Role of homocysteine in the pathogenesis of alcoholic cardiomyopathy

OBJECTIVE: To explore the role of homocysteine in the pathogenesis of alcoholic cardiomyopathy. METHODS: A total of 69 male Wistar rats were randomly assigned into two groups: alcohol-fed group and the control. Cardiac function was assessed by pulse Doppler. Plasma Hcy levels were examined using automatic biochemical instrument (chemiluminescence). The protein expression of MMP-9 was evaluated using immunohistochemical method, and collagen fiber of myocardium was quantitative analyzed by Masson stain. RESULTS: After heavy drinking, the LVEDd of alcohol-fed group were larger than the control group [(7.0±0.6) mm vs (5.0±0.4) mm, P<0.05], the LVEF and FS were lower in the 4th month (52%±8% vs 78%±4%, 31%±3% vs 47%±2%, P<0.05), the data changed more significantly (P<0.01) in the 6th month. The level of plasma Hcy from alcohol-fed group was significantly higher from the 2nd month than that before the experiment [(18.1±3.1) µmol/L vs (9.8±2.1) µmol/L, P<0.01], and it was higher in 4th month than that in 2nd month [(26.3±4.0) µmol/L vs (18.1±3.1) µmol/L, P<0.05], it was highest in 6 months. After 4-month and 6-month drinking, the expression of MMP-9 protein from alcohol group was higher than before the experiment (0.161%±0.019%, 0.263%±0.014% vs 0.050%±0.008%, P<0.01). Masson staining showed myocardial collagen of alcohol group was more after 4-month and 6-month drinking than those before the experiment (10.23%±1.20% vs 0.50%±0.09%; 22.41%±2.57% vs 0.50%±0.09%, P<0.01). Plasma Hcy and cardiac tissue MMP-9 is a significant positive correlation (r=0.848, P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Long-term and large drink liquor can lead to plasma Hcy levels significantly increased, and participate cardiac remodeling and the pathogenesis of ACM through increasing the expression of myocardial tissue MMP-9 protein.