Gene expression profiling in the lungs of phenylhydrazine-treated rats: the contribution of pro-inflammatory response and endothelial dysfunction to acute thrombosis

Exploring the molecular mechanism of Toddalia asiatica (L.) lam on the treatment of thrombosis based on zebrafish models, network pharmacology and experimental verification

Toddalia asiatica (L.) Lam. (TA) is a traditional folk medicine of ethnic minorities in the southwest of China. It is widely used in the treatment of dispersing blood stasis and activating blood. However, the effective substance and pharmacological mechanism have not been fully elucidated. The zebrafish larvae were treated with Phenylhydrazine (PHZ) to establish a thrombus model, and the staining intensity of zebrafish red blood cells was analyzed. The antithrombotic activity of TA was verified for the first time, and it was found that the inhibition rate of TA on thrombosis was up to 60.85 %. The chemical ingredients of TA were collected by combining UPLC-HRMS analysis and the literature research. Network pharmacology revealed that six key targets were obtained, which including TNF, AKT1, EGFR, PTGS2, PPARG, and IFNG. It showed that the PI3K-Akt pathway was a core signaling pathway. Coagulation factor III(TF), playing an important role in the process of hemostasis and thrombosis, which ranks high in the PPI network. Moreover, the results of molecular docking showed that the active components had a strong binding force with TF, which indicated that TF might be the key target of TA in treating thrombosis. In vitro experiments showed that TA could inhibit TNF-α-induced high expression of TF in EA.hy926 cells. In addition, TA could inhibit TNF-α-activated expression of Akt, IκBα and P65 protein phosphorylation in PI3K-Akt pathway. The results showed that TA had antithrombotic activity and exerted an antithrombotic effect by inhibiting the expression of TF through the PI3K-Akt-NF-κB signaling pathway.

Rheum officinale Baill. Treats zebrafish embryo thrombosis by regulating NOS3 expression in the arginine biosynthesis pathway

BACKGROUND

Rheum officinale Baill. (ROB), as one of the traditional Chinese medicines for promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis, has a wide range of pharmacological effects, such as cardiovascular protection, and has become a common drug in the clinical care of thrombosis.

OBJECTIVE

Although there are some pharmacological studies on ROB in the treatment of thrombotic diseases, the mechanism and material basis are still unclear. Based on the arginine biosynthesis signalling pathway, this research explored the target proteins and metabolites related to the intervention of ROB in thrombosis and expounded on the antithrombotic mechanism of ROB from the comprehensive perspectives of target prediction, intermediate metabolites and potential metabolic pathways.

METHODS

In this research, ultraperformance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS) technology was used to qualitatively detect the chemical compounds of ROB, and the antithrombotic activity of ROB was evaluated by establishing a zebrafish model. The target function was predicted by network pharmacology, and differential metabolites were screened by metabolomics and multivariate statistical analysis methods. Correlation analysis of network pharmacology and metabolomics screening results was conducted to identify the potential pathway of ROB intervention in thrombosis, and the prediction results were further verified.

RESULTS

ROB significantly reduced the reactive oxygen species (ROS) staining intensity in zebrafish induced by phenylhydrazine (PHZ) and improved the inhibition rate of thrombosis. By constructing the "herb-disease-component-target" network, it was concluded that the active ingredients of ROB in treating thrombosis involved emodin, aloe-emodin and physcion, and the key targets included nitric oxide synthase 2 (NOS2) and nitric oxide synthase 3 (NOS3). A total of 341 differential metabolites in zebrafish with thrombosis were screened by partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA). The results of reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) experiments and targeted metabolomics verification showed that ROB was mainly involved in improving thrombosis by upregulating the expression of NOS3 mRNA and regulating the levels of arginine, glutamate and glutamine in the arginine biosynthesis pathway.

CONCLUSIONS

ROB improved thrombosis by regulating the expression of NOS3 mRNA and the contents of arginine, glutamate and glutamine in the arginine biosynthesis signalling pathway.

Synergistic Effects of Cryptotanshinone and Senkyunolide I in Guanxinning Tablet Against Endogenous Thrombus Formation in Zebrafish

Thrombosis is a key pathological event in cardiovascular diseases, and is also the most important targeting process for their clinical management. New drug development in thrombosis treatment is still in great demand. According to the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) theory, thrombosis belongs to the syndrome of blood stasis. Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge and Ligusticum striatum DC. are two common TCM herbs with long-term documented function in promoting blood circulation and inhibiting thrombosis, especially when used together. Guanxinning Tablet, a modern Chinese drug which contains extracts of the two herbs, also showed strong therapeutic effects in coronary heart disease. However, the pharmacological mechanism is still lacking for the compatibility of the two herbs. Here, through zebrafish-based in vivo fluorescence screening, we demonstrated the synergistic effects between S. miltiorrhiza Bunge and L. striatum DC. in regulating endogenous thrombosis. Moreover, combined with high-resolution mass spectrometry, the main compounds of the botanical drugs were analyzed and screened in our model system. Interestingly, cryptotanshinone and senkyunolide I, two representative compounds, respectively derived from the two herbs, also showed synergistic antithrombotic effects. Further analysis suggested that they may regulate thrombi formation at different levels via multiple signaling pathways, including oxidative stress, platelet activation and coagulation cascade. Taken together, our findings provided solid biological supports toward the drug compatibility theory of TCM, and suggested cryptotanshinone and senkyunolide I as promising drug candidates in thrombosis management.

Identification of cryptotanshinone from Tongmai to inhibit thrombosis in zebrafish via regulating oxidative stress and coagulation cascade

BACKGROUND

Thromboembolic events are leading causes of mortality and morbidity all over the world. Tongmai (TM) is a botanical drug with valid clinical efficacy and safety in the management of thrombosis and ischemic cardiovascular diseases, however, its active compounds and underlying mechanism are largely unclear.

PURPOSE

To investigate the endogenous effects, therapeutic mechanism and active compounds of TM in thrombus formation.

STUDY DESIGN

Combined with transgenic zebrafish models and high-content imaging system, this study evaluated the endogenous antithrombotic effects of TM and screened for the active compounds.

METHODS

The PHZ-induced thrombotic model in erythrocytes or platelets labeled transgenic zebrafish were established, to dynamically evaluate the antithrombotic effects of TM. The oxidative damage levels were analyzed by specific fluorescent probes, and the expression levels of key factors in coagulation cascades and platelet activation were examined by QPCR. TM were dissected into fractions by reverse phase chromatography and subsequently screened for their antithrombotic effects in the transgenic fish models. The compounds of the active TM fraction were then analyzed by UPLC-Q-TOF analysis and further verified for their antithrombotic effects and mechanisms.

RESULTS

In PHZ-induced zebrafish thrombotic model, TM incubation markedly increased cardiac blood flow, decreased peripheral erythrocytes aggregation, and recovered peripheral platelet circulation. Besides, the levels of oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation were increased in the PHZ-induced thrombotic fish, which were greatly decreased by TM treatment. Moreover, TM significantly reduced the expression of coagulation factor II (thrombin) and the downstream fibrinogen. In order to identify the active compounds of TM, four fractions were separated from the extract by reverse phase chromatography, which were subsequently screened for their antithrombotic effects in the fish model. As a result, fraction 4 showed the strongest effect in inhibiting thrombosis. Finally, through UPLC-Q-TOF analysis and endogenous screening, cryptotanshione was identified as the main active compound with antithrombotic effects.

CONCLUSION

Our study demonstrated the endogenous antithrombotic effects of TM, which is possibly mediated by inhibiting oxidative stress and coagulation cascade. Cryptotanshione was identified as a major compound with antithrombotic activity and is a promising candidate for novel antithrombotic therapy.

Rapid conditional targeted ablation model for hemolytic anemia in the rat

Effective methods for cell ablation are important tools for examining the anatomical, functional, and behavioral consequences of selective loss of specific cell types in animal models. We have developed an ablation system based on creating genetically modified animals that express human CD59 (hCD59), a membrane receptor, and administering intermedilysin (ILY), a toxin produced by Streptococcus intermedius, which binds specifically to hCD59 to induce cell lysis. As proof-of-concept in the rat, we generated an anemia model, SD-Tg(CD59-HBA1)Bryd, which expresses hCD59 on erythrocytes. Hemolysis is a common complication of inherited or acquired blood disorders, which can result in cardiovascular compromise and death. A rat model that can replicate hemolysis through specific ablation of erythrocytes would allow further study of disease and novel treatments. In vitro, complete lysis of erythrocytes expressing hCD59 was observed at and above 250 pM ILY, while no lysis was observed in wild-type erythrocytes at any ILY concentration (8-1,000 pM). In vivo, ILY intravenous injection (100 ng/g body wt) dramatically reduced the hematocrit within 10 min, with a mean hematocrit reduction of 43% compared with 1.4% in the saline control group. Rats injected with ILY at 500 ng/g intraperitoneally developed gross signs of anemia. Histopathology confirmed anemia and revealed hepatic necrosis, with microthrombi present. These studies validate the hCD59-ILY cell ablation technology in the rat and provide the scientific community with a new rapid conditional targeted ablation model for hemolytic anemia and hemolysis-associated sequelae.

Role of SDF-1 (CXCL12) in regulating hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells traffic into the liver during extramedullary hematopoiesis induced by G-CSF, AMD3100 and PHZ

The stromal cell derived factor 1 (SDF-1/CXCL12) plays an essential role in the homing of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) to bone marrow (BM). It is not known whether SDF-1 may also regulate the homing of HSPCs to the liver during extramedullary hematopoiesis (EMH). Here, we investigated the possible role of SDF-1 in attracting HSPCs to the liver during experimental EMH induced by the hematopoietic mobilizers G-CSF, AMD3100 and phenylhydrazine (PHZ). Mice treated with G-CSF, AMD3100 and PHZ showed a significant increase in the expression of SDF-1 in the liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) microenvironments. Liver from mice treated with the hematopoietic mobilizers showed HSPCs located adjacent to the LSEC microenvironments, expressing high levels of SDF-1. An inverse relationship was found between the hepatic SDF-1 levels and those in the BM. In vitro, LSEC monolayers induced the migration of HSPCs, and this effect was significantly reduced by AMD3100. In conclusion, our results provide the first evidence showing that SDF-1 expressed by LSEC can be a major player in the recruitment of HSPCs to the liver during EMH induced by hematopoietic mobilizers.