Mitochondrial ATP production is necessary for activation of the extracellular-signal-regulated kinases during ischaemia/reperfusion in rat myocyte-derived H9c2 cells

To search for the stimuli involved in activating the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) during ischaemia and reperfusion, we simulated the event in a system in vitro conducive to continuous and non-invasive measurements of several major perturbations that occur at the time: O₂ tension, mitochondrial respiration and energy status. Using H9c2 cells (a clonal line derived from rat heart), we found that activation of the extracellular signal-regulated MAPKs (ERKs) on reoxygenation was abolished if the mitochondria were inhibited prior to and during reoxygenation. Re-introduction of O₂per se is therefore not sufficient to activate the ERKs. Recovery and maintenance of cellular ATP levels by mitochondrial respiration is necessary, although ATP recovery alone is not sufficient. ERK activation by H₂O₂, but not phorbol esters, was also sensitive to mitochondrial inhibition. Thus, reoxygenation and H₂O₂-mediated oxidative stress share a mechanism of ERK activation that is ATP- or mitochondrion-dependent, and this common feature suggests that the reoxygenation response is mediated by reactive oxygen species. A correlation between ERK activity and ATP levels was also found during the anoxic phase of ischaemia, an effect that was not due to substrate limitation for the kinases. Our results reveal the importance of cellular metabolism in ERK activation, and introduce ATP as a novel participant in the mechanisms underlying the ERK cascade.