title: Low-level transcutaneous electrical stimulation of the auricular branch of vagus nerve ameliorates left ventricular remodeling and dysfunction by downregulation of matrix metalloproteinase 9 and transforming growth factor β1.
abstract: Vagus nerve stimulation improves left ventricular (LV) remodeling by downregulation of matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) and transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1). Our previous study found that low-level transcutaneous electrical stimulation of the auricular branch of the vagus nerve (LL-TS) could be substituted for vagus nerve stimulation to reverse cardiac remodeling. So, we hypothesize that LL-TS could ameliorate LV remodeling by regulation of MMP-9 and TGF-β1 after myocardial infarction (MI). Twenty-two beagle dogs were randomly divided into a control group (MI was induced by permanent ligation of the left coronary artery, n = 8), an LL-TS group (MI with long-term intermittent LL-TS, n = 8), and a normal group (sham ligation without stimulation, n = 6). At the end of 6 weeks follow-up, LL-TS significantly reduced LV end-systolic and end-diastolic dimensions, improved ejection fraction and ratio of early (E) to late (A) peak mitral inflow velocity. LL-TS attenuated interstitial fibrosis and collagen degradation in the noninfarcted myocardium compared with the control group. Elevated level of MMP-9 and TGF-β1 in LV tissue and peripheral plasma were diminished in the LL-TS treated dogs. LL-TS improves cardiac function and prevents cardiac remodeling in the late stages after MI by downregulation of MMP-9 and TGF-β1 expression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
authors.forename: Zhuo
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Lilei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Bing
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Songyun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.forename: Gaowa
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Saren
authors.forename: Xiaoya
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jiang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004285:Dogs; D015536:Down-Regulation; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000294:innervation / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000378:metabolism*; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D013318:Stroke Volume; D004561:Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014630:Vagus Nerve; D055536:Vagus Nerve Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D020257:Ventricular Remodeling / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9