氢分子对高糖状态下肾小球系膜细胞凋亡相关蛋白及Nrf2信号通路的影响

目的:探讨氢分子对高糖状态下肾小球系膜细胞凋亡相关蛋白Bax、Bcl-2和cleaved caspase-3表达水平的影响及其可能的机制。方法:体外培养小鼠肾小球系膜细胞,实验分为正常对照组(C组,5.5 mmol/L葡萄糖)、甘露醇组(G组,5.5 mmol/L葡萄糖+19.5 mmol/L甘露醇)、高糖组(H组,25 mmol/L葡萄糖)和高糖+富氢水组(HH组,25 mmol/L葡萄糖+富氢水),培养48 h。采用Western blot法检测Bax、Bcl-2、cleaved caspase-3、核因子E2相关因子2(Nrf2)、血红素加氧酶1(HO-1)和NAD(P)H:醌氧化还原酶1(NQO-1)的蛋白水平;RT-PCR检测HO-1和NQO-1的mRNA表达;超氧化物阴离子荧光探针二氢乙啶检测活性氧簇(ROS)的水平;总超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性检测试剂盒(WST-8法)检测SOD活性。结果:与C组比较,H组Bax和cleaved caspase-3的蛋白水平增加,Bcl-2蛋白表达减少(P0.05),而HH组上述蛋白表达水平与C组的差异均无统计学显著性;与H组比较,HH组的Bax和cleaved caspase-3蛋白下调,Bcl-2蛋白上调(P0.05)。H组细胞内的ROS水平较C组明显增高,SOD活性较C组明显降低(P0.05),而HH组的SOD活性与C组比较差异无统计学显著性;HH组细胞内的ROS水平较H组明显降低,SOD活性明显高于H组(P0.05)。与C组比较,H组的Nrf2蛋白以及HO-1和NQO-1 mRNA及蛋白表达均减少(P0.05);HH组的Nrf2、HO-1和NQO-1蛋白以及HO-1和NQO-1的mRNA表达均明显高于H组(P0.05)。结论:氢分子可抑制高糖状态下肾小球系膜细胞促凋亡蛋白的表达,同时诱导其抗凋亡蛋白的表达,其机制可能与激活Nrf2信号通路有关。

Effect of hydrogen molecule on apoptosis-related proteins and Nrf2 signaling pathway in glomerular mesangial cells cultured with high glucose

AIM: To investigate the role of hydrogen molecule on apoptosis-related proteins in glomerular mesangial cells cultured with high glucose and to explore its possible mechanism. METHODS: Mouse glomerular mesangial cells cultured in vitro were divided into 4 groups:normal control group (C group, 5.5 mmol/L glucose), mannitol group (G group, 5.5 mmol/L glucose+19.5 mmol/L mannitol), high glucose group (H group, 25 mmol/L glucose), high glucose+hydrogen-rich water group (HH group, 25 mmol/L glucose+hydrogen-rich water), and cultured for 48 h. The protein levels of Bax, Bcl-2, cleaved caspase-3, nuclear factor E2-related factor-2 (Nrf2), heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase-1 (NQO-1) were determined by Western blot, and the mRNA expression of HO-1 and NQO-1 was determined by RT-PCR. The level of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) was detected by dihydroethidium method, and the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) was measured by WST-8 assay. RESULTS: Compared with C group, the protein levels of Bax and cleaved caspase-3 were up-regulated, and Bcl-2 was down-regulated in H group (P <0.05). No significantly difference of the protein levels mentioned above between C and HH group was observed. Compared with H group, the protein levels of Bax and cleaved caspase-3 were down-regulated, and Bcl-2 was up-regulated in HH group (P <0.05). The level of intracellular ROS was higher and the activity of SOD was lower in H group than those in C group (P<0.05). However, there was no difference of the SOD activity between C group and HH group. The level of intracellular ROS decreased and the activity of SOD increased in HH group as compared with H group (P<0.05). Compared with C group, clearly reduced protein expression of Nrf2, HO-1 and NQO-1, and decreased mRNA expression of HO-1 and NQO-1 in H group were observed (P<0.05). Compared with H group, the protein levels of Nrf2, HO-1 and NQO-1 as well as the mRNA levels of HO-1 and NQO-1 were obviously increased in HH group (P<0.05).CONCLUSION: Hydrogen molecule inhibits the expression of pro-apoptotic proteins and induces the expression of anti-apoptotic proteins in glomerular mesangial cells cultured with high glucose. The mechanism may be related to activation of Nrf2 signaling pathway.