NO66 overexpression rescues ethanol-induced cell apoptosis in human AC16 cardiomyocytes by suppressing PTEN and activating the PI3K/Akt signaling

Previously, Nucleolar protein 66 (NO66) was reported to be closely associated with alcohol exposure-induced injury. However, the role of NO66 in alcohol-induced cytotoxicity remains unclear. In this study, we explored the potential effect and mechanism of NO66 on ethanol-induced Apoptosis in human AC16 cardiomyocytes. The AC16 cell lines with NO66 and Phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) overexpression were constructed. Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8), Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) assay, Annexin V-FITC/PI staining, and flow cytometry were used to evaluate the cell viability, membrane damage, and Apoptosis, respectively. Quantitative Real-Time PCR (qRT-PCR) and western blot analysis were applied to measure mRNA and protein expression. The results showed that acute ethanol exposure markedly augmented cytotoxicity and reduced NO66 level in AC16 cardiomyocytes. Overexpression of NO66 partially reversed ethanol-induced Apoptosis. NO66 upregulation reversed the decrease in phosphorylation of protein kinase B (Akt) and B-cell lymphoma-2/Bcl-2-associated x (Bcl-2/Bax) ratio and the increase in PTEN, p53, and Caspase-3 activity induced by ethanol treatment. Meanwhile, the application of PI3K Inhibitor (LY294002) and PTEN overexpression attenuated the inhibition efficiency of NO66 on cell Apoptosis. In addition, PTEN overexpression weakened the effect of NO66 on PI3K/Akt activation, without affecting the level of NO66. Our data suggested that NO66 overexpression might play an anti-apoptotic role in ethanol-induced cell injury via reducing PTEN and upregulating the PI3K/Akt pathway.