Effect of Yiqihuoxue prescription on myocardial energy metabolism after myocardial infarction via cross talk of liver kinase B1-dependent Notch1 and adenosine 5′-monophosphate-activated protein kinase

Abstract Objective To investigate the effect of Yiqihuoxue prescription (YQHX) from Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) on myocardial glucose and lipid metabolism after myocardial infarction via the cross talk between the liver kinase B1 (LKB1)-dependent Notch1 and adenosine 5u0027-monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK). YQHX was prepared with substances with properties that benefit, to activate blood circulation based on the TCM theory. Methods Animal models of myocardial infarction were established by ligating Sprague Dawley ratsu0027 left anterior descending coronary arteries. The animals were randomly divided into a myocardial infarction (MI) group, a YQHX group, a perindopril group, a γ-secretase inhibitor, Notch signal inhibitor (DAPT) group, a DAPT+YQHX group and a sham group. The related drugs were administered on the second day after operation, and changes in the relevant indexes were examined on weeks 1 and 4. Changes in cardiac structure and function were examined by echocardiography. The glucose and free fatty acids (FFA) were examined by ELISA. The expression of Notch, LKB1 and AMPK mRNA was examined by a real-time fluorescence quantitative method. The expression of glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4), and the expression of total acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) and its phosphorylation were examined by western blotting. Results Compared with the sham group, the expression of Notch, LKB1 and AMPK mRNA in the MI group was lower. Compared with the MI group, the expression of these mRNAs in the YQHX and perindopril groups was higher, and their expression in the DAPT group was lower. At all time points, the protein expression of GLUT4 and pACC decreased in the MI group. On week 1, the expression of pACC protein was higher. In the DAPT group, the expression of pACC protein decreased. Compared with the YQHX group, the expression of pACC protein in the DAPT + YQHX group was lower. On week 4, compared with the MI group, the expression of GLUT4 protein in the YQHX group and the perindopril group was higher. The expression of GLUT4 protein in the DAPT group decreased. Compared with the YQHX group, the expression of GLUT4 protein in the DAPT+YQHX group was lower. There was no significant difference in the expression of ACC protein between the groups. Conclusion YQHX promoted cross talk between the LKB1-dependent Notch1 and AMPK in myocardial tissue after myocardial infarction. Furthermore, it regulated the glucose and lipid metabolism of cardiomyocytes at different time points, thereby ameliorating the cardiac energy metabolism via different mechanisms and protecting the heart.