Open Access

Ginsenoside Rg2 protects cardiomyocytes against trastuzumab‑induced toxicity by inducing autophagy

  • Authors:
    • Guang Liu
    • Xiaoyong Qi
    • Xingtao Li
    • Fangyi Sun
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: March 11, 2021     https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2021.9904
  • Article Number: 473
  • Copyright: © Liu et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

Trastuzumab (TZM) significantly improves the outcomes of patients with breast cancer; however, it is associated with severe cardiotoxicity. Ginsenoside Rg2 was reported to exert protective effects against myocardial injury and apoptosis in human cardiomyocytes (HCMs). However, whether ginsenoside Rg2 protects HCMs against TZM‑induced toxicity remains unclear. The present study investigated the proliferation of HCMs using a Cell Counting Kit‑8 assay and Ki67 immunofluorescence staining. Apoptotic cells were detected by Annexin V/propidium iodide staining and flow cytometry. Furthermore, monodansylcadaverine staining was performed to detect cell autophagy. In addition, western blotting was used to detect the expression levels of phosphorylated (p)‑Akt, p‑mTOR, beclin 1, microtubule associated protein 1 light chain 3α (LC3) and autophagy protein 5 (ATG5) in HCMs. Pretreatment with ginsenoside Rg2 significantly protected HCMs against TZM‑induced cytotoxicity by inhibiting apoptosis. Furthermore, pretreatment with ginsenoside Rg2 induced autophagy in HCMs by upregulating the expression levels of p‑Akt, p‑mTOR, beclin 1, LC3 and ATG5. The results obtained in the present study suggested that ginsenoside Rg2 could protect HCMs against TZM‑induced cardiotoxicity by activating autophagy. Therefore, ginsenoside Rg2 may serve as a potential therapeutic agent to prevent TZM‑related cardiotoxicity in patients with breast cancer.
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May-2021
Volume 21 Issue 5

Print ISSN: 1792-0981
Online ISSN:1792-1015

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Copy and paste a formatted citation
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Spandidos Publications style
Liu G, Qi X, Li X and Sun F: Ginsenoside Rg2 protects cardiomyocytes against trastuzumab‑induced toxicity by inducing autophagy. Exp Ther Med 21: 473, 2021
APA
Liu, G., Qi, X., Li, X., & Sun, F. (2021). Ginsenoside Rg2 protects cardiomyocytes against trastuzumab‑induced toxicity by inducing autophagy. Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine, 21, 473. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2021.9904
MLA
Liu, G., Qi, X., Li, X., Sun, F."Ginsenoside Rg2 protects cardiomyocytes against trastuzumab‑induced toxicity by inducing autophagy". Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 21.5 (2021): 473.
Chicago
Liu, G., Qi, X., Li, X., Sun, F."Ginsenoside Rg2 protects cardiomyocytes against trastuzumab‑induced toxicity by inducing autophagy". Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 21, no. 5 (2021): 473. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2021.9904