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Zhang Z, Gao J, Wang J, Mi Z, Li H, Dai Z, Pan Y, Dong J, Chen S, Lu S, Tan X, Chen H. Mechanism of Zhishi Xiebai Guizhi decoction to treat atherosclerosis: Insights into experiments, network pharmacology and molecular docking. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2024; 333:118466. [PMID: 38885915 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2024.118466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2024] [Revised: 06/02/2024] [Accepted: 06/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Zhishi Xiebai Guizhi Decoction (ZSXBGZD) is a traditional herbal manuscript used to treat cardiovascular disease, including atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease. The decoction has demonstrated its capability to protect arteries and resist atherosclerosis. Its mechanisms for anti-atherosclerosis effect, nevertheless, remain unknown. AIMS OF THE STUDY The goal of the present study is to explore the effectiveness of ZSXBGZD acting on atherosclerosis and its key components based on experimental verification and network pharmacology analysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS The ultra-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS) and databases were used to identify chemical components in ZSXBGZD. Network pharmacological analysis and molecular docking were implemented in order to reveal the possible therapeutic targets of ZSXBGZD. To form the model of atherosclerosis, we gave Apolipoprotein E knocked out mice a high-fat diet. H&E staining was performed to observe the effects of ZSXBGZD on atherosclerosis. Immunofluorescence and Western blot were used to investigate whether ZSXBGZD could affect autophagy, apoptosis, AGE-RAGE signaling pathway and other related mechanisms. RESULTS In total, 30 core compounds were screened through intersecting UPLC-Q-TOF-MS and the databases. The anti-atherosclerotic effect of ZSXBGZD might relate to the AGE-RAGE signaling pathway via network pharmacology analysis. ZSXBGZD could inhibit apoptosis, activate autophagy and ease inflammation by modifying AGE-RAGE signaling pathway to reduce the area of atherosclerotic plaque. CONCLUSION ZSXBGZD could treat atherosclerosis by regulating autophagy and apoptosis via adjusting the AGE-RAGE signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuojun Zhang
- Wuxi Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214071, China
| | - Jin Gao
- School of Acupuncture and Massage, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Junpeng Wang
- College of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Zishuo Mi
- School of Nursing, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Haoyang Li
- First Clinical Medical College, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Zhicen Dai
- School of Health Economics and Management, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Yujing Pan
- School of Public Administration, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210000, China
| | - Jiming Dong
- First Clinical Medical College, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Sihan Chen
- First Clinical Medical College, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Shu Lu
- Wuxi Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214071, China
| | - Xiaodong Tan
- Department of Cardiovascular, Wuxi Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Wuxi, 214000, China.
| | - Hao Chen
- School of Acupuncture and Massage, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China.
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Song Z, Han Q, Wen Z, Lv Q, Pan C, Pan Y. LncRNA RASSF8-AS1 knockdown displayed antiproliferative and proapoptotic effects through miR-188-3p/ATG7 pathway in ox-LDL-treated vascular smooth muscle cells. ANNALS OF TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE 2023; 11:143. [PMID: 36846012 PMCID: PMC9951013 DOI: 10.21037/atm-22-6457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2022] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Long noncoding RNA (lncRNA)-mediated changes in gene expression contribute to atherosclerosis (AS) development. However, the roles of numerous lncRNAs in AS have not been fully elucidated. Here, we aimed to investigate the potential role of lncRNA RASSF8-AS1 (RASSF8-AS1) in autophagy of human aortic vascular smooth muscle cells (HA-VSMCs). METHODS RASSF8-AS1 expression in patients with AS was extracted from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. RASSF8-AS1 and microRNA-188-3p (miR-188-3p) expression was analyzed in 20 enrolled patients with AS. HA-VSMCs were treated with oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) (25, 50, 75, and 100 µg/mL) for 24 h. Loss- or gain-of-function of RASSF8-AS1, miR-1883p, and autophagy-related 7 (ATG7) was studied using the transfected HA-VSMCs. Cell viability was assessed using Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8). Apoptosis was detected with annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) and propidium iodide (PI). Relative luciferase reporter assay was used to confirm the targeting relationship of miR-188-3p to RASSF8-AS1 or ATG7. Gene expression was detected by quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blot. RESULTS RASSF8-AS1 was enriched in the serum of patients with AS and ox-LDL-treated HA-VSMCs. Ox-LDL induced proliferation and autophagy while inhibiting the apoptosis of HA-VSMCs, which was abated by RASSF8-AS1 knockdown. RASSF8-AS1 downregulated miR-188-3p of ox-LDL-treated HA-VSMCs. RASSF8-AS1 knockdown caused an increase in miR-188-3p, which inhibited proliferation and autophagy and induced the apoptosis of ox-LDL-treated HA-VSMCs. miR-188-3p inhibited ATG7 expression in ox-LDL-treated HA-VSMCs. RASSF8-AS1 elevated ATG7 and induced autophagy through sponging miR-188-3p in ox-LDL-treated HA-VSMCs. CONCLUSIONS RASSF8-AS1 regulated autophagy by targeting miR-188-3p, a messenger RNA-binding miRNA that increases ATG7 level, which may be a new target molecule for the prevention and prognosis of AS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenhua Song
- Treatment Centre for Traumatic Injuries, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qianqian Han
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ziyun Wen
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qing Lv
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Chao Pan
- Treatment Centre for Traumatic Injuries, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yunyun Pan
- Clinical Pharmacy Center, Nangfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
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De Moudt S, Hendrickx JO, Neutel C, De Munck D, Leloup A, De Meyer GR, Martinet W, Fransen P. Aortic Stiffness in L-NAME Treated C57Bl/6 Mice Displays a Shift From Early Endothelial Dysfunction to Late-Term Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Dysfunction. Front Physiol 2022; 13:874015. [PMID: 35800344 PMCID: PMC9254682 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.874015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction and Aims: Endothelial dysfunction is recognized as a cardiovascular aging hallmark. Administration of nitric oxide synthase blocker N-Ω-Nitro-L-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride (L-NAME) constitutes a well-known small animal model of cardiovascular aging. Despite extensive phenotypic characterization, the exact aortic function changes in L-NAME treated mice are largely unknown. Therefore, this study presents a longitudinal characterization of the aortic reactivity and biomechanical alterations in L-NAME treated C57Bl/6 mice. Methods and Results: Male C57Bl/6 mice were treated with L-NAME (0.5 mg/ml drinking water) for 1, 2, 4, 8, or 16 weeks. Peripheral blood pressure measurement (tail-cuff) and transthoracic echocardiograms were recorded, showing progressive hypertension after 4 weeks of treatment and progressive cardiac hypertrophy after 8–16 weeks of treatment. Aortic stiffness was measured in vivo as aortic pulse wave velocity (aPWV, ultrasound) and ex vivo as Peterson modulus (Ep). Aortic reactivity and biomechanics were investigated ex vivo in thoracic aortic rings, mounted isometrically or dynamically-stretched in organ bath set-ups. Aortic stiffening was heightened in L-NAME treated mice after all treatment durations, thereby preceding the development of hypertension and cardiac aging. L-NAME treatment doubled the rate of arterial stiffening compared to control mice, and displayed an attenuation of the elevated aortic stiffness at high distending pressure, possibly due to late-term reduction of medial collagen types I, III, and IV content. Remarkably, endothelial dysfunction, measured by acetylcholine concentration-response stimulation in precontracted aortic rings, was only observed after short-term (1–4 weeks) treatment, followed by restoration of endothelial function which coincided with increased phosphorylation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (S1177). In the late-disease phase (8–16 weeks), vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) dysfunction developed, including increased contribution of voltage-dependent calcium channels (assessed by inhibition with diltiazem), basal VSMC cytoplasmic calcium loading (assessed by removal of extracellular calcium), and heightened intracellular contractile calcium handling (assessed by measurement of sarcoplasmic reticulum-mediated transient contractions). Conclusion: Arterial stiffness precedes peripheral hypertension and cardiac hypertrophy in chronic L-NAME treated male C57Bl/6 mice. The underlying aortic disease mechanisms underwent a distinct shift from early endothelial dysfunction to late-term VSMC dysfunction, with continued disease progression.
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De Munck DG, Leloup AJA, De Moudt S, De Meyer GRY, Martinet W, Fransen P. Mouse aortic biomechanics are affected by short-term defective autophagy in vascular smooth muscle cells. J Physiol Sci 2022; 72:7. [PMID: 35277137 PMCID: PMC10717727 DOI: 10.1186/s12576-022-00829-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The physiology of vascular smooth muscle (VSMC) cells is affected by autophagy, a catabolic cellular mechanism responsible for nutrient recycling. Autophagy-inducing compounds may reverse arterial stiffening, whereas congenital VSMC-specific autophagy deficiency promotes arterial stiffening. The elevated aortic stiffness in 3.5-month-old C57Bl/6 mice, in which the essential autophagy-related gene Atg7 was specifically deleted in the VSMCs (Atg7F/F SM22α-Cre+ mice) was mainly due to passive aortic wall remodeling. The present study investigated whether aortic stiffness was also modulated by a shorter duration of autophagy deficiency. Therefore, aortic segments of 2-month-old Atg7F/F SM22α-Cre+ mice were studied. Similarly to the older mice, autophagy deficiency in VSMCs promoted aortic stiffening by elastin degradation and elastin breaks, and increased the expression of the calcium binding protein S100A4 (+ 157%), the aortic wall thickness (+ 27%), the sensitivity of the VSMCs to depolarization and the contribution of VGCC mediated Ca2+ influx to α1 adrenergic contractions. Hence, all these phenomena occurred before the age of 2 months. When compared to autophagy deficiency in VSMCs at 3.5 months, shorter term autophagy deficiency led to higher segment diameter at 80 mmHg (+ 7% versus - 2%), normal baseline tonus (versus increased), unchanged IP3-mediated phasic contractions (versus enhanced), and enhanced endothelial cell function (versus normal). Overall, and because in vivo cardiac parameters or aortic pulse wave velocity were not affected, these observations indicate that congenital autophagy deficiency in VSMCs of Atg7F/F SM22α-Cre+ mice initiates compensatory mechanisms to maintain circulatory homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dorien G De Munck
- Laboratory of Physiopharmacology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Arthur J A Leloup
- Laboratory of Physiopharmacology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Sofie De Moudt
- Laboratory of Physiopharmacology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Guido R Y De Meyer
- Laboratory of Physiopharmacology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Wim Martinet
- Laboratory of Physiopharmacology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Paul Fransen
- Laboratory of Physiopharmacology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Antwerp, Belgium.
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Gatica D, Chiong M, Lavandero S, Klionsky DJ. The role of autophagy in cardiovascular pathology. Cardiovasc Res 2021; 118:934-950. [PMID: 33956077 DOI: 10.1093/cvr/cvab158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Accepted: 04/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Macroautophagy/autophagy is a conserved catabolic recycling pathway in which cytoplasmic components are sequestered, degraded, and recycled to survive various stress conditions. Autophagy dysregulation has been observed and linked with the development and progression of several pathologies, including cardiovascular diseases, the leading cause of death in the developed world. In this review, we aim to provide a broad understanding of the different molecular factors that govern autophagy regulation and how these mechanisms are involved in the development of specific cardiovascular pathologies, including ischemic and reperfusion injury, myocardial infarction, cardiac hypertrophy, cardiac remodeling, and heart failure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Damián Gatica
- Life Sciences Institute and Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Mario Chiong
- Advanced Center for Chronic Diseases (ACCDiS), Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Farmacéuticas & Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 8380492, Chile
| | - Sergio Lavandero
- Advanced Center for Chronic Diseases (ACCDiS), Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Farmacéuticas & Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 8380492, Chile.,Corporación Centro de Estudios Científicos de las Enfermedades Crónicas (CECEC), Santiago 7860201, Chile.,Department of Internal Medicine (Cardiology Division), University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390-8573, USA
| | - Daniel J Klionsky
- Life Sciences Institute and Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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Hendrickx JO, Martinet W, Van Dam D, De Meyer GRY. Inflammation, Nitro-Oxidative Stress, Impaired Autophagy, and Insulin Resistance as a Mechanistic Convergence Between Arterial Stiffness and Alzheimer's Disease. Front Mol Biosci 2021; 8:651215. [PMID: 33855048 PMCID: PMC8039307 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2021.651215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The average age of the world's elderly population is steadily increasing. This unprecedented rise in the aged world population will increase the prevalence of age-related disorders such as cardiovascular disease (CVD) and neurodegeneration. In recent years, there has been an increased interest in the potential interplay between CVDs and neurodegenerative syndromes, as several vascular risk factors have been associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Along these lines, arterial stiffness is an independent risk factor for both CVD and AD. In this review, we discuss several inflammaging-related disease mechanisms including acute tissue-specific inflammation, nitro-oxidative stress, impaired autophagy, and insulin resistance which may contribute to the proposed synergism between arterial stiffness and AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jhana O. Hendrickx
- Laboratory of Physiopharmacology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical, Biomedical and Veterinary Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Wim Martinet
- Laboratory of Physiopharmacology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical, Biomedical and Veterinary Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Debby Van Dam
- Laboratory of Neurochemistry and Behavior, Institute Born-Bunge, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
- Department of Neurology and Alzheimer Research Center, University of Groningen and University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Guido R. Y. De Meyer
- Laboratory of Physiopharmacology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical, Biomedical and Veterinary Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
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