The Role of Progenitor Cells and Telocytes in the Ameliorative Effect of Coenzyme Q10 on Isoproterenol-Induced Cardiotoxicity in Rats

Abstract

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is an antioxidant known for its potential protective effects against various types of cardiac injury. The aim of this study was to determine the protective effects of CoQ10 on cardiomyocytes, telocytes and progenitor cells in rats with isoproterenol (ISO)-induced cardiotoxicity. A total of 60 Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into six groups (n = 10): Group I: control, Group II: saline control, Group III: oil control, Group IV: ISO, Group V: CoQ10, Group VI: ISO and CoQ10. Isoproterenol was administered intraperitoneally at a dose of 85 mg/kg twice on the eighth and ninth days, and CoQ10 was administered by oral gavage at a daily dose of 20 mg/kg. Heart tissue samples were collected and analysed at the end of the study. CoQ10 reduced ISO-induced cardiac degeneration, necrosis, inflammatory infiltration and fibrosis. The stimulation of cell cycle activators such as histone H3 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) was found to play a role in the repair of cardiac injury in the cardiomyocytes known to be postmitotic. An increase in c-Kit and CD34 stem cells was seen with the beneficial effect of CoQ10 (P < 0.05). The presence of telocytes, which play an important role in cardiac regeneration, was visualised by double CD34-c-Kit and CD34-vimentin immunofluorescence staining. The results indicate that CoQ10, through its antioxidant effect, ameliorates cardiac lesions caused by ISO, induces a limited number of cell cycle activators in cardiomyocytes and interstitial cells and has a positive effect on the increase of progenitor cells in the heart.