To investigate the effect of tanshinone ⅡA on proliferation of myocardial fibroblasts in rats.

Cultured primary myocardial fibroblasts of Wistar rats were randomly divided into the control group, AngiotensinⅡ (AngⅡ) group, tanshinone A group (0.01 mmol/L of tanshinone ⅡA), tanshinone B group (0.1 mmol/L of tanshinone ⅡA) and tanshinone C group (1 mmol/L of tanshinone ⅡA). The cell proliferation rate was measured by methye thiazolye telrazlium. The level of hydroxyproline was detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. The expressions of fibroblast collagen Ⅰ, collagen Ⅲ, matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2 (TIMP-2) mRNA were tested by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The expression of galectin-3 protein was detected by Western-blotting.

The cell proliferation rates, hydroxyproline levels, and expressions of fibroblast collagen Ⅰ, collagen Ⅲ, MMP-2, TIMP-2 mRNA and galectin-3 protein all showed significant differences among five groups (F = 14.440, 13.510, 15.860, 42.950, 3.727, 7.357, 127.600; all P < 0.001). The cell proliferation rates [(100.0 ± 2.8)%, (171.2 ± 11.4)%, (162.3 ± 15.9)%, (154.6 ± 17.5)%, (128.7 ± 13.2)%], hydroxyproline levels [(1.13 ± 0.14), (2.07 ± 0.23), (1.89 ± 0.17), (1.74 ± 0.20), (1.35 ± 0.16) μg/mg], and expressions of fibroblast collagen Ⅰ, collagen Ⅲ, MMP-2, TIMP-2 mRNA and galectin-3 protein in the Ang Ⅱ group and tanshinone groups with different concentrations were all much higher than those in the control group (all P < 0.05). The cell proliferation rates, hydroxyproline levels, expressions of fibroblast collagen Ⅰ, collagen Ⅲ, TIMP-2 mRNA and galectin-3 protein in tanshinone groups with different concentrations were much lower than those in the Ang Ⅱ group, and the lowest in the tanshinone C group (all P < 0.05). However, the expression of MMP-2 mRNA showed no significant differences between the Ang Ⅱ group and tanshinone groups with different concentrations, and among different tanshinone groups (all P > 0.05).

Tanshinone ⅡA can effectively inhibit the proliferation of myocardial fibroblasts, and its mechanism may be related to inhibition of galectin-3 protein and decrease of TIMP-2 expression.