The Effect of Hepcidin on Cardiac Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury

Abstract

Background/aim: Hepcidin is the main hormone in the regulation of iron metabolism which is also released from the heart. The aim of our study was to investigate the effects of hepcidin on the cardiac ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Materials and methods: In this study, 12 Wistar albino rats were divided into two groups (n = 6 each): 1) The ischemia-reperfusion group (Group 1); 2) Hepcidin-treated group (Group 2). Rat hearts were perfused on Langendorff system with KH (Krebs-Henseleit) and subjected to 30 min stabilization, 30 min global ischemia, and 30 min reperfusion. Hepcidin (^- M) was applied to group 2 at the onset of ischemia. Malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), and nitric oxide (NOx) levels were measured in heart tissue for NOx levels, viscosity, and ion content of perfusate were collected before ischemia and the 1st, 5th, 10th, 20th, and 30th minutes of reperfusion were determined. Apoptosis in heart was evaluated.

Results: NOx and MDA levels significantly decreased in heart tissue in Hepcidin-treated group. NOx and viscosity of perfusate were not significantly different between the groups. Perfusate iron, calcium, magnesium, potassium, and sodium levels in group 2 were more homogeneous. Histologic structures of heart tissue were regularly in group 2. Apoptosis were increased in control group compared to hepcidin treated group.

Conclusion: These results suggest that hepcidin may have a protective effect on the heart for the ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Keywords:

• hepcidin
• ischemia
• reperfusion
• heart
• caspase-9
• apoptosis

DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This study was funded by Scientific Researches Project Unit at Gazi University (Project number 01/2010-56). The authors thank Prof. Dr. Yusuf Kadioğlu, from the Geology Research and Application Center at the Ankara University, Turkey, for his support for ions analyses.