Horm Metab Res 2013; 45(05): 364-371
DOI: 10.1055/s-0032-1330021
Original Basic
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Increase of Peroxisome Proliferator-activated Receptor δ (PPARδ) by Digoxin to Improve Lipid Metabolism in the Heart of Diabetic Rats

Z.-C. Chen
1   Department of Cardiology and Department of Medical Research, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Yong Kan, Tainan City, Taiwan
2   Department of Pharmacy, Chia Nan University of Pharmacy & Science, Jean-Tae City, Tainan County, Taiwan
,
B.-C. Yu
3   Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan City, Taiwan
,
L.-J. Chen
3   Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan City, Taiwan
,
J.-T. Cheng
1   Department of Cardiology and Department of Medical Research, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Yong Kan, Tainan City, Taiwan
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

received 27 July 2012

accepted 25 October 2012

Publication Date:
07 December 2012 (online)

Preview

Abstract

Increase of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor δ (PPARδ) expression by digoxin in the heart of diabetic rats has been documented. The present study investigated the mediation of PPARδ in lipid metabolism improved by digoxin in the heart of diabetic rats and in the hyperglycemia-treated cardiomyocytes using the primary cultured cardiomyocytes from neonatal rat. The lipid deposition within the heart section was assessed in diabetic rats by oil red O staining. The fatty acid oxidation genes in cardiomyocytes were also examined. Inhibitor of calcium ions and siRNA-PPARδ were employed to investigate the potential mechanisms. After a 20-day digoxin treatment, the PPARδ expression was elevated in hearts of diabetic rats while the cardiac lipid deposition was reduced. In neonatal cardiomyocytes, digoxin also caused an increase in expressions of PPARδ and fatty acid oxidation genes. But both actions of digoxin were blocked by BAPTA-AM to chelate calcium ions and by siRNA-PPARδ in cardiomyocytes. The obtained results show that increase of PPARδ by digoxin is related to regulation of fatty acid oxidation genes in cardiac cells mediated by calcium-triggered signals.