Sugemule-3 protects against isoprenaline-induced cardiotoxicity In vitro

Background: Sugemule-3 (SD) is a traditional Chinese medicine with protective effect of myocardium. However, the underlying mechanisms of the effect had not been elucidated. Materials and Methods: In the present study, the serum of SD was prepared. A model of β-adrenergic agonist isoprenaline (ISO)-induced H9c2 cardiomyocytes injury was established in vitro. The changes in cell viability were examined to determine the available concentration of ISO and serum of SD. ELISA, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling assay, and flow cytometry were used to detect the effect of serum of SD on oxidative stress and apoptosis. The expression levels of the mitochondria-dependent apoptotic pathway and mitogen-activated protein kinase signalling-related proteins were analyzed. Results: Incubation with different dose of ISO (0.015, 0.01, 0.005, and 0.0025 mol/L) for 24 h caused dose-dependent loss of cell viability and 0.01 mol/L of ISO approximately reduced the cell viability to 50%. Pretreatment with 50 μ mol/L serum of SD effectively decreased the levels of ISO-induced cell toxicity. Serum of SD relived ISO-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis in H9c2 cardiomyocytes. A further mechanism study indicated that serum of SD inhibited the mitochondria-dependent apoptotic pathways and regulated the expression levels of Bcl-2 family. ISO activated ERK and P38, whereas serum of SD inhibited their activation. Conclusion: Serum of SD inhibits the ISO-induced activation of the mitochondria-dependent apoptotic pathway, oxidative stress, and ERK, P38 inactivation. Serum of SD is used for the treatment of ISO-induced cardiomyopathy.