RIP3 orchestrates oxidative stress and pyroptosis in doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity through regulation of AKT/Nrf2 signaling cascade

Abstract

Abstract This study was designed to explore the role of RIP3 in DOX-induced cardiotoxicity and its underlying molecular mechanisms.Ourresults demonstrate that RIP3 exacerbates DOX-inducedcardiotoxicity through promoting oxidative stress and pyroptosis by regulating the AKT/Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) pathway. Inhibition of RIP3 by using GSK-872 attenuated DOX-induced cardiac remodeling and contractile dysfunction. Moreover, by using GSK-872 in vivo, the results revealed that inhibition of RIP3 alleviated DOX-induced cardiotoxicity by the resulting inhibition of oxidative stress and pyroptosis. Besides, inhibition of RIP3 increased the protein levels of AKT and Nrf2 in DOX-treatedmouse hearts. Furthermore, the AKT inhibitor LY294002 lessened RIP3 reduction-offered protection against DOX-induced H9c2 cell injury by moderating oxidative stress and pyroptosis. Taken together, these data demonstrate that RIP3 activation orchestrates DOX-induced cardiotoxicity through elevated oxidative stress and pyroptosis in an AKT/Nrf2-dependent manner. Those findings highlight the clinical relevance and therapeutic potential of targeting RIP3for the treatment of DOX-induced cardiotoxicity.