Tanshinone modulates the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax in cardiomyocytes and has a protective effect in a rat model of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion

Current Perspectives of Mitochondria in Sepsis-Induced Cardiomyopathy

Sepsis-induced cardiomyopathy (SICM) is one of the leading indicators for poor prognosis associated with sepsis. Despite its reversibility, prognosis varies widely among patients. Mitochondria play a key role in cellular energy production by generating adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which is vital for myocardial energy metabolism. Over recent years, mounting evidence suggests that severe sepsis not only triggers mitochondrial structural abnormalities such as apoptosis, incomplete autophagy, and mitophagy in cardiomyocytes but also compromises their function, leading to ATP depletion. This metabolic disruption is recognized as a significant contributor to SICM, yet effective treatment options remain elusive. Sepsis cannot be effectively treated with inotropic drugs in failing myocardium due to excessive inflammatory factors that blunt β-adrenergic receptors. This review will share the recent knowledge on myocardial cell death in sepsis and its molecular mechanisms, focusing on the role of mitochondria as an important metabolic regulator of SICM, and discuss the potential for developing therapies for sepsis-induced myocardial injury.

TanshinoneⅡA inhibits excessive autophagy and protects myocardium against ischemia/reperfusion injury via 14-3-3η/Akt/Beclin1 pathway

Excessive autophagy induced by reperfusion is one of the causes of severe myocardial injury. Tanshinone IIA (TSN) protects the myocardium against ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. The mechanism by which the inhibition of excessive autophagy contributes to the myocardial protection by TSN is unclear. The protective effects and mechanisms of TSN were studied in H9c2 cells and rats after anoxia/reoxygenation (A/R)-or I/R-induced myocardial injury. The results showed that after the injury, cell viability decreased, lactate dehydrogenase and caspase 3 activity and apoptosis increased, and autophagy was excessively activated. Further, redox imbalance and energy stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, reduced myocardial function, increased infarct area, and severely damaged morphology were observed in rats. TSN increased 14-3-3η expression and regulated Akt/Beclin1 pathway, inhibited excessive autophagy, and significantly reversed the functional, enzymological and morphological indexes in vivo and in vitro. However, the protective effects of TSN were mimicked by 3-methyladenine (an autophagy inhibitor) and were attenuated by pAD/14-3-3η-shRNA, API-2 (an Akt inhibitor), and rapamycin (an autophagy activator). In conclusion, TSN could increase 14-3-3η expression and regulate Akt/Beclin1 pathway, inhibit excessive autophagy, maintain the mitochondrial function, improve energy supply and redox equilibrium, alleviate apoptosis, and ultimately protect myocardium against I/R injury.

Tanshinone I: Pharmacological activities, molecular mechanisms against diseases and future perspectives

BACKGROUND

Tanshinone I (Tan I) is known as one of the important active components in Salvia miltiorrhiza. In recent years, Tan I has received a substantial amount of attention from the research community for various studies being updated and has been shown to possess favorable activities including anti-oxidative stress, regulation of cell autophagy or apoptosis, inhibition of inflammation, etc. PURPOSE: To summarize the investigation progress on the anti-disease efficacy and effect mechanism of Tan I in recent years, and provide perspectives for future study on the active ingredient.

METHOD

Web of Science and PubMed databases were used to search for articles related to "Tanshinone I" published from 2010 to 2022. Proteins or genes and signaling pathways referring to Tan I against diseases were summarized and classified along with its different therapeutic actions. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) analysis was then performed, followed by molecular docking between proteins with high node degree and Tan I, as well as bioinformactic analysis including GO, KEGG and DO enrichment analysis with the collected proteins or genes.

RESULTS

Tan I shows multiple therapeutic effects, including protection of the cardiovascular system, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-neurodegenerative diseases, etc. The targets (proteins or genes) affected by Tan I against diseases involve Bcl-2, Bid, ITGA2, PPAT, AURKA, VEGF, PI3K, AKT, PRK, JNK, MMP9, ABCG2, CASP3, Cleaved-caspase-3, AMPKα, PARP, etc., and the regulatory pathways refer to Akt/Nrf2, SAPK/JNK, PI3K/Akt/mTOR, JAK/STAT3, ATF-2/ERK, etc. What's more, AKT1, CASP3, and STAT3 were predicted as the key action targets for Tan I by PPI analysis combined with molecular docking, and the potential therapeutic effects mechanisms against diseases were also further predicted by bioinformatics analyses based on the reported targets, providing new insights into the future investigation and helping to facilitate the drug development of Tan I.

Vanillic Acid Alleviates Right Ventricular Function in Rats With MCT-Induced Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

This study examined the molecular processes behind the effects of vanillic acid (VA) on right ventricular (RV) hypertrophy and function in rats with monocrotaline (MCT)-induced pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). There were 40 male Sprague‒Dawley (SD) rats that were separated into 4 groups: Control, PAH, MCT + VA (50 mg/kg/d), and MCT + VA (100 mg/kg/d). Male SD rats were injected with MCT once under the skin to create the PAH model (40 mg/kg). RV morphological properties were evaluated using Masson and hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. Echocardiography was used to evaluate RV functioning and right ventricle–pulmonary artery (RV-PA) coupling. In addition, Rho-associated protein kinase (ROCK) pathway-related factors were evaluated using Western blotting. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect inflammatory markers as well as atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and brain-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) in the blood of PAH rats. As a result, VA effectively reduced the development of RV cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and fibrosis in PAH rats; levels of ANP, BNP, and inflammatory markers in the blood of PAH rats were also significantly decreased by VA intervention. Additionally, VA enhanced RV functioning and RV-PA coupling in PAH rats. In response to VA, the expression of proteins related to the ROCK pathway (ROCK1, ROCK2, NFATc3, P-STAT3, and Bax) was downregulated, whereas Bcl-2 expression was elevated. This study found that VA could attenuate RV remodeling and improve RV-PA coupling in PAH rats. RV remodeling and dysfunction may be linked to the dysregulation of the ROCK pathway, and the protective action of VA on RV function may be due to a block in the ROCK signaling pathway or its downstream signaling molecules.

Research Progress of Chinese Medicine in the Treatment of Myocardial Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury

Vascular recanalization is the essential procedure in which severe coronary artery stenosis is diagnosed. However, the blood flow recovery associated with this procedure may cause myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury (MIRI), which aggravates heart failure. Unfortunately, the mechanism of MIRI has historically been poorly understood. As we now know, calcium overloading, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, inflammatory responses, and ferroptosis take part in the process of MIRI. Modern medicine has shown through clinical studies its own limited effects in the case of MIRI, whereas Chinese traditional medicine demonstrates a strong vitality. Multiple-target effects, such as anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and cardio-protection effects, are central to this vitality. In our clinic center, Yixin formula is commonly used in patients with MIRI. This formula contains Astragalus, Ligusticum Wallichii, Salvia, Rhodiola Rosea, Radix Angelicae Sinensis, Cyperus Rotundus, and Cassia Twig. Its effects include warming yang energy, activating blood circulation, and eliminating blood stasis. In our previous laboratory studies, we have proved that it can reduce MIRI and oxidative stress injury in rats suffering from ischemia myocardiopathy. It can also inhibit apoptosis and protect myocardium. In this paper, we review the research of Yixin formula and other related herbal medicines in MIRI therapy.

PI3K/AKT/mTOR signalling inhibitor chrysophanol ameliorates neurobehavioural and neurochemical defects in propionic acid-induced experimental model of autism in adult rats

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder marked by social and communication deficits as well as repetitive behaviour. Several studies have found that overactivation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signalling pathways during brain development plays a significant role in autism pathogenesis. Overexpression of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signalling pathway causes neurological disorders by increasing cell death, neuroinflammation, and oxidative stress. Chrysophanol, also known as chrysophanic acid, is a naturally occurring chemical obtained from the plant Rheum palmatum. This study aimed to examine the neuroprotective effect of CPH on neurobehavioral, molecular, neurochemical, and gross pathological alterations in ICV-PPA induced experimental model of autism in adult rats. The effects of ICV-PPA on PI3K/AKT/mTOR downregulation in the brain were studied in autism-like rats. Furthermore, we investigated how CPH affected myelin basic protein (MBP) levels in rat brain homogenate and apoptotic biomarkers such as caspase-3, Bax, and Bcl-2 levels in rat brain homogenate and blood plasma samples. Rats were tested for behavioural abnormalities such as neuromuscular dysfunction using an actophotometer, motor coordination using a beam crossing task (BCT), depressive behaviour using a forced swim test (FST), cognitive deficiency, and memory consolidation using a Morris water maze (MWM) task. In PPA-treated rats, prolonged oral CPH administration from day 12 to day 44 of the experimental schedule reduces autistic-like symptoms. Furthermore, in rat brain homogenates, blood plasma, and CSF samples, cellular, molecular, and cell death markers, neuroinflammatory cytokines, neurotransmitter levels, and oxidative stress indicators were investigated. The recent findings imply that CPH also restores abnormal neurochemical levels and may prevent autism-like gross pathological alterations, such as demyelination volume, in the rat brain.

Cardiomyocyte death in sepsis: Mechanisms and regulation (Review)

Sepsis‑induced cardiac dysfunction is one of the most common types of organ dysfunction in sepsis; its pathogenesis is highly complex and not yet fully understood. Cardiomyocytes serve a key role in the pathophysiology of cardiac function; due to the limited ability of cardiomyocytes to regenerate, their loss contributes to decreased cardiac function. The activation of inflammatory signalling pathways affects cardiomyocyte function and modes of cardiomyocyte death in sepsis. Prevention of cardiomyocyte death is an important therapeutic strategy for sepsis‑induced cardiac dysfunction. Thus, understanding the signalling pathways that activate cardiomyocyte death and cross‑regulation between death modes are key to finding therapeutic targets. The present review focused on advances in understanding of sepsis‑induced cardiomyocyte death pathways, including apoptosis, necroptosis, mitochondria‑mediated necrosis, pyroptosis, ferroptosis and autophagy. The present review summarizes the effect of inflammatory activation on cardiomyocyte death mechanisms, the diversity of regulatory mechanisms and cross‑regulation between death modes and the effect on cardiac function in sepsis to provide a theoretical basis for treatment of sepsis‑induced cardiac dysfunction.

Activation of CNR1/PI3K/AKT Pathway by Tanshinone IIA Protects Hippocampal Neurons and Ameliorates Sleep Deprivation-Induced Cognitive Dysfunction in Rats

Sleep deprivation is commonplace in modern society, Short periods of continuous sleep deprivation (SD) may negatively affect brain and behavioral function and may lead to vehicle accidents and medical errors. Tanshinone IIA (Tan IIA) is an important lipid-soluble component of Salvia miltiorrhiza, which could exert neuroprotective effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanism of neuroprotective effect of Tan IIA on acute sleep deprivation-induced cognitive dysfunction in rats. Tan IIA ameliorated behavioral abnormalities in sleep deprived rats, enhanced behavioral performance in WMW and NOR experiments, increased hippocampal dendritic spine density, and attenuated atrophic loss of hippocampal neurons. Tan IIA enhanced the expression of CB1, PI3K, AKT, STAT3 in rat hippocampus and down-regulated the expression ratio of Bax to Bcl-2. These effects were inhibited by cannabinoid receptor 1 antagonist (AM251). In conclusion, Tan IIA can play a neuroprotective role by activating the CNR1/PI3K/AKT signaling pathway to antagonize apoptosis in the hippocampus and improve sleep deprivation-induced spatial recognition and learning memory dysfunction in rats. Our study suggests that Tan IIA may be a candidate for the prevention of sleep deprivation-induced dysfunction in spatial recognition and learning memory.

Guggulsterone Mediated JAK/STAT and PPAR-Gamma Modulation Prevents Neurobehavioral and Neurochemical Abnormalities in Propionic Acid-Induced Experimental Model of Autism

Autism spectrum disorder is a neurodevelopmental disorder marked by repetitive behaviour, challenges in verbal and non-verbal communication, poor socio-emotional health, and cognitive impairment. An increased level of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and a decreased level of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) gamma have been linked to autism pathogenesis. Guggulsterone (GST) has a neuroprotective effect on autistic conditions by modulating these signalling pathways. Consequently, the primary objective of this study was to examine potential neuroprotective properties of GST by modulating JAK/STAT and PPAR-gamma levels in intracerebroventricular propionic acid (ICV PPA) induced experimental model of autism in adult rats. In this study, the first 11 days of ICV-PPA injections in rats resulted in autism-like behavioural, neurochemical, morphological, and histopathological changes. The above modifications were also observed in various biological samples, including brain homogenate, CSF, and blood plasma. GST was also observed to improve autism-like behavioural impairments in autistic rats treated with PPA, including locomotion, neuromuscular coordination, depression-like behaviour, spatial memory, cognition, and body weight. Prolonged GST treatment also restored neurochemical deficits in a dose-dependent manner. Chronic PPA administration increased STAT3 and decreased PPAR gamma in autistic rat brain, CSF, and blood plasma samples, which were reversed by GST. GST also restored the gross and histopathological alterations in PPA-treated rat brains. Our results indicate the neuroprotective effects of GST in preventing autism-related behavioural and neurochemical alterations.

HSP90-Mediates Liraglutide Preconditioning-Induced Cardioprotection by Inhibiting C5a and NF-κB

OBJECTIVE

We previously showed that HSP90 is involved in postconditioning cardioprotection by inhibiting complement C5a. Here, we investigated whether HSP90-mediated C5a/NF-κB inhibition is responsible for the cardioprotection conferred by liraglutide.

METHODS

Rat hearts underwent a 30 min occlusion of the anterior descending coronary artery, after which reperfusion was performed for 2 h. A total of 100 rats were randomly assigned to the following groups: ischemia/reperfusion (I/R), sham, liraglutide preconditioning (LP, liraglutide, 0.18 mg/kg, intravenously, 12 h before ischemia), HSP90 inhibitor geldanamycin (GA, 1 mg/kg, intraperitoneally, 30 min before ischemia) plus LP, and C5a receptor antagonist PMX53 (1 mg/kg, intravenously, 30 min before ischemia) plus LP. Cardiac injury, C5a/NF-κB activation, and inflammation were investigated.

RESULTS

LP significantly attenuated I/R-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis, infarct size, and secretion of creatine kinase-MB, lactate dehydrogenase and cardiac troponin I. These effects were complemented by decreased C5a levels, nuclear factor (NF)-κB signaling, inflammatory cytokine expression, and increased HSP90 levels. GA, an HSP90 inhibitor, promotes C5a activation, NF-κB signaling, and inflammation and suppresses cardioprotection by LP. By contrast, PMX53, a C5a inhibitor, suppressed C5a activation, NF-κB signaling, and inflammation, and enhanced cardioprotection by LP.

CONCLUSION

HSP90 markedly contributes to LP cardioprotection by inhibiting inflammatory responsesand C5a/NF-κB signaling , ultimately attenuating I/R-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis by suppressing the proapoptotic factor Bax, and inducing the anti-apoptotic factor Bcl2.

Antiplatelet Therapy with Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine for Use in Myocardial Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury: A Review of Clinical Applications and Mechanisms

Myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury (MIRI) is common in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) after PCI treatment, which seriously affects the efficacy of revascularization and hinders the postoperative recovery of patients; therefore, the current study is focused on determining effective methods in the treatment of MIRI. Antiplatelet therapy is a routine treatment for ACS, and its benefits for treating MIRI have been previously verified. With the development of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), many TCM preparations are widely used in the clinic. Many basic and clinical studies have shown that TCM can be used together with antiplatelet drugs, and the safety and efficacy when TCM is included in the treatment are better than when antiplatelet drugs are used alone. This paper summarizes the current research progress of traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine in the treatment of MIRI to provide a theoretical basis for further research and clinical treatment.

Pilose Antler Peptide-3.2KD Ameliorates Adriamycin-Induced Myocardial Injury Through TGF-β/SMAD Signaling Pathway

Adriamycin (ADR)-based combination chemotherapy is the standard treatment for some patients with tumors in clinical, however, long-term application can cause dose-dependent cardiotoxicity. Pilose Antler, as a traditional Chinese medicine, first appeared in the Han Dynasty and has been used to treat heart disease for nearly a thousand years. Previous data revealed pilose antler polypeptide (PAP, 3.2KD) was one of its main active components with multiple biological activities for cardiomyopathy. PAP-3.2KD exerts protective effects againt myocardial fibrosis. The present study demonstrated the protective mechanism of PAP-3.2KD against Adriamycin (ADR)-induced myocardial injury through using animal model with ADR-induced myocardial injury. PAP-3.2KD markedly improved the weight increase and decreased the HW/BW index, heart rate, and ST height in ADR-induced groups. Additionally, PAP-3.2KD reversed histopathological changes (such as disordered muscle bundles, myocardial fibrosis and diffuse myocardial cellular edema) and scores of the heart tissue, ameliorated the myocardial fibrosis and collagen volume fraction through pathological examination, significantly increased the protein level of Bcl-2, and decreased the expression levels of Bax and caspase-3 in myocardial tissue by ELISA, compared to those in ADR-induced group. Furthermore, ADR stimulation induced the increased protein levels of TGF-β1 and SMAD2/3/4, the increased phosphorylation levels of SMAD2/3 and the reduced protein levels of SMAD7. The expression levels of protein above in ADR-induced group were remarkably reversed in PAP-3.2KD-treated groups. PAP-3.2KD ameliorated ADR-induced myocardial injury by regulating the TGF-β/SMAD signaling pathway. Thus, these results provide a strong rationale for the protective effects of PAP against ADR-induced myocardial injury, when ADR is used to treat cancer.

Tanshinone I Inhibits Oxidative Stress-Induced Cardiomyocyte Injury by Modulating Nrf2 Signaling

Cardiovascular disease, a disease caused by many pathogenic factors, is one of the most common causes of death worldwide, and oxidative stress plays a major role in its pathophysiology. Tanshinone I (Tan I), a natural compound with cardiovascular protective effects, is one of the main active compounds extracted from Salvia miltiorrhiza. Here, we investigated whether Tan I could attenuate oxidative stress and oxidative stress–induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis through Nrf2/MAPK signaling in vivo and in vitro. We found that Tan I treatment protected cardiomyocytes against oxidative stress and oxidative stress–induced apoptosis, based on the detection of relevant oxidation indexes such as reactive oxygen species, superoxide dismutase, malondialdehyde, and apoptosis, including cell viability and apoptosis-related protein expression. We further examined the mechanisms underlying these effects, determining that Tan I activated nuclear factor erythroid 2 (NFE2)–related factor 2 (Nrf2) transcription into the nucleus and dose-dependently promoted the expression of Nrf2, while inhibiting MAPK signaling activation, including P38 MAPK, SAPK/JNK, and ERK1/2. Nrf2 inhibitors in H9C2 cells and Nrf2 knockout mice demonstrated aggravated oxidative stress and oxidative stress–induced cardiomyocyte injury; Tan I treatment suppressed these effects in H9C2 cells; however, its protective effect was inhibited in Nrf2 knockout mice. Additionally, the analysis of surface plasmon resonance demonstrated that Tan I could directly target Nrf2 and act as a potential Nrf2 agonist. Collectively, these data strongly indicated that Tan I might inhibit oxidative stress and oxidative stress–induced cardiomyocyte injury through modulation of Nrf2 signaling, thus supporting the potential therapeutic application of Tan I for oxidative stress–induced CVDs.

Dexmedetomidine alleviates myocardial ischemia/reperfusion-induced injury and Ca2+ overload via the microRNA-346-3p/CaMKIId axis

Myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (MI/R) may impair cardiac functions. Dexmedetomidine (DEX) is protective in various clinical cases. Therefore, this study investigated the role and mechanism of DEX in MI/R. The myocardial infarct size, apoptosis, and levels of myocardial enzymes, SOD, ROS, Ca²⁺, and inflammatory factors in DEX-treated MI/R rats were measured. Differentially expressed microRNAs (miRs) in DEX-treated MI/R rats were detected. miR-346-3p was intervened to assess the effects of DEX on MI/R rats. The targeted binding relationship between miR-346-3p and CaMKIId was predicted and verified. DEX effect on hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R)-induced cell model was evaluated. The role of CaMKIId in DEX protection was assessed after CaMKIId overexpression in H/R cells. NF-κB pathway and NLRP3 inflammasome-related protein levels were detected. DEX alleviated the myocardial injury and Ca²⁺ overload in MI/R rats, as evidenced by reduced infarct size, apoptosis and levels of myocardial enzymes, ROS, Ca²⁺, and inflammatory factors. DEX promoted miR-346-3p expression in MI/R rats, and miR-346-3p knockdown reversed DEX protection on MI/R rats. miR-346-3p targeted CaMKIId. DEX improved H/R-induced cell injury and Ca²⁺ overload and inhibited NF-κB/NLRP3 inflammasome-related protein levels, which were all reversed by CaMKIId overexpression. DEX alleviated injury and Ca²⁺ overload in MI/R via regulating the miR-346-3p/CaMKIId axis and inhibiting the NF-κB/NLRP3 inflammasome pathway.

Studies of anticancer activity in vivo and in vitro behaviors of liposomes encapsulated iridium(III) complex

Iridium(III) complexes have gained great attention in cancer treatment in recent years. In this paper, we designed and synthesized a new iridium(III) complex [Ir(piq)₂(DQTT)](PF₆) Ir1 (piq = 1-phenylisoquinoline, DQTT = 12-(1,4-dihydroquinoxalin-6-yl)-4,5,9,14-tetraazabenzo[b]triphenylene). The Ir1-loaded PEGylated liposomes (Lipo-Ir1) were prepared using the ethanol injection method. The anticancer activity of the complex and Lipo-Ir1 against SGC-7901 (human gastric adenocarcinoma), A549 (human lung carcinoma), HeLa (human cervical carcinoma), HepG2 (human hepatocellular carcinoma), BEL-7402 (human hepatocellular carcinoma), and normal NIH3T3 (mouse embryonic fibroblasts) was tested by the MTT method. The complex Ir1 shows moderate or low cytotoxicity against the selected cancer cells, whereas the Lipo-Ir1 exhibits high anticancer activity toward the same cancer cells. The apoptosis induced by Lipo-Ir1 was assayed by flow cytometry and Lipo-Ir1 induced apoptosis through increasing intracellular reactive-oxygen species levels, decreasing mitochondrial membrane potential, further promoting cytochrome c release and causing the increase of level of intracellular Ca²⁺. Western blot was used to detect the changes in Bcl-2 family protein and PI3K/AKT pathway proteins. The cloning experiments demonstrated that the Lipo-Ir1 can effectively inhibit cell proliferation. In vivo experiments, Lipo-Ir1 inhibited tumor growth in xenograft nude mice, and the percentage of tumor growth inhibition in vivo was 75.70%. Overall, the liposomes Lipo-Ir1 exhibits higher anticancer activity than Ir1 under the same conditions. These results indicated that Lipo-Ir1 may be a valuable resource for cancer therapy.

Current state and future perspective of cardiovascular medicines derived from natural products

The contribution of natural products (NPs) to cardiovascular medicine has been extensively documented, and many have been used for centuries. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Over the past 40 years, approximately 50% of newly developed cardiovascular drugs were based on NPs, suggesting that NPs provide essential skeletal structures for the discovery of novel medicines. After a period of lower productivity since the 1990s, NPs have recently regained scientific and commercial attention, leveraging the wealth of knowledge provided by multi-omics, combinatorial biosynthesis, synthetic biology, integrative pharmacology, analytical and computational technologies. In addition, as a crucial part of complementary and alternative medicine, Traditional Chinese Medicine has increasingly drawn attention as an important source of NPs for cardiovascular drug discovery. Given their structural diversity and biological activity NPs are one of the most valuable sources of drugs and drug leads. In this review, we briefly described the characteristics and classification of NPs in CVDs. Then, we provide an up to date summary on the therapeutic potential and the underlying mechanisms of action of NPs in CVDs, and the current view and future prospect of developing safer and more effective cardiovascular drugs based on NPs.

Pharmacological basis of tanshinone and new insights into tanshinone as a multitarget natural product for multifaceted diseases

Drug development has long included the systematic exploration of various resources. Among these, natural products are one of the most important resources from which novel agents are developed due to the multiple pharmacologic effects of these natural products on diseases. Tanshinone, a representative natural product, is the main compound extracted from the dried root and rhizome of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge. Research on tanshinone began in the early 1930s. With the in-depth investigation of an increasing number of identified analogs, tanshinone has demonstrated a wide variety of bioactivities and contradicted the saying, 'You can't teach an old dog new tricks'. This review is focused on the pharmacological action of tanshinone and status of research on tanshinone in recent years. The mechanism of tanshinone has also drawn much attention, with the findings of representative targets and pathways of tanshinone. The most recent studies have comprehensively shown that tanshinone can be used to treat leukemia and solid carcinoma, protect against cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, and alleviate liver- and kidney-related diseases, among its other effects. Multiple signaling pathways, including antiproliferative, antiapoptotic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidative stress pathways, are involved in its actions.

TFEB-NF-κB inflammatory signaling axis: a novel therapeutic pathway of Dihydrotanshinone I in doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity

BACKGROUND

Doxorubicin is effective in a variety of solid and hematological malignancies. Unfortunately, clinical application of doxorubicin is limited due to a cumulative dose-dependent cardiotoxicity. Dihydrotanshinone I (DHT) is a natural product from Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge with multiple anti-tumor activity and anti-inflammation effects. However, its anti-doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity (DIC) effect, either in vivo or in vitro, has not been elucidated yet. This study aims to explore the anti-inflammation effects of DHT against DIC, and to elucidate the potential regulatory mechanism.

METHODS

Effects of DHT on DIC were assessed in zebrafish, C57BL/6 mice and H9C2 cardiomyocytes. Echocardiography, histological examination, flow cytometry, immunochemistry and immunofluorescence were utilized to evaluate cardio-protective effects and anti-inflammation effects. mTOR agonist and lentivirus vector carrying GFP-TFEB were applied to explore the regulatory signaling pathway.

RESULTS

DHT improved cardiac function via inhibiting the activation of M1 macrophages and the excessive release of pro-inflammatory cytokines both in vivo and in vitro. The activation and nuclear localization of NF-κB were suppressed by DHT, and the effect was abolished by mTOR agonist with concomitant reduced expression of nuclear TFEB. Furthermore, reduced expression of nuclear TFEB is accompanied by up-regulated phosphorylation of IKKα/β and NF-κB, while TFEB overexpression reversed these changes. Intriguingly, DHT could upregulate nuclear expression of TFEB and reduce expressions of p-IKKα/β and p-NF-κB.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results demonstrated that DHT can be applied as a novel cardioprotective compound in the anti-inflammation management of DIC via mTOR-TFEB-NF-κB signaling pathway. The current study implicates TFEB-IKK-NF-κB signaling axis as a previously undescribed, druggable pathway for DIC.

Parecoxib exhibits anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects in a rat model of transient global cerebral ischemia

Transient global cerebral ischemia (tGCI) induces inflammation leading to secondary brain injury. Data suggested that cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is involved in the occurrence and development of inflammatory reaction after reperfusion; however, the effectiveness of a highly selective COX-2 inhibitor, parecoxib, to counteract tGCI remains to be determined. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the potential protective actions of parecoxib in a rat model of tGCI and the role inflammation plays in this disorder. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were administered parecoxib 10 or 20 mg/kg intraperitoneally (ip) at 5 min, 24 or 48 hr after tGCI. Control rats received an equal volume of 0.9% saline. The rat model of tGCI was established using the method of bilateral common carotid artery occlusion combined with arterial hypotension. The following parameters were measured: Neurological Severity Score, morphological changes in the hippocampal CA1 region, Evans blue (EB) extravasation, brain water content, levels of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1), neuronal apoptosis, the protein expression of Bcl-2, Bax, COX-2, prostaglandin E2 (PGE₂), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). Parecoxib treatment significantly improved neurological function and morphological defects in the hippocampal CA1 region, reduced levels of COX-2, PGE₂, IL-1β, and TNF-α. In addition, parecoxib attenuated brain edema and BBB destruction as evidenced by increased ZO-1 expression and decreased MMP-9 expression. Further, parecoxib reduced neuronal apoptosis via diminished protein expression of Bax and enhanced expression of Bcl-2.

Neuroprotective effect of salvianolate on cerebral ischaemia-reperfusion injury in rats by inhibiting the Caspase-3 signal pathway

Salvianolate has been widely used for the treatment of cerebrovascular diseases. However, the detailed molecular mechanism of how it alleviates cerebral ischaemia-reperfusion injury is not well understood. In the present study, we investigated the neuroprotective effects of salvianolate in acute cerebral infarction using the PC12 cell oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) model in vitro and the rat transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model in vivo. The results showed that the salvianolate significantly reduced the level of reactive oxygen species and inhibited the Caspase-3 signalling pathway in vitro; at the same time, in vivo experiments showed that salvianolate obviously reduced the infarct area (12.9%) and repaired cognitive function compared with the model group (28.28%). In conclusion, our data demonstrated that the salvianolate effectively alleviated cerebral ischaemia-reperfusion injury via suppressing the Caspase-3 signalling pathway.

Tanshinone IIA protects lens epithelial cells from H2 O 2 -induced injury by upregulation of lncRNA ANRIL

Tanshinone IIA is a lipophilic diterpene extracted from the Salvia miltiorrhiza bunge, possessing antiapoptotic and antioxidant activities. The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of Tanshinone IIA on age-related nuclear cataract. Human lens epithelial cell line SRA01/04 was subjected to H ₂ O ₂ to mimic a cell model of cataract. Cell Counting Kit-8 assay, flow cytometer, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) detection were performed to evaluate the effect of Tanshinone IIA pretreatment on SRA01/04 cells injured by H ₂ O ₂ . Besides, the real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to assess the expression of long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) antisense noncoding RNA in the INK4 locus (ANRIL). Western blot analysis was performed to detect the expression of core proteins involved in cell survival and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) pathway. H ₂ O ₂ significantly decreased SRA01/04 cells viability, whereas increased apoptosis and ROS generation. This phenomenon was coupled with the upregulated p53, p21, Bax, cleaved caspase-3, and the downregulated cyclinD1, CDK4, and Bcl-2. Tanshinone IIA pretreatment protected SRA01/04 cells against H ₂ O ₂ -induced injury. In the meantime, the expression of lncRNA ANRIL was upregulated by Tanshinone IIA. And, the protective effects of Tanshinone IIA on H ₂ O ₂ -stimulated SRA01/04 cells were abolished when lncRNA ANRIL was silenced. Moreover, the elevated expression of lncRNA ANRIL induced by Tanshinone IIA was abolished by BAY 11-7082 (an inhibitor of NF-κB). To conclude, Tanshinone IIA protects SRA01/04 cells from apoptosis triggered by H ₂ O ₂ . Tanshinone IIA confers its protective effects possibly via modulation of NF-κB signaling and thereby elevating the expression of lncRNA ANRIL.