ABHD5 protects cardiac function in alcoholic cardiomyopathy via HDAC4-NT to inhibit CAMKII/MEF2 axis

Excessive intake of Alcohol is associated with a high incidence of alcoholic cardiomyopathy (ACM), which may impair cardiac function. In our study, we explored the Abhydrolase Domain Containing 5 (ABHD5) mechanism in ACM about histone deacetylase 4 (HDAC4) and CaM-CaMKII/MEF2 signaling pathway. Rat models of ACM were established in Wistar rats, and in vitro cell models were constructed in rat cardiomyocytes H9C2 utilizing 12-h of treatment of Alcohol (200 mM) to study the regulatory role of ABHD5 in ACM with the involvement of HDAC4 and CaM-CaMKII/MEF2 signaling pathway, as evidenced by determination of cardiac function, myocardial fibrosis, apoptosis of cardiomyocytes and oxidative stress condition. We found that both ABHD5 mRNA and protein expression was significantly lower in the ACM rats and rat cardiomyocytes H9C2. ACM rats with oe-ABHD5 injection showed repressed myocardial hypertrophy and myocardial fibrosis. Also, overexpression of ABHD5 reduced apoptosis and oxidative stress in H9C2 cells. Mechanistic studies demonstrated that ABHD5 via HDAC4-NT inhibits CAMKII/MEF2 axis. This study highlighted that ABHD5 decreased cardiac hypertrophy and myocardial fibrosis and limited cardiomyocyte apoptosis and oxidative stress injury in ACM.