Cyclosporin A Protects H9c2 Cells Against Chemical Hypoxia-Induced Injury via Inhibition of MAPK Signaling Pathway

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the effects and molecular mechanism of cyclosporin A (CsA) on cobalt chloride (CoCl₂)-induced injury in H9c2 embryonic rat cardiac cells. The results showed that CsA could protect H9c2 cells against CoCl₂-induced hypoxic injury. CsA effectively improved cell viability, and decreased LDH leakage, cell apoptosis, MDA concentration, and ROS generation, and increased SOD activity, GSH production, and CAT activity in a dosedependent manner. In addition, CsA treatment blocked the CoCl₂-induced increases in ROS production and mitochondrial dysfunction, including a decrease in membrane potential, cytochrome c (cyto-c) release, Bax/Bcl-2 imbalance, as well as the ratios of cl-casp-9/casp-9 and cl-casp-3/casp-3 ratios, via the inhibition of p38 and ERK MAPK signaling pathways. The results also suggested that CsA protected H9c2 cells against CoCl₂-induced hypoxic injury, possibly by suppressing the MAPK signaling pathway. Thus, CsA is a potential therapeutic agent for cardiac hypoxic injury.