HIV
cardiomyopathy remains highly prevalent among the estimated 33 million HIV-infected individuals worldwide. This is particularly true in developing countries. Potential mechanisms responsible for myocardial dysfunction following
HIV infection include direct effects of
HIV proteins. We have previously reported that cardiac myocyte-specific expression of HIV-Tat (Tat) results in a murine
cardiomyopathy model. We now report that Tat exhibits decreased myocardial
ATP [wild type (WT) vs. Tat transgenic (TG), P < 0.01] and myocyte GSH levels (WT vs. TG, P < 0.01), decreased GSH/
GSSG ratio (WT vs. TG, P < 0.01), increased H(2)O(2) levels (WT vs. TG, P < 0.05), and increased
catalase (TG vs. WT, P < 0.05) and
GPX1 (glutathione peroxidase 1) activities (WT vs. TG, P < 0.05), blunted cardiac myocyte positive inotropy (% peak shortening, WT vs. TG, P < 0.01; +dl/dt, WT vs. TG, P < 0.01) and negative inotropy (-dl/dt, WT vs. TG, P < 0.01), and blunted inotropic responses to Ca(2+) (P < 0.01, for each) and shortened anatomical and functional survival in vitro (P < 0.01). The sulfhydryl donor,
N-acetylcysteine (NAC; 10(-4) M), completely reversed both the positive and negative inotropic defects in Tat; increased GSH (P < 0.01) and GSH/
GSSG (P < 0.01); reversed H(2)O(2) level (P < 0.05) and GPX1 activity (P < 0.05); and normalized the blunted inotropic response to Ca(2+) (P < 0.01). NAC (10(-7)) M normalized duration of contractile function from <40 min to >120 min (P < 0.01), with no effect on GSH and GSH/
GSSG. NAC (10(-4) M) reverses cardiac myocyte dysfunction and markers of oxidative stress. NAC (10(-7) M) enhances myocyte function independent of changes in
glutathione. Elucidating the molecular mechanisms involved in the GSH-dependent and GSH-independent salutary effects of NAC should identify novel therapeutic targets for myocardial
proteinopathies recently appreciated in human
cardiomyopathies.