Intervention effect of Qingxin-II Recipe on myocardial cell apoptosis and fibrosis in viral myocarditis mice

Abstract

Objective To investigate the intervention effect of Qingxin-Ⅱ Recipe on myocardial cell apoptosis and its fibrosis in viral myocarditis mice and its mechanism. Methods A total of 120 Balb/c mice were randomly divided into the model group (n=50), the treatment group (n=50) and the control group (n=20). Mice in the model and treatment groups were given intraperitoneal injection of CVB3 to establish the experimental model of viral myocarditis. The control and model groups were treated with normal saline and water by intragastric administration respectively and the treatment group was given Qingxin-Ⅱ Recipe. The expression level of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), interleukin-1β(IL-1β), collagen type I-A1 (COL1-A1), collagen type Ⅲ-A1 (COL3-A1), matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), tissue inhibitor of metallproteinase-1 (TIMP-1), myocardial interstitial collagen volume fraction (CVF) and apoptosis rate (Rapo) were assessed after treatment. Results The levels of NF-κB, TNF-α, IL-1 in cardiomyocytes, serum levels of COL1-A1, MMP-9, TIMP-1, the mRNA expression levels of COL1-A1, COL3-A1, MMP-9, TIMP-1 in cardiomyocytes, CVF and Rapo were lower in the treatment and control groups than in the model group (F=21.541, 12.146, 32.583, 4.212, 6.863, 4.868, 9.089, 8.662, 7.307, 6.646, 4.324, 41.237, respectively, all P 0.05) were found, but serum MMP-9 level was higher in the treatment group than in the control group (P=0.033). Conclusions Qingxin-Ⅱ Recipe can effectively reduce inflammatory cytokines levels, protect myocardial cells from inflammatory damages and inhibit myocardial fibrosis in viral myocarditis. Key words: Myocarditis; Apoptosis; Fibrosis