ABSTRACT
AIM: To explore the effect of L-carnitine on nuclear factor of activated T-cells, cytoplasmic 3 (NFATc3) in cardiomyocytes under H2O2 stimulation.METHODS: Primary cultured neonatal rat myocardial cells were stimulated by H2 O2 at concentration of 200μmol/L for 12 h to induce oxidative stress injury.In treatment group, L-carni-tine and cyclosporin A ( CsA) , a specific inhibitor of calcineurin ( CaN) , were administered 30 min prior to H2 O2 stimula-tion.After treatment, total, cytoplasmic and nuclear NFATc3 protein levels were determined by Western blotting.The method of immunofluoresence was used to evaluate the distribution of NFATc3.RESULTS: H2 O2 treatment produced no effect on the expression of total NFATc3, but caused its translocation from the cytosolic to nuclear compartment, which was greatly blunted by L-carnitine pretreatment.CONCLUSION:L-carnitine antagonized oxidative stress injury via alleviating NFATc3 nuclear translocation.