Purpose: It has been previously shown that inhibition of glycogen synthase kinase-β (GSK-3β) is protective and may play an important role in ischemic preconditioning. Therefore, we determined whether phosphorylation of GSK-3β through PI3K is also i...
Purpose: It has been previously shown that inhibition of glycogen synthase kinase-β (GSK-3β) is protective and may play an important role in ischemic preconditioning. Therefore, we determined whether phosphorylation of GSK-3β through PI3K is also involved in stretch-induced cardioprotection (SIC). Furthermore, we determined if GSK inhibitors, lithium emulate SIC.
Materials and Methods: The perfused hearts in langendorff mode were subjected to 30 min of global no-flow ischemia followed by 60 min of reperfusion. In the control group, end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) was set at 3 mmHg. In the stretch group, LVEDP was increased to 40 mmHg for 5 min before 30 min of ischemia. Myocardial lactate contents were measured at the baseline and at the end of stretch.
Results: Stretch preconditioning reduced infarct size compared with control (15.9 + 2.2 versus 39.1+3.0%, respectively: P<0.001). GSK-3β phosphorylation and PI3K-dependent protein kinase B (PKB) phosphorylation increased by mechanical stretch and completely blocked by wortmannin (a PI3K inhibitor). Hearts treated with lithium before ischemia, mimicked the protective effects of SIC. Furthermore, SIC was abrogated by wortmannin.
Conclusion: These findings indicate that inhibition of GSK-3β plays an important role in SIC, and that this is regulated by the PI3K/PKB pathway.