The Role of Heat Shock Proteins and Autophagy in Mechanisms Underlying Effects of Sulforaphane on Doxorubicin-Induced Toxicity in HEK293 Cells.

Doxorubicin (DOX) is a cytostatic agent belonging to anthracycline group. Important role in mechanism associated with negative effects of DOX plays an oxidative stress. Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are part of mechanisms initiated in response to stressful stimuli and play an important role in cellular responses to oxidative stress through interaction with components of redox signaling. The present work was aimed to study the role of HSPs and autophagy in mechanisms underlying effects of sulforaphane (SFN), a potential activator of Nrf-2, on doxorubicin-induced toxicity in human kidney HEK293 cells. We investigated effects of SFN and DOX on proteins associated with regulation of heat shock response, redox signaling, and autophagy. Results show that SFN significantly reduced cytotoxic effects of DOX. The positive effects of SFN on DOX-induced changes were associated with up-regulation of Nrf-2 and HSP60 protein levels. In the case of another heat shock protein HSP40, SFN increased its levels when was administered alone but not in conditions when cells were exposed to the effects of DOX. Sulforaphane also reversed negative effects of DOX on activities of superoxide dismutases (SODs) and up-regulation of autophagy markers (LC3A/B-II, Atg5, and Atg12). In conclusion, the changes observed in HSP60 are of particular importance in terms of protecting cells from the effects of DOX. Finding that under conditions where SFN reduced cytotoxic effects of DOX were significantly increased protein levels of both Nrf-2 and HSP60 point to the role of HSP60 in mechanisms of redox signaling underlying effects of SFN on DOX-induced toxicity in HEK293 cells. Moreover, data confirmed an important role of autophagy in effects of SFN on DOX-induced toxicity.

Changes in activities of circulating MMP-2 and MMP-9 in patients suffering from heart failure in relation to gender, hypertension and treatment: a cross-sectional study.

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play an important role in the pathogenesis of heart failure (HF). Our aim was to determine the activities of circulating MMP-2 and MMP-9 in patients with HF in respect of gender, comorbidities and treatment (n=51). We did not reveal any differences in circulating pro-MMP-2 and pro-MMP-9 activities between the patients with HF and without it. However, there was a decrease in activity of pro-MMP-2 in treated hypertensive participants versus healthy ones. In contrast, we observed increased pro-MMP-2 activity in hypertensive participants with coexistent HF versus hypertensive participants without HF. In addition, a decrease in pro-MMP-2 activity was shown in women suffering from HF versus men suffering from HF. In conclusion, potential inhibitory effect of antihypertensive treatment on pro-MMP-2 activity was found. Coexistent HF with hypertension probably reduces the inhibitory effect of antihypertensive treatment on pro-MMP-2 activity. Our data also suggest the role of potential cardioprotective factors influencing the activity of pro-MMP-2 in women.