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Li B, Hu P, Liu K, Xu W, Wang J, Li Q, Chen B, Deng Y, Han C, Sun T, Liu X, Li M, Wang T, Liu J, Lin H, Rao K. MiRNA-100 ameliorates diabetes mellitus-induced erectile dysfunction by modulating autophagy, anti-inflammatory, and antifibrotic effects. Andrology 2024; 12:1280-1293. [PMID: 38227138 DOI: 10.1111/andr.13586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2023] [Revised: 11/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/17/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Diabetes mellitus-induced erectile dysfunction (DMED) has become a common disease in adult men that can seriously reduce the quality of life of patients, and new therapies are urgently needed. miRNA-100 has many targets and can induce autophagy and reduce fibrosis by inhibiting the mTOR pathway and the TGF-β pathway. However, no research has been conducted with miR-100 in the field of DMED, and the specific mechanism of action is still unclear. OBJECTIVES To ascertain the effects of miR-100 on corpus cavernosum tissue of DMED rats and vascular endothelial cells in a high glucose environment and to elucidate the relevant mechanisms in autophagy, fibrosis and inflammation to find a new approach for the DMED therapy. METHODS Thirty rats were divided into three groups: the control group, the DMED group, and the DMED + miR-100 group. Using intraperitoneal injections of streptozotocin, all rats except the control group were modeled with diabetes mellitus, which was verified using the apomorphine (APO) test. For rats in the DMED + miR-100 group, rno-miR-100-5p agomir (50 nmol/kg, every 2 days, 6 times in total) was injected via the tail vein. After 13 weeks, the erectile function of each rat was assessed using cavernous manometry, and the corpus cavernosum tissue was harvested for subsequent experiments. For cellular experiments, human coronary microartery endothelial cells (HCMEC) were divided into four groups: the control group, the high-glucose (HG, 40 mM) group, the HG + mimic group, and the HG + inhibitor group. The cells were cultured for 6 days and collected for subsequent experiments 2 days after transfection. RESULTS Diabetic modeling impaired the erectile function in rats, and miR-100 reversed this effect. By measuring autophagy-related proteins such as mTOR/Raptor/Beclin1/p62/LC3B, we found that miR-100 could suppress the expression of mTOR and induce autophagy. The analysis of the eNOS/NO/cGMP axis function indicated that impaired endothelial function was improved by miR-100. By evaluating the TGF-β1/CTGF/Smad2/3 and NF-κB/TNF-α pathways, we found that miR-100 could lower the level of inflammation and fibrosis, which contributed to the improvement of the erectile function. Cellular experiments can be used as supporting evidence for these findings. CONCLUSION MiR-100 can improve the erectile function by inhibiting mTOR and thus inducing autophagy, improving the endothelial function through the eNOS/NO/cGMP axis, and exerting antifibrotic and anti-inflammatory effects, which may provide new ideas and directions for the treatment of DMED.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beining Li
- Department of Urology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Institute of Urology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Peng Hu
- Department of Urology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Institute of Urology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Kang Liu
- Department of Urology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Institute of Urology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Wenchao Xu
- Department of Urology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Institute of Urology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Jiaxin Wang
- Department of Urology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Institute of Urology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Qinyu Li
- Department of Urology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Institute of Urology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Bingliang Chen
- Department of Urology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Institute of Urology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yuxuan Deng
- Department of Urology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Institute of Urology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Chenglin Han
- Department of Urology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Institute of Urology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Taotao Sun
- Department of Urology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Institute of Urology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xinqi Liu
- Department of Urology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Institute of Urology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Mingchao Li
- Department of Urology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Institute of Urology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Tao Wang
- Department of Urology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Institute of Urology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Jihong Liu
- Department of Urology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Institute of Urology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Huang Lin
- Department of Urology, Fujian Provincial Hospital, Fuzhou, China
- Department of Urology, Shengli Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Ke Rao
- Department of Urology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Institute of Urology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
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Wei H, Wang X, Zhong H, Kong X, Zhu J, Li B. Artesunate improves learning and memory impairment in rats with vascular cognitive impairment by down-regulating the level of autophagy in cerebral cortex neurons. Heliyon 2024; 10:e33068. [PMID: 38948049 PMCID: PMC11211894 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e33068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2024] [Revised: 05/15/2024] [Accepted: 06/13/2024] [Indexed: 07/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) is the second leading cause of dementia. Cognitive impairment is a common consequence of VCI. However, there is no effective treatment for VCI and the underlying mechanism of its pathogenesis remains unclear. This study to investigate whether artesunate (ART) can improve the learning and memory function in rats with VCI by down-regulating he level of autophagy in cerebral cortex neurons. Methods The models for VCI were the rat bilateral common carotid artery occlusion (BACCO), which were randomized into three groups including the sham operation group (Sham), model + vehicle group (Model) and model + ART group (ART). Then the animal behaviors were recorded, as well as staining the results of cortical neurons. Western blot was performed to determine the protein expressions of LC3BⅡ/Ⅰ, p-AMPK, p-mTOR, and Beclin-1. Results Behavioral outcomes and the protein expressions in Model group were supposedly affected by the induction of autophagy in cerebral cortex neurons. Compared to the Model group, ART improved memory impairment in VCI rats. And the expression of LC3BⅡ/Ⅰ, p-AMPK/AMPK, Beclin-1 is significant decreased in the ART group, while significant increases of p-mTOR/mTOR were showed. These results suggest that ART improved learning and memory impairment in VCI rats by down-regulating the level of autophagy in cerebral cortex neurons. Conclusion The results suggest that autophagy occurs in cerebral cortex neurons in rats with VCI. It is speculated that ART can improve learning and memory impairment in VCI rats by down-regulating the level of autophagy in cerebral cortex neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Honqiao Wei
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530022, China
| | - Xiaokun Wang
- Research Center for Clinical Medicine, Jinshan Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, Shanghai, 201508, China
| | - Hequan Zhong
- Research Center for Clinical Medicine, Jinshan Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, Shanghai, 201508, China
| | - Xiangyu Kong
- Research Center for Clinical Medicine, Jinshan Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, Shanghai, 201508, China
| | - Jie Zhu
- Department of Rehabilitation, Jinshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 201508, China
| | - Bing Li
- Research Center for Clinical Medicine, Jinshan Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, Shanghai, 201508, China
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Horvat A, Vlašić I, Štefulj J, Oršolić N, Jazvinšćak Jembrek M. Flavonols as a Potential Pharmacological Intervention for Alleviating Cognitive Decline in Diabetes: Evidence from Preclinical Studies. Life (Basel) 2023; 13:2291. [PMID: 38137892 PMCID: PMC10744738 DOI: 10.3390/life13122291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2023] [Revised: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Diabetes mellitus is a complex metabolic disease associated with reduced synaptic plasticity, atrophy of the hippocampus, and cognitive decline. Cognitive impairment results from several pathological mechanisms, including increased levels of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and their receptors, prolonged oxidative stress and impaired activity of endogenous mechanisms of antioxidant defense, neuroinflammation driven by the nuclear factor kappa-light-chain enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB), decreased expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and disturbance of signaling pathways involved in neuronal survival and cognitive functioning. There is increasing evidence that dietary interventions can reduce the risk of various diabetic complications. In this context, flavonols, a highly abundant class of flavonoids in the human diet, are appreciated as a potential pharmacological intervention against cognitive decline in diabetes. In preclinical studies, flavonols have shown neuroprotective, antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and memory-enhancing properties based on their ability to regulate glucose levels, attenuate oxidative stress and inflammation, promote the expression of neurotrophic factors, and regulate signaling pathways. The present review gives an overview of the molecular mechanisms involved in diabetes-induced cognitive dysfunctions and the results of preclinical studies showing that flavonols have the ability to alleviate cognitive impairment. Although the results from animal studies are promising, clinical and epidemiological studies are still needed to advance our knowledge on the potential of flavonols to improve cognitive decline in diabetic patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anđela Horvat
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička 54, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Ignacija Vlašić
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička 54, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Jasminka Štefulj
- Division of Molecular Biology, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička 54, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
- Department of Psychology, Catholic University of Croatia, Ilica 242, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Nada Oršolić
- Division of Animal Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Rooseveltov trg 6, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Maja Jazvinšćak Jembrek
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička 54, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
- Department of Psychology, Catholic University of Croatia, Ilica 242, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
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