Activation of AHR by ITE improves cardiac remodelling and function in rats after myocardial infarction

AIMS: Left ventricular remodelling subsequent to myocardial infarction (MI) constitutes a pivotal underlying cause of heart failure. Intervention with the nontoxic endogenous aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) agonist 2‐(1′H‐indole‐3′‐carbonyl)‐thiazole‐4‐carboxylic acid methyl ester (ITE) in the acute phase of MI has been shown to ameliorate cardiac function, but its role in the chronic phase remains obscured. This study explores the beneficial role of ITE in delaying the progression of heart failure in the chronic phase of MI. METHODS AND RESULTS: MI rats established by ligating the left anterior descending coronary artery were treated with the indicated concentration of the AHR agonist ITE or vehicle alone. Echocardiography was performed to determine cardiac structure and function; myocardial morphology and fibrosis were observed by haematoxylin and eosin and Masson's trichrome staining; serum biochemical indices, BNP, and inflammatory cytokine levels were detected by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay; F4/80(+)iNOS(+)M1 macrophages and F4/80(+)CD206(+)M2 macrophages were detected by immunofluorescence; the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase‐mediated dUTP nick end labelling assay was used to detect the apoptosis of cardiomyocytes; ultrastructural changes in myocardial tissue were observed by transmission electron microscopy; and Cyp1a1, Akt, P‐Akt, p70S6K, P‐p70S6K, Bcl‐2, Bax, caspase‐3, and cleaved caspase‐3 protein levels were determined via Western blotting. We found that therapy with the AHR agonist ITE rescued cardiac remodelling and dysfunction in rats with MI and attenuated myocardial fibrosis, inflammation, and mitochondrial damage. Further studies confirmed that ITE dose‐dependently improved myocardial cell apoptosis after MI, as demonstrated by reduced levels of the apoptosis‐related proteins cleaved caspase‐3 and Bax but increased expression levels of Bcl‐2. These effects were attributed to ITE‐induced activation of AHR receptors, leading to the down‐regulation of Akt and p70S6K phosphorylation. CONCLUSIONS: The AHR agonist ITE alleviates cardiomyocyte apoptosis through the Akt/p70S6K signalling pathway, thereby rescuing left ventricular adverse remodelling and cardiac dysfunction after MI.