Protective effects of quercetin regulating the expression of KCa3.1 and NLRP3 on PAH right heart failure in rats

Objective To detect the expression of KCa3.1 and NOD-like receptor heat protein domain associated protein 3(NLRP3) in rat myocardium, and investigate the protective effect of quercetin on hypoxic pulmonary artery hypertension(PAH) right heart failure.

Methods Forty clean male SD rats were divided into the normal control group(Control group), normal quercetin group(group CQ), hypoxia group(group H) and hypoxia quercetin group(group HQ) (10 rats in each group).After the model was successfully prepared, the myocardial fibrosis of rats was observed by HE staining.The hypertrophy level of rat cardiomyocytes was observed by wheat germ lectin.The serum expression of KCa3.1 protein was detected by ELISA.The expression levels of KCa3.1 protein and NLRP3 in myocardial tissue were measured by Western blotting.The thickness of right heart free wall was evaluated by ultrasound.The right heart hypertrophy index of rats was calculated.

Results Quercetin could decrease the right ventricular hypertrophy index, alleviate the right ventricular fibrosis, and relieve the right ventricular cardiomyocyte hypertrophy in PAH rats(P < 0.01).The results of Western blotting and ELISA showed that quercetin intervention could significantly inhibit the expression of myocardial KCa3.1 and NLRP3 proteins(P < 0.01).

Conclusions Quercetin has a protective effect on right heart failure caused by hypoxic PAH, which may be related to its inhibition of KCa3.1 and NLRP3 expression in rat myocardium.