2-Arachidonoylglycerol Attenuates Fibrosis in Diabetic Mice via the TGF-β1/Smad Pathway
Abstract Purpose: Diabetic cardiomyopathy (DM) is the cause of late cardiac dysfunction in diabetic patients. Myocardial fibrosis is the main pathological mechanism, which is associated with transforming growth factor-β1(TGF-β1) expression up-regulation. 2-Arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) is an endogenous cannabinoid that can effectively improve myocardial cell energy metabolism and cardiac function. Here, we evaluated the protective effect of 2-AG on diabetic cardiomyopathy.Methods: Male C57BL/6J mice were injected with 2-AG intraperitoneally for 4 weeks (1μg/kg/day) after 12 weeks of diabetic modeling. After 4 weeks, heart function was evaluated by echocardiography. Heart structure was assessed by hematoxylin and eosin staining. Cardiac fibrosis was analyzed using immunohistochemistry, Sirius red stain and Western blot.Results: After modeling in diabetic mice, cardiac ultrasonography showed decreased cardiac function, and pathological findings showed that myocardial fibrosis. 2-AG could effectively inhibit the up-regulation of TGF-β1 and Smad2/3, improve myocardial fibrosis and ultimately improve cardiac function in diabetic mice.Conclusion: 2-AG reduces cardiac fibrosis via the TGF-β1/Smad2/3 pathway and is a potential pathway for the treatment of cardiac dysfunction in diabetic mice.