title: [Role of homocysteine in the pathogenesis of alcoholic cardiomyopathy].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the role of homocysteine in the pathogenesis of alcoholic cardiomyopathy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 69 male Wistar rats were randomly assigned into two groups: alcohol-fed group and the control. Cardiac function was assessed by pulse Doppler. Plasma Hcy levels were examined using automatic biochemical instrument (chemiluminescence). The protein expression of MMP-9 was evaluated using immunohistochemical method, and collagen fiber of myocardium was quantitative analyzed by Masson stain.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After heavy drinking, the LVEDd of alcohol-fed group were larger than the control group [(7.0±0.6) mm vs (5.0±0.4) mm, P<0.05], the LVEF and FS were lower in the 4th month (52%±8% vs 78%±4%, 31%±3% vs 47%±2%, P<0.05), the data changed more significantly (P<0.01) in the 6th month. The level of plasma Hcy from alcohol-fed group was significantly higher from the 2nd month than that before the experiment [(18.1±3.1) µmol/L vs (9.8±2.1) µmol/L, P<0.01], and it was higher in 4th month than that in 2nd month [(26.3±4.0) µmol/L vs (18.1±3.1) µmol/L, P<0.05], it was highest in 6 months. After 4-month and 6-month drinking, the expression of MMP-9 protein from alcohol group was higher than before the experiment (0.161%±0.019%, 0.263%±0.014% vs 0.050%±0.008%, P<0.01). Masson staining showed myocardial collagen of alcohol group was more after 4-month and 6-month drinking than those before the experiment (10.23%±1.20% vs 0.50%±0.09%; 22.41%±2.57% vs 0.50%±0.09%, P<0.01). Plasma Hcy and cardiac tissue MMP-9 is a significant positive correlation (r=0.848, P<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Long-term and large drink liquor can lead to plasma Hcy levels significantly increased, and participate cardiac remodeling and the pathogenesis of ACM through increasing the expression of myocardial tissue MMP-9 protein.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150010, China.
authors.forename: Hua-ning
authors.initials: HN
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Cuan-cuan
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Hui-qin
authors.initials: HQ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yue
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Wei-min
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002310:Cardiomyopathy, Alcoholic / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000378:metabolism; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D006710:Homocysteine; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9