Ge Li-Sha1, Zhao Jing-Lin2, Liu Li2, Chen Guang-Yi2, Li Xiao-Wei2, Li Yue-Chun3. 1. Department of Pediatrics, Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325000, China. 2. Department of Cardiology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325000, China. 3. Department of Cardiology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325000, China. Electronic address: liyuechun1980@sina.com.
Abstract
AIMS: Although excessive sympathetic activation in viral myocarditis and the protective effects of sympathetic inhibition with β-blockers are clear, the effects of enhancing vagal tone on viral myocarditis remain unclear. In several models, vagus nerve activation with the α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7-nAChR) agonists has been demonstrated to ameliorate inflammation. This study was therefore designed to examine the effects of cholinergic stimulation with α7-nAChR agonist nicotine in a murine model of acute viral myocarditis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: BALB/C mice were infected by an intraperitoneally injection with coxsackievirus B3. Nicotine and methyllycaconitine (an α7-nAChR antagonist) were administered at doses of 0.4mg/kg and 0.8mg/kg three times per day for 7 or 14 consecutive days, respectively. The effects of nicotine and methyllycaconitine on survival rate, myocardial histopathological changes, cardiac function, cytokine levels, viral RNA, malondialdehyde, and superoxide dismutase contents were investigated. KEY FINDINGS: Nicotine significantly increased survival rate of the infected mice, decreased myocardial inflammation, and improved the impairment of left ventricular function in murine coxsackievirus B3-induced myocarditis compared with methyllycaconitine. The proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-17A were significantly decreased in the infected mice treated with nicotine compared with methyllycaconitine. Nicotine had no significant anti-oxidative and antiviral effects in coxsackievirus B3-infected mice. SIGNIFICANCE: The results indicate that cholinergic stimulation with nicotine significantly reduced the severity of viral myocarditis in mice. The findings suggest that alpha7 nAChR agonists may be a promising new strategy for patients with myocarditis.
AIMS: Although excessive sympathetic activation in viral myocarditis and the protective effects of sympathetic inhibition with β-blockers are clear, the effects of enhancing vagal tone on viral myocarditis remain unclear. In several models, vagus nerve activation with the α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7-nAChR) agonists has been demonstrated to ameliorate inflammation. This study was therefore designed to examine the effects of cholinergic stimulation with α7-nAChR agonist nicotine in a murine model of acute viral myocarditis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: BALB/C mice were infected by an intraperitoneally injection with coxsackievirus B3. Nicotine and methyllycaconitine (an α7-nAChR antagonist) were administered at doses of 0.4mg/kg and 0.8mg/kg three times per day for 7 or 14 consecutive days, respectively. The effects of nicotine and methyllycaconitine on survival rate, myocardial histopathological changes, cardiac function, cytokine levels, viral RNA, malondialdehyde, and superoxide dismutase contents were investigated. KEY FINDINGS:Nicotine significantly increased survival rate of the infected mice, decreased myocardial inflammation, and improved the impairment of left ventricular function in murinecoxsackievirus B3-induced myocarditis compared with methyllycaconitine. The proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-17A were significantly decreased in the infected mice treated with nicotine compared with methyllycaconitine. Nicotine had no significant anti-oxidative and antiviral effects in coxsackievirus B3-infected mice. SIGNIFICANCE: The results indicate that cholinergic stimulation with nicotine significantly reduced the severity of viral myocarditis in mice. The findings suggest that alpha7 nAChR agonists may be a promising new strategy for patients with myocarditis.
Authors: Li Yue-Chun; Chen Guang-Yi; Ge Li-Sha; Xing Chao; Tian Xinqiao; Lin Cong; Dai Xiao-Ya; Yang Xiangjun Journal: Front Pharmacol Date: 2016-11-01 Impact factor: 5.810
Authors: Ge Li-Sha; Chen Xing-Xing; Wu Lian-Pin; Zhou De-Pu; Li Xiao-Wei; Lin Jia-Feng; Li Yue-Chun Journal: Front Pharmacol Date: 2017-01-31 Impact factor: 5.810