ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To explore the protectiveness of Guhong injection (GHI) on H9c2 cardiomyocytes injured by hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) based on PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. METHODS: H9c2 cardiomyocytes were cultured and the optimal GHI doses were screened by CCK-8. The cells were randomly subjected into 8 groups: control group, model group, low, medium and high GHI dose groups (30, 60 and 90 μL•mL-1 respectively), positive drug group (verapamil injection 7.5 μL•mL-1), GHI+LY294002 (PI3K inhibitor) group and LY294002 group. Cells were established H/R model with hypoxia for 4 h and reoxygenation for 16 h excepted the control group. The CK-MB, LDH, MDA content and SOD activities in each group were detected by Elisa, and the expression levels of p-PI3K, PI3K, p-AKT, AKT and GSK-3β in each group were detected by Western blot. RESULTS: Compared each drug-treated group with the model group, LDH and CK-MB contents were decreased (P<0.05), MDA content was decreased (P<0.01), and SOD activity was increased (P<0.01). Meanwhile, the expression levels of p-PI3K/PI3K, p-AKT/AKT, and GSK-3β protein were elevated (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, LDH, CK-MB, MDA and SOD activity in LY294002 group were no significant difference, while the expression levels of p-PI3K/PI3K, p-AKT/AKT and GSK-3β protein decreased (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: GHI could represent anti-oxidative and anti-apoptotic effect which reduced the damage of injured H9c2 myocardial cells caused by H/R. These effects might be related to the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.