Effect of adipokine chemerin on mitochondrial dysfunction in cardiac H9C2 cells with hypertrophy

AIM To study the regulation of adipokine chemerin on mitochondrial function of rat cardiac H9C2 cells with hypertrophy, and to explore its effect on mitochondrial dysfunction in the H9C2 cells. METHODS In vitro cell experiments were performed, and the H9C2 cells were divided into normal group, chemerin group, angiotensin Ⅱ (Ang Ⅱ) model group and Ang Ⅱ+chemerin group. Immunohistochemistry and qPCR were used to identify whether the model was successfully constructed. The morphological changes of mitochondria in the H9C2 cells were observed under electron microscope. The mitochondrial membrane potential and membrane permeability were analyzed by flow cytometry. The activity of cytochrome C oxidase (COX) and succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) was measured by enzyme activity kit. RESULTS Compared with normal group, the mitochondrial structure in Ang Ⅱ group and chemerin group was seriously damaged, the permeability of mitochondrial membrane was significantly increased (P<0.01), and the mitochondrial membrane potential and the activity of COX and SDH were significantly reduced (P<0.01). Meanwhile， the mitochondrial damage in the H9C2 cells was more serious in Ang Ⅱ+chemirin group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION Chemerin stimulation not only induces cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, but also promote the pathological process of mitochondrial dysfunction in the myocardial cells with hypertrophy.