Gentisic acid attenuates pressure overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis in mice through inhibition of the ERK1/2 pathway

We previously reported that gentisic acid (2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid) is the third most abundant phenolic component of Dendropanax morbifera branch extracts. Here, we investigated its effects on cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis in a mouse model of pressure overload and compared them to those of the beta blocker bisoprolol and calcium channel blocker diltiazem. Cardiac hypertrophy was induced in mice by transverse aortic constriction (TAC). Beginning 2 weeks after this procedure, the mice were given daily intraperitoneal injections of gentisic acid (100 mg/kg/d), bisoprolol (5 mg/kg/d) or diltiazem (10 mg/kg/d) for 3 weeks. Cardiac hypertrophy was evaluated by the heart weight-to-body weight ratio, the cardiomyocyte cross-sectional area after haematoxylin and eosin staining, and echocardiography. Markers of cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis were tested by reverse transcription-quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, western blotting and Masson's trichrome staining. The suppressive effects of gentisic acid treatment on TAC-induced cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis were comparable to those of bisoprolol administration. Cardiac hypertrophy was reversed and left ventricular septum and posterior wall thickness were restored by gentisic acid, bisoprolol and diltiazem treatment. Cardiac hypertrophic marker gene expression and atrial and brain natriuretic peptide levels were decreased by gentisic acid and bisoprolol, as were cardiac (interstitial and perivascular) fibrosis and fibrosis-related gene expression. Cardiac hypertrophy-associated upregulation of the transcription factors GATA4 and Sp1 and activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 were also negated by these drugs. These results suggest that gentisic acid could serve as a therapeutic agent for cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis.