Aim: To investigate the relationship between the hypoxia-inducible factor 1(HIF-1) and apoptosis correlative proteins in the cardiomyocyte during hypoxia.
Methods: Rat cardiomyocytes cultured in vitro were divided into normoxia, hypoxia and hypoxic preconditioning groups. The cardiomyocytes in hypoxic preconditioning group were cultured in 1% O2, 5% CO2, 94% N2 for 5 days, 12 h daily before exposed to 0% O2 hypoxia with the hypoxic group. The protein expression of HIF-1alpha, Bcl-2, P53 and Bax in the cardiomyocytes were analysis with Western blot after 48 h 0% O2 hypoxia.
Results: With the increment of HIF-1 expression, the Bcl-2 expression was inhibited, the Bax and P53 expression were increased as well during hypoxia. Hypoxic preconditioning could suppress the HIF-1 expression, meanwhile the Bcl-2 expression was elevated, and the Bax expression was decreased.
Conclusion: HIF-1 may contribute to the regulation of the cardiomyocyte apoptosis with the Bcl-2 family during hypoxia.