Ameliorative effect of allicin on vascular calcification via inhibiting endoplasmic reticulum stress

Vascular ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 170853812110352
Author(s):  
Qin Wang ◽  
Ping Lin ◽  
Li Feng ◽  
Qian Ren ◽  
Xiaofeng Xie ◽  
...  

Objectives Vascular calcification (VC) is an independent predictor for cardiovascular events and mortality. However, there are currently no effective methods to reverse or prevent it. The present study aimed to determine the ameliorative effect of allicin on VC. Methods VC model of rats was induced by high-dose vitamin D3, which was valued by Alizarin Red staining, calcium contents, and alkaline phosphatase in the aorta. Systolic blood pressure, pulse pressure, and pulse wave velocity were measured to determine aortic stiffness. Protein levels were detected by Western blot. Results Allicin treatment rescued aortic VC and stiffness. The increased protein levels of RUNX2 and BMP2, two markers of osteoblastic phenotype of vascular smooth muscle cells, in the calcified aorta were attenuated by allicin, whereas the decreased levels of calponin and SM22α induced by calcification were improved. Allicin treatment significantly attenuated the increased protein levels of GRP78, GRP94, and CHOP, which are key markers of endoplasmic reticulum stress, in the calcified aorta. The activation of PERK/eIF2α/ATF4 cascades was also prevented by allicin. Conclusions Allicin could ameliorate aortic VC and stiffness. The ameliorative effect of allicin on VC might be mediated by inhibiting PERK/eIF2α/ATF4 cascades. Our results might provide a new proof for VC treatment.

Dose-Response ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 155932581881063 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiangang Cao ◽  
Yu Zhang ◽  
Tianyi Wang ◽  
Bo Li

Osteoarthritis (OA) affects elderly population worldwide and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress is known to be positively correlated with OA development. Previous reports prove the cytoprotective effects of baicalin on chondrocytes, whereas the mechanisms are hardly reported. Hence, we aimed to investigate the links between OA, ER stress, and baicalin. Chondrocytes from patients with OA were subjected to H2O2 treatment with or without baicalin pretreatment, and cell viability was assessed via Cell Counting Kit-8. Messenger RNA (mRNA) amounts of apoptosis-related genes (Bax, Bcl-2, and Caspase-3), extracellular matrix (ECM)-related genes (Collange I, Collange II, Aggrecan, and Sox9) and ER stress hallmarks (binding immunoglobulin protein [BiP] C/EBP homologous protein [CHOP]) were evaluated via quantitative real-time PCR. Bax, Bcl-2, BiP, and CHOP protein levels were analyzed via Western blot. Baicalin suppressed the changes in cell viability and apoptosis-related gene expressions caused by H2O2. Reactive oxygen species and glutathione/oxidized glutathione assay showed that H2O2 enhanced oxidative stress. Baicalin suppressed H2O2-induced downregulation of mRNA expression of ECM-related genes. Moreover, baicalin reduced H2O2-stimulated increase in oxidative stress and the expression of ER stress hallmarks. Endoplasmic reticulum stress inducer abolished the protective activities, whereas ER stress inhibitor did not exhibit extra protective effects. Baicalin pretreatment protected patient-derived chondrocytes from H2O2 through ER stress inhibition.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shen Yan ◽  
Liu Yingchao ◽  
Wang Zhangliu ◽  
Ruan Xianli ◽  
Li Si ◽  
...  

The purpose of this study was to verify the effect of berberine (BBR) on endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) and apoptosis of intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) in mice with ulcerative colitis (UC). BALB/c mice were randomly divided into five groups as follows: blank control, model, and low-, medium-, and high-dose BBR. A dextran sodium sulfate- (DSS-) induced model of UC was prepared, and the low-, medium-, and high-dose BBR groups were simultaneously gavaged with a BBR suspension for 7 d. Disease activity index (DAI) was assessed, and tissue damage index (TDI) was assessed from colon samples after the last administration. TUNEL assays were used to detect apoptosis of IECs. Immunohistochemistry and/or real-time PCR were applied to determine the expression of GRP78, caspase-12, and caspase-3. In all BBR treatment groups, clinical symptoms of colitis and histopathological damage were significantly reduced. The high-dose BBR group exhibited particularly pronounced decrease (p<0.01) in both DAI (0.48 ± 0.36) and TDI (1.62 ± 0.64) relative to the model group (1.50 ± 0.65 and 3.88 ± 0.04, respectively). In colon tissues of the model group, the number of apoptotic IECs was significantly increased; the expression of GRP78, caspase-12, and caspase-3 proteins was significantly increased; and the expression of the GRP78 mRNA was upregulated. In low-, medium-, and high-dose BBR groups, the number of apoptotic IECs was significantly reduced. Moreover, GRP78 and caspase-3 expression levels were significantly decreased in the medium- and high-dose BBR groups, caspase-12 expression was significantly decreased in the high-dose BBR group, and the GRP78 mRNA expression level was significantly decreased in the high-dose BBR group. BBR can effectively reduce the rate of IEC apoptosis in UC mice and alleviate the inflammatory response in the colon. The underlying mechanism seems to involve ERS modulation and inhibition of ERS-mediated activation of the caspase-12/caspase-3 apoptosis signaling pathway.


2020 ◽  
Vol 880 ◽  
pp. 173165 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qianqian Dong ◽  
Yanting Chen ◽  
Wantao Liu ◽  
Xiaoyu Liu ◽  
An Chen ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  

Objectives: This study tested the effects of acylated (AG and un-acylated ghrelin (UAG) on hepatic lipid synthesis and insulin resistance (IR) from prospective to their effect on endoplasmic reticulum stress and investigated the possible underlying mechanisms. Methods: Healthy rats were divided as 4 groups (n=12/each) as control, control + AG, control + UAG, and control + AG + UAG (1:1). GA or UAG were given subcutaneously (200 ng/kg/each) for 8 weeks. Results: AG increased fasting levels of glucose and insulin resistance, increased hepatic glucose production, and impaired glucose and insulin tolerance. Besides, it increased serum levels of free fatty acids (FFAs), enhanced serum and hepatic levels of triglycerides and cholesterol, and increased lipid deposition in the livers of rats. Concomitantly, it stimulated the mRNA levels of SREBP1/2, fatty acid synthase, and protein levels of all arms of ER stress including Xbp-1, CHOP, ATF-6, and p-eIF2α, thus activating lipid synthesis and ER stress. It also reduced protein levels of p-IRS (Tyr612), p-Akt (Ser307), and increased levels of ROS, TNF-α, IL-6, and protein levels of cleaved caspase-12, p-IRS (Ser307), and p-JNK (The183/Tyr186) in rats’ livers. Administration of UAG alone or in combination with AG produced contradictory effects. However, both AG and UAG significantly increased mRNA levels of AMPK and PPARα suggesting FAs oxidation. Conclusion: AG induces hepatic steatosis and suppresses hepatic insulin signaling mainly by inducing peripheral IR that is associated with hepatic oxidative stress, inflammation, and ER stress. However, UAG alone or in combination exerts opposite effects.


2019 ◽  
Vol 47 (10) ◽  
pp. 4764-4774 ◽  
Author(s):  
Feng Tang ◽  
Chunhua Ling

Objectives The ability of curcumin to activate SIRT1 and thereby promote autophagy and inhibit endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) remains unclear. We investigated the relationship between curcumin and SIRT1 activation in relation to autophagy and ERS in COPD. Methods We developed a rat COPD model by cigarette smoke exposure, and divided the rats into control, COPD, COPD + low-dose curcumin (50 mg/kg), COPD + medium-dose curcumin (100 mg/kg), COPD + high-dose curcumin (150 mg/kg), and COPD + high-dose curcumin + sirtinol (2 mM, 30 μL/kg) groups. Apoptosis was detected by TUNEL assay. SIRT1 gene and protein expression, and protein expression of autophagy-related genes LC3-I, LC3-II, and Beclin1, and ERS-related genes CHOP and GRP78 were measured by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and western blot. Results SIRT1, LC3-I, LC3-II, and Beclin1 expression were significantly decreased and CHOP and GRP78 were enhanced in COPD compared with control rats. Curcumin increased the expression of SIRT1, LC3-I, LC3-II, and Beclin1 and decreased the expression of CHOP and GRP78 in COPD rats. The alleviating effects of curcumin on COPD in the SIRT1-inhibition group were reversed by suppressing LC3-I, LC3-II, and Beclin1 and increasing CHOP and GRP78. Conclusion Curcumin might alleviate COPD by promoting autophagy and inhibiting ERS through SIRT1 activation.


2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rui Yang ◽  
Xu Teng ◽  
Hui Li ◽  
Hong-Mei Xue ◽  
Qi Guo ◽  
...  

In this study, the vitamin D3plus nicotine (VDN) model of rats was used to prove that H2S alleviates vascular calcification (VC) and phenotype transformation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC). Besides, H2S can also inhibit endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) of calcified aortic tissues. The effect of H2S on alleviating VC and phenotype transformation of VSMC can be blocked by TM, while PBA also alleviated VC and phenotype transformation of VSMC that was similar to the effect of H2S. These results suggest that H2S may alleviate rat aorta VC by inhibiting ERS, providing new target and perspective for prevention and treatment of VC.


2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (6) ◽  
pp. 2503-2512 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yang Zhou ◽  
Wei Wu

Background/Aims: This study aimed to determine whether or not the sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitor, empagliflozin (EMPA), can protect against diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) and to elucidate the related mechanism. Methods: Rats were divided into the following four groups: a non-diabetic group; diabetic cardiomyopathy rats without EMPA treatment; and diabetic cardiomyopathy rats with EMPA treatment (low- and high-dose EMPA). Hemodynamic measurements were performed to evaluate left ventricular systolic and diastolic function. The histopathology of the heart was examined with hematoxylin-eosin staining. Expression of glucose-regulated protein (GRP)78, enhancer-binding protein homologous protein (CHOP), and caspase-12 was detected by Western blot, and the mRNA levels of XBP1, ATF4, and TRAF2 were analysed by real-time PCR. Results: EMPA significantly decreased the blood glucose level when compared with vehicle. EMPA strongly improved cardiac function based on hemodynamic and histopathologic analyses. Moreover, EMPA can significantly down-regulate the expression of GRP78, CHOP, and caspase-12 (P < 0.01). Additionally, the mRNA levels of XBP1, ATF4, and TRAF2 were markedly decreased by administration of EMPA (P < 0.01). Conclusion: EMPA protects against DCM by inactivating the endoplasmic reticulum stress pathway.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document