under hypoxia by attenuating apoptosis and autophagy through CAPN1-mediated mTOR activation.