Quercetin ameliorates ferroptosis of rat cardiomyocytes via activation of the SIRT1/p53/SLC7A11 signaling pathway to alleviate sepsis‑induced cardiomyopathy
Xin Lin, Zhao Xiaoxia, Qingfeng Chen, Xiaoyue Wang, Yongya Wu, Hao Zhao
Abstract
Sepsis‑induced cardiomyopathy (SIC) is a manifestation of multiple organ failure as a result of sepsis and is a serious threat to life. Here, the effect and mechanisms of quercetin (QUE) in SIC were assessed. It was found that patients with SIC expressed lower serum levels of glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) and SIRT1 but higher levels of CK‑MB, cTnI, TNF‑α, and IL‑6 compared with healthy individuals. A dose of 80 µM QUE increased the viability and reduced the ferroptosis of H9C2 cells treated with 1.0 µg/ml LPS <em>in</em> <em>vitro</em>. The administration of QUE decreased the levels of MDA, NADPH, lipid peroxidation and cytoplasmic cytochrome C and upregulated the levels of GSH and TOM 20, thus exerting an anti‑oxidative effect via mediating SIRT1 expression. It also activated the SIRT1/p53/SLC7A11 signaling pathway to reduce cellular Fe<sup>2+</sup> and PTGS2 levels, decreased cell apoptosis rate, and upregulated the levels of GPX4 and ferritin to inhibit ferroptosis of H9C2 cells <em>in</em> <em>vitro</em>. Injection of QUE into rats activated the SIRT1/p53/SLC7A11 signaling pathway, reduced the levels of CK‑MB, cTnI, inflammatory cell infiltration, MDA, NADPH, cytoplasmic cytochrome C, cellular Fe<sup>2+</sup>, and PTGS2 but upregulated the levels of GSH, TOM 20, GPX4, and ferritin to alleviate SIC in a dose‑dependent manner <em>in</em> <em>vivo</em>. To conclude, QUE exerted an anti‑ferroptotic effect via activation of the SIRT1/p53/SLC7A11 signaling pathway to dampen SIC both <em>in</em> <em>vivo</em> and <em>in</em> <em>vitro</em>. These findings highlighted a potential therapeutic strategy for the management of SIC.