Key result
Vericiguat effectively reversed doxorubicin-induced cardiac remodelling and improved systolic function in rats with doxorubicin-induced cardiomyopathy.
Why the study?
Although vericiguat improves prognosis in HFrEF, data concerning its effect in doxorubicin-induced cardiomyopathy are limited.
Does vericiguat improve cardiac remodelling and function in rats with doxorubicin-induced cardiomyopathy?
Does vericiguat improve cardiac remodelling and function in rats with doxorubicin-induced cardiomyopathy?
Vericiguat improves cardiac remodeling and systolic function in a rat model of doxorubicin-induced cardiomyopathy by upregulating cGMP-PKG signaling and reducing oxidative stress and apoptosis.
Vericiguat effects in rat DIC remain preclinical; leaves open human efficacy and safety pending trials.
PURPOSE: Vericiguat, a soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) stimulator, has been demonstrated effective in improving prognosis of patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. However, there are limited data concerning the effect of vericiguat in patients with doxorubicin (DOX)-induced cardiomyopathy (DIC). In this study, we investigated the effects of vericiguat on cardiac structure and function in rats with DIC as well as their potential mechanisms of action. METHODS: DIC rats were established by intraperitoneal injection of DOX (1 mg/kg) twice a week for 6 weeks, followed by intragastric administration of vericiguat 1 mg/kg/day or an equal volume of normal saline for 8 weeks. Cardiac histology and function, circulating levels of amino-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), nitric oxide (NO), and oxidative indices, as well as myocardial cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP)-protein kinase G (PKG) signalling, oxidative and apoptosis-associated protein were measured. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, rats treated with DOX exhibited significantly increased heart size, reduced systolic function and elevated plasma levels of NT-proBNP. Histological findings revealed myocardial cell atrophy, fibrosis and apoptosis. Vericiguat treatment effectively reversed DOX-induced cardiac remodelling and improved systolic function. Mechanistically, Vericiguat attenuated the inhibitory effects of DOX on the myocardial cGMP-PKG axis and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) protein, thereby alleviating oxidative stress and apoptosis. CONCLUSIONS: Vericiguat improved cardiac remodelling and contractile function in rats with DIC through upregulation of cGMP-PKG signalling and inhibition of oxidative stress and myocardial apoptosis.
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Chen et al. (2025) studied Doxorubicin-induced cardiomyopathy. Vericiguat vs. Normal saline was evaluated on Cardiac structure and function, and circulating levels of NT-proBNP. Vericiguat effectively reversed doxorubicin-induced cardiac remodelling and improved systolic function in rats with doxorubicin-induced cardiomyopathy.
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