Program and book of abstracts 1st conference

1 st Conference of European Academy for Molecular Hydrogen Research in Biomedicine “Hydrogen for Biomedicine“

Barancik Miroslav

Is a Senior Scientist at Centre of Experimental Medicine of Slovak Academy of Sciences (CEM SAS). Current position: Director of Institute for Heart Research CEM SAS. His scientific activities are focused on intracellular and redox signaling and study of molecular mechanisms underlying the responses of animal cells to pathological conditions. During his scientific career, he has published more than100 articles in peer-reviewed scientific journals and these publications were cited more than 1,500-times.

THE EFFECT OF THERAPIES ON MODULATION OF MATRIX METALOPROTEINASES AT PATHOLOGICAL SITUATIONS Institute for Heart Research, Center of Experimental Medicine, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia BACKGROUND: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are enzymes that play an important role in degradation and remodeling of extracellular matrix. These proteins are also suggested to play an important role in pathogenesis of several diseases. OBJECTIVES: The current study investigated the potential role of MMPs in pathology of radiation-induced cardiovascular toxicity in rats. Moreover, the effects of molecular hydrogen onMMPs during development of effects induced by mediastinal irradiation (MI) were studied. Determined were also effects of molecular hydrogen on some regulatory proteins (superoxide dismutase, Akt kinase). METHODS: In the study were used male Wistar rats exposed to mediastinal irradiation and/or molecular hydrogen therapy. Samples of heart tissue or plasma were used for further investigations. MMPs activities were determined by gelatin zymography, protein levels of MMPs and specific proteins were determined by Western blot analysis. RESULTS: We found that effects of MI treatment were associated with significant changes of circulating 72 kDa MMP-2 activities. These activities reached maximal levels in plasma collected 2 days after exposure of animals to irradiation. Effects of irradiation on MMP 2 activities were transient and with prolongation of time were reduced. Application of hydrogen during irradiation reduced the negative effects of irradiation on MMP-2 and these effects were associated with modulation of Akt kinase activation and superoxide dismutase protein levels. CONCLUSIONS: Application of molecular hydrogen protected against mediastinal irradiation-induced negative effects on MMP-2. Supported by grants: APVV-18-0548, APVV-19-0317, APVV-15-0376.

28