Effects of Statins and Xuezhikang on the Expression of Secretory Phospholipase A2, Group IIA in Rat Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells

Recent Progress of Nanomedicine on Secreted Phospholipase A2 as a Potential Therapeutic Target

Overexpressed secretory phospholipase A2 (sPLA2) is found in many inflammatory diseases and various types of cancer. sPLA2 can catalyze the hydrolysis of phospholipid sn-2 ester bond to lysophosphatidylcholine and free...

Modulation of the Proliferation/Apoptosis Balance of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells in Atherosclerosis by lncRNA-MEG3 via Regulation of miR-26a/Smad1 Axis

The balance between proliferation and apoptosis of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) plays a critical role in the initiation of atherosclerosis. LncRNA-MEG3 is involved in the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis through regulation of endothelial cell proliferation and migration. Its effect on the dysfunction of VSMCs and the corresponding mechanisms are actively researched. In this study, we observed that downregulated lncRNA-MEG3 expression was inversely correlated with the microRNA-26a level in coronary artery disease tissues. The overexpression of lncRNA-MEG3 could inhibit VSMCs proliferation while facilitating apoptosis. Moreover, alteration in the miR-26a/Smad1 axis could antagonize this effect. Bioinformatic analysis indicated that lncRNA-MEG3 could interact with miR-26a via complementary binding sites. The enforced expression of lncRNA-MEG3 could reduce the level of miR-26a in VSMCs, while the expression of Smad1 increases. Further, the direct binding between lncRNA-MEG3 and miR-26a was confirmed via dual-luciferase reporter assay, which indicated that lnc-MEG3 could sponge miR-26a as a competing endogenous RNA. In summary, we propose that lncRNA-MEG3 modulates the proliferation/apoptosis balance of VSMCs in atherosclerosis by regulating the miR-26a/Smad1 axis.

Medical Therapy Induced Regression of Plaque in a Female Patient with ASCVD

The initiation and progression of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) has always been associated with a series of risk factors. Evidences of statin therapy from randomized clinical trials are abundant, whereas discussions regarding patients with ASCVD without evidence-based risk factors are rare. Here, we describe a case of a 58-year-old woman who was diagnosed with ASCVD with none of these evidence-based risk factors. After four years of medical interventions, including atorvastatin, the patient recovered completely from severe chest pain with significant regression of atherosclerotic plaques in coronary arteries.

Novel ASK1 Inhibitor AGI-1067 Attenuates AGE-Induced Fibrotic Response by Suppressing the MKKs/p38 MAPK Pathway in Human Coronary Arterial Smooth Muscle Cells

The phenotype shifting of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) was indicated to play a role during the initial stage of atherosclerotic plaque formation by facilitating extracellular matrix deposition. This study was aimed at investigating the involvement of the apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 (ASK1) /mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) kinases (MKKs) /p38 MAPK pathway in the advanced glycation end product (AGE) -induced fibrotic response of VSMCs. The effect of the novel ASK1 inhibitor AGI-1067 was also studied.Cultured human coronary smooth muscle cells (HCSMCs) were exposed to AGEs. AGI-1067 and siRNAs silencing mkk3, mkk6, and p38 mapk were used to treat the cells. The activation of MKK3, MKK6, and p38 MAPK was assessed by immunoblotting. Fibrotic response was assessed by the fluorescence immunohistochemistry staining of collagen I and collagen VIII. Activation of immunoprecipitation determined the association of ASK1 and its inhibitor thioredoxin. A kinase assay was used to determine ASK1 activity.AGE incubation significantly activated ASK1, MKK3, and MKK6, which led to activation of p38 MAPK, resulting in upregulated fibrotic response in HCSMCs. However, siRNAs knocking down mkk3, mkk6, and p38 mapk impaired this fibrotic response. AGI-1067 administration not only dramatically inhibited the activation of ASK1/MKKs/p38 MAPK but also suppressed the expression of the downstream proteins, including transforming growth factor-β1, connective tissue growth factor, collagen I, and collagen VIII in HCSMCs exposed to AGEs.The ASK1/MKKs/p38 MAPK pathway was activated by AGEs, leading to the fibrotic response in VSMCs. AGI-1067 reversed this process by maintaining the inactive state of ASK1.

Amlodipine Inhibits Vascular Cell Senescence and Protects Against Atherogenesis Through the Mechanism Independent of Calcium Channel Blockade

Vascular cells have a finite lifespan and eventually enter irreversible growth arrest called cellular senescence. We have previously suggested that vascular cell senescence contributes to the pathogenesis of human atherosclerosis. Amlodipine is a mixture of two enantiomers, one of which (S- enantiomer) has L-type channel blocking activity, while the other (R+ enantiomer) shows ~1000-fold weaker channel blocking activity than S- enantiomer and has other unknown effects. It has been reported that amlodipine inhibits the progression of atherosclerosis in humans, but the molecular mechanism of this beneficial effect remains unknown. Apolipoprotein E-deficient mice on a high-fat diet were treated with amlodipine, its R+ enantiomer or vehicle for eight weeks. Compared with vehicle treatment, both amlodipine and the R+ enantiomer significantly reduced the number of senescent vascular cells and inhibited plaque formation to a similar extent. Expression of the pro-inflammatory molecule interleukin-1β was markedly upregulated in vehicle-treated mice, but was inhibited to a similar extent by treatment with amlodipine or the R+ enantiomer. Likewise, activation of p53 (a critical inducer of senescence) was markedly suppressed by treatment with amlodipine or the R+ enantiomer. These results suggest that amlodipine inhibits vascular cell senescence and protects against atherogenesis at least partly by a mechanism that is independent of calcium channel blockade.

High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein Combined with Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol as the Targets of Statin Therapy in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome

To investigate the combination of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-C as the targets for statin treatment in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). This single-center, prospective, randomized study was performed in 400 patients treated with atorvastatin 40 mg/day for 1 month and then with atorvastatin 20 mg/day as maintenance. The patients were randomized to the LDL group (LDL-C target of < 2.07 mmol/L according to the Chinese dyslipidemia guidelines) and to the LDL-CRP group (LDL-C target of < 2.07 mmol/L and hs-CRP target of < 3 mg/L). The patients were followed up for major adverse cardiac events (MACE) at 6, 12, and 18 months. The two groups had similar baseline characteristics and 391 patients completed the follow-up. No differences were found in LDL-C between the two groups, but a difference was found in hs-CRP at 12 and 18 months. There was a significant difference in revascularization (8.7% versus 3.6%, P = 0.04) and MACE (16.8% versus 9.7%; P = 0.04) between the LDL and LDL-CRP groups at 18 months. Compared to LDL-C as the single target, targeting both LDL-C and hs-CRP by statin therapy in patients with ACS could further reduce the incidence of MACE and the residual cardiovascular risk.