Artificial Intelligence Uncovers Natural MMP Inhibitor Crocin as a Potential Treatment of Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm and Dissection

Thoracic aortic aneurysm and dissection (TAAD) is a lethal cardiovascular condition without effective pharmaceutical therapy. Identifying novel drugs that target the key pathogenetic components is an urgent need. Bioinformatics analysis of pathological studies indicated “extracellular matrix organization” as the most significant functional pathway related to TAAD, in which matrix metallopeptidase (MMP) 2 and MMP9 ranked above other proteases. MMP1-14 were designated as the prototype molecules for docking against PubChem Compound Database using Surflex-Dock, and nine natural compounds were identified. Using a generic MMP activity assay and an aminopropionitrile (BAPN)-induced TAAD mouse model, we identified crocin as an effective MMP inhibitor, suppressing the occurrence and rupture of TAAD. Biolayer interferometry and AI/bioinformatics analyses indicated that crocin may inhibit MMP2 activity by direct binding. Possible binding sites were investigated. Overall, the integration of artificial intelligence and functional experiments identified crocin as an MMP inhibitor with strong therapeutic potential.

Bibliometric analysis of the inflammatory mechanism in aortic disease

BACKGROUND

In view of the key role of inflammation in the pathogenesis of aortic disease, we visually analyzed the research hotspots of inflammatory mechanism in aortic disease in this work through the method of bibliometrics from the Web of Science (WOS) Core database over the past three decades.

METHODS

A visual bibliometric network of research articles on inflammatory mechanisms in aortic disease was obtained from VOSviewer and Citespace based on the WOS Core Collection.

RESULTS

A total of 1278 documents from January 1990 to February 2021 were selected for analysis. The United States and China had the highest percentage of articles, comprising 34.01% and 24.92% of articles worldwide, respectively. Harvard University has published the most articles in this field, followed by the University of Michigan and Huazhong University of Science and Technology. The top 3 research hotspots were atherosclerosis, oxidative stress, and macrophages. The journal with the most articles in this area was Arteriosclerosis Thrombosis and Vascular Biology, followed by Atherosclerosis and PLOS One. The research trend on inflammatory mechanisms in the aortic system has 5 distinct directions: (1) atherosclerosis, NF-κB, expression, smooth muscle cell, and oxidative stress; (2) coronary artery disease, C-reactive protein, risk factors, endothelial dysfunction, and aortic stenosis; (3) abdominal aortic aneurysm, matrix metalloproteinases, macrophage, and pathogenesis; (4) cholesterol, metabolism, low-density lipoprotein, gene expression, and a therosclerotic lesions; and (5) calcific aortic valve disease, interstitial cells, calcification, and stenosis.

CONCLUSIONS

Inflammatory mechanism research has shown a tendency to rise gradually in the aortic field. Numerous studies have explored the role of inflammatory responses in aortic disease, which may increase the risk of endothelial dysfunction (aortic fibrosis and stiffness) and induce plaque formation. Among them, NFκB activation, nitric-oxide synthase expression, and oxidative stress are particularly essential.

Cytokines in aortic dissection

Aortic dissection (AD) is one of the most dangerous forms of vascular disease, characterized by endometrial rupture and intramural hematoma formation. Generally, the pathological process is complicated and closely related to the infiltration of inflammatory cells into the aortic wall and apoptosis of vascular smooth muscle cells. Currently, multiple cytokines, including interleukins, interferon, the tumor necrosis factor superfamily, colony stimulating factor, chemotactic factor, growth factor and so on, have all been demonstrated to play a critical role in AD. Additionally, studies of the link between cytokines and AD could deepen our understanding of the disease and may guide future treatment therapies; therefore, this review focuses on the role of cytokines in AD.