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Li Q, Lan T, He S, Chen W, Li X, Zhang W, Liu Y, Zhang Q, Chen X, Han Y, Su Z, Zhu D, Guo H. A network pharmacology-based approach to explore the active ingredients and molecular mechanism of Lei-gong-gen formula granule on a spontaneously hypertensive rat model. Chin Med 2021; 16:99. [PMID: 34627325 PMCID: PMC8501634 DOI: 10.1186/s13020-021-00507-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2021] [Accepted: 09/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Lei-gong-gen formula granule (LFG) is a folk prescription derived from Zhuang nationality, the largest ethnic minority among 56 nationalities in China. It consists of three herbs, namely Eclipta prostrata (L.) L., Smilax glabra Roxb, and Centella asiatica (L.) Urb. It has been widely used as health protection tea for hundreds of years to prevent hypertension in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. The purpose of this study is to validate the antihypertensive effect of LFG on the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) model, and to further identify the effective components and anti-hypertension mechanism of LFG. Methods The effects of LFG on blood pressure, body weight, and heart rate were investigated in vivo using the SHR model. The levels of NO, ANG II, and ET-1 in the serum were measured, and pathological changes in the heart were examined by H&E staining. The main active components of LFG, their corresponding targets, and hypertension associated pathways were discerned through network pharmacology analysis based on the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology (TCMSP), Traditional Chinese Medicine Integrated Database (TCMID), and the Bioinformatics Analysis Tool for Molecular Mechanism of Traditional Chinese Medicine (BATMAN-TCM). Then the predicted results were further verified by molecular biology experiments such as RT-qPCR and western blot. Additionally, the potential active compounds were predicted by molecular docking technology, and the chemical constituents of LFG were analyzed and identified by UPLC-QTOF/MS technology. Finally, an in vitro assay was performed to investigate the protective effects of potential active compounds against hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) induced oxidative damage in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). Results LFG could effectively reduce blood pressure and increase serum NO content in SHR model. Histological results showed that LFG could ameliorate pathological changes such as cardiac hypertrophy and interstitial inflammation. From network pharmacology analysis, 53 candidate active compounds of LFG were collected, which linked to 765 potential targets, and 828 hypertension associated targets were retrieved, from which 12 overlapped targets both related to candidate active compounds from LFG and hypertension were screened and used as the potential targets of LFG on antihypertensive effect. The molecular biology experiments of the 12 overlapped targets showed that LFG could upregulate the mRNA and protein expressions of NOS3 and proto-oncogene tyrosine-protein kinase SRC (SRC) in the thoracic aorta. Pathway enrichment analysis showed that the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway was closely related to the expression of NOS3 and SRC. Moreover, western blot results showed that LFG significantly increased the protein expression levels of PI3K and phosphorylated AKT in SHR model, suggesting that LFG may active the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway to decrease hypertension. Molecular docking study further supported that p-hydroxybenzoic acid, cedar acid, shikimic acid, salicylic acid, nicotinic acid, linalool, and histidine can be well binding with NOS3, SRC, PI3K, and AKT. UPLC-QTOF/MS analysis confirmed that p-hydroxybenzoic acid, shikimic acid, salicylic acid, and nicotinic acid existed in LFG. Pre-treatment of HUVEC with nicotinic acid could alleviate the effect on cell viability induced by H2O2 and increase the NO level in cell supernatants. Conclusions LFG can reduce the blood pressure in SHR model, which might be attributed to increasing the NO level in serum for promoting vasodilation via upregulating SRC expression level and activating the PI3K-AKT-NOS3 signaling pathway. Nicotinic acid might be the potential compound for LFG antihypertensive effect. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13020-021-00507-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiaofeng Li
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules Research and Evaluation & College of Pharmacy, Guangxi Medical University, 22 Shuangyong Road, Nanning, 530021, China.,Key Laboratory of Longevity and Aging-related Diseases of Chinese Ministry of Education & Center for Translational Medicine, School of preclinical medicine, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi, China
| | - Taijin Lan
- School of preclinical medicine, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, 179 Mingxiu Dong Road, Nanning, 530001, China
| | - Songhua He
- Guangxi Institute for Food and Drug Control, 9 Qinghu Road, Nanning, 530021, China
| | - Weiwei Chen
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Regenerative Medicine, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, China.,International Joint Laboratory on Regeneration of Bone and Soft Tissues, Guangxi Medical University, Guangxi, 530021, China
| | - Xiaolan Li
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules Research and Evaluation & College of Pharmacy, Guangxi Medical University, 22 Shuangyong Road, Nanning, 530021, China.,Key Laboratory of Longevity and Aging-related Diseases of Chinese Ministry of Education & Center for Translational Medicine, School of preclinical medicine, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi, China
| | - Weiquan Zhang
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules Research and Evaluation & College of Pharmacy, Guangxi Medical University, 22 Shuangyong Road, Nanning, 530021, China.,Key Laboratory of Longevity and Aging-related Diseases of Chinese Ministry of Education & Center for Translational Medicine, School of preclinical medicine, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi, China
| | - Ying Liu
- Key Laboratory of Longevity and Aging-related Diseases of Chinese Ministry of Education & Center for Translational Medicine, School of preclinical medicine, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi, China.,College of Pharmacy, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, 179 Mingxiu Dong Road, Nanning, 530001, China
| | - Qiuping Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Longevity and Aging-related Diseases of Chinese Ministry of Education & Center for Translational Medicine, School of preclinical medicine, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi, China.,The First Affiliated Hospital, Guangxi Medical University, 6 Shuangyong Road, Nanning, 530021, China
| | - Xin Chen
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules Research and Evaluation & College of Pharmacy, Guangxi Medical University, 22 Shuangyong Road, Nanning, 530021, China.,Key Laboratory of Longevity and Aging-related Diseases of Chinese Ministry of Education & Center for Translational Medicine, School of preclinical medicine, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi, China
| | - Yaoyao Han
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules Research and Evaluation & College of Pharmacy, Guangxi Medical University, 22 Shuangyong Road, Nanning, 530021, China.,Key Laboratory of Longevity and Aging-related Diseases of Chinese Ministry of Education & Center for Translational Medicine, School of preclinical medicine, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi, China
| | - Zhiheng Su
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules Research and Evaluation & College of Pharmacy, Guangxi Medical University, 22 Shuangyong Road, Nanning, 530021, China.
| | - Dan Zhu
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules Research and Evaluation & College of Pharmacy, Guangxi Medical University, 22 Shuangyong Road, Nanning, 530021, China.
| | - Hongwei Guo
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules Research and Evaluation & College of Pharmacy, Guangxi Medical University, 22 Shuangyong Road, Nanning, 530021, China. .,Key Laboratory of Longevity and Aging-related Diseases of Chinese Ministry of Education & Center for Translational Medicine, School of preclinical medicine, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi, China. .,Guangxi Key Laboratory of Regenerative Medicine, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, China.
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Brozovich FV, Nicholson CJ, Degen CV, Gao YZ, Aggarwal M, Morgan KG. Mechanisms of Vascular Smooth Muscle Contraction and the Basis for Pharmacologic Treatment of Smooth Muscle Disorders. Pharmacol Rev 2016; 68:476-532. [PMID: 27037223 PMCID: PMC4819215 DOI: 10.1124/pr.115.010652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 298] [Impact Index Per Article: 37.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The smooth muscle cell directly drives the contraction of the vascular wall and hence regulates the size of the blood vessel lumen. We review here the current understanding of the molecular mechanisms by which agonists, therapeutics, and diseases regulate contractility of the vascular smooth muscle cell and we place this within the context of whole body function. We also discuss the implications for personalized medicine and highlight specific potential target molecules that may provide opportunities for the future development of new therapeutics to regulate vascular function.
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Affiliation(s)
- F V Brozovich
- Department of Health Sciences, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts (C.J.N., Y.Z.G., M.A., K.G.M.); Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota (F.V.B.); and Paracelsus Medical University Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria (C.V.D.)
| | - C J Nicholson
- Department of Health Sciences, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts (C.J.N., Y.Z.G., M.A., K.G.M.); Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota (F.V.B.); and Paracelsus Medical University Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria (C.V.D.)
| | - C V Degen
- Department of Health Sciences, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts (C.J.N., Y.Z.G., M.A., K.G.M.); Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota (F.V.B.); and Paracelsus Medical University Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria (C.V.D.)
| | - Yuan Z Gao
- Department of Health Sciences, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts (C.J.N., Y.Z.G., M.A., K.G.M.); Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota (F.V.B.); and Paracelsus Medical University Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria (C.V.D.)
| | - M Aggarwal
- Department of Health Sciences, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts (C.J.N., Y.Z.G., M.A., K.G.M.); Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota (F.V.B.); and Paracelsus Medical University Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria (C.V.D.)
| | - K G Morgan
- Department of Health Sciences, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts (C.J.N., Y.Z.G., M.A., K.G.M.); Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota (F.V.B.); and Paracelsus Medical University Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria (C.V.D.)
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Liang XM, Chen J, Zhang T, Liu J, Jiang XJ, Xu ZQ. Cerebral hemorrhage increases plasma concentrations of noradrenalin and creatine kinase MB fraction with induction of cardiomyocyte damage in rats. Cell Biochem Biophys 2015; 70:1807-11. [PMID: 25022462 DOI: 10.1007/s12013-014-0133-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The incidence of cardiac damage is high during acute cerebral hemorrhage. The animal data on the relationship between cerebral apoplexy and cardiac damage are lacking. Thus, the aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of cerebral hemorrhage on plasma concentrations of monoamine transmitter noradrenalin (NA), creatine kinase muscle and brain (CK-MB) isoenzyme fraction, and cardiomyocyte changes in the rat model. In this study, 140 Wistar rats were randomly and equally divided into experimental and control groups, and collagenase was injected into the right caudate nucleus to induce cerebral hemorrhage in the experimental group. Plasma NA was analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection and serum CK-MB was measured by enzyme reaction rate method. We found that both NA and CK-MB were elevated (p < 0.05) at 6 h after cerebral hematoma formation; the levels were 2.46 ± 0.05 μg/L and 3.51 ± 0.23 μkat/L, respectively. NA and CK-MB concentrations reached peak levels at 24 h which were found to be 3.52 ± 0.06 μg/L and 5.47 ± 0.49 μkat/L, respectively. Thereafter, NA and CK-MB concentrations decreased gradually. Plasma NA declined to the preoperative level (1.66 ± 0.03 μg/L) at 72 h, while CK-MB level (2.71 ± 0.17 μkat/L) was found to be still higher than its preoperative level. It was, therefore, concluded that plasma NA might be involved in the induction and development of cardiomyocytes damage during cerebral hemorrhage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Min Liang
- Department of Neurology, Research Institute of Surgery, Daping Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400042, China
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Loirand G, Sauzeau V, Pacaud P. Small G Proteins in the Cardiovascular System: Physiological and Pathological Aspects. Physiol Rev 2013; 93:1659-720. [DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00021.2012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Small G proteins exist in eukaryotes from yeast to human and constitute the Ras superfamily comprising more than 100 members. This superfamily is structurally classified into five families: the Ras, Rho, Rab, Arf, and Ran families that control a wide variety of cell and biological functions through highly coordinated regulation processes. Increasing evidence has accumulated to identify small G proteins and their regulators as key players of the cardiovascular physiology that control a large panel of cardiac (heart rhythm, contraction, hypertrophy) and vascular functions (angiogenesis, vascular permeability, vasoconstriction). Indeed, basal Ras protein activity is required for homeostatic functions in physiological conditions, but sustained overactivation of Ras proteins or spatiotemporal dysregulation of Ras signaling pathways has pathological consequences in the cardiovascular system. The primary object of this review is to provide a comprehensive overview of the current progress in our understanding of the role of small G proteins and their regulators in cardiovascular physiology and pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gervaise Loirand
- INSERM, UMR S1087; University of Nantes; and CHU Nantes, l'Institut du Thorax, Nantes, France
| | - Vincent Sauzeau
- INSERM, UMR S1087; University of Nantes; and CHU Nantes, l'Institut du Thorax, Nantes, France
| | - Pierre Pacaud
- INSERM, UMR S1087; University of Nantes; and CHU Nantes, l'Institut du Thorax, Nantes, France
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Stimulation of norepinephrine transporter function by fasudil, a Rho kinase inhibitor, in cultured bovine adrenal medullary cells. Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol 2012; 385:921-31. [PMID: 22752240 DOI: 10.1007/s00210-012-0773-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2011] [Accepted: 06/14/2012] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Norepinephrine transporter (NET) regulates noradrenergic synaptic transmission by controlling extracellular levels of norepinephrine (NE). The small GTPase, RhoA, and its downstream effector Rho kinase (ROCK) are involved in the regulation of actin cytoskeleton and focal adhesion/stress fiber formation, which may play an important role in various functions of the sympathetic nervous system. We report here the effect of fasudil, a ROCK inhibitor, on the functions of NET in cultured bovine adrenal medullary cells as a model of sympathetic neurons. Treatment of bovine adrenal medullary cells with fasudil caused an increase in [(3)H]NE uptake in time (8-120 h) and concentration (10-100 μM)-dependent manner. Another ROCK inhibitor, Y-27632 (10-100 μM, 1 day), also increased [(3)H]NE uptake by the cells. Kinetics analysis of the effect of fasudil on NE transport showed a significant increase in the V (max) of NE transport with little change in K (m). When both extracellular and intracellular Ca(2+) were removed by the deprivation of extracellular Ca(2+) and BAPTA-AM, a cell-permeable Ca(2+) chelator, [(3)H]NE uptake induced by fasudil was completely abolished. Nocodazole, an inhibitor of microtubule polymerization, but not cytochalasin D, an inhibitor of actin polymerization, suppressed the stimulatory effect of fasudil on [(3)H]NE uptake. The present findings suggest that the ROCK inhibitor fasudil up-regulates NET function in a Ca(2+)-dependent and/or nocodazole-sensitive pathway in adrenal medullary cells.
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