Erianin induces apoptosis of human lung cancer A549 cells via ROS/p38 MAPK pathway

AIM:To investigate the effect of erianin on the viability and apoptosis of human lung cancer A549 cells and its possible mechanism. METHODS:A549 cells and BEAS-2B cells were cultured in vitro and treated with erianin at 10, 20, 40, 80 and 160 nmol/L for 48 h. The cell viability was measured by CCK-8 assay. The apoptosis and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were analyzed by flow cytometry. The activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) was detected by WST-8 method, and the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) was detected by barbituric acid method. The protein levels of nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase-1 (NQO1), heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), p38 MAPK, p-p38 MAPK, caspase-3 and cleaved caspase-3 were determined by Western blot.RESULTS:Erianin remarkably reduced the viability of A549 cells in a dose-dependent manner (P<0.05) with IC₅₀ at 52.64 nmol/L. Erianin also induced apoptosis (P<0.05), increased ROS level and MDA content (P<0.05), diminished SOD activity (P<0.05), and down-regulated the protein levels of Nrf2, NQO1 and HO-1 (P<0.05), in a dose-dependent manner. Meanwhile, erianin up-regulated the levels of p-p38 MAPK and cleaved caspase-3 (P<0.05), and these effects were inhibited by N-acetyl-L-cysteine and SB203580 (P<0.05).CONCLUSION:Erianin may induce apoptosis of human lung cancer A549 cells most likely via inhibiting SOD activity and down-regulating the protein levels of Nrf2, NQO1 and HO-1, thus resulting in an increase in ROS and activation of p38 MAPK.     

Role of p38 MAPK signaling pathway in inflammatory effects on cerulein-induced pancreatic cells

AIM: To investigate the effect of p38 MAPK signal pathway on cerulein-treated pancreatic acinar AR42J cells.METHODS: AR42J cells were divided into control group, cerulein group (treated with 10^-8 mol/L of cerulein), and SB203580 group (treated with 10 μmol/L of SB203580 and 10^-8mol/L of cerulein).The cells were harvested 3 h after treatment.Secretion rate of amylase was measured.The translocation of p-p38 MAPK to nuclei was imaged by immunofluorescence.The protein expression levels of p-p38 MAPK and TNF-α were detected by Western blotting.The activation of NF-κB was measured by electrophoretic mobility assay.RESULTS: Compared with control group, cerulein resulted in increases in the secretion rate of amylase and protein level of TNF-α (P<0.01), as well as the expression levels of p-p38 MAPK and NF-κB (P<0.01).Cerulein induced nuclear translocation of p-p38 MAPK.Compared with cerulein group, the secretion rate of amylase and protein level of TNF-α in SB203580 group decreased significantly (P<0.01).The expression of p-p38 MAPK and NF-κB also decreased greatly (P<0.05).Nuclear translocation of p-p38 MAPK was inhibited by SB203580.CONCLUSION: The p38 MAPK pathway involves in cerulein-induced pancreatic inflammatory response via regulating NF-κB.     

Effect of L-carnitine on apoptosis and oxidant damage of cardiomyocytes induced by hypoxia/reoxygenation in vitro

AIM: To examine the effects of L-carnitine on apoptosis and oxidant injury in cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes induced by hypoxia/reoxygenation and its possible mechanism. METHODS: The cultured cardiomyocytes were divided into three groups， control， A/R group （anoxia for 120 min, reoxygenation for 240 min） and L-carnitine treatment group, in which cells were exposed to 20 mg/L, 50 mg/L, 100 mg/L, 200 mg/L L-carnitine respectively at 2 h before anoxia. The superoxide dismutase (SOD), succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) activities and malondialdehyde (MDA) content were examined, and the apoptosis was determined by flow of cytometry (FCM). In addition, the ultrastructure was observed by transmission electron microscopy. RESULTS: In A/R group, SOD and SDH activities were lower, the apoptosis rate and MDA content were higher than those in control group (P<0.05). In L-carnitine treatment group, SOD and SDH activities were higher, the apoptosis rate and MDA content were lower than those in A/R group, a L-carnitine concentration-dependent effect was found. Moreover, impairment of myocardial ultrastructure was more severe in A/R group than L-carnitine treatment group. CONCLUSION: L-carnitine can protect cardiomyocytes against hypoxia/reoxygenation-induced injury in a dose-dependent manner.     

Protective effect of quercetin on rat cardiomyocytes against anoxia/reoxygenation injury is mediated by PKCε signaling pathway

AIM：To investigate whether quercetin (Que) protects cardiomyocytes from anoxia/reoxygenation (A/R) injury through protein kinase C epsilon (PKCε) pathway. METHODS：Primary cardiomyocytes were isolated from neonatal SD rats and exposed to A/R (3 h of anoxia followed by 2 h of reoxygenation) as well as Que and/or εV1-2 (a selective PKCε inhibitor) preconditioning. The expression of PKCε in the cells was detected by Western blotting. The levels of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and creatine kinase (CK) in cell culture supernatants, the reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitochondrial membrane potential in the cells, the opening of mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) and the cell viability and apoptosis were also measured. RESULTS：The expression of PKCε protein was significantly increased in the cardiomyocytes pretreated with 40 μmol/L Que 72 h before A/R (P<0.01 vs A/R group). Meanwhile, Que preconditioning could increase cell survival rate, decrease ROS production and cell apoptosis, alleviate the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and inhibit the opening of mPTP induced by A/R injury (P<0.01 vs A/R group). However, pretreatment with Que and εV1-2 attenuated these protective effects of Que (P<0.01 vs Que+A/R group). CONCLUSION：One of the mechanisms underlying the cardioprotective effect of Que might be the increase in PKCε protein expression and the activation of its downstream pathway.     

p38 MAPK-Pim-3 signal pathway may be involved in cardiomyocyte anoxia preconditioning against anoxia/reoxygenation injury

AIM: To investigate the role of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) pathways and the molecular mechanism by which the proto-oncogene Pim-3 protects cardiomyocyte against anoxia/reoxygenation (A/R) injury. METHODS: The primarily cultured neonatal rat ventricular cardiomyocytes were randomly divided into 4 groups: control group; A/R group; APC+A/R group; SB203850, U0126 or SP600125+APC+A/R group. The cells were pre-incubated with U0126 (ERK1/2 inhibitor), SP600125 (SAPK/JNK inhibitor), or SB203850 (p38 MAPK inhibitor) at concentration of 10 μmol/L for 30 min before the APC. The activities of p38 MAPK, JNK and ERK1/2 were detected by Western blotting. The viability of cardiomyocytes was assayed by MTT and the apoptosis of cardiomyocyte was detected by TUNEL. RESULTS: U0126, SB203850, and SP600125 abolished the increased expression of ERK1/2, p38-MAPK, and JNK proteins induced by APC+A/R or A/R, respectively. The expression level of Pim-3 protein significantly decreased when the p38 MAPK signal pathway was inhibited. Meanwhile, the activity of LDH and the apoptosis index increased, and the viability of cardiomyocytes decreased. CONCLUSION: Pim-3 expression through a p38 MAPK signaling pathway may protect cardiomyocytes from A/R injury.     

Effect of bim silencing by siRNA on hypoxia-induced apoptosis of rat cardiomyocytes

AIM：To investigate the effect of BH3-only protein Bim (Bcl-2 interacting mediator of cell death) on apoptosis of rat cardiomyocytes induced by hypoxia. METHODS：Rat cardiomyocytes were isolated from infant rats aged 1~3 days and then primarily cultured. The antibody targeting α-actin of striated muscle was used to identify the cardiomyocytes. The siRNAs of bim were transfected into the cardiomyocytes with liposome, and the expression of Bim was determined by Western blotting. The cardiomyocytes were divided into blank control group, hypoxia group, hypoxia+liposome group, hypoxia+negative control siRNA group and hypoxia+bim-siRNA group.The frequency and rhythm of cardiomyocyte beating were observed and recorded under inverted microscope. The activity of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in the culture medium was assessed by automatic biochemical analyzer. The viability of the cells was analyzed by MTT assay. The cell apoptotic rate was measured by flow cytometry. The protein expression of Bim, Bax, Bcl-2, p-p38 MAPK and p38 MAPK was detected by Western blotting. RESULTS：Immunohistochemical identification confirmed that the rat cardiomyocytes were successfully cultured. The expression of Bim was obviously inhibited after transfected with bim-siRNAs and the silencing efficiency of bim-siRNA-2 was the highest (86.73%). The frequency of cardiomyocyte beating was slowed down after hypoxia and the rhythm was disordered, while the frequency of beating was obviously increased after silencting the expression of bim. Compared with control group, the LDH in the culture medium was increased (P<0.01), and the viability of the cardiomyocytes was reduced in hypoxia group (P<0.05). The apoptotic rate was increased (P<0.01). After transfection with bim-siRNA, the release of LDH was decreased, and the viability of the cardiomyocytes was increased. The apoptotic rate was decreased. The results of Western blotting showed that hypoxia increased the expression of Bax and p-p38 MAPK (P<0.05), and decreased the expression of Bcl-2 (P<0.01), while transfection with bim-siRNA reduced the effects caused by hypoxia (P<005). These were greatly related to the decrease of apoptosis. However, the expression of p38 MAPK was not changed. CONCLUSION：The apoptosis of cardiomyocytes induced by hypoxia can be inhibited by silencing the expression of bim gene by down-regulation of p-p38 MAPK and Bax expression and up-regulation of Bcl-2 expression.     

Effect of AMPKα2 gene silencing by shRNA recombinant plasmid on chloride-mediated anoxia/reoxygenation injury in rat cardiomyocytes

AIM: To explore the role of AMP-activated protein kinase α2 subunit (AMPKα2) gene in chloride-mediated anoxia/reoxygenation (A/R) injury by transfection of short-hairpin RNA (shRNA) expression vector targeting to AMPKα2 gene into H9c2 cardiomyocytes. METHODS: Recombinant shRNA expression vector pSuper-AMPKα2 targeting to AMPKα2 gene was constructed and transfected into H9c2 cardiomyocytes. The protein expression of AMPKα2 was determined by Western blotting. The cells were divided into 5 groups: control group, A/R group, Cl^--free A/R group, pSuper+Cl^--free A/R group and pSuper-AMPKα2 shRNA+Cl^--free A/R group. After treatment, the cell viability was detected by MTT assay. LDH activity was analyzed with an automatic biochemical analyzer. The apoptotic rate and the level of intracellular ROS was measured by flow cytometry. The activity of SOD and GSH-Px was analyzed by a colorimetric method. RESULTS: The result of sequencing proved that the recombinant plasmid pSuper-AMPKα2 shRNA was correctly constructed. The protein level of AMPKα2 significantly decreased after the plasmid was transfected into the cardiomyocytes. Compared with A/R group, the cell viability and the activity of SOD and GSH-Px were significantly increased, while the activity of LDH, apoptotic rate and ROS production were significantly decreased in Cl^--free A/R group. The protective effect of Cl^--free solution on the A/R-induced injury of cardiomyocytes was abolished, and the ROS production was increased and the activity of SOD and GSH-Px was decreased after the cells were transfected with pSuper-AMPKα2 shRNA. CONCLUSION: Recombinant plasmid pSuper-AMPKα2 shRNA is successfully constructed, and silencing of AMPKα2 gene abolishes the protective effect of Cl^--free solution on A/R injury.     

Protection of calcium antagonists against cardiomyocyte injury caused by anoxia and reoxygenation

AIM: To investigate the protective effect of calcium antagonists on anoxia/reoxygenation (A/R) injury of cardiomyocytes. METHODS: Primary-cultured cardiomyocytes were divided into four groups, namely A/R, A/R+nifedipine (Nif), A/R+ruthenium red (Ru)+heparin (Hep) and control groups. The following parameters were measured in all groups: intracellular calcium concentration (i), cardiac cell viability, ATP content, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity in the medium, PKC and MAPK activity and ³[H]-Leucine (³[H]-Leu) incorporation. RESULTS: In comparison with A/R group,A/R+nifedipine (Nif) and A/R+ruthenium red (Ru)+heparin (Hep) groups showed a marked decrease in[Ca²⁺]i and LDH content,and a significant increase in cell viability, ATP content, activity of PKC and MAPK and [³H]-Leu incorporation (P<0.05 or P<0.01). CONCLUSION: A/R mediated Ca²⁺ overload resulted in cardiomyocyte injury, which could be attenuated by blocking Ca²⁺ entry and release.     

Oxidative stress plays an important role in acetaldehyde-induced cardiomyocytes apoptosis

AIM: To elucidate the mechanism of alcoholic myocardiopathy (AHMD) by exploring the role of ROS mediated oxidative stress in acetaldehyde-induced cardiomyocytes apoptosis. METHODS: Cultured rat cardiomyocytes were stimulated with acetaldehyde (100 μmol/L) for 24 h, then the cell apoptotic index were examined and compared to that with alcohol (100 μmol/L) stimulation. The changes of ROS levels and SOD activities were explored by a time-dependent model in acetaldehyde-induced cardiomyocytes. Meanwhile, the phosphorylation changes of ROS mediated MAPK signaling pathway correlated proteins were also detected, with which compared that changes both in pre-adding NAC acetaldehyde-induced cardiomyocytes, and in H2O2 (100 μmol/L) induced cardiomyocytes, respectively. RESULTS: Acetaldehyde had more obvious apoptotic effect than alcohol through caspase 3 activating (P<0.05, vs control), both cellular ROS level and SOD activity increased in a time-dependent way, and reached the peak value of (78.84%±4.33%) for ROS and (0.55±0.02) for SOD among 18 to 24 h, respectively. Meanwhile, JNK and ERK protein phosphorylation upregulated in acetaldehyde-induced cardiomyocytes, and was reversed by NAC anti-oxidative effect. However all the phosphorylation levels were weaker than that in H2O2-induced group. CONCLUSION: Acetaldehyde causes oxidative damage in cardiomyocytes through enhancing cellular ROS level, and induces cardiocytes apoptosis by activating ROS mediated JNK pathway. The novel way of depressing cellular ROS level or blocking the special apoptotic pathway may have effects on AHMD preservation and therapy.     

Effect of p38 MAPK on cisplatin-induced renal tubular cell apoptosis

AIM:To investigate the role of p38 MAPK in cisplatin-induced rat renal proximal tubular cell (RPTC) apoptosis. METHODS:To determine the optimal concentration of cisplatin to induce RPTC apoptosis, the cells were treated with 0, 5, 10 and 20 μmol/L cisplatin for 24 h, and then the cell lysates were collected for Western blot analysis of cleaved PARP, p38 and phosphor ylated p38 (p-p38). To determine the role of p38 MAPK in cisplatin-induced RPTC apoptosis, the cells were divided into control group, cisplatin group (the cells were treated with cisplatin for 24 h) and cisplatin+p38 MAPK inhibitor group (the cells were treated with p38 MAPK inhibitor SB203580 for 1 h, and then treated with cisplatin for another 24 h). The morphological changes of apoptotic cells were observed under phase-contrast fluorescence microscope. The apoptotic rate of the cells were analyzed by flow cytometry. The caspase activity of RPTC lysates was examined using Ac-DEVD-AFC kit. The protein levels of p-p38, p38, cleaved PARP and cleaved caspase-3 were determined by Western blot. The pH value of extracellular environment of the cells was measured by pH meter. RESULTS:Cisplatin at 20 μmol/L obviously induced apoptosis of RPTC. The p38 MAPK was phosphorylated and its phosphorylation peaked at 15 min after cisplatin treatment. The apoptotic rate of RPTC was 12.08% after cisplatin induction. Cisplatin treatment also enhanced caspase activity, and increased cleavage of PARP and caspase-3 proteins (P<0.05). The p38 MAPK inhibitor SB203580 effectively inhibited the phosphorylation of p38 MAPK, down-regulated the RPTC apoptosis rate and caspase activity, and reduced the cleavage of PARP and caspase-3 proteins. The pH value change in RPTC culture medium was also inverted by SB203580. CONCLUSION:The phosphorylation of p38 MAPK is involved in cisplatin-induced apoptosis of RPTC. The apoptosis induced by cisplatin results in the change of acidic extracellular environment, which is inhibited by p38 MAPK inhibitor SB203580.     

TPX2 induces apoptosis of rectal cancer HR-8348 cells through p38 MAPK signaling pathway

AIM: To study the effect of targeting protein for Xenopus kinesin-like protein 2 (TPX2) expression knockdown on the apoptosis of rectal cancer HR-8348 cells.METHODS: The HR-8348 cells transfected with TPX2 small interfering RNA (siRNA) served as TPX2 siRNA group. The non-transfected cells were used as control group. The cells transfected with siRNA negative control (siRNA-NC) were used as siRNA-NC group. The TPX2 siRNA-transfected cells exposed to p38 MAPK inhibitor SB203580 served as TPX2 siRNA+SB203580 group. The expression of TPX2 at mRNA and protein levels was determined by RT-qPCR and Western blot. The cell viability was measured by MTT assay, the apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry. The protein levels of p38 MAPK, p-p38 MAPK, cleaved caspase-3 and Bcl-2 in the HR-8348 cells were determined by Western blot.RESULTS: After transfection, the expression of TPX2 at mRNA and protein levels was decreased in TPX2 siRNA-transfected cells (P<0.05). Transfection with siRNA-NC had no effect on TPX2 mRNA and protein levels in the cells. After knockdown of TPX2 expression, the viability of rectal cancer HR-8348 cells and the expression of Bcl-2 were decreased, while the apoptotic rate and the protein levels of cleaved caspase-3 and p-p38 MAPK/p38 MAPK were increased significantly reduced (P<0.05). Compared with TPX2 siRNA group, the apopto-tic rate and the protein levels of cleaved caspase-3 and p-p38 MAPK/p38 MAPK in TPX2 siRNA+SB203580 group were significantly decreased, while the viability was significantly increased (P<0.05).CONCLUSION: Knockdown of TPX2 expression promotes apoptosis of rectal cancer HR-8348 cells by activating p38 MAPK signaling pathway.     

Calreticulin is involved in the protection of hypoxic preconditioning against cardiomyoblast H9c2 cell oxidative injury

AIM: To investigate whether hypoxic preconditioning (HPC) protects cardiomyoblast H9c2 cells against oxidative injury, and to discuss whether calreticulin (CRT) contribute to this protection through p38 MAPK signaling pathway. METHODS: Cardiomyoblast H9c2 cells were randomly divided into eight groups as follows: hydrogen peroxide stress (H₂O₂); brief hypoxic exposure of 20 min to simulate hypoxic preconditioning (HPC); 20 min of hypoxic exposure followed by 24 h of normoxic reoxygenation before hydrogen peroxide stress (HPC+H₂O₂), SB203580 (the specific inhibitors of p38 MAPK)+HPC+H₂O₂, antisense oligonucleotides transfection of calreticulin (AS), AS+H₂O₂, AS+HPC+H₂O₂ and control. Morphological studies, estimation of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) leakage and flow cytometry were employed to assess the cell apoptosis and necrosis. RT-PCR and Western blotting analysis was used to detect calreticulin expression and phosphorylation of p38 MAPK. RESULTS: The results obtained are as follows: (1) HPC relieved cell injury caused by H₂O₂. Compared with those in H₂O₂ group, apoptosis rate and LDH leakage in culture medium in HPC + H₂O₂ group decreased 13.4% and 44.0%, respectively (P<0.05), and cell survive rate increased 12.7% (P<0.05). SB203580, a selective p38 MAPK inhibitor presented before HPC, eliminated the cytoprotection of HPC. Compared with HPC+H₂O₂ group, apoptosis rate and LDH leakage increased 5.4% and 45.0%, respectively (P<0.05), and cell survive rate decreased 5.0%(P<0.05). (2) Brief hypoxia intimating HPC resulted in mild CRT up-regulation (1.4-fold increased vs control group, P<0.05), but this up-regulation was lower than that of 3.6-fold increase induced by oxidative stress. HPC relieved the over-expression of CRT induced by H₂O₂ (26% decreased vs H₂O₂ group, P<0.05). (3) Transfection of antisense oligonucleotides of CRT before HPC reduced cytoprotection against oxidative stress. Correlative analysis indicated that mild up-regulation of CRT induced by HPC was positively correlated with survive rate (r=0.8573, P<0.05). (4) SB203580 suppressed CRT up-regulation (the expression of CRT decreased 38% or 23%, vs HPC+H₂O₂ group or HPC group, respectively). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that hypoxic preconditioning up-regulates calreticulin expression through p38 MAPK signaling pathway and protects cardiomyoblast H9c2 cells against oxidative injury.     

Fuzi polysaccharide protects neonatal rat cardiomyocytes with hypoxia-reoxygenation by inhibiting endoplasmic reticulum stress

AIM: To investigate whether the protection mechanism of Fuzi polysaccharide (FPS) is related to inhibition of endoplasmic reticulum stress in cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes with hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R). METHODS: Cultured rat myocardial cells were divided into control group, H/R group (hypoxia for 3 h and reoxygenation for 6 h) and different concentrations of FPS (0.1 g/L, 1 g/L, 10 g/L or 20 g/L) +H/R groups. The cell survival was detected by MTT assay and cell apoptosis of cardiomyocytes was measured by flow cytometry using Annexin V-FITC staining. The expression of glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78), CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein homologous protein (CHOP) and caspase-12 were determined by Western blotting. The mRNA expression of CHOP and caspase-12 was detected by quantitative PCR. RESULTS: After reoxygenation, the expression of GRP78, CHOP and caspase-12 in cardiomyocytes was increased. Compared with H/R group, the expression of GRP78, CHOP and caspase-12 in FPS+H/R groups was significantly inhibited, the survival rate of cardiomyocytes was increased and the apoptosis of cardiomyocytes was inhibited. This protective effect of FPS was in a dose-dependent manner and reached its peak at 10 g/L. CONCLUSION: Fuzi polysaccharide protects cardiomyocytes from H/R injury. The mechanism is related to inhibiting endoplasmic reticulum stress.     

Effects of adiponectin on reducing endoplasmic reticulum stress injury induced by hypoxia-reoxygenation in cultured rat neonatal cardiomyocytes

AIM: To investigate the effects of adiponectin (APN) on hypoxia-reoxygenation (H/R) induced endoplasmic reticulum stress injury in cultured cardiomyocytes. METHODS: Primary cultured cardiomyocytes were obtained from neonatal rats by enzymatic digestion method. The α-actin expression as molecular marker of the cardiomyocytes was observed by immunocytochemistry. The cells cultured for 72 h were used in the experiment and divided into groups randomly: control group, H/R group, APN+H/R (3 mg/L, 10 mg/L, 20 mg/L, 30 mg/L) groups. The morphological changes of the cardiomyocytes were observed under phase contracted microscope. The content of LDH was measured. The cardiomycocyte apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry. The expression levels of GRP78 and caspase-12 were examined by RT-PCR and Western blotting. RESULTS: The apoptotic rate was significantly increased in H/R group as compared to that in control group (68.20%±1.73% vs 0.73%±0.21%, P<0.05). The levels of LDH in H/R group were also significantly increased. Compared to untreated cells, the protein and mRNA levels of GRP78 and caspase-12 increased significantly in H/R cells. The APN preconditioning significantly reversed these changes. The indexes above improved obviously as compared to H/R group (P<0.05) in a dose-dependent manner. CONCLUSION: Hypoxia/reperfusion induces endoplasmic reticulum stress in rat cardiomyocytes. Adiponectin decreases the endoplasmic reticulum stress injury and plays a protective role by extenuation of cadiomyocyte apoptosis.     

Effects of glycine on intracellular of free calcium and tumor necrosis factor-α of cardiomyocytes during hypoxia/reoxygenation

AIM: To observe the influence of glycine on intracellular free calcium, the concentration of tumor necrosis factor-α and the survival rate of myocardial cells during hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R). METHODS: The simulated model of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion with the primary cultured cardiomyocytes of neonatal rats was established, and the cultured cardiomyocytes were divided into seven groups, control group, hypoxia/reoxygenation group, glycine (0.5 mmol/L) plus hypoxia/reoxygenation group, glycine (1.0 mmol/L) plus hypoxia/reoxygenation group, glycine (2.0 mmol/L) plus hypoxia/reoxygenation group, glycine (4.0 mmol/L) plus hypoxia/reoxygenation group, 4.0 mmol/L glycine group. RESULTS: Within certain concentration (0.5-2.0 mmol/L), the glycine could inhibit the calcium overload resulting from hypoxia/reoxygenation injury in cells in a dose-dependent manner with the optimal inhibitory effect at 2.0 mmol/L. Glycine inhibited the secretion of tumor necrosis factor-α from myocardial cells and increased the survival rate of myocardial cells. CONCLUSION: Glycine has a protective effect on hypoxia/reoxygenation myocardial cells, which may be related to inhibiting calcium overload and decreasing the production of tumor necrosis factor-α.     

CREG prevents human umbilical vein endothelial cells from apoptosis by inhibiting p38 MAPK activation

AIM: To study the effect of cellular repressor of E1A-stimulated genes(CREG) and its mechanism on apoptosis of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) induced by etoposide (VP-16).METHODS: Primary HUVECs were cultured. RetroviraI eukaryotic expression vectors pLNCX-CREG and pLXSN-shRNA-CREG were transfected into HUVECs. The stable cell clone was selected and obtained by screening with G418 (800 mg/L) and the puromycin (2.5 mg/L), respectively. CREG expression was detected by Western blotting. The cells with overexpression of CREG (H-C) and those with CREG down-regulation (H-S) were pretreated with apoptotic inducer VP-16 at 100 μmol/L for 6 h. The apoptotic rates of the 3 kinds of cells were analyzed by TUNEL and flow cytometry with annexin V/PI dualstaining. Furthermore, the protein levels of phosphorylated p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p-p38 MAPK) in the 3 kinds of cells were analyzed by Western blotting. The p38-specific inhibitor SB203580(20 μmol/L)was used to investigate the effects of p-p38 expression on apoptosis. RESULTS: Western blotting showed that CREG expression was obviously increased up to 160% in H-C compared to HUVECs. However, CREG expression in H-S cells was identified to be down-regulated to 70% compared with HUVECs. TUNEL assay and annexin V/PI dual-color FACS showed that the apoptotic rate was dramatically increased in H-S cells,but decreased in H-C cells. Subsequently, Western blotting exhibited that p-p38 expression was increased in H-S cells compared to HUVECs and H-C cells. When the H-S was pretreated with SB203580, the apoptotic rate was decreased. CONCLUSION: CREG overexpression might prevent HUVECs from apoptosis by inhibiting p38 MAPK activition.     

Effects of sinapic acid on proliferation and apoptosis of rat vascular smooth muscle cells induced by high glucose

AIM: To investigate the effects of sinapic acid(SA) on the proliferation and apoptosis of rat vascular smooth muscle cells(VSMCs) induced by high glucose(HG). METHODS: Cultured A7r5 cells were randomly divided and treated as indicated. The cell viability was determined by MTT assay. DNA synthesis was measured by BrdU assay. Cell cycle progression and cell apoptotic rate were determined by flow cytometry analysis. The levels of reactive oxygen species(ROS) were detected by ELISA. The protein levels of cyclin D1, P21, P27, phosphorylated protein kinase C(p-PKC), p-P38 and β-actin were evaluated by Western blot. RESULTS: Compared with control group, the viability of A7r5 cells was significantly enhanced, the DNA synthesis was increased, the cell cycle progression was promoted, the levels of ROS were elevated, the cell apoptotic rate was reduced, the protein expression of P21 and P27 was decreased, and the protein levels of cyclin D1, p-PKC and p-P38 were increased in HG group(all P<0.05). These effects were reversed by SA(0.1, 1 and 10 μmol/L) treatment in a dose-dependent manner(all P<0.05). Both P38 inhibitor SB203580 and PKC inhibitor chelerythrine significantly inhibit HG-induced PKC/P38 activation and cell viability(P<0.05).CONCLUSION: SA inhibits HG-induced VSMCs proliferation and promotes cell apoptosis via reducing PKC/P38 activation.     

Anti-aging Klotho protein reduce the hypoxia/reoxygenation injury of neonatal rat myocardial cells

AIM: To study the effects of anti-aging Klotho protein on neonatal rat myocardial cells with hypo-xia/reoxygenation (H/R) injury. METHODS: The cardiomyocytes of neonatal SD rats were cultured to establish hypoxia/reoxygenation model. The myocardial cells were divided into normal control group, H/R model group, different concentrations of Klotho protein (0.1 μmol/L, 1 μmol/L and 10 μmol/L) pretreatment groups. The myocardial cells pulse frequency was observed before and after H/R. The cell viability was measured by MTT assay. The leakages of LDH, CK and AST, the content of MDA and the activity of SOD were detected. The apoptotic rate of the myocardial cells was analyzed by flow cytometry. The mRNA expression of endoplasmic reticulum stress markers and apoptosis-related molecules GRP78, CRT, CHOP and caspase-12 was measured by real-time PCR. The protein levels of CHOP, caspase-12 and phosphorylated Akt in the myocardial cells were determined by Western blot. RESULTS: Compared with normal control group, the pulse frequency, cell viability rate and SOD activity of myocardial cells were significantly decreased, the cell apoptotic rate as well as the contents of LDH, CK, AST and MDA were increased in H/R model group. The mRNA expressions of GRP78, CRT, CHOP and caspase-12 as well as the protein levels of CHOP and caspase-12 were increased, whereas p-Akt level was decreased obviously. Compared with H/R model group, the pulse frequency, cell viability rate and SOD activity were increased significantly, the cell apoptotic rate as well as the contents of LDH, CK, AST and MDA were decreased in Klotho pretreated group. The mRNA expression of GRP78, CRT, CHOP and caspase-12 as well as the protein levels of CHOP and caspase-12 were decreased, while p-Akt level increased significantly. CONCLUSION: Anti-aging Klotho protein improves the myocardial cell survival and inhibits the apoptosis by increasing the resistance of the cells to oxidative stress and excessive endoplasmic reticulum stress response, which is related with the activation of Akt phosphorylation in H/R-injured mycardial cells.     

Effects of glucagon-like peptide-1 on myocardial ischemia-reperfusion/hypoxia-reoxygenation injury in rats

AIM: To investigate the effects of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) on myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (IR)/hypoxia-reoxygenation (HR) injury in rats. METHODS: Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: sham group, IR group and IR+GLP-1 (0.03 nmol/L, 0.16 nmol/L and 0.30 nmol/L) groups. IR group and IR+GLP-1 group were subject to 30 min of ischemia and 3 h of reperfusion. The myocardial infarct size, the ultrastructural changes of the myocardial tissues, the apoptosis of the cardiomyocytes, the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) were detected. Primarily cultured cardiomyocytes were divided into 5 groups at random: control group, HR group and HR+GLP-1 (1 μmol/L, 5 μmol/L and 10 μmol/L) groups. The morphology and apoptosis of the cardiomyocytes were observed. The levels of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH),MDA,SOD,reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) in different groups were detected. RESULTS: Compared with IR group, the myocardial infarct size and cardiomyocyte apoptosis were remarkably reduced, mitochondrial ultrastructures were improved, the activity of SOD was increased and the concentration of MDA was decreased in IR+GLP-1 (0.03 nmol/L, 0.16 nmol/L and 0.30 nmol/L) groups. Compared with HR group, GLP-1 (1 μmol/L, 5 μmol/L and 10 μmol/L) preconditioning significantly decreased the myocardial injury, increased SOD activity, decreased MDA concentration and ROS production, and heightened MMP in a dose-dependent manner. CONCLUSION: GLP-1 protects cardiomyocytes from IR/HR injury, which may be partially due to the effects of anti-oxidative mechanism and the function of mitochondrial protection.