[Inhibition of magnesium lithospermate B on the c-Jun N-terminal kinase 3 mRNA expression in cardiomyocytes encountered ischemia/reperfusion injury].
OBJECTIVE
To study the function of c-Jun N-terminal kinase 3 (JNK3) in the process of ischemic/reperfused heart injury and the mechanism underlying the protective action of magnesium lithospermate B (MTB), a bioactive compound isolated from Danshen.


METHODS
By in situ hybridization, JNK3 mRNA was detected in the ventricular preparations of the Langendorff ischemic/reperfused rat heart. The inhibitory effect of MTB on the expression of JNK3 mRNA was also investigated.


RESULTS
The purple and blue hybridization signals were located in the cytoplasm of the cardiomyocytes, which were weaker in the non-perfused hearts and stronger in the hearts encountered 30 min of ischemia and 30 min of reperfusion. Image analysis showed that the expression of JNK3 mRNA in the cardiomyocytes increased after 30 min of ischemia and 30 min of reperfusion, which showed significant difference compared with that in the cardiomyocytes of the non-perfused heart and the control heart (P < 0.05). Treatment with of 0.1, 1 and 10 mumol.L-1 MTB abolished the elevation of JNK3 mRNA expression in the ischemic/reperfused heart (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
JNK3 may be another component in the signal transduction pathway of ischemia/reperfusion induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis. MTB may protect the heart from ischemia/reperfusion injury by reducing apoptosis through inhibition of the JNK3 activity.
D000818:Animals; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D008297:Male; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000150:complications; D015428:Myocardial Reperfusion Injury / Q000201:enzymology / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D032383:Myocytes, Cardiac / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C061091:lithospermate B; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases