Notoginsenoside R1 relieves the myocardial infarction via activating the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway in vivo and in vitro

Notoginsenoside R1 improves intestinal microvascular functioning in sepsis by targeting Drp1-mediated mitochondrial quality imbalance

CONTEXT

Sepsis can result in critical organ failure, and notoginsenoside R1 (NGR1) offers mitochondrial protection.

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether NGR1 improves organ function and prognosis after sepsis by protecting mitochondrial quality.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A sepsis model was established in C57BL/6 mice using cecum ligation puncture (CLP) and an in vitro model with lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 10 µg/mL)-stimulated primary intestinal microvascular endothelial cells (IMVECs) and then determine NGR1's safe dosage. Groups for each model were: in vivo-a control group, a CLP-induced sepsis group, and a CLP + NGR1 treatment group (30 mg/kg/d for 3 d); in vitro-a control group, a LPS-induced sepsis group, and a LPS + NGR1 treatment group (4 μM for 30 min). NGR1's effects on survival, intestinal function, mitochondrial quality, and mitochondrial dynamic-related protein (Drp1) were evaluated.

RESULTS

Sepsis resulted in approximately 60% mortality within 7 days post-CLP, with significant reductions in intestinal microvascular perfusion and increases in vascular leakage. Severe mitochondrial quality imbalance was observed in IMVECs. NGR1 (IC50 is 854.1 μM at 30 min) targeted Drp1, inhibiting mitochondrial translocation, preventing mitochondrial fragmentation and restoring IMVEC morphology and function, thus protecting against intestinal barrier dysfunction, vascular permeability, microcirculatory flow, and improving sepsis prognosis.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS

Drp1-mediated mitochondrial quality imbalance is a potential therapeutic target for sepsis. Small molecule natural drugs like NGR1 targeting Drp1 may offer new directions for organ protection following sepsis. Future research should focus on clinical trials to evaluate NGR1's efficacy across various patient populations, potentially leading to novel treatments for sepsis.

Exploring the role and mechanism of hyperoside against cardiomyocyte injury in mice with myocardial infarction based on JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway

BACKGROUND

Myocardial infarction (MI) is one of the most deadly diseases in the world. Hyperoside (Hyp) has been shown to have a protective effect on cardiovascular function through various signaling pathways, but whether it can protect myocardial infarction by regulating JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway is unknown.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To investigate whether Hyp could protect the heart against myocardial infarction injury in mice by modulating JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway and its potential mechanism.

METHODS

In vivo experiments, the myocardial infarction model was established by ligating the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) of male C57BL/6 mice permanently. The mice were divided into seven groups: sham group, MI group, MI+Hyp (9 mg/kg), MI+Hyp (18 mg/kg) group, MI+Hyp (36 mg/kg) group, MI+Captopril group (15 mg/kg) group and MI+Hyp (36 mg/kg)+AG490 (7.5 mg/kg) group. Each group of animals were given different concentrations of hyperoside, positive control drug or inhibitor of JAK2/STAT3 singaling. After 14 days of administration, the electrocardiogram (ECG), echocardiography and serum myocardial injury markers were examined; Slices of mouse myocardial tissue were assessed for histopathological changes by HE, Masson and Sirius Red staining. TTC and TUNEL staining were used to evaluate the myocardial infarction area and cardiomyocytes apoptosis respectively. The expression of JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway, apoptosis and autophagy-related proteins were detected by western blot. In vitro experiments, rat H9c2 cardiomyocytes were deprived of oxygen and glucose (OGD) to stimulate myocardial ischemia. The experiment was divided into seven groups: Control group, OGD group, OGD+Hyp (20 μM) group, OGD+Hyp (40 μM) group, OGD+Hyp (80 μM), OGD+Captopril (10 μM) group and OGD+Hyp (80 μM)+AG490 (100 μM) group. Myocardial cell damage and redox index were measured 12 h after OGD treatment. ROS content in cardiomyocytes was detected by immunofluorescence. Cardiomyocytes apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry. The expressions of JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway-related proteins, apoptosis and autophagy related proteins were detected by western blot.

RESULTS

In vivo, hyperoside could ameolirate ECG abnormality, increase cardiac function, reduce myocardial infarction size and significantly reduce myocardial fibrosis level and oxidation level. The experimental results in vitro showed that Hyp could reduce the ROS content in cardiomyocytes, decrease the level of oxidative stress and counteract the apoptosis induced by OGD injury . Both in vivo and in vitro experiments showed that hyperoside could increase phosphorylated JAK2 and STAT3, indicating that hyperoside could play a cardioprotective role by activating JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway. It was also shown that hyperoside could increase the autophagy level of cardiomyocytes in vivo and in vitro. However the cardiomyocyte-protective effect of Hyp was abolished in combination with JAK2/ STAT3 signaling pathway inhibitor AG490. These results indicated that the protective effect of Hyp on cardiomyocyte injury was at least partially achieved through the activation of the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway.

CONCLUSION

Hyp can significantly improve cardiac function, ameliorate myocardial hypertrophy and myocardial remodeling in MI mice. The mechanism may be related to improving mitochondrial autophagy of cardiomyocytes to maintain the advantage of autophagy, and blocking apoptosis pathway through phagocytosis, thus suppressing apoptosis level of cardiomyocytes. These effects of Hyp are achieved, at least in part, by activating the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway.

Molybdenum exposure induces inflammatory response via the regulatory effects of lncRNA-00072124/miR-308/OSMR crosstalk on JAK/STAT axis in duck kidneys

Molybdenum (Mo) is an essential nutrient in living organisms. Although numerous researchers have noticed the health damage caused by excessive Mo, the underlying mechanism of excessive Mo-induced nephrotoxicity remains poorly understood. A gene crosstalk called competitive endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) can interpret many regulatory mechanisms molecularly. But there are few researches have tried to explain the damage mechanism of excess Mo to organisms through ceRNAs network. To clarify this, the study explored the changes in lncRNAs and miRNAs expression profiles in the kidney of ducks exposed to excess Mo for 16 weeks. The sequencing results showed that Mo exposure caused differential expression of 144 lncRNAs and 14 miRNAs. The occurrence of inflammation through the JAK/STAT axis was observed and the lncRNA-00072124/miR-308/OSMR axis was verified by a double luciferase reporter assay. Overexpression of miR-308 and RNA interference of OSMR reduced Mo-induced inflammatory factors, while miR-308 knockdown showed the opposite effect. Simultaneously, lncRNA-00072124 affected OSMR function as a ceRNA. Taken together, these results concluded that Mo exposure activated the JAK/STAT axis and induced inflammation mediated by the lncRNA-00072124/miR-308/OSMR crosstalk. The results might provide new views for revealing the toxic effects of excess Mo in duck kidneys.

Notoginsenoside R1 promotes osteogenic differentiation of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells via ERα/GSK-3β/β-catenin signalling pathway

Human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hBMSCs) are attractive therapeutic agents for bone tissue regeneration owing to their osteogenic differentiation potential. Notoginsenoside R1 (NGR1) is a novel phytoestrogen with diverse pharmacological activities. Here, we probed whether NGR1 has an effect on the osteogenic differentiation of hBMSCs. EdU, CCK-8 and Transwell assays were used to measure proliferation and migration of hBMSCs after treatment with different doses of NGR1. hBMSCs were treated with osteogenic differentiation induction medium for osteogenesis. Alizarin red S (ARS) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining were used to measure mineralized nodule formation and ALP activity in hBMSCs, respectively. ICI 182780, an antagonist of oestrogen receptor alpha (ERα) was used to inhibit ERα expression. The results showed that NGR1 enhanced hBMSC proliferation and migration. NGR1 increased ALP activity and mineralized nodule formation as well as promoting ALP, RUNX2 and OCN expression in hBMSCs. NGR1 enhanced ERα expression and promoted GSK-3β/β-catenin signal transduction in hBMSCs. ICI 182780 reversed NGR1-mediated activation of the GSK-3β/β-catenin signalling and promoted an effect on hBMSC behaviour. Thus NGR1 promotes proliferation, migration and osteogenic differentiation of hBMSCs via the ERα/GSK-3β/β-catenin signalling pathway.

Noise exposure and its relationship with postinfarction cardiac remodeling: implications for NLRP3 inflammasome activation

In recent years, high-decibel noise has emerged as a causative risk factor for ischemic heart disease. Massive noise overdose is associated with increased endocrine, neural, and immune stress responses. The NLRP3 (nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain, leucine-rich repeat, and pyrin domain containing 3) inflammasome, the most characterized supramolecular complex and a potent mediator of inflammatory signaling, has been reported to be a marker of increased ischemic heart disease vulnerability. Our study evaluated the association of noise exposure with postinfarction cardiac remodeling and its effect on NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Rats were exposed to a noisy environment (14 days, 24 h/per day, 70 ± 5 dB), and speck formation by the NLRP3 inflammasome scaffold protein ASC (apoptosis-associated speck-like protein) was assessed by confocal immunofluorescence. Echocardiography, pathological analysis, and in vivo electrophysiology were performed. Our results revealed the improved postinfarction cardiac function, mitigated fibrosis, and decreased arrhythmia vulnerability and sympathetic sprouting in low-environment noise groups. Moreover, western blotting of NLRP3, caspase-1, ASC, IL-1β, and IL-18 and confocal microscopy of ASC speck showed that the priming and activation of NLRP3 inflammasome were higher in the NE group than in the NI group. In conclusion, our findings reveal a previously unidentified association between NLRP3 inflammasome activation and noise exposure, underscoring the significance of effective noise prevention in improving postinfarction prognosis.