Superoxide anions mediate proliferative response in cardiac fibroblasts.
The study was undertaken to examine whether superoxide anions mediate a proliferative response in cardiac fibroblasts. Cardiac fibroblasts isolated from newborn Wistar rats were exposed to superoxide anion generating system (hypoxanthine + xanthine oxidase) and its effect on cell growth was assessed. A stimulatory response on fibroblast proliferation was observed. The proportion of proliferating cells increased within 3 h of treatment compared to the control and the cell density after 96 h of exposure remained significantly high (P < 0.0005). Inclusion of antioxidants neutralised the stimulatory response, fortifying the role of superoxide anions in cell proliferation. This observation indicates that superoxide anions can mediate a fibrotic reaction in the cardiac tissue.
Division of Cellular & Molecular Cardiology, Sree Chitra Thirunal Institute for Medical Sciences & Technology, Thiruvananthapuram.
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D000818:Animals; D002455:Cell Division; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000502:physiology; D009206:Myocardium / Q000166:cytology*; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013481:Superoxides / Q000378:metabolism*
D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen; D013481:Superoxides