title: Sodium tanshinone IIA sulfonate attenuates the transforming growth factor-β1-induced differentiation of atrial fibroblasts into myofibroblasts in vitro.
abstract: The differentiation of atrial fibroblasts into myofibroblasts is a critical event in atrial fibrosis. One of the most important factors in atrial fibroblast differentiation is transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1). Accumulating evidence indicates that sodium tanshinone IIA sulfonate (STS) possesses antifibrotic properties. In this study, we therefore investigated whether STS attenuates the TGF-β1‑induced differentiation of atrial fibroblasts. TGF-β1 enhanced collagen production, collagen synthesis and the expression of collagen type I and III, as shown by hydroxyproline assay, collagen synthesis assay and western blot analysis, respectively. In addition, as shown by immunohistochemistry and western blot analysis, TGF-β1 enhanced the expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), which is the hallmark of myofibroblast differentiation. These responses were attenuated by treatment with STS. In addition, STS suppressed the TGF-β1‑induced expression of phosphorylated (p)Smad/pSmad3 expression and nuclear translocation. Furthermore, STS suppressed extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) phosphorylation. In conclusion, the current study demonstrates that STS exerts antifibrotic effects by modulating atrial fibroblast differentiation through ERK phosphorylation and the Smad pathway.
authors: Department of Emergency Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, P.R. China.
authors: Le
authors: L
authors: Yang
authors: Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, P.R. China.
authors: Jin
authors: J
authors: Hu
authors: Department of Pharmacology, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, P.R. China.
authors: Hong-Zhen
authors: HZ
authors: Hao
authors: Department of Pharmacology, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, P.R. China.
authors: Zhao
authors: Z
authors: Yin
authors: Department of Pharmacology, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, P.R. China.
authors: Gang
authors: G
authors: Liu
authors: Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Laboratory of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430022, P.R. China.
authors: Xiao-Jing
authors: XJ
authors: Zou
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D021581:Active Transport, Cell Nucleus; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003094:Collagen / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D058628:Myofibroblasts / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D010616:Phenanthrenes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010766:Phosphorylation; D021381:Protein Transport; D051381:Rats; D051899:Smad2 Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D051900:Smad3 Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D051906:Smad7 Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D010616:Phenanthrenes; D051899:Smad2 Protein; D051900:Smad3 Protein; D051906:Smad7 Protein; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; C024894:tanshinone II A sodium sulfonate; D003094:Collagen; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3