Open AccessTongguan capsule‐derived herb reduces susceptibility to atrial fibrillation by inhibiting left atrial fibrosis via modulating cardiac fibroblasts
Author(s) -
Ma Shiyu,
Ma Jin,
Guo Liheng,
Bai Junqi,
Mao Shuai,
Zhang Minzhou
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of cellular and molecular medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.44
H-Index - 130
eISSN - 1582-4934
pISSN - 1582-1838
DOI - 10.1111/jcmm.14022
Subject(s) - atrial fibrillation , medicine , fibrosis , capsule , cardiology , myocardial infarction , ligation , nerve conduction velocity , atrium (architecture) , cardiac fibrosis , left atrium , biology , botany
Tongguan capsule is a compound Chinese medicine used to treat ischaemic heart diseases. This study aimed to investigate whether Tongguan capsule‐derived herb ( TGD ) has a preventive effect on atrial fibrillation ( AF ) in post‐myocardial infarction ( MI ) rats and to determine the underlying mechanisms. MI was induced by ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery. TGD was administered to the post‐ MI rats over a 4‐week period. The TGD ‐treated rats had lower rates of AF inducibility and shorter AF durations than the MI rats. TGD improved the left atrial ( LA ) conduction velocity and homogeneity. It reduced the fibrosis‐positive areas and the protein levels of collagen types I and III in the left atrium. In vitro, it inhibited the expression of collagen types I and III by inhibiting the proliferation, migration, differentiation and cytokine secretion of cardiac fibroblasts ( CF s). In conclusion, the current study demonstrated that TGD reduces susceptibility to AF and improves LA conduction function in rats with post‐ MI by inhibiting left atrial fibrosis and modulating CF s. Targeting the CF population may be a novel antiarrhythmic therapeutic approach.