Thymoquinone and aerobic exercise mitigate HFpEF-induced cardiac injury via Apaf1/Cycs axis regulation.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is a prevalent clinical syndrome associated with high morbidity and mortality. Oxidative stress, apoptosis, and fibrosis are central to its pathophysiology. This study aimed to investigate the synergistic cardioprotective effects of thymoquinone (TQ) and aerobic exercise, with a particular focus on the Apaf1/Cycs-mediated apoptotic pathway.

Methods

Male C57BL/6J mice were randomly assigned to five groups: Control, HFpEF, HFpEF + TQ, HFpEF + exercise, and HFpEF + TQ + exercise. HFpEF was induced by a high-fat diet combined with Nω-Nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) administration for 10 weeks. TQ (50 mg/kg/day) and aerobic exercise (60% of maximal velocity, 5 days/week for 12 weeks) were applied as interv

SUBMITTER: Pei Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12546133 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature