西红花酸对H2O2诱发心肌细胞凋亡及相关调控蛋白caspase-3、Bcl-2表达改变的影响

AIM: To observe the effect of crocetin on the apoptosis and the changes of its related regulating proteins caspase-3 and Bcl-2 expression induced by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in cultured cardiomyocytes. METHODS： Changes of cellular morphology were detected under microscope. Apoptosis rates of the cells were analyzed by PI staining with flow cytometry. Expressions of caspase-3 and Bcl-2 proteins in the cells were determined by immunofluorescence with flow cytometry. RESULTS： In the concentrations used, more severe morphological changes with higher apoptosis rate of the cultured myocardial cells were seen in each H2O2 group than that in control group. When treated with 1 × 10^(-4) mol•L^(-1) H2O2, the caspase-3 was increased and Bcl-2 protein decreased remarkably in the cells. But each dosage of crocetin, especially the highest one (5×10^(-5) mol•L^(-1), P＜0.05 compared with 5×10^(-7) mol• L^(-1) group), seemed efficient in maintaining the cell morphology, reducing the cell apoptosis rate and improving the changes in caspase-3 and Bcl-2 protein expression in the cells exposed to 1 × 10^(-4) mol•L^(-1) H2O2. CONCLUSION: Crocetin obviously inhibits the apoptosis induced by H2O2 in the cultured myocardial cells. The mechanisms may involve the balance of the functions of the apoptosis-related regulating proteins, caspase-3 and Bcl-2 protein.