Abstract: Objective: To explore the ameliorative effect of Lycium barbarum polysaccharide (LBP) on TGF-β1-induced cardiac fibrosis in cardiac fibroblasts (CFs). Methods: Mouse primary CFs were cultured and treated with 10 ng/mL TGF-β1 to induce fibrosis. After treatment with LBP, the morphology of cells was observed by microscopy. The expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) was detected by immunofluorescence. Western blot was used to detect the expression and phosphorylation levels of proteins involved in the TGF-β1/Smads signaling pathway. The mRNA expression levels of Snail, Twist and S100A4 were detected by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Results: Compared with the control group (spindle-like in shape), the morphology of TGF-β1-induced cells was longer and narrower, and the number of cells increased significantly. The relative expression level of α-SMA, and the expression and phosphorylation levels of proteins involved in the TGF-β1/Smads signaling pathway increased, and the mRNA expression of Snail, Twist and S100A4 was significantly elevated (P < 0.01). After treatment with LBP, the proliferation of CFs induced by TGF-β1 was significantly inhibited (P < 0.001), the expression of α-SMA and proteins involved in the TGF-β1/Smads signaling pathway in CFs decreased, and the mRNA expression of Snail, Twist and S100A4 was down-regulated (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Lycium barbarum polysaccharide can ameliorate TGF-β1-induced cardiac fibrosis, in CFs and its mechanism may be related to the inhibition of the TGF-β1/Smads signaling pathway.

Key words: Lycium barbarum polysaccharide; cardiac fibrosis; cardiac fibroblasts; TGF-β1/Smads signaling pathway; transforming growth factor-β1