Ghrelin ameliorates the human alveolar epithelial A549 cell apoptosis induced by lipopolysaccharide.
Ghrelin is a gastric acyl-peptide that plays an inhibitory role in cell apoptosis. Herein we investigate the protective effects of ghrelin in LPS-induced apoptosis of human alveolar epithelial A549 cells, along with the possible molecular mechanisms. LPS exposure impaired cell viability and increased apoptosis of A549 cells significantly in concentration- and time-dependent manners embodied in increased Bax and cleaved caspase-3 production, coupled with decreased Bcl-2 levels. Simultaneously, LPS remarkably decreased the expression of phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt) and extracellular signal-regulated kinas (ERK) in A549 cells. However, ghrelin'pretreatment ameliorated LPS-caused alterations in the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 and cleaved caspase-3 expression, whereas activated the PI3K/Akt and ERK signaling. These results demonstrate that ghrelin lightens LPS-induced apoptosis of human alveolar epithelial cells partly through activating the PI3K/Akt and ERK pathway and thereby might benefit alleviating septic ALI.
Department of Medical Intensive Care Unit, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China.
Chunrong
C
Huang
Department of Medical Intensive Care Unit, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China.
Haichong
H
Zheng
Department of Medical Intensive Care Unit, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China.
Wanmei
W
He
Department of Medical Intensive Care Unit, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China.
Guifang
G
Lu
Department of Medical Intensive Care Unit, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China.
Xia
X
Li
Research Center of Translational Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China. Electronic address: dengyub@mail.sysu.edu.cn.
Yubin
Y
Deng
Department of Medical Intensive Care Unit, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China. Electronic address: zengmian2004@163.com.
Mian
M
Zeng
D000072283:A549 Cells; D056809:Alveolar Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D054439:Ghrelin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D054439:Ghrelin; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides
Apoptosis; ERK signaling; Ghrelin; LPS; PI3K/Akt signaling