Targeting mitochondrial metabolism for detection and treatment of doxorubicin-induced heart failure

We conducted RNAseq using mRNA extracted from rat hearts to elucidate the effect of doxorubicin chemotherapy on the heart. Rats were 250g at the start of the treatment protocol. Tissues were collected post five weekly intravenous injections of either sterile saline or 3mg/kg/week doxorubicin. Hearts were excised under deep isoflurane anaesthesia and rapidly frozen with liquid-nitrogen cooled Wallenberger tongs. Total mRNA was extracted with a Qiagen RNeasy fibrous tissue mini kit. Gene set enrichement analysis (GSEA) shows that unlike previously reported, oxidative stress is not involved in the cardiac pathology of our model (reduced cardiac function and atrophy). However, gene sets responsible for mRNA processing, ribosomes and protein synthesis and processing are decreased in doxorubicin-treated rat hearts compared to saline control hearts. 16 RNASeq samples across 2 conditions: saline control (n=10) and high DOX (n=6)