LAUSR

AIMS AND METHODS Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is a common cardiovascular disease with high mortality. Astragaloside IV (AS-IV) was reported to have cardioprotective effect after AMI. We hypothesize that the cardioprotective role of AS-IV is exerted by enhancing angiogenesis via regulating PTEN/PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. To valid our hypothesis, AMI rats and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were employed in our study. KEY FINDINGS After treatment, cardiac function, survival rate, infarct size, pathological changes and fibrosis, cell apoptosis, ultrastructural changes, angiogenesis and expression of PTEN/PI3K/Akt signaling pathway were evaluated, respectively. In vitro study we detected proliferation, tube formation and signaling pathway activation of HUVECs treated with AS-IV, lentivirus overexpressed PTEN was employed to elucidate the potential mechanism. The results indicated that AS-IV administration significantly improved cardiac function and survival rate, limited infarct size, ameliorated pathological changes and fibrosis deposition, inhibited apoptosis, relieved ultrastructure injury and enhanced angiogenesis, PTEN/PI3K/Akt signaling pathway was activated simultaneously compared to the model group. In vitro study suggested that AS-IV treatment promoted cell proliferation and tube formation, and induced PTEN/PI3K/Akt signaling pathway activation. Importantly, overexpression of PTEN by lentivirus abolished AS-IV-induced angiogenesis. SIGNIFICANCE Our study indicated that AS-IV could promote angiogenesis and cardioprotection after myocardial infarction. The mechanisms involve activation of PTEN/PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.