Liquiritin ameliorates acute myocardial infarction via the COX-2/NLRP3 signaling pathway: network pharmacology and experimental validation

Main Article Content

Lan Zhou
Hui-min Ding
Yong-qin Du
Zi-qing Hu
Jing-ya Li
Liang Wang
Peng Zhou

Keywords

acute myocardial infarction, COX-2/NLRP3 signaling pathway, liquiritin, molecular docking, network pharmacology

Abstract

Liquiritin is beneficial to cardiovascular diseases, including myocardial hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) injury, myocardial hypertrophy, and acute myocardial infarction (AMI). However, the mechanism of liquiritin on AMI is unknown. This study is of great significance for elucidating the mechanism of liquiritin in preventing and treating AMI and developing cardiovascular protective drugs. Network pharmacology and molecular docking were used to screen the targets of liquiritin. AMI rats were built by coronary left anterior descending ligation. Echocardiography was used to monitor cardiac function; HE staining was used to detect pathological changes, and cardiac enzymes were detected. The expressions of COX-2, NLRP3, Caspase-1, ASC, and GSDMD were detected by RT-PCR and Western Blot. ELISA was used for the detection of IL-1β and IL-18 expression. COX-2 was detected as the most considerable protein in the PPI network. Molecular docking predicted that liquiritin has a high binding affinity with COX-2. AMI model rats showed significantly lower EF and FS (P<0.01) and increased LVIDd and LVIDs (P<0.01), which were improved by liquiritin. Liquiritin significantly reduced cardiac pathological changes and decreased LDH, CK, cTn-I, and BNP levels. Liquiritin reduced the mRNA and protein expressions of COX-2, NLRP3, Caspase-1, ASC, and GSDMD. Liquiritin inhibited IL-1β and IL-18 overexpression. Liquiritin has a better effect against AMI, and its mechanism is related to inhibiting the COX-2/NLRP3 signaling pathway.

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