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Moore GJ, Ridway H, Gadanec LK, Apostolopoulos V, Zulli A, Swiderski J, Kelaidonis K, Vidali VP, Matsoukas MT, Chasapis CT, Matsoukas JM. Structural Features Influencing the Bioactive Conformation of Angiotensin II and Angiotensin A: Relationship between Receptor Desensitization, Addiction, and the Blood-Brain Barrier. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:5779. [PMID: 38891966 PMCID: PMC11171751 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25115779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2024] [Revised: 05/04/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
The N-terminal portion of the octapeptide angiotensin II (DRVYIHPF; AngII), a vasopressor peptide that favorably binds to, and activates, AngII type 1 receptor (AT1R), has an important role in maintaining bioactive conformation. It involves all three charged groups, namely (i) the N-terminal amino group cation, (ii) the Asp sidechain anion and (iii) the Arg guanidino cation. Neutralization of any one of these three charged groups results in a substantial reduction (<5%) in bioactivity, implicating a specialized function for this cluster. In contrast, angiotensin A (ARVYIHPF; AngA) has reduced bioactivity at AT1R; however, replacement of Asp in AngII with sarcosine (N-methyl-glycine) not only restores bioactivity but increases the activity of agonist, antagonist, and inverse agonist analogues. A bend produced at the N-terminus by the introduction of the secondary amino acid sarcosine is thought to realign the functional groups that chaperone the C-terminal portion of AngII, allowing transfer of the negative charge originating at the C-terminus to be transferred to the Tyr hydroxyl-forming tyrosinate anion, which is required to activate the receptor and desensitizes the receptor (tachyphylaxis). Peptide (sarilesin) and nonpeptide (sartans) moieties, which are long-acting inverse agonists, appear to desensitize the receptor by a mechanism analogous to tachyphylaxis. Sartans/bisartans were found to bind to alpha adrenergic receptors resulting in structure-dependent desensitization or resensitization. These considerations have provided information on the mechanisms of receptor desensitization/tolerance and insights into possible avenues for treating addiction. In this regard sartans, which appear to cross the blood-brain barrier more readily than bisartans, are the preferred drug candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Graham J. Moore
- Pepmetics Inc., 772 Murphy Place, Victoria, BC V8Y 3H4, Canada;
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Harry Ridway
- Institute for Sustainable Industries and Liveable Cities, Victoria University, Melbourne, VIC 8001, Australia;
| | - Laura Kate Gadanec
- Institute for Health and Sport, Immunology and Translational Research, Victoria University, Melbourne, VIC 3030, Australia; (L.K.G.); (V.A.); (A.Z.); (J.S.)
| | - Vasso Apostolopoulos
- Institute for Health and Sport, Immunology and Translational Research, Victoria University, Melbourne, VIC 3030, Australia; (L.K.G.); (V.A.); (A.Z.); (J.S.)
- Immunology Program, Australian Institute for Musculoskeletal Science (AIMSS), Melbourne, VIC 3021, Australia
| | - Anthony Zulli
- Institute for Health and Sport, Immunology and Translational Research, Victoria University, Melbourne, VIC 3030, Australia; (L.K.G.); (V.A.); (A.Z.); (J.S.)
| | - Jordan Swiderski
- Institute for Health and Sport, Immunology and Translational Research, Victoria University, Melbourne, VIC 3030, Australia; (L.K.G.); (V.A.); (A.Z.); (J.S.)
| | | | - Veroniki P. Vidali
- Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, National Centre for Scientific Research “Demokritos”, 15341 Athens, Greece;
| | | | - Christos T. Chasapis
- Institute of Chemical Biology, National Hellenic Research Foundation, 11635 Athens, Greece;
| | - John M. Matsoukas
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
- Institute for Health and Sport, Immunology and Translational Research, Victoria University, Melbourne, VIC 3030, Australia; (L.K.G.); (V.A.); (A.Z.); (J.S.)
- NewDrug/NeoFar PC, Patras Science Park, 26504 Patras, Greece;
- Department of Chemistry, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece
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Chen S, Zhang L, Feng B, Wang W, Liu D, Zhao X, Yu C, Wang X, Gao Y. MiR-550a-3p restores damaged vascular smooth muscle cells by inhibiting thrombomodulin in an <em>in vitro</em> atherosclerosis model. Eur J Histochem 2022; 66. [PMID: 35855629 PMCID: PMC9335314 DOI: 10.4081/ejh.2022.3429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2022] [Accepted: 07/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Thrombomodulin (TM) is involved in the pathological process of atherosclerosis; however, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Oxidised low-density lipoprotein (Ox-LDL; 100 μg/mL) was used to induce human vascular smooth muscle cells (HVSMCs) into a stable atherosclerotic cell model. The expression levels of miR-550a-3p and TM were detected by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Cell proliferation was estimated using CCK8 and EDU assays. Wound scratch and transwell assays were used to measure the ability of cells to invade and migrate. Propidium iodide fluorescence-activated cell sorting was used to detect apoptosis and cell cycle changes. A dual-luciferase reporter assay was performed to determine the binding of miR-550a-3p to TM. Our results suggested the successful development of a cellular atherosclerosis model. Our data revealed that TM overexpression significantly promoted the proliferation, invasion, migration, and apoptosis of HVSMCs as well as cell cycle changes. Upregulation of miR-550a-3p inhibited the growth and metastasis of HVSMCs. Furthermore, miR-550a-3p was confirmed to be a direct target of TM. Restoration of miR-550a-3p expression rescued the effects of TM overexpression. Thus, miR-550a-3p might play a role in atherosclerosis and, for the first time, normalised the function of injured vascular endothelial cells by simultaneous transfection of TM and miR-550a-3p. These results suggest that the miR-550a-3p/TM axis is a potential therapeutic target for atherosclerosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiyuan Chen
- The First Clinical College, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong; Department of Vascular Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, Anhui.
| | - Longfei Zhang
- Department of Vascular Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, Anhui.
| | - Benchi Feng
- Department of Vascular Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, Anhui.
| | - Wei Wang
- Department of Oncological Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, Anhui.
| | - Delang Liu
- Department of Vascular Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, Anhui.
| | - Xinyu Zhao
- Department of Vascular Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, Anhui.
| | - Chaowen Yu
- Department of Vascular Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, Anhui.
| | - Xiaogao Wang
- Department of Vascular Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, Anhui.
| | - Yong Gao
- The First Clinical College, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong; Department of Vascular Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, Anhui.
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Ma X, Chen Y, Mo C, Li L, Nong S, Gui C. The role of circRNAs in the regulation of myocardial angiogenesis in coronary heart disease. Microvasc Res 2022; 142:104362. [PMID: 35337818 DOI: 10.1016/j.mvr.2022.104362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2021] [Revised: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
During myocardial ischemia, timely reperfusion is critical to limit infarct area and the overall loss of cardiac contractile function. New treatment strategies need to be developed for patients who are neither able to receive interventional treatment nor suitable for surgical blood transport reconstruction surgery. Therapeutic angiogenesis is a promising approach that can be used to guide new treatment strategies. The goal of these therapies is to form new blood vessels or promote the maturation of existing vasculature systems, bypassing blocked arteries to maintain organ perfusion, thereby relieving symptoms and preventing the remodeling of bad organs. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), including microRNAs (miRNAs), long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and circular RNAs (circRNAs), have been attracted much attention for their roles in various physiological and pathological processes. There is growing evidence that ncRNAs, especially circRNAs, play an important role in the regulation of cardiomyopathy angiogenesis due to its diversity of functions. Therefore, this article reviews the role and mechanisms of circRNA in myocardial angiogenesis to better understand the role of circRNAs in myocardial angiogenesis, which may provide useful insights and new revelations for the research field of identifying diagnostic markers and therapeutic approaches for the treatment of coronary artery disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Ma
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University&Guangxi Key Laboratory Base of Precision Medicine in Cardiocerebrovascular Diseases Control and Prevention & Guangxi Clinical Research Center for Cardiocerebrovascular Diseases, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region 530021, PR China
| | - Yuanxin Chen
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University&Guangxi Key Laboratory Base of Precision Medicine in Cardiocerebrovascular Diseases Control and Prevention & Guangxi Clinical Research Center for Cardiocerebrovascular Diseases, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region 530021, PR China
| | - Changhua Mo
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University&Guangxi Key Laboratory Base of Precision Medicine in Cardiocerebrovascular Diseases Control and Prevention & Guangxi Clinical Research Center for Cardiocerebrovascular Diseases, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region 530021, PR China
| | - Longcang Li
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University&Guangxi Key Laboratory Base of Precision Medicine in Cardiocerebrovascular Diseases Control and Prevention & Guangxi Clinical Research Center for Cardiocerebrovascular Diseases, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region 530021, PR China
| | - Shuxiong Nong
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University&Guangxi Key Laboratory Base of Precision Medicine in Cardiocerebrovascular Diseases Control and Prevention & Guangxi Clinical Research Center for Cardiocerebrovascular Diseases, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region 530021, PR China
| | - Chun Gui
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University&Guangxi Key Laboratory Base of Precision Medicine in Cardiocerebrovascular Diseases Control and Prevention & Guangxi Clinical Research Center for Cardiocerebrovascular Diseases, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region 530021, PR China..
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Zhou H, He Y, Zhu J, Lin X, Chen J, Shao C, Wan H, Yang J. Guhong Injection Protects Against Apoptosis in Cerebral Ischemia by Maintaining Cerebral Microvasculature and Mitochondrial Integrity Through the PI3K/AKT Pathway. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:650983. [PMID: 34054531 PMCID: PMC8155598 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.650983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2021] [Accepted: 04/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Guhong injection (GHI) can be used for the treatment of ischemic stroke. We investigated the antiapoptotic activity of GHI, its ability to repair the cerebral microvessels and mitochondria, and the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway of GHI against cerebral ischemia. Western blot and immunohistochemical analyses were used to determine the expression of cleaved caspase-3, B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), cytochrome c (Cyt-c), basic fibroblast growth factor (BFGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), and proteins in the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy were used to evaluate the structures of the cerebral microvasculature and cells. Hoechst 33342 staining was used to evaluate the nuclear morphology. FITC-AV/PI double staining was used to measure the antiapoptotic effects. The fluorescent dye JC-1 was used to measure mitochondrial membrane potential. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the activities of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9). Biochemical assay kits were used to detect the activities of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and malondialdehyde (MDA). Compared with the middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) group, there was decreased infarct volume and significantly improved neurological deficits in the GHI group. In addition, the expression of Bcl-2 was significantly upregulated, while the expression of Cyt-c, Bax, and cleaved caspase-3 was notably downregulated. GHI administration attenuated the pathological change and morphology of the cerebral microvasculature, and immunohistochemical staining indicated that the expressions of BFGF, VEGF, and TGF-β1 were significantly increased. The cell morphology, cell viability, cell nuclei characteristics, and mitochondrial morphology normalized following GHI treatment, which decreased the release of Cyt-c and the mitochondrial membrane potential. The levels of LDH, MMP-9, and MDA decreased, while SOD increased. Moreover, GHI administration inhibited the activation of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in rat brain microvascular endothelial cells (rBMECs) following oxygen/glucose deprivation (OGD) injury. Therefore, our results show that GHI administration resulted in antiapoptosis of cerebral cells and repair of cerebral microvessels and mitochondria via the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huifen Zhou
- Institute of Cardiovascular-Cranial Disease, School of Life Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yu He
- College of Pharmacy, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jiaqi Zhu
- Institute of Cardiovascular-Cranial Disease, School of Life Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xiaojie Lin
- Institute of Cardiovascular-Cranial Disease, School of Life Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Juan Chen
- College of Basic Medical Science, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Chongyu Shao
- Institute of Cardiovascular-Cranial Disease, School of Life Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Haitong Wan
- Institute of Cardiovascular-Cranial Disease, School of Life Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China.,College of Basic Medical Science, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jiehong Yang
- College of Basic Medical Science, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
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