Effect of tanshinone IIA on the expression of TNF-α and NF-κB in rats with pressure overload

Objective To observe the changes of TNF-α and NF-κB expressions in rats with pressure overload and to explore the protective effects of tanshinoneⅡA(TanⅡA) on myocardial fibrosis.Methods Thirty-two SD rats induced by abdominal aorta constriction preparation were randomly divided into 4 groups,which were sham group,model group,TanⅡA group,and captopril group(each n=8).The model of pressure overload-induced myocardial fibrosis was successfully established after 4 weeks of operation.After four weeks of TanⅡA treatment and 8 weeks later,heart mass indexes were estimated in concurrent evaluation of myocardial histology.Myocardial hydroxyproline content and serum TNF-α were measured by method of ELISA.Immunohistochemistry was used to test myocardial NF-κB p65 content.Results Compared with sham group,heart mass indexes,myocardial hydroxyproline content,serum TNF-α and myocardial NF-κB p65 content increased in the model group(P0.01).Compared with model group,heart mass indexes,myocardial hydroxyproline content,serum TNF-α and myocardial NF-κB p65 content decreased in the TanⅡA group(P0.01).Conclusions The expressions of serum TNF-α and myocardial NF-κB p65 protein significantly increased in pressure overload rat myocardium,indicating that TNF-α and NF-κB signaling mediated myocardial inflammation in the pressure overload in rat myocardial fibrosis and development.TanⅡA could alleviate myocardial fibrosis by inhibition of TNF-α and NF-κB signaling pathway.