Fufang Zhenzhu Tiaozhi (FTZ) capsule ameliorates diabetes-accelerated atherosclerosis via suppressing YTHDF2-mediated m6A modification of SIRT3 mRNA

Fufang Zhenzhu Tiaozhi (FTZ) suppression of macrophage pyroptosis: Key to stabilizing rupture-prone plaques

BACKGROUND

Research on the Chinese herbal formula Fufang Zhenzhu Tiaozhi (FTZ) has demonstrated its effectiveness in treating hyperlipidemia and glycolipid metabolic disorders. Additionally, FTZ has shown inhibitory effects on oxidative stress, regulation of lipid metabolism, and reduction of inflammation in these conditions. However, the precise mechanisms through which FTZ modulates macrophage function in atherosclerosis remain incompletely understood. Therefore, this study aims to investigate whether FTZ can effectively stabilize rupture-prone plaques by suppressing macrophage pyroptosis and impeding the development of M1 macrophage polarization in ApoE-/- mice.

METHODS

To assess the impact of FTZ on macrophage function and atherosclerosis in ApoE-/- mice, we orally administered FTZ at a dosage of 1.2 g/kg body weight daily for 14 weeks. Levels of interleukin-18 and interleukin-1β were quantified using ELISA kits to gauge FTZ's influence on inflammation. Total cholesterol content was measured with a Cholesterol Assay Kit to evaluate FTZ's effect on lipid metabolism. Aortic tissues were stained with Oil Red O, and immunohistochemistry techniques were applied to assess atherosclerotic lesions and plaque stability. To evaluate the effects of FTZ on macrophage pyroptosis and oxidative damage, immunofluorescence staining was utilized. Additionally, we conducted an analysis of protein and mRNA expression levels of NLRP3 inflammasome-related genes and macrophage polarization-related genes using RT-PCR and western blotting techniques.

RESULTS

This study illustrates the potential therapeutic effectiveness of FTZ in mitigating the severity of atherosclerosis and improving serum lipid profiles by inhibiting inflammation. The observed enhancements in atherosclerosis severity and inflammation can be attributed to the suppression of NLRP3 inflammasome activity and M1 polarization by FTZ.

CONCLUSION

The current findings indicate that FTZ provides protection against atherosclerosis, positioning it as a promising candidate for novel therapies targeting atherosclerosis and related cardiovascular diseases.

The regulatory role of m6A methylation modification in metabolic syndrome pathogenesis and progression

Metabolic syndromes are characterized by various complications caused by disrupted glucose and lipid metabolism, which are major factors affecting the health of a population. However, existing diagnostic and treatment strategies have limitations, such as the lack of early diagnostic and therapeutic approaches, variability in patient responses to treatment, and cost-effectiveness. Therefore, developing alternative solutions for metabolic syndromes is crucial. N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is one of the most abundant modifications that determine the fate of RNA. m6A modifications are closely associated with metabolic syndrome development and present novel prospects for clinical applications. Aberrant m6A modifications have been detected during inflammatory infiltration, apoptosis, autophagy, iron sagging, necrosis, and scorching during metabolic syndrome pathogenesis and progression. However, few reviews have systematically described the correlation between m6A modifications and these factors concerning metabolic syndrome pathogenesis and progression. This study summarizes the m6A methylation regulators and their roles in metabolic syndrome development, highlighting the potential of m6A modification as a biomarker in metabolic disorders.

M6A plays a potential role in carotid atherosclerosis by modulating immune cell modification and regulating aging-related genes

RNA N6-methyladenosine (m6A) regulators play essential roles in diverse biological processes, including immune responses. Mounting evidence suggests that their dysregulation is intricately linked to numerous diseases. However, the role of m6A-associated genes in carotid atherosclerosis and their relationship with aging and immune cells remain unclear. Analyze the expression profiles of m6A-related genes in carotid atherosclerosis-related datasets. Based on the expression patterns of m6A-related genes, perform consistent clustering analysis of carotid atherosclerosis samples and investigate associated immune cell infiltration patterns and aging characteristics. Develop an m6A prediction model specific to carotid atherosclerosis and analyze the relationships between immune cells infiltration and aging features. The m6A methylation modification level exhibited a substantial decrease in early-stage carotid atherosclerosis samples compared to late-stage carotid atherosclerosis samples. Subsequently, two distinct m6A subtypes were defined through consensus clustering analysis, with the lower m6A modification level group showing associations with heightened immune cell infiltration and increased expression of aging-related genes. A model composed of five m6A-related genes was formulated, and the results indicated that this model possesses effective predictive and therapeutic capabilities for carotid atherosclerosis. Furthermore, the downregulation of YTHDC1 expression resulted in elevated expression of inflammatory factors and a decrease in the expression of the aging-related gene RGN. Single-cell data analysis suggests that the reduced expression of YTHDC1 may decrease the degradation of inflammation-related factors in macrophages, leading to a highly inflammatory state in the carotid artery wall. Furthermore, the sustained release of inflammatory factors may increase the expression of the aging-related gene RGN in vascular smooth muscle cells, further exacerbating the progression of atherosclerosis. A reduced level of m6A methylation modification could enhance inflammation and expedite cellular aging, thereby contributing to the development of carotid atherosclerosis.

A review on the role of RNA methylation in aging-related diseases

Senescence is the underlying mechanism of organism aging and is robustly regulated at the post-transcriptional level. This regulation involves the chemical modifications, of which the RNA methylation is the most common. Recently, a rapidly growing number of studies have demonstrated that methylation is relevant to aging and aging-associated diseases. Owing to the rapid development of detection methods, the understanding on RNA methylation has gone deeper. In this review, we summarize the current understanding on the influence of RNA modification on cellular senescence, with a focus on mRNA methylation in aging-related diseases, and discuss the emerging potential of RNA modification in diagnosis and therapy.

Network pharmacology combined with molecular docking and experimental verification to elucidate functional mechanism of Fufang Zhenzhu Tiaozhi against type 2 diabetes mellitus

Fufang Zhenzhu Tiaozhi (FTZ) capsules have been prescribed for treating glucose and lipid metabolism disorders such as type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, the underlying mechanism remains unknown. In this study, network pharmacology and experimental verification were combined to investigate the mechanisms of FTZ in treating T2DM. A total of 176 active ingredients and 1169 corresponding targets were screened using biological databases. 598 potential targets of T2DM were retrieved from GeneCards, PharmGKB, OMIM, Drugbank, and TTD. The Venn diagram was employed to identify the 194 intersection targets, which were employed to construct the "Herb-Compound-Target" interacting networks. These common targets were also used to prepare a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network to uncover potential targets. The four core targets were docked to their corresponding targets for binding analysis. Additionally, the top-ranked poses of ingredients and the positive compounds from each protein were evaluated for stability using molecular dynamics. Our results suggest that core active ingredients such as kaempferol, luteolin, and baicalein have high binding affinity and stability with AKT1, PTGS2 (also known as COX-2), DPP4, and PAPRG. GO and KEGG analyses indicated that the treatment T2DM by FTZ might be related to different pathway like AMPK and EGFR pathways. The experimental validation results proved that kaempferol, luteolin, and baicalein could significantly inhibit the activity of DPP4 and COX-2, kaempferol and luteolin were also able to activate AKT and AMPK signaling pathway. This study further validated previous findings and enhanced our understanding of the potential effects of FTZ on T2DM.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.