Estradiol-induced protection against ischemia-induced heart mitochondrial damage and caspase activation is mediated by protein kinase G

We have previously reported that estradiol can protect heart mitochondria from the ischemia-induced mitochondrial permeability transition pore-related release of cytochrome c and subsequent apoptosis. In this study we investigated whether the effect of 17-beta-estradiol on ischemia-induced mitochondrial dysfunctions and apoptosis is mediated by activation of signaling protein kinases in a Langendorff-perfused rat heart model of stop-flow ischemia. We found that pre-perfusion of non-ischemic hearts with 100 nM estradiol increased the resistance of subsequently isolated mitochondria to the calcium-induced opening of mitochondrial permeability transition pore and this was mediated by protein kinase G. Loading of the hearts with estradiol prevented ischemia-induced loss of cytochrome c from mitochondria and respiratory inhibition and these effects were reversed in the presence of the inhibitor of Akt kinase, NO synthase inhibitor L-NAME, guanylyl cyclase inhibitor ODQ and protein kinase G inhibitor KT5823. Estradiol prevented ischemia-induced activation of caspases and this was also reversed by KT5823. These findings suggest that estradiol may protect the heart against ischemia-induced injury activating the signaling cascade which involves Akt kinase, NO synthase, guanylyl cyclase and protein kinase G, and results in blockage of mitochondrial permeability transition pore-induced release of cytochrome c from mitochondria, respiratory inhibition and activation of caspases.