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Updated: Nov 19, 2025

Protection of H9c2 Myocardial Cells from Oxidative Stress by Crocetin via PINK1/Parkin Pathway-Mediated Mitophagy
Published on: May 26, 2023
Myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury is alleviated by curcumin-peptide hydrogel via upregulating autophagy and
Chi-Lin Liao1, Yang Liu2, Meng-Zhao Huang1
1Department of Cardiology, People's Hospital of Baise, Baise, 533000, People's Republic of China.
Background:
Ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) is an important factor limiting the success of cardiac reperfusion therapy. Curcumin has a significant cardioprotective effect against IRI, can inhibit ventricular remodeling induced by pressure load or MI, and improve cardiac function. However, the poor water solubility and low bioavailability of curcumin restrict its clinical application.
Methods:
In this study, we prepared and evaluated a curcumin-hydrogel (cur-hydrogel) to reduce cardiomyocyte apoptosis and reactive oxygen species formation induced by hypoxia-reoxygenation injury, promote autophagy, and reduce mitochondrial damage by maintaining the phosphorylation of Cx43.
Results:
Meanwhile, cur-hydrogel can restore cardiac function, inhibit myocardial collagen deposition and apoptosis, and activate JAK2/STAT3 pathway to alleviate myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats.
Conclusions:
The purpose of this study is to elucidate the protective effects of cur-hydrogel on myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury by regulating apoptosis, autophagy, and mitochondrial injury in vitro and in vivo, which lays a new theoretical and experimental foundation for the prevention and reduction of IRI.

