Allisartan isoproxil attenuates oxidative stress and inflammation through the SIRT1/Nrf2/NF-κB signalling pathway in diabetic cardiomyopathy rats

Allisartan isoproxil is a new nonpeptide angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) precursor drug that is used to treat hypertension and reduce the risk of heart disease. The present study explored the effects of allisartan isoproxil on diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) and revealed the roles of hyperglycaemia-induced oxidative stress and inflammation. A rat DCM model was established by high-fat diet feeding in combination with intraperitoneal injection of streptozocin. Echocardiographs showed that diabetic rats exhibited significantly decreased cardiac function. Troponin T (cTnT) and B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) were significantly increased in DCM rats as obtained by ELISA. Allisartan isoproxil significantly improved the EF% and E™/A™ ratio. Histopathologic staining showed that allisartan isoproxil prevented histological alterations, attenuated the accumulation of collagen, and ameliorated cTnT and BNP levels. Western blot and immunohistochemical results indicated that the expression levels of silent information regulator 2 homologue 1 (SIRT1) and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) were decreased in the hearts of diabetic rats, and antioxidant defences were also decreased. In addition, allisartan isoproxil decreased the expression of NF-κB p65 and the inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-1β which were determined by reverse transcription-quantitative PCR in the diabetic heart. Western blotting and TUNEL staining results also showed that cardiac Bax and cleaved caspase-3 and the number of apoptotic myocardial cells were increased in the diabetic heart and decreased following treatment with allisartan isoproxil. In conclusion, the present results indicated that allisartan isoproxil alleviated DCM by attenuating diabetes-induced oxidative stress and inflammation through the SIRT1/Nrf2/NF-κB signalling pathway.