HIF-1α mediates anti-apoptotic effects of simvastatin in neonatal cardiomyocytes

AIM:To investigate the effect of mimicked ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) model of primary cultured cardiomyocytes on the expression of HIF-1α and the role of HIF-1α in cardioprotection of simvastatin. METHODS: Primary cultured neonatal cardiomyocytes were used in this study and Western blot was applied to determine the protein expression level. Ischemia was mimicked by culturing cells in HEPES buffered solution and low oxygen circumstance (10 ml/L oxygen), and reperfusion was mimicked by restoring culture medium and oxygen. RESULTS: HIF-1α expression was induced dramatically by mimicked ischemia and I/R. I/R led to better induction than ischemia alone. Pretreatment with 2 μmol/L simvastatin inhibited HIF-1α induction and overexpression of HIF-1α diminished the apoptosis-inhibiting effects of simvastatin. CONCLUSION: Mimicked I/R induces expression of HIF-1α, which is significantly inhibited by simvastatin pretreatment. Inhibition of HIF-1α contributes to the anti-apoptotic effects of simvastatin.