The Inhibitory Effect of WenxinKeli on H9C2 Cardiomyocytes Hypertrophy Induced by Angiotensin II through Regulating Autophagy Activity

OBJECTIVES: We investigated the role of cardiomyocyte autophagy and its regulatory mechanisms by WenxinKeli (WXKL) in cells subjected to hypertrophy. METHODS: H9C2 cardiomyocytes were divided into 8 groups. Cytoskeletal proteins as well as endogenously expressed autophagy marker proteins were studied by confocal imaging. Western blotting was used to assess the levels of light chain-3 (LC3) and mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR). The cell viability assay was used to detect the content of ATP. Flow cytometry was used to detect apoptotic cardiomyocytes. RESULTS: (1) Compared with the control group, the length and width of cells in the Angiotensin II (AngII) group were significantly increased, while those in the 3-methyladenine (3-MA) and the WXKL groups were decreased. (2) Compared with AngII group, the expression of LC3 II/I protein in the 3-MA and WXKL groups was downregulated, while the expression of mTOR protein was upregulated. (3) Compared with the AngII group, the cardiomyocytes in the WXKL group showed increased ATP and decreased apoptosis rate and number of autophagosome. CONCLUSIONS: We propose a novel role of WXKL as a likely inhibitor of cardiac hypertrophy by regulation of pathological autophagy.