Activation of Akt/GSK-3β signaling pathway is involved in intermedin1-53 protection against myocardial apoptosis induced by ischemia/reperfusion

Abstract

Intermedin (IMD) is a novel member of the calcitonin/calcitonin gene-related peptide family. We investigated the cardioprotective mechanism of IMD(1-53) in the in vivo rat model of myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury and in vitro primary neonatal cardiomyocyte model of hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R). Myocardial infarct size was measured by 2,3,5-triphenyl tetrazolium chloride staining. Cardiomyocyte viability was determined by trypan blue staining, cell injury by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) leakage, and cardiomyocyte apoptosis by terminal deoxyribonucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling assay, Hoechst staining, gel electrophoresis and caspase 3 activity. The translocation of mitochondrial cytochrome c of myocardia and expression of apoptosis-related factors Bcl-2 and Bax, phosphorylated Akt and phosphorylated GSK-3beta were determined by western blot analysis. IMD(1-53) (20 nmol/kg) limited the myocardial infarct size in rats with I/R; the infarct size was decreased by 54%, the apoptotic index by 30%, and caspase 3 activity by 32%; and the translocation of cytochrome c from mitochondria to cytosol was attenuated. IMD(1-53) increased the mRNA and protein expression of Bcl-2 and ratio of Bcl-2 to Bax by 81 and 261%, respectively. IMD(1-53) (1 x 10(-7) mol/L) inhibited the H/R effect in cardiomyocytes by reducing cell death by 43% and LDH leakage by 16%; diminishing cellular apoptosis; decreasing caspase 3 activity by 50%; and increasing the phosphorylated Akt and GSK-3beta by 41 and 90%, respectively. The cytoprotection of IMD(1-53) was abolished with LY294002, a PI3K inhibitor. In conclusion, IMD(1-53) exerts cardioprotective effect against myocardial I/R injury through the activation of the Akt/GSK-3beta signaling pathway to inhibit mitochondria-mediated myocardial apoptosis.

The PI3K/Akt pathway mediates the protection of SO2 preconditioning against myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats

“…After pericardiotomy, a 5-0 silk suture was placed under the left coronary artery (LCA), which was occluded by tightening the snare using a lightweight hemostatic clamp. After 30 min of myocardial ischemia, the suture was loosened for 120 min for reperfusion [15,16] . The sham-operated animals underwent the same surgical procedures except that the suture around the LCA was not fastened.…”

Apoptosis induced by genipin in human leukemia K562 cells: involvement of c-Jun N-terminal kinase in G2/M arrest

“…Caspase 3 activity assay Caspase 3 activity in cytosolic extracts was determined using a spectrophotometric assay as described by Song et al [20] . Briefl y, supernatants from cell lysates treated with 400 μmol/L genipin for different amounts of time were incubated at 37 °C with Ac-DEVE-MCA, a fl uorogenic substrate of caspase 3.…”

Impact of N-Acetylcysteine on Neonatal Cardiomyocyte Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury

“…Increased ROS induce apoptosis in cardiomyocytes. Caspase-3 protein is a member of the cysteine-aspartic acid protease family that has been identified as being a key mediator of apoptosis in mammalian cells (10,11).…”

“…Increased ROS induce apoptosis in cardiomyocytes. Caspase-3 protein is a member of the cysteine-aspartic acid protease family that has been identified as being a key mediator of apoptosis in mammalian cells (10,11).N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is a thiol-containing molecule that acts as a free radical scavenger. In addition, NAC is a glutathione precursor that increases intracellular antioxidant capacity (12).…”