Senolytic Agent Navitoclax Inhibits Angiotensin II-Induced Heart Failure in Mice

J Cardiovasc Pharmacol. 2020 Oct;76(4):452-460. doi: 10.1097/FJC.0000000000000878.

Abstract

Navitoclax, which is a type of senolytic drug, selectively eliminates senescent cells. This study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic potential of navitoclax in treatment of angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced heart failure in mice. Navitoclax or vehicle was administrated in mice with Ang II-induced heart failure. Cardiac function and electrophysiology were assessed before and after administration of navitoclax. Cardiac remodeling, including morphological changes, fibrosis, and inflammatory responses, was analyzed in myocardial tissue. Cellular effects of navitoclax were validated in isolated primary cardiomyocytes and cardiac fibroblasts in vitro. Echocardiography of mice showed that navitoclax improved cardiac dysfunction by improving the left ventricular ejection fraction (vehicle: 45.88 ± 2.19%; navitoclax: 54.70 ± 1.65%, P < 0.01). In cardiac electrophysiological testing, navitoclax increased conduction velocity (vehicle: 1.37 ± 0.05 mm/ms; navitoclax: 1.69 ± 0.08 mm/ms, P < 0.05) and decreased susceptibility to ventricular tachyarrhythmia induced by programmed electrical stimulation. Histopathological staining, immunofluorescence, and western blotting examinations showed that navitoclax ameliorated Ang II-induced cardiac fibrosis, hypertrophy, and the inflammatory response. Moreover, navitoclax eliminated senescent cells by inducing apoptosis. Therefore, navitoclax improved cardiac function and electrophysiological characteristics through decreasing cardiac fibrosis, hypertrophy, and inflammation in mice with heart failure. Pharmacological clearance of senescent cells may be a potential therapeutic approach in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Angiotensin II
  • Aniline Compounds / pharmacology*
  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Cardiac Pacing, Artificial
  • Cardiomegaly / etiology
  • Cardiomegaly / physiopathology
  • Cardiomegaly / prevention & control
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cellular Senescence / drug effects*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Fibrosis
  • Heart Failure / chemically induced
  • Heart Failure / metabolism
  • Heart Failure / physiopathology
  • Heart Failure / prevention & control*
  • Inflammation Mediators / metabolism
  • Male
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Myocytes, Cardiac / drug effects*
  • Myocytes, Cardiac / metabolism
  • Myocytes, Cardiac / pathology
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Stroke Volume / drug effects
  • Sulfonamides / pharmacology*
  • Tachycardia, Ventricular / etiology
  • Tachycardia, Ventricular / physiopathology
  • Tachycardia, Ventricular / prevention & control
  • Ventricular Function, Left / drug effects*
  • Ventricular Remodeling / drug effects*

Substances

  • Aniline Compounds
  • Inflammation Mediators
  • Sulfonamides
  • Angiotensin II
  • navitoclax