A Simplified Herbal Formula Improves Cardiac Function and Reduces Inflammation in Mice Through the TLR-Mediated NF-κB Signaling Pathway

Xiaoming Dong; Xiaowei Han; Xiaojiao Zhang; Sijing Li; Ziru Li; Jinhua Kang; Jialin Jiang; Shihao Ni; Lu Lu; Zhiling He; Haoming Huang; Shaoxiang Xian; Tianhui Yuan; Zhongqi Yang; Wenjie Long; Zemin Wan

doi:10.3389/fphar.2022.865614

A Simplified Herbal Formula Improves Cardiac Function and Reduces Inflammation in Mice Through the TLR-Mediated NF-κB Signaling Pathway

Front Pharmacol. 2022 Jun 6:13:865614. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2022.865614. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Xiaoming Dong¹, Xiaowei Han¹, Xiaojiao Zhang¹, Sijing Li¹, Ziru Li¹, Jinhua Kang¹, Jialin Jiang¹, Shihao Ni¹, Lu Lu², Zhiling He^{3

4}, Haoming Huang⁵, Shaoxiang Xian^{2

6}, Tianhui Yuan⁶, Zhongqi Yang^{2

6}, Wenjie Long^{2

6}, Zemin Wan⁷

Affiliations

¹ The First Clinical Medical College, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
² Lingnan Medical Research Center, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
³ The Second Clinical Medical College, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
⁴ Department of Cardiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
⁵ Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
⁶ Department of Geriatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
⁷ Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.

Abstract

Nuanxinkang tablet (NXK), a Chinese herbal formula, can improve heart function and quality of life in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). However, the mechanisms of action of NXK are not fully understood. In this study, we investigated the effects of NXK on inflammation in the CHF mouse model. This model was established by transverse aortic constriction (TAC) and treated with NXK for 8 weeks. Then, the cardiac function and myocardial fibrosis were evaluated. The monocytes/macrophages were evaluated by immunofluorescence. The mRNA levels of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, ICAM-1, and VCAM-1 were measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), while TLR4, MyD88, NF-κB p65, P-IκBα, TLR2, TLR7 and TLR9 protein levels were evaluated by Western blot. The results showed that NXK improved the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and left ventricular end-systolic dimension, reversed myocardial fibrosis, and inhibited pro-inflammatory (CD11b + Ly6C+) monocytes/macrophages in the TAC mouse model. NXK also reduced the mRNA and protein levels of the above markers. Taken together, NXK improved heart function and reduced inflammation through the TLR-mediated NF-κB signaling pathway, suggesting that it might be used as an innovative treatment strategy for CHF.

Keywords: Chinese medicine; Nuanxinkang tablet; TLR-mediated NF-κB signaling pathway; chronic heart failure; inflammation.