Upregulation of Heme Oxygenase-1 by Hemin Alleviates Sepsis-Induced Muscle Wasting in Mice

Figure 6

The levels of CLP-induced muscle atrophy markers were elevated, and HO-1 suppressed the mRNA and protein expression of atrogin-1 and MuRF1. (a) HO-1 inhibited the mRNA expression of atrogin-1 at 1, 4, and 7 days after surgery ( vs. CLP at 1 day, vs. CLP at 4 days, vs. CLP; ). (b) HO-1 suppressed the mRNA expression of MuRF1 during sepsis at 1, 4, and 7 days after surgery ( vs. CLP at 1 day, vs. CLP at 4 days, vs. CLP at 7 days; ). (c, d) Western blot analysis of levels of the atrogin-1 and MuRF1 proteins. Results of the corresponding semiquantitative analysis of levels of the HO-1 protein based on the optical density measured using the ImageJ software; the data are presented as means ± SEM and are representative of three separate experiments ( vs. control, vs. CLP). The protein expression of atrogin-1 and MuRF1 was upregulated in the CLP group. Hemin suppressed the protein expression of these two ligases; however, ZnPP administration abrogated the protective effects of hemin (1 day after surgery).

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