低氧后处理诱导的低氧诱导因子-1α表达上调减轻H9c2心肌细胞低氧/复氧损伤北大核心CSCD

本文旨在探讨低氧后处理(hypoxic postconditioning)对低氧/复氧(hypoxia/reoxygenation,H/R)所致的心肌细胞损伤以及低氧诱导因子-1α(hypoxia inducible factor-1α,HIF-1α)表达的影响,并分析二者之间可能的关系。利用H9c2心肌细胞株建立低氧/复氧和低氧后处理模型,通过测定细胞存活率、细胞培养液中乳酸脱氢酶(lactate dehydrogenase,LDH)的活性及caspase-3活性来观察低氧/复氧造成的H9c2细胞的损伤,用Westernblot检测H9c2细胞内HIF-1α的蛋白水平,用real-timePCR检测细胞内HIF-1α的mRNA水平。结果显示,低氧后处理提高了低氧/复氧H9c2细胞的存活率,降低了LDH及caspase-3活性。同时,低氧后处理增加了H9c2细胞内HIF-1α的蛋白水平。预先利用HIF-1α脯氨酸羟化酶抑制剂DMOG上调HIF-1α的蛋白水平后,由低氧/复氧导致的H9c2细胞的损伤明显减轻,其效应与低氧后处理完全一致。对H9c2细胞内HIF-1α蛋白水平与细胞存活率进行相关性分析,结果显示二者呈显著正相关(r=0.743,P<0.01);而运用siRNA方法抑制细胞内HIF-1α基因表达后,显著削弱了低氧后处理减轻低氧/复氧细胞损伤的效应。以上结果提示,HIF-1α表达上调是低氧后处理减轻细胞低氧/复氧损伤的机制之一。     

三七皂苷对缺氧复氧心肌细胞损伤保护作用的研究

目的：研究三七皂苷对纯化培养大鼠乳鼠心肌细胞缺氧/复氧损伤的保护作用及机制。方法：采用纯化培养的心肌细胞建立缺氧/复氧损伤模型,测定细胞凋亡率、caspase-3、乳酸脱氢酶（LDH）、丙二醛（MDA）、超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）含量。结果：与正常组比较,模型组LDH、MDA含量、caspase-3活性及细胞凋亡率明显升高（P＆lt;0.01）,SOD活性明显降低（P＆lt;0.01）;三七皂苷组降低LDH、MDA含量、caspase-3活性和细胞凋亡率,提高SOD活性,与缺氧/复氧组比较各实验指标差异均具有显著性（P＆lt;0.05）。结论：三七皂苷对缺氧/复氧心肌细胞损伤有保护作用,作用机制与清除氧自由基,抗脂质过氧化及降低细胞凋亡率有关。     

LINC00612靶向miR-30d对心肌细胞缺氧/复氧损伤的影响

为探讨长基因间非编码RNA 00612(LINC00612)靶向微小RNA(miR)-30d对心肌细胞缺氧/复氧损伤的影响,该研究采用实时定量PCR检测心肌梗死患者血浆中LINC00612、miR-30d的相对水平。建立大鼠心肌细胞H9C2缺氧/复氧损伤模型。将空载体质粒(pcDNA)、LINC00612过表达载体(pcDNA-LINC00612)、miRNA抑制物阴性对照(anti-miR-NC)、miR-30d抑制物(anti-miR-30d)、pcDNA-LINC00612+miR-30d模拟物分别转染至H9C2细胞,缺氧/复氧处理后,采用CCK-8法检测细胞活力,流式细胞术检测细胞凋亡,商品试剂盒检测细胞中超氧化物岐化酶(SOD)活性以及细胞培养液中肌酸激酶(CK)和乳酸盐脱氢酶(LDH)水平。该研究得出与健康对照者比较,心肌梗死患者血浆中LINC00612的相对水平显著降低(P0.05),miR-30d的相对水平显著升高(P0.05)。缺氧/复氧显著下调LINC00612的表达(P0.05),上调miR-30d的表达(P0.05),降低细胞活力、SOD活性(P0.05),并增加凋亡率以及细胞培养液中CK、LDH的水平(P0.05)。过表达LINC00612或抑制miR-30d显著增加细胞活力、SOD活性(P0.05),并降低凋亡率以及细胞培养液中CK、LDH水平(P0.05)。过表达miR-30d显著降低细胞活力、SOD活性(P0.05),并增加凋亡率以及细胞培养液中CK、LDH水平(P0.05)。过表达miR-30d可明显减弱LINC00612过表达对缺氧/复氧心肌细胞活力、凋亡、氧化损伤的影响(P0.05)。总之,LINC00612靶向miR-30d可减轻缺氧/复氧诱导的心肌细胞凋亡和氧化应激损伤。     

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。     

苦豆碱对缺氧/复氧损伤的人脐静脉内皮细胞保护机制研究

苦豆碱(aloperine,ALO)是一种具有抗炎、抗肿瘤及抗感染功效的生物碱,但其对人脐静脉内皮细胞缺氧/复氧损伤的影响尚不明确。本研究利用人脐静脉内皮细胞建立了体外缺氧/复氧损伤的细胞模型,对细胞进行分组处理:对照组、缺氧/复氧损伤组、苦豆碱(20、50和100μmol/L)预处理组。对细胞活力、细胞内乳酸盐脱氢酶(LDH)、丙二醛(MDA)和超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性,细胞内白细胞介素-1β(IL-1β)和肿瘤坏死因子α(TNF-α),以及内质网应激相关蛋白GRP78,XBP-1和凋亡相关蛋白CHOP的表达进行了检测。我们发现与缺氧/复氧损伤组相比,苦豆碱预处理能显著提高细胞活力和SOD活性、降低LDH活性、MDA含量以及IL-1β和TNF-α的水平(P0.05)。另外,苦豆碱预处理还显著下调缺氧/复氧损伤引起的GRP78、XBP-1和CHOP水平的上升(P0.05)。本研究证实苦豆碱能够提高细胞抗脂质过氧化反应的能力、降低炎症因子水平、抑制内质网应激引起的细胞凋亡,改善缺氧/复氧损伤引起的内皮细胞损伤。     

番茄红素对大鼠乳鼠心肌细胞缺氧复氧的保护作用以及其机制

目的：探讨番茄红素对心肌细胞缺氧复氧的保护作用以及其分子机制。方法：采用原代培养心肌细胞建立缺氧/复氧损伤模型,实验分8组：正常对照组,H/R组,H/R＋番茄红素（1,2,4,8,16,32μmol/L）剂量组。观察各组细胞经H/R损伤后,细胞内天冬氨酸氨基转移酶（AST）、肌酸激酶（CK）、乳酸脱氢酶（LDH）、超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）活性和丙二醛（MDA）含量的变化情况,选择正常对照组,H/R组,最佳番茄红素剂量组做MTT分析细胞凋亡,Western检测TRL 4以及NF-κB的表达。结果：番茄红素（16,8,4,2μmol/L）剂量组可显著降低缺氧/复氧损伤心肌细胞内AST、CK、LDH释放量及MDA的生成,并能提高SOD活性。此外番茄红素可减少心肌细胞缺氧/复氧损伤后的心肌凋亡,减少TRL 4受体以及NF-κB的表达。结论：番茄红素具有抗缺氧/复氧损伤,保护心肌细胞的作用,其机制可能是通过抑制TRL 4通路来实现的。     

番茄红素对大鼠乳鼠心肌细胞缺氧复氧的保护作用以及其机制

目的:探讨番茄红素对心肌细胞缺氧复氧的保护作用以及其分子机制。方法:采用原代培养心肌细胞建立缺氧/复氧损伤模型,实验分8组:正常对照组,H/R组,H/R+番茄红素(1,2,4,8,16,32μmol/L)剂量组。观察各组细胞经H/R损伤后,细胞内天冬氨酸氨基转移酶(AST)、肌酸激酶(CK)、乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性和丙二醛(MDA)含量的变化情况,选择正常对照组,H/R组,最佳番茄红素剂量组做MTT分析细胞凋亡,Western检测TRL 4以及NF-κB的表达。结果:番茄红素(16,8,4,2μmol/L)剂量组可显著降低缺氧/复氧损伤心肌细胞内AST、CK、LDH释放量及MDA的生成,并能提高SOD活性。此外番茄红素可减少心肌细胞缺氧/复氧损伤后的心肌凋亡,减少TRL 4受体以及NF-κB的表达。结论:番茄红素具有抗缺氧/复氧损伤,保护心肌细胞的作用,其机制可能是通过抑制TRL 4通路来实现的。     

HIF-1α/MMP9信号通路介导低氧诱导的人视网膜母细胞瘤HXO-RB44细胞侵袭

目的:探究低氧条件下人视网膜母细胞瘤细胞侵袭能力的变化及其调控机制。方法:将人视网膜母细胞瘤HXO-RB44细胞株于常氧(21%O_2)和低氧(1%O_2)条件下培养,采用Transwell侵袭实验检测细胞侵袭能力,real time-PCR和Western blot法检测细胞中HIF-1α及MMP9 m RNA和蛋白的表达水平,荧光素酶报告基因分别检测低氧对HIF-1α、HIF-1α对MMP9启动子区域的调控作用。并进一步使用HIF-1α及MMP9特异性si RNA阻断其表达,并检测低氧对细胞侵袭能力的影响。结果:低氧组Transwell下室HXO-RB44每高倍视野细胞数目、HXO-RB44HIF-1α和MMP9 m RNA和蛋白表达均较常氧组显著上调(P0.05)。转染HIF-1α过表达质粒组的MMP9活性较空载组相比明显增加(P0.05),低氧处理24小时的HXO-RB44细胞的HIF-1α启动子活性较常氧组明显增强(P0.05)。HIF-1αsi RNA组的HIF-1α及MMP9的m RNA和蛋白表达水平较NC组明显降低(P0.05),MMP9 si RNA组的HIF-1αm RNA和蛋白无明显改变,分别转染HIF-1αsi RNA组MMP9 si RNA组下室HXO-RB44每高倍视野细胞数目显著减少(P0.05)。结论:低氧能够促进HXO-RB44细胞株的侵袭转移,而可HIF-1α/MMP9轴在这一过程起关键作用。     

右美托咪定对缺氧/复氧诱导的A549细胞凋亡及caspase-12表达的影响

本研究旨在探讨右美托咪定(dexmedetomidine,DEX)对缺氧/复氧(hypoxia/reoxygenation,H/R)诱导的A549细胞凋亡以及caspase-12表达的影响。取对数生长期的A549细胞,随机分为对照组、DEX组、H/R组和DEX+H/R组。对照组和DEX组细胞常氧培养30 h,H/R组和DEX+H/R组细胞缺氧6 h、复氧24 h建立H/R模型,其中DEX组和DEX+H/R组给予1 nmol/L DEX干预。造模结束后用倒置显微镜观察细胞形态学的变化;原位末端标记(TUNEL)法检测A549细胞的凋亡指数(apoptotic index,AI);CCK-8法检测A549细胞活力;caspase-3活性检测试剂盒检测各组caspase-3酶的活性;Western blot和RT-PCR分别检测A549细胞GRP78、caspase-12蛋白和mRNA的表达水平。结果显示,与对照组相比较,H/R组细胞发生融合现象,形态呈多边型改变,细胞活力明显降低(P0.01),凋亡细胞数增加,AI值升高(P0.01);caspase-3酶活性上升(P0.01);GRP78、caspase-12蛋白和m RNA表达显著上升(P0.01)。经DEX干预后,与H/R组相比较,DEX+H/R组细胞损伤减轻,细胞活力上调(P0.01);凋亡细胞数减少,AI值显著下降(P0.01),caspase-3酶活性显著下降(P0.01);caspase-12蛋白和mRNA表达下降(P0.01)。本研究结果表明,DEX对H/R损伤时的A549细胞具有一定的保护作用,其机制可能与其下调caspase-12的表达、抑制细胞凋亡有关。     

Neuroprotective MK801 is associated with nitric oxide synthase during hypoxia/reoxygenation in rat cortical cell cultures.

The neuroprotective effect of MK801 against hypoxia and/or reoxygenation-induced neuronal cell injury and its relationship to neuronal nitric oxide synthetase (nNOS) expression were examined in cultured rat cortical cells. Treatment of cortical neuronal cells with hypoxia (95% N(2)/5% CO(2)) for 2 h followed by reoxygenation for 24 h induced a release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) into the medium, and reduced the protein level of MAP-2 as well. MK801 attenuated the release of LDH and the reduction of the MAP-2 protein by hypoxia, suggesting a neuroprotective role of MK801. MK801 also diminished the number of nuclear condensation by hypoxia/reoxygenation. The NOS inhibitors 7-nitroindazole (7-NI) and N (G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), as well as the Ca(2+) channel blocker nimodipine, reduced hypoxia-induced LDH, suggesting that nitric oxide (NO) and calcium homeostasis contribute to hypoxia and/or the reoxygenation-induced cell injury. The levels of nNOS immunoactivities and mRNA by RT-PCR were enhanced by hypoxia with time and, down regulated following 24 h reoxygenation after hypoxia, and were attenuated by MK801. In addition, the reduction of nNOS mRNA levels by hypoxia/reoxygenation was also diminished by MK801. Further delineation of the mechanisms of NO production and nNOS regulation are needed and may lead to additional strategies to protect neuronal cells against hypoxic/reoxygenation insults.     

Tissue kallikrein protects neurons from hypoxia/reoxygenation-induced cell injury through Homer1b/c

Previous studies have demonstrated that human tissue kallikrein (TK) gene delivery protects against mouse cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury through bradykinin B2 receptor (B2R) activation. We have also reported that exogenous TK administration can suppress glutamate- or acidosis-induced neurotoxicity through the extracellular signal-regulated kinase1/2 (ERK1/2) pathway. To further explore the neuroprotection mechanisms of TK, in the present study we performed immunoprecipitation analysis and identified a scaffolding protein Homer1b/c using MALDI-TOF MS analysis. Here, we tested the hypothesis that TK reduces cell injury induced by oxygen and glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R) through activating Homer1b/c. We found that TK increased the expression of Homer1b/c in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. Moreover, TK facilitated the translocation of Homer1b/c to the plasma membrane under OGD/R condition by confocal microscope assays. We also observed that overexpression of Homer1b/c showed the neuroprotection against OGD/R-induced cell injury by enhancing cell survival, reducing LDH release, caspase-3 activity and cell apoptosis. However, the knockdown of Homer1b/c by small interfering RNA showed the opposite effects, indicating that Homer1b/c had protective effects against OGD/R-induced neuronal injury. More interestingly, TK exerted its much more significantly neuroprotective effects after Homer1b/c overexpression, whereas it exerted its reduced effects after Homer1b/c knockdown. In addition, TK pretreatment increased the phosphorylation of the ERK1/2 and Akt-GSK3β through Homer1b/c activation. The beneficial effects of Homer1b/c were abolished by the ERK1/2 or PI3K antagonist. Therefore, we propose novel signaling mechanisms involved in the anti-hypoxic function of TK through activation of Homer1b/c-ERK1/2 and Homer1b/c-PI3K-Akt signaling pathways.     

Inhibition of hypoxia/reoxygenation-induced apoptosis in metallothionein-overexpressing cardiomyocytes

To study possible mechanisms for metallothionein (MT) inhibition of ischemia-reperfusion-induced myocardial injury, cardiomyocytes isolated from MT-overexpressing transgenic neonatal mouse hearts and nontransgenic controls were subjected to 4 h of hypoxia (5% CO2-95% N2, glucose-free modified Tyrode's solution) followed by 1 h of reoxygenation in MEM + 20% fetal bovine serum (FBS) (5% CO2-95% air), and cytochrome c-mediated caspase-3 activation apoptotic pathway was determined. Hypoxia/reoxygenation-induced apoptosis was significantly suppressed in MT-overexpressing cardiomyocytes, as measured by both terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine 5-triphosphate nick-end labeling and annexin V-FITC binding. In association with apoptosis, mitochondrial cytochrome c release, as determined by Western blot, was observed to occur in nontransgenic cardiomyocytes. Correspondingly, caspase-3 was activated as determined by laser confocal microscopic examination with the use of FITC-conjugated antibody against active caspase-3 and by enzymatic assay. The activation of this apoptotic pathway was significantly inhibited in MT-overexpressing cells, as evidenced by both suppression of cytochrome c release and inhibition of caspase-3 activation. The results demonstrate that MT suppresses hypoxia/reoxygenation-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis through, at least in part, inhibition of cytochrome c-mediated caspase-3 activation.     

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。     

Protective effect of α-mangostin derivatives on hypoxia/reoxygenation-induced apoptosis in H9C2 cells and their mechanism

In this study, 17 α-mangostin Boc amino acid/organic acid ester derivatives 1–17 were synthesized and subjected to cytotoxicity and cell viability screening assays. A hypoxia/reoxygenation model of cardiomyocyte injury was selected and compound 5 was found to have a better protective effect against hypoxia/reoxygenation-induced myocardial injury by prophylactic administration screening. The levels of LDH and CK-MB in extracellular fluid were detected by ELISA; apoptosis was detected by Hoechst3358/PI double staining, Annexin V-FITC/PI double staining and mitochondrial membrane potential; the expression of key proteins in PI3K/Akt signaling pathway was detected by western blot. The result showed that compound 5 was non-toxic and has a significant cytoprotection effect at concentrations of 1 μM and 10 μM, and reduced the levels of LDH and CK-MB in the extracellular fluid. Hoechst 33,258/PI double staining results showed that compound 5 treatment significantly reduced bright blue cell nuclei and had anti-apoptotic effects; flow cytometry results showed that compound 5 improved hypoxia/reoxygenation-induced mitochondrial membrane potential and thus apoptosis. The western blot results showed that compound 5 upregulated the levels of p-PI3K and p-Akt, decreased the expression of cleaved caspase-3, cleaved caspase-9 and increased the Bcl-2/Bax ratio in a concentration-dependent manner. In addition, compound 5 reversed the effect of the LY294002 inhibitor. The present study suggests that compound 5 may serve as a potential PI3K activator and a safe and effective lead compound for the treatment of cardiovascular disease.     

Schisandrin B stereoisomers protect against hypoxia/reoxygenation-induced apoptosis and inhibit associated changes in Ca2+-induced mitochondrial permeability transition and mitochondrial membrane potential in H9c2 cardiomyocytes

The effects of schisandrin B stereoisomers, (+/-)gamma-schisandrin [(+/-)gamma-Sch] and (-)schisandrin B [(-)Sch B], on hypoxia/reoxygenation-induced apoptosis were investigated in H9c2 cardiomyocytes. Changes in cellular reduced glutathione (GSH) levels, Ca(2+)-induced mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT), and mitochondrial membrane potential (Deltapsi(m)) values, were examined in (+/-)gamma-Sch-pretreated and (-)Sch B-pretreated cells, without or with hypoxia/reoxygenation challenge. The (+/-)gamma-Sch and (-)Sch B (2.5-5.0 microM) pretreatments protected against hypoxia/reoxygenation-induced apoptosis of H9c2 cells in a concentration-dependent manner, with (-)Sch B being more potent. The degrees of protection decreased, however, at the higher drug concentrations of 7.5 microM in both (+/-)gamma-Sch-pretreated and (-)Sch B-pretreated cells. The anti-apoptotic effects of the drugs were further evidenced by the suppression of hypoxia/reoxygenation-induced mitochondrial cytochrome c release and the subsequent cleavage of caspase 3 and poly-ADP-ribose polymerase after (-)Sch B pretreatment. Both (+/-)gamma-Sch and (-)Sch B pretreatments increased GSH levels in H9c2 cells, with (-)Sch B being more potent. Hypoxia/reoxygenation challenge caused a depletion in cellular GSH and the cytoprotection afforded by (+/-)gamma-Sch/(-)Sch B was associated with enhancement of cellular GSH in H9c2 cells, as compared to the drug-unpretreated control. Whereas hypoxia/reoxygenation challenge increased the extent of Ca(2+)-induced MPT pore opening and decreased Deltapsi(m) in H9c2 cardiomyocytes, cytoprotection against hypoxia/reoxygenation-induced apoptosis afforded by (+/-)gamma-Sch/(-)Sch B pretreatments was associated with a decreased sensitivity to Ca(2+)-induced MPT and an increased Deltapsi(m) in both unchallenged and challenged cells, as compared to the respective drug-unpretreated controls. The degrees of protection against apoptosis correlated negatively with the extents of Ca(2+)-induced MPT (r=-0.615, P<0.01) and positively with the values of Deltapsi(m) (r=0.703, P<0.01) in (+/-)gamma-Sch/(-)Sch B-pretreated and hypoxia/reoxygenation challenged cells. The results indicate that (+/-)gamma-Sch/(-)Sch B pretreatment protected against hypoxia/reoxygenation-induced apoptosis in H9c2 cardiomyocytes and that the cytoprotection afforded by (+/-)gamma-Sch/(-)Sch B may at least in part be mediated by a decrease in cellular sensitivity to Ca(2+)-induced MPT, which may in turn result from enhancement of cellular GSH levels by drug pretreatments.     

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.     

MsrA protects cardiac myocytes against hypoxia/reoxygenation induced cell death

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are critical in tissue responses to ischemia-reperfusion. The enzyme methionine sulfoxide reductase-A (MsrA) is capable of protecting cells against oxidative damage by reversing damage to proteins caused by methionine oxidation or by decreasing ROS through a scavenger mechanism. The current study employed adenovirus mediated over-expression of MsrA in primary neonatal rat cardiac myocytes to determine the effect of this enzyme in protecting against hypoxia/reoxygenation in this tissue. Cells were transduced with MsrA encoding adenovirus and subjected to hypoxia/reoxygenation. Apoptotic cell death was decreased by greater than 45% in cells over-expressing MsrA relative to cells transduced with a control virus. Likewise total cell death as determined by levels of LDH release was dramatically decreased by MsrA over-expression. These observations indicate that MsrA is protective against hypoxia/reoxygenation stress in cardiac myocytes and point to MsrA as an important therapeutic target for ischemic heart disease.     

Aspirin provides cyclin-dependent kinase 5-dependent protection against subsequent hypoxia/reoxygenation damage in culture

Aspirin [acetylsalicylic acid (ASA)] is an anti-inflammatory drug that protects against cellular injury by inhibiting cyclooxygenases (COX), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and p44/42 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p44/42 MAPK), or by preventing translocation of nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB). We studied the effect of ASA pre-treatment on neuronal survival after hypoxia/reoxygenation damage in rat spinal cord (SC) cultures. In this injury model, COX, iNOS and NF-kappaB played no role in the early neuronal death. A 20-h treatment with 3 mm ASA prior to hypoxia/reoxygenation blocked the hypoxia/reoxygenation-induced lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release from neurons. This neuroprotection was associated with increased phosphorylation of neurofilaments, which are substrates of p44/42 MAPK and cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (Cdk5). PD90859, a p44/42 MAPK inhibitor, had no effect on ASA-induced tolerance, but olomoucine and roscovitine, Cdk5 inhibitors, reduced ASA neuroprotection. Hypoxia/reoxygenation alone reduced both the protein amount and activity of Cdk5, and this reduction was inhibited by pre-treatment with ASA. Moreover, the protein amount of a neuronal Cdk5 activator, p35, recovered after reoxygenation only in ASA-treated samples. The prevention of the loss in Cdk5 activity during reoxygenation was crucial for ASA-induced protection, because co-administration of Cdk5 inhibitors at the onset ofreoxygenation abolished the protection. In conclusion, pre-treatment with ASA induces tolerance against hypoxia/reoxygenation damage in spinal cord cultures by restoring Cdk5 and p35 protein expression.     

FLIP protects against hypoxia/reoxygenation-induced endothelial cell apoptosis by inhibiting Bax activation

Hypoxia/reoxygenation causes cell death, yet the underlying regulatory mechanisms remain partially understood. Recent studies demonstrate that hypoxia/reoxygenation can activate death receptor and mitochondria-dependent apoptotic pathways, involving Bid and Bax mitochondrial translocation and cytochrome c release. Using mouse lung endothelial cells (MLEC), we examined the role of FLIP, an inhibitor of caspase 8, in hypoxia/reoxygenation-induced cell death. FLIP protected MLEC against hypoxia/reoxygenation by blocking both caspase 8/Bid and Bax/mitochondrial apoptotic pathways. FLIP inhibited Bax activation in wild-type and Bid(-/-) MLEC, indicating independence from the caspase 8/Bid pathway. FLIP also inhibited the expression and activation of protein kinase C (PKC) (alpha, zeta) during hypoxia/reoxygenation and promoted an association of inactive forms of PKC with Bax. Surprisingly, FLIP expression also inhibited death-inducing signal complex (DISC) formation in the plasma membrane and promoted the accumulation of the DISC in the Golgi apparatus. FLIP expression also upregulated Bcl-X(L), an antiapoptotic protein. In conclusion, FLIP decreased DISC formation in the plasma membrane by blocking its translocation from the Golgi apparatus and inhibited Bax activation through a novel PKC-dependent mechanism. The inhibitory effects of FLIP on Bax activation and plasma membrane DISC formation may play significant roles in protecting endothelial cells from the lethal effects of hypoxia/reoxygenation.