Effects of Lentivirus Mediated Sema3A Gene Transfer on Cardiac Myocyte Apoptosis

Objective:To examine the effects of lentivirus mediated Sema3A gene transfer on cardiac myocyte apoptosis.Methods:Cultured rat neonatal cardiomyocytes were exposed to hypoxic condition for 0.5-24 h,and the expressing of Sema3A was measured.Following the Sema3A gene transfer by lentivirus,the expression of cleaved caspase-3 protein in cardiomyocyte was detected by Western blot,and the changes in cardiomyocyte apoptosis were detected by TUNEL.Results: Hypoxia for 0.5 to 24 h induced significant decrease in expressing of Sema3A in a time-dependent manner.Lentivirus-mediated Sema3A overexpression significantly increased the level of cleaved caspase-3 protein(P0.05) and apoptosis(P0.05).Lentivirus-mediated Sema3A inhibition in cardiomyocytes exposed to hypoxic condition for 2h significantly decreased the level of cleaved caspase-3 protein(P0.05) and apoptosis(P0.05).Conclusions: Sema3A induced cardiac myocyte apoptosis.Cardiomyocytes may depress the expressing of Sema3A for self-protection from hypoxia-induced apoptosis.