Honokiol Protects against Anti-ß1-Adrenergic Receptor Autoantibody-Induced Myocardial Dysfunction via Activation of Autophagy.

Myocardial diseases are prevalent syndromes with high mortality rate. The exploration of effective interference is important. Anti-ß1-adrenergic receptor autoantibody (ß1-AAB) is highly correlated with myocardial dysfunction. The actions and underlying mechanisms of honokiol (HNK) in ß1-AAB-positive patients await to be unraveled. In this study, we established a rat model of ß1-AAB positive with myocardial dysfunction. Cardiac function following ß1-AR-ECII administration was analyzed using the VisualSonics Vevo 770 High-Resolution In Vivo Imaging System. The levels of autophagy-related proteins were detected by Western blotting. Our data revealed that HNK reversed ß1-AAB-induced effects and protected myocardial tissues from dysfunction. After HNK treatment, the cardiac contractile ability increased and the LDH activity decreased. HNK attenuated myocardial degeneration. In addition, HNK promoted the activation of the AMP-dependent protein kinase/Unc-51-like autophagy activating kinase (AMPK/ULK) pathway and activated autophagy. These results suggest that HNK protects against ß1-AAB-induced myocardial dysfunction via activation of autophagy and it may be a potentially therapeutic compound for ß1-AAB-positive myocardial diseases.

[Effect of Astragalus injection on plasma levels of apoptosis-related factors in aged patients with chronic heart failure].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of Astragalus injection (AI) on plasma levels of apoptosis-related factors in aged patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). METHODS: Seventy-two CHF patients were randomly divided into the AI group (36 cases) treated with AI and the control group (36 cases) treated with conventional treatment. Plasma levels of soluble Fas (sFas), soluble Fas ligand (sFasL), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) with monoclonal anti-human antibodies. Besides, New York Heart Association (NYHA) grading was assessed according to improved symptoms and left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV), left ventricular end-systolic volume (LVESV) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) were assessed by echocardiogram after 4 weeks of treatment. RESULTS: After 4 weeks of treatment, NYHA grading was markedly improved in the two groups, but it was significantly better in AI group than that in the control group (P < 0.05). As compared with the control group, sFas, sFasL, TNF-alpha and IL-6 in the AI group were obviously lower, the difference between the two groups and between before and after treatment were significant (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Moreover, in AI group, LVESV and LVEDV decreased, LVEF increased, which was significantly different than that before treatment (P < 0.05), respectively. CONCLUSION: AI could lower plasma levels of apoptosis-related factors, and is one of the effective drugs in improving cardiac function in the aged patients with CHF.

[Clinical study on effect of Astragalus injection on left ventricular remodeling and left ventricular function in patients with acute myocardial infarction].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of Astragalus injection (AI) on left ventricular remodeling and left ventricular function in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). METHODS: AMI patients were randomly divided into the AI group (54 cases) treated with AI and the control group (54 cases) treated with conventional treatment. Left ventricular end-diastolic volume index (LVEDVI), left ventricular end-systolic volume index (LVESVI), anterior endocardial segmental length (ASL), posterior endocardial segmental length (PSL) were assessed by echocardiogram at the 1st and the 4th week of treatment; and the cardiac systolic and diastolic functions were detected by nuclide gating cardiac blood pool imaging on the 4th week. Besides, the plasmic levels of lipid peroxide (MDA), count of endothelial cell (CEC) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were determined before and after treatment. RESULTS: At the 4th week, changes of LVEDVI, LVESVI and ASL in the AI group were not obvious, but increased significantly in the control group, the significant difference in comparison between the two groups was shown (P < 0.05). As compared with the control group, in the AI group, the left ventricular ejection fraction, left ventricular peak ejecting rate and left ventricular peak filling rate were higher, and the left ventricular time for peak filling rate was shorter, moreover, MDA and CEC were lower and SOD was higher. The difference between groups and between before and after treatment were significant (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: AI is one of the effective drugs in reversal of left ventricular remodeling and improving left ventricular function in patients with AMI.