ABSTRACT
This study aims to explore the mechanism of "simultaneous treatment of the brain and the heart" of Naoxintong Capsules(NXT) under cerebral ischemia based on Toll-like receptor(TLR) signaling pathway.Male SD rats were randomized into sham operation group, model group, NXT group, and positive drug group.Middle cerebral artery occlusion(MCAO) model rats were used in model group, NXT group, and positive drug group, respectively.Neurological function was scored with the Bederson scale, and brain infarct rate was measured by 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride(TTC) staining.Brain edema was detected with wet-dry weight method.Hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining and TdT-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling(TUNEL) staining were used to observe and count apoptotic cardiocytes.In addition, serum myocardial enzymes were measured.The expression of 8 TLR signaling pathway-related proteins interferon-α(IFN-α), interferon regulatory factor-3(IRF3), interferon regulatory factor-7(IRF7), TLR2, TLR4, TLR7, TLR9, and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) in the cerebral cortex and heart of rats was detected by Western blot. Brain infarct rate, neurological function score, and brain water content in NXT group decreased significantly compared with those in the model group. At the same time, the reduction in apoptosis rate of cardiocytes and the content of serum aspartate aminotransferase(AST), alanine aminotransferase(ALT), creatine kinase(CK), and lactate dehydrogenase(LDH) were decreased in the NXT group.Systems pharmacological results and previous research showed that TLR signaling pathway played an important role in immune inflammatory response.The study of TLR signaling pathway and related proteins is helpful to elucidate the mechanism of "simultaneous treatment of the brain and the heart". Western blot results showed that NXT significantly inhibited the expression of IRF3, IRF7, TLR2, TLR7, and TNF-α in cerebral cortex and heart under cerebral ischemia.Cerebral ischemia influences cardiac functions, and TLR signaling pathway is one of the pathways for "simultaneous treatment of the brain and the heart" of NXT.
