<p dir="ltr"><a href="" target="_blank">Diabetic cardiomyopathy</a> (DbCM) is a chronic metabolic disorder with few effective treatment strategies. Our previous study demonstrated that activated protein C (aPC), a serine protease, exerts cytoprotective effects in DbCM. However, the mechanisms underlying its role in DbCM require further elucidation.<a href="" target="_blank"> We developed a type 1 diabetic mouse model using thrombomodulin gene point mutation mice (TM<sup>P/P</sup>) with reduced endogenous aPC generation and investigated the protective effects of aPC on DbCM through intraperitoneal injection of protein C (PC). Myocardial functions and structure were assessed by echocardiography and histology. Transcriptomic analysis and immunological evaluation were conducted to investigate the downstream targets. The anti-senescence role of aPC was reaffirmed by PC treatment <i>in vivo</i> and aPC intervention in cultured neonatal rat ventricular myocytes <i>in vitro</i>. Endogenous aPC levels were reduced and positively correlated with cardiac diastolic function in diabetic mice. Cardiomyocytes manifested a senescent phenotype in DbCM. With </a>impaired aPC activation, TM<sup>P/P</sup> mice exhibited aggravated diabetes-induced cardiac dysfunction and cardiomyocyte senescence. Mechanistically, aPC alleviated cardiomyocyte senescence in DbCM by acting on PAR1/PAR3 receptors to restore the interaction between P85 and CaMKIIδ, thereby inhibiting CaMKIIδ phosphorylation and its nuclear translocation. In summary, our study highlights that aPC ameliorates cardiomyocyte senescence in DbCM <i>via</i> PAR1/PAR3-P85-CaMKIIδ axis.</p>
Funding
The work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 82270368 to HW, No. 82400428 to LD, No. 82070490 to HZ, and No. 81770680 to WD) and the Natural Science Foundation Program of Hubei Province (No.2024EHA064 to HW, and No.2024AFB062 to LD).