SECUAH 2024

dianas | Vol 14 No 1 | marzo 2025 | e202503x004

NLRP3 inflammasome inhibition by dehydroisohispanolone confers cardioprotection against doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity

Eva Fernández-Vega^1,a, Beatriz de las Heras^1,b, Sonsoles Hortelano^2,c, Irene Cuadrado^1,d

1. Dpto. de Farmacología, Farmacognosia y Botánica, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad Complutense de Madrid. Pl. de Ramón y Cajal, s/n, Moncloa - Aravaca, 28040 Madrid.  2. Unidad de Terapias Farmacológicas, Instituto de Investigación de Enfermedades Raras (IIER), ISCIII, Madrid. 

a. evfern08@ucm.es  b. lasheras@ucm.es  c. shortelano@isciii.es  d. icberrocal@ucm.es 

X Congreso de Señalización Celular, SECUAH 2024.
XIX Simposio de Dianas Terapéuticas.
17 a 21 de marzo, 2025. Universidad de Alcalá. Alcalá de Henares, Madrid. España.

Keywords: Dehydrohispanolone; Cardioprotection; Doxorubicin; NLRP3 inflammasome; Inflammation

Abstract

Cardiovascular diseases and cancer are among the leading global health challenges. Doxorubicin (DOX), a widely prescribed chemotherapeutic agent, has effective anticancer effects but is associated with severe cardiotoxicity. Growing evidence highlights the key role of inflammasomes, particularly NLRP3, in DOX-induced damage. NLRP3 activation leads to the release of proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-18, and triggers pyroptotic cell death. Thus, targeting the inflammatory response driven by the NLRP3 inflammasome may offer a promising strategy to mitigate this cardiotoxicity. Diterpenes are promising cardioprotective agents. Among them, dehydroisohispanolone (DIH), derived from the labdane diterpene hispanolone, has exhibited both anti-inflammatory and cardioprotective properties against myocardial infarction and has recently been identified as an NLRP3 inhibitor. This study evaluates the cardioprotective effects of DIH against DOX-induced toxicity. AC16 cardiomyocytes and THP-1 macrophages were used to assess the effects of DIH. Our results revealed that DIH significantly reduced the release of pro-inflammatory interleukins IL-1β and IL-18 and decreased pyroptotic cell death in both cell types. Furthermore, DIH impaired caspase-1 activation in cardiomyocytes and reduced the expression of gasdermin-N and pro- and cleaved forms of caspase-1 and IL-1β. Importantly, DIH also exerted immunoprotective effects in THP-1 macrophages, suggesting its potential to preserve immune cell function during DOX treatment. Overall, these findings highlight DIH as a promising cardioprotective and anti-inflammatory agent capable of mitigating DOX-induced cardiotoxicity, underscoring its therapeutic potential in cancer treatment.