Panaxatriol saponin ameliorates myocardial infarction-induced cardiac fibrosis by targeting Keap1/Nrf2 to regulate oxidative stress and inhibit cardiac-fibroblast activation and proliferation

Cardiac fibrosis is a common precursor of ventricular dysfunction and heart failure. We investigated the role of oxidative stress in myocardial fibrosis and the protective effect of panaxatriol saponin (PTS) against myocardial infarction (MI)-induced cardiac fibrosis and explored the underlying mechanisms. In vitro, cell viability was tested using a cell counting kit. The reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels including hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and superoxide anion (O2•−) were determined. Antioxidant enzyme levels were determined by immunofluorescence and Western blotting. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, echocardiography, histological analysis, immunofluorescence staining, and molecular analysis were performed. Nuclear factor erythroid 2–related factor 2 (Nrf2) activation was evaluated by molecular docking and immunoprecipitation. Finally, the mechanism by which PTS inhibits cardiac fibrosis was investigated using the Nrf2 activator ML334 and a small interfering RNA for Nrf2. Ang II-induced differentiation of cardiac fibroblasts was associated with oxidative stress, characterized by upregulation of α-smooth muscle actin, increased reactive oxygen species production, and inhibition of superoxide dismutase-1 and heme oxygenase expression. In addition, PTS improved cardiac function and ameliorated cardiac fibrosis in MI rats. It also reduced Ang II-induced fibroblast differentiation and proliferation, suppressed oxidative stress, and disrupted the Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1)–Nrf2 interaction by directly blocking the Nrf2 binding site in Keap1. Overexpression of Nrf2 by ML334 enhanced the antifibrotic effect of PTS. However, genetic ablation of Nrf2 abrogated the antifibrotic effect of PTS in cardiac fibrosis. Taken together, our findings suggest that Nrf2 has promise as a target and PTS as a therapeutic agent for cardiac fibrosis.