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Liang J, Li W, Liu H, Li X, Yuan C, Zou W, Qu L. Di’ao Xinxuekang Capsule Improves the Anti-Atherosclerotic Effect of Atorvastatin by Downregulating the SREBP2/PCSK9 Signalling Pathway. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:857092. [PMID: 35571088 PMCID: PMC9096164 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.857092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Statins are the first choice for lowering low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and preventing atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). However, statins can also upregulate proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9), which in turn might limits the cholesterol-lowering effect of statins through the degradation of LDL receptors (LDLR). Di’ao Xinxuekang (DXXK) capsule, as a well-known traditional Chinese herbal medicine for the prevention and treatment of coronary heart disease, can alleviate lipid disorders and ameliorate atherosclerosis in atherosclerosis model mice and downregulate the expression of PCSK9. In this study, we further explored whether DXXK has a synergistic effect with atorvastatin (ATO) and its underlying molecular mechanism. The results showed that both ATO monotherapy (1.3 mg/kg) and ATO combined with DXXK therapy significantly lowered serum lipid levels and reduced the formation of atherosclerotic plaques and the liver lipid accumulation. Moreover, compared with ATO monotherapy, the addition of DXXK (160 mg/kg) to the combination therapy further lowered LDL-C by 15.55% and further reduced the atherosclerotic plaque area by 25.98%. In addition, the expression of SREBP2, PCSK9 and IDOL showed a significant increase in the model group, and the expression of LDLR was significantly reduced; however, there were no significant differences between the ATO (1.3 mg/kg) and the model groups. When ATO was combined with DXXK, the expression of LDLR was significantly increased and was higher than that of the model group and the expression of SREBP2 and PCSK9 in the liver was also significantly inhibited. Moreover, it can be seen that the expression of SREBP2 and PCSK9 in the combination treatment group was significantly lower than that in the ATO monotherapy group (1.3 mg/kg). Besides, the expression of IDOL mRNA in each treatment group was not significantly different from that of the model group. Our study suggests that DXXK might have a synergistic effect on the LDL-C lowering and antiatherosclerosis effects of ATO through the SREBP2/PCSK9 pathway. This indicates that a combination of DXXK and ATO may be a new treatment for atherosclerosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiyi Liang
- College of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Wei Li
- College of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Honglin Liu
- College of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiaofen Li
- College of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Chuqiao Yuan
- College of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Wenjun Zou
- College of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
- *Correspondence: Wenjun Zou, ; Liping Qu,
| | - Liping Qu
- College of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
- *Correspondence: Wenjun Zou, ; Liping Qu,
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Nagaoka S, Takeuchi A, Banno A. Plant-derived peptides improving lipid and glucose metabolism. Peptides 2021; 142:170577. [PMID: 34033874 DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2021.170577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2021] [Revised: 05/14/2021] [Accepted: 05/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Plant protein-derived peptides, focusing especially on soybean protein-derived peptides have considerable effects on metabolic regulation and modulation such as cholesterol lowering, triglyceride lowering, anti-obesity, inhibition of fatty acid synthase, and antidiabetic effects. The molecules targeted to study the metabolic regulatory functions of the peptides included the following: intestinal cholesterol micelle, cholesterol metabolism-related genes for cholesterol lowering, triglyceride metabolism-related genes for triglyceride lowering and anti-obesity, dipeptidyl peptidase-IV (DPP-IV), α-amylase, α-glucosidase, or glucose metabolism-related genes for lowering blood glucose levels. This review article outlines the physiological functions of plant protein-derived peptides for the improvement of lipid and glucose metabolism in vitro or in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satoshi Nagaoka
- Department of Applied Life Science, Faculty of Applied Biological Sciences, Gifu University, Gifu 501-1193, Japan.
| | - Asahi Takeuchi
- Department of Applied Life Science, Faculty of Applied Biological Sciences, Gifu University, Gifu 501-1193, Japan
| | - Arata Banno
- Department of Applied Life Science, Faculty of Applied Biological Sciences, Gifu University, Gifu 501-1193, Japan
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Tang M, Hong L, Li H, Chen W, Tai L, Minshall R, Huang W, Chen J. Stiffness of aortic arch and carotid arteries increases in ApoE-knockout mice with high-fat diet: evidence from echocardiography. Am J Transl Res 2021; 13:1352-1364. [PMID: 33841661 PMCID: PMC8014403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2020] [Accepted: 11/26/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Arterial stiffness is an effective predictor of atherosclerosis. Measurement of pulse-wave velocity (PWV) is a gold-standard approach to study arterial stiffness. This study aims to examine arterial stiffness and heart functions via echocardiography at an early stage of atherosclerosis. A model of atherosclerosis in ApoE-knockout (ApoE-/- ) mice fed on high-fat diet (HFD) was used, with normal chow diet (ND) as a control. Stiffness of aortic arch and carotid arteries and left ventricular (LV) systolic/diastolic functions were measured by echocardiography. The plasma cholesterol levels and atherosclerotic plaque areas in the aortas were measured. The PWV values of aortic arch and carotid arteries were compared at 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks with different diets. Compared with ND mice, PWV values in aortic arch and carotid arteries were significantly increased in HFD mice after 8 weeks (Aortic arch: 516.65 ± 216.89 cm/s vs. 192.53 ± 71.71 cm/s; Carotid arteries: 514.26 ± 211.01 cm/s vs. 188.03 ± 75.14 cm/s, respectively; both P < 0.01) accompanied by the decrease in LV systolic/diastolic functions. These were well correlated with the increase in plasma cholesterol levels. Echo-based PWV measurement in the aortic arch was found more sensitive to predict atherosclerosis than in the carotid arteries in ApoE-/- mice. Measuring aortic arch PWV via echocardiography could represent a new diagnostic strategy for early detection of atherosclerosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Tang
- Department of Medicine, University of Illinois at ChicagoChicago, IL 60612, USA
- Center for Cardiovascular Research, University of Illinois at ChicagoChicago, IL 60612, USA
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical UniversityChongqing 400016, China
| | - Liang Hong
- Department of Medicine, University of Illinois at ChicagoChicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Haibin Li
- Department of Medicine, University of Illinois at ChicagoChicago, IL 60612, USA
- Center for Cardiovascular Research, University of Illinois at ChicagoChicago, IL 60612, USA
- Department of Pathology and Institute of Precision Medicine, Jining Medical UniversityJining 272067, China
| | - Wanshi Chen
- Department of Cardiology, The Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical UniversityChongqing 400014, China
| | - Leon Tai
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Illinois at ChicagoChicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Richard Minshall
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Illinois at ChicagoChicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Wei Huang
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical UniversityChongqing 400016, China
| | - Jiwang Chen
- Department of Medicine, University of Illinois at ChicagoChicago, IL 60612, USA
- Center for Cardiovascular Research, University of Illinois at ChicagoChicago, IL 60612, USA
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Zhang X, Li H, Wang W, Chen T, Xuan L. Lipid-Lowering Activities of Cucurbitacins Isolated from Trichosanthes cucumeroides and Their Synthetic Derivatives. JOURNAL OF NATURAL PRODUCTS 2020; 83:3536-3544. [PMID: 33269591 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.0c00364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
In the ongoing efforts to discover natural cholesterol-lowering compounds, dihydrocucurbitacin B, isolated from Trichosanthes cucumeroides roots, was found to promote LDL uptake by upregulating LDLR protein in a PCSK9-dependent process. In this study, an in-depth investigation of T. cucumeroides roots afforded 27 cucurbitacins (1-27), including seven new cucurbitacins (1-7), and their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic data analyses. In order to gain insight into their structure-activity relationship, cucurbitacin derivatives (B1-11 and DB1-11) were synthesized. Evaluation of lipid-lowering activities of these cucurbitacins by an LDL uptake assay in HepG2 cells revealed that most of the compounds improved the LDL uptake rate, among which hexanorisocucurbitacin D (6) and isocucurbitacin D (21) exhibited the highest activities (rates of 2.53 and 2.47, respectively), which were comparable to that of the positive control, nagilactone B (rate of 2.07). According to a mechanistic study by Western blot analysis, compounds 6 and 21 dose-dependently increased LDLR protein levels and reduced PCSK9 protein levels, representing promising new lipid-lowering drug candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xianjing Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 501 Haike Road, Shanghai 201203, People's Republic of China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 19A Yuquan Road, Beijing 100049, People's Republic of China
| | - Huihui Li
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 501 Haike Road, Shanghai 201203, People's Republic of China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 19A Yuquan Road, Beijing 100049, People's Republic of China
| | - Wenqiong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 501 Haike Road, Shanghai 201203, People's Republic of China
| | - Tong Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 501 Haike Road, Shanghai 201203, People's Republic of China
| | - Lijiang Xuan
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 501 Haike Road, Shanghai 201203, People's Republic of China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 19A Yuquan Road, Beijing 100049, People's Republic of China
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