Futian Tang

Astragaloside IV Attenuates Injury Caused by Myocardial Ischemia/Reperfusion in Rats via Regulation of Toll‐Like Receptor 4/Nuclear Factor‐κB Signaling Pathway

Myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (MI/R) injury, in which inflammatory response and cell apoptosis play a vital role, is frequently encountered in clinical practice. Astragaloside IV (AsIV), a small molecular saponin of Astragalus membranaceus, has been shown to confer protective effects against many cardiovascular diseases. The present study was aimed to investigate the antiinflammatory and antiapoptotic effects and the possible mechanism of AsIV on MI/R injury in rats. Rats were randomly divided into sham operation group, MI/R group and groups with combinations of MI/R and different doses of AsIV. The results showed that the expressions of myocardial toll‐like receptor 4 (TLR4) and nuclear factor‐κB (NF‐κB) were significantly increased, and apoptosis of cardiomyocytes was induced in MI/R group compared with that in sham operation group. Administration of AsIV attenuated MI/R injury, downregulated the expressions of TLR4 and NF‐κB and inhibited cell apoptosis as evidenced by decreased terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling positive cells, B‐cell lymphoma‐2 associated X protein and caspase‐3 expressions and increased B‐cell lymphoma‐2 expression compared with that in MI/R group. In addition, AsIV treatment reduced levels of inflammatory cytokines induced by MI/R injury. In conclusion, our results demonstrated that AsIV downregulates TLR4/NF‐κB signaling pathway and inhibits cell apoptosis, subsequently attenuating MI/R injury in rats. Copyright

Astragaloside IV Protects against Isoproterenol-Induced Cardiac Hypertrophy by Regulating NF-κB/PGC-1α Signaling Mediated Energy Biosynthesis

We previously reported that Astragaloside IV (ASIV), a major active constituent of Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch) Bge protects against cardiac hypertrophy in rats induced by isoproterenol (Iso), however the mechanism underlying the protection remains unknown. Dysfunction of cardiac energy biosynthesis contributes to the hypertrophy and Nuclear Factor κB (NF-κB)/Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor-γ Coactivator 1α (PGC-1α) signaling gets involved in the dysfunction. The present study was designed to investigate the mechanism by which ASIV improves the cardiac hypertrophy with focuses on the NF-κB/PGC-1α signaling mediated energy biosynthesis. Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats or Neonatal Rat Ventricular Myocytes (NRVMs) were treated with Iso alone or in combination with ASIV. The results showed that combination with ASIV significantly attenuated the pathological changes, reduced the ratios of heart weight/body weight and Left ventricular weight/body weight, improved the cardiac hemodynamics, down-regulated mRNA expression of Atrial Natriuretic Peptide (ANP) and Brain Natriuretic Peptide (BNP), increased the ratio of ATP/AMP, and decreased the content of Free Fat Acid (FFA) in heart tissue of rats compared with Iso alone. In addition, pretreatment with ASIV significantly decreased the surface area and protein content, down-regulated mRNA expression of ANP and BNP, increased the ratio of ATP/AMP, and decreased the content of FFA in NRVMs compared with Iso alone. Furthermore, ASIV increased the protein expression of ATP5D, subunit of ATP synthase and PGC-1α, inhibited translocation of p65, subunit of NF-κB into nuclear fraction in both rats and NRVMs compared with Iso alone. Parthenolide (Par), the specific inhibitor of p65, exerted similar effects as ASIV in NRVMs. Knockdown of p65 with siRNA decreased the surface areas and increased PGC-1α expression of NRVMs compared with Iso alone. The results suggested that ASIV protects against Iso-induced cardiac hypertrophy through regulating NF-κB/PGC-1α signaling mediated energy biosynthesis.

Astragalus polysaccharide attenuates isoproterenol-induced cardiac hypertrophy by regulating TNF-α/PGC-1α signaling mediated energy biosynthesis.

We previously reported that Astragalus polysaccharide (APS) extracted from Chinese medicine Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bge, attenuates hypertrophy of neonatal rat ventricular myocytes (NRVMs) induced by isoproterenol (Iso). The present study was designed to investigate the effects and the possible mechanism of APS on Iso-induced hypertrophy in rats and NRVMs with focus on tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α)/peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator 1α (PGC-1α) signaling mediated energy biosynthesis. 36-Week old rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: (1) Control, rats received vehicle; (2) Iso, rats received isoproterenol injections; (3) Iso+APS, rats received isoproterenol injections and APS. NRVMs were divided into similar groups as rats. The results showed that combination of APS with Iso significantly attenuated the pathological changes, reduced the ratios of heart weight/body weight (HW/BW) and left ventricular weight/BW (LVW/BW), improved the cardiac hemodynamics, down-regulated mRNA and protein expression of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), increased the ratios of ATP/ADP and ATP/AMP, and decreased the content of free fatty acid (FFA) in heart tissue of rats compared with Iso alone. In addition, pretreatment with APS significantly decreased the surface area and protein content, down-regulated mRNA and protein expression of ANP, increased the ratios of ATP/ADP and ATP/AMP, and decreased the content of FFA in NRVMs compared with Iso alone. Furthermore, APS increased the protein expressions of ATP5D, the σ subunit of ATP synthase, PGC-1α and pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 4 (PDK4) in tissue and NRVMs respectively and inhibited the production of TNF-α in serum and culture medium compared with Iso alone. The results suggested that APS attenuates Iso-induced cardiac hypertrophy through regulating TNF-α/PGC-1α signaling mediated energy biosynthesis.

Astragaloside IV improves the isoproterenol-induced vascular dysfunction via attenuating eNOS uncoupling-mediated oxidative stress and inhibiting ROS-NF-κB pathways.

OBJECTIVEnOxidative stress and inflammation are regarded as two important triggers of endothelial dysfunction and play pivotal role in progression of vascular damage associated with cardiac hypertrophy. Our previous studies demonstrated that astragaloside IV (AsIV) could protect against cardiac hypertrophy in rats induced by isoproterenol (Iso), but its effects on the aorta are not known. In present study, we aimed to assess the effects of AsIV on Isoinduced vascular dysfunction.nnnMETHODSnSprague-Dawley (SD) rats were treated with Iso (10mg/kg/d) alone or in combination with AsIV (50mg/kg/d).nnnRESULTSnCompared with Isotreated alone, AsIV significantly reduced the ratios of heart weight/body weight and left ventricular weight/body weight. AsIV ameliorated the increased vasoconstriction response to phenylephrine induced by Iso and suppressed superoxide anion generation in rat aorta, increased endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) dimer/monomer ratio and its critical cofactor tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) content in aorta as well as the NO production in the serum, reduced the plasmatic peroxynitrite (ONOO-). Moreover, in contrast with Isotreatment alone, AsIV decreased the ratio of nuclear-to-cytosolic protein expression of the NF-κB p65 subunit while enhanced its inhibited protein expression of IκB-α, down-regulated mRNA expression of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α of the aorta.nnnCONCLUSIONSnThe present study suggested that AsIV protects against Isoinduced vascular dysfunction probably via attenuating eNOS uncoupling-mediated oxidative stress and inhibiting ROS-NF-κB pathways.

Vitamin E Conditionally Inhibits Atherosclerosis in ApoE Knockout Mice by Anti-oxidation and Regulation of Vasculature Gene Expressions

Lipid deposition in artery walls is implied in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and imbalance between uptake and efflux of cholesterol favors the deposition. We investigated the effect of vitamin E with the same dose and duration on the different stages of atherosclerosis in Apolipoprotein E knockout (ApoE KO) mice and explored the potential mechanisms. The results showed that the ApoE KO mouse spontaneously develops atherosclerosis in an age-dependent manner from 14 to 46xa0weeks on the regular chow. Vitamin E (100xa0mg/kg) supplementation to ApoE KO mice at 6, 14, and 22xa0weeks for 8xa0weeks significantly reduced the atherosclerotic lesion area by 41, 29 and 19xa0% respectively compared to the age-matched control mice; however had no significant effect on the lesion when given at 30 and 38xa0weeks. In addition, vitamin E supplemented at the ages from 6 to 30xa0weeks decreased the contents of serum oxLDL and TBARS without affecting the TC and TAG contents in serum and liver. Furthermore, vitamin E supplemented at 6, 14 and 22xa0weeks down-regulated vasculature mRNA expressions of scavenger receptor CD36 and up-regulated mRNA expressions of PPARγ, LXRα and ABCA1 which are involved in reverse cholesterol transportation; however had no significant effects on these genes when given at 30 and 38xa0weeks. In conclusion, vitamin E with same dose and duration inhibits the early but not advanced atherosclerotic lesion in ApoE KO mice by anti-oxidation and regulation of mRNA expression of genes involved in cholesterol uptake and efflux, which favors the improvement of atherosclerosis.

Astragaloside IV attenuates apoptosis of hypertrophic cardiomyocyte through inhibiting oxidative stress and calpain-1 activation.

Calpain-1 activation and oxidative stress are two critical factors contributing to apoptosis of hypertrophic cardiomyocyte. Astragaloside IV (ASIV) exhibits protective effect against various heart diseases. The present study was designed to investigate whether the inhibitory effect of ASIV on isoproterenol (ISO)-induced apoptosis of hypertrophic cardiomyocyte was associated with the anti-oxidation and calpain-1 inhibition. Hypertrophy, apoptosis, mitochondrial oxidative stress and calpain-1 expression were measured in the heart tissue of Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats and H9C2 cells treated with ISO alone or combination with ASIV. The results showed that ASIV attenuated apoptotic rate, increased Bcl-2 expression, decreased Bax expression, ameliorated the integrity of mitochondrial structure and improved mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP). Moreover, ASIV combination reduced both calpain-1 protein expression and calpain activity, down-regulated mitochondrial NOX4 (mito-NOX4) expression, increased activity of mitochondrial superoxide dismutase (mito-SOD) and mitochondrial catalase (mito-CAT) compared to ISO treated alone. The results suggested that ASIV exerted anti-apoptosis effect on ISO-induced hypertrophic cardiomyocyte by attenuating oxidative stress and calpain-1 activation.

Inhibition of TNF-α-mediated NF-κB activation by Ginsenoside Rg1 contributes the attenuation of cardiac hypertrophy induced by abdominal aorta coarctation.

Abstract: Ginsenoside Rg1 (Rg1), a protopanaxadiol saponin extracted from Chinese medicine Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer, has been demonstrated to inhibit the cardiac hypertrophy. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the inhibition remain poorly understood. Activation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-&kgr;B) mediated by tumor necrosis factor &agr; (TNF-&agr;) gets involved in the cardiac hypertrophy. This study is designed to investigate the effects and the potential mechanism of Rg1 on the abdominal aorta coarctation (AAC)-induced cardiac hypertrophy with focus on TNF-&agr;/NF-&kgr;B signaling pathway. The results showed that oral administration of Rg1 dose-dependently improved the pathological changes, decreased the ratios of left ventricular weight/body weight (LVW/BW) and heart weight/BW (HW/BW), corrected the dysfunction of the cardiac hemodynamics by decreasing the left ventricular systolic pressure and left ventricular end-diastolic pressure and increasing the maximal rate of left ventricular systolic and diastolic pressure (±dp/dtmax) compared with the AAC alone. Rg1 also downregulated the atrial natriuretic peptide mRNA expression and decreased the mRNA and protein expression of TNF-&agr; in the heart tissue of rats compared with the AAC alone. In addition, Rg1 and BAY, the specific inhibitor of NF-&kgr;B, decreased the protein content and downregulated the mRNA expression of atrial natriuretic peptide in neonatal rat ventricular myocytes treated with TNF-&agr;. Furthermore, Rg1 increased the protein expression of p65, the subunit of NF-&kgr;B, in cytoplasm and decreased the expression p65 in nucleus of the heart tissue of rats undergoing the AAC and of neonatal rat ventricular myocytes treated with TNF-&agr;. The results suggested that Rg1 attenuates the AAC-induced cardiac hypertrophy through inhibition of TNF-&agr;/NF-&kgr;B signaling pathway.

Calpain-1 Mediated Disorder of Pyrophosphate Metabolism Contributes to Vascular Calcification Induced by oxLDL

We previously reported that oxidized low density lipoprotein (oxLDL) accelerated the calcification in aorta of rats and rat vascular smooth muscle cells (RVSMCs). However, the molecular mechanism underlying the acceleration remains poorly understood. The present study aimed to investigate the role of calpain-1, Ca2+-sensitive intracellular cysteine proteases, in the vascular calcification of rats treated with both high dose of vitamin D2 and high cholesterol diet. The results showed that calpain activity significantly increased in calcified aortic tissue of rats and RVSMCs treated with oxLDL. Specific calpain inhibitor I (CAI, 0.5mg/kg, intraperitoneal) inhibited the vascular calcification in rats with hypercholesterolemia accompanied by the increase in the level of extracellular inorganic pyrophosphate (PPi), the endogenous inhibitor of vascular calcification. In addition, CAI increased the content of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), decreased the activity, mRNA and protein expression of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and reduced the production of superoxide anion in calcified aortic tissue. CAI also increased the activity of ATP synthase as well as protein expression of ATP5D, δ subunit of ATP synthase. In the in vitro study, suppression of calpain-1 using siRNA assay inhibited the calcium deposition, increased the levels of PPi and ATP, improved the activity of ATP synthase as well as protein expression of ATP5D in RVSMCs treated with oxLDL. Calpain-1 suppression also decreased the activity, mRNA and protein expression of ALP and reduced the mitochondrial ROS (Mito-ROS) production in RVSMCs. However, mito-TEMPO, the mitochondria-targeted ROS scavenger, reduced the calcium deposition, increased the PPi in culture medium, decreased the activity, mRNA and protein expression of ALP in RVSMCs treated with oxLDL. Taken together, the results suggested that calpain-1 activation plays critical role in vascular calcification caused by oxLDL, which might be mediated by PPi metabolism disorder. The results also implied that Mito-ROS might contribute to the PPi metabolism disorder through regulation of the activity and expression of ALP.

Protective effects of Astragalus polysaccharides against endothelial dysfunction in hypertrophic rats induced by isoproterenol

Astragalus polysaccharide (APS) is an important bioactive component extracted from Chinese herb Astragalus membranaceus. It has been widely used in treatment of cardiovascular diseases. We have previously reported that APS could inhibit isoproterenol-induced cardiac hypertrophy. The present study was designed to evaluate the protective effect of APS on vascular endothelia in cardiac hypertrophy rats induced by isoproterenol (ISO). ISO (10mg×kg(-1)) was intraperitoneally injected once daily for 2weeks to induce cardiac hypertrophy. APS (400 and 800mg×kg(-1)) was intragastrically injected once daily along with ISO. The results showed that combination with APS significantly ameliorates the endothelial dysfunction while attenuates cardiac hypertrophy induced by ISO. We found that administration with APS could attenuate the increase in number of circulating endothelial cell (CEC). APS also decreases the superoxide anion generation and the protein expression of p65 and the levels of TNF-α and IL-6; while increases the cGMP levels, an activity marker for nitric oxide (NO) in aortas. In addition, APS improves the relaxation dysfunction in isolated aortic rings and increases the protein expression of IκBα and Cu/Zn-SOD in aortas. In conclusion, our results suggested that APS had a protective effect against endothelial dysfunction in hypertrophic rats induced by ISO. The underlining mechanisms may be contributed to the anti-inflammatory effects and the improvement of the imbalance between reactive oxygen species (ROS) and NO.

Calpain inhibitor I attenuates atherosclerosis and inflammation in atherosclerotic rats through eNOS/NO/NF-κB pathway

We previously reported that calpain, the Ca2+-sensitive cysteine protease, gets involved in atherogenesis. This study aimed to investigate the effects of calpain inhibitor I (CAI, 5 mg/kg per day) with or without NG-nitro-l-arginine-methyl ester (l-NAME) (100 mg/kg per day), the inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase (NOS), on atherosclerosis and inflammation in a rat model induced by high-cholesterol diet (HCD). The results demonstrated HCD increased protein expression of calpain-1 but not calpain-2 in aortic tissue. In addition, CAI reduced the thickness of atherosclerotic intima compared with HCD group, which was weakened by the l-NAME combination. CAI with or without l-NAME decreased the activity of calpain in the aorta. Also, CAI decreased the expressions of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), intracellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) in the aorta at the levels of both mRNA and protein. Furthermore, CAI increased the activity and the protein expression of endothelial NOS (eNOS) accompanied by increased content of NO and downregulated the protein expression of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) of the nucleus in the aorta. However, the abovementioned effects were at least partly cancelled by l-NAME except for the protein expression of eNOS. The results suggested that CAI attenuated atherosclerosis and inflammation through eNOS/NO/NF-κB pathway.