Lovastatin exerts protective effects on endothelial cells via upregulation of PTK2B

Spontaneously Right-Side-Out-Orientated Coupling-Driven ROS-Sensitive Nanoparticles on Cell Membrane Inner Leaflet for Efficient Renovation in Vascular Endothelial Injury

Biomimetic cell membrane camouflaged technology has drawn extensive attention as a feasible and efficient way to realize the biological functions of nanoparticles from the parent cells. As the burgeoning nanotherapeutic, the right-side-out orientation self-assembly and pathological dependent "on-demand" cargo release of cell membrane camouflaged nanocarriers remarkably limit further development for practical applications. In the present study, a spontaneously right-side-out-orientated coupling-driven ROS-sensitive nanotherapeutic has been constructed for target endothelial cells (ECs) repair through the synergistic effects of spontaneously right-side-out-orientated camouflaging. This condition results from the specific affinity between the intracellular domain of key transmembrane receptors band 3 on cell membrane inner leaflet and the corresponding P4.2 peptide-modified nanoparticles without the additional coextrusion. The "on-demand" cargo release results from the pathological ROS-cleavable prodrug. Particularly, the red blood cell camouflaged nanotherapeutics (RBC-LVTNPs) can enhance target drug delivery through low oscillatory shear stress (LSS) blood flow in the injured ECs lesion. Both in vitro and in vivo results collectively confirm that RBC-LVTNPs can restore the damaged ECs and function with the recovered vascular permeability and low inflammation microenvironment. The findings provide a powerful and universal approach for developing the biomimetic cell membrane camouflaged nanotechnology.

Impact of Red Yeast Rice on Metabolic Diseases: A Review of Possible Mechanisms of Action

Metabolic diseases constitute a major public health burden and are linked with high morbidity and mortality. They comprise atherosclerosis dyslipidemia, diabetes, hypertension, and obesity. However, there is no single drug that can simultaneously treat multiple diseases with complex underlying mechanisms. Therefore, it is necessary to identify a class of adjuvant drugs that block the development of metabolic diseases from a preventive perspective. Red yeast rice is a food fermentation product widely used to promote blood circulation and remove blood stasis. Modern pharmacology has shown that red yeast rice exerts potential protective effects on the liver, pancreas, blood vessels, and intestines. Therefore, this study was carried out to analyze and summarize the effect of red yeast rice on several metabolic diseases and the mechanisms of action involved. It was found that red yeast rice may be beneficial in the prevention and treatment of metabolic diseases.

Effects of statins on multispecies oral biofilm identify simvastatin as a drug candidate targeting Porphyromonas gingivalis

BACKGROUND

Statins effectively reduce risk of cardiovascular-related morbidity and mortality in patients with hyperlipidemia, hypertension, or type 2 diabetes. In addition to lowering cholesterol levels, several studies have attributed statins with immunomodulatory and bactericidal properties. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate statins' antimicrobial activity against periodontal homeostasis bacteria.

METHODS

Statin effect on bacterial growth was tested using planktonic monocultures and multibacterial biofilms. The latter consisted of five microbial species (Porphyromonas gingivalis, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Actinomyces naeslundii, Tannerella forsythia, and Streptococcus gordonii) associated with dysbiosis of the oral microbiota underlying establishment and perpetuation of periodontitis.

RESULTS

All four tested statins efficiently inhibited P. gingivalis growth and significantly decreased the cumulative bacterial load in developing and established biofilms. Simvastatin was most efficient and decreased P. gingivalis counts more than 1,300-fold relative to the control.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that similar effects on bacterial composition of the dental plaque may occur in vivo in patients on statins, thus, leading to a shift of the oral microbiome from a dysbiotic to a more homeostatic one. Simvastatin, being highly effective against P. gingivalis while not affecting commensal microbiota, possesses many properties qualifying it as a potential adjunctive treatment for chronic periodontitis. Further studies are needed to evaluate whether similar effects on bacterial composition of the dental plaque may occur in vivo in patients on statins, thus, leading to a shift of the oral microflora from dysbiotic to a more homeostatic one.

RNA-seq expression profiling of rat MCAO model following reperfusion Orexin-A

Orexin-A is a neuropeptide with potent neuroprotective activity towards cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury, but few studies have attempted to elucidate the mechanism. Herein, we performed global gene expression profiling of the hippocampus following reperfusion with Orexin-A using RNA sequencing (RNA-seq). RNA-seq identified 649 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the Orexin-A group compared with saline controls (I/R group), of which 149 were up-regulated and 500 were down-regulated. DEGs were confirmed using qRT-PCR, their molecular functions, biological processes and molecular components were explored using Gene Ontology (GO) analysis and 206 KEGG pathways were associated with Orexin-A treatment. MAPK, chemokine and calcium signalling pathways were mainly responsible for the neuroprotective effects of Orexin-A. Hspb1, Igf2 and Ptk2b were selected for functional interaction analysis by GeneMANIA. The results suggest that Orexin-A modifies gene expression in the hippocampus, leading to neuroprotection from I/R injury. The study provides a basis for future elucidation of the molecular mechanisms underlying Orexin-A.