Middle-age abolishes cardioprotection conferred by thioredoxin-1 in mice

• Published in: Archives of biochemistry and biophysics Vol. 753; p. 109880
• Main Authors: Perez, V., Zaobornyj, T., Vico, T., Vanasco, V., Marchini, T., Godoy, E., Alvarez, S., Evelson, P., Donato, M., Gelpi, R.J., D'Annunzio, V.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.03.2024
• Subjects: Hydrogen peroxide production; Ischemia/reperfusion injury; Ischemic postconditioning; Mitochondrial bioenergetics; Trx1 overexpression; Ischemia/reperfusion injury; Ischemic postconditioning; Trx1 overexpression; Mitochondrial bioenergetics; Hydrogen peroxide production
• ISSN: 0003-9861; 1096-0384; 1096-0384
• DOI: 10.1016/j.abb.2023.109880

Thioredoxin-1 (Trx1) has cardioprotective effects on ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury, although its role in ischemic postconditioning (PostC) in middle-aged mice is not understood. This study aimed to evaluate if combining two cardioprotective strategies, such as Trx1 overexpression and PostC, could exert a synergistic effect in reducing infarct size in middle-aged mice. Young or middle-aged wild-type mice (Wt), transgenic mice overexpressing Trx1, and dominant negative (DN-Trx1) mutant of Trx1 mice were used. Mice hearts were subjected to I/R or PostC protocol. Infarct size, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) production, protein nitration, Trx1 activity, mitochondrial function, and Trx1, pAkt and pGSK3β expression were measured. PostC could not reduce infarct size even in the presence of Trx1 overexpression in middle-aged mice. This finding was accompanied by a lack of Akt and GSK3β phosphorylation, and Trx1 expression (in Wt group). Trx1 activity was diminished and H2O2 production and protein nitration were increased in middle-age. The respiratory control rate dropped after I/R in Wt-Young and PostC restored this value, but not in middle-aged groups. Our results showed that Trx1 plays a key role in the PostC protection mechanism in young but not middle-aged mice, even in the presence of Trx1 overexpression. [Display omitted] •Postconditioning and Trx-1 overexpression cannot reduce infarction in middle age.•Postconditioning and Trx-1 overexpression trigger similar intracellular mechanisms.•In middle age, a redox imbalance takes place.