1. Department of Endocrinology, The Second Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan 250033, China;2. Department of Endocrinology, General Hospital of Jinan Military Commend, Jinan 250031, China. E-mail: liuyuantao@yahoo.com
Abstract:
AIM: To investigate the effect of leptin on H2O2-induced apoptosis in rat cardiomyocytes (H9c2 cells) and the underlying mechanisms.METHODS: Terminal-deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated nick end labeling (TUNEL) was used to determine H2O2-induced apoptosis in H9c2 cells in the absence or presence of leptin. The activities of caspase-3 and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) were examined by Western blotting.RESULTS: (1)Leptin significantly inhibited H2O2-induced apoptosis in H9c2 cells (P<0.01). This effect of leptin was opposed by MEK inhibitor PD98059. (2)H2O2 inhibited basal ERK activity. Leptin activated ERK and partially inhibited H2O2-induced caspase-3 activation.CONCLUSION: Leptin protects H9c2 cells from H2O2-induced apoptosis possibly by activating ERK.