Betaine Supplementation Attenuates S-Adenosylhomocysteine Hydrolase-Deficiency-Accelerated Atherosclerosis in Apolipoprotein E-Deficient Mice

Serum S-adenosylhomocysteine levels are associated with first stroke in Chinese adults with hypertension

BACKGROUND

The association between S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH) and stroke has not been confirmed due to the specialized equipment and time requirements necessary for S-adenosylhomocysteine testing. We aimed to explore the association between SAH and stroke.

METHODS

A nested, case-control study drawn from the China Stroke Primary Prevention Trial of rural adults with hypertension, including 557 first stroke cases and 557 matched controls was conducted. Serum SAH was measured by stable-isotope dilution liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry using 4500MD. Multiple conditional logistic regression models were used to evaluate the association between SAH and first stroke.

RESULTS

In females, SAH levels were significantly higher in the stroke population than in the control group (16.0 ng/mL vs. 14.6 ng/mL). When SAH was assessed as quartiles, the odds of stroke were 1.78 (95 % CI: 1.02-3.09) in Quartile 2, 1.31 (95 % CI: 0.73-2.33) in Quartile 3, and 1.93 (95 % CI: 1.03-3.62) in Quartile 4, compared to Quartile 1. When Quartiles 2-4 were combined, the adjusted odds ratio of first stroke was 1.64 (95 % CI: 1.03-2.62) compared with Quartile 1. In subgroup analysis, a significant SAH-stroke association was observed in the lower vitamin D3 group (OR = 3.35, 95 % CI:1.72-6.53; P interaction, 0.035). In males, higher levels of SAH were associated with an increased risk of stroke in those under age 60. Compared with the reference group, the adjusted odds ratio of total stroke was 2.40 (95 % CI: 1.02-5.91) in the combined group (Quartile 2-4). In contrast, no significant association between SAH and stroke was found in males aged 60 or older.

CONCLUSIONS

This study reveals that SAH is associated with a higher risk of stroke independently of homocysteine, especially in females. SAH may be a second predictor of stroke in the metabolic pathway of methionine, after homocysteine.

Network pharmacology and molecular docking-based study on exploring the potential mechanism of Lycium barbarum L: In the treatment of atherosclerosis

BACKGROUND

Goji berries (Lycium barbarum L) are herbal medicine that have a long history of use and multiple pharmacological activities. In this study, we investigated the potential therapeutic effects of Goji berries on atherosclerosis (AS) using network pharmacology and molecular docking.

METHODS

The active compounds of Goji berries were identified using the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology platform, as well as the literature and the targets of each active compound were obtained using the Swiss Target Prediction database. The AS-related targets were collected from the GeneCards and OMIM databases to obtain the common targets of Goji berries and AS. The drug-compound-target-disease network and protein-protein interaction network were constructed using the Cytoscape software to obtain the core target proteins of Goji berries related to AS. Gene ontology analysis of the core targets and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes pathway enrichment analysis were performed by Metascape. The target-chemical correlations were verified using AutoDock molecular docking.

RESULTS

After analysis, 44 active compounds within Goji berries were obtained that exhibit associations with AS. Among these, the proteins exhibiting the highest degrees of interaction within the compound-targeted protein protein-protein interaction network were AKT1, SRC, MAPK3, MAPK1, RELA, and STAT3. The gene ontology-biology process analysis showed that compound-targeted proteins were mainly involved in regulating small molecule metabolic process, cellular response to chemical stress, reactive oxygen species metabolic process, and regulation of inflammatory response. Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes pathway mainly included lipid and AS in which AKT1, SRC, MAPK3, and MAPK1 were involved. Advanced glycation end-product-receptor for advanced glycation end-product signaling pathway in diabetic complications, Chagas disease, and pancreatic disease. Molecular docking assessment showed that fucosterol is bound to AKT1, MAPK3, and SRC.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrates that network pharmacology and molecular docking analyses contribute to a better understanding of Goji berries active compounds and targets as potential therapeutic drugs for treating AS.

Early hyperlipidemia triggers metabolomic reprogramming with increased SAH, increased acetyl-CoA-cholesterol synthesis, and decreased glycolysis

To identify metabolomic reprogramming in early hyperlipidemia, unbiased metabolome was screened in four tissues from ApoE-/- mice fed with high fat diet (HFD) for 3 weeks. 30, 122, 67, and 97 metabolites in the aorta, heart, liver, and plasma, respectively, were upregulated. 9 upregulated metabolites were uremic toxins, and 13 metabolites, including palmitate, promoted a trained immunity with increased syntheses of acetyl-CoA and cholesterol, increased S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH) and hypomethylation and decreased glycolysis. The cross-omics analysis found upregulation of 11 metabolite synthetases in ApoE‾/‾ aorta, which promote ROS, cholesterol biosynthesis, and inflammation. Statistical correlation of 12 upregulated metabolites with 37 gene upregulations in ApoE‾/‾ aorta indicated 9 upregulated new metabolites to be proatherogenic. Antioxidant transcription factor NRF2-/- transcriptome analysis indicated that NRF2 suppresses trained immunity-metabolomic reprogramming. Our results have provided novel insights on metabolomic reprogramming in multiple tissues in early hyperlipidemia oriented toward three co-existed new types of trained immunity.

Hyperhomocysteinemia and Accelerated Aging: The Pathogenic Role of Increased Homocysteine in Atherosclerosis, Osteoporosis, and Neurodegeneration

Cardiovascular diseases and osteoporosis, seemingly unrelated disorders that occur with advanced age, share major pathogenetic mechanisms contributing to accelerated atherosclerosis and bone loss. Hyperhomocysteinemia (hHcy) is among these mechanisms that can cause both vascular and bone disease. In its more severe form, hHcy can present early in life as homocystinuria, an inborn error of metabolic pathways of the sulfur-containing amino acid methionine. In its milder forms, hHcy may go undiagnosed and untreated into adulthood. As such, hHcy may serve as a potential therapeutic target for cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, thrombophilia, and neurodegeneration, collectively representing accelerated aging. Multiple trials to lower cardiovascular risk and improve bone density with homocysteine-lowering agents, yet none has proven to be clinically meaningful. To understand this unmet clinical need, this review will provide mechanistic insight into the pathogenesis of vascular and bone disease in hHcy, using homocystinuria as a model for accelerated atherosclerosis and bone density loss, a model for accelerated aging.

SARS-CoV-2 Infection: What Is Currently Known about Homocysteine Involvement?

Since December 2019, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has spread rapidly throughout the world causing health, social and economic instability. The severity and prognosis of patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection are associated with the presence of comorbidities such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension, chronic lung disease, cerebrovascular disease, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and malignancy. Thrombosis is one of the most serious complications that can occur in patients with COVID-19. Homocysteine is a non-proteinogenic α-amino acid considered a potential marker of thrombotic diseases. Our review aims to provide an updated analysis of the data on the involvement of homocysteine in COVID-19 to highlight the correlation of this amino acid with disease severity and the possible mechanisms by which it intervenes.

Transcriptomic-based clustering of human atherosclerotic plaques identifies subgroups with different underlying biology and clinical presentation

Histopathological studies have revealed key processes of atherosclerotic plaque thrombosis. However, the diversity and complexity of lesion types highlight the need for improved sub-phenotyping. Here we analyze the gene expression profiles of 654 advanced human carotid plaques. The unsupervised, transcriptome-driven clustering revealed five dominant plaque types. These plaque phenotypes were associated with clinical presentation and showed differences in cellular compositions. Validation in coronary segments showed that the molecular signature of these plaques was linked to coronary ischemia. One of the plaque types with the most severe clinical symptoms pointed to both inflammatory and fibrotic cell lineages. Further, we did a preliminary analysis of potential circulating biomarkers that mark the different plaques phenotypes. In conclusion, the definition of the plaque at risk for a thrombotic event can be fine-tuned by in-depth transcriptomic-based phenotyping. These differential plaque phenotypes prove clinically relevant for both carotid and coronary artery plaques and point to distinct underlying biology of symptomatic lesions.

Wumei Pill Ameliorates AOM/DSS-Induced Colitis-Associated Colon Cancer through Inhibition of Inflammation and Oxidative Stress by Regulating S-Adenosylhomocysteine Hydrolase- (AHCY-) Mediated Hedgehog Signaling in Mice

Wumei Pill (WMP) is a traditional Chinese herbal formulation and widely used to treat digestive system diseases in clinical. S-Adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase (AHCY) can catalyze the hydrolysis of S-adenosylhomocysteine to adenosine and homocysteine in living organisms, and its abnormal expression is linked to the pathogenesis of many diseases including colorectal cancer (CRC). A previous study reported that WMP could prevent CRC in mice; however, the underlying mechanisms especially the roles of AHCY in WMP-induced anti-CRC remain largely unknown. Here, we investigated the regulatory roles and potential mechanisms of AHCY in WMP-induced anti-CRC. WMP notably alleviated the azoxymethane/dextran sulfate sodium- (AOM/DSS-) induced colitis-associated colon cancer (CAC) in mice. Besides, WMP inhibited the inflammation and oxidative stress in AOM/DSS-induced CAC mice. AHCY was high expression in clinical samples of colon cancer compared to the adjacent tissues. WMP inhibited the AHCY expression in AOM/DSS-induced CAC mice. An in vitro study found that AHCY overexpression induced cell proliferation, colony formation, invasion, and tumor angiogenesis, whereas its knockdown impaired its oncogenic function. AHCY overexpression enhanced, while its knockdown weakened the inflammation and oxidative stress in colon cancer cells. Interestingly, WMP potently suppressed the hedgehog (Hh) signaling in AOM/DSS-induced CAC mice. A further study showed that AHCY overexpression activated the Hh signaling while AHCY knockdown inactivated the Hh signaling. Moreover, activation of the Hh signaling reversed the effect of AHCY silencing on inflammation and oxidative stress in vitro. In conclusion, WMP alleviated the AOM/DSS-induced CAC through inhibition of inflammation and oxidative stress by regulating AHCY-mediated hedgehog signaling in mice. These findings uncovered a potential molecular mechanism underlying the anti-CAC effect of WMP and suggested WMP as a promising therapeutic candidate for CRC.

The anti-diabetic potential of betaine. Mechanisms of action in rodent models of type 2 diabetes

Betaine (N, N, N-trimethylglycine) is an amino-acid derivative exerting numerous beneficial effects on the organism. This compound is found in human and animal diets but is also endogenously generated. However, its synthesis may be insufficient to maintain or improve health. Moreover, the tissue content of betaine reduces under some pathological conditions, such as type 2 diabetes. This decrease may be, however, easily alleviated by dietary betaine supplementation. Rodent studies provided evidence that betaine effectively limits many diabetes-related disturbances. Betaine therapy improves glucose tolerance and insulin action, which is strongly associated with changes in insulin-sensitive tissues, such as skeletal muscle, adipose tissue, and liver. Betaine supplementation positively affects multiple genes, which expression is dysregulated in diabetes. AMP-activated protein kinase is thought to play a central role in the mechanism underlying the anti-diabetic betaine action. Moreover, studies with animal models of type 2 diabetes have shown that betaine exerts anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects, and also alleviates endoplasmic reticulum stress. These changes contribute to improved insulin sensitivity and better blood glucose clearance. The results of animal studies encourage the exploration of the therapeutic betaine efficacy in humans with type 2 diabetes.