Shenfu Injection (参附注射液) suppresses inflammation by targeting haptoglobin and pentraxin 3 in rats with chronic ischemic heart failure

Objective To investigate the regulatory effects of Shenfu Injection (SFI, 参附注射液) on hemodynamic parameters and serum proteins in rats with post-infarction chronic heart failure (CHF). Methods Forty-five healthy Wistar rats were randomized into three groups: sham, heart failure (model) and SFI group. The CHF was induced by left coronary artery ligation. Seven days after the surgical operation, animals in the sham group and the model group received saline (6.2 mL/kg/d), while animals in the SFI group received SFI (6.2 mL/kg d) intraperitoneally. Four weeks later, cardiac hemodynamic parameters were measured via the carotid route. The expression of serum proteins was analyzed by two-dimensional electrophoresis and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometer (MALDI-TOF MS). Results Recording of hemodynamic parameters showed that left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP), maximum rate of left ventricular pressure (+dp/dt max ) rise, and maximum rate of left ventricular pressure (−dp/dt max ) decrease, while the left ventricular end diastolic pressure (LVEDP) rose in the model group compared to those in the sham group ( P <0.05). The results of the MALDI-TOF MS indicated that haptoglobin (HP), pentraxin 3 (PTX3) and alpha-1-antitrypsin were up-regulated, while serum albumin and 40S ribosomal protein were down-regulated in the model group ( P <0.05). Compared with the model group, LVSP, +dp/dt max and −dp/dt max were higher, while LVEDP was lower in the SFI group ( P <0.05). Expression levels of HP and PTX3 were lower than in the model group ( P <0.05). Conclusion SFI could improve hemodynamic function and decrease inflammatory reactions in the pathophysiology of CHF. The serum proteins HP and PTX3 could be potential biomarkers for chronic ischemic heart failure, and they could also be the serum protein targets of SFI.