Hydrogen sulfide inhibits doxorubicin-induced inflammation and cytotoxicity in rat cardiomyocytes by modulating activation of NF-κB pathway

AIM：To investigate whether hydrogen sulfide (H2S) attenuates doxorubicin (DOX)-induced inflammation and cytotoxicity in rat cardiomyocytes (H9c2 cells) by modulating nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) pathway. METHODS：The expression of NF-κB p65 was measured by western blotting. The secretion levels of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) were tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Cell viability was detected by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. Hoechst 33258 nuclear staining was used to detect the morphological changes and number of apoptotic cells. RESULTS：Treatment of H9c2 cells with 5 μmol/L DOX significantly up-regulated the expression level of phosphorylated NF-κB p65 (p-p65), and induced inflammation and cytotoxicity, as evidenced by increases in secretion levels of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α and number of apoptotic cells as well as a decrease in cell viability. Pretreatment of H9c2 cells with 400 μmol/L NaHS (a donor of H2S) for 30 min markedly depressed the up-regulation of p-p65 expression induced by DOX. In addition, NaHS pretreatment also reduced DOX-induced inflammatory response and injury, leading to decreases in IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α secretion and number of apoptotic cells as well as an increase in cell viability. Similar to the effect of NaHS, pretreatment with 100 μmol/L pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC), an inhibitor of NF-κB, also blocked DOX-induced cardiac inflammation and cytotoxicity. Co-administration of IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) and DOX reduced DOX-induced activation of NF-κB and cytotoxicity in H9c2 cells. CONCLUSION：During the DOX-induced cardiomyocyte inflammation, there is positive interaction between NF-κB pathway and IL-1β. H2S may protect cardiomyocytes against DOX-induced inflammatory response and cytotoxicity by inhibiting NF-κB pathway.     

Protective role of endogenous hydrogen sulfide in cholecystokinin octapeptid against acute lung injury induced by lipopolysaccharide

AIM: To explore the role of endogenous hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) in the mechanism of cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8) to alleviate acute lung injury (ALI) induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). METHODS: Eighty-four Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into seven groups: control, LPS (instilled intratracheally to reproduce the model of ALI), NaHS (H₂S donor) +LPS, propargylglycine ［inhibitor of cysathionine-γ-lyase (CSE), PPG］+LPS, CCK-8+LPS, PPG+CCK-8+LPS and CCK-8 group. Animals were sacrificed at 4 h and 8 h after agent instillation. The wet and dry ratio (W/D) of the lung weight was measured and calculated. Morphological changes of lung tissues were observed. H₂S concentration in plasma, malondialdehyde (MDA) content, myeloperoxidase (MPO) and CSE activities in the lung were determined. Furthermore, the level of P-selectin of lung tissue was measured by radioimmunoassay, the CSE mRNA expression in the lung was detected by RT-PCR, and the protein content in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was detected. RESULTS: Compared with control, severe injury of lung tissues and increase in W/D, protein content in BALF, MDA content, MPO activity and P-selectin level in the lung were observed in rats treated with LPS. LPS also lead to a drop in plasma H₂S concentration, lung CSE activity and CSE mRNA expression. Administration of NaHS before LPS could attenuate the changes induced by LPS, while H₂S concentration, CSE activity and CSE mRNA expression were higher than those in LPS group. However, pre-treatment with PPG exacerbated the lung injury induced by LPS, H₂S concentration, CSE activity and CSE mRNA expression were lower than those in LPS and CCK-8 +LPS group, respectively. CONCLUSION: CCK-8 attenuates LPS-induced acute lung injury by means of anti-oxidation and inhibition of PMN adhesion and aggregation, both of which are mediated by endogenous H₂S.     

Hydrogen sulfide inhibits adenosine triphosphate-induced activation and IL-1β releases in rat microglia

AIM: To investigate the effects of sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS), a donor of hydrogen sulfide (H₂S), on the membrane permeability, intracellular Ca²⁺ concentration ([Ca²⁺]_i) and the release of IL-1β induced by adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in rat microglia, and to explore the effect of H₂S on ATP-P2X purinergic signaling pathway and the molecular mechanism of its neuroprotective effect. METHODS: Rat microglia in logarithmic growth phase were used in the study. The[Ca²⁺]_i was detected by Fura-2/AM staining. Fluorescent dye YO-PRO-1 was used to observe the membrane permeability. Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) was measured by rat IL-1β ELISA kits. RESULTS: The YO-PRO-1 fluorescence intensity was obviously elevated by ATP induction in a dose-dependent manner in the rat microglia, but this effect was counteracted by NaHS pretreatment (P<0.05).[Ca²⁺]_i rapidly increased and then decreased slowly, forming a stable platform for a long time when rat microglia were treated with ATP. Ca²⁺ spike activity induced by ATP had no change, but the platform disappeared (P<0.05) after NaHS pretreatment. The ATP and LPS together facilitated the release of IL-1β, but the phenomenon was inhibited by NaHS (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Hydrogen sulfide may decrease the membrane permeability, calcium inflow and IL-1β release in rat microglia activated by high dose of ATP. The cytoprotection of hydrogen sulfide may be mediated by purinergic signaling pathway.     

Role of hydrogen sulfide in acute lung injury induced by ischemia-reperfusion of hind limbs in rats

AIM: To explore the role of endogenous and exogenous hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) in acute lung injury (ALI) induced by ischmia-reperfusion (IR) of hind limbs in rats.METHODS: A Sprague-Dawley rat model of acute lung injury was induced by ischemia of the hind limbs for 4 h and reperfusion for another 4 h. The rats (n=120) were randomly divided into 4 groups: control, IR, NaHS (H₂S donor)+IR, and propargylglycine +IR. The animals were sacrificed after reperfusion. Lung weight/body weight ratio (LW/BW) was measured and calculated. Morphological changes of the lung tissues were observed. The concentrations of H₂S, nitric oxide (NO) and carbon monoxide (CO) in plasma were tested. The content of malondialdehyde (MDA), the activity of CSE, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and hemeoxygenase (HO) in the lungs were determined. The polymorpho-nuclear neutrophils(PMN) and protein content in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF) were also measured. The correlation of H₂S content with the above indices was analyzed.RESULTS: Compared with control group, severe injuries of the lung tissues, raised LW/BW, MDA concentration, PMN and protein contents in BALF were observed in IR group. Limb IR also made a drop in the concentration of plasma H₂S and the activity of lung CSE, while the activity of iNOS and HO in the lung tissues and the levels of plasma NO and CO increased. Administration of NaHS before IR attenuated the changes induced by IR, while pre-administration of PPG exacerbated the IR injuries and increased the plasma NO level and lung iNOS activity. The H₂S content was positively correlated with CSE activity, CO content and HO-1 activity (P<0.01), and negatively correlated with the other indices (P<0.01).CONCLUSION: Down-regulation of H₂S/CSE is involved in the pathogenesis of acute lung injury induced by IR. Endogenous and exogenous H₂S protects against lung injuries. The anti-injury effects of H₂S are related with its anti-oxidative activity to attenuate the inflammatory over-reactions in the lung induced by PMN. Down-regulation of NO/iNOS system and up-regulation of CO/HO-1 system by H₂S are also involved in the process of anti-injury to ALI.     

Effect of hydrogen sulfide on myocardial fibrosis and PPARγ and NF-κB expression in rat model of diabetes

AIM: To explore the effects of hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) on the myocardial fibrosis in a rat model of diabetes and its mechanism.METHODS: Single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ) was utilized to establish a rat model of diabetes. Sodium hydrosulfide was used as an exogenous donor of hydrogen sulfide. Male SD rats were randomly divided into control group, STZ group, STZ+H₂S group and H₂S group. Eight weeks later, HE and VG staining methods were used to observe the collagen distribution and collagen volume fraction was measured by image analysis. The expression levels of type I collagen, PPARγ and NF-κB in the cardiac tissues were determined by Western blotting.RESULTS: Compared with control group, collagen distribution and the expression levels of type I collagen and NF-κB in the cardiac tissues were markedly increased (P<0.05), while PPARγ was significantly decreased in STZ group (P<0.05), but these indexes were reversed significantly in STZ+H₂S group (P<0.05). The expression levels of type I collagen, PPARγ and NF-κB had no significant difference between H₂S group and control group.CONCLUSION: Hydrogen sulfide attenuates cardiac fibrosis in diabetic rats, and its mechanism may be related to PPARγ-NF-κB signaling pathway.     

Hypoxia-inducible factor-1α attenuates myocardial inflammatory injury induced by ischemia and reperfusion in rats

AIM:To investigate the role of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) stable expression in myocardial inflammatory injury induced by ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) in rats. METHODS:Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 groups:sham operation (sham) group, I/R group, HIF-1α stabilizer dimethyloxalyl glycine (DMOG)+I/R group and HIF-1α inhibitor YC-1+I/R group. The protein expression of myocardial Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) was determined by Western blot. The mRNA levels of interleukin (IL)-1β, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), IL-6, TLR4 and NF-κB were detected by real-time PCR. The myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity in the myocardial tissues was measured. HE staining was used to observe the infiltration of inflammatory cells. RESULTS:HIF-1α decreased the infiltration of inflammatory cells, the MPO activity, and the mRNA levels of inflammatory factors IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α in the myocardial tissues. HIF-1α also reduced the expression of TLR4 and NF-κB at mRNA and protein levels (P<0.05). CONCLUSION:The stable expression of HIF-1α has an anti-inflammatory effect on the myocardial tissues after I/R injury in rats. The mechanism may be related to the inhibition of TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway.     

Hydrogen sulfide ameliorates high glucose-induced endothelial cell senescence by suppressing oxidative stress

AIM：To explore the effect of hydrogen sulfide on the senescence of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) induced by high glucose. METHODS：Senescence model was established by treating HUVECs with 33 mmol/L glucose for 48 h. The parameters were detected to demonstrate the effect of hydrogen sulfide on senescence and the mechanism involved was also investigated. RESULTS：In the cells treated with high glucose, the proliferation was attenuated with a higher number of senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SA-β-Gal) positive cells, and plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1) protein expression, malondialdehyde (MDA) production and NF-κB p65 activity were increased significantly, but the expression of superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) was decreased. However, the cell number and SOD1 expression were increased, and the number of SA-β-Gal positive cells, PAI-1 protein expression, MDA production and the activity of NF-κB p65 were decreased after sodium hydrosulfide (100 and 200 μmol/L) treatment.CONCLUSION：Exo-genous hydrogen sulfide prevents HUVECs against high glucose-induced senescence by suppressing oxidative stress and NF-κB p65 activity.     

Hydrogen sulfide attenuates urosepsis-induced acute kidney injury by blocking TLR4/MyD88/PI3K signaling pathway

AIM:To explore the effect of hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) on urosepsis-induced acute kidney injury. METHODS:New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into control group, sham group, model (sepsis) group, NaHS treatment (NaHS) group, and NaHS combined with TAK-242 (a TLR4 inhibitor) treatment (NaHS+TAK-242) group. After treatment for 72 h, HE staining was used to measure the histopathological changes of rabbit kidney. The levels of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatinine (SCr) were detected by automatic biochemical analyzer. The serum levels of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), kidney injury molecule 1 (KIM-1), procalcitonin (PCT), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were measured by ELISA. The TLR4/MyD88/PI3K signaling pathway-related proteins in the kidney were determined by Western blot. RESULTS:Compared with control group, obvious damage was observed in the kidneys of septic rabbits, but the kidneys were markedly improved by treatment with NaHS. The levels of BUN, SCr, NGAL, KIM-1, PCT, IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α in the septic rabbits were higher than those in control group, and decreased significantly in NaHS group and NaHS+TAK-242 group. The protein levels of TLR4, MyD88, p-PI3K and p-Akt in septic rabbit kidneys were higher than those in control group. However, NaHS or NaHS+TAK-242 inhibited the activation of TLR4/MyD88/PI3K signaling pathway in the kidneys of septic rabbits. CONCLUSION:H₂S play a protective effect on the rabbits with urosepsis-induced acute kidney injury by blocking TLR4/MyD88/PI3K signaling pathway to inhibit inflammatory response.     

Effect of hydrogen sulfide on airway inflammation induced by ozone in mice

AIM: To investigate the effect of hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) on airway inflammation induced by ozone (O₃) exposure and its mechanisms.METHODS: C57BL/6 mice (n=32) were randomly divided into control group, O₃ group, NaHS+O₃ group and NaHS group. The mice in O₃ group and O₃+NaHS group were exposed to 2.14 mg/m³ O₃ for 3 h on days 1, 3 and 5, while the mice in control group and NaHS group were exposed to filtered air. NaHS (14 μmol/kg) was administered intraperitoneally to the mice in NaHS group and O₃+NaHS group 30 min before each exposure. After the last exposure for 24 h, the airway responsiveness was determined, and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was collected for counting inflammatory cells and measuring total protein concentration. The lung tissues were collected for observing the morphological changes with HE staining. The levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8), malondialdehyde (MDA) and NF-κB p65 protein in the lungs were determined.RESULTS: Compared with control group, the airway responsiveness, inflammatory cells, protein concentration, inflammation score, levels of IL-6, IL-8, MDA and NF-κB p65 in O₃ group increased significantly, but these in NaHS+O₃ group decreased compared with O₃  group.CONCLUSION: The present findings suggest that H₂S attenuates O₃ induced airway inflammation by inhibiting NF-κB expression and preventing lipid peroxidation.     

Effects of matrix metalloproteinases on ventricular remodelingfollowing myocardial ischemia in the rat

AIM:To examine the relationship between the activity of matrix metallproteinases(MMPs) and ventricular remodeling following myocardial ischemia in the rat.METHODS:The model of myocardial ischemia(MI) in the rat was established by isoprenaline(ISP). The activity of MMPs was measured by zymography and collagen concentration was assessed by the method of chloramine T, so did I/III collagen ratio by immunohistochemical staining. The microstructure of myocardium was also observed by electron microscope.RESULTS:The activity of MMP-2 in myocardial ischemia group (group M) increased by 5.8 folds at 1 st week(P＜0.01), 2.3 folds at 2 nd week(P＜0.01) and 1.7 flods at 4 th week(P＜0.05) compared with control group (group C) and MMP-9's activity in group M increased by 4.9 folds (P＜0.01), 1.9 flods(P＜0.01) and 1.4 folds(P＜0.05), respectively. Collagen amount and I/III collagen ratio in group M increased compared with that in group C at 2 nd week and 4 th week. It showed that cardiac myocytes in group M were necrosed and collagen grew abundantly in interstitium under electron microscope.CONCLUSION:The activity of MMPs in the myocardial interstitium increased following myocardial ischemia, then collagen amount and I/III collagen ratio increased, which may be the major causes of ventricular remodeling.     

Cardioprotection of ischemic postconditioning against ischemia/reperfusion injury in isolated rat hearts

AIM: To investigate the protective role of postconditioning in myocardial ischemia/reperfusion in rats and its mechanisms. METHODS: Cardiac contractility was analyzed by the Langendorff method. Infarct size was determined by dual staining with triphenyltetrazolium chloride and Even's blue dye, and the cardiac arrhythmia was evaluated. postconditioning was conducted by 3 cycles of 30 s ischemia followed by 30 s of reperfusion at the beginning of subsequent persistent reperfusion. RESULTS: Left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP) and maximal rise rate of ventricular pressure (+dp/dt_max) were higher during reperfusion in postconditioning group compared with control. postconditioning reduced the infarct size in ischemia/reperfusion rat hearts. The cardiac arrhythmia score was decreased in postconditioning group in the first 10 min of reperfusion followed by ischemia compared to control group. postconditioning had similar cardioprotective effect as preconditioning. 5-HD, a selective mitochondrial ATP-sensitive potassium channel (mitoK_ATP) inhibitor, blocked the amelioration of contract function provided by postconditioning. It also abolished the protective effect of postconditioning on cardiac arrhythmia score and infarct size. CONCLUSION: The results show that postconditioning has cardioprotective effect and attenuates reperfusion injury in ischemic heart. The effect might be partly through the activation of mitoK_ATP channel.     

Hydrogen sulfide suppresses the increase in reactive oxygen species in neurons induced by angiotensin II via ERK1/2 signal pathway

AIM: To investigate the effect of hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) on the reactive oxygen species (ROS) level in medullary neurons induced by angiotensin II (Ang II). METHODS: Primarily cultured rat medullary neurons were divided into 5 groups as follows: control group, Ang II group, sodium hydrosulfide(NaHS) group, NaHS with Ang II group, and PD98059 (an inhibitor of p-ERK1/2) with Ang II group. ROS production was measured with dihydroethidium (DHE) staining. The expression of p-ERK1/2 and ERK1/2 was determined by Western blotting. The activity of neurons was detected by CCK-8 assay. RESULTS: Ang II at concentration of 100 nmol/L significantly increased ROS level in the neurons, but the effect was inhibited by NaHS at concentrations of 50~200 μmol/L, while NaHS alone had no influence on the ROS level in neurons. Additionally, PD98059 also depressed the ROS level in neurons induced by Ang II. Furthermore, the enhanced expression of p-ERK1/2 in the neurons induced by Ang II was significantly reduced by NaHS. CONCLUSION: H₂S remarkably inhibits the ROS level in the neurons induced by Ang II via activation of MAPK signal pathways, especially p-ERK1/2, indicating that H₂S rescues neurons from oxidative stress through declining the enhanced expression of p-ERK1/2.     

Effects of human urotensin II on ischemia/reperfusion injury in isolated perfused rat hearts

AIM: To investigate the effects of human urotensin II (hUII) on ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in isolated rat hearts. METHODS: In the ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) model of isolated perfused rat hearts, the effects of hUII pretreatment on cardiac function was monitored with cardiac function software of MFL Lab200. ATP, total calcium, and malondialdehyde (MDA) content in myocardium were detected. The coronary perfusion flow (CPF) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity in coronary effluent were measured during reperfusion. RESULTS: In the hUII pretreated group, the release of LDH from myocardium was lower [(78.3±18.1)U/L] than I/R group [(109.3±23.9) U/L, P< 0.05], with decreased contents of MDA and calcium in myocardium (decreased by 24% and 27%, respectively, P< 0.05) and an increased myocardial ATP content [(3.8±0.4)μmol/g dw vs (2.2±0.4)μmol/g dw, P< 0.05)]. At the same time, hUII pretreatment increased CPF [(5.4±0.7) mL/min vs (3.8±0.8) mL/min in I/R group, P< 0.05], reduced left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) by 20% ( P< 0.05) with increased±d p /d t max [(217±38) kPa/s and (119±18) kPa/s vs (173±29) kPa/s and (82±25) kPa/s in I/R groups, respectively, P< 0.05]. hUII pretreatment also increased natrite/natrate (NO₂^-/NO₃^-) content in coronary effluent [(52.2±12.0)μmol/L vs (32.1±10.2)μmol/L in I/R group, P< 0.05)]. CONCLUSION: hUII pretreatment attenuated I/R injury in isolated perfused rat hearts. The protective mechanism might be associated with NO-mediated coronary vasodilation.     

Effect of myocardial ischemia on expression of natriuretic peptide receptors in rat medulla oblongata

AIM:To evaluate the expression of natriuretic peptide receptor A (NPR-A) and C (NPR-C), choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) in the ventral medulla oblongata after myocardial ischemia in the rats. METHODS:All rats were randomly divided into blank control group, sham group and myocardial ischemia group. After the myocardial ischemia model was established, the rats were sacrificed, and the expression of NPR-A, NPR-C, ChAT and TH in the rostral ventral medulla oblongata and caudal ventral medulla oblongata was detected by Western blotting on day 3, day 7, day 14, day 18 and on day 28. RESULTS:On the above days after modeling, the expression of NPR-A in ventral medulla oblongata of the rats was significantly increased (P<0.05). The expression of NPR-C was also increased, but later than NPR-A. The expression of TH was significantly decreased (P<0.05). The expression of ChAT in the rostral ventral medulla oblongata was lower than that in blank control group (P<0.05), and had no significant difference as compared with blank control group in the caudal ventral medulla oblongata. CONCLUSION:In medulla oblongata, the expression of NPR-A and NPR-C in the central cardiovascular region significantly increases after myocardial ischemia, while the expression of ChAT and TH decreases markedly. The natriuretic peptide, ChAT and TH may participate in the autonomic nervous control of cardiovascular system after myocardial ischemia.     

Impact of hydrogen sulfide donor on endothelin-1 and connective tissue growth factor expression in rats with pulmonary hypertension induced by high pulmonary blood flow

AIM: To explore the possible impact of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) donor-sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS) on endothelin-1 (ET-1) and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) expressions in rats with pulmonary hypertension induced by high pulmonary blood flow. METHODS: Thirty-two male SD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: shunt group, shunt+NaHS group, sham group and sham+NaHS group. Rats in shunt group and shunt+NaHS group were subjected to an abdominal aorta-inferior vena cava shunt to create an animal model of high pulmonary flow. After 11 weeks of experiment, rat systolic pulmonary artery pressure (SPAP), lung tissue H2S, plasma ET-1 concentration and lung tissue ET-1mRNA expression, as well as pulmonary artery CTGF protein expression were detected.RESULTS: After 11 weeks of experiment, SPAP, lung tissue ET-1mRNA, plasma ET-1 as well as pulmonary artery CTGF expressions were increased markedly, respectively, whereas H2S in lung tissue decreased significantly in rats of shunt group as compared with that in sham group (all P<0.05). After administration of NaHS for 11 weeks, H2S in lung tissue increased significantly, whereas SPAP, plasma ET-1 and lung tissue ET-1 mRNA expression as well as pulmonary artery CTGF protein expression decreased significantly, respectively, in rats of shunt+NaHS group as compared with that in shunt group (all P<0.05).CONCLUSION: NaHS might be involved in the development of pulmonary hypertension induced by high pulmonary blood flow by down-regulating vasoactive peptides ET-1 and CTGF expressions in lung tissues of rats.     

Effect of hydroxylamine on pulmonary arterial hypertension induced by chronic hypoxic hypercapnia in rats

AIM: To explore the effects of hydroxylamine on the pulmonary arterial pressure in chronic hypoxic hypercapnic rats. METHODS: Twenty-four male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 3 groups (8 rats in each group): the normal control group (NC), hypoxic hypercapnia+normal saline group (NS), hypoxic hypercapnia+hydroxylamine group (HA). The animals in NS and HA groups were kept in the O₂ (9%-11%) and CO₂ (5%-6%) cabin, 8 h a day and 6 days a week for 4 weeks. Before entering the cabin, the rats in HA group were administered with 1 mL hydroxylamine (12.5 mg/kg) by intraperitoneal injection, while the rats in NS group were given intraperitoneal injection of 1 mL saline solution. The mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP) was measured by external jugular vein cannulation. The heart was removed, and the right ventricle (RV) and the left ventricle plus the septum (LV+S) were dissected. The ratio of the wet weight of the RV to that of the LV+S was calculated. The changes of the pulmonary vascular construction were observed under optical microscope. The concentration of H₂S in the plasma was measured with a spectrometer. The expression of cystathionine-γ-lyase (CSE) in the pulmonary arterioles and bronchi was measured by immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR. RESULTS: The values of mPAP, RV/(LV+S),vessel wall area/total area (WA/TA) and media thickness of pulmonary arterioles (PAMT) in NS group and HA group were significantly higher than those in NC group (P<0.05). The level of H₂S in the plasma, the content of CSE protein and the expression of CSE mRNA in NC group were significantly lower than those in NS group (P<0.05). The values of mPAP, RV/(LV+S), WA/TA and PAMT in HA group were significantly lower than those in NS group (P<0.05). The level of H₂S in the plasma, the content of CSE protein and the expression of CSE mRNA in HA group were significantly higher than those in NS group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Hydroxylamine may decrease the pulmonary arterial hypertension induced by chronic hypoxic hypercapnia in rats by increasing the level of H₂S in the plasma, the content of CSE protein and the mRNA expression of CSE, thus improving the pulmonary vascular structural remodeling.     

Dendranthema morifolium attenuated the reduction of contraction of isolated heart and cardiomyocytes induced by ischemia/reperfusion

AIM: To investigate the effect of Dendranthema morifolium (Ramat) Tzvel (DM) on isolated rat heart and ventricular myocytes during ischemia/anoxia and reperfusion/reoxygenation.METHODS: The Langendorff perfused rat hearts were used to measure intraventricular pressure and coronary flow. The cell contraction and intracellular calcium transient in enzymatically isolated ventricular myocytes were determined. RESULTS: (1) DM (0.5 g/L) significantly attenuated the inhibitory effects induced by ischemia/reperfusion on left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP), ±dp/dt_max, coronary flow and LVDP×HR, meanwhile increased the content of SOD and decreased the content of MDA in the myocardium; (2) DM (0.5 g/L) attenuated the inhibitory effects of anoxia and reoxygenation on i transient and cell contraction in isolated ventricular myocytes. CONCLUSION: DM attenuated the effects on contractility and intracellular calcium induced by ischemia/anoxia and reperfusion/reoxygenation in the isolated rat heart and the ventricular myocytes. The mechanism might be related to increase in SOD activity and maintaining [Ca]i homeostasis.     

Role of hydrogen sulfide in alleviation of liver injury by mesenteric lymph drainage in hemorrhagic shock rats

AIM：To investigate the role of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) in alleviation of liver injury by mesenteric lymph drainage in hemorrhagic shock rats. METHODS：A hemorrhagic shock model was established in male Wistar rats. DL-propargylglycine (PPG), an inhibitor of cystathionine γ-lyase (CSE) which is a synthase of H2S, or sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS), a donor of H2S, was administered to the hemorrhagic shock rats with mesenteric lymph drainage. The rats were randomly divided into sham, shock, shock+drainage, shock+drainage+PPG (45 mg/kg, ip, 0.5 h before hemorrhage) and shock+drainage+NaHS (28 μmol/kg, ip, 0.5 h before hemorrhage) groups. Fluid resuscitation was performed 1 h after hypotension, and then mesenteric lymph was drained in the rats of shock+drainage, shock+drainage+PPG and shock+drainage+NaHS groups for 3 h. The hepatic histomorphology was observed. The biochemical indexes of hepatic function in plasma, and H2S, CSE, Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), interleukin (IL)-10, IL-12 and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) in hepatic homogenate were also examined. RESULTS：The levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and total bile acid (TBA) in plasma, and H2S, CSE, TLR4, IL-10, IL-12 and TNF-α in hepatic homogenate in shock group were significantly higher than those in sham group. Mesenteric lymph drainage obviously reduced these indexes in shock rats, except for TLR4. PPG further decreased these indexes except for CSE, while NaHS increased these indexes except for TBA and CSE. Morphological observation showed that liver injury appeared in the rats from shock and shock+drainage+NaHS groups, and there was nearly normal hepatic structure in the rats from sham, shock+drainage and shock+drainage+PPG groups. CONCLUSION：The mechanism of mesenteric lymph drainage alleviating liver injury in hemorrhagic shock rats is related to reducing the production of H2S and alleviating the H2S-mediated inflammation.     

Proteomic study of myocardial mitochondria with ischemia/reperfusion injury and pinacidil postconditioning in isolated rat hearts

AIM: To investigate the protective effect of pinacidil postconditioning on rat myocardium suffering ischemia/reperfusion injury by mitochondrial proteomics. METHODS: Langendorff apparatus was used to establish the model of myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury. Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 2 groups: pinacidil postconditioning group (Pina group) and ischemia/reperfusion injury group (I/R group). After 20 min of perfusion with K-H solution, the perfusion was suspended for 40-min (global ischemia) follow by 60 min of reperfusion in I/R group. In Pina group at the end of 40 min global ischemia, the isolated hearts were perfused with K-H solution containing pinacidil (50 μmol/L) for 2 min followed 58-min perfusion with regular K-H solution. Total proteins extracted from the mitochondria were applied to the two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE). The differentially expressed protein spots over 2 times were evaluated by a software. Then they were subjected to in-gel digestion, and analyzed by spectrometry. RESULTS: The expression levels of NDUFA10, NDUFS2 and NDUFV2 were elevated but those of IDHA and ECH1 were decreased in Pina group compared with I/R group. Interestingly, 2 spots in the 2-DE map were identified as ATPase subunit δ. The expression levels of one spot was elevated, while the other was decreased. CONCLUSION: Pinacidil postconditioning may decrease the degree of increased expression levels of NDUFA10, NDUFS2 and NDUFV2, promote the expression of IDHA and ECH1, and induce the phosphorylation of ATPase subunit δ, which may be related to the protective mechanism of pinacidil postconditioning.     

Rosuvastatin inhibits up-regulation of inflammatory factors in endothelial outgrowth cells induced by C-reactive protein

AIM：To study the effects of rosuvastatin on C-reactive protein (CRP)-induced expression of inflammatory factors in endothelial outgrowth cells (EOCs). METHODS：Mononuclear cells (MNCs) were isolated from human umbilical cord blood by density gradient centrifugation. EOCs were treated with CRP at concentration of 5, 10, 25 and 50 mg/L and were exposed to 50 mg/L CRP for different time (0, 3, 6 and 12 h). In addition, EOCs were pre-incubated with rosuvastatin at different concentrations (10-8, 10-7 and 10-6mol/L) for 12 h and then stimulated with 50 mg/L CRP. The mRNA levels of IL-8, MCP-1, VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 in EOCs were measured by quantitative PCR. The protein levels of MCP-1 and VCAM-1 were detected by ELISA. RESULTS：CRP dose-dependently increased the mRNA levels of inflammatory factors (IL-8, MCP-1, VCAM-1 and ICAM-1) and protein levels of MCP-1 and VCAM-1. The mRNA levels of IL-8, VCAM-1, and ICAM-1 in EOCs reached to the peak at 6 h, while MCP-1 peaked at 3 h when treated with 50 mg/L CRP. The protein levels of MCP-1 and VCAM-1 increased in a time-dependent manner. The mRNA and protein levels of the inflammatory factors were significantly decreased by treatment with rosuvastatin at different concentrations. CONCLUSION：CRP is not just an inflammatory marker as CRP induces inflammation in EOCs. Rosuvastatin attenuates CRP-induced inflammatory response in EOCs, indicating a new target for the prevention of atherosclerosis.