l-Carnitine: a potential treatment for blocking apoptosis and preventing skeletal muscle myopathy in heart failure

• DOI: 10.1152/ajpcell.00046.2002
• Publication Date: 2013-05-14T00:10:14Z
• Authors: Giorgio Vescovo; Barbara Ravara; Valerio Gobbo; Marco Sandri; Annalisa Angelini; Mila Della Barbera; Massimo Dona; Gianfranco Peluso; Menotti Calvani; Luigi Mosconi; Luciano Dalla Libera
• Keywords: Staurosporine; Sarcolemma

Skeletal muscle in congestive heart failure is responsible for increased fatigability and decreased exercise capacity. A specific myopathy with expression of fast-type myosins, myocyte atrophy, secondary to apoptosis triggered by high levels circulating tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) has been described. In an animal model failure, the monocrotaline-treated rat, we have observed increase apoptotic skeletal nuclei. Proapoptotic agents, caspase-3 -9, were increased, as well serum TNF-alpha its second messenger sphingosine. Treatment rats L-carnitine, known protective effect on metabolism injuries, was found inhibit caspases decrease sphingosine, number myonuclei. Staurosporine used vitro experiments induce cells culture. When L-carnitine applied cells, before staurosporine treatment, a reduction apoptosis. These findings show that can prevent muscles role treatment failure-associated myopathy.