Schisandrin B protects myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury partly by inducing Hsp25 and Hsp70 expression in rats.

Schisandrin B (Sch B) is a hepato- and cardioprotective ingredient isolated from the fruit of Schisandra chinensis, a traditional Chinese herb clinically used to treat viral and chemical hepatitis. In order to investigate whether the induction of heat shock protein (Hsp)25 and Hsp70 expression plays a role in the cardioprotection afforded by Sch B pre-treatment against ischemia-reperfusion (I-R) injury, the time-course of myocardial Hsp25 and Hsp70 expression was examined in Sch B-pre-treated rats. Sch B pre-treatment (1.2 mmol/kg) produced time-dependent increases in Hsp25 and Hsp70 expression in rat hearts, with the maximum enhancement observable at 48 and 72 h post-dosing, respectively. Buthionine sulfoximine/phorone treatment, while abolishing the beneficial effect of Sch B on mitochondrial glutathione redox status, did not completely abrogate the cardioprotection against I-R injury. Heat shock treatment could increase myocardial Hsp25 and Hsp70 expression and protect against I-R injury under the present experimental conditions. The results indicate that the induction of Hsp25 and Hsp70 expression contributes at least partly to the cardioprotection afforded by Sch B pre-treatment against I-R injury.