title: Ameliorate Effects of Li-Fu Formula on IL-6-Mediated Cardiac Hypertrophy in Hamsters Fed with a Hyper-Cholesterol Diet.
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.
authors.affiliation: Emergency Department of Taichung Veterans General Hospital, China Medical University, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yi-Chang
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Chieh-His
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Wei-Wen
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Kuo
authors.forename: James A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Hsueh-Fang
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Fuu-Jen
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Chang-Hai
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Chih-Yang
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Tsai-Ching
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Bor-Show
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Tzang