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Ameliorate Effects of Li-Fu Formula on IL-6-Mediated Cardiac Hypertrophy in Hamsters Fed with a Hyper-Cholesterol
Yi-Chang Cheng1, Chieh-His Wu, Wei-Wen Kuo
1Emergency Department of Taichung Veterans General Hospital, China Medical University, Taiwan.
Insights
Li-Fu formula effectively reduces cardiac hypertrophy and associated signaling pathways in hamsters fed a hypercholesterolemia diet. This suggests Li-Fu formula may offer protective benefits for cardiovascular diseases linked to hypertrophy.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Research
- Pharmacology
- Traditional Chinese Medicine
Background:
- Hypercholesterolemia is a significant risk factor for cardiac hypertrophy, a condition characterized by heart muscle enlargement.
- Dietary factors, particularly high cholesterol, play a crucial role in the development of cardiac hypertrophy.
- Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying diet-induced cardiac hypertrophy is essential for developing effective interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the efficacy of the Li-Fu formula in mitigating cardiac hypertrophy induced by a hypercholesterolemia diet.
- To evaluate the impact of Li-Fu formula on key molecular markers and signaling pathways associated with cardiac hypertrophy.
- To explore the potential of Li-Fu formula as a therapeutic agent for hypertrophy-associated cardiovascular diseases.
Main Methods:
- Twenty-four male Golden Syrian hamsters were divided into control, cholesterol-fed, and Li-Fu formula-treated groups for 2 months.
- Histopathological analysis and Western blotting were employed to assess myocardial architecture and protein expression.
- Key cardiac hypertrophy markers, including natriuretic peptides and signaling molecules (STAT3, MEK5, ERK5), were quantified.
Main Results:
- The cholesterol-fed group exhibited significantly increased heart weight/body weight and left ventricle/body weight ratios.
- Li-Fu formula administration significantly reduced these weight ratios compared to the cholesterol group.
- Li-Fu formula significantly decreased elevated levels of atrial natriuretic peptide, brain natriuretic peptide, interleukin-6, STAT3, MEK5, and ERK5 signaling molecules.
Conclusions:
- Li-Fu formula demonstrates significant protective effects against cardiac hypertrophy induced by a hypercholesterolemia diet in hamsters.
- The formula effectively modulates eccentric hypertrophy signaling and non-cardiomyocyte proliferation pathways.
- Li-Fu formula holds promise for the prevention or treatment of cardiovascular diseases associated with cardiac hypertrophy.
Abstract:
Hypercholesterolemia diets are considered as major sources to cause cardiac hypertrophy. This study intends to evaluate the effects of Li-Fu formula on cardiac hypertrophy induced by hypercholesterolemia diet. Twenty-four male Golden Syrian hamsters were randomly divided into control, cholesterol and Li-Fu formula groups and fed with different experimental diets for 2 months. Histopathological analysis and western blotting were performed to measure the myocardial architecture, and various cardiac hypertrophy-associated molecules in the excised left ventricle from hamsters. The ratios of whole heart weight/body weight (BW) and left ventricle weight/BW were significantly higher in the cholesterol group but significantly lower in the Li-Fu formula group. The protein levels of both atrial natriuretic peptide and brain natriuretic peptide were significantly increased in the cholesterol group but significantly reduced in the Li-Fu formula group. Additionally, significantly increased interleukin-6, STAT3, MEK5, p-ERK5 and non-cardiomyocyte proliferate signal molecules such as p-MEK and p-ERK, were detected in the cholesterol group but significantly reduced in the Li-Fu formula group. Notably, no significant variations of inflammatory signaling molecules, including p-P38 and p-JNK, were detected in all groups. Our experimental results demonstrated the significant reductions of cardiac hypertrophy and related eccentric hypertrophy signaling, non-cardiomyocyte proliferate signaling in the excised left ventricle of hamsters from the Li-Fu formula. We suggested the protective effects of Li-Fu formula on cardiac hypertrophy that may be useful in prevention or treatment of hypertrophy-associated cardiovascular diseases.