Catechin ameliorates cardiac dysfunction in rats with chronic heart failure by regulating the balance between Th17 and Treg cells

• Published in: Inflammation research Vol. 63; no. 8; pp. 619 - 628
• Main Authors: Zhang, Qi, Hu, Li-qun, Yin, Chang-sen, Chen, Ping, Li, Hong-qi, Sun, Xin, Yan, Guang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel Springer Basel 01.08.2014; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Allergology; Animals; Aorta, Abdominal - surgery; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Cardiotonic Agents - pharmacology; Cardiotonic Agents - therapeutic use; Catechin - pharmacology; Catechin - therapeutic use; Dermatology; Heart Failure - blood; Heart Failure - drug therapy; Heart Failure - immunology; Heart Failure - physiopathology; Immunology; Immunomodulation - drug effects; Interleukin-10 - blood; Interleukin-17 - blood; Ligation; Male; Neurology; Original Research Paper; Pharmacology/Toxicology; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Rheumatology; Spleen - drug effects; Spleen - pathology; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory - drug effects; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory - physiology; Th17 Cells - drug effects; Th17 Cells - physiology; Ventricular Function, Left - drug effects; Ventricular Pressure - drug effects; Interleukin-17; Catechin chronic heart failure; Interleukin-10; Th17; Treg
• ISSN: 1023-3830; 1420-908X
• DOI: 10.1007/s00011-014-0734-4

Objective Disequilibrium of the cytokine network was reported to play an important role in the progression of chronic heart failure (CHF). Catechin exerts cardioprotection through treating many kinds of angiocardiopathy. However, the effects of catechin on CHF are currently unclear. Therefore, the main aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of catechin on CHF rats as well as its relationship to immunoregulation. Methods CHF was induced in rats by ligation of the abdominal aorta. Myocardial function was evaluated by left ventricular systolic pressure and left ventricular end-diastolic pressure. The cytokine level was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Th17 and Treg levels in peripheral blood and spleen were analyzed by flow cytometry. Results The results showed that catechin treatment (50, 100 mg/kg/day) markedly improved myocardial function in rats treated with abdominal aortic coarctation. Severity of myocardial dysfunction in CHF rats significantly correlated with serum values of interleukin-17 (IL-17)/IL-10. Further results indicated catechin obviously inhibited immune activation, regulated unbalanced levels of IL-17/IL-10, and reversed abnormal polarization of TH17 as well as Treg in peripheral blood and spleen. Conclusions Taken together, oral administration of catechin effectively suppressed abdominal aorta ligation-induced CHF in rats, which was closely associated with its modulation on Th17 and Treg.