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Zhu JX, Ling W, Xue C, Zhou Z, Zhang YS, Yan C, Wu MP. Higenamine attenuates cardiac fibroblast abstract and fibrosis via inhibition of TGF-β1/Smad signaling. Eur J Pharmacol 2021; 900:174013. [PMID: 33766620 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2021.174013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2020] [Revised: 02/21/2021] [Accepted: 02/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE Higenamine (HG), is one of the main active components in many widely used Chinese herbs, and a common ingredient of health products in Europe and North America. Several groups, including our own, have previously shown the beneficial effects of HG against cardiomyocyte death during acute ischemic damage. However, the effect of HG on chronic cardiac remodeling, such as cardiac fibrosis, remains unknown. OBJECTIVE Herein, we aim to investigate the role of HG in cardiac fibrosis in vivo as well as its cellular and molecular mechanisms. METHODS AND RESULTS Chronic pressure overload with transverse aortic constriction (TAC) significantly increased cardiac hypertrophy, fibrosis, and cardiac dysfunction in mice, which were significantly attenuated by HG. Consistently, cardiac fibrosis induced by the chronic infusion of isoproterenol (ISO), was also significantly reduced by HG. Interestingly, our results showed that HG had no effect on adult mouse CM hypertrophy in vitro. However, HG suppressed the activation of cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) in vitro. Furthermore, TGF-β1-induced expression of ACTA2, a marker of fibroblast activation, was significantly suppressed by HG. Concomitantly, HG inhibited TGF-β1-induced phosphorylation of Smad2/3 in CFs. HG also reduced the expression of extracellular matrix molecules such as collagen I and collagen III. To our surprise, the inhibitory effect of HG on CFs activation was independent of the activation of the beta2 adrenergic receptor (β2-AR) that is known to mediate the effect of HG on antagonizing CMs apoptosis. CONCLUSION Our findings suggest that HG ameliorates pathological cardiac fibrosis and dysfunction at least partially by suppressing TGF-β1/Smad signaling and CFs activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin-Xing Zhu
- Department of Cardiology, Shanghai Municipal Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 274 Zhijiang RD, Shanghai, 200071, China; Department of Emergency Intensive Care Unit, Traditional Chinese Hospital of LuAn, Anhui University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 76 Renmin RD, LuAn Anhui, 237001, China
| | - Wang Ling
- Department of Cardiology, Shanghai Municipal Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 274 Zhijiang RD, Shanghai, 200071, China
| | - Chao Xue
- Aab Cardiovascular Research Institute, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, 601 Elmwood Ave Box CVRI, Rochester, NY, 14642, United States
| | - Zhen Zhou
- Department of Cardiology, Shanghai Municipal Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 274 Zhijiang RD, Shanghai, 200071, China
| | - Yi-Shuai Zhang
- Aab Cardiovascular Research Institute, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, 601 Elmwood Ave Box CVRI, Rochester, NY, 14642, United States
| | - Chen Yan
- Aab Cardiovascular Research Institute, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, 601 Elmwood Ave Box CVRI, Rochester, NY, 14642, United States
| | - Mei-Ping Wu
- Department of Cardiology, Shanghai Municipal Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 274 Zhijiang RD, Shanghai, 200071, China; Aab Cardiovascular Research Institute, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, 601 Elmwood Ave Box CVRI, Rochester, NY, 14642, United States.
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