Effects of EMRE on apoptosis of cardiomyocyte induced by high glucose and saturated fatty acids

AIM To investigate the expression of EMRE and its regulatory role in apoptosis of H9C2 cells induced by high glucose and saturated fatty acids (HGHF). METHODSH9C2 cells were divided into four groups: control+siCtrl group (5 mmol/L glucose, 20 mmol/L mannitol and siCtrl, incubated 24 h), control+si-EMRE group (5 mmol/L glucose, 20 mmol/L mannitol and si-EMRE, incubated 24 h), HGHF+siCtrl group (25 mmol/L glucose, 500 μmol/L palmitate sodium and siCtrl, incubated 24 h), and HGHF+si-EMRE group (25 mmol/L glucose, 500 μmol/L palmitate sodium and si-EMRE, incubated 24 h). The mRNA and protein expression levels of EMRE were detected by qRT-PCR and Western blotting. Cell apoptosis was analyzed using flow cytometry, the expressions of caspase3 and caspase9 were detected by Western blotting and the intracellular ROS levels were assayed using fluorescence probe DCFH-DA. RESULTSHGHF induced up-regulation of EMRE in H9C2 cells both at mRNA and protein levels. EMRE was critical for HGHF-induced cell apoptosis and ROS production. Knocking down of EMRE using si-RNA significantly inhibited HGHF-induced cell apoptosis and ROS production. CONCLUSIONEMRE is critical for HGHF-induced cell apoptosis.