Neferine inhibits proliferation and collagen synthesis induced by high glucose in cardiac fibroblasts and reduces cardiac fibrosis in diabetic mice.

ABSTRACT: Cardiac fibrosis is a common pathological process accompanying diabetes mellitus. In this report, we studied the effects of neferine (a major bisbenzylisoquinline alkaloid derived from lotus embryos) on cardiac fibrosis induced by diabetes mellitus, as well as the underlying molecular pathways. In vivo, type 1 diabetes mellitus was induced in mice by administering streptozotocin. Diabetic mice were treated with neferine through oral gavage, and cardiac function was assessed using echocardiography. Total collagen deposition was assessed by Masson's trichrome and Picrosirius staining. In vitro, cardiac fibroblasts were cultured in normal or high-glucose medium with or without neferine. Neferine attenuated left ventricular dysfunction and remodeling and reduced collagen deposition in diabetic

SUBMITTER: Liu X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5308684 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature