Fig. 5From: Empagliflozin attenuates cardiac microvascular ischemia/reperfusion injury through improving mitochondrial homeostasis Fis1 mutant transfection prevents empagliflozin from protecting HCAEC mitochondria. HCAECs were subjected to 45 min of hypoxia followed by two hours of reoxygenation to induce sI/R injury in vitro. The cells were incubated with empagliflozin (EMPA, 10 µM) for 12 h before sI/R injury. HCAECs were transfected with a Fis1 phosphorylation-mimetic mutant (Fis1T34D) to activate mitochondrial fission in empagliflozin-treated sI/R-injured HCAECs, or were transfected with a Fis1 phosphorylation-defective mutant (Fis1T34A) to inhibit mitochondrial fission in sI/R-treated HCAECs. A,B The MMP was measured using an MMP assay kit with the JC-10 fluorescence probe. C,D The mtROS levels in HCAECs were measured using a Mitochondrial ROS Detection Assay Kit. E ATP production was measured with an ELISA. F. The mPTP opening rate was determined with a tetramethylrhodamine ethyl ester fluorescence assay. G–I Western blotting was used to assess ET-1 and p-eNOS protein levels in HCAECs following sI/R injury or empagliflozin treatment. J,K FITC-dextran clearance and TER assays were performed to determine the alterations of endothelial barrier function and integrity. Data are shown as mean ± SEM, n = ten independent cell isolations per group. *p < 0.05Back to article page