Epigallocatechin-3-gallate attenuates neointimal hyperplasia in a rat model of carotid artery injury by inhibition of high mobility group box 1 expression

Potential Role of Dietary Phenolic Compounds in the Prevention and Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis: Current Reports

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a complex illness with both hereditary and environmental components. Globally, in 2019, 18 million people had RA. RA is characterized by persistent inflammation of the synovial membrane that lines the joints, cartilage loss, and bone erosion. Phenolic molecules are the most prevalent secondary metabolites in plants, with a diverse spectrum of biological actions that benefit functional meals and nutraceuticals. These compounds have received a lot of attention recently because they have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and anti-rheumatoid activity by modulating tumor necrosis factor, mitogen-activated protein kinase, nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells, and c-Jun N-terminal kinases, as well as other preventative properties. This article discusses dietary polyphenols, their pharmacological properties, and innovative delivery technologies for the treatment of RA, with a focus on their possible biological activities. Nonetheless, commercialization of polyphenols may be achievable only after confirming their safety profile and completing successful clinical trials.

Multi-functional plant flavonoids regulate pathological microenvironments for vascular stent surface engineering

In-stent restenosis (ISR) and late thrombosis, usually caused by excessive smooth muscle cell (SMC) proliferation and delayed endothelial layer repair, respectively, are the main risks for the failure of vascular stent implantation. For years, modification of stents with biomolecules that could selectively inhibit SMC proliferation and support endothelial cell (EC) growth had drawn extensive attention. However, the modulatory effect of these biomolecules faces the impact of oxidative stress, inflammation, and hyperlipidemia of the pathological vascular microenvironment, which is caused by the stent implantation injury and atherosclerosis lesions. Here, we modified stents with a natural and multi-functional flavonoid, baicalin (BCL), using poly-dopamine (PDA) coating technology to combat the harmful impact of the pathological microenvironment. Stent with an appropriate BCL immobilization density (approximately 2.03 μg/cm2) successfully supported ECs growth while inhibited SMC proliferation. Furthermore, baicalin-modified surfaces regulated the oxidative stress, inflammation, and high-lipid of the pathological microenvironment to inhibit endothelial dysfunction and the oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL)-induced macrophage foam cells formation. In vivo results showed that baicalin-modified stents exhibited significant anti-ISR, anti-inflammatory, and endothelialization-promoting functions. Our study suggests that the multi-functional baicalin with pathological microenvironment-regulation (PMR) effect has potential use in the surface engineering of cardiovascular devices. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Empowering vascular stents with selective modulation of smooth muscle cells and endothelial cells by surface technology has become an important research direction for stent surface engineering. However, stent coatings that can furthermodulate the pathological microenvironment of blood vessels have been rarely reported. In this study, we constructed a multifunctional coating based on a flavonoid, baicalin, which can selectively modulate vascular wall cells and improve the pathological microenvironment. This study may provide a reference for developing advanced vascular stents.

The clinical significance of serum HMGB1 in patients with lower extremity arteriosclerosis obliterans after interventional vascular restenosis

Objective

This study explored the correlation between serum HMGB1 levels and postoperative vascular restenosis in patients with lower extremity arteriosclerosis obliterans (LEASO).

Methods

A total of 362 patients LEASO who received vascular intervention were recruited in this study. Serum HMGB1 levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify the influencing factors associated with vascular restenosis. The R procedure was used to create nomogram model. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to determine the predictive value of serum HMGB1 and nomogram model for vascular restenosis.

Results

Of the 362 LEASO patients included, 103 (28.45%) developed restenosis within 6 months of postoperative follow-up. Postoperative HMGB1 levels were significantly higher in patients with restenosis compared to those with non-restenosis. Postoperative HMGB1 levels were significantly and positively correlated with the severity of postoperative restenosis (r = 0.819). The AUC of postoperative HMGB1 for the diagnosis of postoperative restenosis was 0.758 (95% CI: 0.703-0.812), with a sensitivity and specificity of 56.31% and 82.24%, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that diabetes, smoking, regular postoperative medication, increased fibrinogen, decreased red blood cells, increased hs-CRP, and increased postoperative HMGB1 were independently associated with postoperative restenosis in patients with LEASO. The C-index of the nomogram prediction model constructed based on the seven influencing factors mentioned above was 0.918. The nomogram model was significantly more predictive of postoperative restenosis in LEASO patients compared with a single postoperative HMGB1 (AUC: 0.918, 95% CI: 0.757-0.934).

Conclusion

Postoperative serum HMGB1 is an independent risk factor associated with postoperative vascular restenosis in patients with LEASO, and a novel nomogram model based on postoperative serum HMGB1 combined with clinical characteristics may help to accurately predict the risk of postoperative restenosis in patients with LEASO.

Cytokine-induced apoptosis inhibitor 1 (CIAPIN1) accelerates vascular remodelling via p53 and JAK2-STAT3 regulation in vascular smooth muscle cells

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Abnormal vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation and migration lead to neointima formation, which eventually results in cardiovascular hyperplastic diseases. The molecular mechanisms underlying these cellular processes have not been fully understood. Cytokine-induced apoptosis inhibitor 1 (CIAPIN1) has been identified as an anti-apoptotic molecule, but little is known about its target genes and related pathways in VSMC dysfunction or its clinical implication in neointima formation following vascular injury.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

Determination, using loss/gain-of-function approaches by gene delivery, of whether CIAPIN1 modulates VSMC proliferation, migration and neointima formation and the underlying mechanisms was carried out. Balloon injury or ligation and local delivery of lentivirus were performed on rat or mouse carotid arteries. Rat aortic smooth muscle cells, the primary cell, was used as the model to evaluate the effect of CIAPIN1 on proliferation and migration.

KEY RESULTS

CIAPIN1 was overexpressed in the neointimal region of rat arteries. CIAPIN1 deficiency markedly inhibited injury-induced or ligation-induced intimal hyperplasia and suppressed PDGF-BB-induced VSMC proliferation, migration and cell cycle progression, while overexpression promoted proliferation, migration and neointima formation. CIAPIN1 negatively regulated Tp53 transcription, which promoted cell cycle progression and migration via cyclin E1-CDK2/pRb/PCNA and the MMP2 pathway. CIAPIN1 also increased JAK2 expression, enhancing JAK2 and STAT3 phosphorylation by vascular injury, which forced phenotypic switching from contractile to synthetic state in injured arteries.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

These findings provide new insights into the mechanism by which CIAPIN1 regulates vascular remodelling and suggest a novel therapeutic target for treating vascular proliferative diseases.

Potential protective mechanisms of green tea polyphenol EGCG against COVID-19

Background

The world is in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. In this comprehensive review, we discuss the potential protective effects of (−)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a major constituent of green tea, against COVID-19.

Scope and approach

Information from literature of clinical symptoms and molecular pathology of COVID-19 as well as relevant publications in which EGCG shows potential protective activities against COVID-19 is integrated and evaluated.

Key findings and conclusions

EGCG, via activating Nrf2, can suppress ACE2 (a cellular receptor for SARS-CoV-2) and TMPRSS2, which mediate cell entry of the virus. Through inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 main protease, EGCG may inhibit viral reproduction. EGCG via its broad antioxidant activity may protect against SARS-CoV-2 evoked mitochondrial ROS (which promote SARS-CoV-2 replication) and against ROS burst inflicted by neutrophil extracellular traps. By suppressing ER-resident GRP78 activity and expression, EGCG can potentially inhibit SARS-CoV-2 life cycle. EGCG also shows protective effects against 1) cytokine storm-associated acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome, 2) thrombosis via suppressing tissue factors and activating platelets, 3) sepsis by inactivating redox-sensitive HMGB1, and 4) lung fibrosis through augmenting Nrf2 and suppressing NF-κB. These activities remain to be further substantiated in animals and humans. The possible concerted actions of EGCG suggest the importance of further studies on the prevention and treatment of COVID-19 in humans. These results also call for epidemiological studies on potential preventive effects of green tea drinking on COVID-19.

Epigallocatechin Gallate (EGCG) Improves Anti-Angiogenic State, Cell Viability, and Hypoxia-Induced Endothelial Dysfunction by Downregulating High Mobility Group Box 1 (HMGB1) in Preeclampsia

Background

Preeclampsia (PE) is a serious complication of pregnancy with no effective therapy. This study assessed whether epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) could reduce the production of anti-angiogenic factors, improve cell viability, and suppress endothelial dysfunction in vitro via regulating high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) in preeclampsia.

Material/Methods

Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) grown in conditioned medium from hypoxic JEG-3 cells were used to investigate the effects of EGCG on anti-angiogenic state, cell viability, and markers of endothelial dysfunction. To confirm that EGCG exerted its effects via HMGB1, we also examined the impact of EGCG on anti-angiogenic state, cell viability, and endothelial dysfunction following HMGB1 treatment in vitro.

Results

EGCG inhibited HMGB1 expression in hypoxic trophoblast cells in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, EGCG relieved anti-angiogenic state and endothelial dysfunction in hypoxic trophoblast cells by downregulating HMGB1. Moreover, EGCG dose-dependently promoted cell proliferation by downregulating HMGB1.

Conclusions

Taken together, our data show the protective role of EGCG in preeclampsia and revealed EGCG-mediated effects on the production of anti-angiogenic factors, cell viability, and endothelial dysfunction through downregulating HMGB1. These observations suggest that EGCG is a novel therapeutic candidate for preeclampsia.