Exogenous H(2)S restores ischemic post-conditioning-induced cardioprotection through inhibiting endoplasmic reticulum stress in the aged cardiomyocytes

BACKGROUND: A gasotransmitter hydrogen sulfide (H(2)S) plays an important physiological and pathological role in cardiovascular system. Ischemic post-conditioning (PC) provides cardioprotection in the young hearts but not in the aged hearts. Exogenous H(2)S restores PC-induced cardioprotection by inhibition of mitochondrial permeability transition pore opening and oxidative stress and increase of autophagy in the aged hearts. However, whether H(2)S contributes to the recovery of PC-induced cardioprotection via down-regulation of endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) in the aged hearts is unclear. METHODS: The aged H9C2 cells (the cardiomyocytes line) were induced using H(2)O(2) and were exposed to H/R and PC protocols. Cell viability was observed by CCK-8 kit. Apoptosis was detected by Hoechst 33342 staining and flow cytometry. Related protein expressions were detected through Western blot. RESULTS: In the present study, we found that 30 μM H(2)O(2) induced H9C2 cells senescence but not apoptosis. Supplementation of NaHS protected against H/R-induced apoptosis, the expression of cleaved caspase-3 and cleaved caspase-9 and the release of cytochrome c. The addition of NaHS also counteracted the reduction of cell viability caused by H/R and decreased the expression of GRP 78, CHOP, cleaved caspase-12, ATF 4, ATF 6 and XBP-1 and the phosphorylation of PERK, eIF 2α and IRE 1α. Additionally, NaHS increased Bcl-2 expression. PC alone did not provide cardioprotection in H/R-treated aged cardiomyocytes, which was significantly restored by the supplementation of NaHS. The beneficial role of NaHS was similar to the supply of 4-PBA (an inhibitor of ERS), GSK2656157 (an inhibitor of PERK), STF083010 (an inhibitor of IRE 1α), respectively, during PC. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that the recovery of myocardial protection from PC by exogenous H(2)S is associated with the inhibition of ERS via down-regulating PERK-eIF 2α-ATF 4, IRE 1α-XBP-1 and ATF 6 pathways in the aged cardiomyocytes.