Tanshinone IIA Ameliorate Coxsackie Virus B3-Induced Viral Myocarditis through the Inhibition of Inflammation and Modulation T Helper 1/T Helper 2 Balance in Mice

Abstract

To investigate the effect of Tanshinone IIA (TSA) on viral myocarditis (VMC). VMC animal model was established using BALB/c mice by intraperitoneally injecting Coxsackie virus B3 (CVB3). The mice were randomly divided into control group, model group, and TSA group. We detected the survival rate, the heart weight to body weight (HW/BW) ratio and hemodynamic and cardiac function parameters. The pathological features of VMC were measured through H&E staining. The expression of serum enzyme, inflammatory cytokines, and T helper (Th)1/Th2 markers was also investigated. TSA remarkably alleviated CVB3-caused myocardial injury, decreased the HW/BW ratio, and improved survival rate. TSA obviously improved hemodynamic parameters and reversed the damage to the heart pump function. Furthermore, the serum levels of lactate dehydrogenase, creatine kinase, and Th1 cytokines in the TSA group were significantly lower than those in the VMC group, and TSA treatment significantly improved the pathological condition. The interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and interleukin-2 (IL-2) levels in VMC model group was higher than control group, and lower levels of IL-4 and IL-10 were identified. However, TSA treatment elevated IL-4 and IL-10 levels and decreased IFN-γ and IL-2 levels. TSA could effectively protect the myocardium against CVB3-induced myocarditis by the inhibition of inflammation and modulation Th1/Th2 balance in mice.