Abstract: AIM: To investigate the effects of antisense oligodeoxynucleotides (AS-ODN) on Egr-1 protein expression in cultured endothelial cells after anoxia/reoxygenation (A/R). METHODS: The cultured cardiac microvascular endothelial cells (CMECs) A/R model were established. The cells were randomly divided into one of six groups: Con, A/R, Lip, AS, S, and Sc. Levels of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were measured to assess the degree of injury and inflammation of endothelial cells. Egr-1 protein expression was examined by Western-blot analyses. Cell morphology and cell viability were observed to assess the degree of injury. RESULTS: Treatment with Egr-1 AS-ODN significantly reduced Egr-1 protein expression and attenuated injury and inflammation of endothelial cells caused by A/R evidenced by the the decrease in leakage of LDH, the increase in SOD activity, the decrease in MDA generation, and release of TNF-α from cultured CMECs. CONCLUSION: AS-ODN can protect cultured CMECs from A/R injury, by inhibiting the overexpression of Egr-1. Egr-1 was related to the A/R injury of CMECs.

Key words: antisense oligodeoxynucleotides, cardiac microvascular endothelial cells, anoxia/ reoxygenation injury, Egr-1