ABSTRACT
Diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a cardiovascular disease which has been reported as a major cause of mortality worldwide for several years. Berberine (BBR) is a natural compound extracted from a Chinese herb, with a clinically reported antiDCM effect; however, its molecular mechanisms have not yet been fully elucidated. The present study indicated that BBR markedly alleviated DCM by inhibiting IL1ß secretion and the expression of gasdermin D (Gsdmd) at the posttranscriptional level. Considering the importance of microRNAs (miRNAs/miRs) in the regulation of the posttranscriptional process of specific genes, the ability of BBR to upregulate the expression levels of miR18a3p by activating its promoter (1,000/500) was examined. Notably, miR18a3p targeted Gsdmd and abated pyroptosis in high glucosetreated H9C2 cells. Moreover, miR18a3p overexpression inhibited Gsdmd expression and improved biomarkers of cardiac function in a rat model of DCM. On the whole, the findings of the present study indicate that BBR alleviates DCM by inhibiting miR18a3pmediated Gsdmd activation; thus, BBR may be considered a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of DCM.