Open Access

Berberine inhibits excessive autophagy and protects myocardium against ischemia/reperfusion injury via the RhoE/AMPK pathway

  • Authors:
    • Fajia Hu
    • Tie Hu
    • Yamei Qiao
    • Huang Huang
    • Zeyu Zhang
    • Wenxiong Huang
    • Jichun Liu
    • Songqing Lai
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: April 3, 2024     https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.2024.5373
  • Article Number: 49
  • Copyright: © Hu et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

Several studies have shown that berberine (BBR) is effective in protecting against myocardial ischemia‑reperfusion injury (MI/RI). However, the precise molecular mechanism remains elusive. The present study observed the mechanism and the safeguarding effect of BBR against hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) myocardial injury in H9c2 cells. BBR pretreatment significantly improved the decrease of cell viability, P62 protein, Rho Family GTPase 3 (RhoE) protein, ubiquinone subunit B8 protein, ubiquinol‑cytochrome c reductase core protein U, the Bcl‑2‑associated X protein/B‑cell lymphoma 2 ratio, glutathione (GSH) and the GSH/glutathione disulphide (GSSG) ratio induced by H/R, while reducing the increase in lactate dehydrogenase, microtubule‑associated protein 1 light 3 protein, caspase‑3 activity, reactive oxygen species, GSSG and malonaldehyde caused by H/R. Transmission electron microscopy and LysoTracker Red DND‑99 staining results showed that BBR pretreatment inhibited H/R‑induced excessive autophagy by mediating RhoE. BBR also inhibited mitochondrial permeability transition, maintained the stability of the mitochondrial membrane potential, reduced the apoptotic rate, and increased the level of caspase‑3. However, the protective effects of BBR were attenuated by pAD/RhoE‑small hairpin RNA, rapamycin (an autophagy activator) and compound C (an AMP‑activated protein kinase inhibitor). These new findings suggested that BBR protects the myocardium from MI/RI by inhibiting excessive autophagy, maintaining mitochondrial function, improving the energy supply and redox homeostasis, and attenuating apoptosis through the RhoE/AMP‑activated protein kinase pathway.
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May-2024
Volume 53 Issue 5

Print ISSN: 1107-3756
Online ISSN:1791-244X

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Spandidos Publications style
Hu F, Hu T, Qiao Y, Huang H, Zhang Z, Huang W, Liu J and Lai S: Berberine inhibits excessive autophagy and protects myocardium against ischemia/reperfusion injury via the RhoE/AMPK pathway. Int J Mol Med 53: 49, 2024
APA
Hu, F., Hu, T., Qiao, Y., Huang, H., Zhang, Z., Huang, W. ... Lai, S. (2024). Berberine inhibits excessive autophagy and protects myocardium against ischemia/reperfusion injury via the RhoE/AMPK pathway. International Journal of Molecular Medicine, 53, 49. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.2024.5373
MLA
Hu, F., Hu, T., Qiao, Y., Huang, H., Zhang, Z., Huang, W., Liu, J., Lai, S."Berberine inhibits excessive autophagy and protects myocardium against ischemia/reperfusion injury via the RhoE/AMPK pathway". International Journal of Molecular Medicine 53.5 (2024): 49.
Chicago
Hu, F., Hu, T., Qiao, Y., Huang, H., Zhang, Z., Huang, W., Liu, J., Lai, S."Berberine inhibits excessive autophagy and protects myocardium against ischemia/reperfusion injury via the RhoE/AMPK pathway". International Journal of Molecular Medicine 53, no. 5 (2024): 49. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.2024.5373