Quercetin prevents myocardial infarction adverse remodeling in rats by attenuating TGF-b1/Smad3 signaling: Different mechanisms of action

This study investigated the anti-remodeling and anti-fibrotic and effect of quercetin (QUR) in the remote non-infarcted of rats after myocardial infarction (MI). Rats were divided as control, control + QUR, MI, and MI + QUR. MI was introduced to the rats by ligating the eft anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery. All treatments were given for 30 days, daily. QUR persevered the LV hemodynamic parameters and pre- vented remote myocardium damage and fibrosis. Also, QUR supressed the generation of ROS, increased the nuclear levels of Nrf2, and enhanced SOD and GSH levels in the LVs of the control and MI model rats. It also reduced angiotensin II, nuclear level/activity of the nuclear factor NF-jb p65, and protein expres- sion of TGF-b1, a-SMA, and total/phospho-smad3 in the LVs of both groups. Concomitantly, QUR upreg- ulated LV smad7 and BMP7. In conclusion, QUR prevents MI-induced LV remodeling by antioxidant, anti- inflammatory, and anti-fibrotica effects mediated by ROS scavenging, suppressing NF-jb, and stimulat- ing Nrf-2, Smad7, and BMP7.