Study on the role of Shenfu injection in mediating ferroptosis through the Akt/GSK-3β/Nrf2 pathway in yang-deficient chronic heart failure - Article 3

Sep 29, 2026

Study investigates how Shenfu injection modulates ferroptosis in yang-deficient chronic heart failure (CHF) through the Akt/GSK-3β/Nrf2 pathway. Sprague-Dawley rats were established using abdominal aortic coarctation, with cardiac function assessed by echocardiography. Serum NT-proBNP and cTnI were measured by ELISA, while cardiac injury, apoptosis, and oxidative stress were evaluated via HE, Masson’s staining, TUNEL, and ROS assays. RT-qPCR, immunohistochemistry, and Western blot quantified pathway activation. Shenfu improved cardiac function, lowered ferroptosis markers, and activated Akt/GSK-3β/Nrf2; LY294002 weakened these benefits.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

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Pages13

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Introduction

Materials and methods

Results

Conclusion

Turkish Journal of Biology | Volume 49 Number 7 | Article 3 | | --- | --- | | 12-29-2025
Study on the role of Shenfu injection in mediating ferroptosis through the Akt/GSK-3β/Nrf2 pathway in yang-deficient chronic heart failure
XIAOJIE CHEN
JIAYUN GUO
BING LIN
HUAMIN WANG
ZIYU LU
See next page for additional authors
Follow this and additional works at: [https://journals.tubitak.gov.tr/biology](https://journals.tubitak.gov.tr/biology)
Part of the Biology Commons | | Recommended Citation CHEN, X, GUO, J, LIN, B, WANG, H, LU, Z, & LIU, B (2025) . Study on the role of Shenfu injection in mediating ferroptosis through the Akt/GSK-3β/Nrf2 pathway in yang-deficient chronic heart failure. Turkish Journal of Biology 49 (7): 746-756 . [https://doi.org/10.55730/1300-0152.2777](https://doi.org/10.55730/1300-0152.2777) This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. This Research Article is brought to you for free and open access by TÜBİTAK Academic Journals. It has been accepted for inclusion in Turkish Journal of Biology by an authorized editor of TÜBİTAK Academic Journals. For more information, please contact [academic.publications@tubitak.gov.tr](academic.publications@tubitak.gov.tr) Study on the role of Shenfu injection in mediating ferroptosis through the Akt/ GSK-3β/Nrf2 pathway in yang-deficient chronic heart failure Authors XIAOJIE CHEN, JIAYUN GUO, BING LIN, HUAMIN WANG, ZIYU LU, and BAYI LIU This research article is available in Turkish Journal of Biology: [https://journals.tubitak.gov.tr/biology/vol49/iss7/3](https://journals.tubitak.gov.tr/biology/vol49/iss7/3) |
| Turkish Journal of Biology [http://journals.tubitak.gov.tr/biology/](http://journals.tubitak.gov.tr/biology/)

Research Article | Turk J Biol
(2025) 49: 746-756
© TÜBİTAK
doi:10.55730/1300-0152.2777 | | --- | --- | --- | Study on the role of Shenfu injection in mediating ferroptosis through the Akt/GSK-3β/ Nrf2 pathway in yang-deficient chronic heart failure Xiaojie CHEN1,2􀁋, Jiayun GUO1,2􀁋, Bing LIN1􀁋, Huamin WANG1􀁋, Ziyu LU1􀁋, Bayi LIU1,*􀁋 1 Department of Critical Care Medicine, The Tenth Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhongshan City, Guangdong Province, China 2 Department of Critical Care Medicine, Zhongshan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Mediine Affiliated to Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhongshan City, Guangdong Province, China Received: 19.02.2025 Accepted/Published Online: 11.06.2025 Final Version: 29.12.2025 Background/aim: The present study investigates the role of Shenfu injection in the treatment of yang-deficient chronic heart failure (CHF) . Materials and methods: Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were modeled for yang-deficient CHF by abdominal aortic coarctation. Echocardiography was performed to detect changes in cardiac function, and serum N-terminal B-type natriuretic peptide proteins (NT-proBNP), cardiac troponin I (cTnI), and ferroptosis-related factors were measured using ELISA kits. Pathological changes in cardiac tissues were observed through hematoxylin-eosin (HE) and Masson’trichrome staining, cardiomyocyte apoptosis was measured by TUNEL staining, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production was determined through dihydroethidium (DHE) staining. The expression of nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), cyclooxygenase 2 (Ptgs2), glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), solute carrier family 3 member 2 (SLC3A2), solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11), and acyl-CoA synthetase long-chain family member 4 (ACSL4) in cardiac tissues were analyzed through RT-qPCR. Phosphorylated Akt (p-Akt), phosphorylated GSK-3β (p-GSK-3β), and Nrf2 expression in tissues were tested through immunohistochemistry. The protein expression of the Akt/GSK-3β/Nrf2 pathway was detected by Western blot. The Akt/GSK-3β/Nrf2 pathway inhibitor LY294002 was applied to the rats admini

FAQs

What is the main objective of this study?

To evaluate the role of Shenfu injection in mediating ferroptosis in yang-deficient CHF via the Akt/GSK-3β/Nrf2 pathway.

How were the yang-deficient chronic heart failure model and key measurements conducted?

Yang-deficient CHF was induced in Sprague-Dawley rats using abdominal aortic coarctation. Cardiac function was assessed by echocardiography, and NT-proBNP and cTnI were measured by ELISA, alongside pathological, apoptosis, and ROS-related evaluations.

What outcomes did Shenfu injection produce compared with the pathway inhibitor?

Shenfu improved cardiac function and reduced injury and ferroptosis-associated changes while activating Akt/GSK-3β/Nrf2 signaling; LY294002 weakened these therapeutic effects.

Sep 29, 2026

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