Speckle Tracking Echocardiography Verified the Efficacy of Qianyangyuyin Granules in Alleviating Left Ventricular Remodeling in a Hypertensive Rat Model

Qianyang yuyin granule ameliorates mitochondrial dysfunction of hypertensive myocardial remodeling

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Clinical studies have found that Qianyang Yuyin granule (QYYYG), a kind of oral Chinese patent medicine, had definite clinical effect for hypertensive myocardial remodeling. However, the potential mechanism is not entirely clear.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The purpose of this research was to explore the underlying mechanism QYYYG on the treatment of hypertensive myocardial remodeling.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Analysis the transcriptome data from the NCBI public platform GEO database and our study to explore the key pathological change of myocardial tissues in hypertensive mice and the main pathway of QYYYG in treating hypertensive myocardial remodeling. Network pharmacological analysis was used to predict the potential target of QYYYG. The molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation was used for molecular binding analysis of specific compounds and target proteins. In the experiment in vivo, the effect of QYYYG on hypertensive myocardial remodeling and myocardial mitochondrial dysfunction in hypertensive mice caused by Ang Ⅱ was estimated. In the experiment in vitro, the Ang Ⅱ-induced myocardial remodeling model in H9c2 cells was constructed, and the effect of QYYYG on ameliorating myocardial remodeling and mitochondrial dysfunction was evaluated.

RESULTS

Transcriptome analysis suggested that mitochondrial dysfunction was a key pathological change of myocardial tissues in hypertensive mice, and QYYYG could improve hypertensive myocardial remodeling through enhancing mitochondrial biogenesis to repair myocardial mitochondrial dysfunction. Network pharmacological analysis predicted that SIRT1 was an important potential target of QYYYG in treating hypertensive myocardial remodeling, and basically all the active components, especially quercetin, had a great binding affinity with SIRT1. Experiments in vivo proved that QYYYG had great efficacy hypertensive myocardial remodeling in Ang Ⅱ-treated mice. It was found that QYYYG improved the quality and quantity of mitochondria, and increased SIRT1 levels in myocardial tissue of Ang Ⅱ-treated mice. In Ang Ⅱ-treated H9c2 cells, with intervention of QYYYG, myocardial remodeling and myocardial mitochondrial dysfunction was ameliorated. In addition, QYYYG up-regulated SIRT1 expression and enhanced mitochondrial biogenesis in Ang Ⅱ-treated H9c2 cells.

CONCLUSION

This study suggested that mitochondrial dysfunction was an important pathological change of myocardial tissues in hypertensive mice. QYYYG might ameliorate the mitochondrial dysfunction of hypertensive myocardial remodeling through up-regulating SIRT1 expression to enhance the mitochondrial biogenesis.

Qianyang Yuyin granules alleviate hypertension-induced vascular remodeling by inhibiting the phenotypic switch of vascular smooth muscle cells

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Qianyang Yuyin granules (QYYY) have been used clinically to treat hypertension for over two decades. Previous clinical trials have shown that QYYY can improve vascular elastic function in hypertensive patients. However, the underlying pharmacological mechanism is unclear.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To elucidate the effects and mechanisms of QYYY on vascular remodeling using a multidisciplinary approach that includes network pharmacology, proteomics, and both in vitro and in vivo experiments.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The main components of QYYY were identified using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography and high-resolution mass spectrometry. Network pharmacology and molecular docking were employed to predict QYYY's primary active ingredients, potential therapeutic targets and intervention pathways in hypertensive vascular remodeling. We induced hypertension in male C57BL/6 mice by infusing angiotensin II (Ang II) via osmotic minipumps, and performed pre-treatment with QYYY or Sacubitril/valsartan (Entresto). Blood pressure was monitored in vivo, followed by the extraction of aortas to examine pathological structural changes and alterations in protein expression patterns. The expression and location of proteins involved in the HIF-1α/TWIST1/P-p65 signaling pathway were investigated, as well as markers of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) phenotypic switch. In vitro, we studied the effects of QYYY water extract on Ang II-stimulated human aortic VSMCs. We investigated whether QYYY could affect the HIF-1α/TWIST1/P-p65 signaling pathway, thereby ameliorating apoptosis, autophagy, and phenotype switch in VSMCs.

RESULTS

We identified 62 main compounds in QYYY, combined with network pharmacology, speculated 827 potentially active substances, and explored 1021 therapeutic targets. The KEGG pathway analysis revealed that the mechanisms of action associated with QYYY therapy potentially encompass various biological processes, including metabolic pathways, TNF signaling pathways, apoptosis, Ras signaling pathways, HIF-1 signaling pathways, autophagy-animal pathways. In hypertensive mice, QYYY restored abnormally elevated blood pressure, vascular remodeling, and inflammation with a dose-response relationship while altering abnormal protein patterns. In vitro, QYYY could inhibit abnormal proliferation, migration, intracellular Ca2+ accumulation and cytoskeletal changes of VSMCs. It improved mitochondrial function, reduced ROS levels, stabilized membrane potential, prevented cell death, and reduced overproduction of TGF-β1, TNF-a, and IL-1β.

CONCLUSION

QYYY may be able to inhibit the overactivation of the HIF-1α/TWIST1/P-p65 signaling pathway, improve the phenotypic switch, and balance apoptosis and autophagy in VSMCs, thereby effectively improving vascular remodeling caused by hypertension.

Qian Yang Yu Yin Granule prevents hypertensive cardiac remodeling by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation via Nrf2

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Qian Yang Yu Yin Granule (QYYYG), a traditional Chinese poly-herbal formulation, has been validated in clinical trials to mitigate cardiac remodeling (CR), and cardiac damage in patients with hypertension. However, the specific mechanism remains unclear.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study explored the potential effects and potential mechanisms of QYYYG on hypertensive CR by combining various experimental approaches.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) were used as a model of hypertensive CR, followed by QYYYG interventions. Blood pressure, cardiac function and structure, histopathological changes, and myocardial inflammation and oxidative stress were tested to assess the efficacy of QYYYG in SHRs. For in vitro experiments, a cell model of myocardial hypertrophy and injury was constructed with isoprenaline. Cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, oxidative stress, and death were examined after treatment with different concentrations of QYYYG, and transcriptomics analyses were performed to explore the underlying mechanism. Nrf2 and the ROS/NF-κB/NLRP3 inflammasome pathway were detected. Thereafter, ML385 and siRNAs were used to inhibit Nrf2 in cardiomyocytes, so as to verify whether QYYYG negatively regulates the NLRP3 inflammasome by targeting Nrf2, thereby ameliorating the associated phenotypes. Finally, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was conducted to analyze the active ingredients in QYYYG, and molecular docking was utilized to preliminarily screen the compounds with modulatory effects on Nrf2 activities.

RESULTS

QYYYG improved blood pressure, cardiac function, and structural remodeling and attenuated myocardial inflammation, oxidative stress, and cell death in SHRs. The transcriptomics results showed that the inflammatory response might be crucial in pathological CR and that Nrf2, which potentially negatively regulates the process, was upregulated by QYYYG treatment. Furthermore, QYYYG indeed facilitated Nrf2 activation and negatively regulated the ROS/NF-κB/NLRP3 inflammasome pathway, therefore ameliorating the associated phenotypes. In vitro inhibition or knockdown of Nrf2 weakened or even reversed the repressive effect of QYYYG on ISO-induced inflammation, oxidative stress, pyroptosis, and the NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Based on the results of HPLC and molecular docking, 30 compounds, including cafestol, genistein, hesperetin, and formononetin, have binding sites to Keap1-Nrf2 protein and might affect the activity or stability of Nrf2.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, the alleviatory effect of QYYYG on hypertensive CR is related to its regulation of Nrf2 activation. Specifically, QYYYG blocks the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome by boosting Nrf2 signaling and depressing myocardial inflammation, oxidative stress, and pyroptosis, thereby effectively ameliorating hypertensive CR.

Search progress of pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2) in organ fibrosis

Fibrosis is characterized by abnormal deposition of the extracellular matrix (ECM), leading to organ structural remodeling and loss of function. The principal cellular effector in fibrosis is activated myofibroblasts, which serve as the main source of matrix proteins. Metabolic reprogramming, transitioning from mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation to aerobic glycolysis, is widely observed in rapidly dividing cells such as tumor cells and activated myofibroblasts and is increasingly recognized as a fundamental pathogenic basis in organ fibrosis. Targeting metabolism represents a promising strategy to mitigate fibrosis. PKM2, a key enzyme in glycolysis, plays a pivotal role in metabolic reprogramming through allosteric regulation, impacting both metabolic and non-metabolic pathways. Therefore, metabolic reprogramming induced by PKM2 activation is involved in the occurrence and development of fibrosis in various organs. A comprehensive understanding of the role of PKM2 in fibrotic diseases is crucial for seeking new anti-fibrotic therapeutic targets. In this context, we summarize PKM2's role in glycolysis, mediating the intricate mechanisms underlying fibrosis in multiple organs, and discuss the potential value of PKM2 inhibitors and allosteric activators in future clinical treatments, aiming to identify novel therapeutic targets for proliferative fibrotic diseases.

Corrigendum to “Speckle Tracking Echocardiography Verified the Efficacy of Qianyangyuyin Granules in Alleviating Left Ventricular Remodeling in a Hypertensive Rat Model”

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