Gualou Xiebai Decoction prevents myocardial fibrosis by blocking TGF-beta/Smad signalling.
OBJECTIVE
The present study is aimed to investigate the effect of Gualou Xiebai Decoction (GXD) ethanol extract on myocardial fibrosis and clarify the possible mechanism.


METHODS
Rats with ligated left anterior descending coronary artery were treated with GXD ethanol extract (1.14 g/kg, 2.27 g/kg, 4.53 g/kg) daily via gavage for 4 weeks. Histopathological changes and collagen distribution were evaluated by haematoxylin and eosin and Masson staining. The mRNA levels of Collagen I and Collagen III were detected by real-time PCR. The expressions of TGF-β1, TGFβ receptor (TGFβR)I, TGFβRII, P-Smad2/3 and Smad7 were determined by Western blot.


RESULTS
GXD treatment was significantly reduced the heart weight/body weight ratio (P < 0.05) as well as the left ventricle weight/body weight ratio (P < 0.05). It also significantly alleviated the degree of inflammation, decreased myocardial collagen volume fraction (P < 0.05 ∼ 0.01), together with markedly prevented the upregulations of Collagen I and Collagen III (P < 0.05 ∼ 0.01). Moreover, GXD downregulated expressions of TGF-β1, TGFβRI, TGFβRII, Smad2/3 whereas improved Smad7 expression in the myocardial fibrosis rats.


CONCLUSIONS
GXD ameliorates myocardial fibrosis induced by cardiac infarction with ligated left anterior descending coronary artery, the mechanism maybe involve in inhibiting the TGF-β1 signalling pathway.
Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China.
Yong-fang
YF
Ding
Yun-ru
YR
Peng
Juan
J
Li
Hong
H
Shen
Ming-qin
MQ
Shen
Tai-hui
TH
Fang
D000490:Allium; D000818:Animals; D002317:Cardiovascular Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005355:Fibrosis; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000187:drug effects; D007249:Inflammation / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D009929:Organ Size; D008517:Phytotherapy; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D015398:Signal Transduction; D051785:Smad Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D051899:Smad2 Protein / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D051900:Smad3 Protein / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D051906:Smad7 Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D029778:Trichosanthes
D002317:Cardiovascular Agents; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D051785:Smad Proteins; D051899:Smad2 Protein; C497784:Smad2 protein, rat; D051900:Smad3 Protein; C497787:Smad3 protein, rat; D051906:Smad7 Protein; C497808:Smad7 protein, rat; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; C488004:gualou xiebai baijiutang; D003094:Collagen
Gualou Xiebai Decoction (GXD); myocardial fibrosis; myocardial infarction; transforming growth factor β1