To explore the effect of crocin on gastric mucosal epithelial cells injury induced by clopidogrel and the molecular mechanism.

The gastric mucosal epithelial cells GES-1 were divided into control group, model group (0.5 mmol ·L^-1 clopidogrel), and crocin low, medium, and high concentration (0.1, 1, 10 nmol·L^-1) groups, and additionally divided into anti-miR-NC group, miR-877-5p inhibitor group, crocin (10 nmol·L^-1) + miR-NC group, crocin (10 nmol·L^-1) + miR-877-5p mimic group. MTT and colony formation assays were used to detect cell survival rate and the number of colony formation. Flow cytometry was used to detect cell apoptosis. qRT-PCR was used to detect the expression level of miR-877-5p. Western blot was used to detect the expression of occludin, zonula occluden-1 (ZO-1), and p-P38 protein.

Compared with the control group, the survival rate and the number of cell clone formation in model group were decreased, the apoptosis rate and the expression of miR-877-5p and p-P38 were increased, and the expressions of occludin and ZO-1 were decreased (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the survival rate and the number of cell clone formation in the crocin medium and high concentration groups were increased, the apoptosis rate and the expression of miR-877-5p and p-P38 were decreased, and the expression of occludin and ZO-1 were increased (P<0.05). Compared with the anti-miR-NC group, the survival rate, the number of cell clone formation, and expression of occludin and ZO-1 were increased in the miR-877-5p inhibitor group, and apoptosis rate and expression of miR-877-5p and p-P38 were decreased (P<0.05).Compared with the crocin+miR-NC group, the survival rate, the number of cell clone formation, and the expression of occludin and ZO-1 were decreased in the crocin+miR-877-5p mimic group, while the apoptosis rate and the expression of miR-877-5p and p-P38 were increased (P<0.05).

Crocin may inhibit clopidogrel-induced apoptosis of gastric epithelial cells and promote cell proliferation by down-regulating miR-877-5p.