Chemico-biological interactionsJul 7, 2026

Sulforaphane helps heart muscle cells survive low-oxygen stress by boosting energy system and cell recycling communication

Longevity & Aging Weekly Brief ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗

Updated Jul 8, 2026

Abstract

Sulforaphane (SFN) preserves mitochondrial-endoplasmic reticulum contact sites in cardiomyoblasts exposed to cobalt chloride-induced chemical hypoxia.

Disruption of mitochondrial-endoplasmic reticulum contact sites negatively impacts cardiomyocyte function.
SFN is investigated for its potential to enhance communication between these organelles.
In rat cardiomyoblasts treated with SFN before exposure to cobalt chloride, mitochondrial-ER associations were maintained.
The formation of autophagolysosomes was facilitated by preserved MERCS functionality.
Autophagy may serve as the protective mechanism by which SFN supports cardiomyoblasts under chemical hypoxia.

Simplified

Disruption of the contact sites between mitochondria and the endoplasmic reticulum (MERCSs) adversely affects cardiomyocyte function, necessitating interventions to preserve these connections and maintain the cellular homeostasis. Currently, the nutraceutical sulforaphane (SFN) has emerged as a promising candidate for enhancing MERCSs communication and offering protection in various contexts. In this study, we investigated whether SFN preserves MERCSs functionality in cardiomyoblasts subjected to cobalt chloride (CoCl₂)-induced chemical hypoxia. We explored cellular events, including oxidative stress, endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS), and autophagy, which are regulated by MERCSs. Our findings confirmed that in rat cardiomyoblasts H9c2 pretreated with SFN and exposed to CoCl₂, mitochondrial-ER associations were maintained, facilitating the formation of autophagolysosomes. This suggest that autophagy is a mechanism through which SFN protects cardiomyoblasts under chemical hypoxia. This study underscores the significance of MERCSs as functional platforms for maintaining cellular homeostasis and highlights their potential as strategic targets for mitigating the harmful effects of hypoxia in cardiomyoblasts.

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Competing interests

Declaration of Competing Interest ☒ The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests:Cecilia Zazueta reports financial support was provided by Secretaria de Ciencia, Humanidades, Tecnología e Innovación (SECIHTI). If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

PubMed

Sulforaphane helps heart muscle cells survive low-oxygen stress by boosting energy system and cell recycling communication

Abstract

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Funding

Competing interests

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