Nesfatin-1 protects H9c2 cardiomyocytes against cobalt chloride-induced hypoxic injury by modulating the MAPK and Notch1 signaling pathways

This study aimed to explore the effect of nesfatin-1 on cobalt chloride (CoCl2)-induced hypoxic injury in cardiomyocyte H9c2 cells.

Nesfatin-1 could effectively protect H9c2 cells against CoCl2-induced hypoxic injury by blocking MAPK and Notch1 signaling pathways, suggesting that nesfatin-1 might be a promising therapeutic agent for hypoxic cardiac injury.

H9c2 cardiomyocytes were induced by different concentrations of CoCl2 to mimic the hypoxia condition. Cell viability was detected by MTT assay. Cell apoptosis was detected by TUNEL staining and flow cytometry. ROS production was detected using the fluorescence probe DCFH-DA. The mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) was detected using the TMRE method. The levels of released lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH), and catalase (CAT) were detected using the commercial kits. The protein levels of MAPK signaling members (p-JNK1/2, p-ERK1/2, and p-p38) and Notch1 signaling members (Notch1, Hes 1, and Jagged 1) were detected by Western blot.

CoCl2 significantly promoted cell apoptosis, increased LDH leakage, MDA concentration, and decreased cell viability, SOD activity, GSH production, and CAT activity. CoCl2-induced hypoxic injury in H9c2 cells was partially restored by nesfatin-1 treatment. Moreover, nesfatin-1 treatment attenuated CoCl2-induced increase in ROS production and mitochondrial dysfunction, decreased mitochondrial membrane potential, Bax/Bcl-2 imbalance, as well as c-caspase-9 and c-caspase-3 levels. Moreover, nesfatin-1 treatment inhibited the activation of MAPK and Notch1 signaling pathways. Conclusions: Nesfatin-1 could effectively protect H9c2 cells against CoCl2-induced hypoxic injury by blocking MAPK and Notch1 signaling pathways, suggesting that nesfatin-1 might be a promising therapeutic agent for hypoxic cardiac injury.