Cardioprotection of (±)-sodium 5-bromo-2-(α-hydroxypentyl) benzoate (BZP) on mouse myocardium I/R injury through inhibiting 12/15-LOX-2 activity

Discovery of 1,2,4-Triazole-3-thione Derivatives as Potent and Selective DCN1 Inhibitors for Pathological Cardiac Fibrosis and Remodeling

DCN1, a critical co-E3 ligase during the neddylation process, is overactivated in many diseases, such as cancers, heart failure as well as fibrotic diseases, and has been regarded as a new target for drug development. Herein, we designed and synthesized a new class of 1,2,4-triazole-3-thione-based DCN1 inhibitors based the hit HD1 identified from high-throughput screening and optimized through numerous structure-activity-relationship (SAR) explorations. HD2 (IC50= 2.96 nM) was finally identified and represented a highly potent and selective DCN1 inhibitor with favorable PK properties and low toxicity. Amazingly, HD2 effectively relieved Ang II/TGFβ-induced cardiac fibroblast activation in vitro, and reduced ISO-induced cardiac fibrosis as well as remodeling in vivo, which was linked to the inhibition of cullin 3 neddylation and its substrate Nrf2 accumulation. Our findings unveil a novel 1,2,4-triazole-3-thione-based derivative HD2, which can be recognized as a promising lead compound targeting DCN1 for cardiac fibrosis and remodeling.

Molecular modeling in cardiovascular pharmacology: Current state of the art and perspectives

Molecular modeling in pharmacology is a promising emerging tool for exploring drug interactions with cellular components. Recent advances in molecular simulations, big data analysis, and artificial intelligence (AI) have opened new opportunities for rationalizing drug interactions with their pharmacological targets. Despite the obvious utility and increasing impact of computational approaches, their development is not progressing at the same speed in different fields of pharmacology. Here, we review current in silico techniques used in cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), cardiological drug discovery, and assessment of cardiotoxicity. In silico techniques are paving the way to a new era in cardiovascular medicine, but their use somewhat lags behind that in other fields.

Remifentanil protects heart from myocardial ischaemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury via miR-206-3p/TLR4/NF-κB signalling axis

OBJECTIVES

Myocardial I/R injury is one of the most serious complications after reperfusion therapy in patients with myocardial infarction. Remifentanil has been found to protect the heart against I/R injury. However, its underlying mechanism remains uncertain in myocardial I/R injury.

METHODS

The myocardial I/R injury rat model was established by 30 min of ischaemia followed by 24 h of reperfusion. The animal model was evaluated by the levels of TC, ALT and AST and H&E staining. The binding of miR-206-3p and TLR4 was predicted and verified using TargetScan software, luciferase reporter and RNA pull-down assays. The functional role and mechanism of remifentanil were identified by ultrasonic echocardiography, oxidative stress markers, H&E, Masson and TUNEL staining and western blot.

KEY FINDINGS

The rat myocardial I/R injury model displayed a significantly high level of TC, ALT, AST, TLR4, p-IκBα and p-p65 and the presence of disorganized cells and inflammatory cell infiltration. The model also showed increased levels of LVEDD, LVESD, MDA, fibrosis and apoptosis and decreased levels of EF, FS, SOD and GSH, which were reversed with remifentanil treatment. Knockdown of miR-206-3p damaged cardiac function and aggravated oxidative stress. miR-206-3p could directly bind to TLR4. TLR4 overexpression destroyed cardiac function, exacerbated oxidative stress, increased levels of p-IκBα and p-p65 and aggravated pathology manifestation affected by remifentanil.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results elucidated that remifentanil alleviated myocardial I/R injury by miR-206-3p/TLR4/NF-κB signalling axis.

From Seeds of Apium graveolens Linn. to a Cerebral Ischemia Medicine: The Long Journey of 3-n-Butylphthalide

3-n-Butylphthalide (NBP) as well as its derivatives and analogues (NBPs), in racemic or enantiomerically pure forms, possess potent and diverse pharmacological properties and have shown a great potential therapeutic interest for many human conditions, especially for cerebral ischemia. This Perspective outlines the synthesis and therapeutic applications of NBPs.

Brozopine Inhibits 15-LOX-2 Metabolism Pathway After Transient Focal Cerebral Ischemia in Rats and OGD/R-Induced Hypoxia Injury in PC12 Cells

The goal of this study was to elucidate the mechanisms of protection of Sodium (±)-5-bromo-2-(α-hydroxypentyl) benzoate (trade name: Brozopine, BZP) against cerebral ischemia in vivo and in vitro. To explore the protective effect of BZP on focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury, we evaluated the effects of various doses of BZP on neurobehavioral score, cerebral infarction volume, cerebral swelling in MCAO rats (ischemia for 2 h, reperfusion for 24 h). In addition, the effects of various doses of BZP on OGD/R-induced-PC12 cells injury (hypoglycemic medium containing 30 mmol Na₂S₂O₄ for 2 h, reoxygenation for 24 h) were evaluated. Four in vivo and in vitro groups were evaluated to characterize targets of BZP: Control group, Model group, BZP group (10 mg/kg)/BZP group (30 μmol/L), C8E4 group (10 mg/kg)/C8E4 group (30 μmol/L). An ELISA kit was used to determine the levels of 15-HETE (a 15-LOX-2 metabolite) in vivo and in vitro. Rat nuclear factor κB subunit p65 (NF-κB p65), tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) were also quantified in vivo and in vitro. The results showed that BZP improved focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats and PC12 cells treated with Na₂S₂O₄ in dose/concentration-dependent manners through inhibition of production of 15-HETE and expression of NF-κB, IL-6, TNF-α, and ICAM-1. In conclusion, BZP exerted protective effects against cerebral ischemia via inhibition of 15-LOX-2 activity.