08 September 2018 : Laboratory Research
Hirudin Protects Ang II-Induced Myocardial Fibroblasts Fibrosis by Inhibiting the Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase1/2 (ERK1/2) Pathway
Chunxia Yu1ABC, Weimin Wang2ABC, Xin Jin1DEF*DOI: 10.12659/MSM.909044
Med Sci Monit 2018; 24: LBR6264-6272
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Myocardial fibrosis is closely related to all types of cardiovascular diseases. Hirudin is widely used in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases and cancers. In this study, we examined the potential role(s) and mechanism of hirudin in angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced myocardial fibrosis.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: The viability of myocardial fibroblasts, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) rates were measured respectively using cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) and flow cytometry. Malondialdehyde (MDA) content, the activities of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were detected by the respective kits. The mRNA and protein levels of fibrosis-related factors were separately assessed by qRT-PCR and western blot.
RESULTS: Our data revealed that hirudin suppressed the viability of myocardial fibroblasts, and that it relieved the proliferation induced by Ang II in a dose-dependent manner. We also found that hirudin reduced ROS production, LDH activity, and MDA content; however, it enhanced SOD activity. Moreover, while hirudin significantly downregulated the levels of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), MMP-9, fibronectin (FN), transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1), collagen-I (COL-I), and COL-III, it upregulated the expression level of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-2 (TIMP-2). Furthermore, phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase1/2 (p-ERK1/2) was decreased by hirudin, compared to the Ang-II group.
CONCLUSIONS: Hirudin depressed Ang II-induced myocardial fibroblasts via inhibiting oxidative stress, regulating fibrosis-related factors, and repressing the ERK1/2 pathway.
Keywords: Endomyocardial Fibrosis, Hirudins
Editorial
01 April 2024 : Editorial
Editorial: Forty Years of Waiting for Prevention and Cure of HIV Infection – Ongoing Challenges and Hopes for Vaccine Development and Overcoming Antiretroviral Drug ResistanceDOI: 10.12659/MSM.944600
Med Sci Monit 2024; 30:e944600
In Press
06 Mar 2024 : Clinical Research
Comparison of Outcomes between Single-Level and Double-Level Corpectomy in Thoracolumbar Reconstruction: A ...Med Sci Monit In Press; DOI: 10.12659/MSM.943797
21 Mar 2024 : Meta-Analysis
Economic Evaluation of COVID-19 Screening Tests and Surveillance Strategies in Low-Income, Middle-Income, a...Med Sci Monit In Press; DOI: 10.12659/MSM.943863
10 Apr 2024 : Clinical Research
Predicting Acute Cardiovascular Complications in COVID-19: Insights from a Specialized Cardiac Referral Dep...Med Sci Monit In Press; DOI: 10.12659/MSM.942612
06 Mar 2024 : Clinical Research
Enhanced Surgical Outcomes of Popliteal Cyst Excision: A Retrospective Study Comparing Arthroscopic Debride...Med Sci Monit In Press; DOI: 10.12659/MSM.941102
Most Viewed Current Articles
17 Jan 2024 : Review article
Vaccination Guidelines for Pregnant Women: Addressing COVID-19 and the Omicron VariantDOI :10.12659/MSM.942799
Med Sci Monit 2024; 30:e942799
14 Dec 2022 : Clinical Research
Prevalence and Variability of Allergen-Specific Immunoglobulin E in Patients with Elevated Tryptase LevelsDOI :10.12659/MSM.937990
Med Sci Monit 2022; 28:e937990
16 May 2023 : Clinical Research
Electrophysiological Testing for an Auditory Processing Disorder and Reading Performance in 54 School Stude...DOI :10.12659/MSM.940387
Med Sci Monit 2023; 29:e940387
01 Jan 2022 : Editorial
Editorial: Current Status of Oral Antiviral Drug Treatments for SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Non-Hospitalized Pa...DOI :10.12659/MSM.935952
Med Sci Monit 2022; 28:e935952