Sesamin ameliorates perfluorooctane sulfonate-induced myocardial injury by inhibiting apoptosis and autophagy in mice

BACKGROUND: Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) is a ubiquitous, persistent organic pollutant known to elicit significant cardiotoxicity, with no effective clinical treatments currently available. Sesamin (Ses), a natural lignan derived from sesame, has demonstrated potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. This study aimed to assess whether Ses protects against PFOS-induced cardiac injury through specific mechanisms, addressing the current gap in knowledge regarding natural antioxidant-based interventions. METHODS: For 28 days, male mice were randomized into five groups and administered PFOS alone or with varying doses of Ses via gavage. The impact of Ses on PFOS-induced myocardial damage was examined using transcriptome, histology, and protein analysis. RESULTS: Transcriptomic analysis showed that Ses may alleviate myocardial injury caused by PFOS by modulating the apoptosis and autophagy pathways. Further experiments showed that the myocardial injury triggered by PFOS was related to oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, apoptosis, and autophagy. Ses pretreatment effectively reversed these pathological changes and improved myocardial structure and function. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that Ses mitigated PFOS-induced myocardial injury by modulating apoptosis and autophagy pathways, suggesting its potential as a candidate for preventing and treating PFOS-associated cardiac injury.