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

Figure 5

The siRNA of Sig1R further promotes cardiac fibroblast activation; treatment with the Sig1R agonist fluvoxamine reduces cardiac fibrosis and preserves cardiac function 4 weeks post-TAC. Mice were randomly divided into three groups: Sham, TAC, and FLV. (a, b) The protein levels of POSTN, CTGF, Sig1R, and TGF-β in activated cardiac fibroblasts transfected with Sig1R siRNA. ; (c, d) Cardiac function and hypertrophy evaluated by echocardiography shown by percent EF and FS; diastole IVS and LVPW thickness. ; (e, f) Cardiac images and cardiac hypertrophy index, HW/BW, ; (g, j) Representative cross-sectional images of hematoxylin/eosin-stained cardiomyocytes. . . (h, i, k, and l) Representative images of Sirius red and Masson trichrome staining of heart tissue are shown to visualize fibrosis (red and blue). . ; (m) The mRNA levels of COL-1, POSTN, CTGF, and TGF-β in mice heart tissue. ; (n, o) The protein levels of FN (Fibronectin), POSTN, CTGF, and TGF-β in mice heart tissue. . Shown are representative pictures, value was determined by one-way ANOVA analysis. , , . Data represent the .

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

(e)

(f)

(g)

(h)

(i)

(j)

(k)

(l)

(m)

(n)

(o)