Huoxin pill attenuates myocardial infarction-induced apoptosis and fibrosis via suppression of p53 and TGF-β1/Smad2/3 pathways

Integrative transcriptomics and proteomics analysis reveal the protection of Astragaloside IV against myocardial fibrosis by regulating senescence

Myocardial fibrosis (MF) is a pivotal pathological process implicated in various cardiovascular diseases, particularly heart failure. Astragaloside IV (AS-IV), a natural compound derived from Astragalus membranaceus, possesses potent cardioprotective properties. However, the precise molecular mechanisms underlying its anti-MF effects, particularly in relation to senescence, remain elusive. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the therapeutic potential and underlying molecular mechanisms of AS-IV in treating ISO-induced MF in mice, employing transcriptomics, proteomics, in vitro, and in vivo experiments. We assessed the positive effects of AS-IV on ISO-induced MF using HE staining, Masson staining, ELISA, immunohistochemical staining, transthoracic echocardiography, transmission electron microscopy, and DHE fluorescence staining. Additionally, we elucidated the regulatory role of AS-IV in MF through comprehensive transcriptomics and proteomics analyses, complemented by Western blotting and RT-qPCR validation of pertinent molecular pathways. Our findings demonstrated that AS-IV treatment markedly attenuated ISO-induced myocardial injury and oxidative stress, concomitantly inhibiting the release of SASPs. Furthermore, integrated transcriptomics and proteomics analyses revealed that the anti-MF mechanism of AS-IV was associated with regulating cellular senescence and the p53 signaling pathway. These results highlight AS-IV exerts its anti-MF effects not only by inhibiting oxidative stress but also by modulating senescence through the p53 signaling pathway.

Programmed death of cardiomyocytes in cardiovascular disease and new therapeutic approaches

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) have a complex pathogenesis and pose a major threat to human health. Cardiomyocytes have a low regenerative capacity, and their death is a key factor in the morbidity and mortality of many CVDs. Cardiomyocyte death can be regulated by specific signaling pathways known as programmed cell death (PCD), including apoptosis, necroptosis, autophagy, pyroptosis, and ferroptosis, etc. Abnormalities in PCD can lead to the development of a variety of cardiovascular diseases, and there are also molecular-level interconnections between different PCD pathways under the same cardiovascular disease model. Currently, the link between programmed cell death in cardiomyocytes and cardiovascular disease is not fully understood. This review describes the molecular mechanisms of programmed death and the impact of cardiomyocyte death on cardiovascular disease development. Emphasis is placed on a summary of drugs and potential therapeutic approaches that can be used to treat cardiovascular disease by targeting and blocking programmed cell death in cardiomyocytes.

Hypoxia triggers cardiomyocyte apoptosis via regulating the m6A methylation-mediated LncMIAT/miR-708-5p/p53 axis

Long-time hypoxia induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis is an important mechanism of myocardial ischemia (MI) injury. Interestingly, long noncoding RNA myocardial infarction-associated transcript (LncMIAT) has been involved in the regulation of MI injury; however, the underlying mechanism by which LncMIAT affects the progression of hypoxia-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis remains unclear. In the present study, hypoxia was found to promote cardiomyocyte apoptosis through an increased expression of LncMIAT in vitro. Biological investigations and dual-luciferase gene reporter assay further revealed that LncMIAT was able to bind with miR-708-5p to upregulate the p53-mediated cell death of the cardiomyocytes. Silencing of LncMIAT or overexpression of miR-708-5p led to a significant reduction in p53-mediated cardiomyocyte apoptosis. The methylated RNA immunoprecipitation (MeRIP)-qPCR results showed that hypoxia exerted its effects on LncMIAT through AKLBH5-N6-methyladenosine (m6A) methylation and therefore hypoxia was shown to trigger HL-1 cardiomyocyte apoptosis via the m6A methylation-mediated LncMIAT/miR-708-5p/p53 axis. Silencing of AKLBH5 significantly alleviated the m6A methylation-mediated LncMIAT upregulation and p53-mediated cardiomyocyte apoptosis, while promoted miR-708-5p expression. Taken together, the present study highlighted that LncMIAT could act as a key biological target during hypoxia-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis. In addition, it was shown that hypoxia could promote cardiomyocyte apoptosis through regulation of the m6A methylation-mediated LncMIAT/miR-708-5p/p53 signaling axis.

CAV1 Protein Encapsulated in Mouse BMSC-Derived Extracellular Vesicles Alleviates Myocardial Fibrosis Following Myocardial Infarction by Blocking the TGF-β1/SMAD2/c-JUN Axis

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from mouse bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (mBMSCs) convey the CAV1 protein, influencing the TGF-β1/SMAD2/c-JUN pathway and thus the molecular mechanisms underlying myocardial fibrosis (MF) post-myocardial infarction (MI). Through various experimental methods, including transmission electron microscopy, Nanosight analysis, Western blot, ELISA, and qRT-PCR, we isolated, purified, and identified EVs originating from mBMSCs. Bioinformatics and experimental findings show a reduced expression of CAV1 in myocardial fibrosis tissue. Furthermore, our findings suggest that mBMSC-EVs can deliver CAV1 to cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) and that silencing CAV1 in mBMSC-EVs promotes CF fibrosis. In vivo studies further corroborated these findings. In conclusion, mBMSC-EVs mitigate myocardial fibrosis in MI mice by delivering the CAV1 protein, inhibiting the TGF-β1/SMAD2/c-JUN pathway.

Effects of scutellarin on the mechanism of cardiovascular diseases: a review

Cardiovascular diseases represent a significant worldwide problem, jeopardizing individuals' physical and mental wellbeing as well as their quality of life as a result of their widespread incidence and fatality. With the aging society, the occurrence of Cardiovascular diseases is progressively rising each year. However, although drugs developed for treating Cardiovascular diseases have clear targets and proven efficacy, they still carry certain toxic and side effect risks. Therefore, finding safe, effective, and practical treatment options is crucial. Scutellarin is the primary constituent of Erigeron breviscapus (Vant.) Hand-Mazz. This article aims to establish a theoretical foundation for the creation and use of secure, productive, and logical medications for Scutellarin in curing heart-related illnesses. Additionally, the examination and analysis of the signal pathway and its associated mechanisms with regard to the employment of SCU in treating heart diseases will impart innovative resolving concepts for the treatment and prevention of Cardiovascular diseases.

Metaflammation in glucolipid metabolic disorders: Pathogenesis and treatment

The public health issue of glucolipid metabolic disorders (GLMD) has grown significantly, posing a grave threat to human wellness. Its prevalence is rising yearly and tends to affect younger people. Metaflammation is an important mechanism regulating body metabolism. Through a complicated multi-organ crosstalk network involving numerous signaling pathways such as NLRP3/caspase-1/IL-1, NF-B, p38 MAPK, IL-6/STAT3, and PI3K/AKT, it influences systemic metabolic regulation. Numerous inflammatory mediators are essential for preserving metabolic balance, but more research is needed to determine how they contribute to the co-morbidities of numerous metabolic diseases. Whether controlling the inflammatory response can influence the progression of GLMD determines the therapeutic strategy for such diseases. This review thoroughly examines the role of metaflammation in GLMD and combs the research progress of related therapeutic approaches, including inflammatory factor-targeting drugs, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), and exercise therapy. Multiple metabolic diseases, including diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), cardiovascular disease, and others, respond therapeutically to anti-inflammatory therapy on the whole. Moreover, we emphasize the value and open question of anti-inflammatory-based means for treating GLMD.

The Function and Therapeutic Potential of lncRNAs in Cardiac Fibrosis

Cardiac fibrosis remains an unresolved problem in cardiovascular diseases. Fibrosis of the myocardium plays a key role in the clinical outcomes of patients with heart injuries. Moderate fibrosis is favorable for cardiac structure maintaining and contractile force transmission, whereas adverse fibrosis generally progresses to ventricular remodeling and cardiac systolic or diastolic dysfunction. The molecular mechanisms involved in these processes are multifactorial and complex. Several molecular mechanisms, such as TGF-β signaling pathway, extracellular matrix (ECM) synthesis and degradation, and non-coding RNAs, positively or negatively regulate myocardial fibrosis. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have emerged as significant mediators in gene regulation in cardiovascular diseases. Recent studies have demonstrated that lncRNAs are crucial in genetic programming and gene expression during myocardial fibrosis. We summarize the function of lncRNAs in cardiac fibrosis and their contributions to miRNA expression, TGF-β signaling, and ECMs synthesis, with a particular attention on the exosome-derived lncRNAs in the regulation of adverse fibrosis as well as the mode of action of lncRNAs secreted into exosomes. We also discuss how the current knowledge on lncRNAs can be applied to develop novel therapeutic strategies to prevent or reverse cardiac fibrosis.

Therapeutic targets by traditional Chinese medicine for ischemia-reperfusion injury induced apoptosis on cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has a significant role in treating and preventing human diseases. Ischemic heart and cerebrovascular injuries are two types of diseases with different clinical manifestations with high prevalence and incidence. In recent years, it has been reported that many TCM has beneficial effects on ischemic diseases through the inhibition of apoptosis, which is the key target to treat myocardial and cerebral ischemia. This review provides a comprehensive summary of the mechanisms of various TCMs in treating ischemic cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases through anti-apoptotic targets and pathways. However, clinical investigations into elucidating the pharmacodynamic ingredients of TCM are still lacking, which should be further demystified in the future. Overall, the inhibition of apoptosis by TCM may be an effective strategy for treating ischemic cardio-cerebrovascular diseases.

Daming capsule protects against myocardial infarction by promoting mitophagy via the SIRT1/AMPK signaling pathway

Myocardial infarction (MI) is a myocardial injury caused by coronary thrombosis or persistent ischemia and hypoxia. Due to its high morbidity and mortality, a safer and more effective treatment strategy is urgently needed. Daming capsule (DMC), a hypolipidemic drug, reportedly exerts cardioprotective effects in clinical and basic research, although its protective mechanism remains unknown. To investigate the mechanism underlying DMC-mediated improvement of cardiac function post-MI, C57/BL6 mice subjected to coronary artery ligation were administered DMC for 4 weeks. Our data demonstrated that DMC significantly improved cardiac structure and function compared to the saline group. Moreover, DMC inhibited inflammatory response and oxidative stress and improved mitochondrial structure and function in MI mice and hypoxia-stressed cardiomyocytes. Next, our research proved that DMC increased the expression of mitophagy receptor NLRX1. Interestingly, with the administration of DMC and siNLRX1, NLRX1 expression, mitochondria and lysosome colocalization, and mitochondrial membrane potential decreased, while mitochondrial ROS accumulation increased, suggesting that DMC promoted mitophagy to improve mitochondrial function via NLRX1 regulation. Further analysis showed that DMC activated the SIRT1/AMPK signaling pathway in vivo and in vitro. Our data showed that SIRT1 knockdown downregulated NLRX1 expression, leading to structural damage and functional impairment in mitochondria, as well as increased oxidative stress, inflammatory response, and decreased cardiac function in MI mice. Collectively, our findings reveal that DMC improves cardiac function post-MI by increasing mitophagy and inhibiting oxidative stress and inflammotory response in cardiomyocytes through the SIRT1/AMPK signaling pathway.

Programmed Cell Death: Complex Regulatory Networks in Cardiovascular Disease

Abnormalities in programmed cell death (PCD) signaling cascades can be observed in the development and progression of various cardiovascular diseases, such as apoptosis, necrosis, pyroptosis, ferroptosis, and cell death associated with autophagy. Aberrant activation of PCD pathways is a common feature leading to excessive cardiac remodeling and heart failure, involved in the pathogenesis of various cardiovascular diseases. Conversely, timely activation of PCD remodels cardiac structure and function after injury in a spatially or temporally restricted manner and corrects cardiac development similarly. As many cardiovascular diseases exhibit abnormalities in PCD pathways, drugs that can inhibit or modulate PCD may be critical in future therapeutic strategies. In this review, we briefly describe the process of various types of PCD and their roles in the occurrence and development of cardiovascular diseases. We also discuss the interplay between different cell death signaling cascades and summarize pharmaceutical agents targeting key players in cell death signaling pathways that have progressed to clinical trials. Ultimately a better understanding of PCD involved in cardiovascular diseases may lead to new avenues for therapy.

Identification of Two Long Non-Coding RNAs AC010082.1 and AC011443.1 as Biomarkers of Coronary Heart Disease Based on Logistic Stepwise Regression Prediction Model

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a global health concern with high morbidity and mortality rates. This study aimed to identify the possible long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) biomarkers of CHD. The lncRNA- and mRNA-related data of patients with CHD were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database (GSE113079). The limma package was used to identify differentially expressed lncRNAs and mRNAs (DElncRNAs and DEmRNAs, respectively). Then, miRcode, TargetScan, miRDB, and miRTarBase databases were used to form the competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network. Furthermore, SPSS Modeler 18.0 was used to construct a logistic stepwise regression prediction model for CHD diagnosis based on DElncRNAs. Of the microarray data, 70% was used as a training set and 30% as a test set. Moreover, a validation cohort including 30 patients with CHD and 30 healthy controls was used to verify the hub lncRNA expression through real-time reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). A total of 185 DElncRNAs (114 upregulated and 71 downregulated) and 382 DEmRNAs (162 upregulated and 220 downregulated) between CHD and healthy controls were identified from the microarray data. Furthermore, through bioinformatics prediction, a 38 lncRNA-21miRNA-40 mRNA ceRNA network was constructed. Next, by constructing a logistic stepwise regression prediction model for 38 DElncRNAs, we screened two hub lncRNAs AC010082.1 and AC011443.1 (p < 0.05). The sensitivity, specificity, and area under the curve were 98.41%, 100%, and 0.995, respectively, for the training set and 93.33%, 91.67%, and 0.983, respectively, for the test set. We further verified the significant upregulation of AC010082.1 (p < 0.01) and AC011443.1 (p < 0.05) in patients with CHD using RT-qPCR in the validation cohort. Our results suggest that lncRNA AC010082.1 and AC011443.1 are potential biomarkers of CHD. Their pathological mechanism in CHD requires further validation.