1
|
Li Y, Zhang Z, Li S, Yu T, Jia Z. Therapeutic Effects of Traditional Chinese Medicine on Cardiovascular Diseases: the Central Role of Calcium Signaling. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:682273. [PMID: 34305595 PMCID: PMC8299363 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.682273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2021] [Accepted: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Calcium, as a second messenger, plays an important role in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). The malfunction of calcium signaling in endothelial cells and vascular smooth muscle cells promotes hypertension. In cardiomyocytes, calcium overload induces apoptosis, leading to myocardial infarction and arrhythmias. Moreover, the calcium–calcineurin–nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) pathway is essential for expressing the cardiac pro-hypertrophic gene. Heart failure is also characterized by reduced calcium transient amplitude and enhanced sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) calcium leakage. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been used to treat CVDs for thousands of years in China. Because of its multicomponent and multitarget characteristics, TCM's unique advantages in CVD treatment are closely related to the modulation of multiple calcium handling proteins and calcium signaling pathways in different types of cells involved in distinct CVDs. Thus, we systematically review the diverse mechanisms of TCM in regulating calcium pathways to treat various types of CVDs, ranging from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy to diabetic heart disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuxin Li
- School of Life Sciences, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Zhang Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Sen Li
- School of Life Sciences, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Tingting Yu
- School of Life Sciences, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Zhaoqi Jia
- School of Life Sciences, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Metchi Donfack MF, Atsamo AD, Temdié Guemmogne RJ, Ngouateu Kenfack OB, Dongmo AB, Dimo T. Antihypertensive Effects of the Vitex cienkowskii (Verbenaceae) Stem-Bark Extract on L-NAME-Induced Hypertensive Rats. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE : ECAM 2021; 2021:6668919. [PMID: 33747111 PMCID: PMC7954626 DOI: 10.1155/2021/6668919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Revised: 02/05/2021] [Accepted: 02/23/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Vitex cienkowskii stem-bark is used in Cameroonian traditional medicine to treat cardiovascular diseases including hypertension. In previous studies, the methanol/methylene chloride stem-bark extract of Vitex cienkowskii (MMVC) showed a preventive activity in L-NAME-induced hypertension and improved blood pressure of spontaneously hypertensive rats. The present study investigated the curative effects in L-NAME-induced hypertensive rats (LNHR). Hypertension was induced in rats by oral administration of L-NAME (40 mg/kg/day) for 28 days. The animals were divided into 2 groups: one group of 5 rats receiving distilled water (10 ml/kg) and another 20 rats receiving L-NAME. At the end of 4 weeks of administration of L-NAME, the animals were divided into 4 groups of 5 rats each: one group of hypertensive rats receiving distilled water, another one receiving captopril (25 mg/kg), and two groups of hypertensive rats receiving MMVC at doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg, respectively. Body weight, food, and water intake were measured weekly. At the end of the treatment, blood pressure and heart rate were recorded by invasive method. Whole heart, left ventricle, kidneys, and liver were weighed. The effects of plant extract on lipid profile and oxidative stress markers, as well as markers of hepatic and renal functions were assessed spectrophotometrically according to well described protocols. Results show that L-NAME significantly increases the mean arterial blood pressure (MABP), atherogenic index, lipid profile, and creatinine and transaminase activities of normotensive rats. MMVC significantly reduced the blood pressure in LNHR. Body weight, food and water intake, left ventricular hypertrophy, antioxidant level, renal and hepatic markers, and lipid profile were improved by the treatment with MMVC. The curative effect of MMVC on L-NAME-induced hypertension is probably related to its antihypertensive, hypolipidemic, and antioxidant properties. These results confirmed the use of Vitex cienkowskii for the treatment of hypertension in traditional medicine.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mireille Flaure Metchi Donfack
- Department of Animal Biology and Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé I, P.O. Box 812, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Albert Donatien Atsamo
- Department of Animal Biology and Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé I, P.O. Box 812, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Roméo Joël Temdié Guemmogne
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Ngaoundéré, P.O. Box 454, Ngaoundéré, Cameroon
| | - Omer Bébé Ngouateu Kenfack
- Department of Animal Biology and Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé I, P.O. Box 812, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Alain Bertrand Dongmo
- Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Douala, P.O. Box 24157, Douala, Cameroon
| | - Théophile Dimo
- Department of Animal Biology and Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé I, P.O. Box 812, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Rutaecarpine Ameliorates Pressure Overload Cardiac Hypertrophy by Suppression of Calcineurin and Angiotensin II. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 2021; 2021:8857329. [PMID: 33510809 PMCID: PMC7822676 DOI: 10.1155/2021/8857329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2020] [Revised: 12/01/2020] [Accepted: 12/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Cardiac hypertrophy is a major pathological process to result in heart failure and sudden death. Rutaecarpine, a pentacyclic indolopyridoquinazolinone alkaloid extracted from Evodia rutaecarpa with multiple pharmacological activities, yet the underlying protective effects and the mechanisms on cardiac hypertrophy remain unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the potential effects of rutaecarpine on pressure overload cardiac hypertrophy. Cardiac hypertrophy in rat was developed by abdominal aortic constriction (AAC) for 4 weeks, which was improved by rutaecarpine supplementation (20 or 40 mg/kg/day, i.g.) for another 4 weeks. The level of angiotensin II was increased; the mRNA expression and the activity of calcineurin in the left ventricular tissue were augmented following cardiac hypertrophy. Rutaecarpine administration decreased angiotensin II content and reduced calcineurin expression and activity. Noteworthily, in angiotensin II-induced cardiomyocytes, rutaecarpine ameliorated the hypertrophic effects in a dose-dependent manner and downregulated the increased mRNA expression and activity of calcineurin. In conclusion, rutaecarpine can improve cardiac hypertrophy in pressure overload rats, which may be related to the inhibition of angiotensin II-calcineurin signal pathway.
Collapse
|
4
|
Takano APC, Senger N, Barreto-Chaves MLM. The endocrinological component and signaling pathways associated to cardiac hypertrophy. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2020; 518:110972. [PMID: 32777452 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2020.110972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2020] [Revised: 07/14/2020] [Accepted: 07/30/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Although myocardial growth corresponds to an adaptive response to maintain cardiac contractile function, the cardiac hypertrophy is a condition that occurs in many cardiovascular diseases and typically precedes the onset of heart failure. Different endocrine factors such as thyroid hormones, insulin, insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), angiotensin II (Ang II), endothelin (ET-1), catecholamines, estrogen, among others represent important stimuli to cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. Thus, numerous endocrine disorders manifested as changes in the local environment or multiple organ systems are especially important in the context of progression from cardiac hypertrophy to heart failure. Based on that information, this review summarizes experimental findings regarding the influence of such hormones upon signalling pathways associated with cardiac hypertrophy. Understanding mechanisms through which hormones differentially regulate cardiac hypertrophy could open ways to obtain therapeutic approaches that contribute to prevent or delay the onset of heart failure related to endocrine diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Nathalia Senger
- Department of Anatomy, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sao Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | |
Collapse
|
5
|
Bian J, Wang K, Wang Q, Wang P, Wang T, Shi W, Ruan Q. Dracocephalum heterophyllum (DH) Exhibits Potent Anti-Proliferative Effects on Autoreactive CD4 + T Cells and Ameliorates the Development of Experimental Autoimmune Uveitis. Front Immunol 2020; 11:575669. [PMID: 33117376 PMCID: PMC7578250 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.575669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2020] [Accepted: 09/23/2020] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Experimental autoimmune uveitis (EAU) is a CD4+ T cell–mediated organ-specific autoimmune disease and has been considered as a model of human autoimmune uveitis. Dracocephalum heterophyllum (DH) is a Chinese herbal medicine used in treating hepatitis. DH suppressed the production of inflammatory cytokines through the recruitment of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) to the liver. However, it remains elusive whether DH can directly regulate CD4+ T cell biology and hence ameliorates the development of CD4+ T cell–mediated autoimmune disease. In the current study, we found that DH extract significantly suppressed the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines by CD4+ T cells. Further study showed that DH didn’t affect the activation, differentiation, and apoptosis of CD4+ T cells. Instead, it significantly suppressed the proliferation of conventional CD4+ T cells both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistic study showed that DH-treated CD4+ T cells were partially arrested at the G2/M phase of the cell cycle because of the enhanced inhibitory phosphorylation of Cdc2 (Tyr15). In addition, we demonstrated that treatment with DH significantly ameliorated EAU in mice through suppressing the proliferation of autoreactive antigen specific CD4+ T cells. Taken together, the current study indicates that DH-mediated suppression of CD4+ T cell proliferation may provide a promising therapeutic strategy for treating CD4+ T cell–mediated diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jiang Bian
- Qingdao Eye Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Qingdao, China.,State Key Laboratory Cultivation Base, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Shandong Eye Institute, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Qingdao, China
| | - Ke Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Qingdao University Medical College, Qingdao, China.,State Key Laboratory Cultivation Base, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Shandong Eye Institute, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Qingdao, China
| | - Qilan Wang
- Northwest Plateau Institutes of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining, China
| | - Pu Wang
- Center for Antibody Drug, Institute of Biomedicine and Biotechnology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Ting Wang
- State Key Laboratory Cultivation Base, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Shandong Eye Institute, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Qingdao, China
| | - Weiyun Shi
- State Key Laboratory Cultivation Base, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Shandong Eye Institute, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Qingdao, China
| | - Qingguo Ruan
- State Key Laboratory Cultivation Base, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Shandong Eye Institute, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Qingdao, China.,Center for Antibody Drug, Institute of Biomedicine and Biotechnology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| |
Collapse
|