Tirofiban Promotes the Proliferation of Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells In Vitro Via Enhanced Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Expression

Short-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase is a potential target for the treatment of vascular remodelling

OBJECTIVES

Short-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (SCAD), a key enzyme in the fatty acid oxidation process, is not only involved in ATP synthesis but also regulates the production of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide synthesis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the possible role of SCAD in hypertension-associated vascular remodelling.

METHODS

In-vivo experiments were performed on spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs, ages of 4 weeks to 20 months) and SCAD knockout mice. The aorta sections of hypertensive patients were used for measurement of SCAD expression. In-vitro experiments with t-butylhydroperoxide (tBHP), SCAD siRNA, adenovirus-SCAD (MOI 90) or shear stress (4, 15 dynes/cm 2 ) were performed using human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs).

RESULTS

Compared with age-matched Wistar rats, aortic SCAD expression decreased gradually in SHRs with age. In addition, aerobic exercise training for 8 weeks could significantly increase SCAD expression and enzyme activity in the aortas of SHRs while decreasing vascular remodelling in SHRs. SCAD knockout mice also exhibited aggravated vascular remodelling and cardiovascular dysfunction. Likewise, SCAD expression was also decreased in tBHP-induced endothelial cell apoptosis models and the aortas of hypertensive patients. SCAD siRNA caused HUVEC apoptosis in vitro , whereas adenovirus-mediated SCAD overexpression (Ad-SCAD) protected against HUVEC apoptosis. Furthermore, SCAD expression was decreased in HUVECs exposed to low shear stress (4 dynes/cm 2 ) and increased in HUVECs exposed to 15 dynes/cm 2 compared with those under static conditions.

CONCLUSION

SCAD is a negative regulator of vascular remodelling and may represent a novel therapeutic target for vascular remodelling.

The integrin beta1 modulator Tirofiban prevents adipogenesis and obesity by the overexpression of integrin-linked kinase: a pre-clinical approach in vitro and in vivo

Background

Obesity is caused by the enlargement of the white adipose tissue (WAT) depots, characterized by the hypertrophic enlargement of malfunctioning adipocytes within WAT which increases the storage of triglycerides (TG) in the lipid droplets (LD). Adipogenesis pathways as well as the expression and activity of some extracellular matrix receptors integrins are upregulated. Integrinβ1 (INTB1) is the main isoform involved in WAT remodeling during obesity and insulin resistance-related diseases. We recently described Integrin Linked Kinase (ILK), a scaffold protein recruited by INTB1, as an important mediator of WAT remodeling and insulin resistance. As the few approved drugs to fight obesity have brought long-term cardiovascular side effects and given that the consideration of INTB1 and/or ILK modulation as anti-obesogenic strategies remains unexplored, we aimed to evaluate the anti-obesogenic capacity of the clinically approved anticoagulant Tirofiban (TF), stated in preclinical studies as a cardiovascular protector.

Methods

Fully differentiated adipocytes originating from C3H10T1/2 were exposed to TF and were co-treated with specific INTB1 blockers or with siRNA-based knockdown ILK expression. Lipid-specific dyes were used to determine the TG content in LD. The genetic expression pattern of ILK, pro-inflammatory cytokines (MCP1, IL6), adipogenesis (PPARγ, Leptin), thermogenesis (UCP1), proliferation (PCNA), lipid metabolism (FASN, HSL, ATGL), and metabolite transporters (FABP4, FAT, AQP7) were detected using quantitative PCR. Cytoskeletal actin polymerization was detected by confocal microscopy. Immunoblotting was performed to detect INTB1 phosphorylation at Thr788/9 and ILK activity as phosphorylation levels of protein kinase B (AKT) in Ser473 and glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β) at Ser9. TF was intraperitoneally administered once per day to wildtype and ILK knockdown mice (cKDILK) challenged with a high-fat diet (HFD) or control diet (STD) for 2 weeks. Body and WAT weight gains were compared. The expression of ILK and other markers was determined in the visceral epididymal (epi) and inguinal subcutaneous (sc) WAT.

Results

TF reduced TG content and the expression of adipogenesis markers and transporters in adipocytes, while UCP-1 expression was increased and the expression of lipases, cytokines or PCNA was not affected. Mechanistically, TF rapidly increased and faded the intracellular phosphorylation of INTB1 but not AKT or GSK3β. F-actin levels were rapidly decreased, and INTB1 blockade avoided the TF effect. After 24 h, ILK expression and phosphorylation rates of AKT and GSK3β were upregulated, while ILK silencing increased TG content. INTB1 blockade and ILK silencing avoided TF effects on the TG content and the transcriptional expression of PPARγ and UCP1. In HFD-challenged mice, the systemic administration of TF for several days reduced the weight gain on WAT depots. TF reduced adipogenesis and pro-inflammatory biomarkers and increased lipolysis markers HSL and FAT in epiWAT from HFD, while increased UCP1 in scWAT. In both WATs, TF upregulated ILK expression and activity, while no changes were observed in other tissues. In HFD-fed cKDILK, the blunted ILK in epiWAT worsened weight gain and avoided the anti-obesogenic effect of in vivo TF administration.

Conclusions

ILK downregulation in WAT can be considered a biomarker of obesity establishment. Via an INTB1-ILK axis, TF restores malfunctioning hypertrophied WAT by changing the expression of adipocyte-related genes, increasing ILK expression and activity, and reducing TG storage. TF prevents obesity, a property to be added to its anticoagulant and cardiovascular protective advantages.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13578-022-00746-1.

The pleiotropic effects of antithrombotic drugs in the metabolic-cardiovascular-neurodegenerative disease continuum: impact beyond reduced clotting

Antithrombotic drugs are widely used for primary and secondary prevention, as well as treatment of many cardiovascular disorders. Over the past few decades, major advances in the pharmacology of these agents have been made with the introduction of new drug classes as novel therapeutic options. Accumulating evidence indicates that the beneficial outcomes of some of these antithrombotic agents are not solely related to their ability to reduce thrombosis. Here, we review the evidence supporting established and potential pleiotropic effects of four novel classes of antithrombotic drugs, adenosine diphosphate (ADP) P2Y12-receptor antagonists, Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor Inhibitors, and Direct Oral Anticoagulants (DOACs), which include Direct Factor Xa (FXa) and Direct Thrombin Inhibitors. Specifically, we discuss the molecular evidence supporting such pleiotropic effects in the context of cardiovascular disease (CVD) including endothelial dysfunction (ED), atherosclerosis, cardiac injury, stroke, and arrhythmia. Importantly, we highlight the role of DOACs in mitigating metabolic dysfunction-associated cardiovascular derangements. We also postulate that DOACs modulate perivascular adipose tissue inflammation and thus, may reverse cardiovascular dysfunction early in the course of the metabolic syndrome. In this regard, we argue that some antithrombotic agents can reverse the neurovascular damage in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's brain and following traumatic brain injury (TBI). Overall, we attempt to provide an up-to-date comprehensive review of the less-recognized, beneficial molecular aspects of antithrombotic therapy beyond reduced thrombus formation. We also make a solid argument for the need of further mechanistic analysis of the pleiotropic effects of antithrombotic drugs in the future.