Sinigrin ameliorates cardiac inflammation and fibrosis by partly modulating the Wnt/GSK-3β/β-catenin signaling: Insights from in vitro and in vivo models

Myocardial fibrosis is characterized by the thickening of the heart interstitium due to the deposition of extracellular matrix proteins. Sinigrin (SNG) has been shown to possess antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. The present investigation sought to explore the anti-fibrotic effects of SNG against cardiac inflammation and fibrosis through relevant models. An isoproterenol hydrochloride (ISH)-induced differentiation model using HCMEC, HCF, HCM, and H9C2 cells was employed in vitro, while an ISH-mediated cardiac inflammation/fibrosis model was used in vivo to evaluate the therapeutic effect of SNG through molecular biology, ECG, and histological analyses. Gene/protein expression analyses showed that ISH stimulation notably elevated the levels of key inflammatory markers (IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6, and cofilin) and fibrotic markers (FN-1, α-SMA, collagen types I, III, and TIMP-1) in the ISH control group. However, SNG (25, 50, and 100 μg/mL) treatment markedly attenuated these elevations in cardiac endothelial cells, fibroblasts, and myocytes. In a rat model, ISH administration (5 mg/kg) markedly elevated injury markers and immune cell levels (ALT, AST, neutrophils, and lymphocytes) in blood samples, along with increased levels of oxidative stress indicators, inflammatory and fibrotic markers in cardiac tissues. Histopathological analysis revealed significant pathological alterations, including inflammatory cell infiltration, fibroblast proliferation, collagen deposition, and cardiomyocyte disorganization. However, SNG treatment (7.5, 15, and 30 mg/kg) effectively attenuated these ISH-induced changes in a dose-dependent manner. The findings of this study demonstrate that sinigrin exhibits potent anti-inflammatory/anti-fibrotic properties by partially modulating the Wnt/GSK-3β/β-catenin signaling pathway. These findings highlight sinigrin's potential as a therapeutic candidate for cardiac inflammation and fibrosis, supporting future translational research.