PHLPP2 downregulation protects cardiomyocytes against hypoxia-induced injury through reinforcing Nrf2/ARE antioxidant signaling

Abstract

Cardiomyocyte injury induced by acute myocardial infarction contributes to myocardial dysfunction. Accumulating evidence has demonstrated that pleckstrin homology domain leucine-rich repeat protein phosphatase 2 (PHLPP2) is a cytoprotective protein that protects against various adverse injuries. However, whether PHLPP2 participates in regulating myocardial-infarction-induced cardiomyocyte injury remains unknown. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the biological role and molecular mechanism of PHLPP2 in regulating hypoxia-induced cardiomyocyte injury. Cardiomyocytes were cultured in an anaerobic chamber for 24 h to induce hypoxic injury in vitro. The expression of PHLPP2 was determined by real-time quantitative PCR and Western blot analysis. Cell viability was measured by MTT assay. Cell apoptosis was assessed by TUNEL and caspase-3 activity assays. Intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were measured by DCFH-DA probe. PHLPP2 expression was highly upregulated in hypoxia-injured cardiomyocytes. Inhibition of PHLPP2 by small interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated gene silencing significantly improved the viability of hypoxia-injured cardiomyocytes and attenuated hypoxia-induced apoptosis and ROS production. In contrast, PHLPP2 overexpression exacerbated hypoxia-induced apoptosis and ROS production in cardiomyocytes. Mechanism research revealed that PHLPP2 silencing increased the phosphorylation of glycogen synthase kinase (GSK)-3β and promoted the nuclear translocation of nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2). In addition, PHLPP2 inhibition promoted Nrf2/antioxidant response element (ARE) transcriptional activity. However, Nrf2 silencing markedly reversed PHLPP2-inhibition-mediated cardioprotection, while GSK-3β inhibition partially blocked the PHLPP2-overexpression-induced adverse effect. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that PHLPP2 inhibition alleviates hypoxia-induced cardiomyocyte injury by reinforcing Nrf2/ARE antioxidant signaling via inactivating GSK-3β, a pathway that highlights the importance of the PHLPP2/GSK-3β/Nrf2/ARE signaling axis in regulation of cardiomyocyte injury. Our study suggests a potential relevance for PHLPP2 in acute myocardial infarction, and this protein may serve as a promising target for cardioprotection.