Effect of Shenqi Jianxin Formula（参芪健心方）on Mitochondrial Autophagy and the PINK1/Parkin Signaling Pathway in Cardiac Tissues in Chronic Heart Failure
10.13288/j.11-2166/r.2026.04.017
- VernacularTitle:参芪健心方对慢性心力衰竭模型大鼠心脏组织线粒体自噬及PINK1/Parkin信号通路的影响
- Author:
Peichi XIE
1
;
Pan LIU
2
;
Zitong DING
1
;
Jingyi BAI
1
;
Deqi PANG
1
;
Xiaohua DAI
3
Author Information
1. First Clinical Medical College，Anhui University of Chinese Medicine，Hefei，230000
2. College of Traditional Chinese Medicine，Anhui University of Chinese Medicine
3. The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
chronic heart failure;
mitochondria;
autophagy;
PTEN-induced kinase 1;
E3 ubiquitin ligase;
Shenqi Jianxin Formula （参芪健心方）
- From:
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine
2026;67(4):447-455
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
ObjectiveTo explore the potential mechanism of Shenqi Jianxin Formula （参芪健心方） in the treatment of chronic heart failure （CHF） from the perspective of regulating mitochondrial autophagy via the PTEN-induced kinase 1 （PINK1）/E3 ubiquitin ligase （Parkin） pathway. MethodsMale SD rats were subjected to abdominal aortic constriction to establish the CHF model. Twenty-four successfully modeled rats were randomly divided into the model group， sacubitril/valsartan group， and low- and high-dose Shenqi Jianxin Formula groups， with 6 rats in each group. Six other rats were set as the sham surgery group， which were only separated the abdominal aorta and then closed the abdomen. Rats in the low-dose and high-dose Shenqi Jianxin Formula groups were given intragastric administration of Shenqi Jianxin Formula suspension at doses of 4.41 g/（kg·d） and 17.64 g/（kg·d）， respectively； the sacubitril/valsartan group received intragastric administration of sacubitril/valsartan sodium tablet suspension at 10 mg/（kg·d）； the sham surgery group and the model group were given normal saline at 10 ml/（kg·d） via intragastric gavage. The intervention lasted for 4 consecutive weeks. Cardiac function indices including left ventricular ejection fraction （LVEF） and left ventricular fractional shortening （LVFS） were detected， and serum brain natriuretic peptide （BNP） content was measured. HE staining and Masson staining were used to observe myocardial histopathological changes. Transmission electron microscopy was employed to examine the ultrastructure of cardiac tissues. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction （Rt-qPCR） was performed to determine the mRNA expressions of PINK1/Parkin pathway-related factors and autophagy-associated proteins including Beclin-1， p62， and microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 （LC3） in myocardial tissues. ResultsCompared with the sham surgery group， the model group showed significant decreases in LVEF and LVFS levels， an increase in serum BNP content， down-regulated mRNA and protein expressions of PINK1， Parkin and Beclin-1 in cardiac tissues， up-regulated mRNA and protein expressions of p62， as well as significant reductions in LC3B mRNA expression， phosphorylated PTEN-induced kinase 1 （p-PINK1） and phosphorylated E3 ubiquitin ligase （p-Parkin） protein levels， and the ratio of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3-Ⅱ to microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3-Ⅰ （LC3Ⅱ/LC3Ⅰ） （P＜0.05）. Pathological results revealed obvious myocardial cell edema， necrosis and degeneration， increased disorder of myocardial fiber arrangement， extensive inflammatory cell infiltration， moderate to severe mitochondrial swelling， a few mitochondrial vacuolar changes， and no obvious autophagy in the field of vision in the model group. Compared with the model group， all the above indicators were significantly improved in the high-dose Shenqi Jianxin Formula group and the sacubitril/valsartan group （P＜0.05）. Moreover， the improvement of each index in the high-dose Shenqi Jianxin Formula group was superior to that in the low-dose group （P＜0.05）. In the high-dose Shenqi Jianxin Formula group， myocardial myofibrils were arranged regularly with orderly orientation， the striated structure was clear， and necrotic cells significantly reduced. ConclusionShenqi Jianxin Formula can activate the PINK1/Parkin signaling pathway in myocardial tissues， enhance mitochondrial autophagy， and clear dysfunctional mitochondria， thereby improving cardiac function and delaying the progression of CHF.
