Protective effects of ghrelin on rat coronary microvascular endothelial cells

AIM: To investigate the effects of ghrelin on the proliferation, migration and nitric oxide (NO) secretion in rat cardiac microvascular endothelial cells (CMECs). METHODS: CMECs were isolated from rat left ventricles by enzyme digestion and cultured in fibronectin-coated dishes. The obtained CMECs were identified by Dil-ac-LDL phagocytosis and collected cells were divided into control group, groups with different doses of ghrelin (1×10-9 mol/L, 1×10-8 mol/L, 1×10-7 mol/L) and ghrelin + antagon LY294002 group (1×10-7 mol/L ghrelin+20 mol/L LY294002). After 24 h exposure, proliferation capability was measured by MTT assay, migration of CMECs was detected by transwell assay and NO secretion of CMECs was measured by nitrate reduction. RESULTS: CMECs were successfully obtained by enzyme digestion and ghrelin at 10-8-10-7 mol/L promoted proliferation, migration and NO secretion of CMECs (P<0.05). However, LY294002 inhibited the ghrelin-promoting proliferation and migration of CMECs and decreased ghrelin-stimulating NO secretion of CMECs. CONCLUSION: Ghrelin can promote proliferation, migration and NO secretion of rat coronary microvascular endothelial cells at some dose. This may be related to the activation of AKT/PI3K signal pathway.