Abstract 146: Disruption of Nox2 and TNFRp55/p75 Eliminates Anisomycin-Induced Preconditioning Effect in the Heart
Background: Transient activation of p38 through anisomycin is demonstrated to precondition the heart against myocardial injury. However, it remains unknown whether specific TNF-α receptor (TNFR) p55/p75 and Nox2, a subunit of NADPH-oxidase are involved in this event. Objective: We sought to investigate whether the genetic disruption of TNFRp55/p75 and Nox2 eliminates cardioprotection elicited by anisomycin and whether p38-dependent activation of Nox2 stimulates TNFR to ultimately achieve protective effects. Methods: Adult wild type and p55/p75 -/- and Nox2 -/- mice received intraperitoneal injections of anisomycin (0.1mg/kg), a potent activator of p38. The hearts were subjected to 30 min myocardial ischemia /30 min reperfusion in the Langendorff perused heart after twenty four hours. Left ventricular function was measured and infarct size was determined by triphenyltetrazolium chloride. Myocardial TNF-α protein, Nox2 and superoxides releases were detected. Gel kinase assay was employed to detect the effect of p38 on Nox2 phosphorylation. Results: Activation of p38 through anisomycin produces marked improvements in the recovery of left ventricular end diastolic pressure, rate pressure products, and the reduction of myocardial infarction, which were completely abrogated by disruption of Nox2 and TNFR p55/p75. Genetic disruption of Nox2 and TNFR p55/p75 abolished the effect of anisomycin-induced reduction of infarct size. Ansiomycin induced the production of TNFα, which was abrogated in Nox2 -/- mice. Notably, activation of p38 resulted in the phosphorylation of Nox2. Conclusion: Taken together, these results indicate that stimulation of the Nox2 and TNFR p55/p75 pathway is a novel approach to anisomycin-induced cardioprotection.