Stimulation of mitochondrial biogenesis and autophagy by LPS protects against apoptosis in the rat cardiomyocyte

Adult rat ventricular cardiomyocytes in culture respond to sub-lethal doses of LPS with increased apoptosis. Our laboratory and others have demonstrated a protective phenotype for neonatal rat ventricular cardiomyocytes (NRVM's) to LPS. Concentrations of LPS far exceeding those necessary to induce TNF-α release do not induce apoptosis in the neonatal cells, although these cells are fully capable or instigating apoptosis in response to multiple other stimuli.