Zhenwu decoction ameliorates cardiac hypertrophy through activating sGC (soluble guanylate cyclase) - cGMP (cyclic guanosine monophosphate) - PKG (protein kinase G) pathway

The therapeutic potential of phosphodiesterase 9 (PDE9) inhibitors: a patent review (2018-present)

INTRODUCTION

Phosphodiesterase 9 (PDE9) has been demonstrated as a potential target for neurological disorders and cardiovascular diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease and heart failure. For the last few years, a series of PDE9 inhibitors with structural diversities have been developed and patented by researchers and pharmaceutical companies, providing insights into first-in-class therapies of PDE9 drug candidates.

AREA COVERED

This review provides an overview of PDE9 inhibitors in patents from 2018 to the present.

EXPERT OPINION

Only a few of the current PDE9 inhibitors are highly selective over other PDEs, which limits their application in pharmacological and clinical research. The design and development of highly selective PDE9 inhibitors remain the top priority in future research. The advantages of targeting PDE9 rather than other PDEs in treating neurodegenerative diseases need to be explained thoroughly. Besides, application of PDE9 inhibitor-based combination therapies sheds light on treating diabetes and refractory heart diseases. Finally, PDE9 inhibitors should be further explored in clinical indications beyond neurological disorders and cardiovascular diseases.

The role of serine/threonine protein kinases in cardiovascular disease and potential therapeutic methods

Protein phosphorylation is an important link in a variety of signaling pathways, and most of the important life processes in cells involve protein phosphorylation. Based on the amino acid residues of phosphorylated proteins, protein kinases can be categorized into the following families: serine/threonine protein kinases, tyrosine-specific protein kinases, histidine-specific protein kinases, tryptophan kinases, and aspartate/glutamyl protein kinases. Of all the protein kinases, most are serine/threonine kinases, where serine/threonine protein kinases are protein kinases that catalyze the phosphorylation of serine or threonine residues on target proteins using ATP as a phosphate donor. The current socially accepted classification of serine/threonine kinases is to divide them into seven major groups: protein kinase A, G, C (AGC), CMGC, Calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (CAMK), Casein kinase (CK1), STE, Tyrosine kinase (TKL) and others. After decades of research, a preliminary understanding of the specific classification and respective functions of serine/threonine kinases has entered a new period of exploration. In this paper, we review the literature of the previous years and introduce the specific signaling pathways and related therapeutic modalities played by each of the small protein kinases in the serine/threonine protein kinase family, respectively, in some common cardiovascular system diseases such as heart failure, myocardial infarction, ischemia-reperfusion injury, and diabetic cardiomyopathy. To a certain extent, the current research results, including molecular mechanisms and therapeutic methods, are fully summarized and a systematic report is made for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases in the future.

Modified Zhenwu Decoction suppresses chronic colitis via targeting macrophage CCR2/Fyn/p38 MAPK signaling axis

BACKGROUND

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is associated with intestinal macrophage infiltration due to disruption of the mucosal barrier and bacterial invasion. Therefore, it is crucial to identify therapeutic agents capable of attenuating the macrophage-induced inflammatory response to preserve mucosal homeostasis and immune tolerance. The modified Zhenwu decoction (CDD-2103) is a novel herbal formulation developed based on the principles of Traditional Chinese medicine. To date, there are no clinically approved herbal formulations for UC with a well-known mechanism of action on macrophages.

PURPOSE

The objective of this study was to systematically investigate the inhibitory effect of the active fraction of CDD-2103 in a mouse model of chronic colitis and delineate the mechanisms underlying its inhibitory action.

METHODS

CDD-2103 was extracted into four fractions using organic solvents with increasing polarity. A chronic 49-day dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis mice model, closely resembling human clinical conditions, was used to examine the effect of CDD-2103 on chronic colitis. To confirm the effect of CDD-2103 on macrophages in this chronic colitis model, adoptive macrophage transfer and CCL2 supplementation were conducted. The mechanisms of action of CDD-2103 were further elucidated utilizing bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs). Transcriptome analysis was conducted to gain insights into the underlying mechanism of action of CDD-2103 in BMDMs.

RESULTS

Our in vitro and in vivo findings demonstrated that the ethanol-enriched fraction of CDD-2103 exhibited significant anti-inflammatory effects, leading to the suppression of colitis severity. This effect was associated with diminished accumulation of colonic macrophages in the lamina propria of CDD-2103-intervened colitis mice. Specifically, CDD-2103 inhibited CCR2/L2-mediated proinflammatory macrophage infiltration into the colon without affecting macrophage proliferation. Mechanistically, CDD-2103 inhibited Fyn expression-mediated p38 MAPK activation and subsequently suppressed CCR2 expression in BMDMs.

CONCLUSIONS

Collectively, our study supports the potential use of CDD-2103 to limit macrophage infiltration, thereby reducing inflammation during UC treatment. CDD-2103 and the components in the ethanolic fraction are promising candidates for the development of novel drugs for UC management. Additionally, our study underscores Fyn-mediated CCR2 expression as a potential therapeutic target for the management of UC.

System pharmacology-based determination of the functional components and mechanisms in chronic heart failure treatment: an example of Zhenwu decoction

Chronic heart failure (CHF) is the primary cause of death among patients with cardiovascular diseases, representing the advanced stage in the development of several cardiovascular conditions. Zhenwu decoction (ZWD) has gained widespread recognition as an efficacious remedy for CHF due to its potent therapeutic properties and absence of adverse effects. Nevertheless, the precise molecular mechanisms underlying its actions remain elusive. This study endeavors to unravel the intricate pharmacological underpinnings of five herbs within ZWD concerning CHF through an integrated approach. Initially, pertinent data regarding ZWD and CHF were compiled from established databases, forming the foundation for constructing an intricate network of active component-target interactions. Subsequently, a pioneering method for evaluating node significance was formulated, culminating in the creation of core functional association space (CFAS). To discern vital components, a novel dynamic programming algorithm was devised and used to determine the core component group (CCG) within the CFAS. Enrichment analysis of the CCG targets unveiled the potential coordinated molecular mechanisms of ZWD, illuminating its capacity to ameliorate CHF by modulating genes and related signaling pathways involved in pathological remodeling. Notable pathways encompass PI3K-Akt, diabetic cardiomyopathy, cAMP and MAPK signaling. Concluding the computational analyses, in vitro experiments were executed to assess the effects of vanillic acid, paradol, 10-gingerol and methyl cinnamate. Remarkably, these compounds demonstrated efficacy in reducing the production of ANP and BNP within isoprenaline-induced AC 16 cells, further validating their potential therapeutic utility. This investigation underscores the efficacy of the proposed model in enhancing the precision and reliability of CCG selection within ZWD, thereby presenting a novel avenue for mechanistic inquiries, compound refinement and the secondary development of TCM herbs.

Pharmacokinetic evaluation of 24 representative components of Ling-Gui-Zhu-Gan decoction in acute myocardial infarction model rats via a validated ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method

RATIONALE

Ling-Gui-Zhu-Gan decoction (LGZGD), one of the 100 herbal classic formulas, is clinically used to treat chronic heart failure with remarkable curative effect. However, LGZGD pharmacokinetic parameters in pathological model rats are poorly understood, in particular for special components. As physicochemical properties are specific to each representative component, no standard sample preparation is available for absolute quantification of representative components of LGZGD in rat plasma.

METHODS

A specific, sensitive and high-throughput ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC/MS/MS) method capturing 24 representative components was developed and applied to evaluate the pharmacokinetic parameters of LGZGD in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) rat plasma after intragastric administration (2.4, 4.8 and 9.6 g/kg). Precipitation and extraction were selected and optimized for plasma preparation, and isopropanol precipitation could offer higher recovery and broader coverage.

RESULTS

It was expected that AMI could cause less absorption and slower elimination of most of active components of LGZGD. Most of newly reported special components absorbed quickly and eliminated slowly. The average elimination half-life of the 24 representative components was 10.09 h, which is consistent with the dosage of LGZGD (twice daily).

CONCLUSIONS

The specificity, linearity, precision and accuracy, recovery, matrix effect and stability were validated according to Food and Drug Administration guidance. The validation results demonstrated that the method could be applied to evaluate the pharmacokinetic parameters of LGZGD in AMI rats. The pharmacokinetic parameters showed substantial improvement in quality research of LGZGD, thereby laying the groundwork for preclinical and clinical trials in chronic heart failure clinical efficacy.

Identification and quantification of nine compounds in Fangwen Jiuwei decoction by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry

Fangwen Jiuwei Decoction is a traditional Chinese medicine preparation for the treatment of pneumonia developed by Shenzhen Bao'an Chinese Medicine Hospital, which shows remarkable clinical responses. Qualitative and quantitative analyses of the main active compounds are crucial for the quality control of traditional Chinese medicine prescription in clinical application. In this study, we identified nine active compounds essential for the pharmacological effects of Fangwen Jiuwei Decoction based on the analysis of the Network Pharmacology and relevant literature. Moreover, these compounds can interact with several crucial drug targets in pneumonia based on molecular docking. We applied high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method was established these nine active ingredients' qualitative and quantitative detections. The possible cleavage pathways of nine active components were determined based on secondary ions mass spectrometry. The results of high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry were further validated, which show a satisfactory correlation coefficient (r > 0.99), recovery rate (≥93.31%), repeatability rate (≤5.62%), stability (≤7.95%), intra-day precision (≤6.68%), and inter-day precision (≤9.78%). The limit of detection was as low as 0.01 ng/ml. In this study, we established a high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method to qualitatively and quantitatively analyze the chemical components in the Fangwen Jiuwei Decoction extract.