Lycorine ameliorates isoproterenol-induced cardiac dysfunction mainly via inhibiting inflammation, fibrosis, oxidative stress and apoptosis

Advances of traditional Chinese medicine preclinical mechanisms and clinical studies on diabetic peripheral neuropathy

CONTEXT

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) results in an enormous burden and reduces the quality of life for patients. Considering there is no specific drug for the management of DPN, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has increasingly drawn attention of clinicians and researchers around the world due to its characteristics of multiple targets, active components, and exemplary safety.

OBJECTIVE

To summarize the current status of TCM in the treatment of DPN and provide directions for novel drug development, the clinical effects and potential mechanisms of TCM used in treating DPN were comprehensively reviewed.

METHODS

Existing evidence on TCM interventions for DPN was screened from databases such as PubMed, the Cochrane Neuromuscular Disease Group Specialized Register (CENTRAL), and the Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure Database (CNKI). The focus was on summarizing and analyzing representative preclinical and clinical TCM studies published before 2023.

RESULTS

This review identified the ameliorative effects of about 22 single herbal extracts, more than 30 herbal compound prescriptions, and four Chinese patent medicines on DPN in preclinical and clinical research. The latest advances in the mechanism highlight that TCM exerts its beneficial effects on DPN by inhibiting inflammation, oxidative stress and apoptosis, endoplasmic reticulum stress and improving mitochondrial function.

CONCLUSIONS

TCM has shown the power latent capacity in treating DPN. It is proposed that more large-scale and multi-center randomized controlled clinical trials and fundamental experiments should be conducted to further verify these findings.

Anti-inflammatory Principles of the Plant Family Amaryllidaceae

There is considerable interest in the utilisation of plants against inflammation. Over 50 species of the plant family Amaryllidaceae are known for such usage in traditional medicine. This review was undertaken to identify the chemical principles responsible for these anti-inflammatory effects. It describes the findings from in vitro, in vivo and in silico studies, as well as the probes made on the mechanisms of action. The literature search returned over 600 hits, of which around 130 were chosen for their relevance to the text. Over 140 compounds have thus far been screened for anti-inflammatory effects. These were mostly isoquinoline alkaloids but also included other classes of secondary metabolites such as chromones, flavonoids and triterpenoids. In vitro studies were carried out in mononuclear cells such as lymphocytes, monocytes, neutrophils and macrophages, against which no serious side effects were observed. The constituents were also effective against inflammation induced by physical and chemical stimuli in a variety of murine test subjects. Chief among the compounds were the isoquinoline alkaloids lycorine and narciclasine, which displayed potent effects against pain, swelling, asthma and arthritis, amongst others. From a mechanistic perspective, several of the compounds were shown to mediate in inflammatory pathways, notably via the modulation of both pro-inflammatory (such as NF-κB, TNF-α and IL-1) and anti-inflammatory (such as IL-10 and TGF-β) factors. Useful insights also emerged from active-site docking studies of some of the compounds. The Amaryllidaceae affords a rich and diverse platform for the discovery of potential anti-inflammatory drugs.

Lycorine relieves the CCl4-induced liver fibrosis mainly via the JAK2/STAT3 and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways

Liver fibrosis, a progressive process of fibrous scarring, results from the accumulation of extracellular matrix proteins (ECM). If left untreated, it often progresses to diseases such as cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Lycorine, a natural alkaloid derived from medicinal plants, has shown diverse bioactivities by targeting JAK2/STAT3 signaling, but its pharmacological effects and potential molecular mechanisms in liver fibrosis remains largely unexplored. The purpose of this study is to elucidate the pharmacological activity and molecular mechanism of lycorine in anti-hepatic fibrosis. Findings indicate that lycorine significantly inhibited hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) activation by reducing the expression of α-SMA and collagen-1. In vivo, lycorine treatment alleviated carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) -induced mice liver fibrosis, improving liver function, decreasing ECM deposition, and inhibiting fibrosis-related markers' expression. Mechanistically, it was found that lycorine exerts protective activity through the JAK2/STAT3 and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways, as evidenced by transcriptome sequencing technology and small molecule inhibitors. These results underscore lycorine's potential as a therapeutic drug for liver fibrosis.

Lycorine inhibits Ang II-induced heart remodeling and inflammation by suppressing the PI3K-AKT/NF-κB pathway

BACKGROUND

Ang II induces hypertensive heart failure (HF) via hemodynamic and non-hemodynamic actions. Lycorine (LYC) is an alkaloid derived from Lycoris bulbs, and it possesses anti-cardiovascular disease-related activities. Herein, we explored the potential LYC-mediated regulation of Ang II-induced HF.

METHODS

Over 4 weeks, we established a hypertensive HF mouse model by infusing Ang II into C57BL/6 mice using a micro-osmotic pump. For the final two weeks, mice were administered LYC via intraperitoneal injection. The LYC signaling network was then deduced using RNA sequencing.

RESULTS

LYC administration strongly suppressed hypertrophy, myocardial fibrosis, and cardiac inflammation. As a result, it minimized heart dysfunction while causing no changes in blood pressure. The Nuclear Factor kappa B (NF-κB) network/phosphoinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)-protein kinase B (AKT) was found to be a major modulator of LYC-based cardioprotection using RNA sequencing study. We further confirmed that in cultured cardiomyocytes and mouse hearts, LYC reduced the inflammatory response and downregulated the Ang II-induced PI3K-AKT/NF-κB network. Moreover, PI3K-AKT or NF-κB axis depletion in cardiomyocytes completely abrogated the anti-inflammatory activities of LYC.

CONCLUSION

Herein, we demonstrated that LYC safeguarded hearts in Ang II -stimulated mice by suppressing the PI3K-AKT/NF-κB-induced inflammatory responses. Given the evidence mentioned above, LYC is a robust therapeutic agent for hypertensive HF.

Protocatechuic acid prevents isoproterenol-induced heart failure in mice by downregulating kynurenine-3-monooxygenase

Protocatechuic acid (3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid) prevents oxidative stress, inflammation and cardiac hypertrophy. This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effects of protocatechuic acid in an isoproterenol-induced heart failure mouse model and to identify the underlying mechanisms. To establish the heart failure model, C57BL/6NTac mice were given high-dose isoproterenol (80 mg/kg body weight) for 14 days. Echocardiography revealed that protocatechuic acid reversed the isoproterenol-induced downregulation of fractional shortening and ejection fraction. Protocatechuic acid attenuated cardiac hypertrophy as evidenced by the decreased heart-weight-to-body-weight ratio and the expression of Nppb. RNA sequencing analysis identified kynurenine-3-monooxygenase (Kmo) as a potential target of protocatechuic acid. Protocatechuic acid treatment or transfection with short-interfering RNA against Kmo ameliorated transforming growth factor β1-induced upregulation of Kmo, Col1a1, Col1a2 and Fn1 in vivo or in neonatal rat cardiac fibroblasts. Kmo knockdown attenuated the isoproterenol-induced increase in cardiomyocyte size, as well as Nppb and Col1a1 expression in H9c2 cells or primary neonatal rat cardiomyocytes. Moreover, protocatechuic acid attenuated Kmo overexpression-induced increases in Nppb mRNA levels. Protocatechuic acid or Kmo knockdown decreased isoproterenol-induced ROS generation in vivo and in vitro. Thus, protocatechuic acid prevents heart failure by downregulating Kmo. Therefore, protocatechuic acid and Kmo constitute a potential novel therapeutic agent and target, respectively, against heart failure.

Alleviating effect of lycorine on CFA‑induced arthritic pain via inhibition of spinal inflammation and oxidative stress

Chronic pain is the primary symptom of osteoarthritis affecting a patient's quality of life. Neuroinflammation and oxidative stress in the spinal cord contribute to arthritic pain and represent ideal targets for pain management. In the present study, a model of arthritis was established by intra-articular injection of complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) into the left knee joint in mice. After CFA inducement, knee width and pain hypersensitivity in the mice were increased, motor disability was impaired, spinal inflammatory reaction was induced, spinal astrocytes were activated, antioxidant responses were decreased, and glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK-3β) activity was inhibited. To explore the potential therapeutic options for arthritic pain, lycorine was intraperitoneally injected for 3 days in the CFA mice. Lycorine treatment significantly reduced mechanical pain sensitivity, suppressed spontaneous pain, and recovered motor coordination in the CFA-induced mice. Additionally, in the spinal cord, lycorine treatment decreased the inflammatory score, reduced NOD-like receptor protein 3 inflammasome (NLRP3) activity and IL-1β expression, suppressed astrocytic activation, downregulated NF-κB levels, increased nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 expression and superoxide dismutase activity. Furthermore, lycorine was shown to bind to GSK-3β through three electrovalent bonds, to inhibit GSK-3β activity. In summary, lycorine treatment inhibited GSK-3β activity, suppressed NLRP3 inflammasome activation, increased the antioxidant response, reduced spinal inflammation, and relieved arthritic pain.

Inhibition of transglutaminase 2 (TG2) ameliorates ventricular fibrosis in isoproterenol-induced heart failure in rats

AIMS

Transglutaminase (TG) inhibitors represent promising therapeutic interventions in cardiac fibrosis and related dysfunctions. However, it remains unknown how TG inhibition, TG2 in particular, affects the signaling systems that drive pathological fibrosis. This study aimed to examine the effect TG inhibition by cystamine on the progression of isoproterenol (ISO)-induced cardiac fibrosis and dysfunction in rats.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Cardiac fibrosis was established by intraperitoneal injection of ISO to rats (ISO group), followed by 6 weeks of cystamine injection (ISO + Cys group). The control groups were administered normal saline alone or with cystamine. Hemodynamics, lipid profile, liver enzymes, urea, and creatinine were assessed in conjunction with heart failure markers (serum NT-proANP and cTnI). Left ventricular (LV) and atrial (LA) fibrosis, total collagen content, and mRNA expression of profibrotic markers including TG2 were quantified by Masson's trichrome staining, LC-MS/MS and quantitative PCR, respectively.

KEY FINDINGS

Cystamine administration to ISO rats significantly decreased diastolic and mean arterial pressures, total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL, liver enzymes, urea, and creatinine levels, while increasing HDL. NT-proANP and cTnI serum levels remained unchanged. In LV tissues, significant reductions in ISO-induced fibrosis and elevated total collagen content were achieved after cystamine treatment, together with a reduction in TG2 concentration. Reduced mRNA expression of several profibrotic genes (COL1A1, FN1, MMP-2, CTGF, periostin, CX43) was also evidenced in LV tissues of ISO rats upon cystamine administration, whereas TGF-β1 expression was depressed in LA tissues. Cystamine decreased TG2 mRNA expression in the LV of control rats, while LV expression of TG2 was relatively low in ISO rats irrespective of cystamine treatment.

SIGNIFICANCE

TG2 inhibition by cystamine in vivo exerted cardioprotective effects against ISO-induced cardiac fibrosis in rats decreasing the LV abundance of several profibrotic markers and the content of TG2 and collagen, suggesting that TG2 pharmacological inhibition could be beneficial to alleviate cardiac fibrosis.

Lycorine protects against septic myocardial injury by activating AMPK-related pathways

Cardiac dysfunction is a common complication in patients with sepsis triggering high morbidity and mortality. Lycorine (LYC), the main effective monomer component extracted from Lycoris bulbs, possesses antiviral, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, liver protection properties. In this study, the effect of LYC pre- and post-treatment as well as the underlying mechanism were evaluated in the cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) model of Balb/c mice. The survival rate, anal temperature, sepsis score, blood biochemical/routine indicators, cardiac function, sepsis-related pathophysiological processes, and AMPK signaling in septic mice were observed by echocardiography, histological staining, western blot, qPCR, and etc. LYC pretreatment attenuated myocardial injury in septic mice by improving survival rate, sepsis score, blood biochemical/routine indicators, cardiac function and structure, inhibiting inflammation and oxidative stress, improving mitochondrial function, modulating endoplasmic reticulum stress, and activating AMPK pathway. In particular, AMPK deficiency and AMPK inhibitor (Compound C) partially reversed the protective effects of LYC in septic mice. In addition, LYC posttreatment also has slight protective phenotypes on septic myocardial injury, but the effect is not as ideal as pretreatment. Taken together, these findings suggest that LYC may be a potential drug for the treatment of sepsis.

Xinyang Tablet attenuates chronic hypoxia-induced right ventricular remodeling via inhibiting cardiomyocytes apoptosis

BACKGROUND

Hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension (HPH) is one of the fatal pathologies developed under hypobaric hypoxia and eventually leads to right ventricular (RV) remodeling and RV failure. Clinically, the mortality rate of RV failure caused by HPH is high and lacks effective drugs. Xinyang Tablet (XYT), a traditional Chinese medicine exhibits significant efficacy in the treatment of congestive heart failure and cardiac dysfunction. However, the effects of XYT on chronic hypoxia-induced RV failure are not clear.

METHODS

The content of XYT was analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS). Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were housed in a hypobaric chamber (equal to the parameter in altitude 5500 m) for 21 days to obtain the RV remodeling model. Electrocardiogram (ECG) and hemodynamic parameters were measured by iWorx Acquisition & Analysis System. Pathological morphological changes in the RV and pulmonary vessels were observed by H&E staining and Masson's trichrome staining. Myocardial apoptosis was tested by TUNEL assay. Protein expression levels of TNF-α, IL-6, Bax, Bcl-2, and caspase-3 in the RV and H9c2 cells were detected by western blot. Meanwhile, H9c2 cells were induced by CoCl₂ to establish a hypoxia injury model to verify the protective effect and mechanisms of XYT. A CCK-8 assay was performed to determine the viability of H9c2 cells. CoCl₂-induced apoptosis was detected by Annexin-FITC/PI flow cytometry and Hoechst 33,258 staining.

RESULTS

XYT remarkably improved RV hemodynamic disorder and ECG parameters. XYT attenuated hypoxia-induced pathological injury in RV and pulmonary vessels. We also observed that XYT treatment decreased the expression levels of TNF-α, IL-6, Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, and the numbers of myocardial apoptosis in RV. In H9c2 myocardial hypoxia model, XYT protected H9c2 cells against Cobalt chloride (CoCl₂)-induced apoptosis. We also found that XYT could antagonize CoCl₂-induced apoptosis through upregulating Bcl-2, inhibiting Bax and caspase-3 expression.

CONCLUSIONS

We concluded that XYT improved hypoxia-induced RV remodeling and protected against cardiac injury by inhibiting apoptosis pathway in vivo and vitro models, which may be a promising therapeutic strategy for clinical management of hypoxia-induced cardiac injury.

Amaryllidaceae Alkaloids Decrease the Proliferation, Invasion, and Secretion of Clinically Relevant Cytokines by Cultured Human Colon Cancer Cells

Alkaloids isolated from members of the Amaryllidaceae plant family are promising anticancer agents. The purpose of the current study was to determine if the isocarbostyrils narciclasine, pancratistatin, lycorane, lycorine, crinane, and haemanthamine inhibit phenomena related to cancer progression in vitro. To achieve this, we examined the proliferation, adhesion, and invasion of cultured human colon cancer cells via MTT assay and Matrigel-coated Boyden chambers. In addition, Luminex assays were used to quantify the secretion of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) and cytokines associated with poor clinical outcomes. We found that all alkaloids decreased cell proliferation regardless of TP53 status, with narciclasine exhibiting the greatest potency. The effects on cell proliferation also appear to be specific to cancer cells. Narciclasine, lycorine, and haemanthamine decrease both adhesion and invasion but with various potencies depending on the cell line. In addition, narciclasine, lycorine, and haemanthamine decreased the secretion of MMP-1, -2, and -7, as well as the secretion of the cytokines pentraxin 3 and vascular endothelial growth factor. In conclusion, the present study shows that Amaryllidaceae alkaloids decrease phenomena and cytokines associated with colorectal cancer progression, supporting future investigations regarding their potential as multifaceted drug candidates.

Lycorine inhibits angiogenesis by docking to PDGFRα

Lycorine (Lyc) is a natural alkaloid derived from medicinal plants of the Amaryllidaceae family. Lyc has been reported to inhibit the recurrence and metastasis of different kinds of tumors. However, Lyc’s effect on angiogenesis and its specific mechanism are still not clear. This study was designed to test the antiangiogenesis effect of Lyc and to explore the possible mechanisms. We performed cell experiments to confirm Lyc’s inhibitory effect on angiogenesis and employed sunitinib as a positive control. Moreover, the synergistic effect of Lyc and sunitinib was also explored. Next, we conducted bioinformatics analyses to predict the potential targets of Lyc and verified them by western blotting and immunofluorescence. Molecular docking, kinase activity assays, Biacore assays and cellular thermal shift assays (CETSAs) were applied to elucidate the mechanism by which Lyc inhibited target activity. Lyc inhibited angiogenesis in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Employing bioinformatics, we found that Lyc’s target was PDGFRα and that Lyc attenuated PDGFRα phosphorylation. We also found that Lyc inhibited PDGFRα activation by docking to it to restrain its activity. Additionally, Lyc significantly inhibited PDGF-AA-induced angiogenesis. This study provides new insights into the molecular functions of Lyc and indicates its potential as a therapeutic agent for tumor angiogenesis.

Lycorine Ameliorates Thioacetamide-Induced Hepatic Fibrosis in Rats: Emphasis on Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory, and STAT3 Inhibition Effects

Liver fibrosis is a foremost medical concern worldwide. In Saudi Arabia, numerous risk factors contribute to its high rates. Lycorine—a natural alkaloid—has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antitumor activates. It has been reported to inhibit STAT3 in cancer. Therefore, this study aimed at investigating the possible antifibrotic effect of lycorine against thioacetamide (TAA)-induced liver fibrosis in rats and at elucidating the possible mechanisms. Liver fibrosis was induced by TAA (200 mg/kg i.p.), three per week for four weeks. Treatment with lycorine (0.5 and 1 mg/kg/d) amended TAA-induced rise of serum transaminases that was confirmed histopathologically. Moreover, it ameliorated liver fibrosis in a dose-dependent manner, as indicated by hindering the TAA-induced increase of hepatic hydroxyproline content, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and transforming growth factor (TGF-β1) expressions. TAA-induced oxidative stress was amended by lycorine treatment via restoring reduced glutathione and diminishing lipid peroxidation. Moreover, lycorine ameliorated hepatic inflammation by preventing the rise of inflammatory cytokines. Notably, lycorine inhibited STAT3 activity, as evidenced by the decreased phospho-STAT3 expression, accompanied by the elevation of the hepatic Bax/Bcl-2 ratio. In conclusion, lycorine hinders TAA-induced liver fibrosis in rats, due to—at least partly—its antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties, along with its ability to inhibit STAT3 signaling.