Sodium tanshinone IIA sulfonate ameliorates cerebral ischemic injury through regulation of angiogenesis

Naoxintong capsule accelerates mitophagy in cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury via TP53/PINK1/PRKN pathway based on network pharmacology analysis and experimental validation

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

The incidence and mortality of cerebrovascular diseases are increasing year by year. Cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury (CIRI) is common in patients with ischemic stroke. Naoxintong (NXT) is composed of a variety of Chinese medicines and has the ability to treat CIRI.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The aim of this study is to investigate whether NXT regulates mitophagy in CIRI based on network pharmacology analysis and experimental validation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Oxygen and glucose deprivation/re-oxygenation (OGD/R, 2/22 h) model of PC12 cells and transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO, 2/22 h) model of rats were established. Pharmacodynamic indicators include neurological deficit score, 2,3,5-triphenyte-trazoliumchloride (TTC) staining, hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and cell viability. Network pharmacology was used to predict pharmacological mechanisms. Pharmacological mechanism indexes include transmission electron microscopy (TEM), drug affinity responsive target stability (DARTS), cellular thermal shift assay (CETSA), immunohistochemistry (IHC), western blot (WB) and immunofluorescence (IF). Kevetrin (an agonists of p53) and pifithrin-α (an inhibitor of p53) used to detect the key role of p53 in mitophagy of NXT.

RESULTS

NXT (1% serum containing NXT and 110 mg/kg) improved the damage of OGD/R PC12 cells and tMCAO rats, and this protective effect was related to the anti-oxidation and ability to promote mitophagy of NXT. NXT and pifithrin-α increased the expression of promoting-mitophagy targets (PINK1, PRKN and LC3B) and inhibited the expression of inhibiting-mitophagy targets (p52) via restraining p53, and finally accelerated mitophagy caused by CIRI.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrates that NXT promotes mitophagy in CIRI through restraining p53 and promoting PINK1/PRKN in vivo and in vitro.

Traditional Chinese medicines treat ischemic stroke and their main bioactive constituents and mechanisms

Ischemic stroke (IS) remains one of the leading causes of death and disability in humans. Unfortunately, none of the treatments effectively provide functional benefits to patients with IS, although many do so by targeting different aspects of the ischemic cascade response. The advantages of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in preventing and treating IS are obvious in terms of early treatment and global coordination. The efficacy of TCM and its bioactive constituents has been scientifically proven over the past decades. Based on clinical trials, this article provides a review of commonly used TCM patent medicines and herbal decoctions indicated for IS. In addition, this paper also reviews the mechanisms of bioactive constituents in TCM for the treatment of IS in recent years, both domestically and internationally. A comprehensive review of preclinical and clinical studies will hopefully provide new ideas to address the threat of IS.

Tanshinone IIA Against Cerebral Ischemic Stroke and Ischemia- Reperfusion Injury: A Review of the Current Documents

Stroke is a well-known neurological disorder that carries significant morbidity and mortality rates worldwide. Cerebral Ischemic Stroke (CIS), the most common subtype of stroke, occurs when thrombosis or emboli form elsewhere in the body and travel to the brain, leading to reduced blood perfusion. Cerebral Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury (CIRI) is a common complication of CIS and arises when blood flow is rapidly restored to the brain tissue after a period of ischemia. The therapeutic approaches currently recognized for CIS, such as thrombolysis and thrombectomy, have notable side effects that limit their clinical application. Recently, there has been growing interest among researchers in exploring the potential of herbal agents for treating various disorders and malignancies. One such herbal agent with medicinal applications is tanshinone IIA, an active diterpene quinone extracted from Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge. Tanshinone IIA has shown several pharmacological benefits, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-apoptotic, and neuroprotective properties. Multiple studies have indicated the protective role of tanshinone IIA in CIS and CIRI. This literature review aims to summarize the current findings regarding the molecular mechanisms through which this herbal compound improves CIS and CIRI.

The protective effect of an extract of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge (Danshen) on cerebral ischemic injury in animal models: A systematic review and meta-analysis

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Cerebral ischemia is a common disease that seriously threatens the health of human beings. Tanshinone IIA (TSA) is a fat-soluble compound isolated from the traditional Chinese medicine Danshen. Recent studies have shown that TSA plays a significant protective role in the animal models of cerebral ischemic injury.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The meta-analysis was to evaluate the protective effect of Danshen (Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge) extract (TSA) in cerebral ischemic injury, aiming at providing scientific evidence for clinical application of TSA in the treatment of cerebral ischemia in patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

All relevant studies published in PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Database, Chinese Scientific Journals Database (VIP) and Chinese Biomedicine Database (CBM) before Jan 2023 were systematically retrieved. The methodological quality was assessed by SYRCLE's risk of bias tool for the animal studies. Data was analyzed using Rev Man 5.3 software.

RESULTS

A total of 13 studies were included. Compared with the control group, TSA significantly reduced the expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) (mean difference [MD], -1.78; 95% CI, [-2.13, -1.44]; P < 0.00001) and high mobility group protein B1 (HMGB1) (MD, -0.69; 95% CI, [-0.87, -0.52]; P < 0.00001). TSA also inhibited the activation of brain nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) (MD, - 0.36; 95% CI, [-0.41, -0.32]; P < 0.00001), malondialdehyde (MDA) (MD, -0.90; 95% CI, [-1.66, -0.13]; P = 0.02), cysteine protease-3 (Caspase-3) (MD, -1.39; 95% CI, [-1.98, -0.81]; P < 0.00001), and reduced cerebral infarction volume(MD, -16.26; 95% CI, [-20.76, -11.77]; P < 0.00001), brain water content (MD, -4.89; 95% CI, [-7.06, -2.71]; P < 0.0001) and neurological deficit scores (MD, -1.19; 95% CI, [-1.48, -0.89]; P < 0.00001). Additionally, TSA increased the brain content of superoxide dismutase (SOD) (MD, 68.31; 95% CI, [10.41, 126.22]; P = 0.02).

CONCLUSIONS

The result of this study showed that TSA had a protective effect on cerebral ischemic injury in animal models, and the mechanism is associated with the reduction of inflammation and oxidative stress, and the inhibition of cell apoptosis. However, the quality of included studies may affect the accuracy of positive results. Therefore, more high-quality randomized controlled animal experiments are need for meta-analysis in the future.

Sodium Tanshinone IIA Sulfonate Ameliorates Oxygen-glucose Deprivation/Reoxygenation-induced Neuronal Injury via Protection of Mitochondria and Promotion of Autophagy

Sodium tanshinone IIA sulfonate (STS) has shown significant clinical therapeutic effects in cerebral ischemic stroke (CIS), but the molecular mechanisms of neuroprotection remain partially known. The purpose of this study was to explore whether STS plays a protective role in oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R)-induced neuronal injury by regulating microglia autophagy and inflammatory activity. Co-cultured microglia and neurons were subjected to OGD/R injury, an in vitro model of ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury with or without STS treatment. Expression of protein phosphatase 2 A (PP2A) and autophagy-associated proteins Beclin 1, autophagy related 5 (ATG5), and p62 in microglia was determined by Western blotting. Autophagic flux in microglia was observed with confocal laser scanning microscopy. Neuronal apoptosis was measured by flow cytometric and TUNEL assays. Neuronal mitochondrial function was determined via assessments of reactive oxygen species generation and mitochondrial membrane potential integrity. STS treatment markedly induced PP2A expression in microglia. Forced overexpression of PP2A increased levels of Beclin 1 and ATG5, decreased the p62 protein level, and induced autophagic flux. Silencing of PP2A or administration of 3-methyladenine inhibited autophagy and decreased the production of anti-inflammatory factors (IL-10, TGF-β and BDNF) and induced the release of proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-2 and TNF-α) by STS-treated microglia, thereby inducing mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptosis of STS-treated neurons. STS exerts protection against neuron injury, and the PP2A gene plays a crucial role in improving mitochondrial function and inhibiting neuronal apoptosis by regulating autophagy and inflammation in microglia.

Tanshinone IIA regulates expression of glucose transporter 1 via activation of the HIF‑1α signaling pathway

Tanshinone IIA (Tan 2A) is a lipid‑soluble compound extracted from the Chinese herb Danshen (Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge). It protects neuron and microvascular endothelial cells against hypoxia/ischemia both in vitro and in vivo however the mechanism is not fully known. Glucose transporter 1 (GLUT‑1) is ubiquitously expressed in all types of tissue in the human body and serves important physiological functions due to its glucose uptake ability. The present study evaluated the role of Tan 2A in regulating GLUT‑1 expression and its potential mechanism. RT‑PCR and western Blot were used to detect the expression of GLUT‑1. Si RNA mediated knockdown and CHIP assay were used to explore the mechanism of Tan 2A on GLUT‑1expression. Tan 2A treatment induced expression of GLUT‑1 and subsequently increased glucose uptake in endothelial cells (ECs). Furthermore, mRNA expression levels of vascular endothelial cell growth factor, BCL2 interacting protein 3 and enolase 2, which are target genes for hypoxia‑inducible factor‑1α (HIF‑1α), were significantly upregulated by Tan 2A. Co‑immunoprecipitation demonstrated that Tan 2A markedly increased the association of HIF‑1α with recombination signal‑binding protein for immunoglobulin κJ region (RBPJκ). Moreover, knockdown of HIF‑1α and RBPJκ significantly reversed the regulatory effect of Tan 2A on mRNA expression levels of these genes in ECs. The results of the present study suggested that HIF‑1α partially mediated the regulatory effect of Tan 2A on GLUT‑1 expression in ECs. Therefore, GLUT‑1 may be a potential therapeutic target for Tan 2A.

The regulatory effect of pulmonary lymphatic drainage on silicosis fibrosis

Silicosis is a fibrotic disease caused by long-term inhalation of SiO₂ particles that currently has no effective treatment. Earlier studies have suggested that pulmonary lymphatic vessels play a key role in the transport of silica but have not address the long-term effects of altered pulmonary lymphatic drainage on silicosis. Here, we investigated the impact of impaired pulmonary lymphatic drainage on silicosis. In the past, lymphatic drainage disorders were established mainly through the use of VEGF inhibitors. For the first time, we established a model of pulmonary lymphatic drainage disorder by ligating the thoracic duct in rats. Impaired pulmonary lymphatic drainage was found to aggravate inflammation and oxidative damage in silicosis rats and accelerate silicosis progression. Next, we investigated the effect of pulmonary lymphatic drainage on silicosis. We have demonstrated the effect of sodium tanshinone IIA sulfonate(STS) on lymphangiogenesis, which revealed that STS promotes lymphangiogenesis and can delay inflammation, oxidative damage, and fibrosis progression in silicosis rats by promoting the pulmonary lymphatic drainage response, and this effect is mediated by the VEGFR-3/PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. These findings suggest that pulmonary lymphogenesis plays an important role in silicosis pathogenesis, and targeted intervention in pulmonary lymphangiogenesis may be a potential strategy for treating of silicosis in the future.

The crosstalk signals of Sodium Tanshinone ⅡA Sulfonate in rats with cerebral ischemic stroke: Insights from proteomics

BACKGROUND

Stroke could cause long-term disability, even mortality around the world. Recently, Sodium tanshinone IIA sulfonate (STS), identified from Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge and was found to have unique efficiency in clinical practice as a potential therapeutic agent for ischemic cerebral infarction. However, systematic investigation about the biological mechanism is still lacking. Herein, we utilized high-throughput proteomics approach to identify the underlying targets for the treatment of STS in stroke.

METHODS

We investigated the effect of STS on stroke outcomes on rat model of the Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion and Reperfusion (MCAO/R), assessing by Z-Longa score, infarct volume and HE staining. Pharmacoproteomic profiling of ischemic penumbra in cortical (IPC) was performed using DIA-based label-free liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) technique. Bioinformatics analysis was processed for further investigation. The expression of core proteins was semi-quantified by DIA, and the major protein correlating with stroke was examined using parallel reaction monitoring (PRM).

RESULTS

Rats in the MCAO/R group showed neurological function deterioration, which was improved by STS. There were 423 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) in IPC being detected and quantified in both the sham group and the MCAO/R group. Meanwhile, 285 proteins were significantly changed in the STS treated group, compared to the MCAO/R model. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) network, pathway and biological function enrichment were processed for the DEPs across each two groups, the results of which were integrated for analysis. Alb, mTOR, Dync1h1, Stxbp1, Cltc, and Sptan1 were contained as the core proteins. Altered molecules were discovered to be enriched in 18 signal pathways such as phosphatidylinositol signaling system, PI3K/AKT signal pathway and HIF-1 signal pathway. The results also showed the correlation with sleep disturbances and depression post-stroke.

CONCLUSIONS

We concluded that STS could prevent penumbra from progressively ongoing damage and improve neurological deficits in MCAO/R model rats. The intersected pathways and protein networks predicted by proteomics might provide much more detailed information for the therapeutic mechanisms of STS in the treatment of CIS.

Ginkgolide B Targets and Inhibits Creatine Kinase B to Regulate the CCT/TRiC-SK1 Axis and Exerts Pro-Angiogenic Activity in Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion Mice

Promoting angiogenesis in the ischemic penumbra is a well-established method of ischemic stroke treatment. Ginkgolide B (GB) has long been recognized for its neuroprotective properties following stroke. As previously reported, it appears that stroke-induced neurogenesis and angiogenesis interact or are dependent on one another. Although the pharmacodynamic effect of GB on cerebral blood flow (CBF) following ischemic stroke has been reported, the molecular mechanism underlying this effect remains unknown. As such, this study sought to elucidate the pharmacodynamic effects and underlying mechanisms of GB on post-stroke angiogenesis. To begin, GB significantly increased the proliferation, migration, and tube formation capacity of mouse cerebral hemangioendothelioma cells (b.End3) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). Additionally, GB significantly improved angiogenesis after oxygen-glucose deprivation/reperfusion (OGD/R) in endothelial cells. The dynamics of CBF, brain microvascular neovascularization and reconstruction, and brain endothelial tissue integrity were examined in middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) mice following GB administration. Through label-free target detection techniques, we discovered for the first time that GB can specifically target Creatine Kinase B (CKB) and inhibit its enzymatic activity. Additionally, we demonstrated through network pharmacology and a series of molecular biology experiments that GB inhibited CKB and then promoted angiogenesis via the CCT/TRiC-SK1 axis. These findings shed new light on novel therapeutic strategies for neurological recovery and endothelial repair following ischemic stroke using GB therapy.

Sodium tanshinone IIA sulfonate improves cognitive impairment via regulating Aβ transportation in AD transgenic mouse model

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a most common neurodegenerative disease. Sodium Tanshinone IIA Sulfonate (STS) has been reported to ameliorate AD pathology. However, the underlying mechanism is still unclear. In this study, AD transgenic mouse model (APP/PS1) was used to explore the potential mechanism of STS against AD. Morris water maze and Y-maze tests showed that administration of STS improved learning and memory abilities of APP/PS1 mice. STS reduced the levels of reactive oxygen species and malondialdehyde, while improved the activity of superoxide dismutase in both hippocampus and cortex in APP/PS1 mice. STS inhibited the activity of acetylcholinesterase, while improved the activity of choline acetyltransferase in APP/PS1 mice. In addition, STS elevated the protein expressions of neurotrophic factors and synapse-related proteins in both the hippocampus and cortex in APP/PS1 mice. At last, STS improved the protein expressions of glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1) and low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1 (LRP1). These results indicated that the potential mechanism of STS on AD might be related to Aβ transportation function via GLUT1/LRP1 pathway. HIGHLIGHTS: STS improves cognitive impairment of APP/PS1 mice. STS ameliorates the oxidative stress damage and improves the cholinergic system. STS protects against neuronal dysfunction and enhances the synaptic plasticity. STS mediates the Aβ transportation of BMECs.