β_1-肾上腺素受体自身抗体通过激活内质网应激诱导心肌细胞凋亡

目的:探讨内质网应激在β_1-肾上腺素受体自身抗体(β_1-AA)引起心肌细胞凋亡中的作用。方法:采用β_1-肾上腺素受体细胞外第二环抗原肽段主动免疫大鼠,应用SA-ELISA法检测大鼠血清中β_1-AA的水平,TUNEL染色检测心肌组织的凋亡水平,Western blot法和免疫组化法检测心肌组织中葡萄糖调节蛋白78(GRP78)、C/EBP同源蛋白(CHOP)及caspase-12的蛋白表达。利用亲和层析法纯化的β_1-AA处理H9c2心肌细胞,CCK-8法检测细胞活力,Annexin V-FITC/PI双染流式细胞术检测心肌细胞凋亡;采用内质网应激抑制剂4-苯基丁酸(4-PBA)预处理H9c2心肌细胞,再给予β_1-AA干预,CCK-8法和流式细胞术分别检测细胞活力及凋亡的变化情况。结果:与对照组相比,主动免疫大鼠血清中β_1-AA水平在免疫2周时显著增加,进一步增加至8周,并且主动免疫2周大鼠心肌组织凋亡率明显升高,持续升高至8周。与对照组相比,主动免疫大鼠心肌组织中GRP78、CHOP及caspase-12的蛋白表达在免疫4周和8周时均明显增加。β_1-AA引起H9c2心肌细胞活力持续降低,凋亡明显增加。与β_1-AA单独处理组相比,内质网应激抑制剂4-PBA预处理H9c2心肌细胞可以有效逆转β_1-AA诱导的细胞凋亡增加和活力下降。结论:β_1-AA可以通过激活内质网应激诱导心肌细胞凋亡。

Endoplasmic reticulum stress is involved in cardiomyocyte apoptosis induced by β1-adrenoceptor autoantibody

AIM: To investigate the role of endoplasmic reticulum (ES) stress in cardiomyocyte apoptosis induced by β₁-adrenoceptor autoantibody (β₁-AA). METHODS: The rat model of active immunization with the second extracellular loop of β₁-adrenoceptor was established, and SA-ELISA was applied to detect the level of β₁-AA in serum of actively immunized rats. The apoptosis of cardiomyocytes was detected by TUNEL staining, and the protein expression levels of glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78), C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP) and caspase-12 in rat heart tissues were determined by Western blot and immunohistochemistry. After purified β₁-AA obtained by affinity chromatography was used to treat H9c2 myocardial cells, the cell viability was measured by CCK-8 assay and the apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry with Annexin V-FITC/PI double staining. The H9c2 cells were treated with ER stress inhibitor 4-phenoxybutyric acid (4-PBA) before interfered with β₁-AA, and the changes of cell viability and apoptosis were determined by CCK-8 assay and flow cytometry. RESULTS: Compared with vehicle group, the level of β₁-AA in the serum of rats was significantly increased after active immunization for 2 weeks and further rised in 8 weeks, and increased apoptosis was observed in cardiomyocytes after active immunization for 2 weeks, lasting till 8 weeks. Compared with vehicle group, the protein expression of GRP78, CHOP and caspase-12 increased after active immunization for 4 weeks and 8 weeks. Continuous reduction of cell viability and increased apoptosis of H9c2 cells were induced by β₁-AA. ER stress inhibitor 4-PBA pretreatment in H9c2 cells reversed the increased apoptosis and decreased cell viability induced by β₁-AA, indicating that suppression of ER stress effectively reduced cardiomyocyte apoptosis. CONCLUSION: β₁-AA induces increased apoptosis in cardiomyocytes by activating ER stress.