Sodium Tanshinone IIA Sulfonate Prevents Radiation-Induced Toxicity in H9c2 Cardiomyocytes

MG149 Inhibits MOF-Mediated p53 Acetylation to Attenuate X-Ray Radiation-Induced Apoptosis in H9c2 Cells

Cardiomyocyte apoptosis is involved in the pathogenesis of radiation-induced heart disease, but the underlying epigenetic mechanism remains elusive. We evaluated the potential mediating role of males absent on the first (MOF) in the association between epigenetic activation of p53 lysine 120 (p53K120) and X-ray radiation-induced apoptosis in H9c2 cells. H9c2 cells were pretreated for 24 h with the MOF inhibitor MG149 after 4 Gy irradiation, followed by assessment of cell proliferation, injury, and apoptosis. MOF expression was upregulated by X-ray radiation. MG149 suppressed the proliferation inhibition, reduction of mitochondrial membrane potential, ROS production, and cell apoptosis. MG149 may promote the survival of H9c2 cells via inhibition of MOF-mediated p53K120 acetylation in response to X-ray radiation-induced apoptosis. Our data indicates a MOF-associated epigenetic mechanism in H9c2 cells that promotes attenuation of X-ray radiation-induced injury.

Role and molecular mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine in preventing cardiotoxicity associated with chemoradiotherapy

Cardiotoxicity is a serious complication of cancer therapy. It is the second leading cause of morbidity and mortality in cancer survivors and is associated with a variety of factors, including oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis, autophagy, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and abnormal myocardial energy metabolism. A number of studies have shown that traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) can mitigate chemoradiotherapy-associated cardiotoxicity via these pathways. Therefore, this study reviews the effects and molecular mechanisms of TCM on chemoradiotherapy-related cardiotoxicity. In this study, we searched PubMed for basic studies on the anti-cardiotoxicity of TCM in the past 5 years and summarized their results. Angelica Sinensis, Astragalus membranaceus Bunge, Danshinone IIA sulfonate sodium (STS), Astragaloside (AS), Resveratrol, Ginsenoside, Quercetin, Danggui Buxue Decoction (DBD), Shengxian decoction (SXT), Compound Danshen Dripping Pill (CDDP), Qishen Huanwu Capsule (QSHWC), Angelica Sinensis and Astragalus membranaceus Bunge Ultrafiltration Extract (AS-AM),Shenmai injection (SMI), Xinmailong (XML), and nearly 60 other herbs, herbal monomers, herbal soups and herbal compound preparations were found to be effective as complementary or alternative treatments. These preparations reduced chemoradiotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity through various pathways such as anti-oxidative stress, anti-inflammation, alleviating endoplasmic reticulum stress, regulation of apoptosis and autophagy, and improvement of myocardial energy metabolism. However, few clinical trials have been conducted on these therapies, and these trials can provide stronger evidence-based support for TCM.

Tanshinone IIA Accomplished Protection against Radiation-Induced Cardiomyocyte Injury by Regulating the p38/p53 Pathway

Background

Radiotherapy is one of the major strategies for treating tumors, and it inevitably causes damage to relevant tissues and organs during treatment. Radiation-induced heart disease (RIHD) refers to radiation-induced cardiovascular adverse effects caused by thoracic radiotherapy. Currently, there is no uniform standard in the treatment of RIHD.

Methods

In our group study, by administering a dose of 4 Gy radiation, we established a radiation injured cardiomyocyte model and explored the regulatory relationship between tanshinone IIA and p38 MAPK in cardiomyocyte injury. We assessed cell damage and proliferation using clonogenic assay and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release assay. The measures of antioxidant activity and oxidative stress were conducted using superoxide dismutase (SOD) and reactive oxygen species (ROS). The apoptosis rate and the relative expression of apoptotic proteins were conducted using flow cytometry and western blot. To assess p38 and p53 expressions and phosphorylation levels, western blot was performed.

Results

Experimental results suggested that tanshinone IIA restored cell proliferation in radiation-induced cardiomyocyte injury (∗∗P < 0.01), and the level of LDH release decreased (∗P < 0.05). Meanwhile, tanshinone IIA could decrease the ROS generation induced by radiation (∗∗P < 0.01) and upregulate the SOD level (∗∗P < 0.01). Again, tanshinone IIA reduced radiation-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis (∗∗P < 0.01). Finally, tanshinone IIA downregulated radiation-induced p38/p53 overexpression (∗∗∗P < 0.001).

Conclusions

The treatment effects of tanshinone IIA against radiation-induced myocardial injury may be through the regulation of the p38/p53 pathway.

Sodium Tanshinone II Sulfonate A Ameliorates Hypoxia-Induced Pulmonary Hypertension

Background

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) remains a prevalent disease globally. Sodium tanshinone II sulfonate A (STS) has been used in clinical treatment of PH.

Aims

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of sodium STS treatment on hypoxia-induced PH and related mechanisms.

Methods

Male Sprague-Dawley rats were housed in a hypoxic chamber with an oxygen concentration of 10 ± 1% for 8 h a day over 21 days. Rats were treated with either STS (low-dose: 10 mg/kg or high-dose: 30 mg/kg) or LY294002 (which is an inhibitor of PI3K). Pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP) was measured, right ventricular hypertrophy parameters were monitored, lung edema parameters were measured, and pathological changes were observed by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. Protein expressions of apoptosis, and PI3K/AKT/mTOR/autophagy pathways in rat lung tissue were examined by western blot. Levels of the pro-inflammatory factors IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α in lung tissues of rats were measured using an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Results

Results of our study demonstrate that persistent exposure to hypoxic conditions increased PAP, right ventricular hypertrophy, lung edema, parameters of lung vascular proliferation and decreased the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2. Furthermore, hypoxic conditions activated the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway, inhibited autophagy, and elevated abundance of inflammatory factors in rat lung tissue. Treatment with STS resulted in a dose-dependent decrease in PAP, right ventricular hypertrophy, lung edema, lung vascular proliferation and reversed hypoxia induced lung tissue protein expression and pro-inflammatory factors in rat lung tissue. In addition, hypoxia-induced increases in PAP, cardiac hypertrophy, and lung expression of the proteins PI3K/Akt/mTOR/autophagy pathway were partially reversed by treatment with LY294002.

Conclusions

STS alleviates hypoxia-induced PH by promoting apoptosis, inhibiting PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway, up-regulating autophagy, and inhibiting inflammatory responses.

Protective effect of bacterial lipase on lipopolysaccharide-induced toxicity in rat cardiomyocytes; H9C2 cell line

Introduction: Cardiovascular system is highly sensitive to LPS-induced oxidative damage. This study aimed to show the inhibitory effect of bacterial Lipase on LPS-induced cardiomyoblasts toxicity.

Methods: Rat cardiomyoblasts H9C2 were classified into Control, LPS (cells received 0.1, 1 and 10 μg/mL LPS) and LPS+ Lipase groups. In LPS+Lipase group, different concentrations of lipopolysaccharide were pre-incubated with 5 mg/mL bacterial lipase at 37˚C overnight prior to cell treatment. After 72 hours, cell viability was assessed by MTT assay. The expression of key genes related to toll-like receptor signaling pathways was assessed by real-time PCR assay. Percentage of fatty acids was evaluated in each group using gas chromatography assay. The levels of NO was also measured using the Griess reaction.

Results: Data showed H9C2 cells viability was decreased after exposure to LPS in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.05). Incubation of LPS with lipase increased cell survival rate and closed to near-to-control levels (P < 0.05). Lipase had the potential to blunt the increased expression of IRAK and NF-κB in cells after exposure to the LPS. Compared to the LPS group, lipase attenuated the increased level of NO-induced by LPS (P < 0.05). Gas chromatography analysis showed the reduction of saturated fatty acids in cells from LPS group while the activity of lipase prohibited impact of LPS on cell fatty acid composition. LPS decreased the ability of cardiomyoblasts to form colonies. Incubation of LPS with lipase enhanced clonogenic capacity.

Conclusion: Reduction in lipopolysaccharide-induced cytotoxicity is possibly related to lipase activity and reduction of modified lipopolysaccharide with toll-like receptor.

Salvia miltiorrhiza in Treating Cardiovascular Diseases: A Review on Its Pharmacological and Clinical Applications

Bioactive chemical constitutes from the root of Salvia miltiorrhiza classified in two major groups, viz., liposoluble tanshinones and water-soluble phenolics. Tanshinone IIA is a major lipid-soluble compound having promising health benefits. The in vivo and in vitro studies showed that the tanshinone IIA and salvianolate have a wide range of cardiovascular and other pharmacological effects, including antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, endothelial protective, myocardial protective, anticoagulation, vasodilation, and anti-atherosclerosis, as well as significantly help to reduce proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells. In addition, some of the clinical studies reported that the S. miltiorrhiza preparations in combination with Western medicine were more effective for treatment of various cardiovascular diseases including angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and pulmonary heart diseases. In this review, we demonstrated the potential applications of S. miltiorrhiza, including pharmacological effects of salvianolate, tanshinone IIA, and its water-soluble derivative, like sodium tanshinone IIA sulfonate. Moreover, we also provided details about the clinical applications of S. miltiorrhiza preparations in controlling the cardiovascular diseases.

Protective effects of sodium tanshinone IIA sulfonate on cardiac function after myocardial infarction in mice

Sodium tanshinone IIA sulfonate (STS), a water-soluble derivative of tanshinone IIA, has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for many years. Many experiments have demonstrated that STS has anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptosis and angiogenesis effects. However, it is unclear whether STS has the same beneficial effects on myocardial infarction in vivo. The aim of our experiments was to investigate whether STS could improve cardiac function and prevent myocardial remodeling after myocardial infarction (MI) in mice. The MI model was established by surgical ligation of the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery. Then the mice were randomly divided into STS and untreated groups. The results of treatment for 3 weeks showed that STS could increase the survival rate, reduce the release of some inflammatory cytokines, inhibit cell apoptosis and promote angiogenesis. The study presents a new potential treatment method for ischemic heart disease.

Radiation-Induced Cardiovascular Toxicity: Mechanisms, Prevention, and Treatment

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Ionizing radiation is a highly effective treatment for a wide range of malignancies, yet the cardiovascular (CV) toxicity that can result from chest radiotherapy impairs the long-term health of cancer survivors and can be a limiting factor for its use. Despite over 100 years of successful clinical use, the mechanisms by which high-energy photons damage critical components within cells of the heart's myocardium, pericardium, vasculature, and valves remain unclear.

RECENT FINDINGS

Recent studies exploring the acute and chronic effects of radiation therapy on cardiac and vascular tissue have provided new insights into the development and progression of heart disease, including the identification and understanding of age- and complication-associated risk factors. However, key questions relating to the connection from upstream signaling to fibrotic changes remain. In addition, advances in the delivery of chest radiotherapy have helped to limit heart exposure and damage, but additional refinements to delivery techniques and cardioprotective therapeutics are absolutely necessary to reduce patient mortality and morbidity. Radiation therapy (RT)-driven CV toxicity remains a major issue for cancer survivors and more research is needed to define the precise mechanisms of toxicity. However, recent findings provide meaningful insights that may help improve patient outcomes.

Dihydroisotanshinone I combined with radiation inhibits the migration ability of prostate cancer cells through DNA damage and CCL2 pathway

BACKGROUND

Radiotherapy plays an important role in the treatment of prostate cancer. Despite that sophisticated techniques of radiotherapy and radiation combined with chemotherapy were applied to the patients, some tumors may recur. Therefore, the study investigated the effect of dihydroisotanshinone I (DT) and the combination treatment of 5 μM DT and 5Gy irradiation (IR) against the migration ability of prostate cancer cells.

METHODS

DT and the combination treatment were studied for its biological activity against migration ability of prostate cancer cells with transwell migration assay. Subsequently, we tried to explore the underlying mechanism with ELISA, flow cytometry and Western's blotting assay.

RESULTS

The results showed that DT and the combination treatment substantially inhibited the migration ability of prostate cancer cells. DT and the combined treatment can decrease the ability of macrophages to recruit prostate cancer cells. Mechanistically, DT and the combination treatment reduced the secretion of chemokine (C-C Motif) Ligand 2 (CCL2) from prostate cancer cells. We also found that DT treatment induced the cell cycle of prostate cancer cells entering S phase and increased the protein expression of DNA damage response proteins (rH2AX and phosphorylated ataxia telangiectasia-mutated [ATM]) in DU145 cells and PC-3 cells.

CONCLUSIONS

DT displays radiosensitization and antimigration effects in prostate cancer cells by inducing DNA damage and inhibiting CCL2 secretion. We suggest that DT can be used as a novel antimetastatic cancer drug or radiosensitizer in the armamentarium of prostate cancer management.