Higenamine protects ischemia/reperfusion induced cardiac injury and myocyte apoptosis through activation of β2-AR/PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

ABSTRACT: Cardiomyocyte apoptosis contributes to ischemic cardiac injury and the development of heart failure. Higenamine is a key component of the Chinese herb aconite root that has been prescribed for treating symptoms of heart failure for thousands of years in the oriental Asian countries. It has been shown that higenamine has anti-apoptotic effects in a few cell types including cardiomyocytes. However, the pharmacological target and molecular mechanism of higenamine in the heart are still not fully illustrated. Herein, we report that higenamine protected myocyte apoptosis and ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury through selective activation of beta2-adrenergic receptor (β2-AR). In particular, we show that higenamine significantly reduced I/R-induced myocardial infarction in mice. In both primary ne

SUBMITTER: Wu MP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4772856 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature