Sevoflurane ameliorates adriamycin-induced myocardial injury in rats through the PI3K/Akt/GSK-3β pathway

F. Wang, F. Shu, X.-Q. Wang, L.-L. Zheng, H.-L. Wang, L. Li, H.-G. Lv

Department of Anaesthesiology, Honghui Hospital, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China. doctorlhg@163.com

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• Pharmacology

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to explore the effects of sevoflurane (SEV) pretreatment on Adriamycin (ADR)-induced myocardial injury through the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt)/glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) pathway.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 24 rats weighing 200-250 g were divided into four groups, including: control group (C group), ADR injection group (ADR group), SEV pretreatment group (ADR + SEV group) and inhibitor group (ADR + SEV + LY group). H9c2 cells were cultured in vitro and were divided into control group (C group), ADR treatment group (ADR group), and SEV pretreatment group (ADR + SEV group) and inhibitor group (ADR + SEV + LY group) as well. Next, the content of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and creatine kinase (CK) in the serum was detected via Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining assay was performed to determine the severity of myocardial injury. Meanwhile, the apoptosis rate of cells was detected through terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay. Additionally, Western blotting (WB) was employed to measure the protein expression levels of phosphorylated (p)-GSK-3β, p-PI3K, Akt and p-Akt.

RESULTS: Compared with C group, ADR significantly increased the content of AST, LDH and CK in the serum (p<0.01), reduced protein expression levels of p-GSK-3β, p-PI3K and p-Akt (p<0.01), increased apoptosis rate (p<0.01), and induced myocardial injury. SEV pretreatment significantly alleviated the effect of ADR, manifested as significantly lowered content of AST, LDH and CK in the serum (p<0.01), distinctly elevated protein expression levels of p-GSK-3β, p-PI3K and p-Akt (p<0.01), notably reduced apoptosis rate (p<0.01), and relieved myocardial injury. LY294002 remarkably inhibited the protective effect of SEV against myocardial injury (p<0.01)

CONCLUSIONS: SEV is able to prominently ameliorate ADR-induced myocardial injury by regulating the phosphorylation level of the PI3K/Akt/GSK-3β signaling pathway.

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