Xanthatin Attenuates Angiotensin II-Induced Cardiac Hypertrophy by Targeting CREB5

  • J Cardiovasc Transl Res. 2026 May 19;19(1):55. doi: 10.1007/s12265-026-10777-5.
Xiang-Bo An  #  1 Yi-Tong Wang  #  2 Xin Liu  3 Fei Gao  4 Zhi-Jian Wang  5
Affiliations
  • 1. Department of Cardiology, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 2 Anzhen Road, Chao Yang District, Beijing, 100029, China. [email protected].
  • 2. Department of Cardiology, Institute of Vascular Medicine, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, 100000, China.
  • 3. Department of Interventional Therapy, First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116011, China.
  • 4. Department of Cardiology, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 2 Anzhen Road, Chao Yang District, Beijing, 100029, China. [email protected].
  • 5. Department of Cardiology, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 2 Anzhen Road, Chao Yang District, Beijing, 100029, China. [email protected].
  • # Contributed equally.
Abstract

Pathological cardiac hypertrophy is a key precursor to heart failure. The role of Xanthatin in this process was unknown. This study aimed to investigate its effects and molecular target. A mouse model of Ang II-induced hypertrophy was used. Xanthatin's effects were assessed by echocardiography and histology. Cardiac-specific overexpression or knockdown of CREB5 was performed using AAV9-cTNT vectors during Ang II and Xanthatin co-treatment to validate its functional role. Xanthatin treatment significantly alleviated Ang II-induced cardiac hypertrophy, oxidative stress, fibrosis, and inflammation. Crucially, cardiac-specific overexpression of CREB5 markedly attenuated these protective effects of Xanthatin. Conversely, cardiac-specific knockdown of CREB5 synergized with Xanthatin, further enhancing its suppressive actions on all pathological hallmarks. Xanthatin is a potent inhibitor of Ang II-induced cardiac hypertrophy, and its protective effect is mediated through the suppression of CREB5 signaling. This identifies the Xanthatin-CREB5 axis as a novel and promising therapeutic target for pathological cardiac remodeling.

Keywords
Angiotensin II; CREB5; Cardiac hypertrophy; Xanthatin.
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