Enhanced cardiac Fas and mitochondrial dependent apoptosis in high fructose‐induced Metabolic Syndrome

Abstract

No information has been published regarding cardiac apoptosis in high fructose‐induced Metabolic Syndrome. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether cardiac Fas‐dependent and mitochondria‐dependent apoptotic pathways are activated in high fructose‐induced Metabolic Syndrome. Ten high fructose induced Metabolic Syndrome (FIMS) and 10 normal diet control were studied at 3–4 months of age. The cardiac characteristics, myocardial architecture, and two major apoptotic pathways in the excised left ventricle from rats were measured by histopathological analysis, western blotting and TUNEL assays. Abnormal myocardial architecture, enlarged interstitial spaces, and more cardiac TUNEL‐positive apoptotic cells were observed in FIMS. The key components of Fas‐dependent apoptosis (Fas ligand, Fas death receptors, FADD, activated caspase 8, and activated caspase 3) and key components of mitochondria‐dependent apoptosis (Bax, Bax‐to‐Bcl2 ratio, cytosolic cytochrome c, activated caspase 9, and activated caspase 3) were significantly increased in FIMS hearts. Conclusions. Cardiac Fas‐dependent and mitochondria‐dependent apoptotic pathways are activated in high fructose‐induced Metabolic Syndrome, which might provide one of possible mechanism for developing heart diseases in patients with diet‐induced Metabolic Syndrome.