Selective inhibition of protein kinase C β(2) attenuates the adaptor P66(Shc)-mediated intestinal ischemia–reperfusion injury

Apoptosis is a major mode of cell death occurring during ischemia–reperfusion (I/R) induced injury. The p66(Shc) adaptor protein, which is mediated by PKCβ, has an essential role in apoptosis under oxidative stress. This study aimed to investigate the role of PKCβ(2)/p66(Shc) pathway in intestinal I/R injury. In vivo, ischemia was induced by superior mesenteric artery occlusion in mice. Ruboxistaurin (PKCβ inhibitor) or normal saline was administered before ischemia. Then blood and gut tissues were collected after reperfusion for various measurements. In vitro, Caco-2 cells were challenged with hypoxia–reoxygenation (H/R) to simulate intestinal I/R. Translocation and activation of PKCβ(2) were markedly induced in the I/R intestine. Ruboxistaurin significantly attenuated gut damage and decreased the serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). Pharmacological blockade of PKCβ(2) suppressed p66(Shc) overexpression and phosphorylation in the I/R intestine. Gene knockdown of PKCβ(2) via small interfering RNA (siRNA) inhibited H/R-induced p66(Shc) overexpression and phosphorylation in Caco-2 cells. Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), which stimulates PKCs, induced p66(Shc) phosphorylation and this was inhibited by ruboxistaurin and PKCβ(2) siRNA. Ruboxistaurin attenuated gut oxidative stress after I/R by suppressing the decreased expression of manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD), the exhaustion of the glutathione (GSH) system, and the overproduction of malondialdehyde (MDA). As a consequence, ruboxistaurin inhibited intestinal mucosa apoptosis after I/R. Therefore, PKCβ(2) inhibition protects mice from gut I/R injury by suppressing the adaptor p66(Shc)-mediated oxidative stress and subsequent apoptosis. This may represent a novel therapeutic approach for the prevention of intestinal I/R injury.