The aim of this study was to observe whether necroptosis is involved in the process of cardiac hypertrophy induced by pressure overload. SD rats underwent transverse abdominal aortic constriction (TAC) operation for establishing cardiac hypertrophy model. The structure and function of the left ventricle of rats were evaluated via echocardiography, left ventricular mass index, the expression of markers of cardiac hypertrophy and histological detection. Real-time PCR and Western blot were used to measure the gene and protein expression of receptor interacting protein kinase 1 and 3 (RIPK1 and RIPK3, the necroptosis markers) respectively. Four weeks after TAC operation, rat model for cardiac hypertrophy was established. The experimental data showed that the gene and protein expressions of RIPK1 and RIPK3 in the rat heart hypertrophic tissues after TAC for 4 weeks were increased significantly compared with those in the sham group. HE staining showed cardiomyocytes injury and hypertrophy in the hearts of TAC rat models. By transmission electron microscope, we observed that mitochondria of cardiomyocytes were damaged seriously in the TAC models. Treatment with losartan used, the selective antagonist of angiotensinⅡtypeⅠreceptor could improve the cardiac function of TAC rats. Moreover, losartan treatment decreased the expression of RIPK1 and RIPK3 in heart tissues of TAC rats. The results suggest that necroptosis occurrs in the process of cardiac hypertrophy with pressure overload, and losartan could alleviate the cardiac hypertrophy and inhibit necroptosis.
Patients with coronavirus disease 2019 may have systemic symptoms of varying degrees. These symptoms are related to inflammatory response, massive release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and cytokine storm. In recent years, programmed necrosis, as a controllable type of necrosis, is considered to be an important factor that mediates inflammation. Recent studies have shown that programmed necrosis is involved in the inflammatory response and pulmonary fibrosis of coronavirus disease 2019. This article mainly reviews the mechanism of programmed necrosis, its participation in the occurrence and development of coronavirus disease 2019, and the research progress of programmed necrosis inhibitors in the treatment of coronavirus disease 2019, aiming to provide a certain basis for the diagnosis and treatment of coronavirus disease 2019.