OBJECTIVETo investigate the protective effects of c-jun antisense gene recombinant transfection on rat cardiomyocytes inflicted by hypoxia and burn serum.

METHODSCardiomyocytes from Wistar rat were isolated and cultured before being divided into normal control (C), transfection (T) and non-transfection (NT) groups. C-jun antisense gene recombinant was constructed and transfected into cardiomyocytes, which were then treated by hypoxia and burn serum in T group, while those in NT group were simply treated by hypoxia and burn serum. The changes in the c-jun mRNA expression were determined by RT-PCR at 1, 3 and 7 hours after the cardiomyocytes being stimulated, and the changes in the expressions of c-jun protein, troponin-T (TnT) and beta-tubulin were assayed by Western blot. The morphological changes in the cardiomyocytes were observed by LM and EM.

RESULTS1) The expressions of c-jun mRNA and protein in the NT group were increased evidently when compared with those in C and T groups. 2) The expressions of TnT and beta-tubulin in NT group were decreased evidently in contrast to those in C and T groups. In addition, there exhibited evident structural derangement, dissolution and fragmentation to granules of cardiomyocytes in NT group, while the myocardial cytoskeletal structure was well preserved with scarce fragmentation and dissolution in T group.

CONCLUSIONIncreased expression of c-jun in rat cardiomyocytes resulting in myocardial injury could be induced by combined treatment of hypoxia and burn serum, while c-jun antisense gene recombinant transfection might protect rat cardiomyocytes from injury.