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Meier M, Becker S, Levine E, DuFresne O, Foster K, Moore J, Burnett FN, Hermanns VC, Heath SP, Abdelsaid M, Coucha M. Timing matters in the use of renin-angiotensin system modulators and COVID-related cognitive and cerebrovascular dysfunction. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0304135. [PMID: 39074114 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0304135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 07/31/2024] Open
Abstract
Renin-angiotensin system (RAS) modulators, including Angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB) and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI), are effective medications for controlling blood pressure. Cognitive deficits, including lack of concentration, memory loss, and confusion, were reported after COVID-19 infection. ARBs or ACEI increase the expression of angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE-2), a functional receptor that allows binding of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein for cellular invasion. To date, the association between the use of RAS modulators and the severity of COVID-19 cognitive dysfunction is still controversial. PURPOSE This study addressed the following questions: 1) Does prior treatment with RAS modulator worsen COVID-19-induced cerebrovascular and cognitive dysfunction? 2) Can post-treatment with RAS modulator improve cognitive performance and cerebrovascular function following COVID-19? We hypothesize that pre-treatment exacerbates COVID-19-induced detrimental effects while post-treatment displays protective effects. METHODS Clinical study: Patients diagnosed with COVID-19 between May 2020 and December 2022 were identified through the electronic medical record system. Inclusion criteria comprised a documented medical history of hypertension treated with at least one antihypertensive medication. Subsequently, patients were categorized into two groups: those who had been prescribed ACEIs or ARBs before admission and those who had not received such treatment before admission. Each patient was evaluated on admission for signs of neurologic dysfunction. Pre-clinical study: Humanized ACE-2 transgenic knock-in mice received the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein via jugular vein injection for 2 weeks. One group had received Losartan (10 mg/kg), an ARB, in their drinking water for two weeks before the injection, while the other group began Losartan treatment after the spike protein injection. Cognitive functions, cerebral blood flow, and cerebrovascular density were determined in all experimental groups. Moreover, vascular inflammation and cell death were assessed. RESULTS Signs of neurological dysfunction were observed in 97 out of 177 patients (51%) taking ACEIs/ARBs prior to admission, compared to 32 out of 118 patients (27%) not receiving ACEI or ARBs. In animal studies, spike protein injection increased vascular inflammation, increased endothelial cell apoptosis, and reduced cerebrovascular density. In parallel, spike protein decreased cerebral blood flow and cognitive function. Our results showed that pretreatment with Losartan exacerbated these effects. However, post-treatment with Losartan prevented spike protein-induced vascular and neurological dysfunctions. CONCLUSION Our clinical data showed that the use of RAS modulators before encountering COVID-19 can initially exacerbate vascular and neurological dysfunctions. Similar findings were demonstrated in the in-vivo experiments; however, the protective effects of targeting the RAS become apparent in the animal model when the treatment is initiated after spike protein injection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mackenzi Meier
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, School of Pharmacy, South University, Savannah, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Sara Becker
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, School of Pharmacy, South University, Savannah, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Erica Levine
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, School of Pharmacy, South University, Savannah, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Oriana DuFresne
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, School of Pharmacy, South University, Savannah, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Kaleigh Foster
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, Mercer University, Savannah, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Joshua Moore
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, Mercer University, Savannah, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Faith N Burnett
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, Mercer University, Savannah, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Veronica C Hermanns
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, Mercer University, Savannah, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Stan P Heath
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, Mercer University, Savannah, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Mohammed Abdelsaid
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, Mercer University, Savannah, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Maha Coucha
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, South University, Savannah, Georgia, United States of America
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Tasdemiroglu Y, Council-Troche M, Chen M, Ledford B, Norris RA, Poelzing S, Gourdie RG, He JQ. Degradation of the α-Carboxyl Terminus 11 Peptide: In Vivo and Ex Vivo Impacts of Time, Temperature, Inhibitors, and Gender in Rat. ACS Pharmacol Transl Sci 2024; 7:1624-1636. [PMID: 38751644 PMCID: PMC11091968 DOI: 10.1021/acsptsci.4c00120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2024] [Revised: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
In previous research, a synthetic α-carboxyl terminus 1 (αCT1) peptide derived from connexin 43 (Cx43) and its variant (αCT11) showed beneficial effects in an ex vivo ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) heart injury model in mouse. In an in vivo mouse model of cryo-induced ventricular injury, αCT1 released from adhesive cardiac patches reduced Cx43 remodeling and arrhythmias, as well as maintained cardiac conduction. Whether intravenous injection of αCT1 or αCT11 produces similar outcomes has not been investigated. Given the possibility of peptide degradation in plasma, this study utilized in vivo I/R cardiac injury and ex vivo blood plasma models to examine factors that may limit the therapeutic potential of peptide therapeutics in vivo. Following tail vein administration of αCT11 (100 μM) in blood, no effect on I/R infarct size was observed in adult rat hearts on day 1 (D1) and day 28 (D28) after injury (p > 0.05). There was also no difference in the echocardiographic ejection fraction (EF%) between the control and the αCT11 groups (p > 0.05). Surprisingly, αCT11 in blood plasma collected from these rats was undetectable within ∼10 min after tail vein injection. To investigate factors that may modulate αCT11 degradation in blood, αCT11 was directly added to blood plasma isolated from normal rats without I/R and peptide levels were measured under different experimental conditions. Consistent with in vivo observations, significant αCT11 degradation occurred in plasma within 10 min at 22 and 37 °C and was nearly undetectable by 30 min. These responses were reduced by the addition of protease/phosphatase (PTase/PPTase) inhibitors to the isolated plasma. Interestingly, no significant differences in αCT11 degradation in plasma were noted between male and female rats. We conclude that fast degradation of αCT11 is likely the reason that no beneficial effects were observed in the in vivo I/R model and inhibition or shielding from PTase/PPTase activity may be a strategy that will assist with the viability of peptide therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yagmur Tasdemiroglu
- Department
of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, 225 Duck Pond Drive, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, United States
| | - McAlister Council-Troche
- Department
of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, 225 Duck Pond Drive, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, United States
| | - Miao Chen
- Department
of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, 225 Duck Pond Drive, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, United States
| | - Benjamin Ledford
- Department
of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, 225 Duck Pond Drive, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, United States
| | - Russell A. Norris
- Department
of Medicine, Medical University of South
Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina 29425, United States
| | - Steven Poelzing
- Center
for Vascular and Heart Research, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute, Virginia Tech, 2 Riverside Circle, Roanoke, Virginia 24016, United States
| | - Robert G. Gourdie
- Center
for Vascular and Heart Research, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute, Virginia Tech, 2 Riverside Circle, Roanoke, Virginia 24016, United States
| | - Jia-Qiang He
- Department
of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, 225 Duck Pond Drive, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, United States
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Hua R, Gao H, He C, Xin S, Wang B, Zhang S, Gao L, Tao Q, Wu W, Sun F, Xu J. An emerging view on vascular fibrosis molecular mediators and relevant disorders: from bench to bed. Front Cardiovasc Med 2023; 10:1273502. [PMID: 38179503 PMCID: PMC10764515 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2023.1273502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Vascular fibrosis is a widespread pathologic condition that arises during vascular remodeling in cardiovascular dysfunctions. According to previous studies, vascular fibrosis is characterized by endothelial matrix deposition and vascular wall thickening. The RAAS and TGF-β/Smad signaling pathways have been frequently highlighted. It is, however, far from explicit in terms of understanding the cause and progression of vascular fibrosis. In this review, we collected and categorized a large number of molecules which influence the fibrosing process, in order to acquire a better understanding of vascular fibrosis, particularly of pathologic dysfunction. Furthermore, several mediators that prevent vascular fibrosis are discussed in depth in this review, with the aim that this will contribute to the future prevention and treatment of related conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rongxuan Hua
- Department of Clinical Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Han Gao
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Aerospace Center Hospital, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Chengwei He
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Shuzi Xin
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Boya Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Holistic Integrative Management of Gastrointestinal Cancers, Beijing Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Sitian Zhang
- Department of Clinical Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Lei Gao
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, School of Biomedical Engineering, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Qiang Tao
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, School of Biomedical Engineering, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Wenqi Wu
- Experimental Center for Morphological Research Platform, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Fangling Sun
- Department of Experimental Animal Laboratory, Xuan-Wu Hospital of Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Jingdong Xu
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
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Chi-Uluac LA, Asgharpour S, Blanco-Rodríguez RG, Martínez-Archundia M. Atomistic Molecular Insights into Angiotensin-(1-7) Interpeptide Interactions. J Chem Inf Model 2023; 63:5331-5340. [PMID: 37589289 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.3c00478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/18/2023]
Abstract
Angiotensin-(1-7) is an endogenous peptide known for its vasoprotective, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects, making it a promising therapeutic candidate for various clinical conditions. However, the peptide exhibits pH-dependent physical instability in aqueous solutions, and a comprehensive atomistic study elucidating this behavior and its implications is currently lacking. Therefore, we performed all-atom molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the early formation of angiotensin-(1-7) oligomeric aggregates under different conditions: acidic and neutral pH-like conditions, physiological and high ionic strength, and high and low peptide concentrations. Our results are as follows: (1) under acidic pH-like conditions, angiotensin-(1-7) showed minimal clustering, (2) under neutral pH-like conditions, the peptides aggregated into a single cluster, consistent with the reported physical instability, and (3) increasing salt concentration under acidic pH-like conditions resulted in aggregation similar to that observed under neutral pH-like conditions. These results suggest that a combination of salt concentration and pH conditions can modulate angiotensin-(1-7) aggregation. Our protocol (molecular dynamics + cluster analysis + amino acid interaction map analysis) is general and could be applied to other peptides to study interpeptide interaction mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luz América Chi-Uluac
- Laboratory for the Design and Development of New Drugs and Biotechnological Innovation, Escuela Superior de Medicina, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Plan de San Luis y Díaz Mirón, Ciudad de México 11340, Mexico
- Institute for Modeling Collaboration and Innovation, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho 83844-1103, United States
| | - Somayeh Asgharpour
- IAS-5/INM-9, Computational Biomedicine, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Wilhelm-Johnen-Strasse, 52428 Jülich, Germany
| | - Rodolfo Guadalupe Blanco-Rodríguez
- Institute for Modeling Collaboration and Innovation, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho 83844-1103, United States
- Department of Mathematics and Statistical Science, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho 83844-1103, United States
| | - Marlet Martínez-Archundia
- Laboratory for the Design and Development of New Drugs and Biotechnological Innovation, Escuela Superior de Medicina, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Plan de San Luis y Díaz Mirón, Ciudad de México 11340, Mexico
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Bone-Targeted Delivery of Novokinin as an Alternative Treatment Option for Rheumatoid Arthritis. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:pharmaceutics14081681. [PMID: 36015308 PMCID: PMC9416659 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14081681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2022] [Revised: 08/07/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune inflammatory bone destructive disorder that is orchestrated by multiple systems in the body, including Renin-Angiotensin System (RAS) and arachidonic acid (ArA) pathway. Current therapeutic options are not highly effective and are associated with severe side effects, including cardiovascular complications. Therefore, new safe and effective disease modulators are seriously needed. In this study, we investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of a synthetic peptide, novokinin, through Angiotensin Type (II) receptor (AT2R). Peptide drugs like novokinin suffer from plasma instability and short half-life. Thus, we developed a novel bone targeting novokinin conjugate (Novo Conj). It uses the bone as a reservoir for sustained release and protection from systemic degradation, improving stability and enhancing pharmacological efficacy. We tested Novo Conj’s anti-inflammatory effects in adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA) rat model to prove our hypothesis by measuring various RAS and ArA pathway components. We observed that inflammation causes a significant imbalance in cardioprotective RAS components like ACE2, AT2R, and Ang 1-7 and increases the ArA inflammatory metabolites like hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids (HETEs). Treatment with novokinin or Novo Conj restores balance in the RAS and favors the production of different epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs), which are anti-inflammatory mediators. This study demonstrated that the bone-targeted delivery improved the stability and enhanced the anti-inflammatory effects of the parent peptide novokinin in AIA. These observations offer an efficacious alternative therapy for managing RA.
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Zhao B, Wang Z, Liang X, Wang X, Lin K, Yuan L, Jiang J, Xu C, Zhang D, Sun Y, Bian W. Inhibition of the postsynaptic density protein 95 on the protective effect of Ang-(1-7)-Mas on cerebral ischaemia injury. Stroke Vasc Neurol 2022; 7:500-509. [PMID: 35725243 PMCID: PMC9811564 DOI: 10.1136/svn-2021-001396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2021] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Postsynaptic density protein-95 (PSD95) plays an important role in cerebral ischaemia injury, but its mechanism needs further research. This study aimed to explore the role of PSD95 in (Ang-(1-7))-Mas-mediated cerebral ischaemia protection and its regulatory mechanism. METHODS Oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) neuron and rat middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) models were used as in vitro and in vivo models, respectively. TAT-MAS9C was used to disrupt the interaction between PSD95 and Mas. The recombinant PSD95 adenovirus (Ad-PSD95) was used to overexpress PSD95 in neurons. RESULTS Results showed that in OGD neurons, Ang-(1-7) could promote cell viability; reduce cell apoptosis; reduce the cell membrane localisation of Mas; upregulate the expression levels of pAKT, bcl-2 and I-κB; and downregulate the expression levels of Bax, pI-κB, tumour necrosis factor alpha and interleukin-1β. TAT-MAS9C could enhance the aforementioned effects of Ang-(1-7). However, the PSD95 overexpression inhibited the aforementioned effects of Ang-(1-7). In the MCAO rat model, the 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining showed that Ang-(1-7) reduced the infarct volume. The Morris water maze test showed that the number of crossings over the platform area in the Ang-(1-7) group was significantly increased. TAT-MAS9C could promote the protective effect of Ang-(1-7). CONCLUSIONS Results suggested that PSD95 alleviated the activation of AKT and the inhibition of nuclear factor kappa B signalling pathway mediated by the Ang-(1-7)-Mas complex, thereby reducing neuronal activity, increasing apoptosis and inhibiting the Ang-(1-7)-Mas-mediated cerebral ischaemia protection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bingrui Zhao
- School of Pharmacy, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, Shandong, China
| | - Zhe Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, Shandong, China
| | - Xinyue Liang
- School of Pharmacy, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, Shandong, China
| | - Xiaoyan Wang
- College of Intelligence and Information Engineering, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Kai Lin
- School of Pharmacy, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, Shandong, China
| | - Lihua Yuan
- Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics (SINANO), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jing Jiang
- School of Pharmacy, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, Shandong, China
| | - Cong Xu
- School of Pharmacy, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, Shandong, China
| | - Daolai Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, Shandong, China
| | - Yeying Sun
- School of Pharmacy, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, Shandong, China
| | - Weihua Bian
- School of Pharmacy, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, Shandong, China
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Synthesis of alamandine glycoside analogs as new drug candidates to antagonize the MrgD receptor for pain relief. Med Chem Res 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s00044-022-02881-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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