Basic and clinical studies have demonstrated that the
free radical scavenger edaravone has cytoprotective effects on acute
myocardial infarction (AMI) but the underlying mechanism is not fully understood. The aim of this research is to explore the effect of
edaravone on the apoptotic process involving the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway. AMI in rats was established by left anterior descending coronary artery
ligation. Two hours after AMI model established rats were treated with
edaravone,
edaravone plus
AG490, physiological saline, respectively. We detected
antioxidant effects by
reduced glutathione (GSH),
glutathione S-transferase (GST), and
Glutathione Peroxidase (GSHPx) Activity. The expressions of t-JAK2, p-JAK2, t-STAT3, p-STAT3 and cleaved
caspase-3 were examined by western blot. The
mRNA levels for Bcl-2, Bax, Fas, and FasL were measured by RT-PCR and apoptosis was assessed by TUNEL.
Edaravone significantly improved hemodynamics after AMI (p < 0.05) and reduced the total
infarct volumes (p < 0.05). Compared with
Sham rats, the
mRNA of Bax, Fas, and FasL increased in different degrees in the AMI group, however, the
mRNA of Bcl-2 and the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax decreased, especially the myocardial apoptosis index significantly increased in AMI hearts (all p < 0.05).
After treatment with
edaravone, the
mRNA levels of Bcl-2 and the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax significantly upregulated whereas Bax, Fas, FasL apparently decreased, and the
protein expressions of p-JAK2 and p-STAT3 dramatically increased (p < 0.05). In addition, cotreatment with JAK2 inhibitor
AG490 abolished the effects of
edaravone. We conclude that
edaravone attenuated myocardial apoptosis induced by AMI via JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway.