Matrine inhibits hypoxia/reoxygenation-induced apoptosis of cardiac microvascular endothelial cells in rats via the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway.

Hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) often results in cellular oxidative stress and the subsequent apoptosis of cardiac microvascular endothelial cells (CMECs). More recently, studies have highlighted the therapeutic effects of matrine on various cardiovascular diseases. Thus, the aim of the present study was to investigate the underlying mechanism and effects of matrine on hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R)-induced apoptosis of CMECs in rats. CMECs from Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were primarily treated with H/R, ld (low-dose, 0.5 mg/mL)-Ma + H/R, md (middle-dose, 1 mg/mL)-Ma + H/R, hd (high-dose, 2 mg/mL)-Ma + H/R, Ma + AG490 + H/R (2 mg/mL matrine and 50 μmol/L AG490, a JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway inhibitor), and AG490 + H/R in an attempt to identify the underlying regulatory mechanisms of matrine. MTT assay was applied to determine cell viability. Hoechst staining was performed to detect the morphology of apoptotic CMECs, while cell cycle and the rate of apoptosis rate were determined by flow cytometry means. The mRNA and protein expression of the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway and apoptosis related genes were determined through the use of RT-qPCR and western blot assay methods respectively. An in vitro angiogenesis assay was employed to evaluate the value of matrine in tube formation. CMECs treated with ld-Ma+H/R, md-Ma+H/R, hd-Ma+H/R and Ma + AG490+H/R exhibited higher cell viability, greater cell ratio at the S phase, higher expression levels of p-JAK2 and p-STAT3, increased tube formation ability, and a lower apoptosis rate, with a lower ratio of cells at the G1 phase and Bax/Bcl-2 ratio. Meanwhile, the rats treated with AG490+H/R exhibited opposite results. Taken together, the key findings of the present study suggest that matrine inhibits the H/R-induced apoptosis of CMECs in rats via the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway, highlighting its therapeutic potential for H/R injury.