Abstract 14638: NPA7: A Novel Designed Bispecific Peptide That Protects Human Cardiomyocytes Against Oxidative Stress Through the GC-A/Mas Receptor-KEAP1-NRF2 Pathway

Introduction: Excess cardiomyocyte oxidative stress is a major metabolic abnormality in HTN and its progression to HF. Thus, therapies that reduce oxidative stress in the heart may lead to a reduction in CVD related adverse outcomes such as HF and death. Recently, we bioengineered a bispecific peptide NPA7 that co-activates the protective GC-A/cGMP and MasR/cAMP pathways. Previously we showed that NPA7 possesses cardiorenal protective properties. However, the antioxidant effects of NPA7 within the heart is unknown. Hypothesis: NPA7 protects human cardiomyocytes against oxidative stress through the GC-A/Mas Receptor-KEAP1-NRF2 pathway. Methods: HCMs were pretreated with PBS or NPA7 (10 uM) followed by 400 uM hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) to induce oxidative stress. Intracellular ROS was measured by dihydroethidium (DHE) staining and protein levels of KEAP1 and NRF2 via western blot. The ratio of GSH/GSSG were determined by using commercial kit. mRNA levels of G6PD, GCLC, GCLM and GSS in HCMs, which represents antioxidant capacity, were determined by real-time PCR. For knockdown experiments, HCMs were transfected with the siRNA target GC-A and MasR for 24 h and then treated with NPA7 and H2O2 for another 20 h. Results: H2O2 increased DHE staining level, which indicated elevated intracellular ROS levels within HCMs. Notably, treatment with NPA7 decreased DHE level and increased the ratio of GSH/GSSG in HCMs with H2O2. Furthermore, NPA7 significantly increased the mRNA level of NRF2 target genes (G6PD, GCLC, GCLM, GSS) through NRF2 activation and KEAP1 degradation, indicating that NPA7 activates KEAP1-NRF2 pathway, the upstream pathway that regulate antioxidant gene expression, in HCMs. Moreover, these effects were eliminated if GC-A and MasR were silenced by siRNA, thus supporting the protective antioxidant role of both GC-A and MasR. Conclusions: The present study establishes an antioxidant action of NPA7, a novel bispecific designer peptide, on H2O2-induced oxidative stress by the dual targeting of GC-A and MasR through the KEAP1-NRF2 signaling pathway in HCMs. These results advance NPA7 as an innovative therapeutic strategy targeting oxidative stress related to CVD.