Activation of PKG-CREB-KLF15 by melatonin attenuates Angiotensin II-induced vulnerability to atrial fibrillation via enhancing branched-chain amino acids catabolism.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to explore the role of BCAA catabolism in atrial fibrillation (AF) pathogenesis and evaluate melatonin's therapeutic effect via PKG-CREB-KLF15 signaling.
Results Summary
Elevated BCAA levels and reduced catabolic enzyme activity worsened AF vulnerability, atrial remodeling, and mitochondrial ROS damage, which were mitigated by melatonin but exacerbated by BCAA supplementation. Melatonin reversed BCAA-induced damage by activating PKG-CREB-KLF15 signaling.
Population
Angiotensin II-treated atria (animal model, not specified further).
Effective Dosage
Not specified.
Duration
Not specified.
Interactions
None mentioned.
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
angiotensin II treatment | increase | BCAA level | atria | - | exhibited significantly elevated | #1 |
angiotensin II treatment | decrease | BCAA catabolic enzyme activity | atria | - | reduced | #2 |
angiotensin II treatment | increase | AF vulnerability | atria | - | increased | #3 |
angiotensin II treatment | increase | atrial electrical and structural remodeling | atria | - | aggravated | #4 |
angiotensin II treatment | increase | mitochondrial ROS damage | atria | - | enhanced | #5 |
melatonin co-administration | decrease | these deleterious effects | angiotensin II-treated atria | - | attenuated | #6 |
BCAA oral supplementation | increase | these deleterious effects | angiotensin II-treated atria | - | exacerbated | #7 |
melatonin treatment | decrease | BCAA-induced atrial damage | - | - | ameliorated | #8 |
melatonin treatment | increase | BCAA-induced down-regulation of atrial PKGIα expression | - | - | reversed | #9 |
melatonin treatment | increase | BCAA-induced down-regulation of CREB phosphorylation | - | - | reversed | #10 |
melatonin treatment | increase | BCAA-induced down-regulation of KLF15 expression | - | - | reversed | #11 |
inhibition of PKG | decrease | melatonin-induced beneficial actions | - | - | partly abolished | #12 |
melatonin treatment | decrease | Ang II-induced atrial structural as well as electrical remodeling | - | - | ameliorated | #13 |
melatonin treatment | increase | PKG-CREB-KLF15 | - | - | ameliorated by activating | #14 |
Mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) damage and atrial remodeling serve as the crucial substrates for the genesis of atrial fibrillation (AF). Branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) catabolic defect plays critical roles in multiple cardiovascular diseases. However, the alteration of atrial BCAA catabolism and its role in AF remain largely unknown. This study aimed to explore the role of BCAA catabolism in the pathogenesis of AF and to further evaluate the therapeutic effect of melatonin with a focus on protein kinase G (PKG)-cAMP response element binding protein (CREB)-Krüppel-like factor 15 (KLF15) signaling. We found that angiotensin II-treated atria exhibited significantly elevated BCAA level, reduced BCAA catabolic enzyme activity, increased AF vulnerability, aggravated atrial electrical and structural remodeling, and enhanced mitochondrial ROS damage. These deleterious effects were attenuated by melatonin co-administration while exacerbated by BCAA oral supplementation. Melatonin treatment ameliorated BCAA-induced atrial damage and reversed BCAA-induced down-regulation of atrial PKGIα expression, CREB phosphorylation as well as KLF15 expression. However, inhibition of PKG partly abolished melatonin-induced beneficial actions. In summary, these data demonstrated that atrial BCAA catabolic defect contributed to the pathogenesis of AF by aggravating tissue fibrosis and mitochondrial ROS damage. Melatonin treatment ameliorated Ang II-induced atrial structural as well as electrical remodeling by activating PKG-CREB-KLF15. The present study reveals additional mechanisms contributing to AF genesis and highlights the opportunity of a novel therapy for AF by targeting BCAA catabolism. Melatonin may serve as a potential therapeutic agent for AF intervention.