Anti-depressive effect of Shuangxinfang on rats with acute myocardial infarction: Promoting bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells mobilization and alleviating inflammatory response

Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) are recruited to injured site for cardiac self-repairing in acute myocardial infarction (AMI), but the spontaneous mobilization of BM-MSCs is insufficient for self-repairing. Inflammation initiated by necrosis cardiomyocytes induced cardiac remodeling and depression. Given the anti-inflammatory effects of BM-MSCs and the inextricably relationship among inflammation, ventricular remodeling and depression following AMI, methods focused on enhancing BM-MSCs mobilization are promising. Shuangxinfang (Psycho-cardiology Formula, PCF) is a classical traditional Chinese medicine prescription. In this study, we explored its psycho-cardiology effects in rats with AMI and explore its potential mechanism. Our results showed PCF inhibited inflammation caused by injured myocardium, improved heart function and depression developed from myocardial infarction, and these might partly attribute to the higher BM-MSCs mobilization efficiency promoted by PCF.