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- Title
Dose-dependent protective effect of nicotine in a murine model of viral myocarditis induced by coxsackievirus B3.
- Authors
Li-Sha, Ge; Jing-Lin, Zhao; Guang-Yi, Chen; Li, Liu; De-Pu, Zhou; Yue-Chun, Li
- Abstract
The alpha 7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (alpha7 nAChR) was recently described as an anti-inflammatory target in various inflammatory diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the dose-related effects of nicotine, an alpha7 nAChR agonist, in murine model of viral myocarditis. BALB/C mice were infected by an intraperitoneally injection with coxsackievirus B3. Nicotine was administered at doses of 0.1, 0.2 or 0.4 mg/kg three times per day for 7 or 14 consecutive days. The effects of nicotine on survival, myocardial histopathological changes, cardiac function, and cytokine levels were studied. The survival rate on day 14 increased in a dose-dependent fashion and was markedly higher in the 0.2 and 0.4 mg/kg nicotine groups than in the infected untreated group. Treatment with high-dose nicotine reduced the myocardial inflammation and improved the impaired left ventricular function in infected mice. The mRNA expressions and protein levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-17A were significantly downregulated in dose-dependent manners in the nicotine treatment groups compared to the infected untreated group. Nicotine dose-dependently reduced the severity of viral myocarditis through inhibiting the production of proinflammatory cytokines. The findings suggest that alpha7 nAChR agonists may be a promising new strategy for patients with viral myocarditis.
- Subjects
PHYSIOLOGICAL effects of nicotine; MYOCARDITIS; COXSACKIEVIRUSES; NICOTINIC acetylcholine receptors; MESSENGER RNA; LABORATORY mice
- Publication
Scientific Reports, 2015, p15895
- ISSN
2045-2322
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1038/srep15895