Resveratrol attenuates doxorubicin-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis in mice through SIRT1-mediated deacetylation of p53

Aims Doxorubicin (DOX) is an anthracycline drug with a wide spectrum of clinical antineoplastic activity, but increased apoptosis has been implicated in its cardiotoxicity. Resveratrol (RES) was shown to harbour major health benefits in diseases associated with oxidative stress. In this study, we aimed to determine the effect of RES on DOX-induced myocardial apoptosis in mice. Methods and results Male Balb/c mice were randomized to one of the following four treatments: saline, RES, DOX, or RES plus DOX (10 mice in each group). DOX treatment markedly depressed cardiac function, decreased the heart weight, the body weight, and the ratio of heart weight to body weight, but inversely increased the level of protein carbonyl, malondialdehyde, and serum lactate dehydrogenase, and induced mitochondrial cytochrome c release and cardiomyocyte apoptosis. However, these effects of DOX were ameliorated by its combination with RES. Further studies with a co-immunoprecipitation assay revealed an interaction between p53 and Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1). It was found by western blot and electrophoretic mobility shift assay that DOX treatment increased p53 protein acetylation and cytochrome c release from mitochondria, activated p53 binding at the Bax promoter, and up-regulated Bax expression, but supplementation with RES could weaken all these effects. Conclusion The protective effect of RES against DOX-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis is associated with the up-regulation of SIRT1-mediated p53 deacetylation.