Small interference RNA against PTP-1B reduces hypoxia/reoxygenation induced apoptosis of rat cardiomyocytes

Objective To investigate the effect of siRNA against PTP-1B on neonatal rat cardiac myocyte apoptosis induced by hypoxia-reoxygenation (H/R) and its molecular mechanisms. Methods Isolated neonatal and adult rat cardiac myocytes were cultured for 24 h after PTP-1B siRNA transfection, and with 2, 4 and 6 h of hypoxia followed by 6 h of reoxygenation (H/R). The cardiac myocyte apoptosis induced by the treatments was assessed by TUNEL staining. Levels of PTP-1B and phospho-Akt were determined by Western blot, colorimetric assay kits were used to measure activities of caspase-3 and 8, and co-immunoprecipitation was used to check the amount of PTP-1B bound to FasR. Sodium orthovanadate, a general pharmacological phosphatase blocker and LY294002, an inhibitor of PI3-kinase/Akt pathway, were respectively used to inhibit PTP-1B and Akt activity. Results H/R resulted in severe injury in cultured rat cardiomyocytes and upregulated PTP-1B expression. However, siRNA against PTP-1B significantly decreased the number of apoptotic cardiomyocytes induced by 4H/6R as compared with cells without siRNA treatment (Apoptotic index: 12.1 +/- 1.4% vs. 23.2 +/- 1.6%, P < 0.05), along with greater phosphorylation of Akt, reduced activities of caspase-3 and 8, and the lower association of PTP-1B with FasR. Vanadate and LY294002 also partly reduced apoptosis of cardiomyocytes induced by 4H/6R. Conclusions PTP-1B is a key regulator of apoptosis of cardiomyocytes induced by H/R, and siRNA against PTP-1B effectively protects cardiomyocytes against H/R injury, the mechanisms of which might be associated with Akt activation, the reduction of both caspase-3 and 8 activities, and the lower amount of PTP-1B bound to FasR.