Nur77 在缺氧/ 复氧诱导的心肌细胞凋亡中的作用及其机制的研究

目的:观察Nur77通过线粒体转位对缺氧/复氧(H/R)诱导的心肌细胞凋亡的影响。方法:原代培养l-2天SD大鼠心肌细胞,建立H/R模型。随机分为正常对照组、H/R组、Nur77组,采用免疫荧光检测横纹肌肌动蛋白(α-actin)鉴定心肌细胞;采用TUNEL染色法及Caspase-3酶活性检测心肌细胞凋亡情况;采用Western blot检测细胞核及线粒体Nur77蛋白表达、线粒体及胞浆Omi/HtrA2蛋白表达。结果:H/R组细胞核中Nur77蛋白表达明显低于正常对照组;而在线粒体中则相反。Nur77组线粒体中的Omi/HtrA2蛋白表达明显低于正常对照组;而在胞浆中则相反。结论:在心肌细胞H/R损伤时,Nur77线粒体转位促使Omi/HtrA2蛋白从线粒体释放入胞浆,从而导致心肌细胞凋亡。     

凋亡诱导因子介导缺氧/复氧致肥大心肌细胞凋亡的作用

心肌细胞凋亡导致心肌组织合胞体功能丧失,最终使代偿性心肌肥大向心力衰竭转化。过去的研究已经确认天门冬氨酸特异性半胱氨酸蛋白酶(caspartate-specificcysteinylproteinase,caspase)依赖机制在心肌细胞凋亡中的作用,但对caspase非依赖机制即凋亡诱导因子(apoptosis-inducingfactor,AIF)在心肌细胞凋亡中的作用尚不明确。本研究应用血管紧张素Ⅱ(0.1μmol/L培养12h)诱导培养的小鼠肥大心肌细胞,利用三气孵箱建立缺氧/复氧模型以模拟缺血再灌注。应用RT-PCR、Westernblot、siRNA基因转染、Hoechst33258染色法检测AIF在mRNA和蛋白质水平的表达及细胞凋亡的变化,分析AIF在缺氧/复氧致肥大心肌细胞凋亡中的意义。结果如下:(1)与对照组比较,缺氧8h组(H8h)和缺氧12h组(H12h)AIFmRNA及蛋白表达水平均显著升高(mRNA:0.52±0.04及0.85±0.10vs0.29±0.08,P<0.05;蛋白质:2.07±0.15和3.12±0.19vs0.29±0.04,P<0.05),即随缺血时间的延长,AIFmRNA及蛋白表达水平均显著增加。(2)与对应单纯缺氧组比较,缺氧后给予复氧刺激,H8h/R组和H12h/R组AIFmRNA及蛋白表达水平均显著升高(mRNA:1.09±0.12和1.41±0.23,P<0.05;蛋白质:4.57±0.25和5.71±0.27,P<0.05)。仅在H8h/R及H12h/R组,可见AIF核转位显著增加。(3)AIFsiRNA转染可显著抑制肥大心肌细胞AIF的表达,对缺氧时细胞凋亡无明显影响(P>0.05),但可显著降低缺氧/复氧诱导的肥大心肌细胞凋亡率(P<0.05)。同时抑制AIF及caspase-3活性,可显著加强单一抑制剂对缺氧/复氧诱导的肥大心肌细胞凋亡的抑制作用。(4)抑制caspase-3活性对缺氧/复氧诱导的AIF核转位无明显影响。上述结果提示,缺氧/复氧时AIFmRNA、蛋白表达和核转位均显著增加,且在缺氧/复氧诱导肥大心肌细胞凋亡中具有重要的作用。     

mTOR信号通路诱导的自噬在心肌细胞缺氧损伤中的作用研究

目的:探讨自噬在心肌细胞缺氧损伤中的作用及分子机制。方法:体外分离培养乳鼠心肌细胞,体外建立缺氧/去血清(H/SD)模型以模拟在体的缺血环境。分别给予自噬抑制剂3-甲基腺嘌呤(3MA,5 mM)和mTOR抑制剂雷帕霉素(1.0μg/L)调节心肌细胞自噬水平。分别采用TUNEL染色检测心肌细胞凋亡,Western blot方法检测心肌细胞蛋白表达水平。结果:H/SD损伤可以显著诱导心肌细胞自噬水平(P0.05),并且细胞自噬水平可以被3-MA及雷帕霉素调节。同时,H/SD可以显著增加心肌细胞凋亡(P0.05),而给予3-MA抑制自噬水平可以减少细胞凋亡(P0.05)。相反,雷帕霉素增加自噬同样可以加重缺氧导致的心肌细胞凋亡(P0.05)。H/SD损伤过程中,心肌细胞mTOR信号通路被激活,而自噬抑制剂3-MA可以显著提高缺氧条件下心肌细胞中p-mTOR(Ser2448)的表达水平(P0.05),并增加mTOR下游分子p-p70S6k(P0.05)和p-S6(P0.05)的表达。结论:mTOR信号通路诱导的细胞自噬可能参与了缺氧损伤诱导的心肌细胞凋亡。     

玉郎伞查尔酮激活Nrf2/ARE信号通路减轻缺氧/复氧所致的H9c2细胞凋亡及氧化应激损伤

研究玉郎伞查尔酮(YLSC)对缺氧/复氧所致的H9c2细胞损伤的影响及可能的作用机制。缺氧12 h、复氧24 h建立心肌细胞缺氧/复氧模型,并对细胞凋亡、氧化应激相关指标和Nuclear-Nrf2等蛋白表达进行了检测。结果显示,YLSC可明显增加细胞生存率,提高SOD、GSH-Px水平,降低细胞凋亡率和LDH、ROS、MDA水平。使Nuclear-Nrf2、HO-1、Bcl-2蛋白表达增高而Cleaved caspase 3、Bax蛋白表达减少,联合应用Nrf2抑制剂可抑制YLSC作用效果。结果表明,YLSC可以减轻缺氧/复氧所致的心肌细胞凋亡及氧化应激损伤,其机制可能与激活Nrf2/ARE信号通路有关。     

缺氧复氧诱导自噬基因表达对滋养细胞生长的影响与机制

为探索子痫前期孕妇胎盘病变的发病机制,我们模拟体内缺血再灌注微环境,在体外建立胎盘滋养细胞HTR8/SVneo缺氧复氧模型,以探究缺氧复氧对细胞自噬的诱导作用及对细胞生长的影响。将实验分为对照组、缺氧复氧组及自噬抑制剂3-MA+缺氧复氧组,应用吖啶橙染色及LC3-Ⅱ免疫荧光染色检测经处理24 h后细胞自噬水平,MTT法检测细胞增殖能力,Real time PCR检测自噬基因Beclin-1、LC3-Ⅱ的表达,Western blot分析相应自噬蛋白的表达。结果显示缺氧复氧组HTR8/SVneo细胞自噬水平明显升高(p0.01),伴随Beclin-1、LC3-Ⅱ基因及蛋白表达显著增高(p0.01),细胞增殖同时显著受抑(p0.01),而加入3-MA后缺氧复氧组细胞自噬水平明显受抑(p0.01),Beclin-1、LC3-Ⅱ基因及蛋白表达显著下降(p0.01),细胞增殖能力显著提高(p0.01)。这表明滋养细胞HTR8/SVneo在缺氧复氧环境中启动细胞自噬,过度自噬时可能通过诱导Ⅱ型程序性死亡影响细胞增殖,当自噬被抑制后,细胞增殖能力明显恢复。     

microRNA-21在大鼠心肌缺氧复氧损伤中的作用及其对细胞自噬的影响

本文应用大鼠心肌细胞缺氧/复氧损伤模型,探讨microRNA-21(miR-21)在大鼠心肌缺氧复氧损伤中的作用及其对细胞自噬的影响.缺氧复氧后,RT-PCR检测发现心肌miR-21表达上调(P0.05),流式细胞术检测表明细胞凋亡增加,RT-PCR及蛋白质印迹(Western blot)检测发现p62显著下调而beclin-1显著上调(P0.05),提示缺氧复氧诱导心肌细胞凋亡和自噬异常.脂质体转染miR-21 mimic后,细胞凋亡显著增加(P0.05),p62显著上调而beclin-1显著下调(P0.05),而转染miR-21抑制剂引起相反结果,提示miR-21在心肌缺氧复氧损伤中具有促进细胞凋亡、抑制细胞自噬的作用.生物信息学预测显示,Rab11a的3′-UTR含有miR-21的结合位点,双荧光素酶基因报告系统及Rab11a过表达实验表明Rab11a是miR-21的靶基因之一.心肌过表达Rab11a能减少缺氧复氧后miR-21介导的细胞凋亡及自噬.由此表明,在大鼠心肌缺氧复氧损伤中,miR-21可能通过负调控Rab11a促进心肌细胞凋亡,抑制心肌细胞自噬.本研究可能为预防和治疗心肌缺血再灌注损伤提供新策略.     

白细胞介素-2降低缺氧/复氧心肌细胞对细胞内钙的处理能力

目的 :研究在正常和缺氧 /复氧过程中白细胞介素 2 (IL 2 )对心肌细胞收缩和细胞内钙的处理能力的影响。方法 :采用酶解分离大鼠心室肌细胞化学缺氧模型 ,用视频跟踪系统和细胞内双波长钙荧光系统检测单个心肌细胞收缩和细胞内钙的变化。结果 :①缺氧过程中 ,心肌细胞收缩被抑制 ,钙瞬变幅度降低、静息钙水平增高 ,咖啡因诱导的钙释放减少 ,但对细胞膜L -型钙通道活性无明显影响 ;复氧期间 ,各指标不能恢复到对照水平。②IL 2 (2× 10 5U/L)抑制心肌细胞收缩 ,使钙瞬变幅度降低、静息钙水平增高 ,使咖啡因诱导的钙释放减少。③在缺氧期间加入IL 2 (2× 10 5U/L)后 ,复氧期间各参数回复均减慢。结论 :缺氧时同时存在IL 2 ,可加剧复氧时心肌细胞收缩功能和钙处理能力的降低 ,这可能与心肌细胞肌浆网内贮钙释放减少有关。     

藏药镰形棘豆对缺氧/复氧H_9C_2心肌细胞损伤的保护作用

探讨藏药镰形棘豆(OFB)提取物对缺氧/复氧(H/R)H_9C_2心肌细胞损伤的保护作用。方法:采用三气培养箱培养法建立H_9C_2心肌细胞缺氧/复氧损伤模型。实验分为3组:正常细胞对照组;缺氧/复氧损伤组(H/R);7个药物加缺氧/复氧损伤组(H/R+OFB);于缺氧/复氧开始时分别加入终浓度为0.1 mg/L、1 mg/L、10 mg/L、100 mg/L、300 mg/L、600 mg/L、1 000 mg/L的镰形棘豆提取物,以细胞活力为指标,利用MTS法测定药物对细胞活力的影响。检测镰形棘豆乙酸乙酯水甲醇压柱组分与氯仿萃取组分不同给药剂量对H_9C_2心肌细胞缺氧/复氧损伤的影响。结果:与模型组相比药物处理组显著升高缺氧/复氧H_9C_2心肌细胞活力(p0.05)。结论:藏药镰形棘豆对H_9C_2心肌细胞的缺氧/复氧损伤有保护作用。     

DCA干预对缺氧复氧肥大心肌细胞能量代谢及细胞凋亡的影响

目的:探讨缺氧复氧损伤诱导体外培养的新生大鼠肥大心肌细胞凋亡及能量代谢途径变化及药物干预的作用.方法:取体外培养的新生大鼠心肌细胞,以血管紧张素Ⅱ诱导其肥大,分4组:一组于3%O2、5%CO2、92%N2三气培养箱中培养12 h,再恢复正常条件培养4h,建立缺氧复氧损伤的肥大心肌细胞模型;另三组加入二氯乙酸盐(DCA)使其终浓度分别为10-3mmol/L、10-4mmol/L和10-5mmol/L,再缺氧复氧相同时间.电镜观察肥大心肌细胞及凋亡细胞的超微结构变化,Hochest33342/PI荧光染色识别凋亡细胞;TUNEL法观察心肌细胞凋亡形态学特征,并记数凋亡心肌细胞数,检测心肌细胞凋亡率;以同位素液闪计数法测定丙酮酸脱氢酶(PDH)内碱脂酰转移酶-1(CPT-1)活性,以及葡萄糖有氧氧化率,葡萄糖酵解率和脂肪酸有氧氧化率.结果:肥大心肌细胞在缺氧12h复氧4h,TUNEL法可检测到阳性的凋亡细胞,凋亡率为(19.99±4.88)%,肥大心肌细胞缺氧培养12h后加入DCA10-3 mmol/L、10-4 mmol/L和10-5 mmol/L再复氧4h检测其凋亡率分别为(16.5±3.24)%、(17.4±3.72)%和(18.4±3.44)%;与正常心肌细胞比较,肥大心肌细胞总的PDH活性没有明显改变.但活化型PDH活性和葡萄糖氧化代谢率(GOR)显著增强,CPT-1活性和脂肪酸有氧氧化代谢率(FOR)显著降低;与对照肥大心肌细胞比较,二氯乙酸(DCA 10-3 mmol/L-DCA 110-3mmol/L)呈剂量依赖性的升高PDH活性和GOR,抑制CPT21活性,FOR和葡萄糖酵解率(glucolysis rate,GLR).结论:DCA对缺氧复氧损伤引起的肥大心肌细胞凋亡有抑制作用.肥大心肌细胞能量代谢向糖代谢转化,DCA可进一步增强糖有氧氧化代谢抑制脂肪酸代谢.     

腺苷对缺氧/复氧心肌细胞的保护作用

本研究旨在探讨腺苷 (adenosine ,ADO)对缺氧 /复氧 (hypoxia/reoxygenation ,H/R)心肌细胞的保护作用及其分子机制。将原代培养的新生大鼠心肌细胞分成H/R对照组和ADO (1 0 μmol/L)保护组。用倒置相差显微镜观察心肌细胞的生长状态。检测两组培养基质乳酸脱氢酶 (LDH)活性和心肌细胞Ca2 + 和丙二醛 (MDA)浓度。用ELISA法检测肿瘤坏死因子 (TNF α)的表达 ,并用凝胶电泳迁移率改变法 (EMSA)测定核因子 (NF κB)结合活性。所得结果如下 :(1)心肌细胞H/R培养后皱缩、变圆 ,伪足减少 ,ADO组心肌细胞的形态变化小于对照组 ;(2 )ADO减少缺氧和复氧期间心肌细胞LDH的漏出 (bothP <0 0 1) ;(3 )ADO降低缺氧和复氧期间心肌细胞内的Ca2 +浓度 (bothP <0 0 1) ;(4)ADO降低缺氧和复氧期间心肌细胞MDA浓度 (bothP <0 0 1) ;(5 )ADO抑制缺氧和复氧期间TNF α的表达 (bothP <0 0 1) ;(6)ADO抑制缺氧和复氧期间心肌细胞NF κB结合活性 (bothP <0 0 1)。以上结果提示 :(1)外源性ADO可减轻心肌细胞的H/R损伤 ;(2 )外源性ADO抑制H/R期间心肌细胞TNF α的表达 ;(3 )外源性ADO可能通过抑制心肌细胞NF κB结合活性下调TNF α的表达     

Recombinant PTD-Cu/Zn SOD attenuates hypoxia–reoxygenation injury in cardiomyocytes

Abstract

Background. Oxidative stress plays a pivotal role in myocardial ischemia–reperfusion injury. Increasing the protein expression of intracellular Cu/Zn SOD, which is the major endogenous antioxidant enzyme, may attenuate or prevent hypoxia–reoxygenation injury (HRI) in cultured cardiomyocytes. However, ectogenic Cu/Zn-SOD can hardly be transferred into cells to exert biological effects. In this study, we constructed PTD-Cu/Zn SOD plasmid with a kind of translocation structure-Protein transduction domain (PTD) and detected its transmembrane ability and antioxidant effects in H9c2 rat cardiomyocytes subjected to hypoxia/reoxygenation injury (HRI). Methods. We constructed the pET-PTD-Cu/Zn SOD (CDs) prokaryotic expression vectors in plasmid that were inserted into E. coli BL21 to induce the protein expression of PTD-Cu/Zn SOD. H9c2 cardiomyocyte HRI was achieved by exposing cardiomyocytes to 12 h hypoxia followed by 2 h reoxygenation. Protein expression of PTD-Cu/Zn SOD in cardiomyocytes was assayed by Western blot and their enzyme activities were investigated by immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry. Results. In cultured cardiomyocytes hypoxia–reoxygenation injury model, exogenous PTD-Cu/Zn SOD could penetrate cell membrane to clear superoxide anion and decrease hydrogen peroxide level in H9c2 cardiomyocytes subjected to HRI. The level of mitochondrial membrane potential was restored to normal, and the cell apoptosis was reduced in cardiomyocytes with PTD-Cu/Zn SOD treatment during HRI. Conclusion. Recombinant PTD-Cu/Zn SOD could scavenge intracellular-free superoxide anion, protect mitochondria from damages, and attenuate the hypoxia–reoxygenation injury in cultured cardiomyocytes.     

Insulin Protects Apoptotic Cardiomyocytes from Hypoxia/Reoxygenation Injury through the Sphingosine Kinase/Sphingosine 1-Phosphate Axis

Objective

Experimental and clinical studies have shown that administration of insulin during reperfusion is cardioprotective, but the mechanisms underlying this effect are still unknown. In this study, the ability of insulin to protect apoptotic cardiomyocytes from hypoxia/reoxygenation injury using the sphingosine kinase/sphingosine 1-phosphate axis was investigated.

Methods and Results

Rat cardiomyocytes were isolated and subjected to hypoxia and reoxygenation. [γ-32P] ATP was used to assess sphingosine kinase activity. Insulin was found to increase sphingosine kinase activity. Immunocytochemistry and Western blot analysis showed changes in the subcellular location of sphingosine kinase 1 from cytosol to the membrane in cardiomyocytes. Insulin caused cardiomyocytes to accumulate of S1P in a dose-dependent manner. FRET efficiency showed that insulin also transactivates the S1P₁ receptor. TUNEL staining showed that administration of insulin during reoxygenation could to reduce the rate of reoxygenation-induced apoptosis, which is a requirement for SphK 1 activity. It also reduced the rate of activation of the S1P receptor and inhibited hypoxia/reoxygenation-induced cell death in cardiomyocytes.

Conclusion

The sphingosine kinase 1/sphingosine 1-phosphate/S1P receptor axis is one pathway through which insulin protects rat cardiomyocytes from apoptosis induced by hypoxia/reoxygenation injury.     

Impairment of Endothelial-Myocardial Interaction Increases the Susceptibility of Cardiomyocytes to Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury

Endothelial-myocardial interactions may be critically important for ischemia/reperfusion injury. Tetrahydrobiopterin (BH₄) is a required cofactor for nitric oxide (NO) production by endothelial NO synthase (eNOS). Hyperglycemia (HG) leads to significant increases in oxidative stress, oxidizing BH₄ to enzymatically incompetent dihydrobiopterin. How alterations in endothelial BH₄ content impact myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury remains elusive. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of endothelial-myocardial interaction on ischemia/reperfusion injury, with an emphasis on the role of endothelial BH₄ content. Langendorff-perfused mouse hearts were treated by triton X-100 to produce endothelial dysfunction and subsequently subjected to 30 min of ischemia followed by 2 h of reperfusion. The recovery of left ventricular systolic and diastolic function during reperfusion was impaired in triton X-100 treated hearts compared with vehicle-treated hearts. Cardiomyocytes (CMs) were co-cultured with endothelial cells (ECs) and subsequently subjected to 2 h of hypoxia followed by 2 h of reoxygenation. Addition of ECs to CMs at a ratio of 1∶3 significantly increased NO production and decreased lactate dehydrogenase activity compared with CMs alone. This EC-derived protection was abolished by HG. The addition of 100 µM sepiapterin (a BH₄ precursor) or overexpression of GTP cyclohydrolase 1 (the rate-limiting enzyme for BH₄ biosynthesis) in ECs by gene trasfer enhanced endothelial BH₄ levels, the ratio of eNOS dimer/monomer, eNOS phosphorylation, and NO production and decreased lactate dehydrogenase activity in the presence of HG. These results demonstrate that increased BH₄ content in ECs by either pharmacological or genetic approaches reduces myocardial damage during hypoxia/reoxygenation in the presence of HG. Maintaining sufficient endothelial BH₄ is crucial for cardioprotection against hypoxia/reoxygenation injury.     

The optimization conditions of establishing an H9c2 cardiomyocyte hypoxia/reoxygenation injury model based on an AnaeroPack System

Ischemia–reperfusion (I/R) injury is a major cause of cardiomyocyte apoptosis after vascular recanalization, which was mimicked by a hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) injury model of cardiomyocytes in vitro. In this study, we explored an optimal H/R duration procedure using the AnaeroPack System. To study the H/R procedure, cardiomyocytes were exposed to the AnaeroPack System with sugar and serum-free medium, followed by reoxygenation under normal conditions. Cell injury was detected through lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and cardiac troponin (c-Tn) release, morphological changes, cell apoptosis, and expression of apoptosis-related proteins. The results showed that the damage to H9c2 cells increased with prolonged hypoxia time, as demonstrated by increased apoptosis rate, LDH and c-Tn release, HIF-1α expression, as well as decreased expression of Bcl-2. Furthermore, hypoxia for 10 h and reoxygenation for 6 h exhibited the highest apoptosis rate and damage and cytokine release; in addition, cells were deformed, small, and visibly round. After 12 h of hypoxia, the majority of the cells were dead. Taken together, this study showed that subjecting H9c2 cells to the AnaeroPack System for 10 h and reoxygenation for 6 h can achieve a practicable and repeatable H/R injury model.     

细胞粘附分子在中性粒细胞介导的缺氧／复氧心肌细胞损伤中的作用

目的观察缺氧/复氧对心肌细胞与中性粒细胞粘附效应的影响及细胞间粘附分子-1(intercellularadhensionmolecule-1,ICAM-1)和淋巴细胞功能相关抗原-1(lymphocytefunctionassociatedantigen-1,LFA-1)在中性粒细胞介导的心肌细胞损伤的作用。方法计数不同实验条件下与心肌细胞粘附的中性粒细胞;以及抗ICAM-1单抗和抗LFA-1单抗阻断后中性粒细胞粘附数的改变,检测心肌细胞乳酸脱氢酶释放量。结果中性粒细胞与缺氧/复氧心肌细胞粘附数较缺氧组和正常对照组显著增加(P＜0.01);心肌细胞释放LDH明显增高(P＜0．01),单纯缺氧组与正常对照组相比无显著差异(P＞0．05)。加入抗ICAM-1单抗和抗LFA-1单抗后,缺氧/复氧组与心肌细胞粘附的中性粒细胞数较正常对照组显著降低(P<0．01),心肌细胞释放LDH也明显下降(P＜0．01)。缺氧组与正常对照组相比则无显著差异(P＞0.05)。结论缺氧/复氧使心肌细胞与中性粒细胞粘附效应增加,心肌细胞损伤加重,ICAM-1和LFA-1参与这一过程。抗ICAM-1和抗LFA-1单抗可减轻中性粒细胞对缺氧/复氧心肌细胞的损伤。     

Change of Beclin‐1 dependent on ATP, [Ca2+]i and MMP in PC12 cells following oxygen‐glucose deprivation‐reoxygenation injury

Autophagy is usually up‐regulated to provide more ATP in response to starvation or OGD (oxygen‐glucose deprivation), but the relationship between autophagy and ATP, [Ca²⁺]_i (intracellular free Ca²⁺ concentration) or MMP (mitochondrial membrane potential) during reoxygenation is not yet fully clear. The role of autophagy is unknown in PC12 cells subjected to 2 h OGD with different time points of reoxygenation. In the present study, we showed that Beclin‐1 was up‐regulated beginning at 0 h reoxygenation peaking at 24 h and lasting for 48 h. Cell viability was decreased from 0 to 48 h reoxygenation, reaching its minimum at 10 h reoxygenation. ATP was decreased from 0 to 10 h reoxygenation, reaching its minimum at 4 h reoxygenation. A significant negative correlation was observed between ATP and Beclin‐1 (r = ?0.61, P<0.05) at 0 h reoxygenation, but ATP was not significant related (r = 0.24, P>0.05) to Beclin‐1 at 24 h reoxygenation. Besides, Nimodipine, a calcium antagonist, significantly reduced [Ca²⁺]_i and Beclin‐1, but increased MMP in OGD/R‐treated cells. At 24 h reoxygenation, Beclin‐1 expression reached its maximum, cell viability continued to increase, and ATP was higher than that before OGD. These results suggest that energy metabolism dysfunction can induce autophagy during OGD in PC12 cells. Increased [Ca²⁺]_i and decreased MMP may induce autophagy during reoxygenation in PC12 cells. Autophagy may be a protective effect on PC12 cells treated with different time points of reoxygenation after 2 h OGD.     

Shenfu injection suppresses apoptosis by regulation of Bcl-2 and caspase-3 during hypoxia/reoxygenation in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes in vitro

Shenfu injection (the major components of which are ginsenosides compound, extract of Panax ginseng shown to have antioxidant properties) is a well-known important Chinese traditional medicine used for the treatment of various diseases especial for cardiac diseases. The precise mechanism of the biological actions of this plant is not fully understood, in order to elucidate the protection of cardiomyocytes. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of Shenfu injection on hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R)-induced apoptosis and the expression of bcl-2 and caspase-3 in cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes in vitro. Ventricular myocytes were isolated from neonatal rat hearts and were exposed to 4 h of hypoxia followed by 16 h of reoxygenation. The results indicated that treatment with different doses of Shenfu injection protected cardiacmyocyte cultures from hypoxia/reoxygenation-induced apoptosis. Caspase-3 activation was decreased in hypoxic/reoxygenationed cardiomyocytes co-treated with Shenfu injection when compared to hypoxia/reoxygenation alone treated cultures. Expression of the Bcl-2 proteins was increased in Shenfu injection-treated cardiomyocytes subjected to hypoxia/reoxygenation. In conclusion, ginsenosides compound has obviously protective effects on cardiacmyocytes against apoptosis induced by hypoxia/reoxygenation injury, whose mechanisms probably involve the inhibition of down-regulation of Bcl-2 protein levels and sequential activation of caspase-3.