Atorvastatin improves coronary flow and endothelial function in patients with coronary slow flow

The underlying mechanisms behind the effect of atorvastatin on patients with coronary slow flow (CSF) remain largely unknown. To investigate the possible underlying molecular mechanisms 108 patients were divided into atorvastatin group and control group. Coronary flow was quantified according to corrected TIMI frame count (CTFC). Serum high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), lipids, ET-1, interleukin (IL)-6, NO, circulating endothelial progenitor cell (cEPC) count, adhesion, migration and proliferation were measured in pretreatment and post-treatment. After respective treatment, the atorvastatin group had significantly decreased levels of TC, TG, LDL-C, hs-CRP, ET-1 and IL-6 and increased NO compared to the control group. The atorvastatin group had a more significant improvement of CTFC, effective rate, cEPC number, EPC adhesion, migration and proliferation compared to the control group. In conclusion, atorvastatin can be used in treatment of CSF by suppressing inflammation and improving endothelial function.

Shikonin ameliorates isoproterenol (ISO)-induced myocardial damage through suppressing fibrosis, inflammation, apoptosis and ER stress

Shikonin, isolated from the roots of herbal plant Lithospermum erythrorhizon, is a naphthoquinone. It has been reported to exert beneficial anti-inflammatory effects and anti-oxidant properties in various diseases. Isoproterenol (ISO) has been widely used to establish cardiac injury in vivo and in vitro. However, shikonin function in ISO-induced cardiac injury remains uncertain. In our study, we attempted to investigate the efficiency and possible molecular mechanism of shikonin in cardiac injury treatment induced by ISO. In vivo, C57BL6 mice were subcutaneously injected with 5mg/kg ISO to induce heart failure. And mice were given a gavage of shikonin (2 or 4mg/kg/d, for four weeks). Cardiac function, fibrosis indices, inflammation response, apoptosis and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress were calculated. Pathological alterations, fibrosis-, inflammation-, apoptosis- and ER stress-related molecules were examined. In ISO-induced cardiac injury, shikonin significantly ameliorated heart function, decreased myocardial fibrosis, suppressed inflammation, attenuated apoptosis and ER stress through impeding collagen accumulation, Toll like receptor 4/nuclear transcription factor κB (TLR4/NF-κB), Caspase-3 and glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78) signaling pathways activity, relieving heart failure in vivo. Also, in vitro, shikonin attenuated ISO-induced cardiac muscle cells by reducing fibrosis, inflammation, apoptosis and ER stress. Our findings indicated that shikonin treatment attenuated ISO-induced heart injury, providing an effective therapeutic strategy for heart failure treatment for future.