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eCAM Advance Access published online on November 25, 2009
eCAM, doi:10.1093/ecam/nep182
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© The Author(s) 2009. Published by Oxford University Press.
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.5/uk/) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Attenuated Cardiac Mitochondrial-dependent Apoptotic Effects by Li-Fu Formula in Hamsters Fed with a Hypercholesterol Diet

Wei-Wen Kuo1, Tsai-Ching Hsu2, Mei-Haung Chain1, Chao-Hung Lai3, Wen-Hong Wang4, Fuu-Jen Tsai5, Chang-Hai Tsai6, Chieh-His Wu7,*, Chih-Yang Huang5,8,9,* and Bor-Show Tzang10,11,12,*

1Department of Biological Science and Technology, China Medical University, 2Institute of Immunology, Chung Shan Medical University, 3Division of Cardiology, Armed Force Taichung General Hospital, 4Department of Nutrition, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, 5Graduate Institute of Chinese Medical Science, China Medical University, 6Department of Healthcare Administration, Asia University, 7Department of Biological Science and Technology, China Medical University, 8Graduate Institute of Basic Medical Science, China Medical University, 9Department of Health and Nutrition Biotechnology, Asia University, 10Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Chung Shan Medical University, 11Clinical Laboratory, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital and 12Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan

Apoptosis involves in the pathogenesis of various cardiac abnormalities. This study intends to evaluate the effects of Li-Fu formula on cardiac apoptosis induced by hyper-cholesterol diet. Twenty-four male Golden Syrian hamsters were randomly divided into Control, Cholesterol and Li-Fu formula groups. Histopathological analysis, western blotting and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assays were performed to measure the effects of Li-Fu formula on left ventricle. Significantly reduced TUNEL-positive cells and mitochondria- dependent apoptosis were observed in the left ventricle of hamsters from Li-Fu formula group compared to the Cholesterol group. Additionally, induced cardiac insulin like growth factor I receptor (IGFIR)-dependent survival pathway was detected in the Li-Fu formula group compared to the Cholesterol group. Besides, minor fibrosis, increased collagen deposition, and myofibril disarray was detected in the Cholesterol group, whereas the reductions of collagen deposition and myofibril disarray were observed in the Li-Fu formula group. This study demonstrated that Li-Fu formula not only reduced the mitochondria-dependent apoptosis and fibrosis, but also enhanced the IGF-I survival pathway in the left ventricle from high cholesterol-fed hamsters. We suggest the protective effects of Li-Fu formula on cardiac apoptosis and therapeutic potentials against cardiovascular disease.

Keywords: apoptosis – hyper-cholesterol – Li-Fu formula – heart

For reprints and all correspondence: Dr. Bor-Show Tzang, Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Chung Shan Medical University, No. 110, Jianguo North Road, Taichung 40203, Taiwan. Tel: +886-4-23248168; Fax: +886-4-23248195; E-mail: bstzang{at}csmu.edu.tw

*These authors contributed equally to this work.

Received June 26, 2009; accepted October 2, 2009


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