木防已湯のAngII誘発性心筋細胞障害に対する保護機序の解明

抄録

Heart failure is a rapidly growing public health problem, affecting over 30 million people worldwide. Current therapeutic approaches aim to regress cardiac hypertrophy but have limited efficacy. In this context, Japanese Kampo medicines are gaining attention as safe and potentially effective therapeutic agents. This study focuses on understanding the impact and mechanisms by which Moku-boi-to (MBT), a Japanese Kampo medicine, provides potential cardioprotective benefits against AngII-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. By addressing this knowledge gap, we aim to contribute to the development of novel therapeutic strategies. Here, we found that MBT exhibited preventive effects against AngII-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and cell death. One of the ways MBT exerted its benefits was by enhancing intracellular Ca²⁺ signaling regulation and improving mitochondrial function. However, it was unexpected that MBT did not provide additional effects when combined with the AT₁ receptor blocker losartan. These findings shed light on the AT₁ receptor-mediated cardioprotective potential of MBT and provide valuable insight into the underlying mechanisms responsible for alleviating AngII-induced dysfunction in cardiomyocytes. Our results suggest that MBT holds promise as a safe and effective prophylactic agent for cardiac hypertrophy.