Study on the regulatory effect of leech peptide HE-D on macrophages in atherosclerosis by transcriptome sequencing

Animal-derived peptides from Traditional Chinese medicines: medicinal potential, mechanisms, and prospects

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Animal-derived traditional Chinese medicines have a long-standing history in Chinese medicine, which exhibit unique efficacy due to similar structure and function with human tissue. As the major types of constituents that accounted for a relatively high proportion of animal-derived TCMs, peptides with molecular weight between 100 Da and hundreds of thousands of kDa have caught wide attention due to their outstanding bioavailability and excellent specificity.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This review aims to comprehensively delve into the up-to-date research progress in their pharmacology, mechanism, sequence composition, and therapeutic application, laying a solid foundation for future clinical treatment and scientific research.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Relevant information on the peptides from animal-derived TCMs was collected from scientific literature databases including PubMed, CNKI, literature sources (Ph.D. and M.Sc. dissertations), and Web of Science by using the keywords "Peptides", "Animal", and "TCMs" for gradual screening in the past 30 years.

RESULTS

To date, the peptides from 27 kinds of animal-derived TCMs have been systematically combed. Their pharmacological activity and underlying mechanisms on multiple systems (nervous, circulatory, skeletal, and immune), as well as anti-tumor, antioxidative, and antimicrobial effects, have been sorted out. Besides, the potential safety issues and deficiencies (low bioavailability, imperfect quality management, and toxicity of raw materials) have also been pointed out.

CONCLUSIONS

Comprehensive analysis showed that low development and resource waste accompanied by the inadequate report about the pharmacological activity of most peptides from animal-derived TCMs make it have good research prospects. Although a breakthrough in the field of healthcare products has been made, the development potential for clinical products that bring surprising turnaround will be obtained if the above-mentioned confusions and current needs (improve identification technology and design reasonable dosage forms) are implemented.

Interaction between lipid metabolism and macrophage polarization in atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory condition associated with lipid deposition. The interaction between abnormal lipid metabolism and the inflammatory response has been identified as the underlying cause of AS. Lipid metabolism disorders are considered the basis of atherosclerotic lesion formation and macrophages are involved in the entire process of AS formation. Macrophages have a high degree of plasticity, and the change of their polarization direction can determine the progress or regression of AS. The disturbances in bioactive lipid metabolism affect the polarization of different phenotypes of macrophages, thus, affecting lipid metabolism and the expression of key signal factors. Therefore, understanding the interaction between lipid metabolism and macrophages as well as their key targets is important for preventing and treating AS and developing new drugs. Recent studies have shown that traditional Chinese medicines play a positive role in the prevention and treatment of AS, providing a basis for clinical individualized treatment.

Mechanisms and treatment of atherosclerosis: focus on macrophages

Macrophages are the basic mediators and coordinators of various types of chronic inflammation and play a crucial role in the formation and development of atherosclerosis (AS). In the complex microenvironment of atherosclerotic plaques, macrophages of different sources are exposed to different signal stimuli and thus polarized into various subpopulations. Various types of macrophages with predominantly M1 and M2 phenotypes also play different regulatory roles in the initiation and progression of AS. Lipid-lowering drugs, mainly statins, are widely used in clinical practice, but the adverse reactions are obvious and there is a lack of personalized treatment. Emerging targeted macrophage and Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)-related therapies can regulate the cellular microenvironment, inhibit the polarization of M1 macrophages, and promote the activation of M2 macrophages, providing new ideas for the prevention and treatment of AS.

Tongxinluo capsule as a multi-functional traditional Chinese medicine in treating cardiovascular disease: A review of components, pharmacological mechanisms, and clinical applications

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are one of the most significant diseases that pose a threat to human health. The innovative traditional Chinese medicine Tongxinluo Capsule, developed under the guidance of the theory of traditional Chinese medicine, has good clinical efficacy in various cardiovascular diseases, this medicine has effects such as blood protection, vascular protection, myocardial protection, stabilizing vulnerable plaques, and vasodilation. However, CVDs are a multifactorial disease, and their underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. Therefore, exploring the mechanism of action and clinical application of Tongxinluo Capsule in the treatment of various cardiovascular diseases is beneficial for exerting its therapeutic effect from multiple components, targets, and pathways. At the same time, it provides broader treatment ideas for other difficult to treat diseases in the cardiovascular event chain, and has significant theoretical and clinical significance for improving the treatment of cardiovascular diseases with traditional Chinese medicine.

Therapeutic Potentials of Medicinal Leech in Chinese Medicine

The use of medicinal leeches in clinical therapy has been employed for a long time, as it was originally recognized for exerting antithrombin effects. These effects were due to the ability of the leech to continuously suck blood while attached to human skin. According to Chinese Pharmacopoei, leeches used in traditional Chinese medicine mainly consist of Whitmania pigra Whitman, Hirudo nipponia Whitman, and Whitmania acranulata, but the latter two species are relatively scarce. The main constituents of leeches are protein and peptide macromolecules. They can be categorized into two categories based on their pharmacological effects. One group consists of active ingredients that directly target the coagulation system, such as hirudin, heparin, and histamine, which are widely known. The other group comprises protease inhibitor components like Decorsin and Hementin. Among these, hirudin secreted by the salivary glands of the leech is the most potent thrombin inhibitor and served as the sole remedy for preventing blood clotting until the discovery of heparin. Additionally, leeches play a significant role in various traditional Chinese medicine formulations. In recent decades, medicinal leeches have been applied in fields including anti-inflammatory treatment, cardiovascular disease management, antitumor treatment, and many other medical conditions. In this review, we present a comprehensive overview of the historical journey and medicinal applications of leeches in various medical conditions, emphasizing their pharmaceutical significance within traditional Chinese medicine. This review offers valuable insights for exploring additional therapeutic opportunities involving the use of leeches in various diseases and elucidating their underlying mechanisms for future research.

Balancing macrophage polarization via stem cell-derived apoptotic bodies for diabetic wound healing

BACKGROUND

Adipose tissue-derived stem cell-derived apoptotic bodies (ADSC-ABs) have shown great potential for immunomodulation and regeneration, particularly in diabetic wound therapy. However, their local application has been limited by unclear regulatory mechanisms, rapid clearance, and short tissue retention times.

METHODS

We analyzed the key role molecules and regulatory pathways of ADSC-ABs in regulating inflammatory macrophages by mRNA sequencing and microRNA (miRNA) sequencing and then verified them by gene knockdown. To prevent rapid clearance, we employed microfluidics technology to prepare methacrylate-anhydride gelatin (GelMA) microspheres (GMS) for controlled release of ABs. Finally, we evaluated the effectiveness of ADSC-AB-laden GMSs (ABs@GMSs) in a diabetic rat wound model.

FINDINGS

Our results demonstrated that ADSC-ABs effectively balanced macrophage inflammatory polarization through the janus kinase (JAK)-signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) pathway, mediated by miR-20a-5p. Furthermore, we showed that AB@GMSs had good biocompatibility, significantly delayed local clearance of ABs, and ameliorated diabetic wound inflammation and promoted vascularization, thus facilitating its healing.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study reveals the regulatory mechanism of ADSC-ABs in balancing macrophage inflammatory polarization and highlightsthe importance of delaying their local clearance by GMSs. These findings have important implications for the development of novel therapies for diabetic wound healing.

FUNDING

This research was supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2020YFA0908200), National Natural Science Foundation of China (82272263, 82002053, 32000937, and 82202467), Shanghai "Rising Stars of Medical Talents" Youth Development Program (22MC1940300), Shanghai Municipal Health Commission (20204Y0354), and Shanghai Science and Technology Development Funds (22YF1421400).