Astragaloside IV Exerts a Myocardial Protective Effect against Cardiac Hypertrophy in Rats, Partially via Activating the Nrf2/HO-1 Signaling Pathway

Figure 7

Knockdown of the Nrf2 gene abolishes the protective effect of ASIV against Ang II-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. (a-f) H9c2 cardiomyocytes were transfected with Nrf2-negative control shRNA (NC) or Nrf2-shRNA-3 (shRNA) and then stimulated with Ang II (1 μM) or ASIV (100 μM) for 24 h. (a, b) Representative images and quantification of the cardiomyocyte area evaluated after α-actinin immunostaining. Scale bar, 20 μm. . (c) The mRNA expression of ANP was detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR. (d, e) The protein expression of ANP was detected by Western blotting in H9c2 cardiomyocytes. (f, g) ROS levels detected by DCFH-DA in the indicated groups ( samples per experimental group, magnification: 200x). (h, i) The mRNA expression of Nrf2 and HO-1 was detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR. (j-l) The protein expression of Nrf2 and HO-1 was detected by Western blotting in H9c2 cardiomyocytes. vs. the control+NC group, ^# vs. the Ang II+NC group.

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

(e)

(f)

(g)

(h)

(i)

(j)

(k)

(l)