Effects of selenium, selenium-enriched spirulina and phycocyanin on myocarditis stress parameters on LPS-induced injury in H9c2 ventricular cardiomyoblasts.

Myocarditis is strongly represented in septic patients and is associated with a higher mortality rate. Spirulina platensis (Spi), a blue-green algae, has anti-inflammatory properties and can be enriched with selenium, an antioxidant essential oligoelement. In addition, phycocyanin (PC), a biliprotein extract from spirulina, displays interesting anti-inflammatory and antiapoptotic effects. In this study, the objective was to determine the cardioprotective effects of Sodium selenite (Se), Spi, Spi + Se (SeSP) and PC on LPS-induced inflammation, apoptosis, and oxidative stress parameters. H9c2 cells were co-treated with or without LPS (5 μg/mL) and Se (0.5 μM), Spi (2.5 μg/mL), SeSP (0.5 μM Se + 2.5 μg/mL Spi) and PC (0.1 μg/mL) for 24 h. Inflammation was investigated by measurement of NFκB activation, IL-6, and caspase 1 expression, while apoptosis was measured by Bax, Bcl-2, and caspase-3 expression. Furthermore, GPx and SOD activities were analyzed, as well as isoprostanes and nrf-2 expression. Activation of MAPK Junk and p38 was also determined. Our results demonstrated that Se could only reduce p65 S536 phosphorylation. SeSP could limit Bax expression, while an increase in IL-6 was detected without LPS. Moreover, PC could reduce IL-6 and Caspase-1 expression and could have promising properties to decrease LPS-induced myocarditis outcomes.