Astraglaus polysaccharide protects diabetic cardiomyopathy by activating NRG1/ErbB pathway

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Research
• Endocrinology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a cardiac complication of diabetes, linked to oxidative stress and cell apoptosis.
• The Neuregulin 1 (NRG1)/ErbB signaling pathway is crucial in cardiac cell function and is impaired in DCM.
• Astragalus polysaccharide (APS), derived from Astragalus mongholicus, exhibits significant antioxidant properties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the protective effects of APS on an advanced glycation end-product (AGE)-induced DCM cell model.
• To elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms of APS action, focusing on the NRG1/ErbB signaling pathway.

Main Methods:

• Utilized an AGE-induced DCM cell model to assess APS effects on cell proliferation, apoptosis, and oxidative stress markers.
• Employed Western blot analysis to evaluate the expression and phosphorylation levels of key proteins in the NRG1/ErbB/AKT/PI3K pathway.
• Used Canertinib, an ErbB inhibitor, to confirm the role of the NRG1/ErbB pathway in APS-mediated protection.

Main Results:

• APS treatment promoted proliferation and decreased apoptosis in DCM model cells.
• APS demonstrated antioxidant effects by reducing reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA), and increasing superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity.
• APS upregulated NRG1 expression and ErbB2/4 phosphorylation, subsequently activating AKT and PI3K, effects partially blocked by Canertinib.

Conclusions:

• APS exerts protective effects in DCM cells, primarily by activating the NRG1/ErbB signaling pathway and its downstream AKT/PI3K components.
• These findings suggest APS holds potential for the prevention and therapy of diabetic cardiomyopathy.