Loss of ALDH2 aggravates mitochondrial biogenesis disorder in cardiac myocytes induced by TAC

Heart failure is one of the major fatal diseases and mitochondrial biogenesis is an important compensatory mechanism in the process of heart failure. Aldehyde dehydrogenase 2(ALDH2) is an important endogenous cardiac protective factor in mitochondria, but its role in mitochondrial biogenesis of cardiomyocytes remains unknown. In our study, transverse aorta constriction(TAC)-induced heart failure model was established in ALDH2−/− mice and wild-type mice. The cardiac function was examined by echocardiography at 4 weeks after operation. The myocardial tissue was stained by HE. The mitochondria morphology was observed using electron microscope, and the ATP content, Sirt1,PGC-1α and NRF1 expression were measured. Compared with wild-type mice, the cardiac function of ALDH2 −/− mice decreased significantly at 4 weeks after TAC. The proportion of mitochondrial area and mitochondrial crest/mitochondrial ratio decreased in the ALDH2−/− group after TAC. The ATP content decreased in ALDH2 −/− mice at 4 weeks after TAC. In the meantime, the expression of PGC-1α,Sirt 1 and NRF1 decreased in the ALDH2−/− TAC group compared with wild type TAC group.Neonatal rat cardiomyocytes were cultured and stretched. Cardiomyocytes were treated with the activator of ALDH2(Alda-1), Sirt1-SiRNA and PGC-1α-siRNA, respectively. The mitochondrial structure of cardiomyocytes was observed by transmission electron microscopy. The levels of PGC-1α,NRF-1 and Tfam were measured by Western blot.Mitochondrial biogenesis was enhanced in stretch cardiomyocytes treated with Alda-1.When cardiomyocytes were treated with Sirt1-SiRNA or PGC1α-SiRNA, the effect of Alda-1 in promoting mitochondrial biogenesis was attenuated.Therefore, these results suggested that the loss of ALDH2 aggravates mitochondrial biogenesis disorder in cardiac myocytes induced by TAC. Alda-1 could promote mitochondrial biogenesis in stretched cardiomyocytes, and this effect depends on Sirt1/PGC-1α pathway.