Riboflavin protects against heart failure via SCAD-dependent DJ-1-Keap1-Nrf2 signalling pathway

Qingping Xu; Yuhong Cao; Xiaoyi Zhong; Xue Qin; Jingyun Feng; Huan Peng; Yongshao Su; Zhichao Ma; Sigui Zhou

doi:10.1111/bph.16184

Riboflavin protects against heart failure via SCAD-dependent DJ-1-Keap1-Nrf2 signalling pathway

Br J Pharmacol. 2023 Dec;180(23):3024-3044. doi: 10.1111/bph.16184. Epub 2023 Aug 7.

Authors

Qingping Xu^{1

2}, Yuhong Cao^{1

2}, Xiaoyi Zhong^{1

2}, Xue Qin^{1

2}, Jingyun Feng^{1

2}, Huan Peng^{1

2}, Yongshao Su^{1

2}, Zhichao Ma^{1

2}, Sigui Zhou^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ School of Chinese Materia Medica, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, China.
² Key Specialty of Clinical Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, China.

PMID: 37377111
DOI: 10.1111/bph.16184

Abstract

Background and purpose: Our recent studies have shown that flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) exerts cardiovascular protective effects by supplementing short-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (SCAD). The current study aimed to elucidate whether riboflavin (the precursor of FAD) could improve heart failure via activating SCAD and the DJ-1-Keap1-Nrf2 signalling pathway.

Experimental approach: Riboflavin treatment was given to the mouse transverse aortic constriction (TAC)-induced heart failure model. Cardiac structure and function, energy metabolism and apoptosis index were assessed, and relevant signalling proteins were analysed. The mechanisms underlying the cardioprotection by riboflavin were analysed in the cell apoptosis model induced by tert-butyl hydroperoxide (tBHP).

Key results: In vivo, riboflavin ameliorated myocardial fibrosis and energy metabolism, improved cardiac dysfunction and inhibited oxidative stress and cardiomyocyte apoptosis in TAC-induced heart failure. In vitro, riboflavin ameliorated cell apoptosis in H9C2 cardiomyocytes by decreasing reactive oxygen species (ROS). At the molecular level, riboflavin significantly restored FAD content, SCAD expression and enzymatic activity, activated DJ-1 and inhibited the Keap1-Nrf2/HO1 signalling pathway in vivo and in vitro. SCAD knockdown exaggerated the tBHP-induced DJ-1 decrease and Keap1-Nrf2/HO1 signalling pathway activation in H9C2 cardiomyocytes. The knockdown of SCAD abolished the anti-apoptotic effects of riboflavin on H9C2 cardiomyocytes. DJ-1 knockdown hindered SCAD overexpression anti-apoptotic effects and regulation on Keap1-Nrf2/HO1 signalling pathway in H9C2 cardiomyocytes.

Conclusions and implications: Riboflavin exerts cardioprotective effects on heart failure by improving oxidative stress and cardiomyocyte apoptosis via FAD to stimulate SCAD and then activates the DJ-1-Keap1-Nrf2 signalling pathway.

Keywords: cell apoptosis; energy metabolism; heart failure; oxidative stress; riboflavin; short-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase; signalling pathway.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Apoptosis
Butyryl-CoA Dehydrogenase* / metabolism
Flavin-Adenine Dinucleotide / metabolism
Flavin-Adenine Dinucleotide / pharmacology
Heart Failure* / drug therapy
Heart Failure* / metabolism
Kelch-Like ECH-Associated Protein 1 / metabolism
Mice
Myocytes, Cardiac / metabolism
NF-E2-Related Factor 2 / metabolism
Oxidative Stress

Substances

Butyryl-CoA Dehydrogenase
NF-E2-Related Factor 2
Flavin-Adenine Dinucleotide
Kelch-Like ECH-Associated Protein 1
Keap1 protein, mouse