Effects and relationship of intermittent hypoxia on serum lipid levels, hepatic low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1, and hypoxia-inducible factor 1α

Molecular Mechanism of Crataegi Folium and Alisma Rhizoma in the Treatment of Dyslipidemia Based on Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking

Background

Dyslipidemia has become a critical global issue for public health, with elevating prevalence and morbidity closely related to many cardiovascular diseases (CVD) with high incidence rates. Crataegi Folium (known as Shanzhaye in China, SZ, the leaves of Crataegus pinnatifida Bge. var. major N.E. Br. or Crataegus pinnatifida Bge) and Alisma rhizoma (known as Zexie in China, ZX, the dried tuber of Alisma orientale (Sam.) Juzep or Alisma plantago-aquatica Linn), a classic combination of herbs, have been widely used to treat dyslipidemia. However, the therapeutic mechanism of this pair still remains unclear. Hence, this study aimed to elucidate the molecular mechanism of the Shanzhaye-Zexie herb pair (SZHP) in the treatment of dyslipidemia with the use of a network pharmacology analysis approach.

Methods

Active compounds, targets of the SZHP, and targets for dyslipidemia were screened based on the public database. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment were performed on the database for annotation, visualization, and integrated discovery (DAVID 6.8). The compound-target-disease-pathway network was visualized using the Cytoscape software, and SYBYL was used for molecular docking.

Results

Twelve active compounds in the SZHP were screened out, which were closely connected to 186 dyslipidemia-related targets. The network analysis revealed that sitosterol, stigmasterol, isorhamnetin, kaempferol, and quercetin might be candidate agents and CCND1, CASP3, HIF1A, and ESR1 genes were potential drug targets. GO analysis revealed 856 biological processes (BP), 139 molecular functions (MF), and 89 cellular components (CC). The KEGG pathway enrichment analysis indicated that the lipid level and atherosclerosis might influence the treatment of dyslipidemia. Molecular docking showed that quercetin bound well to CCND1, HIF1A, MYC, AKT1, and EGFR genes. These findings were in accord with the prediction obtained through the network pharmacology approach.

Conclusions

This study revealed the primary pharmacological effects and relevant mechanisms of the SZHP in treating dyslipidemia. Our findings may facilitate the development of the SZHP or its active compounds as an alternative therapy for dyslipidemia. Still, more pharmacological experiments are needed for verification.

Synthetic strategy and structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies of 3-(5'-hydroxymethyl-2'-furyl)-1-benzyl indazole (YC-1, Lificiguat): a review

Since 1994, YC-1 (Lificiguat, 3-(5′-hydroxymethyl-2′-furyl)-1-benzylindazole) has been synthesized, and many targets for special bioactivities have been explored, such as stimulation of platelet-soluble guanylate cyclase, indirect elevation of platelet cGMP levels, and inhibition of hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) and NF-κB. Recently, Riociguat®, the first soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) stimulator drug used to treat pulmonary hypertension and pulmonary arterial hypertension, was derived from the YC-1 structure. In this review, we aim to highlight the synthesis and structure–activity relationships in the development of YC-1 analogs and their possible indications.

Since 1994, YC-1 (Lificiguat) has been synthesized, and many targets for special bioactivities have been explored, such as stimulation of platelet-soluble guanylate cyclase, indirect elevation of platelet cGMP levels, and inhibition of HIF-1 and NF-κB.

The Role of Soluble Low-Density Lipoprotein Receptor-Related Protein-1 in Obstructive Sleep Apnoea

Intermittent hypoxia in obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is related to inflammation and metabolic abnormalities. Soluble low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein-1 (sLRP-1) is involved in anti-inflammatory and metabolic processes. However, its ligand, calreticulin (CALR) promotes pro-inflammatory responses and apoptosis. Our aim was to analyse the levels of these biomarkers in OSA. We recruited 46 patients with OSA and 30 control subjects. Inpatient sleep study was performed and fasting plasma samples were collected. Triglyceride glucose index (TyG) and atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) were calculated. Plasma sLRP-1 levels were significantly lower in the OSA group compared to the controls (1.67 (0.90–2.11) mg/L vs. 1.99 (1.53–3.51) mg/L; p = 0.04) after adjustment for age, gender, BMI and lipid profile. Plasma sLRP-1 concentrations were inversely related to age (r = −0.29), BMI (r = −0.35), cigarette pack years (r = −0.31), LDL-C (r = −0.34) and triglyceride levels (r = −0.27), TyG (r = −0.37) and AIP (r = −0.27) as well as to the oxygen desaturation index (ODI, r = −0.24; all p < 0.05). BMI (p = 0.01) and ODI (p = 0.04) were independent predictors for low sLRP-1 levels. CALR did not differ significantly between the two groups (0.23 (0.17–0.34) ng/mL vs. 0.24 (0.20–0.36) ng/mL p = 0.76). We detected lower sLRP-1 levels in subjects with OSA which could contribute to metabolic abnormalities associated with this disease.