Phosphodiesterase5 Inhibition with Tadalafil Attenuates Left Ventricular Dysfunction and Cardiomyocyte Apoptosis in Doxorubicininduced Cardiotoxicity in Mice Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • Doxorubicin (DOX) is one of the most effective anticancer drugs. However, its cardiotoxicity remains a major clinical concern. As phosphodiesterase5 (PDE5) inhibitors are cardioprotective, we hypothesized that tadalafil (TAD), a long acting PDE5 inhibitor, would provide protection against DOXinduced cardiotoxicity. CF1 mice received Saline (0.2 ml ip), DOX (15 mg/kg ip) or DOX+TAD (4 mg/kg po for 9 days; n=1824/group). Left ventricular (LV) function was assessed by echocardiography and Millar catheter. DOXmediated impairment of LV function was significantly reduced by TAD+DOX (p<0.05). Western Blots revealed that DOXmediated reduction of Bcl2 and GATA4 were maintained by TAD+DOX. Antioxidant capacity was also improved through enhanced MnSOD in TAD+DOX. Immunofluorescence staining of Desmin and TUNEL assay showed that DOXinduced myofibrillar disarray and apoptosis were attenuated by TAD. TAD+DOX significantly increased cGMP level and PKG activity in heart as compared to DOX. Cotreatment of TAD with DOX did not interfere with the anticancer efficacy of DOX, as determined by human osteosarcoma (OSA1) cell viability assay and tumor xenograft model. In conclusion, TAD improved LV function and prevented cardiomyocyte apoptosis via upregulation of cGMP, PKG and MnSOD, without interfering with the chemotherapeutic benefits of DOX. (Supported by NIH HL51045, HL79424, HL93685 & AHA 0765273U)

published proceedings

  • The FASEB Journal

author list (cited authors)

  • Koka, S., Das, A., Zhu, S., Durrant, D., Xi, L., & Kukreja, R. C.

publisher