Proteomic studies on the protective effects of Shenfu decoction in chronic heart failure

Objective: Shenfu decoction has been shown to improve left ventricular function following chronic heart failure (CHF). However, the mechanisms underlying these cardioprotective effects are incompletely understood. In the present study, the heart ventricle was subjected to proteomic analysis to identify possible cellular targets. Methods: Isobaric tag for relative and absolute quantification (iTRAQ) was used to investigate the expression of different proteins in heart tissue after ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery with or without administration of Shenfu decoction. Results: Treatment with Shenfu decoction conferred cardioprotective effects in myocardial infarction-induced CHF. Proteins which had a 3-fold change in abundance, compared to the sham control sample, were selected for identification. Gene ontology analysis linked these proteins to specific biological processes, including energy metabolism, mitochondrial function, the cytoskeleton and others. Conclusion: The protective effects of Shenfu decoction on the myocardium in CHF may be related to the recovery of energy supply and the promotion of cell recovery. These findings suggest that Shenfu decoction may be a potential therapeutic agent in the treatment of CHF and may be a strong candidate for future research due to its actions on individual proteins.National Natural Science Foundation of China [81273890]; Beijing Key Disciplines project of Traditional Chinese Medicine [JZZ-312]SCI(E)ARTICLEwhjhdyyyz@yeah.net1019142-19152