Gi／0蛋白介导的信息转导通路在低氧预处理心肌保护中的作用

实验以低氧３ｈ后复氧期间心肌细胞的生存率和ＬＤＨ的释放量为指标,观察Ｇｉ／ｏ蛋白及其下游成分在低氧预处理（ｈｙｐｏｘｉｃ ｐｒｅｃｏｎｄｉｔｉｏｎｉｎｇ,ＨＰ）心肌保护中的作用。与单纯低氧组相比,ＨＰ组（２５ｍｉｎ低氧＋３０ｍｉｎ复氧作为ＨＰ）细胞生存率增高,ＬＤＨ释放减少（Ｐ＜０．０１）。用ＮＥＭ预处理,能完全模拟ＨＰ的心肌细胞保护作用;而用ＰＴＸ阻断Ｇｉ／ｏ蛋白,或Ｆｏｒｓｋｏｌｉｎ和８－Ｂｒ     

活性氧和线粒体ATP敏感钾通道介导肿瘤坏死因子α对缺氧/复氧心肌的保护作用

在培养的乳鼠心肌细胞上,研究肿瘤坏死因子α(TNF-α)对缺氧/复氧损伤心肌的保护作用的机制。结果发现：(1)用TNF-α(10—500U／ml)预处理,缺氧/复氧后心肌细胞内锰超氧化物歧化酶(Mn-SOD)活性增高、乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)释放量减少(P＜0．05);(2)用抗氧化剂N-乙酰半既氨酸(NAC,1mmol/L)、抗霉素A(antimycin A,50μmol/L)、2-巯基丙酰氨基乙酸(2-MPG,400μmol/L)和铜／锌超氧化物歧化酸(Cu/Zn,SOD)抑制剂二乙基二硫代氨基甲酸盐(DDC,100nmol/L)预处理,可取消TNF-α的抑制缺氧/复氧心肌细胞LDH释放和诱导Mn-SOD活性增高的作用;(3)mitoKATP通道抑制剂5-羟基癸酸(5-HD)预处理可阻断TNF-α对缺氧/复氧心肌细胞的保护作用;选择性mitoKATP通道开放剂diazoxide(50μmol/L)预处理可减少复氧后心肌细胞LDH的释放(P＜0．01),其作用可被5-HD(100μmol/L)和NAC所抑制。上述结果表明,活性氧和线粒体ATP敏感钾通道参与介导TNF-α对缺氧/复氧损伤的心肌保护作用。     

内皮素-1预处理对培养乳鼠心肌细胞低氧损伤的保护作用

实验观察了 0 0 1- 1nmol/L内皮素 1(ET 1)预处理对低氧孵育 ( 3 %O2 5 %CO2 ,12h)的培养乳鼠心肌细胞乳酸脱氢酶 (LDH)释放量、培养液上清超氧化物歧化酶 (SOD)活性以及丙二醛 (MDA)含量的影响。用Fluo 3 /AM负载培养的心肌细胞 ,在激光扫描共聚焦显微镜下监测急性低氧的心肌细胞 [Ca2 +]i 的变化和ET 1预处理对低氧所致 [Ca2 +]i 变化的影响。结果如下 :( 1)心肌细胞低氧孵育 12h后 ,培养液上清LDH活力和MDA含量较常氧对照组明显升高 ,分别为 43 3 3± 1 2 1U/Lvs 19 3 3± 1 0 3U/L和 1 71± 0 0 2nmol/Lvs 0 91± 0 0 3nmol/L (P<0 0 1) ,SOD活性为 16 93± 1 11U/ml明显低于常氧对照组的 3 3 48± 1 15U/ml (P <0 0 1) ;0 0 1- 1nmol/LET 1预处理呈浓度依赖性抑制低氧培养心肌细胞LDH释放 ,减少培养液上清MDA含量、提高SOD活性 (P <0 0 1)。 ( 2 )低氧灌流后 2 9± 1 5s (n =2 3 )心肌细胞自发性钙瞬变完全终止 ,[Ca2 +]i 升高了 10 7± 13 2 % (P <0 0 0 1) ;0 0 1- 1nmol/LET 1能明显加快心肌细胞钙瞬变的频率 (P <0 0 1) ;ET 1预处理后低氧所致钙瞬变终止的时间较单纯低氧组明显推迟 ,[Ca2 +]i过度升高被明显减轻 (P <0 0 1)。上述结果表明 ,0 0 1- 1nmol/LET 1预处理可减轻培     

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。     

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。     

铁死亡抑制剂对心肌细胞缺氧/复氧损伤的干预作用及其机制

目的:验证心肌细胞缺氧/复氧(H/R)损伤中是否有铁死亡的发生,以及探讨铁死亡抑制剂Ferrostatin-1(Fer-1)对心肌细胞H/R损伤的作用及其机制。方法:新生1～3 d SD乳鼠,提取原代心肌细胞,随机分为正常对照组(Control)、H/R组和H/R+Fer-1组。H/R组细胞培养52 h后,加入4 mmol/L Na₂S₂O₄溶液,缺氧1 h后,用含10%小牛血清的DMEM培养液复氧培养3 h。H/R+Fer-1组经Fer-1 (2μmol/L)预处理24 h后再进行缺氧复氧处理。各组细胞应用紫外分光光度法检测乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)释放率,CCK-8法检测细胞存活率,黄嘌呤氧化酶法检测超氧化物歧化酶(SOD),化学比色法检测丙二醛(MDA),免疫荧光观测线粒体膜电位、活性氧(ROS)改变,Western blot检测铁死亡关键蛋白ACSL4、GPX4的表达。结果:与control组比较,H/R组细胞活性、SOD释放量和MMP水平均显著降低(P<0.05),LDH、MDA、ROS释放量均显著增加(P&l...     

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。     

绞股蓝总黄酮对低氧/复氧心肌细胞Ca2+及NOS-NO系统的作用

目的:探讨纹股蓝总黄酮对培养心肌细胞低氧/复氧报伤的Ca2+超载、一氧化氮合酶一氧化氮(NOS-NO)系统的影响.方法:培养心肌细胞,建立低氧/复氧损伤模型;荧光分光光度法测定心肌细胞内Ca2+,比色法测心肌细胞培养上清液NO含量、细胞匀浆NOS活性.结果:绞股蓝总黄酮降低低氧/复氧心肌细胞内Ca2+、T-NOS、iN...     

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。     

Homer1b/c在缺氧复氧损伤神经元中的保护作用研究

目的:探讨Homer1b/c在缺氧复氧损伤神经元中的作用。方法:构建pc DNA3.1-Homer1b/c质粒和Homer1b/c si RNA,过表达及si RNA干扰Neuro-2a细胞中Homer1b/c的水平,western blot分析观察上调及下调Homer1b/c后Homer1b/c的蛋白表达变化,再予细胞缺氧复氧损伤处理,观察细胞生存率、乳酸脱氢酶(Lactic dehydrogenase,LDH)释放量及caspase-3活性的变化。结果:过表达及si RNA干扰Homer1b/c后,Homer1b/c的蛋白水平分别较正常组明显增高及降低(P值分别0.01),提示过表达及干扰Homer1b/c的效果均明显,分别能明显提高及降低Homer1b/c的水平。在缺氧复氧损伤条件下,Homer1b/c过表达组较空质粒转染组,其细胞生存率明显增加,LDH释放量、caspase-3活性明显降低(P值分别0.05);相反,下调Homer1b/c的水平后,与control si RNA转染组相比,细胞生存率明显降低,而LDH释放量和caspase-3活性明显增加(P值分别0.05)。结论:Homer1b/c在缺氧复氧损伤神经元中具有神经保护作用。     

缺氧诱导因子-1α在缺氧预处理预防心肌细胞损伤中的作用

本工作旨在研究缺氧预处理(hypoxic preconditioning,HPC)对于心肌细胞外信号调节激酶(extracellular signal-regulated proteinkinases,ERK)活性、缺氧诱导因子-1α(hypoxia-inducible factor-1α,HIF-1α)表达的影响,及其在缺氧复氧诱导心肌细胞损伤中的作用。通过在培养的SD乳鼠心肌细胞缺氧／复氧(H／R)模型上,观察HPC对于24h后H／R诱导心肌细胞损伤的影响,以台盼蓝排斥实验检测心肌细胞存活率、以TUNEL法检测细胞凋亡、并用荧光素染料Hoechst33258测定心肌细胞凋亡率：制备心肌细胞蛋白提取物,以磷酸化的ERK1／2抗体测定ERK1／2活性,以抗HIF-1α抗体检测HIF-1α的表达,并观察ERKs的上游激酶(MEK1／2)抑制剂PD98059对于HPC诱导的ERKs磷酸化、HIF-1α表达以及心肌细胞保护作用的影响,并分析细胞损伤与ERK1／2活性、HIF-1α表达量之间的相互关系。结果 显示缺氧复氧造成心肌细胞损伤,HPC可以增加心肌细胞H／R后存活率,降低凋亡率,并激活ERKll2,诱导HIF-1α表达：细胞凋亡与ERKs活性、HIF-1α表达量之间存在负相关,即ERKs活化、HIF-1α表达与预防细胞损伤有关：而ERKs活性与HIF-1α表达量之间存在正相关,ERKs的上游激酶MEK抑制剂PD98059可以消除HPC诱导的ERKs磷酸化、HIF-1α表达和心肌细胞保护作用。由此得出的结论是HPC可以提高乳鼠心肌细胞对于H／R的耐受性,其机制涉及ERKs介导的HIF-1α表达。     

急性低氧对体外培养乳鼠心肌细胞肌红蛋白的影响

本实验观察了低氧、复氧时培养的乳鼠心肌细胞肌红蛋白（Ｍｂ）、ｃＡＭＰ、心肌收缩频率的变化以及磷酸二酯酶抑制剂茶碱和抑制肌质网上钙释放的普鲁卡因地低氧下心肌细胞Ｍｂ表达和心肌细胞收缩频率的影响。结果表明,随低氧时间的延长Ｍｂ增加,ｃＡＭＰ和心肌收缩下降,Ｍｂ、ｃＡＭＰ和心肌细胞收缩频率经复氧可以得到恢复。普鲁卡因使低氧时心肌细胞的收缩频率更漫和Ｍｂ的表达减弱;茶碱使低氧下心肌细胞的收缩频率和Ｍｂ的表     

Delayed cytoprotection induced by hypoxic preconditioning in cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes: role of GRP78

Hypoxic preconditioning (HPC) has been well demonstrated to have potent protective effects in many cell types; however, the mechanisms responsible for this phenomenon are not fully understood. Recently, glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78), an inducible molecular chaperon, was indicated to be associated with ischemic preconditioning. We hypothesized that HPC protects cardiomyocytes against hypoxia by inducing GRP78 in cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes. HPC was induced by exposing cardiomyocytes to brief hypoxia (1% O(2), 30 min) followed by reoxygenation. GRP78 was expressed constitutively in cultured cardiomyocytes and its expression was enhanced at 12 h, peaked at 24 h (207.3+/-23.6% of the baseline), and was sustained for up to 72 h after HPC. Twenty-four hours after HPC, the myocytes were subjected to prolonged hypoxia (1% O(2), 12 h). The lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) release and malondialdehyde (MDA) content were reduced, while cell viability and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were increased in the preconditioned cells compared with the non-HPC cells. The GRP78 protein level was higher in cells exposed to both HPC and hypoxia than in the cells exposed to HPC alone or hypoxia alone. Heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) was induced in parallel by late HPC. Transfection of GRP78 antisense oligonucleotides blocked GRP78 expression but not HSP70, resulting in attenuated cardioprotection afforded by late HPC. Furthermore, inducing GRP78 by gene transfer protected cardiomyocytes from hypoxic injury. These findings demonstrate that the induction of GRP78 partially mediates the late HPC, suggesting that GRP78 is a novel mechanism responsible for the late cytoprotection of HPC.     

Protective effect of gap junction uncouplers given during hypoxia against reoxygenation injury in isolated rat hearts

It has been shown that cell-to-cell chemical coupling may persist during severe myocardial hypoxia or ischemia. We aimed to analyze the effects of different, chemically unrelated gap junction uncouplers on the progression of ischemic injury in hypoxic myocardium. First, we analyzed the effects of heptanol, 18alpha-glycyrrhetinic acid, and palmitoleic acid on intracellular Ca2+ concentration during simulated hypoxia (2 mM NaCN) in isolated cardiomyocytes. Next, we analyzed their effects on developed and diastolic tension and electrical impedance in 47 isolated rat hearts submitted to 40 min of hypoxia and reoxygenation. All treatments were applied only during the hypoxic period. Cell injury was determined by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release. Heptanol, but not 18alpha-glycyrrhetinic acid nor palmitoleic acid, attenuated the increase in cytosolic Ca2+ concentration induced by simulated ischemia in cardiomyocytes and delayed rigor development (rigor onset at 7.31 +/- 0.71 min in controls vs. 14.76 +/- 1.44 in heptanol-treated hearts, P < 0.001) and the onset of the marked changes in electrical impedance (tissue resistivity: 4.02 +/- 0.29 vs. 7.75 +/- 1.84 min, P = 0.016) in hypoxic rat hearts. LDH release from hypoxic hearts was minimal and was not significantly modified by drugs. However, all gap junction uncouplers, given during hypoxia, attenuated LDH release during subsequent reoxygenation. Dose-response analysis showed that increasing heptanol concentration beyond the level associated with maximal effects on cell coupling resulted in further protection against hypoxic injury. In conclusion, gap junction uncoupling during hypoxia has a protective effect on cell death occurring upon subsequent reoxygenation, and heptanol has, in addition, a marked protective effect independent of its uncoupling actions.     

ARC contributes to the inhibitory effect of preconditioning on cardiomyocyte apoptosis

Inhibition of cardiomyocyte apoptosis plays a key role in preconditioning-triggered cardioprotection. However, the molecular mechanism(s) by which preconditioning inhibits apoptosis is not fully understood. Apoptosis repressor with caspase recruitment domain (ARC) possesses the ability to block hypoxia-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis. We tested whether ARC contributes to the inhibitory effect of preconditioning on cardiomyocyte apoptosis. Cardiomyocytes from 1-day-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were preconditioned by exposing to 10 min of hypoxia, followed by 30 min of reoxygenation. Then, the preconditioned and non-preconditioned cardiomyocytes were exposed to 90 min of hypoxia followed by 120 min of reoxygenation. The results showed that preconditioning inhibited cell death induced by hypoxia and reoxygenation. Hypoxia and reoxygenation could induce a decrease of ARC protein levels. Intriguingly, preconditioning could maintain ARC protein levels. Inhibition of endogenous ARC expression by ARC antisense oligonucleotides reduced the inhibitory effect of preconditioning on apoptosis. Furthermore, preconditioning-induced suppression of the release of mitochondrial cytochrome c to cytosol and caspase-3 activation could be abolished by the inhibition of endogenous ARC expression using ARC antisense oligonucleotides. Conclusion: These data indicate that ARC participates in preconditioning-triggered cardioprotection by interfering with cytochrome c release and caspase-3 activation.     

Hypoxic postconditioning enhances the survival and inhibits apoptosis of cardiomyocytes following reoxygenation: role of peroxynitrite formation

Objectives: Our previous study has shown that slow or “controlled” reperfusion for the ischemic heart reduces cardiomyocyte injury and myocardial infarction, while the mechanisms involved are largely unclear. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that enhancement of survival and prevention of apoptosis in hypoxic/reoxygenated cardiomyocytes by hypoxic postconditioning (HPC) are associated with the reduction in peroxynitrite (ONOO⁻) formation induced by hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R). Methods: Isolated adult rat cardiomyocytes were exposed to 2 h of hypoxia followed by 3 h of reoxygenation. After 2 h of hypoxia the cardiomyocytes were either abruptly reperfused with pre-oxygenized culture medium or postconditioned by two cycles of 5 min of brief reoxygenation and 5 min of re-hypoxia followed by 160 min of abrupt reoxygenation. Results: H/R resulted in severe injury in cardiomyocytes as evidenced by decreased cell viability, increased LDH leakage in the culture medium, increased apoptotic index (P values all less than 0.01 vs. normoxia control group) and DNA ladder formation, which could be significantly attenuated by HPC treatment applied before the abrupt reoxygenation (P < 0.05 vs. H/R group). In addition, H/R induced a significant increase in ONOO⁻ formation as determined by nitrotyrosine content in cardiomyocytes (P < 0.01 vs. normoxia control). Treatment with the potent ONOO⁻ scavenger uric acid (UA) at reoxygenation significantly decreased ONOO⁻ production and protected myocytes against H/R injury, whereas the same treatment with UA could not further enhance myocyte survival in HPC group (P > 0.05 vs. HPC alone). Statistical analysis showed that cell viability closely correlated inversely with myocyte ONOO⁻ formation (P < 0.01). Conclusion: These data demonstrate that hypoxic postconditioning protects myocytes against apoptosis following reoxygenation and enhances myocytes survival, which is partly attributable to the reduced ONOO⁻ formation following reoxygenation. H.-C. Wang and H.-F. Zhang contributed equally to this study.     

Hypoxia-induced remodelling of PDE4 isoform expression and cAMP handling in human pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells

Human pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (hPASM cells) express PDE4A10, PDE4A11, PDE4B2, PDE4C and PDE4D5 isoforms. Hypoxia causes a transient up-regulation of PDE4B2 that reaches a maximum after 7 days and sustained up-regulation of PDE4A10/11 and PDE4D5 over 14 days in hypoxia. Seven days in hypoxia increases both intracellular cAMP levels, protein kinase A (PKA) activity and activated, phosphorylated extracellular signal regulated kinase (pERK) but does not alter either PKA isoform expression or total cAMP phosphodiesterase-4 (PDE4) activity or cAMP phosphodiesterase-3 (PDE3) activity. Both the cyclooxygenase inhibitor, indomethacin and the ERK inhibitors, UO126 and PD980589 reverse the hypoxia-induced increase in intracellular cAMP levels back to those seen in normoxic hPASM cells. Challenge of normoxic hPASM cells with prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) elevates cAMP to levels comparable to those seen in hypoxic cells but fails to increase intracellular cAMP levels in hypoxic hPASM cells. The adenylyl cyclase activator, forskolin increases cAMP levels in both normoxic and hypoxic hPASM cells to comparable elevated levels. Challenge of hypoxic hPASM cells with indomethacin attenuates total PDE4 activity whilst challenge with UO126 increases total PDE4 activity. We propose that the hypoxia-induced activation of ERK initiates a phospholipase A(2)/COX-driven autocrine effect whereupon PGE(2) is generated, causing the activation of adenylyl cyclase and increase in intracellular cAMP. Despite the hypoxia-induced increases in the expression of PDE4A10/11, PDE4B2 and PDE4D5 and activation of certain of these long PDE4 isoforms through PKA phosphorylation, we suggest that the failure to see any overall increase in PDE4 activity is due to ERK-mediated phosphorylation and inhibition of particular PDE4 long isoforms. Such hypoxia-induced increase in expression of PDE4 isoforms known to interact with certain signalling scaffold proteins may result in alterations in compartmentalised cAMP signalling. The hypoxia-induced increase in cAMP may represent a compensatory protective mechanism against hypoxia-induced mitogens such as endothelin-1 and serotonin.     

Hypoxic preconditioning up-regulates DJ-1 protein expression in rat heart-derived H9c2 cells through the activation of extracellular-regulated kinase 1/2 pathway

Myocardial preconditioning is a powerful phenomenon that can attenuate ischemia/reperfusion-induced oxidant stress and elicit delayed cardioprotection. Its mechanisms involve activation of intracellular signaling pathways and up-regulation of the protective antioxidant proteins. DJ-1 protein, as a multifunctional intracellular protein, plays an important role in attenuating oxidant stress and promoting cell survival. In the present study, we investigated whether DJ-1 is up-regulated during the late phase of hypoxic preconditioning (HP) and the up-regulation of DJ-1 is mediated by extracellular-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) signaling pathway. Rat heart-derived H9c2 cells were exposed to HP. Twenty-four hours later cells were subjected to hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) and then cell viability, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), ERK1/2 phosphorylation, and DJ-1 protein were measured appropriately. The results showed that HP efficiently attenuated H/R-induced viability loss and LDH leakage. In addition, HP promoted ERK1/2 activation, up-regulated DJ-1 protein expression, inhibited H/R induced the elevation of ROS. However, when ERK1/2 phosphorylation was specifically inhibited by U0126, the increase in DJ-1 expression occurring during HP was almost completely abolished and, as a result, the delayed cardioprotection induced by HP was abolished, and the inhibitory effect of HP on H/R-induced oxidant stress was also reversed. Furthermore, knocking down DJ-1 by siRNA attenuated the delayed cardioprotection induced by HP. Our data indicate that HP can up-regulate DJ-1 protein expression through the ERK1/2-dependent signaling pathway. Importantly, DJ-1 might be involved in the delayed cardioprotective effect of HP against H/R injury.