Stimulation of Sigma-1 Receptor Protects against Cardiac Fibrosis by Alleviating IRE1 Pathway and Autophagy Impairment

Figure 1

Sig1R is downregulated in mice heart tissue following transverse aortic constriction (TAC) surgery. Mice were randomly divided into two groups: Sham operation and TAC. (a, b) Cardiac function decline and cardiac hypertrophy were evaluated by echocardiography shown by percent EF (ejection fraction) and FS (fractional shortening); diastole IVS (Interventricular Septal) and LVPW (left ventricular posterior wall) thickness. ; (c) Cardiac hypertrophy index, HW/BW (heart weight to body weight ratio). ; (d, e) Representative cross-sectional images of hematoxylin/eosin-stained cardiomyocytes. . . (f–i) Heart sections were stained with Sirius red and Masson trichrome to visualize fibrosis (red and blue). . . (j) The mRNA levels of COL-1(collagen I), POSTN (periostin), α-SMA (α-Smooth Muscle Actin), CTGF (connective tissue growth factor), and TGF-β (transforming growth factor-β) in mice heart tissue. ; (k, l) The protein levels of POSTN, α-SMA (α-Smooth Muscle Actin), CTGF, and TGF-β in mice heart tissue. ; (m–o) The mRNA and protein levels of Sig1R (Sigma-1 receptor) in mice heart tissue. . Shown are representative pictures; statistical significance was determined by unpaired -test. , , . Data represent the .

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