Leech extract: A candidate cardioprotective against hypertension-induced cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis

Combined use of Panax notoginseng and leech provides new insights into renal fibrosis: Restoration of mitochondrial kinetic imbalance

In this study, we aimed to investigate the protective effects of Panax notoginseng and leech (PL) on renal fibrosis and explore the mechanisms underlying their actions. For this study, we created an adenine-induced renal fibrosis model in SD rats to investigate the protective effect of PL on renal fibrosis and explore its underlying mechanism. Initially, we assessed the renal function in RF rats and found that Scr, BUN, and urine protein content decreased after PL treatment, indicating the protective effect of PL on renal function. Histological analysis using HE and Masson staining revealed that PL reduced inflammatory cell infiltration and decreased collagen fiber deposition in renal tissue. Subsequently, we analyzed the levels of α-SMA, Col-IV, and FN, which are the main components of the extracellular matrix (ECM), using IHC, RT-qPCR, and WB. The results demonstrated that PL was effective in reducing the accumulation of ECM, with PL1-2 showing the highest effectiveness. To further understand the underlying mechanisms, we conducted UPLC-MS/MS analysis on the incoming components of the PL1-2 group. The results revealed several associations between the differential components and antioxidant and mitochondrial functions. This was further confirmed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and biochemical indexes, which showed that PL1-2 ameliorated oxidative stress by reducing ROS and MDA production and increasing GSH and SOD levels. Additionally, transmission electron microscopy results indicated that PL1-2 promoted partial recovery of mitochondrial morphology and cristae. Finally, using RT-qPCR and WB, an increase in the expression of mitochondrial fusion proteins Mfn1, Mfn2, and Opa1 after PL1-2 treatment was observed, coupled with a decline in the expression and phosphorylation of mitochondrial cleavage proteins Fis and Drp1. These findings collectively demonstrate that PL1-2 ameliorates renal fibrosis by reducing oxidative stress and restoring mitochondrial balance.

Dahuang zhechong pill ameliorates hepatic fibrosis by regulating gut microbiota and metabolites

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

DHZCP is a traditional Chinese medicinal formula in "The Synopsis of Prescriptions of the Golden Chamber" that has been often used in the treatment of hepatic disorders, gynecopathy and atherosclerosis. However, its underlying mechanisms in preventing hepatic fibrosis remain incompletely understood.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study aims to explore the therapeutic efficacy and potential mechanism of DHZCP in a CCL4-induced experimental hepatic fibrosis rat model.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

DHZCP was orally administered at doses of 0.168, 0.084 and 0.042 g⋅kg-1⋅d-1 in a CCL4-induced hepatic fibrosis model using SD rats. Histopathology, immunohistochemistry and biochemical analysis, ELISA, Flow cytometry, WB, RT-PCR, 16 S rRNA, and untargeted metabolomic analysis were used to determine the therapeutic effects and mechanisms of DHZCP in the treatment of CCL4-induced hepatic fibrosis.

RESULTS

Pharmacodynamically, DHZCP inhibited ALT and AST, improved liver function, decreased NF-κB, TNF-α and IL-6 in liver tissue, indicating its role in inhibiting CCL4-induced liver inflammation. Most importantly, it reduces the level of fibrosis in serum and liver tissue. Histological analysis also showed that DHZCP could effectively inhibit inflammatory cytokine infiltration and excessive collagen deposition. Mechanistically, DHZCP regulates gut microbiota, improves the proportion of firmicutes and bacteroidota at the phylum level, and increases the abundance of beneficial bacteria at the genus level, such as muribagulaceae unclassified, prevotella, alloprevotella, closteriales unclassified, lachnospiraceae unclassified and phascolarctobacterium. Instead, it reduced the abundance of two harmful bacteria, desulfovibrio and colidextribacter. Four types of metabolites such as hydrocarbons, organic nitrogen compounds, organic oxygen compounds, and organosulfur compounds were added. Furthermore, DHZCP was found to reduce the damage of intestinal barrier caused by changes in gut microbiota and metabolites.

CONCLUSION

DHZCP is an effective inhibitor of hepatic fibrosis by regulating gut microbiota and metabolites, improving the integrity of the intestinal barrier.

Quantitative proteomics based bioactive proteins discovery and quality control of medicinal leeches

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Leech, a classical traditional Chinese medicine for promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis, is mainly used in the clinical treatment of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. The discovery of activity proteins or peptides in the dead and dried medicinal leech is an important task with great challenges.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The aim of this study was to provide a basic proteome profile and help further discover active proteins and quality control for medicinal leeches, which would also provide insight into the research of animal medicines.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Seventeen batches of dried medicinal leeches covering three species were collected from medicinal markets, which were authenticated by DNA barcoding. Then the proteome of different species leeches was profiled to reveal the significantly different proteins using label-free proteomics. The characteristic peptides were screened out based on biological pathways analysis, which were further absolutely quantified using the developed stable isotope-labeled based parallel reaction monitoring method.

RESULTS

Seventeen batches of leech materials were Whitmania pigra Whitman (WP), Whitmania laevis Whitman (WL) and Poecilobdella manillensis Lesson (PM), respectively. A total of 1,035 proteins (452 in WP, 425 in WL and 158 in PM) were identified. Among them, 90 overlapping proteins were mainly concentrated in diverse metabolic pathways and primarily localized in the cytoplasm and mitochondrial inner membrane, which mainly related to ATP binding, catalytic activity and structural molecular activity. In total of 51 uniquely expressed proteins (21 in WP, 23 in WL and 7 in PM), associated with multiple key signaling pathways, including Rap1, cGMP-PKG, PI3K-Akt, Wnt and HIF-1, etc., relevant to treating cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer and even a variety of neurodegenerative diseases. Three proteins with potential bioactivities, including Neurohemerythrin, Hirudin and Eglin C, were selected as the quality makers and then quantified based on the characteristic peptides.

CONCLUSIONS

This work profiled the proteome of three species of leeches, and addressed potential active proteins of the medicinal leech, which would help to provide the potential molecular mechanisms involved in disease treatment. The proteomics-based approach developed in this work is not only useful for the discovery of proteins with potential bioactivities but also helpful for the bioactivity relevant quality control of animal medicines.

Tetrahydrobiopterin from cyanide-degrading bacterium Bacillus pumilus strain SVD06 induces apoptosis in human lung adenocarcinoma cell (A549)

Tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) is an essential biological cofactor and a derivative of pterin which is considered potent anticancer agents. In continuation of our previous study on the identification of BH4 from cyanide-degrading Bacillus pumilus, the present study focuses on evaluating the anticancer properties of BH4 on A549, a human lung adenocarcinoma. Anticancer activity analysis shows that BH4 inhibited A549 cell growth after 24 h of incubation with 0.02 mg/mL. In acridine orange/ethidium bromide staining, BH4-treated A549 cells showed apoptotic morphology. BH4 treatment caused cell cycle arrest at G0/G1 phase compared to control cells. BH4 augmented p53 expression in alveolar cancer cells by downregulating MDM2 levels. There was downregulation of casp-3 and upregulation of iNOS gene in BH4-treated A549 cells. Further, docking studies indicated that BH4 had significant interactions with the above proteins affirming the apoptosis mechanism. Thus, BH4 could be considered a potential anticancer drug.

Combined fructose and sucrose consumption from an early age aggravates cardiac oxidative damage and causes a dilated cardiomyopathy in SHR rats

Obesity increases the risk of arterial hypertension in young adults and favors an early-onset cardiomyopathy by generating oxidative stress. In this sense, indiscriminate consumption of sucrose and fructose sweetened beverages from early ages causes obesity, however its consequences on the heart when there is a genetic predisposition to develop hypertension are not clear. We compared the effects of sucrose, fructose, and their combination in weanling male spontaneously hypertensive rats to determine the relationship between genetic hypertension, obesity, and consumption of these sugars on the degree of cardiac hypertrophy, oxidative stress and Ca2+/calmodulin dependent protein kinase II delta oxidation. Histological, biochemical, and Western blot studies were performed 12 weeks after treatment initiation. We found that chronic consumption of sucrose or fructose leads to obesity, exacerbates genetic arterial hypertension-induced metabolic alterations, and increases cardiac oxidative stress, Ca2+/calmodulin dependent protein kinase II delta oxidation and cardiac hypertrophy. Nonetheless, when sucrose and fructose are consumed together, metabolic alterations worsen and are accompanied by dilated cardiomyopathy. These data suggest that sucrose and fructose combined consumption starting from maternal weaning in rats with genetic predisposition to arterial hypertension accelerates the progression of cardiomyopathy resulting in an early dilated cardiomyopathy.

Parkia speciosa Hassk. Empty Pod Extract Prevents Cardiomyocyte Hypertrophy by Inhibiting MAPK and Calcineurin-NFATC3 Signaling Pathways

Cardiac hypertrophy is an early hallmark during the clinical course of heart failure. Therapeutic strategies aiming to alleviate cardiac hypertrophy via the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/calcineurin-nuclear factor of activated T-cells (NFAT) signaling pathway may help prevent cardiac dysfunction. Previously, empty pod ethanol crude extract of Parkia speciosa Hassk was shown to demonstrate protective effects against cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. Therefore, the current study aimed to investigate the effects of various fractions of the plant ethanol extract on the MAPK/NFAT signaling pathway in angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. Simultaneous treatment with ethyl acetate (EA) fraction produced the most potent antihypertrophic effect evidenced by the reduced release of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP). Subsequently, treatment with the EA fraction (6.25, 12.5, and 25 μg/mL) prevented an Ang II-induced increase in cell surface area, hypertrophic factors (atrial natriuretic peptide and BNP), reactive oxygen species, protein content, and NADPH oxidase 4 expression in the cells. Furthermore, EA treatment attenuated the activation of the MAPK pathway and calcineurin-related pathway (GATA-binding protein 4 and NFATC3), which was similar to the effects of valsartan (positive control). Our findings indicate that the EA fraction prevents Ang II-induced cardiac hypertrophy by regulating the MAPK/calcineurin-NFAT signaling pathway.

Shenxian-Shengmai Oral Liquid Evoke Autophagy of Fibroblast to Attenuate Sinoatrial Node Fibrosis in Sick Sinus Syndrome Mice via the AKT/mTOR Pathway

Sick sinus syndrome (SSS) is closely associated with cardiac syncope and sudden death, wherein sinoatrial node (SAN) fibrosis is one of the main pathological changes that occur. Shenxian-Shengmai oral liquid (SXSM) has been clinically proven to significantly improve the heart rate of SSS patients. In this study, we aimed to explore the mechanism of SXSM in reducing the SAN fibrosis by combining in vitro and in vivo experiments. Accordingly, the SSS model was constructed by slowly pumping angiotensin II (AngII) with a micro-osmotic pump. The degree of fibrosis was evaluated by Masson's trichrome staining and immunofluorescence staining of the fibrosis marker protein. In addition, NIH-3T3 mouse fibroblasts were used to simulate SAN fibroblasts to further explore the mechanism, with AngII used as the cellular fibrosis inducer. Monodansylcadaverine (MDC) staining and transmission electron microscopy were employed to assay the autophagy content, whereas immunofluorescence staining and Western blotting were employed to elucidate the related protein expression. Finally, fibroblasts were given the AKT phosphorylation agonist SC79 to reversely verify the effects of SXSM. The results showed that SXSM could significantly increase the heart rate of SSS mice by reducing the deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM) in SAN induced by AngII. According to in vivo experiments, when compared with the model group, SSS mice treated with SXSM developed less fibrosis in the SAN area. In vitro experiments revealed that AngII could restrain autophagy by activating the phosphorylation of the AKT/mTOR pathway, thereby increasing the deposition of ECM. Moreover, SXSM pretreatment prevented this upregulation. After the intervention of SC79, the protective effect of SXSM was weakened. In conclusion, SXSM activated autophagy through the AKT/mTOR pathway, which in turn reduced the deposition of the ECM in SAN induced by AngII, attenuated the fibrosis of SAN, and improved the decreased heart rate in the SSS mice.

Comparative Transcriptome Sequencing Analysis of Hirudo nipponia in Different Growth Periods

Hirudo nipponia is the only blood-sucking leech included in Chinese Pharmacopoeia having distinct features of anticoagulation, exorcizing blood stasis, and promoting menstruation. Despite such significant characteristics, very little is known about its molecular genetics and related physiological mechanisms. In this study, the transcriptomes of H. nipponia at three developmental stages (larvae, young, and adults), revealed a total of 1,348 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), 223 differentially expressed lncRNAs, and 88 novel mRNAs. A significant diverse gene expression patterns were observed at different developmental stages which were analyzed by differential gene expression trends, and the overall gene expression trends consist of three overall down-regulated trends, and two overall up-regulated trends. Furthermore, the GO and KEGG enrichment functional annotation analysis revealed that these DEGs were mainly associated with protein hydrolysis, signal transduction, energy metabolism, and lipid metabolism while growth, development, metabolism, and reproduction-related DEGs were also found. Additionally, real-time quantitative PCR results confirmed deep sequencing results based on the relative expression levels of nine randomly selected genes. This is the first transcriptome-based comprehensive study of H. irudo nipponia at different developmental stages which provided considerable deep understanding related to gene expression patterns and their relevant developmental pathways, neurodevelopmental and reproductive characteristics of the leech.

Consumption of combined fructose and sucrose diet exacerbates oxidative stress, hypertrophy and CaMKIIδ oxidation in hearts from rats with metabolic syndrome

The prevalence of the metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its cardiac comorbidities as cardiac hypertrophy (CH) have increased considerably due to the high consumption of carbohydrates, such as sucrose and/or fructose. We compared the effects of sucrose (S), fructose (F) and their combination (S + F) on the development of MetS in weaned male Wistar rats and established the relationship between the consumption of these sugars and the degree of cardiac CH development, oxidative stress (OS) and Calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase type II subunit delta oxidation (ox-CaMKII_δ). 12 weeks after the beginning of treatments with S, F or S + F, arterial pressure was measured and 8 weeks later (to complete 20 weeks) the animals were sacrificed and blood samples, visceral adipose tissue and hearts were obtained. Biochemical parameters were determined in serum and cardiac tissue to evaluate the development of MetS and OS. To evaluate CH, atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), CaMKII_δ and ox-CaMKII_δ were determined by western blot and histological studies were performed in cardiac tissue. Our data showed that chronic consumption of S + F exacerbates MetS-induced CH which is related with a higher OS and ox-CaMKII_δ.

Leu27 IGF-II-induced hypertrophy in H9c2 cardiomyoblasts is ameliorated by saffron by regulation of calcineurin/NFAT and CaMKIIδ signaling

The insulin-like growth factor II receptor (IGF-IIR) induces myocardial hypertrophy under various pathological conditions like diabetes and hypertension via G protein receptors like Gαq or Gαs. Increased expression of the ligand IGF II and IGF-IIR induces pathological hypertrophy through downstream signaling mediators such as calcineurin, nuclear factor of activated T cells 3 and calcium-calmodulin (CaM)-dependent kinase II (CaMKII)-histone deacetylase 4 (HDAC4). The dried stigma of Crocus sativus L. (saffron) has a long repute as a traditional medicine against various disorders. In the present study, we have investigated whether C. sativus extract (CSE) canameliorate Leu²⁷ IGF-II triggered hypertrophy and have elucidated the underlying mechanism of protection. Additionally, the effects of oleic acid (OA), an activator of calcineurin and CaMKII was investigated thereof. The results demonstrate that CSE can ameliorate Leu²⁷ IGF-II-induced hypertrophy seemingly through regulation of calcineurin-NFAT3 and CaMKII-HDAC4 signaling cascade.