Effects of neutral sulfate berberine on LPS-induced cardiomyocyte TNF-alpha secretion, abnormal calcium cycling, and cardiac dysfunction in rats.

Aim: To evaluate the effect of neutral sulfate berberine on cardiac function, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) release, and intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca(2+)]i) in cardiomyocytes exposed to lipopolysaccharide (LPS).

Methods: Primary cultured rat cardiomyocytes were prepared from ventricles of 3-4-day old Sprague-Dawley rats. TNF-alpha concentrations in cell-conditioned media were measured by using a Quantikine enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit, and cardiomyocyte [Ca(2+)]i was measured by using Fura-2/AM. The isolated rat hearts were perfused in the Langendorff mode.

Results: LPS at doses of 1, 5, 10, and 20 microg/mL markedly stimulated TNF-alpha secretion from cardiomyocytes, and neutral sulfate berberine inhibited LPS-induced TNF-alpha production. Intracellular calcium concentration was significantly decreased after LPS stimulation for 1 h, and increased 2 h after LPS treatment. Pretreatment with neutral sulfate berberine reversed the LPS-induced [Ca(2+)]i alterations, although neutral sulfate berberine did not inhibit a rapid increase in cardiomyocyte [Ca(2+)]i induced by LPS. Perfusion of isolated hearts with LPS (100 microg/mL) for 20 min resulted in significantly impaired cardiac performance at 120 min after LPS challenge: the maximal rate of left ventricular pressure rise and fall (+/-dp/dt(max)) decreased compared with the control. In contrast, +/-dp/dt(max) at 120 min in hearts perfused with neutral sulfate berberine (1 micromol/L) for 10 min followed by 20 min LPS (100 microg/mL) was greater than the corresponding value in the LPS group.

Conclusion: Neutral sulfate berberine inhibits LPS-stimulated myocardial TNF-alpha production, impairs calcium cycling, and improves LPS-induced contractile dysfunction in intact heart.