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RESEARCH PRODUCT

Protection of Azidothymidine-Induced Cardiopathology in Mice by Mildronate, a Mitochondria-Targeted Drug

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Azidothymidine, a nucleoside-analogue reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI), is a commonly used antiretroviral drug in AIDS treatment, however its use is limited by severe toxic side effects due to its influence on mitochondria that result in myopathy, particularly affecting the cardiac muscle. We suggest that effective protection of azidothymidine- induced cardiopathology can be expected from drugs that are capable of targeting mitochondria. Therefore the present study in mice was carried out with mildronate, a cardioprotective drug of the aza-butyrobetaine class, which previously has been shown to act as a highly potent protector of mitochondrial processes. In our study, saline (control), azidothymidi- ne (50 mg/kg), mildronate (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg), and azidothymidine π mildronate (at the doses mentioned) were injected intraperitoneally daily in separate groups of mice for two weeks. At the termination of the experiment, mice were sacrificed, the hearts were removed and cardiac tissue was examined morphologically and immunohistochemically. It was found that azidothymidine, compared to control and mildronate groups, induced major morphologic changes in cardiac tissue, which were manifestated as degeneration and inflammation. These changes were prevented when mildronate was co-administered with azidothymidine. Mildronate also reduced the azidothymidine-induced expression of nuclear factor kBp65 (NF-kBp65). The obtained data demonstrate a high ability of mildronate of preventing azidothymidine-induced cardiopathologic changes, and suggest mildronate's indirect action on azidothymidine-caused oxidative stress reactions leading to mitochondrial dysfunction. This offers a rational combination of mildronate with azidothymidine or other anti-HIV drugs for beneficial application in AIDS therapy. Long-term therapeutic use of azidothymidine, a nucleoside- analogue reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI), in AIDS patients is limited by severe side effects, mostly associated with its incorporation into mitochondria (Nusbaum &