PACAP inhibits oxidative stress-induced activation of MAP kinase-dependent apoptotic pathway in cultured cardiomyocytes

Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2006 Jul:1070:293-7. doi: 10.1196/annals.1317.029.

Abstract

The present article investigated the effect of pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) on oxidative stress-induced apoptosis in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes. Our results show that PACAP decreased the ratio of apoptotic cells following H2O2 treatment. PACAP also diminished the activity of apoptosis signal-regulating kinase. These effects of PACAP were counteracted by the PACAP antagonist PACAP6-38. In summary, our results show that PACAP is able to attenuate oxidative stress-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis and suggest that its cardioprotective effect is mediated through inhibition of the MAP kinase-dependent apoptotic pathway.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / drug effects*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Enzyme Activation / drug effects
  • MAP Kinase Kinase Kinase 5 / metabolism*
  • Myocytes, Cardiac / cytology*
  • Myocytes, Cardiac / drug effects*
  • Myocytes, Cardiac / enzymology
  • Oxidative Stress*
  • Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide / pharmacology*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar

Substances

  • Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide
  • MAP Kinase Kinase Kinase 5