Ginsenoside Rg1 induces ferroptosis by regulating the focal adhesion kinase/protein kinase B-forkhead box O3A signaling pathway and alleviates sepsis-induced myocardial damage.

Abstract

It is significant to note that 50% of patients with sepsis show cardiac insufficiency. Ginsenoside-Rg1 (G-Rg1) has been shown to have a cardiovascular protective effect. However, whether G-Rg1 is involved in the mechanism of action of sepsis-induced myocardial damage (SIMD) is unclear. This study aimed to investigate the protective effect of G-Rg1 on SIMD and to further investigate its mechanism and mechanisms of regulation of downstream pathways. An in vivo model of sepsis was established in mice by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP), and mice was administered intraperitoneally 35 or 70 mg/kg G-Rg1 after surgery. The damage to cardiac tissue was detected by hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining. Forkhead transcription factor O subfamily member 3a (FOXO3A) in SIMD mice was detected by immunohistochemistry. Apoptosis in mouse myocardial tissue was determined by TUNEL staining. The effect of G-Rg1 on SIMD cardiomyocytes was evaluated by incubating the cells with lipopolysaccharide to induce inflammation as an in vitro model of SIMD. Cardiomyocyte viability and apoptosis were evaluated by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) and flow cytometry. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB), cardiac troponin I (cTnI), and Fe²⁺ markers of heart damage were detected by the kit. The concentrations of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-1beta (IL-1β) in heart tissue and H9c2 cells were determined by ELISA. The factors related to the focal adhesion kinase (FAK)/protein kinase B (AKT)-FOXO3A signaling pathway were determined by RT-qPCR and Western blot. High-dose G-Rg1 had a significant inhibitory effect on SIMD mouse model and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced H9c2 cardiomyocytes, reducing serum levels of LDH, CK-MB, and cTnI concentrations, which effectively alleviated SIMD. G-Rg1 restored the abnormally elevated levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, and iron ions and promoted the expression of anti-apoptotic protein B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) expression, inhibiting apoptosis and inflammatory responses. In addition, G-Rg1 reversed the inhibitory effect of G-Rg1 on LPS-induced H9c2 cardiomyocyte injury through activation of the FAK/AKT signaling pathway and up-regulation of FOXO3A. G-Rg1 promoted the activation of the FAK/AKT signalling pathway and up-regulation of the protein expression levels of pathway-associated proteins, p-FAK and p-AKT. Therefore, G-Rg1 mediated the FAK/AKT-FOXO3A signaling pathway and played a role in the treatment of SIMD. We conclude that G-Rg1 inhibited apoptosis and inflammation of cardiomyocytes induced by sepsis and reduced iron ion levels by regulating FAK/AKT-FOXO3A signaling pathway.