Lumbrokinase from earthworm extract ameliorates second-hand smoke-induced cardiac fibrosis.
Exposure to tobacco smoke has epidemiologically been linked to the occurrence of cardiovascular disease among nonsmokers but the associated molecular events are not well elucidated yet. When Sprague Dawley rats were exposed to second-hand tobacco cigarette smoke twice a day for a 30 days period at an exposure rate of 10 cigarettes/30 min, they showed adverse effects including reduced left ventricle weight, increased cardiac damages, deteriorated cardiac features, and cardiac fibrosis. Exposure to second-hand smoking (SHS) increased the molecular markers of cardiac fibrosis such as urokinase plasminogen activator and matrix metallopeptidases. The modulations in the protein levels were led by the activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK1/2), the transcription factor-specificity protein 1 (SP1), and the fibrogenic master switch-connective for epithelial-mesenchymal transition tissue growth factor there by indicating their effective role in SHS-induced myocardial infraction. Dilong, an edible earthworm extract used in Chinese medicine and its bioactive fibrinolytic enzyme product-lumbrokinase, when administered in rats, restricted the SHS exposure induced cardiac fibrosis and provided cardio-protection. The results show that lumbrokinase and dilong administration can efficiently prevent epidemiological incidence of cardiac disease among SHS-exposed nonsmokers.
Graduate Institute of Aging Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.|Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Armed Force Taichung General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
Chao-Hung
CH
Lai
Department of Health and Nutrition Biotechnology, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan.
Chien-Kuo
CK
Han
Graduate Institute of Basic Medical Science, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
Marthandam Asokan
MA
Shibu
Division of Cardiology, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
Pei Ying
PY
Pai
Graduate Institute of Chinese Medical Science, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.|Department of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University Beigang Hospital, Taiwan.
Tsung-Jung
TJ
Ho
Department of Nursing, MeiHo University, Pingtung, Taiwan.
Cecilia Hsuan
CH
Day
Graduate Institute of Chinese Medical Science, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
Fuu-Jen
FJ
Tsai
Department of Healthcare Administration, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan.
Chang-Hai
CH
Tsai
Department of Biomedical Imaging and Radiological Science, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
Chun-Hsu
CH
Yao
Department of Health and Nutrition Biotechnology, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan.|Graduate Institute of Basic Medical Science, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.|Graduate Institute of Chinese Medical Science, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
Chih-Yang
CY
Huang
D000818:Animals; D002311:Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D010450:Endopeptidases / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005355:Fibrosis; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects*; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases / Q000378:metabolism; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D009835:Oligochaeta / Q000201:enzymology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D016329:Sp1 Transcription Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects*
D016329:Sp1 Transcription Factor; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3; D010450:Endopeptidases; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases; C083421:lumbrokinase
cardiac fibrosis; dilong; lumbrokinase; second-hand smoke