Neuroprotective peptide OL-FS13 attenuates cardiac apoptosis and myocardial infarction injury through Nrf2/HO-1 pathway.

Myocardial infarction (MI) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally, primarily due to oxidative stress-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis and adverse cardiac remodeling. OL-FS13, a neuroprotective peptide derived from Odorrana livida, has previously shown anti-apoptotic effects in cerebral ischemia models. However, its role in myocardial protection remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the cardioprotective effects of OL-FS13 in both in vitro and in vivo models of MI. Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) was used to induce oxidative stress in primary neonatal rat cardiomyocytes, while permanent ligation of the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery was employed to establish a murine MI model. OL-FS13 treatment significantly attenuated cardiomyocyte apoptosis, reduced ROS accumulation, improved left ventricular function, and decreased infarct size. Mechanistically, OL-FS13 activated the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway, restoring antioxidant protein levels and suppressing oxidative stress-induced apoptosis. Pharmacological inhibition of Nrf2 with ML385 abrogated the antioxidant and anti-apoptotic effects of OL-FS13 both in vitro and in vivo, confirming the central role of this pathway. These findings demonstrate that OL-FS13 exerts potent cardioprotective effects via Nrf2/HO-1 pathway activation and ROS suppression, suggesting its potential as a novel therapeutic agent for the treatment of myocardial infarction.