New targets and biomarkers for doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity in humans: implications drawn from toxicogenomic

Fuat Karakuş1, Abdulilah Ece2, Burak Kuzu3

  • 1Department of Pharmaceutical Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Van Yuzuncu Yil University, Van, Türkiye.

Insights

Doxorubicin cardiotoxicity leads to irreversible heart failure. This study identified key molecular mechanisms and metabolites, including 7-deoxidoxorubicinone, contributing to chronic doxorubicin cardiotoxicity.

Area of Science:

  • Pharmacology
  • Toxicology
  • Cardiovascular Medicine

Background:

  • Doxorubicin chemotherapy causes life-threatening cardiotoxicity.
  • Chronic doxorubicin cardiotoxicity is irreversible, leading to dilated cardiomyopathy and heart failure.
  • Understanding the molecular mechanisms of doxorubicin metabolites is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify molecular mechanisms of doxorubicin metabolites in doxorubicin-induced chronic cardiotoxicity.
  • To investigate the role of specific doxorubicin metabolites in heart failure.
  • To uncover key genes, transcription factors, and microRNAs involved in cardiotoxicity.

Main Methods:

  • Literature searches and in silico toxicogenomic analyses using multiple databases and tools.
  • Molecular dynamics simulations were performed using Schrödinger software.
  • Identification of doxorubicin metabolites and their target genes in the human heart.

Main Results:

  • Doxorubicin transforms into five metabolites in the human heart.
  • Eleven common genes link doxorubicin, its metabolites, dilated cardiomyopathy, and heart failure.
  • Doxorubicin and metabolites bind to beta-1 adrenergic receptor and fatty acid synthase.
  • Key transcription factors (Nkx-2.6) and microRNAs (hsa-miR-183-3p) were identified.
  • 7-deoxidoxorubicinone, alongside doxorubicinol, may contribute to cardiotoxicity.

Conclusions:

  • Doxorubicin metabolites play a significant role in chronic cardiotoxicity.
  • Specific molecular targets and regulatory factors have been identified.
  • Findings advance understanding of doxorubicin-induced heart failure mechanisms.