Ginsenoside Re inhibits myocardial fibrosis by regulating miR-489/myd88/NF-κB pathway

Background: Myocardial fibrosis (MF) is an advanced pathological manifestation of many cardiovascular diseases, which can induce heart failure and malignant arrhythmias. However, the current treatment of MF lacks specific drugs. Ginsenoside Re has anti-MF effect in rat, but its mechanism is still not clear. Therefore, we investigated the anti-MF effect of ginsenoside Re by constructing mouse acute myocardial infarction (AMI) model and AngII induced cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) model. Methods: The anti-MF effect of miR-489 was investigated by transfection of miR-489 mimic and inhibitor in CFs. Effect of ginsenoside Re on MF and its related mechanisms were investigated by ultrasonographic, ELISA, histopathologic staining, transwell test, immunofluorescence, Western blot and qPCR in the mouse model of AMI and the AngII-induced CFs model. Results: MiR-489 decreased the expression of a-SMA, collagenI, collagen III and myd88, and inhibited the phosphorylation of NF-kB p65 in normal CFs and CFs treated with AngII. Ginsenoside Re could improve cardiac function, inhibit collagen deposition and CFs migration, promote the transcription of miR-489, and reduce the expression of myd88 and the phosphorylation of NF-kB p65. Conclusion: MiR-489 can effectively inhibit the pathological process of MF, and the mechanism is at least partly related to the regulation of myd88/NF-kB pathway. Ginsenoside Re can ameliorate AMI and AngII induced MF, and the mechanism is at least partially related to the regulation of miR-489/myd88/NF-kB signaling pathway. Therefore, miR-489 may be a potential target of anti-MF and ginsenoside Re may be an effective drug for the treatment of MF.