Effect of activating adenosine A2A receptors on myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury in diabetic rats: the relationship with autophagy

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the effect of activating adenosine A2A receptors on myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury in diabetic rats and the relationship with autophagy. Methods Clean-grade healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats, aged 6 weeks, weighing 200-250 g, were studied.The diabetic rat model was established by intraperitoneal injection of 1% streptozotocin 60 mg/kg.Forty diabetic rats were divided into 4 groups (n=10 each) using a random number table method: sham operation group (group Sham), I/R group (group I/R), I/R plus adenosine A2A receptor agonist CGS21680 group (group CGS), and I/R plus CGS21680 plus adenosine A2A receptor antagonist ZM241385 group (group CGS+ ZM). Myocardial I/R was produced by occlusion of the left anterior descending branch of the coronary artery for 30 min followed by 120-min reperfusion.Adenosine A2A receptor agonist CGS21680 10 μg/100g was intravenously injected at 10 min before reperfusion in group CGS.CGS21680 10 ug/100g and ZM241385 0.2 mg/kg were intravenously injected sequentially at 10 min before reperfusion in group CGS+ ZM.Blood samples were obtained at the end of reperfusion for determination of concentrations of creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and cardiac troponin I (cTnI) in serum (by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay). The animals were sacrificed, and myocardial tissues were obtained for measurement of the percentage of myocardial infarct volume (by TTC staining) and for determination of the expression of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 Ⅰ (LC3Ⅰ), LC3 Ⅱ, p62 and Beclin-1 (by Western blot). LC3 Ⅱ/LC3 Ⅰ ratio was calculated. Results Compared with group Sham, the serum CK-MB, LDH and cTnI concentrations and percentage of myocardial infarct volume were significantly increased, the expression of p62 and Beclin-1 was up-regulated, and the LC3 Ⅱ/LC3 Ⅰ ratio was increased in group I/R (P 0.05). Compared with group CGS, the concentrations of serum CK-MB, LDH and cTnI and percentage of myocardial infarct volume were significantly increased, the expression of p62 and Beclin-1 was down-regulated, and the ratio of LC3Ⅱ/LC3Ⅰ was decreased in group CGS+ ZM (P<0.05). Conclusion Activating adenosine A2A receptors can mitigate myocardial I/R injury, and the mechanism may be related to enhancing autophagy in diabetic rats. Key words: Receptor, adenosine A2A; Autophagy; Diabetes mellitus; Myocardial reperfusion injury