Decorin Genotypes, Serum Glucose, Heart Rate, and Cerebrovascular Events: The Tampere Adult Population Cardiovascular Risk Study

Decorin alleviates non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in rats with polycystic ovary syndrome

Endocrine multisystem defect polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) causes hyperandrogenism and infertility. Half of PCOS women have (non-alcoholic fatty liver disease) NAFLD, which increases metabolic disease risk. We tested decorin's effect on NAFLD and related processes in PCOS. NAFLD+PCOS, PCOS+decorin, and control rats were studied. Decorin was evaluated on NAFLD/PCOS rats. Test group rats received HF for eight weeks to generate NAFLD. The rats got 1 mg/kg letrozole orally daily for 21 days to diagnosis PCOS. Afterward, rats got injectable decorin for 14 days. Body weight, liver weight, liver coefficient Abdominal Circumference (AC) and body mass index (BMI) were determined. Blood triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol, LDL-c, AST, and glucose were measured. The insulin, testosterone, estrogen, LH, and FSH were measured by ELISA. GPx, SOD, MDA, TNF-, and Caspase-3 liver immunohistochemistry were evaluated. NAFLD liver tissues in PCOS models showed biochemical and histological alterations. NAFLD+PCOS raised BMI, AC, liver weight, and coefficient. Blood glucose, insulin resistance, TG, ALT, and AST increased. Lipid abnormalities (TG, cholesterol, LDL-c, and HDL-c), oxidative stress markers (MDA, SOD, and GPx), and liver dysfunction were found. Low serum E2 and high T supported PCO. Decorin reduced model rat BMI, liver weight, coefficient, insulin resistance, TG, ALT, and AST. It reduced liver inflammation, improved liver extract lipids, and normalized MDA, SOD, and GPx. In the model group, decorin lowered serum T, E2, LH, caspase 3, and TNF-alpha. Decorating improved NAFLD/PCOS group liver histology and function. Decorin reduces hepatosteatosis by reducing liver inflammation, oxidative stress, and dyslipidemia.

Xinshubao tablet ameliorates myocardial injury against heart failure via the DCN/PPARα/PGC-1α/P300 pathway

Heart failure (HF) is a complex clinical syndrome with impaired ventricular ability due to structural or functional cardiac disorders. A traditional Chinese formula named Xinshubao tablet (XSB) is reported to protect cardiomyocytes and decrease the risk of HF clinically; however, the underlying mechanism of XSB on decreasing HF risk is not elucidated yet. Therefore, our study aimed to investigate the therapeutic efficacy and underlying mechanism of XSB by using HF model rats and H9c2 cells with oxygen glucose deprivation. Echocardiographic and pathological features of animal experiment showed that XSB treatment effectively improved cardiac function and ameliorated myocardial injury after 4 weeks of treatment. Cellular experiments indicated that XSB pretreatment significantly inhibited apoptosis and increased mitochondrial energy metabolism. Furthermore, in vivo and in vitro experiments both demonstrated that XSB suppressed oxidative stress and inflammatory response. Our results further revealed that the potential protective mechanism of XSB was closely associated with the DCN/PPARα/PGC-1α/P300 signaling pathway. Our findings provide novel mechanistic insights for HF treatment and a pharmacological basis for the therapeutic application of XSB against cardiovascular disorders.

Mulberry leaf attenuates atherosclerotic lesions in patients with coronary heart disease possibly via 1-Deoxynojirimycin: A placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial

Mulberry leaf tea reduces atherosclerotic lesions and its main component is Deoxynojirimycin (DNJ). We aimed to explore the effects of Mulberry leaf DNJ (MLD) on atherosclerotic lesions in the patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). MLD and serum DNJ was detected by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The CHD patients with low-density lipoprotein cholesterol >140 mg/dl were assigned into the EG (MLD treatment) and the CG (placebo treatment) groups. Serum biochemical indices, the cerebrovascular and cardiovascular events and carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) were measured before and after a 1-year intervention. Pearson Correlation Coefficient test was used to explore the relationship between serum levels of DNJ and IMT values. Serum DNJ was 70 ± 50 ng/ml in the EG group but no serum DNJ was detected in the CG group. The incidence of cerebrovascular and cardiovascular events in the EG was lower than that in the CG group (p < .05). MLD therapy improved antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and serum lipid profile (p < .05). The IMT values in the EG group were lower than those in the CG group (p < .05). Serum levels of DNJ had a strong negative relationship with IMT values. MLD treatment attenuates atherosclerotic lesions possibly via DNJ. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Mulberry leaves Deoxynojirimycin (MLD) treatment improved antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and serum lipid profile in heart disease patients. MLD reduce carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and serum levels of DNJ (the main ingredient of mulberry leaf) had a strong relationship with IMT values. MLD is an amazing treat used for reducing the incidence of cerebrovascular and cardiovascular events in heart disease patients.

Absence of the proteoglycan decorin reduces glucose tolerance in overfed male mice

Studies have implicated the extracellular matrix (ECM) of adipose tissue in insulin resistance. The proteoglycan decorin, a component of ECM, has been associated with glucose tolerance, but possible causal effects on metabolism remain to be explored. We here sought to determine metabolic consequences of loss of decorin in mice (DcnKO). DcnKO mice were fed a low-fat (LF) or high-fat (HF) diet for 10 weeks and body weight and food intake was recorded. An intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test was performed after eight weeks. Blood samples and adipose, liver and muscle tissues were collected at sacrifice. Global gene expression was measured in adipose tissue, and expression of decorin was also analyzed in human adipose samples. DcnKO mice showed increased feed efficiency during overfeeding and impaired glucose tolerance. Adipose leptin mRNA and circulating leptin levels were elevated in DcnKO mice, along with a downregulation of genes involved in ECM organization and triglyceride biosynthesis, and an upregulation of adipose genes involved in complement and coagulation cascades. Consistent with a protective metabolic role for decorin, in obese patients we found increased adipose decorin expression after profound fat loss, particularly in the stromal vascular fraction. Loss of decorin in mice caused impaired glucose tolerance in association with increased feed efficiency and altered gene expression in adipose tissue. Our data provide evidence that decorin is an important factor for maintaining glucose tolerance.