| Objective: To investigate the mechanism by which Xuefu Zhuyu Decoction (XFZYD) regulates mitochondrial autophagy to improve ventricular remodeling after myocardial infarction (MI) through in vivo and in vitro experiments.
Methods: SD rats were divided into three groups: sham operation group, model group, and XFZYD group. An MI rat model was established by ligating the left anterior descending coronary artery, followed by XFZYD treatment 24 h later. After 4 weeks, echocardiography was used to assess cardiac function. Hematoxylin–eosin (HE) and Masson staining were applied to evaluate myocardial histopathological changes. Sprague–Dawley rats were administered XFZYD by gavage for 3 consecutive days (once daily), and drug-containing serum was prepared. Primary neonatal rat cardiac fibroblasts (NRCFs) were isolated and cultured, and a cellular model was established by treating NRCFs with transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) for 48 h. NRCFs with overexpressed Janus kinase 2 (oe-JAK2) were treated with TGF-β1 and drug-containing serum for 48 h. Cells were divided into 6 groups according to different treatment schemes: Control group, TGF-β1 group, TGF-β1+NG group, TGF-β1+XFZYD group, TGF-β1+XFZYD+oe-NC group, and TGF-β1+XFZYD+oe-JAK2 group. Cell migration was assessed by Transwell assay. Mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mtROS) and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) were detected using MitoSOX Red and JC-1 probes, respectively. Western blotting was used to detect PTEN-induced putative kinase 1 (PINK1), Parkin RBR E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase (Parkin), microtubule-associated protein 1A/1B-light chain 3 (LC3), α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), collagen I, collagen III, as well as activation of the JAK2/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signaling pathway.
Results: Compared with the sham group, model group showed reduced LVEF [(41.95±4.51) vs. (71.92±4.28), P<0.01] and LVFS [(16.08±0.97) vs. (35.75±1.93), P<0.01], increased LVEDD [(5.035±0.305) vs. (3.337±0.237), P<0.01] and LVESD [(9.108±0.171) vs. (6.855±0.261), P<0.01], and myocardial injury with fibrosis. Compared with the model group, XFZYD significantly improved these abnormalities. In vitro, compared with the control group, TGF-β1 significantly enhanced cell migration, increased α-SMA [(2.820±0.185) vs. (1.000±0.081), P<0.01], Collagen I [(3.669±0.107) vs. (1.000±0.138), P<0.01], and Collagen III [(3.750±0.251) vs. (1.000±0.165), P<0.01] expression, elevated mtROS, and reduced MMP. PINK1 [(0.331±0.057) vs. (1.000±0.038), P<0.01], Parkin [(0.442±0.073) vs. (1.000±0.095), P<0.01] expression, and the LC3II/LC3I ratio [(0.168±0.036) vs. (1.000±0.127), P<0.01] were decreased, while p-JAK2 [(2.787±0.092) vs. (1.000±0.040), P<0.01] and p-STAT3 [(2.015±0.150) vs. (1.000±0.064), P<0.01] levels were elevated. Compared with the TGF-β1+NG group, the TGF-β1+XFZYD group showed reduced migration, downregulation of α-SMA [(1.629±0.095) vs. (2.827±0.147), P<0.01], Collagen I [(1.629±0.115) vs. (3.530±0.128), P<0.01], and Collagen III [(1.592±0.066) vs. (3.791±0.260), P<0.01], decreased mtROS, increased MMP, elevated PINK1 [(0.589±0.026) vs. (0.303±0.017), P<0.01], Parkin [(0.683±0.017) vs. (0.405±0.020), P<0.01], and LC3II/LC3I ratio [(0.692±0.104) vs. (0.161±0.016),P<0.01], and reduced p-JAK2 [(2.006±0.102) vs. (2.765±0.157), P<0.01] and p-STAT3 [(1.500±0.163) vs. (2.102±0.153), P<0.01] expression. Compared with the TGF-β1+XFZYD+oe-NC group, cells in the TGF-β1+XFZYD+oe-JAK2 group exhibited significantly increased JAK2 expression, elevated α-SMA [(0.947±0.125) vs. (0.531±0.017), P<0.01], Collagen I [(0.644±0.070) vs. (0.370±0.026), P<0.01], and Collagen III [(0.553±0.043) vs. (0.277±0.022), P<0.01] levels, and decreased PINK1 [(1.433±0.133) vs. (3.211±0.165),P<0.01], Parkin [(1.757±0.206) vs. (3.050±0.154), P<0.01], and LC3II/LC3I ratio [(1.985±0.160) vs. (6.640±1.183), P<0.01].
Conclusion: XFZYD improves ventricular remodeling after MI by regulating mitochondrial autophagy through inhibition of the JAK/STAT signaling pathway. |