The effects of Radix Angelica Sinensis and Radix Hedysari ultrafiltration extract on X-irradiation-induced myocardial fibrosis in rats

Elucidating the mechanism of action of Radix Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels and Radix Astragalus mongholicus Bunge ultrafiltration extract on radiation-induced myocardial fibrosis based on network pharmacology and experimental research

Myocardial fibrosis can induce cardiac dysfunction and remodeling. Great attention has been paid to traditional chinese medicine (TCM) 's effectiveness in treating MF. Radix Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels and Radix Astragalus mongholicus Bunge ultrafiltration extract (RAS-RA), which is a key TCM compound preparation, have high efficacy in regulating inflammation. However, studies on its therapeutic effect on radiation-induced myocardial fibrosis (RIMF) are rare. In this study, RAS-RA had therapeutic efficacy in RIMF and elucidated its mechanism of action. First, we formulated the prediction network that described the relation of RAS-RA with RIMF according to data obtained in different databases. Then, we conducted functional enrichment to investigate the functions and pathways associated with potential RIMF targets for RAS-RA. In vivo experiments were also performed to verify these functions and pathways. Second, small animal ultrasound examinations, H&E staining, Masson staining, transmission electron microscopy, Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), Western-blotting, Immunohistochemical method and biochemical assays were conducted to investigate the possible key anti-RIMF pathway in RAS-RA. In total, 440 targets were detected in those 21 effective components of RAS-RA; meanwhile, 1,646 RIMF-related disease targets were also discovered. After that, PPI network analysis was conducted to identify 20 key targets based on 215 overlap gene targets. As indicated by the gene ontology (GO) and kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) analysis results, inflammation and PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathways might have important effects on the therapeutic effects on RIMF. Molecular docking analysis revealed high binding of effective components to targets (affinity < -6 kcal/mol). Based on experimental verification results, RAS-RA greatly mitigated myocardial fibrosis while recovering the cardiac activity of rats caused by X-rays. According to relevant protein expression profiles, the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway was important for anti-fibrosis effect of RAS-RA. Experimental studies showed that RAS-RA improved cardiac function, decreased pathological damage and collagen fiber deposition in cardiac tissues, and improved the mitochondrial structure of the heart of rats. RAS-RA also downregulated TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β levels. Additionally, RAS-RA improved the liver and kidney functions and pathological injury of rat kidney and liver tissues, enhanced liver and kidney functions, and protected the liver and kidneys. RAS-RA also increased PI3K, AKT and mTOR protein levels within cardiac tissues and downregulated α-SMA, Collagen I, and Collagen III. The findings of this study suggested that RAS-RA decreased RIMF by suppressing collagen deposition and inflammatory response by inhibiting the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. Thus, RAS-RA was the potential therapeutic agent used to alleviate RIMF.

Warming Yang Promoting Blood Circulation and Diuresis Alleviates Myocardial Damage by Inhibiting Collagen Fiber and Myocardial Fibrosis and Attenuating Mitochondria Signaling Pathway Mediated Apoptosis in Chronic Heart Failure Rats

Warming Yang promoting blood circulation and diuresis (WYPBD) has been proven effective in treating some diseases. This study aimed to evaluate therapeutic effect of WYPBD in treating chronic heart failure (CHF). CHF rats were established by intraperitoneally injecting doxorubicin (DOX). Therapeutic effects of WYPBD on cardiac function and hemodynamic parameters of myocardial tissues were analyzed. Collagen fiber production and myocardial fibrosis were evaluated. Transcriptions of COL1A1 gene, COL3A1 gene, and TGFB1 gene were evaluated with RT-PCR. Expression of BNP, AVP, PARP, caspase-3, and Bcl-2 in myocardial tissues were evaluated. TUNEL assay was used to identify apoptosis of cardiomyocytes. WYPBD alleviated degree of myocardial hypertrophy in CHF rats compared to the rats in CHF model group (P < 0.05). WYPBD significantly improved cardiac hemodynamics (increased LVEF and LVSF) of CHF rats compared to rats in the CHF model group (P < 0.05). WYPBD protected myocardial structure and inhibited collagen fiber production in myocardial tissues of CHF rats. WYPBD markedly decreased myocardial fibrosis mediators (Col1α, Col3α, TGF-β1) transcription in myocardial tissues of CHF rats compared to rats in CHF model group (P < 0.05). WYPBD significantly reduced BNP and AVP expression in myocardial tissues of CHF rats compared to rats in the CHF model group (P < 0.05). WYPBD markedly reduced the expression of PRAP and caspase-3, and increased Bcl-2 expression in myocardial tissues of CHF rats compared to rats in the CHF model group (P < 0.05). In conclusion, WYPBD alleviated CHF myocardial damage by inhibiting collagen fiber and myocardial fibrosis, attenuating apoptosis associated with the mitochondria signaling pathway of cardiomyocytes.

Therapeutic potential of natural products and underlying targets for the treatment of aortic aneurysm

Aortic aneurysm is a vascular disease characterized by irreversible vasodilatation that can lead to dissection and rupture of the aortic aneurysm, a life-threatening condition. Thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) and abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) are two main types. The typical treatments for aortic aneurysms are open surgery and endovascular aortic repair, which are only indicated for more severe patients. Most patients with aneurysms have an insidious onset and slow progression, and there are no effective drugs to treat this stage. The inability of current animal models to perfectly simulate all the pathophysiological states of human aneurysms may be the key to this issue. Therefore, elucidating the molecular mechanisms of this disease, finding new therapeutic targets, and developing effective drugs to inhibit the development of aneurysms are the main issues of current research. Natural products have been applied for thousands of years to treat cardiovascular disease (CVD) in China and other Asian countries. In recent years, natural products have combined multi-omics, computational biology, and integrated pharmacology to accurately analyze drug components and targets. Therefore, the multi-component and multi-target complexity of natural products have made them a potentially ideal treatment for multifactorial diseases such as aortic aneurysms. Natural products have regained popularity worldwide. This review provides an overview of the known natural products for the treatment of TAA and AAA and searches for potential cardiovascular-targeted natural products that may treat TAA and AAA based on various cellular molecular mechanisms associated with aneurysm development.

Therapeutic potential of Angelica sinensis in addressing organ fibrosis: A comprehensive review

Fibrosis-related diseases (FRD) include conditions like myocardial fibrosis, pulmonary fibrosis, hepatic fibrosis, renal fibrosis, and others. The impact of fibrosis can be severe, causing organ dysfunction, reduced functionality, and even organ failure, leading to significant health issues. Currently, there is a lack of effective modern anti-fibrosis drugs in clinical practice. However, Chinese medicine has a certain beneficial effect on the treatment of such diseases. Angelica sinensis, with its considerable medicinal value, has garnered attention for its anti-fibrosis properties in recent investigations. In the past few years, there has been a growing number of experimental inquiries into the impact of angelica polysaccharide (ASP), angelica water extract, angelica injection, and angelica compound preparation on fibrosis-associated ailments, piquing the interest of researchers. This paper aims to consolidate recent advances in the study of Angelica sinensis for the treatment of fibrosis-related disorders, offering insights for prospective investigations. Literature retrieval included core electronic databases, including Baidu Literature, CNKI, Google-Scholar, PubMed, and Web of Science. The applied search utilized specified keywords to extract relevant information on the pharmacological and phytochemical attributes of plants. The investigation revealed that Angelica sinensis has the potential to impede the advancement of fibrotic diseases by modulating inflammation, oxidative stress, immune responses, and metabolism. ASP, Angelica sinensis extract, Angelica sinensis injection, and Angelica sinensis compound preparation were extensively examined and discussed. These constituents demonstrated significant anti-fibrosis activity. In essence, this review seeks to gain a profound understanding of the role of Angelica sinensis in treating fiber-related diseases. Organ fibrosis manifests in nearly all tissues and organs, posing a critical challenge to global public health due to its widespread occurrence, challenging early diagnosis, and unfavorable prognosis. Despite its prevalence, therapeutic options are limited, and their efficacy is constrained. Over the past few years, numerous studies have explored the protective effects of traditional Chinese medicine on organ fibrosis, with Angelica sinensis standing out as a multifunctional natural remedy. This paper provides a review of organ fibrosis pathogenesis and summarizes the recent two decades' progress in treating fibrosis in various organs such as the liver, lung, kidney, and heart. The review highlights the modulation of relevant signaling pathways through multiple targets and channels by the effective components of Angelica sinensis, whether used as a single medicine or in compound prescriptions.

Non-coding RNAs: targets for Chinese herbal medicine in treating myocardial fibrosis

Cardiovascular diseases have become the leading cause of death in urban and rural areas. Myocardial fibrosis is a common pathological manifestation at the adaptive and repair stage of cardiovascular diseases, easily predisposing to cardiac death. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), RNA molecules with no coding potential, can regulate gene expression in the occurrence and development of myocardial fibrosis. Recent studies have suggested that Chinese herbal medicine can relieve myocardial fibrosis through targeting various ncRNAs, mainly including microRNAs (miRNAs), long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs). Thus, ncRNAs are novel drug targets for Chinese herbal medicine. Herein, we summarized the current understanding of ncRNAs in the pathogenesis of myocardial fibrosis, and highlighted the contribution of ncRNAs to the therapeutic effect of Chinese herbal medicine on myocardial fibrosis. Further, we discussed the future directions regarding the potential applications of ncRNA-based drug screening platform to screen drugs for myocardial fibrosis.

Nitration of cAMP-Response Element Binding Protein Participates in Myocardial Infarction-Induced Myocardial Fibrosis via Accelerating Transcription of Col1a2 and Cxcl12

Aims: Myocardial fibrosis after myocardial infarction (MI) leads to heart failure. Nitration of protein can alter its function. cAMP-response element binding protein (CREB) is a key transcription factor involved in fibrosis. However, little is known about the role of nitrated CREB in MI-induced myocardial fibrosis. Meanwhile, downstream genes of transcription factor CREB in myocardial fibrosis have not been identified. This study aims to verify the hypothesis that nitrated CREB promotes MI-induced myocardial fibrosis via regulating the transcription of Col1a2 and Cxcl12. Results: Our study showed that (1) the level of nitrative stress was elevated and nitrated CREB was higher in the myocardium after MI. Tyr182, 307, and 336 were the nitration sites of CREB; (2) with the administration of peroxynitrite (ONOO^-) scavengers, CREB phosphorylation, nuclear translocation, and binding activity to TORC2 (transducers of regulated CREB-2) were attenuated; (3) the expressions of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins were upregulated and downregulated in accordance with the expression alteration of CREB both in vitro and in vivo; (4) CREB accelerated transcription of Col1a2 and Cxcl12 after MI directly. With the administration of ONOO^- scavengers, ECM protein expressions were attenuated; meanwhile, the messenger RNA (mRNA) levels of Col1a2 and Cxcl12 were alleviated as well. Innovation and Conclusion: Nitration of transcription factor CREB participates in MI-induced myocardial fibrosis through enhancing its phosphorylation, nuclear translocation, and binding activity to TORCs, among which CREB transcripts Col1a2 and Cxcl12 directly. These data indicated that nitrated CREB might be a potential therapeutic target against MI-induced myocardial fibrosis.

Role and molecular mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine in preventing cardiotoxicity associated with chemoradiotherapy

Cardiotoxicity is a serious complication of cancer therapy. It is the second leading cause of morbidity and mortality in cancer survivors and is associated with a variety of factors, including oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis, autophagy, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and abnormal myocardial energy metabolism. A number of studies have shown that traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) can mitigate chemoradiotherapy-associated cardiotoxicity via these pathways. Therefore, this study reviews the effects and molecular mechanisms of TCM on chemoradiotherapy-related cardiotoxicity. In this study, we searched PubMed for basic studies on the anti-cardiotoxicity of TCM in the past 5 years and summarized their results. Angelica Sinensis, Astragalus membranaceus Bunge, Danshinone IIA sulfonate sodium (STS), Astragaloside (AS), Resveratrol, Ginsenoside, Quercetin, Danggui Buxue Decoction (DBD), Shengxian decoction (SXT), Compound Danshen Dripping Pill (CDDP), Qishen Huanwu Capsule (QSHWC), Angelica Sinensis and Astragalus membranaceus Bunge Ultrafiltration Extract (AS-AM),Shenmai injection (SMI), Xinmailong (XML), and nearly 60 other herbs, herbal monomers, herbal soups and herbal compound preparations were found to be effective as complementary or alternative treatments. These preparations reduced chemoradiotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity through various pathways such as anti-oxidative stress, anti-inflammation, alleviating endoplasmic reticulum stress, regulation of apoptosis and autophagy, and improvement of myocardial energy metabolism. However, few clinical trials have been conducted on these therapies, and these trials can provide stronger evidence-based support for TCM.

Research Progress of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Treatment of Myocardial fibrosis

Effective drugs for the treatment of myocardial fibrosis (MF) are lacking. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has garnered increasing attention in recent years for the prevention and treatment of myocardial fibrosis. This Article describes the pathogenesis of myocardial fibrosis from the modern medicine, along with the research progress. Reports suggest that Chinese medicine may play a role in ameliorating myocardial fibrosis through different regulatory mechanisms such as reduction of inflammatory reaction and oxidative stress, inhibition of cardiac fibroblast activation, reduction in extracellular matrix, renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system regulation, transforming growth Factor-β1 (TGF-β1) expression downregulation, TGF-β1/Smad signalling pathway regulation, and microRNA expression regulation. Therefore, traditional Chinese medicine serves as a valuable source of candidate drugs for exploration of the mechanism of occurrence and development, along with clinical prevention and treatment of MF.

GDF15 Promotes Cardiac Fibrosis and Proliferation of Cardiac Fibroblasts via the MAPK/ERK1/2 Pathway after Irradiation in Rats

Ionizing radiation exposure is associated with a risk of cardiac fibrosis; however, the underlying molecular mechanism remains unclear. Growth/differentiation factor-15 (GDF15), a fibroblast factor, is a divergent member of the transforming growth factor β superfamily. Next-generation sequencing analyses has revealed that Gdf15 is increased in cardiac fibroblasts during radiation-induced fibrosis. However, the role of Gdf15 in cardiac fibrosis remains unclear. In this study, we demonstrated that the upregulated expression of GDF15 in newborn rat cardiac fibroblasts and adult rats after irradiation could induce fibrosis, which was confirmed by the increased cell proliferation rate and the increased expression of fibrosis markers (Col1α and αSMA) in newborn rat cardiac fibroblasts after transfection with Gdf15 in vitro. Conversely, the downregulation of GDF15 inhibited cardiac fibrosis, as confirmed by G2/M-cell cycle arrest, suppression of cell proliferation, and low levels of Col1α and αSMA expression. We also found that suppressing the expression of Gdf15 in cardiac fibroblasts could lead to a decrease in CDK1 and inhibit phosphorylation of ERK1/2. Thus, GDF15 might promote cardiac fibroblast fibrosis through the MAPK/ERK1/2 pathway and thus contribute to the pathogenesis of radiation-induced heart disease.

Ultrafiltration Extract of Radix Angelica Sinensis and Radix Hedysari Attenuates Risk of Low-Dose X-Ray Radiation-Induced Myocardial Fibrosis In Vitro

The risk of radiation-induced heart damage (RIHD) is a growing concern since recent advances in radiation therapy (RT) for cancer treatments have significantly improved the number of survivors. Radiation-induced myocardial fibrosis (RIMF) is the final pathological condition of RIHD and main change leading to serious cardiovascular complications following RT. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of ultrafiltration extract of Radix Angelica Sinensis and Radix Hedysari (RAS-RH) on the proliferation, apoptosis, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) of cardiac fibroblasts after X-irradiation in vitro. The RAS-RH extract was from the Danggui Buxue decoction (DBD) in TCM. Primary cardiac fibroblasts were irradiated with 1 Gy X-ray to evaluate the effect of RAS-RH on the expression levels of cell proliferation, apoptosis, ROS, and fibrotic molecules. Our data demonstrated that X-irradiation at 1 Gy resulted in the proliferation of cardiac fibroblasts; RAS-RH attenuated the myocardial fibrosis. Furthermore, X-ray radiation reduced the apoptosis of cardiac fibroblasts; RAS-RH accelerated the apoptosis of these cells after irradiation. In addition, the damage driven by ROS in primary cardiac fibroblasts after irradiation was weakened by RAS-RH and the expression of TGF-β1, Col1, and α-SMA increased after irradiation; RAS-RH decreased the expression of these makers. Overall, these data indicate that low-dose X-ray irradiation boosts myocardial fibrosis, and the effect of RAS-RH protects against fibrosis via attenuating the proliferation and accelerating the apoptosis of myocardial fibroblasts after X-irradiation.

Review of the Efficacy and Mechanisms of Traditional Chinese Medicines as a Therapeutic Option for Ionizing Radiation Induced Damage

Ionizing radiation damage refers to acute, delayed, or chronic tissue damage associated with ionizing radiation. Specific or effective therapeutic options for systemic injuries induced by ionizing radiation have not been developed. Studies have shown that Chinese herbal Medicine or Chinese Herbal Prescription exhibit preventive properties against radiation damage. These medicines inhibit tissue injuries and promote repair with very minimal side effects. This study reviews traditional Chinese herbal medicines and prescriptions with radiation protective effects as well as their mechanisms of action. The information obtained will guide the development of alternative radioprotectants.

miR-21 is upregulated, promoting fibrosis and blocking G2/M in irradiated rat cardiac fibroblasts

Background

Radiation exposure of the thorax is associated with a greatly increased risk of cardiac morbidity and mortality even after several decades of advancement in the field. Although many studies have demonstrated the damaging influence of ionizing radiation on cardiac fibroblast (CF) structure and function, myocardial fibrosis, the molecular mechanism behind this damage is not well understood. miR-21, a small microRNA, promotes the activation of CFs, leading to cardiac fibrosis. miR-21 is overexpressed after irradiation; however, the relationship between increased miR-21 and myocardial fibrosis after irradiation is unclear. This study was conducted to investigate gene expression after radiation-induced CF damage and the role of miR-21 in this process in rats.

Methods

We sequenced irradiated rat CFs and performed weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA) combined with differentially expressed gene (DEG) analysis to observe the effect on the expression profile of CF genes after radiation.

Results

DEG analysis showed that the degree of gene changes increased with the radiation dose. WGCNA revealed three module eigengenes (MEs) associated with 8.5-Gy-radiation—the Yellow, Brown, Blue modules. The three module eigengenes were related to apoptosis, G2/M phase, and cell death and S phase, respectively. By blocking with the cardiac fibrosis miRNA miR-21, we found that miR-21 was associated with G2/M blockade in the cell cycle and was mainly involved in regulating extracellular matrix-related genes, including Grem1, Clu, Gdf15, Ccl7, and Cxcl1. Stem-loop quantitative real-time PCR was performed to verify the expression of these genes. Five genes showed higher expression after 8.5 Gy-radiation in CFs. The target genes of miR-21 predicted online were Gdf15 and Rsad2, which showed much higher expression after treatment with antagomir-miR-21 in 8.5-Gy-irradiated CFs. Thus, miR-21 may play the role of fibrosis and G2/M blockade in regulating Grem1, Clu, Gdf15, Ccl7, Cxcl1, and Rsad2 post-irradiation.

New Benzofuran N-Acylhydrazone Reduces Cardiovascular Dysfunction in Obese Rats by Blocking TNF-Alpha Synthesis

Introduction

Diabetic obese patients are susceptible to the development of cardiovascular disease, including hypertension and cardiac dysfunction culminating in diabetic cardiomyopathy (DC), which represents a life-threatening health problem with increased rates of morbidity and mortality. The aim of the study is to characterize the effects of a new benzofuran N-acylhydrazone compound, LASSBio-2090, on metabolic and cardiovascular alterations in Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats presenting DC.

Methods

Male non-diabetic lean Zucker rats (ZL) and ZDF rats treated with vehicle (dimethylsulfoxide) or LASSBio-2090 were used in this study. Metabolic parameters, cardiovascular function, left ventricle histology and inflammatory protein expression were analyzed in the experimental groups.

Results

LASSBio-2090 administration in ZDF rats reduced glucose levels to 85.0 ± 1.7 mg/dL (p < 0.05). LASSBio-2090 also lowered the cholesterol and triglyceride levels from 177.8 ± 31.2 to 104.8 ± 5.3 mg/dL and from 123.0 ± 11.4 to 90.9 ± 4.8 mg/dL, respectively, in obese diabetic rats (p < 0.05). LASSBio-2090 normalized plasma insulin, insulin sensitivity and endothelial function in aortas from diabetic animals (p < 0.05). It also enhanced systolic and diastolic left-ventricular function and reverted myocardial remodeling by blocking the threefold elevation of TNF-α levels in hearts from ZDF rats.

Conclusion

LASSBio-2090 alleviates metabolic disturbance and cardiomyopathy in an obese and diabetic rat model, thus representing a novel strategy for the treatment of cardiovascular complications in obesity-associated type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Radix Angelica Sinensis and Radix Hedysari Ultrafiltration Extract Protects against X-Irradiation-Induced Cardiac Fibrosis in Rats

Radiation-induced myocardial fibrosis (RIMF) is the main pathological change associated with radiation-induced heart toxicity after radiation therapy in patients with thoracic tumors. There is an antifibrosis effect of Radix Angelica Sinensis and Radix Hedysari (RAS-RH) ultrafiltration extract from Danggui Buxue decoction (DBD) in X-irradiation-induced rat myocardial fibrosis, and this study aimed to investigate whether that effect correlated with apoptosis and oxidative stress damage in primary rat cardiac fibroblasts; further, the potential mechanisms were also explored. In this study, we first found that the RAS-RH antifibrosis effect was associated with the upregulation of microRNA-200a and the downregulation of TGF-β1/smad3 and COL1α. In addition, we also found that the antifibrosis effect of RAS-RH was related to the induction of apoptosis in primary rat cardiac fibroblasts and to the prevention of damage caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS). Interestingly, primary rat cardiac fibroblasts exposed to X-ray radiation underwent apoptosis less frequently in the absence of RAS-RH. Therefore, RAS-RH has the ability to protect against fibrosis, which could be occurring through the induction of apoptosis and the resistance to oxidative stress in rats with X-irradiation-induced myocardial fibrosis; thus, in a model of RIMF, RAS-RH acts against X-irradiation-induced cardiac toxicity.