N-acetylcysteine reduces oxidative stress, nuclear factor-κB activity and Cardiomyocyte apoptosis in heart failure

The roles of oxidative stress on nuclear factor (NF)-kappa B activity and cardiomyocyte apoptosis during heart failure were examined using the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine (NAC). Heart failure was established in Japanese white rabbits with intravenous injections of doxorubicin, with ten rabbits serving as a control group. Of the rabbits with heart failure, 12 were not treated (HF group) and 13 received NAC (NAC group). Cardiac function was assessed using echocardiography and hemodynamic analysis. Myocardial cell apoptosis, apoptosis-related protein expression, NF-kappa Bp65 expression and activity, total anti-oxidative capacity (tAOC), 8-iso-prostaglandin F2 alpha (8-iso-PGF2 alpha) expression and glutathione (GSH) expression levels were determined. In the HF group, reduced tAOC, GSH levels and Bcl-2/Bax ratios as well as increased 8-iso-PGF2 alpha levels and apoptosis were observed (all P<0.05), which were effects that were attenuated by the treatment with NAC. NF-kappa Bp65 and iNOS levels were significantly higher and the P-I kappa B-alpha levels were significantly lower in the HF group; expression of all three proteins returned to pre-HF levels following treatment with NAC. Myocardial cell apoptosis was positively correlated with left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP), NF-kappa Bp65 expression and 8-iso-PGF2 alpha levels, but negatively correlated with the maximal and minimal rates of increase in left ventricular pressure (+dp/dtmax and -dp/dtmin, respectively) and the Bcl-2/Bax ratio (all P<0.001). The 8-iso-PGF2 alpha levels were positively correlated with LVEDP and negatively correlated with +dp/dtmax and -dp/dtmin (all P<0.001). The present study demonstrated that NAC increased the antioxidant capacity, decreased the NF-kappa B activation and reduced myocardial cell apoptosis in an in vivo heart failure model.