Danhong Injection Regulates Mitochondrial Dynamics in Rat Model of Chronic Heart Failure via AMPK/Drp1 Pathway
10.13422/j.cnki.syfjx.20250417
- VernacularTitle:基于AMPK/Drp1通路探讨丹红注射液对慢性心力衰竭大鼠线粒体动力学的作用机制
- Author:
Jiahao YE
1
;
Zizheng WU
1
;
Yao ZHANG
1
;
Lichong MENG
1
;
Zhixi HU
1
Author Information
1. Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha 410208, China
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Danhong Injection;
chronic heart failure;
mitochondrial dynamics;
mitochondrial fission;
adenosine 5'-monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK)/dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1) pathway
- From:
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae
2025;31(16):126-135
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of Danhong injection on mitochondrial dynamics, morphology, and function in the rat model of chronic heart failure by mediating the adenosine 5'-monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK)/dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1) pathway. MethodsFrom 75 SD rats, 15 rats were randomly selected as the sham group, and the remaining 60 rats were used to prepare a rat model of chronic heart failure by abdominal aortic constriction (AAC). The modeled rats were randomly allocated into model, Danhong Injection (6 mL·kg-1), and captopril (8.8 mg·kg-1) groups and administrated with corresponding agents for 15 consecutive days. The levels of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-pro BNP), adenosine diphosphate (ADP), adenosine triphosphate (ATP), interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and the activities of mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes Ⅰ-Ⅳ were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The changes in cardiac function were detected by echocardiography. The ultrastructural changes of myocardial mitochondria were observed by transmission electron microscopy. Western blot was employed to assess the protein levels of AMPK, p-AMPK, Drp1, p-Drp1, optic atrophy 1 (Opa1), mitofusin (Mfn2), and fission l (Fis1) in the myocardial tissue. Real-time PCR was performed to determine the mRNA levels of Opa1, Mfn2, and Fis1, and immunohistochemistry to detect the expression of p-AMPK. ResultsCompared with the sham group, the model group showed elevated levels of NT-pro BNP, ADP, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β (P<0.01), declined ATP level (P<0.01), weakened activities of mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes Ⅰ-Ⅳ (P<0.01), decreased left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and left ventricular fraction shortening (LVFS) (P<0.01), and increased left ventricular internal diameter at end-diastole (LVDd) and leaf ventricular internal diameter at end-systole (LVIDs) (P<0.01). Electron microscopy results showed that the model group presented heavily abnormal myocardial structure, with large areas of myofilament structure destroyed and dissolved, significantly enlarged residual structural gaps, and fragmented mitochondria. Western blot results showed that the model group demonstrated down-regulated protein levels of p-AMPK, Mfn2, and Opa1 (P<0.01) and up-regulated protein levels of p-Drp1 and Fis1 (P<0.01) in the myocardial tissue. Real-time PCR results showed that the model group presented up-regulated mRNA level of Fis1 (P<0.01) and down-regulated mRNA levels of Mfn2 and Opa1 (P<0.01). Immunohistochemistry results showed reduced expression of p-AMPK in the model group compared with sham group (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, Danhong injection lowered the levels of NT-pro BNP, ADP, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β (P<0.01), raised the level of ATP (P<0.01), increased the activities of mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes Ⅰ-Ⅳ (P<0.05, P<0.01), increased the LVEF and LVFS (P<0.01), decreased the LVDd and LVIDs (P<0.05, P<0.01), alleviated mitochondrial damage, up-regulated the protein levels of p-AMPK, Mfn2, and Opa1 (P<0.05, P<0.01), down-regulated the protein levels of p-Drp1 and Fis1 (P<0.01), reduced the mRNA level of Fis1 (P<0.01), elevated the mRNA levels of Mfn2 and Opa1 (P<0.05, P<0.01), and promoted the expression of p-AMPK (P<0.05). ConclusionDanhong injection repairs the imbalance of mitochondrial dynamics, restores the mitochondrial function, improves the myocardial energy metabolism, and reduces the inflammatory response by regulating the AMPK/Drp1 pathway, thus improving the cardiac function.