Indole-3-Carbinol (I3C) Protects the Heart From Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury by Inhibiting Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, and Cellular Apoptosis in Mice

Neuroprotective effects of Indole 3-carbinol against Scopolamine-Induced cognitive and memory impairment in rats: modulation of oxidative stress, inflammatory and cholinergic pathways

Indole 3-carbinol (I3C), a natural compound found in cruciferous vegetables, has demonstrated neuroprotective effects by modulating oxidative stress, inflammation, and cholinergic pathways. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of I3C in preventing cognitive impairment induced by scopolamine in rats. Male Wistar rats were assigned to six groups: Control, Scopolamine (1 mg/kg), I3C (25 mg/kg), I3C (50 mg/kg), I3C (100 mg/kg), and Donepezil (5 mg/kg). Memory function was evaluated through behavioral assessments using the Y-maze and Novel Object Recognition (NOR) tests. Biochemical analyses were conducted to assess acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity and oxidative stress markers, including malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT). ELISA were utilized to quantify oxidative stress regulators (NRF2 and HO-1), inflammatory cytokines (NF-kB, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-10), and apoptosis-related markers (Cytochrome C, caspase 9, and caspase 3). Additionally, H&E and Nissl staining were performed to evaluate histopathological abnormalities. The findings revealed that I3C administration markedly enhanced cognitive performance in the Y-maze and NOR tests, which were attributed to decreased AChE activity and increased acetylcholine (ACh) levels. Furthermore, I3C significantly alleviated oxidative stress by upregulating antioxidant enzymes, including NRF2 and HO-1. Moreover, I3C mitigated inflammatory responses, as evidenced by elevated levels of IL-10 and reduced levels of NF-kB, TNF-α, and IL-6. These findings indicate that I3C exhibits neuroprotective effects by reducing oxidative stress, suppressing inflammation, and addressing abnormalities in the cholinergic pathway, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic approach for alleviating cognitive deficits.

Effects of borneol on apoptosis of hypoxia/reoxygenation H9c2 cells and myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury rats

PURPOSE

To explore the protective effects of borneol in myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury (MIRI) and the mechanism of apoptosis.

METHODS

Cell viability was detected by CCK-8. The total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) leakage of cells were tested by biochemical assay kit. Detection of apoptosis was by flow cytometry. Serum levels of creatine kinase isoenzyme MB (CK-MB), LDH, and cardiac troponin I (cTnI) were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Myocardial infarction area and pathological changes were observed via 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining and hematoxylin and eosin staining. The expressions of apoptosis-related proteins in cells and myocardial tissues were detected by Western blot.

RESULTS

H9c2 cell viability was significantly increased by pretreatment with 16 and 32 μg/mL of borneol. Borneol pretreatment significantly increased the T-SOD levels and reduced LDH leakage and apoptosis. In MIRI rats, borneol pretreatment significantly reduced serum levels of CK-MB, LDH and cTnI, decreased myocardial infarction area, and improved myocardial injury in different degree. Western blot results showed that borneol pretreatment significantly reduced the expression of Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax) and Cysteine-aspartate protease-3 (Caspase-3) in cells and myocardial tissues of rats.

CONCLUSION

Borneol can protect myocardial injury cells and mitigate MIRI by inhibiting cardiomyocyte apoptosis.

A 90-Day Subchronic Exposure to Heated Tobacco Product Aerosol Caused Differences in Intestinal Inflammation and Microbiome Dysregulation in Rats

INTRODUCTION

Smoking is one of the most important predisposing factors of intestinal inflammatory diseases. Heated tobacco product (HTP) is a novel tobacco category that is claimed to deliver reduced chemicals to humans those reported in combustible cigarette smoke (CS). However, the effect of HTP on the intestine is still unknown.

AIMS AND METHODS

Our study aims to explore the potential effects of HTP on intestine. In the framework of Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development guidelines 413 guidelines, Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to HTP aerosol and CS for 13 weeks. The atmosphere was characterized and oxidative stress and inflammation of the intestine were investigated after exposure. Furthermore, the feces we performed with 16S sequencing and metabolomics analysis.

RESULTS

HTP aerosol and CS led to obvious intestinal damage evidenced by increased intestinal proinflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress in male and female rats After HTP and CS exposure, the abundance that obviously changed were Lactobacillus and Turiciacter in male rats and Lactobacillus and Prevotella in female rats. HTP mainly induces the metabolism of amino acids and fatty acyls such as short-chain fatty acids and tryptophan, while CS is involved in the main metabolism of bile acids, especially indole and derivatives. Although different metabolic pathways in the gut are mediated by HTP and CS, both inflammation and oxidative stress were ultimately induced.

CONCLUSIONS

HTP aerosol and CS-induced intestinal damage are mediated by different gut microbiota and metabolites, while both lead to inflammation and oxidative stress.

IMPLICATIONS

The concentration of various harmful components in heated tobacco product aerosol is reported lower than that of traditional cigarette smoke, however, its health risk impact on consumers remains to be studied. Our research findings indicate that heated tobacco products and cigarette smoke inhalation induced intestinal damage through different metabolic pathways mediated by the gut microbiome, indicating the health risk of heated tobacco products in the intestine.

Potential cardiac-derived exosomal miRNAs involved in cardiac healing and remodeling after myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury

Migratory cells exist in the heart, such as immune cells, fibroblasts, endothelial cells, etc. During myocardium injury, such as ischemia-reperfusion (MIRI), cells migrate to the site of injury to perform repair functions. However, excessive aggregation of these cells may exacerbate damage to the structure and function of the heart, such as acute myocarditis and myocardial fibrosis. Myocardial injury releases exosomes, which are a type of vesicle with signal transduction function and the miRNA carried by exosomes can control cell migration function. Therefore, regulating this migratory cell population through cardiac-derived exosomal miRNA is crucial for protecting and maintaining cardiac function. Through whole transcriptome RNA sequencing, exosomal miRNA sequencing and single-cell dataset analysis, we (1) determined the potential molecular regulatory role of the lncRNA‒miRNA‒mRNA axis in MIRI, (2) screened four important exosomal miRNAs that could be released by cardiac tissue, and (3) screened seven genes related to cell locomotion that are regulated by four miRNAs, among which Tradd and Ephb6 may be specific for promoting migration of different cells of myocardial tissue in myocardial infarct. We generated a core miRNA‒mRNA network based on the functions of the target genes, which may be not only a target for cardiac repair but also a potential diagnostic marker for interactions between the heart and other tissues or organs. In conclusion, we elucidated the potential mechanism of MIRI in cardiac remodeling from the perspective of cell migration, and inhibition of cellular overmigration based on this network may provide new therapeutic targets for MIRI and to prevent MIRI from developing into other diseases.

Human and gut microbiota synergy in a metabolically active superorganism: a cardiovascular perspective

Despite significant advances in diagnosis and treatment over recent decades, cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in Western countries. This persistent burden is partly due to the incomplete understanding of fundamental pathogenic mechanisms, which limits the effectiveness of current therapeutic interventions. In this context, recent evidence highlights the pivotal role of immuno-inflammatory activation by the gut microbiome in influencing cardiovascular disorders, potentially opening new therapeutic avenues. Indeed, while atherosclerosis has been established as a chronic inflammatory disease of the arterial wall, accumulating data suggest that immune system regulation and anti-inflammatory pathways mediated by gut microbiota metabolites play a crucial role in a range of CVDs, including heart failure, pericardial disease, arrhythmias, and cardiomyopathies. Of particular interest is the emerging understanding of how tryptophan metabolism-by both host and microbiota-converges on the Aryl hydrocarbon Receptor (AhR), a key regulator of immune homeostasis. This review seeks to enhance our understanding of the role of the immune system and inflammation in CVD, with a focus on how gut microbiome-derived tryptophan metabolites, such as indoles and their derivatives, contribute to cardioimmunopathology. By exploring these mechanisms, we aim to facilitate the development of novel, microbiome-centered strategies for combating CVD.

L-theanine alleviates myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury by suppressing oxidative stress and apoptosis through activation of the JAK2/STAT3 pathway in mice

BACKGROUND

L-theanine is a unique non-protein amino acid in tea that is widely used as a safe food additive. We investigated the cardioprotective effects and mechanisms of L-theanine in myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury (MIRI).

METHODS

The cardioprotective effects and mechanisms of L-theanine and the role of Janus Kinase 2 (JAK2)/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signaling were investigated in MIRI mice using measures of cardiac function, oxidative stress, and apoptosis.

RESULTS

Administration of L-theanine (10 mg/kg, once daily) suppressed the MIRI-induced increase in infarct size and serum creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase levels, as well as MIRI-induced cardiac apoptosis, as evidenced by an increase in Bcl-2 expression and a decrease in Bax/caspase-3 expression. Administration of L-theanine also decreased the levels of parameters reflecting oxidative stress, such as dihydroethidium, malondialdehyde, and nitric oxide, and increased the levels of parameters reflecting anti-oxidation, such as total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), glutathione (GSH), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in ischemic heart tissue. Further analysis showed that L-theanine administration suppressed the MIRI-induced decrease of phospho-JAK2 and phospho-STAT3 in ischemic heart tissue. Inhibition of JAK2 by AG490 (5 mg/kg, once daily) abolished the cardioprotective effect of L-theanine, suggesting that the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway may play an essential role in mediating the anti-I/R effect of L-theanine.

CONCLUSIONS

L-theanine administration suppresses cellular apoptosis and oxidative stress in part via the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway, thereby attenuating MIRI-induced cardiac injury. L-theanine could be developed as a potential drug to alleviate cardiac damage in MIRI.

Indole-3-carbinol (I3C) reduces apoptosis and improves neurological function after cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury by modulating microglia inflammation

Indole-3-carbinol(I3C) is a tumor chemopreventive substance that can be extracted from cruciferous vegetables. Indole-3-carbinol (I3C) has been shown to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. In this study, we investigated the cerebral protective effects of I3C in an in vivo rats model of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). 8-10 Week-Old male SD rat received I3C (150 mg/kg, once daily) for 3 days and underwent 3 h of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) followed by reperfusion. The results showed that I3C pretreatment (150 mg/kg, once daily) prevented CIRI-induced cerebral infarction in rats. I3C pretreatment also decreased the mRNA expression levels of several apoptotic proteins, including Bax, caspase-3 and caspase-9, by increasing the mRNA expression levels of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2. Inhibited apoptosis in the brain cells of MCAO rats. In addition, we found that I3C pretreatment reduced neuronal loss, promoted neurological recovery after ischemia-reperfusion injury and increased seven-day survival in MCAO rats. I3C pretreatment also significantly reduced the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (INOS), interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) mRNA in ischemic brain tissue; Increased expression of interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) mRNA. At the same time, I3C pretreatment significantly decreased the expression of the M1 microglial marker IBA1 after cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury and increased the expression of these results in the M2 microglial marker CD206. I3C pretreatment also significantly decreased apoptosis and death of HAPI microglial cells after hypoxia induction, decreased interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) mRNA The expression of interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) mRNAs was increased. These results suggest that I3C protects the brain from CIRI by regulating the anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects of microglia.

The roles of trimethylamine-N-oxide in atherosclerosis and its potential therapeutic aspect: A literature review

Current research supports the evidence that the gut microbiome (GM), which consist of gut microbiota and their biologically active metabolites, is associated with atherosclerosis development. Trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO), a metabolite produced by the GM through trimethylamine (TMA) oxidation, significantly enhances the formation and vulnerability of atherosclerotic plaques. TMAO promotes inflammation and oxidative stress in endothelial cells, leading to vascular dysfunction and plaque formation. Dimethyl-1-butanol (DMB), iodomethylcholine (IMC) and fluoromethylcholine (FMC) have been recognized for their ability to reduce plasma TMAO by inhibiting trimethylamine lyase, a bacterial enzyme involved in the choline cleavage anaerobic process, thus reducing TMA formation. Conversely, indole-3-carbinol (I3C) and trigonelline inhibit TMA oxidation by inhibiting flavin-containing monooxygenase-3 (FMO3), resulting in reduced plasma TMAO. The combined use of inhibitors of choline trimethylamine lyase and flavin-containing monooxygenase-3 could provide novel therapeutic strategies for cardiovascular disease prevention by stabilizing existing atherosclerotic plaques. This review aims to present the current evidence of the roles of TMA/TMAO in atherosclerosis as well as its potential therapeutic prevention aspects.

Synthetic Methodologies and Therapeutic Potential of Indole-3-Carbinol (I3C) and Its Derivatives

Indole-3-carbinol (I3C) is a natural product contained in vegetables belonging to the Brassicaceae family and has been studied in recent decades for its biological and pharmacological properties. Herein, we will analyze: (1) the biosynthetic processes and synthetic procedures through which I3C and its main derivatives have been obtained; (2) the characteristics that lead to believe that both I3C and its derivatives are responsible for several important activities-in particular, antitumor and antiviral, through insights concerning in vitro assays and in vivo tests; (3) the mechanisms of action of the most important compounds considered; (4) the potential social impact that the enhancement of the discussed molecules can have in the prevention and treatment of the pathologies' examined field-first of all, those related to respiratory tract disorders and cancer.

Xin-Ji-Er-Kang protects heart from ischemia-reperfusion injury by rebalancing lipid metabolism

Background and Purpose: We have previously reported a cardioprotective effect with Xin-Ji-Er-Kang (XJEK) treatment in mice with myocardial infarction (MI)-induced heart failure, but no report about its potential functions in myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (MIR) injury. Here we studied the therapeutic effects of XJEK on MIR injury and investigated the mechanisms involved.

Experimental Approach: MIR model of Balb/c mice induced by left anterior descending coronary artery ligation for half an hour, followed by reperfusion, was utilized to study the potential therapeutic effects of XJEK on MIR-induced cardiac injury. Ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem Orbitrap mass spectrometry platform was used for studying serum lipid metabolic signatures.

Key Results: MIR caused cardiac dysfunctions, cardiac injury, myocardial fibrosis, and increased inflammation, and all the observed abnormalities caused by MIR were largely corrected by XJEK treatment. Mechanistically, XJEK exerts its cardioprotective effect in the context of MIR injury by suppressing MIR-induced inflammation and dysregulation of serum lipid metabolism.

Conclusion and Implications: We have demonstrated for the first time that XJEK protects heart from MIR injury by restoring dysregulated lipidomics. Our data provide new evidence to support a therapeutic effect for XIEK on MIR-induced cardiac injury, and pave the way for exploring the therapeutic potential of XJEK in large animal study and early clinical trial.