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Liu L, Li Q, Yin J, Zhao Z, Sun L, Ran Q, Du X, Wang Y, Li Y, Yang Q, Chen Y, Weng X, Cai W, Zhu X. ShenLian Extract Enhances TGF-β Functions in the Macrophage-SMC Unit and Stabilizes Atherosclerotic Plaques. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:669730. [PMID: 34122091 PMCID: PMC8193129 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.669730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Background/Aim: Macrophage polarization and phenotypic switching of smooth muscle cells (SMCs) are multi-faceted events dominating atherosclerosis (AS) progression. TGF-β was proved to been one of the bridge on the crosstalk between macrophage and SMC. ShenLian (SL) was extracted from a potent anti-atherosclerotic formula. However, its exact mechanism rebalancing inflammatory microenvironment of AS remain largely unknown. Within the entirety of macrophage and SMC, this study investigated the pharmacological effects of SL on stabilizing atherosclerotic plaques. Methods: The main components of SL were examined by high performance liquid chromatography. Co-culture and conditioned medium models of macrophage/SMC interactions were designed to identify the relationship between macrophage polarization and switching of SMC phenotypes. Flow cytometry, immunofluorescent staining, RT-PCR, western blotting, and ELISA were used to determine the expression of molecules relating to AS progression. An atherosclerosis animal model, established by placing a perivascular collar on the right common carotid artery in ApoE−/− mice, was used to investigate whether TGF-β is the key molecular mediator of SL in crosstalk between macrophage and SMC. Plaque size was defined by nuclear magnetic resonance imaging. Key markers related to phenotypic transformation of macrophage and SMC were determined by immunohistochemical staining. Results: Results revealed that, accompanied by rebalanced M2 macrophage polarization, SL supported SMC phenotypic transformation and functionally reconstruct the ECM of plaques specifically in macrophage-SMC co-cultural model. Molecularly, such activity of SL closely related to the activation of STAT3/SOCS3 pathway. Furthermore, in co-culture system, up-regulation of α-SMA induced by SL could neutralized by 1D11, a TGF-β neutralizing antibody, indicating that SL mediated Macrophage-SMC communication by enhancing TGF-β. In the AS model constructed by ApoE−/− mice, effects of SL on phenotypic transformation of macrophage and SMC has been well verified. Specific blocking of TGF-β largely attenuated the aforementioned effects of SL. Conclusion: Our findings highlighted that TGF-β might be the responsive factor of SL within macrophage and SMC communication. This study revealed that crosstalk between macrophage and SMC forms a holistic entirety promoting atherosclerotic plaque stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Liu
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Qi Li
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jie Yin
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.,Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Zheng Zhao
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Lidong Sun
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Qingsen Ran
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xinke Du
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yajie Wang
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yujie Li
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Qing Yang
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Ying Chen
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaogang Weng
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Weiyan Cai
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoxin Zhu
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
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Du H, Yang L, Zhang H, Zhang X, Shao H. LncRNA TUG1 silencing enhances proliferation and migration of ox-LDL-treated human umbilical vein endothelial cells and promotes atherosclerotic vascular injury repairing via the Runx2/ANPEP axis. Int J Cardiol 2021; 338:204-214. [PMID: 33971184 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2021.05.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2021] [Revised: 04/16/2021] [Accepted: 05/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The role of vascular endothelial cell injury in the course of atherosclerosis (AS) has attracted increasing attention. Long non-coding RNAs (LncRNAs) are demonstrated to be the biomarker for the diagnosis of AS. This study investigated the mechanism of lncRNA taurine upregulated gene 1 (TUG1) in AS. Microarray data of AS obtained from GEO database showed that lncRNA TUG1 was differentially expressed in AS samples. TUG1 expression was upregulated in ox-LDL-treated human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Oxidized low density lipoprotein (ox-LDL)-treated HUVECs were then transfected with sh-TUG1. TUG1 silencing promoted proliferation and migration of ox-LDL-treated HUVECs. TUG1 bound to Runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2). Runx2 silencing promoted proliferation and migration of HUVECs. The downstream genes of Runx2 were predicted by hTFtarget database. The binding site of Runx2 and Aminopeptidase N (ANPEP) was determined. Runx2 silencing reversed the repression effect of overexpressing ANPEP on cell proliferation and migration. TUG1 silencing inhibited ANPEP expression via Runx2 to promote HUVEC proliferation and migration. A mouse model of AS was established. The area of atherosclerotic lesions of mouse aorta was detected, and vascular re-endothelialization was evaluated. TUG1 silencing promoted vascular injury repairing and inhibited AS in vivo. In conclusion, TUG1 silencing enhanced proliferation and migration of ox-LDL-treated HUVECs and promoted vascular injury repairing in vivo via the Runx2/ANPEP axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Du
- Department of Cardiology, Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, NO.215 Hepingxi Road, Xinhua District, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | - Lei Yang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Shijiazhuang People's Hospital, NO.365 Jianhua South Road, Yuhua District, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China.
| | - Hui Zhang
- Department of Cardiology, Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, NO.215 Hepingxi Road, Xinhua District, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | - Xiaolin Zhang
- Department of Cardiology, Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, NO.215 Hepingxi Road, Xinhua District, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | - Huiyu Shao
- Department of Cardiology, Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, NO.215 Hepingxi Road, Xinhua District, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
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Binder CJ, Borén J, Catapano A, Kronenberg F, Mallat Z, Negrini S, Öörni K, Raggi P, von Eckardstein A. The year 2020 in Atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis 2021; 326:35-44. [PMID: 33958158 DOI: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2021.04.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Christoph J Binder
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Jan Borén
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine/Wallenberg Laboratory and Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Alberico Catapano
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy; IRCCS Multimedica Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Florian Kronenberg
- Institute of Genetic Epidemiology, Department of Genetics and Pharmacology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Ziad Mallat
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom; University of Paris, PARCC, INSERM, Paris, France
| | - Simona Negrini
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry, University of Zurich and University Hospital of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Katariina Öörni
- Atherosclerosis Research Laboratory, Wihuri Research Institute, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Paolo Raggi
- Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada; Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada; Division of Cardiology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Arnold von Eckardstein
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry, University of Zurich and University Hospital of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
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