A novel inducible cholesterol efflux peptide, FAMP, protects against myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury through a nitric oxide pathway

Anti-atherosclerotic effects of an improved apolipoprotein A-I mimetic peptide

BACKGROUND

Apolipoprotein (Apo)A-I is a major protein component of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) that causes cholesterol efflux from peripheral cells through ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) and the generation of HDL. Furthermore, it has a possible protective function against atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). We previously developed a novel ApoA-I mimetic peptide without phospholipids (Fukuoka University ApoA-I Mimetic Peptide, FAMP). According to our previous studies, FAMP had an anti-arteriosclerotic effect. Since the required dose and reaction time of conventional FAMP were relatively large and short, respectively, we newly developed an improved FAMP (i-FAMP).

METHODS AND RESULTS

We synthesized four candidate i-FAMPs, i-FAMP-D1, -D2, -D3 and -D4, and examined which i-FAMP has greater cholesterol efflux capacity than FAMP in A172 human glioblastoma cells transiently transfected with human ABCA1 cDNA. Only i-FAMP-D1 showed significantly greater cholesterol efflux capacity than conventional FAMP. i-FAMP-D1 formed stronger α-helical conformations than FAMP as assessed by circular dichroism spectra. Thus, we selected i-FAMP-D1 for further experiments. i-FAMP-D1 had a greater atheroprotective effect than FAMP in ApoE knockout mice. In addition, i-FAMP-D1 activated cholesterol efflux from macrophage to HDL more strongly than FAMP and increased cholesterol excretion from liver to feces.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that i-FAMP-D1 has a stronger anti-atherosclerotic effect than conventional FAMP.

Glaucocalyxin A Ameliorates Myocardial Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury in Mice by Suppression of Microvascular Thrombosis

Background

The aim of this study was to evaluate the cardio-protective roles of glaucocalyxin A (GLA) in myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury and to explore the underlying mechanism.

Material/Methods

Myocardial ischemia-reperfusion in wild-type C57BL/6J mice was induced by transient ligation of the left anterior descending artery. GLA or vehicle (solvent) was administrated intraperitoneally to the mice before reperfusion started. After 24 h of myocardial reperfusion, ischemic size was revealed by Evans blue/TTC staining. Cardiac function was evaluated by echocardiography and microvascular thrombosis was assessed by immunofluorescence staining of affected heart tissue. We also measured the phosphorylation of AKT, ERK, P-GSK-3β, and cleaved caspase 3 in the myocardium.

Results

Compared to the solvent-treated control group, GLA administration significantly reduced infarct size (GLA 13.85±2.08% vs. Control 18.95±0.97%, p<0.05) and improved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (GLA 53.13±1.11% vs. Control 49.99±1.25%, p<0.05) and left ventricular fractional shortening (LVFS) (28.34±0.71% vs. Control 25.11±0.74%, p<0.05) in mice subjected to myocardial ischemia-reperfusion. GLA also attenuated microvascular thrombosis (P<0.05) and increased the phosphorylation of pro-survival kinase AKT (P<0.05) and GSK-3β (P<0.05) in the myocardium upon reperfusion injury.

Conclusions

Administration of GLA before reperfusion ameliorates myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury in mice. The cardio-protective roles of GLA may be mediated through the attenuation of microvascular thrombosis.