Suxiao Jiuxin Pills Prevent Ventricular Fibrillation from Inhibiting L-type Calcium Currents CaV1.2 in vivo and in vitro

OBJECTIVE

To investigate whether Suxiao Jiuxin Pills (SJP), a Chinese herbal remedy, is an anti-ventricular fibrillation (VF) agent.

METHODS

VF was induced by isoproterenolol (ISO) intraperitoneal injection followed by electrical pacing in mice and rabbits. The effects of SJP on the L-type calcium channel current (CaV1.2), voltage-dependent sodium channel current (I_Na), rapid and slow delayed rectifier potassium channel current (I_Kr and I_Ks, respectively) were studied by whole-cell patch-clamp method. Computer simulation was implemented to incorporate the experimental data of SJP effects on the CaV1.2 current into the action potential (AP) and pseudo-electrocardiography (pseudo-ECG) models.

RESULTS

SJP prevented VF induction and reduced VF durations significantly in mice and rabbits. Patch-clamp experiments revealed that SJP decreased the peak amplitude of the CaV1.2 current with a half maximal concentration (IC₅₀) value of 16.9 mg/L (SJP-30 mg/L, -32.8 ± 6.1 pA; Verapamil, -16.2 ±1.8 pA; vs. control, -234.5 ±16.7 pA, P<0.01, respectively). The steady-state activation curve, inactivation curve, and the recovery from inactivation of the CaV1.2 current were not shifted significantly. Specifically, SJP did not altered I_Na, I_Kr, and I_Ks currents significantly (SJP vs. control, P>0.05). Computer simulation showed that SJP-reduced CaV1.2 current shortened the AP duration, transiting VF into sinus rhythm in pseudo-ECG.

CONCLUSION

SJP reduced VF via inhibiting the CaV1.2 current with in vivo, in vitro, and in silico studies, which provide experimental basis for SJP anti-VF clinical application.

Protective Mechanisms of Suxiao Jiuxin Pills () on Myocardial Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury in vivo and in vitro

OBJECTIVE

To study the protective mechanism of Chinese medicine Suxiao Jiuxin Pills (, SXJ) on myocardial ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) injury.

METHODS

Mouse myocardial I/R injury model was created by 30-min coronary artery occlusion followed by 24-h reperfusion, the mice were then divided into the sham group (n=7), the I/R group (n=13), the tirofiban group (TIR, positive drug treatment, n=9), and the SXJ group (n=11). Infarct size (IS), risk region (RR), and left ventricle (LV) were analyzed with double staining methods. In addition, H9C2 rat cardiomyocytes were cultured with Na₂S₂O₄ to simulate I/R in vitro. The phosphorylation of extracellular regulated protein kinases1/2 (ERK1/2), protein kinase B (AKT), glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK3β), and protein expression of GATA4 in nucleus were detected with Western blot assay.

RESULTS

The ratio of IS/RR in SXJ and TIR groups were lower than that in I/R group (SXJ, 22.4% ±6.6%; TIR, 20.8%±3.3%; vs. I/R, 35.4%±3.7%, P<0.05, respectively). In vitro experiments showed that SXJ increased the Na₂S₂O₄-enhanced phosphorylation of AKT/GSK3β and nuclear expression of GATA4.

CONCLUSION

SXJ prevents myocardial I/R injury in mice by activating AKT/GSK3β and GATA4 signaling pathways.

[Clinical characteristics and combined medication of Suxiao Jiuxin Pills in 16 856 elderly patients in real world study]

From 2001 to 2015, medical data of 16 856 elderly patients aged 65 years and over who used Suxiao Jiuxin Pills in the information system of 37 tertiary A-level hospitals were collected. After standardized analysis, it was found that the average age of 16 856 elderly patients was 72.48 years, and the main admission departments were department of cardiology(19.30%) and geriatric department(9.77%). Generally, 61.96% of the degree of illness is average, and the average hospitalized days were 16.16 days; 47.97% of the patients were diagnosed as coronary heart disease by Western medicine, and 5.86% of the patients were diagnosed as Qi deficiency and blood stasis; The more common combination of Western medicine was isosorbide nitrate(61.15%), Aspirin Enteric Coated Tablets(50.77%) and Gansu(36.88%), the combination of traditional Chinese medicine is Compound Danshen Dropping Pills/Tablets(19.13%), Xuesaitong Capsules/Injection(15.01%), Shexiang Baoxin Pills(12.29%); the commonly used Western medicine is vasodilator(78.39%), Chinese medicine is Huoxue Huayu(82.04%), and the commonly used Western medicine is Aaspirin Enteric Coated Tablets+Isosorbide Nitrate. The author intends to explore the valuable clinical characteristics and the clues of the combined medication scheme, and find that the application of Suxiao Jiuxin Pills basically conforms to the instructions, conforms to the characteristics of the elderly with many common diseases and complicated concurrent diseases; the combination of drugs and the indications-coronary heart disease guidelines are consistent, with certain rules to follow, and expand the recognition of the clinical application of Suxiao Jiuxin Pills, and provide clinical diagnosis and treatment ideas.