Maximakinin reversed H2O2 induced oxidative damage in rat cardiac H9c2 cells through AMPK/Akt and AMPK/ERK1/2 signaling pathways

Abstract

Maximakinin (MK), a homolog of bradykinin (BK), is extracted from skin venom of the Chinese toad Bombina maxima. Although MK has a good antihypertensive effect, its effect on myocardial cells is unclear. This study investigates the protective effect of MK on hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂)-induced oxidative damage in rat cardiac H9c2 cells and explores its mechanism of action. A 3-(4,5-Dimethyl-2-Thiazolyl)-2,5-Diphenyl Tetrazolium Bromide (MTT) assay was selected to detect the effect of MK on H9c2 cell viability, while flow cytometry was used to investigate the influence of MK and H₂O₂ on intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. Protein expression changes were detected by western blot. In addition, specific protein inhibitors were applied to confirm the induction of ROS-related signaling pathways by MK. MTT assay results show that MK significantly reversed H₂O₂-induced cell growth inhibition. Flow cytometry Dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA) staining shows that MK significantly reversed H₂O₂-induced increases in intracellular ROS production in H9c2 cells. Moreover, the addition of specific protein inhibitors suggests that MK reverses H₂O₂-induced oxidative damage by activating AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)/protein kinase B (Akt) and AMPK/extracellular-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) pathways. Finally, an inhibitor of bradykinin B₂ receptors (B2Rs), HOE-140, was applied to investigate potential targets of MK in H9c2 cells. HOE-140 significantly blocked induction of AMPK/Akt and AMPK/ERK1/2 pathways by MK, suggesting a potentially important role for B2Rs in MK reversing H₂O₂-induced oxidative damage. Above all, MK protects against oxidative damage by inhibiting H₂O₂-induced ROS production in H9c2 cells. The protective mechanism of MK may be achieved by activation of B2Rs to activate downstream AMPK/Akt and AMPK/ERK1/2 pathways.

Keywords: Bradykinin B2 receptors; maximakinin; myocardial cells; oxidative damage; protective effect.