The role of JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway in exercise preconditioning against myocardial apoptosis

Abstract

To study the effects of Janus kinase 2/signal transducers and activators of transcription 3 (JAK2/STAT3) in exercise preconditioning (EP) against myocardial apoptosis. Eighty healthy male SD rats were randomly divided into control group(C), exercise exhaust(EE) group, EP group, and EP+JAK2 inhibitor AG490(AG) group(n=20). By using 3 days intermittent treadmill exercise, the EP animal model was established, and myocardial injury was induced by exhaustive exercise on treadmill. The changes of myocardial apoptosis were evaluated by TUNEL. The expressions of Caspase-3, p-JAK2 and p-STAT3 in heart were detected by Western blot or immunohistochemistry. Compared with group C, myocardial apoptosis, and the expressions of Caspase-3, p-JAK2, and p-STAT3 in heart were increased significantly in group EE. Compared with group EE, myocardial apoptosis and the expression of Caspase-3 were decreased significantly, while the expressions of p-JAK2 and p-STAT3 were increased significantly in group EP. Compared with group EP, myocardial apoptosis and the expression of Caspase-3 were increased significantly, while the expressions of p-JAK2 and p-STAT3 were decreased significantly in group EP+AG. EP could increase the expressions of p-JAK2 and p-STAT3 and decrease the expression of Caspase-3 in heart, which further mitigate myocardial apoptosis. Hence, JAK2/STAT3 pathway may participate in EP against myocardial apoptosis.