1
|
Liu P, Wang Y, Tian K, Bai X, Wang Y, Wang Y. Artesunate inhibits macrophage-like phenotype switching of vascular smooth muscle cells and attenuates vascular inflammatory injury in atherosclerosis via NLRP3. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 172:116255. [PMID: 38325261 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2024.116255] [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: 11/12/2023] [Revised: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Inflammation is one of the main pathogenic factors of atherosclerosis (AS), and the phenotypic transformation of macrophages in human vascular smooth muscle cells (HVSMCs) contributes to the inflammatory injury of blood vessels and the formation of atherosclerotic plaques. Artesunate reportedly exerts anti-inflammatory activity against AS. Herein, we aimed to explore the artesunate-mediated anti-inflammatory and HVSMC phenotypic switch effects against AS and elucidate potential underlying mechanisms. In vitro, artesunate decreased expression of NLRP3, caspase-1, and interleukin (IL)- 1β. Artesunate significantly inhibited low-density lipoprotein (LDL) expression in HVSMCs and macrophages. In vivo, artesunate reduced atherosclerotic plaque formation in high-fat diet (HFD)-fed ApoE-/- mice, as well as decreased NLRP3 and CD68 expression in atherosclerotic plaques. Artesunate decreased serum levels of triglycerides and increased high-density lipoprotein levels in HFD-med mice; however, serum levels of total cholesterol and LDL were unaltered. Treatment with artesunate substantially increased α-smooth muscle actin expression in aortic tissues while inhibiting expression levels of NLRP3, IL-1β, heparinase, matrix metalloproteinase 9, and Krüppel-like factor 4 (KLF4). Collectively, our findings suggest that artesunate-mediated effects may involve inhibition of the ERK1/2/NF-κB/IL-1β pathway in HVSMCs via the downregulation of NLRP3 expression. Thus, artesunate could serve as a novel strategy to treat AS by inhibiting AS plaque formation and suppressing macrophage-like phenotype switching of HVSMCs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ping Liu
- Key Laboratory of Basic Pharmacology of Ministry of Education and Joint International Research Laboratory of Ethnomedicine of Ministry of Education, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi 563000, China
| | - Yuqi Wang
- Key Laboratory of Basic Pharmacology of Ministry of Education and Joint International Research Laboratory of Ethnomedicine of Ministry of Education, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi 563000, China
| | - Keke Tian
- Key Laboratory of Basic Pharmacology of Ministry of Education and Joint International Research Laboratory of Ethnomedicine of Ministry of Education, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi 563000, China
| | - Xinyu Bai
- Key Laboratory of Basic Pharmacology of Ministry of Education and Joint International Research Laboratory of Ethnomedicine of Ministry of Education, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi 563000, China
| | - Yaowen Wang
- Department of Cardiology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing Cardiac Arrhythmias Therapeutic Service Center, Chongqing 400010, China.
| | - Yan Wang
- Key Laboratory of Basic Pharmacology of Ministry of Education and Joint International Research Laboratory of Ethnomedicine of Ministry of Education, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi 563000, China.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Karasová M, Tóthová C, Víchová B, Blaňarová L, Kisková T, Grelová S, Staroňová R, Micháľová A, Kožár M, Nagy O, Fialkovičová M. Clinical Efficacy and Safety of Malarone®, Azithromycin and Artesunate Combination for Treatment of Babesia gibsoni in Naturally Infected Dogs. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12060708. [PMID: 35327106 PMCID: PMC8944516 DOI: 10.3390/ani12060708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2022] [Revised: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 03/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Babesia gibsoni is a tick-borne protozoal blood parasite that may cause hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, lethargy, and/or splenomegaly in dogs. Many drugs have been used in management of canine babesiosis such as monotherapy or combined treatment, including diminazene aceturate, imidocarb dipropionate, atovaquone, and antibiotics. This report examines the effectiveness and safety of Malarone®, azithromycin (AZM) and artesunate (ART) combination for the treatment of babesiosis in dogs naturally infected with Babesia gibsoni. Twelve American Pit Bull Terriers were included in the experiment. Examined dogs underwent clinical and laboratory analysis including hematology and biochemistry profile and serum protein electrophoresis. After diagnosis, the dogs received combined therapy with Malarone® (13.5 mg/kg PO q24 h), azithromycin (10 mg/kg PO q24 h) and artesunate (12.5 mg/kg PO q24 h) for 10 days. The combined treatment improved hematology and biochemical parameters to the reference range gradually during the first 14 days already, resulting in the stable values until day 56 after treatment. No clinically apparent adverse effects were reported during treatment and monitoring. No relapses of parasitemia were detected in control days 180, 360, 540 and 720 in all dogs. Results of the study indicate that the combined treatment leads to successful elimination of parasitemia in chronically infected dogs with B. gibsoni.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Martina Karasová
- Small Animal Clinic, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy, 04001 Košice, Slovakia; (S.G.); (R.S.); (A.M.); (M.K.); (M.F.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Csilla Tóthová
- Clinic of Ruminants, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy, 04001 Košice, Slovakia; (C.T.); (O.N.)
| | - Bronislava Víchová
- Institute of Parasitology, Slovac Academy of Sciences, 04001 Košice, Slovakia; (B.V.); (L.B.)
| | - Lucia Blaňarová
- Institute of Parasitology, Slovac Academy of Sciences, 04001 Košice, Slovakia; (B.V.); (L.B.)
| | - Terézia Kisková
- Faculty of Science, University of Pavol Jozef Šafárik, 04180 Košice, Slovakia;
| | - Simona Grelová
- Small Animal Clinic, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy, 04001 Košice, Slovakia; (S.G.); (R.S.); (A.M.); (M.K.); (M.F.)
| | - Radka Staroňová
- Small Animal Clinic, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy, 04001 Košice, Slovakia; (S.G.); (R.S.); (A.M.); (M.K.); (M.F.)
| | - Alena Micháľová
- Small Animal Clinic, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy, 04001 Košice, Slovakia; (S.G.); (R.S.); (A.M.); (M.K.); (M.F.)
| | - Martin Kožár
- Small Animal Clinic, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy, 04001 Košice, Slovakia; (S.G.); (R.S.); (A.M.); (M.K.); (M.F.)
| | - Oskar Nagy
- Clinic of Ruminants, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy, 04001 Košice, Slovakia; (C.T.); (O.N.)
| | - Mária Fialkovičová
- Small Animal Clinic, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy, 04001 Košice, Slovakia; (S.G.); (R.S.); (A.M.); (M.K.); (M.F.)
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Liu X, Wang X, Pan Y, Zhao L, Sun S, Luo A, Bao C, Tang H, Han Y. Artemisinin Improves Acetylcholine-Induced Vasodilatation in Rats with Primary Hypertension. DRUG DESIGN DEVELOPMENT AND THERAPY 2021; 15:4489-4502. [PMID: 34764635 PMCID: PMC8576437 DOI: 10.2147/dddt.s330721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2021] [Accepted: 10/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Purpose Endothelial dysfunction and the subsequent decrease in endothelium-dependent vascular relaxation of small arteries are major features of hypertension. Artemisinin, a well-known antimalarial drug, has been shown to exert protecting roles against endothelial cell injury in cardiac and pulmonary vascular diseases. The current study aimed to investigate the effects of artemisinin on endothelium-dependent vascular relaxation and arterial blood pressure, as well as the potential signalling pathways in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). Methods In this study, acetylcholine (ACh)-induced dose-dependent relaxation assays were performed to evaluate vascular endothelial function after treatment with artemisinin. Artemisinin was administered to the rats by intravenous injection or to arteries by incubation for the acute exposure experiments, and it was administered to rats by intraperitoneal injection for 28 days for the chronic experiments. Results Both acute and chronic administration of artemisinin decreased the heart rate and improved ACh-induced endothelium-dependent relaxation but negligibly affected the arterial blood pressure in SHRs. Incubation with artemisinin decreased basal vascular tension, NAD(P)H oxidase activity and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, but it also increased endothelial nitric oxide (NO) synthase (eNOS) activity and NO levels in the mesenteric artery, coronary artery, and pulmonary artery of SHRs. Artemisinin chronic administration to SHRs increased the protein expression of eNOS and decreased the protein expression of the NAD(P)H oxidase subunits NOX-2 and NOX-4 in the mesenteric artery. Conclusion These results indicate that treatment with artemisinin has beneficial effects on reducing the heart rate and basal vascular tension and improving endothelium-dependent vascular relaxation in hypertension, which might occur by increasing eNOS activation and NO release and inhibiting NAD(P)H oxidase derived ROS production.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xuanxuan Liu
- Key Laboratory of Targeted Intervention for Cardiovascular Disease, Collaborative Innovation Center of Translational Medicine for Cardiovascular Disease, Department of Physiology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.,Department of Physiology and Pathologic Physiology, Kangda College of Nanjing Medical University, Lianyungang, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Xingxing Wang
- Key Laboratory of Targeted Intervention for Cardiovascular Disease, Collaborative Innovation Center of Translational Medicine for Cardiovascular Disease, Department of Physiology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Yan Pan
- Key Laboratory of Targeted Intervention for Cardiovascular Disease, Collaborative Innovation Center of Translational Medicine for Cardiovascular Disease, Department of Physiology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Li Zhao
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Shuo Sun
- Key Laboratory of Targeted Intervention for Cardiovascular Disease, Collaborative Innovation Center of Translational Medicine for Cardiovascular Disease, Department of Physiology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Ang Luo
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Changlei Bao
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, People's Republic of China.,State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Haiyang Tang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, People's Republic of China.,State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Ying Han
- Key Laboratory of Targeted Intervention for Cardiovascular Disease, Collaborative Innovation Center of Translational Medicine for Cardiovascular Disease, Department of Physiology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Efferth T, Oesch F. The immunosuppressive activity of artemisinin-type drugs towards inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Med Res Rev 2021; 41:3023-3061. [PMID: 34288018 DOI: 10.1002/med.21842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2020] [Revised: 04/09/2021] [Accepted: 06/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
The sesquiterpene lactone artemisinin from Artemisia annua L. is well established for malaria therapy, but its bioactivity spectrum is much broader. In this review, we give a comprehensive and timely overview of the literature regarding the immunosuppressive activity of artemisinin-type compounds toward inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Numerous receptor-coupled signaling pathways are inhibited by artemisinins, including the receptors for interleukin-1 (IL-1), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), β3-integrin, or RANKL, toll-like receptors and growth factor receptors. Among the receptor-coupled signal transducers are extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase (PI3K), AKT serine/threonine kinase (AKT), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK) kinase (MEK), phospholipase C γ1 (PLCγ), and others. All these receptors and signal transduction molecules are known to contribute to the inhibition of the transcription factor nuclear factor κ B (NF-κB). Artemisinins may inhibit NF-κB by silencing these upstream pathways and/or by direct binding to NF-κB. Numerous NF-κB-regulated downstream genes are downregulated by artemisinin and its derivatives, for example, cytokines, chemokines, and immune receptors, which regulate immune cell differentiation, apoptosis genes, proliferation-regulating genes, signal transducers, and genes involved in antioxidant stress response. In addition to the prominent role of NF-κB, other transcription factors are also inhibited by artemisinins (mammalian target of rapamycin [mTOR], activating protein 1 [AP1]/FBJ murine osteosarcoma viral oncogene homologue [FOS]/JUN oncogenic transcription factor [JUN]), hypoxia-induced factor 1α (HIF-1α), nuclear factor of activated T cells c1 (NF-ATC1), Signal transducers and activators of transcription (STAT), NF E2-related factor-2 (NRF-2), retinoic-acid-receptor-related orphan nuclear receptor γ (ROR-γt), and forkhead box P-3 (FOXP-3). Many in vivo experiments in disease-relevant animal models demonstrate therapeutic efficacy of artemisinin-type drugs against rheumatic diseases (rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, lupus erythematosus, arthrosis, and gout), lung diseases (asthma, acute lung injury, and pulmonary fibrosis), neurological diseases (autoimmune encephalitis, Alzheimer's disease, and myasthenia gravis), skin diseases (dermatitis, rosacea, and psoriasis), inflammatory bowel disease, and other inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Randomized clinical trials should be conducted in the future to translate the plethora of preclinical results into clinical practice.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Efferth
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biology, Institute of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany
| | - Franz Oesch
- Oesch-Tox Toxicological Consulting and Expert Opinions, Ingelheim, Germany and Institute of Toxicology, Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Old wine in new bottles: Drug repurposing in oncology. Eur J Pharmacol 2020; 866:172784. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2019.172784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2019] [Revised: 11/05/2019] [Accepted: 11/07/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
|
6
|
Toxicological profile and safety pharmacology of a single dose of fibroblast activation protein-α-based doxorubicin prodrug: in-vitro and in-vivo evaluation. Anticancer Drugs 2018; 29:253-261. [PMID: 29346131 DOI: 10.1097/cad.0000000000000593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Fibroblast activation protein-α (FAPα) is a promising tumor-associated target expressed by reactive stromal fibroblasts in tumor tissue. FAPα has a postprolyl peptidase activity and can specifically cleave N-terminal benzyloxycarbonyl (Z)-blocked peptides, such as the substrate Z-Gly-Pro-AMC. Doxorubicin (DOX) is an effective antitumor drug, but its application is greatly limited by toxic adverse effects owing to poor tumor selectivity. Based on these facts, we previously designed a FAPα-targeting prodrug of doxorubicin (FTPD) which can be selectively hydrolyzed by FAPα. FTPD can retain potent antitumor efficacy and has favorable tumor targeting. The present study aimed to further evaluate the toxicological profile and the safety pharmacological property of FTPD in vitro and in vivo. The cytotoxicity assay showed that FTPD displayed markedly lower cytotoxicity to 3T3 cells and HEK-293 cells compared with DOX. In the short-term toxicity study, mice treated with 25 mg/kg of FTPD showed no obvious change in the appearance and general behavior, and no case of mortality was observed within 14 days. Unlike DOX, FTPD exhibited reduced toxicity to heart, liver, kidney, spleen as well as peripheral white blood cells in mice. Moreover, open file test and general pharmacology study were also conducted correspondingly in mice and beagle dogs. It was found that FTPD may not produce significant pharmacological effects on spontaneous locomotor activity and cardiovascular-respiratory system except for a transient decreasing in systolic blood pressure. Taken together, the results of this work suggest that FTPD has more favorable toxicological profile and better drug safety compared with its parent drug DOX.
Collapse
|
7
|
Nwaehujor CO, Asuzu OV, Nwibo DD, Nwobi OC, Ezeigbo II. Effects of Artesunate on some biochemical parameters in pregnant albino Wistar rats challenged with lethal strain Plasmodium berghei NK65: Appreciating the activities of artemisinin drugs on key pregnancy hormone balance. EXPERIMENTAL AND TOXICOLOGIC PATHOLOGY : OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE GESELLSCHAFT FUR TOXIKOLOGISCHE PATHOLOGIE 2017; 69:408-411. [PMID: 28336173 DOI: 10.1016/j.etp.2017.02.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2016] [Revised: 01/26/2017] [Accepted: 02/16/2017] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
In humans, malaria in pregnancy can cause serious maternal and foetal morbidity and in extreme untreated cases, foetal mortality occurs. The therapeutic approach to curbing this malaise is the administration of an effective and/or combinations of anti-malaria medicaments. Acute or chronic administration of some of these drugs, however, gives rise to some adverse medical conditions including reproductive dysfunction, especially in pregnancy. Studies aimed at the hormonal interplays following administration of these drugs in pregnancy have been limited due to too few appropriate animal models. In this experiment, pregnant albino rats were infected with rodent parasite, Plasmodium berghei on the 5th day of gestation, following which biochemical changes, specific for pregnancy maintenance were monitored in the blood of test rats. We observed that infecting the pregnant rats with P. berghei negatively impacted the measured biological parameters (hormones) compared to unchallenged controls. The observed effect was however retreated following oral administration of 3mg/kg body weight, qDay of Artesunate until the 17th day of gestation. Findings, therefore, suggest that Artesunate is an effective therapeutic agent in pregnancy, demonstrated by the restoration of the hormonal changes occasioned by the parasitic infection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chinaka O Nwaehujor
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Calabar, PMB 1115, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria
| | - Onyeka V Asuzu
- Department of Animal Production and Health, Faculty of Agriculture, Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria
| | - Daniel D Nwibo
- Department of Chemistry, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria
| | - Obichukwu C Nwobi
- Department of Animal Production and Health, Faculty of Agriculture, Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria
| | - Ihechiluru I Ezeigbo
- Department of Veterinary Physiology, Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike, PMB 7267, Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria.
| |
Collapse
|