Abstract
Cardiac microvascular endothelial cell (CMEC) dysfunction is considered as a major contributor to the cardiovascular complications in diabetes mellitus, with oxidative stress caused by hyperglycemia playing a critical role in the progression of CMEC dysfunction. Melatonin is a kind of hormone well known for its antioxidant properties, which has potential protective effects against diabetes mellitus and its complications. However, the role of melatonin on CMEC dysfunction caused by hyperglycemia and its molecular mechanisms underlying these effects has not been clarified. Herein, we investigate the protective effects of melatonin on high glucose- (HG-) evoked oxidative stress and apoptosis in CMECs and underlying mechanisms. Our results revealed that melatonin ameliorated the injury caused by HG in primary cultured rat CMECs. Injury can be accompanied by reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA) production, and enhanced superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. Meanwhile, melatonin treatment significantly inhibited HG-induced CMEC apoptosis. Moreover, melatonin increased the activity of the AMPK/SIRT1 signaling axis in CMECs under HG condition, whereas administration of the AMPK inhibitor compound C or SIRT1 silencing partially abrogated the beneficial effects of melatonin. In streptozotocin- (STZ-) evoked diabetic mice, melatonin notably ameliorated cardiac dysfunction and activated the AMPK/SIRT1 signaling. In conclusion, our findings revealed that melatonin attenuates HG-induced CMEC oxidant stress, apoptosis injury, and STZ-induced cardiac dysfunction through regulating the AMPK/SIRT1 signaling pathway.