Figure 8.

Schematic of the protective effects of 7,8-DHF against cardiac hypertrophy via the activation of AMPK/PGC-1α signaling.

The in vivo and in vitro experiments show that the small-molecule BDNF mimetic 7,8-DHF inhibits compensated and decompensated cardiac hypertrophy. Treatment with 7,8-DHF promotes AMPK phosphorylation and the upregulation of PGC-1α expression, thus contributing to the preservation of cardiac function and mitochondrial homeostasis, as well as the alleviation of oxidative stress in TAC/ISO-induced cardiomyocytes. However, the administration of the AMPK inhibitor Compound C blocks the effects of 7,8-DHF. ISO: isoproterenol; 7,8-DHF: 7,8-dihydroxyflavone.