Serum proteomic analysis reveals the cardioprotective effects of Shexiang Baoxin Pill and Suxiao Jiuxin Pill in a rat model of acute myocardial infarction

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Shexiang Baoxin Pill (SBP) and Suxiao Jiuxin Pill (SJP) are traditional Chinese medicines used to treat cardiovascular disease (CVD) in China. However, the mechanism of their therapeutic effect on CVD has not been clearly elucidated yet.

AIMS

The aim of this study is to investigate the cardioprotective effect of SBP and SJP in the treatment of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) model rats by applying serum proteomic approach.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The rat model of AMI was generated by ligating the left anterior descending coronary artery. 42 rats were randomly divided into four groups: sham-operating (Sham, n = 10) group, model (Mod, n = 8) group, Shexiang Baoxin pills pretreatment (SBP, n = 12) group and Suxiao Jiuxin pills pretreatment (SJP, n = 12) group. Data Independent Acquisition (DIA) proteomic approach was utilized to investigate the serum proteome from the rat individuals. The differentially expressed proteins were subsequently obtained with bioinformatic analysis.

RESULTS

DIA-MS identified 415 proteins within 42 samples, and 84 differentially expressed proteins may contribute to the therapeutic effects of SBP and SJP. GOBP and KEGG pathway analysis of 84 differentially expressed proteins revealed that the proteins were mainly involved in platelet activation and adhesion processes. All 84 differentially expressed proteins presented the same changing tendency in the SBP and SJP groups when compared with the Mod group. Among these 84 proteins, 25 proteins were found to be related to CVD. Among these 25 proteins, ACTB, ACTG1, FGA, FGB, FGG, PF4 and VWF were found to be involved in platelet aggregation and activation. FN1, HSPA5 and YWHAZ were associated with adhesion.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of our study suggest that the cardioprotective effects of SBP and SJP are achieved through the modulation of focal adhesion, platelet activation pathways.

Evaluation of potential herb-drug interactions based on the effect of Suxiao Jiuxin Pill on CYP450 enzymes and transporters

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY RELEVANCE

Suxiao jiuxin pill (SJP) is a Chinese medical drug with anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, and vasodilatory function. It is widely used in combination with other drugs for the treatment of coronary heart disease (CHD) and angina. Nevertheless, the effect of SJP on Cytochrome P450 (CYP450) enzymes and transporters' activity related to drug metabolism is rarely studied.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of SJP on the activity of drug-metabolizing enzyme CYP450 and transporters.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Human primary hepatocytes were used in present study. Probe substrates of CYP450 enzymes were incubated in human liver microsomes (HLMs) with and without SJP while IC₅₀ values were calculated. The inhibitory effect of SJP on the activity of CYP1A2, 2B6, 2C8, 2C9, 2C19, 2D6 and 3A4 was evaluated. The inducing effect of SJP on the activity of CYP1A2, 2B6 and 3A4 was accessed. The inhibition of SJP on human OATP1B1 was investigated through cell-based assay. The inhibition of SJP on human MDR1 and BCRP was also estimated by means of the vesicles assay.

RESULTS

The results showed that the SJP under the concentration of 1000 μg/mL could inhibit the activity of CYP1A2, 2B6, 2C19, and 3A4, with IC₅₀ values of 189.7, 308.2, 331.2 and 805.7 μg/mL, respectively. There was no inhibitory effect found in the other 3 liver drug enzyme subtypes. In addition, SJP showed no induction effect on CYP1A2, 2B6 and 3A4, however it had a significant inhibitory effect on human-derived OATP1B1 at the concentration of 100 and 1000 μg/mL, with the IC₅₀ value of 21.9 μg/mL. Simultaneously, the SJP inhibited BCRP at high concentration of 1000 μg/mL but did not affect human MDR1.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on these research results above, it is suggested that the SJP can affect some of the CYP450 enzymes and transporters' activity. When used in combination with related conventional drugs, potential herb-drug interactions should be considered.

Searching for synergistic calcium antagonists and novel therapeutic regimens for coronary heart disease therapy from a Traditional Chinese Medicine, Suxiao Jiuxin Pill

Coronary heart disease is a vital cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, and calcium channel blockers (CCBs) are important drugs that can be used to treat cardiovascular diseases. Suxiao Jiuxin Pill (SX), a traditional Chinese medicine, is widely used as an emergency drug for coronary heart disease therapy. However, understanding its potential mechanism in intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca²⁺]_i) modulation remains a challenge. To identify the active pharmacological ingredients (APIs) and reveal a novel combination therapy for ameliorating cardiovascular diseases, the ultra-performance liquid chromatography/quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC/Q-TOF MS) combined with a dual-luciferase reporter [Ca²⁺]_i assay system was applied. Ligustrazine, ferulic acid, senkyunolide I, senkyunolide A and ligustilide were identified as potential calcium antagonists in SX, and the combination of ligustrazine and senkyunolide A showed synergetic calcium antagonistic activity. Additionally, the synergetic mechanism was further investigated by live-imaging analysis with the Ca²⁺ indicator fluo-4/AM by monitoring fluorescence changes. Our results indicated that ligustrazine can block voltage-operated Ca²⁺ channels (VDCCs) effectively and senkyunolide A can exert an inhibition effect mostly on ryanodine receptors (RYRs) and partly on VDCCs. Finally, an arterial ring assay showed that the combination of ligustrazine and senkyunolide A exerted a better vasodilatation function than using any components alone. In this study, we first revealed that a pair of natural APIs in combination acting on VDCCs and RYRs was more effective on vasodilatation by regulating [Ca²⁺]_i.