【Animal Modeling】-Effect of Tongxinluo on the early lesions of calcific aortic valve disease in mice

  Objective To observe whether Tongxinluo intervention can delay the progression of calcific aortic valve disease in the early stage.

  Methods After 1 week of modeling, the mice were randomly divided into 5 groups: sham operation group, model group, Tongxinluo high-dose group, Tongxinluo medium-dose group, Tongxinluo low-dose group, Tongxinluo low-dose group, Tongxinluo high-dose group After 6 weeks of collateral intervention, Doppler ultrasonography was used to detect the change of peak flow velocity of aortic valve; serum myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and total cholesterol (TC) concentration were detected; pathological observation of aortic valve tissue pathological changes and calcium salt deposition ; Immunohistochemical staining to detect the infiltration of macrophages in valve leaflets and the differentiation of valve interstitial cells into myofibroblasts and osteoblasts.

  Results After 6 weeks of Tongxinluo intervention, compared with the model group, the peak flow rate of the aortic valve was significantly reduced (P<0.05), and the serum total cholesterol level and serum MPO activity were significantly reduced (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the thickness of aortic valve leaflets in the model group increased significantly (P<0.05) and showed calcium deposition; the immunohistochemical results showed that compared with the model group, the recruitment of macrophages in each group reduced by Tongxinluo intervention , the expression of α-SMA and OPN-positive cells was decreased.

  Conclusion In the early stage of calcific aortic valve disease, Tongxinluo can reduce the oxidative stress in the lesion by reducing the serum TC concentration, inhibiting the infiltration of inflammatory macrophages and reducing the activity of MPO, thereby affecting the valvular interstitial cells to myofibroblasts and myofibroblasts. Osteoblast differentiation delays the progression of valve calcification.