Reduced Na+-K+-ATPase activity has close relationship with cardiomyocyte death. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) also plays an important role in cardiac cell damage. It has been proved that Na+-K+-ATPase and ROS form a feed-forward amplifier. The aim of this study was to explore whether DRm217, a proved Na+/K+-ATPase's DR-region specific monoclonal antibody and direct activator, could disrupt Na+-K+-ATPase/ROS amplifier and protect cardiac cells from ROS-induced injury. We found that DRm217 protected myocardial cells against hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced cardiac cell injury and mitochondrial dysfunction. DRm217 also alleviated the effect of H2O2 on inhibition of Na+-K+-ATPase activity, Na+-K+-ATPase cell surface expression, and Src phosphorylation. H2O2-treatment increased intracellular ROS, mitochondrial ROS and induced intracellular Ca2+, mitochondrial Ca2+ overload. DRm217 closed Na+-K+-ATPase/ROS amplifier, alleviated Ca2+ accumulation and finally inhibited ROS and mitochondrial ROS generation. These novel results may help us to understand the important role of the Na+-K+-ATPase in oxidative stress and oxidative stress-related disease.
Keywords: DRm217; Myocardial cell injury; Na+/K+-ATPase; ROS.