Traditional Chinese Medication Qiliqiangxin Attenuates Diabetic Cardiomyopathy via Activating PPARγ.

Abstract

Background: Diabetic cardiomyopathy is the primary complication associated with diabetes mellitus and also is a major cause of death and disability. Limited pharmacological therapies are available for diabetic cardiomyopathy. Qiliqiangxin (QLQX), a Chinese medication, has been proven to be beneficial for heart failure patients. However, the role and the underlying protective mechanisms of QLQX in diabetic cardiomyopathy remain largely unexplored. Methods: Primary neonatal rat cardiomyocytes (NRCMs) were treated with glucose (HG, 40 mM) to establish the hyperglycemia-induced apoptosis model in vitro. Streptozotocin (STZ, 50 mg/kg/day for 5 consecutive days) was intraperitoneally injected into mice to establish the diabetic cardiomyopathy model in vivo. Various analyses including qRT-PCR, western blot, immunofluorescence [terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) staining] histology (hematoxylin-eosin and Masson's trichrome staining), and cardiac function (echocardiography) were performed in these mice. QLQX (0.5 μg/ml in vitro and 0.5 g/kg/day in vivo) was used in this study. Results: QLQX attenuated hyperglycemia-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis via activating peroxisome proliferation-activated receptor γ (PPARγ). In vivo, QLQX treatment protected mice against STZ-induced cardiac dysfunction and pathological remodeling. Conclusions: QLQX attenuates diabetic cardiomyopathy via activating PPARγ.

• Authors: Xiaodong Wu, Ting Zhang, Ping Lyu, Mengli Chen, Gehui Ni, Huiling Cheng, Guie Xu, Xinli Li, Lijun Wang, Hongcai Shang
• Journal: Frontiers in cardiovascular medicine (Front Cardiovasc Med) Vol. 8 Pg. 698056 ( 2021) ISSN: 2297-055X [Print] Switzerland
• PMID: 34336956 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2021 Wu, Zhang, Lyu, Chen, Ni, Cheng, Xu, Li, Wang and Shang.