title: C-phycocyanin protects against ischemia-reperfusion injury of heart through involvement of p38 MAPK and ERK signaling.
abstract: We previously showed that C-phycocyanin (PC), an antioxidant biliprotein pigment of Spirulina platensis (a blue-green alga), effectively inhibited doxorubicin-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis in cardiomyocytes. Here we investigated the cardioprotective effect of PC against ischemia-reperfusion (I/R)-induced myocardial injury in an isolated perfused Langendorff heart model. Rat hearts were subjected to 30 min of global ischemia at 37 degrees C followed by 45 min of reperfusion. Hearts were perfused with PC (10 microM) or Spirulina preparation (SP, 50 mg/l) for 15 min before the onset of ischemia and throughout reperfusion. After 45 min of reperfusion, untreated (control) hearts showed a significant decrease in recovery of coronary flow (44%), left ventricular developed pressure (21%), and rate-pressure product (24%), an increase in release of lactate dehydrogenase and creatine kinase in coronary effluent, significant myocardial infarction (44% of risk area), and TdT-mediated dUTP nick end label-positive apoptotic cells compared with the preischemic state. PC or SP significantly enhanced recovery of heart function and decreased infarct size, attenuated lactate dehydrogenase and creatine kinase release, and suppressed I/R-induced free radical generation. PC reversed I/R-induced activation of p38 MAPK, Bax, and caspase-3, suppression of Bcl-2, and increase in TdT-mediated dUTP nick end label-positive apoptotic cells. However, I/R also induced activation of ERK1/2, which was enhanced by PC treatment. Overall, these results for the first time showed that PC attenuated I/R-induced cardiac dysfunction through its antioxidant and antiapoptotic actions and modulation of p38 MAPK and ERK1/2.
authors.affiliation: Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
authors.forename: Mahmood
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Saradhadevi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Varadharaj
authors.forename: Latha P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Ganesan
authors.forename: Jagdish C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Shobha
authors.forename: Madireddi U
authors.initials: MU
authors.lastname: Naidu
authors.forename: Narasimham L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Parinandi
authors.forename: Susheela
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tridandapani
authors.forename: Vijay Kumar
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Kutala
authors.forename: Periannan
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kuppusamy
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System / Q000187:drug effects*; D010798:Phycocyanin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism*; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D010798:Phycocyanin; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases