Compound Danshen Dripping Pills pretreatment protects the heart from ischemia/reperfusion injury by enhancing autophagic flux

Abstract Compound Danshen Dripping Pills (CDDPs) have been used in clinical treatment to protect the heart from ischemia/reperfusion (IR) injury for many years. However, the underlying mechanism implicated in the protective effects remains to be explored. Here, we determined the effects of CDDPs in Sprague-Dawley rats with the IR model. Cardiac function in vivo was assessed by echocardiography. Transmission electron microscopy, histological and immunohistochemical techniques, Western blotting and recombinant adeno-associated virus 9 transfection were used to illustrate the effects of CDDPs on IR and autophagy. Our results showed that pretreatment with CDDPs decreased the level of serum myocardial enzymes and infarct size in rats after IR. Apoptosis evaluation showed that CDDPs significantly ameliorated the cardiac apoptosis level after IR. Meanwhile, CDDPs pretreatment increased myocardial autophagic flux, with upregulation of LC3B, downregulation of p62, and increased autophagosomes and autolysosomes. Moreover, the autophagic flux inhibitor chloroquine could increase IR injury, while CDDPs could partially reverse the effects. Furthermore, our results showed that the activation of AMPK/mTOR was involved in the cardioprotective effect exerted by CDDPs. Herein, we suggest that CDDPs partially protect the heart from IR injury by enhancing autophagic flux through the activation of AMPK/mTOR.

Effects of a new thiazolidine compound (GQ-11) on tissue repair process in models of insulin resistance and ischemia-reperfusion / Efeitos de um novo derivado tiazolidínico (GQ-11) no processo de reparo tecidual em modelos de resistência à insulina e isquemia-reperfusão

The thiazolidinediones (TZDs) class comprises drugs with hypoglycemic effects, reducing insulin resistance in peripheral tissues. Our group has demonstrated in preliminary in vivo studies that a new TZD, GQ-11, improves insulin resistance as well as modulates cytokines involved in inflammatory process, suggesting an interesting approach for therapeutic alternatives in tissue repair, especially in metabolic decompensation cases, as insulin resistance and ischemia-reperfusion. In this context, the aim of this study was to investigate GQ-11 effects in tissue repair in three different models: insulin resistance in db/db mice, reconstructed human epidermis (RHE) in glycated collagen matrix and ischemia/reperfusion induced by aorta clamping in Wistar rats. In insulin resistance context, GQ-11 treatment upregulated the expression of anti-inflammatory mediators, such as IL-10, TGF-ß and Arg-1, downregulated the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines both in db/db mice wounds and in macrophage, besides increasing re-epithelization and collagen deposition. In addition, the treatment also induced keratinocytes proliferation and fibroblasts differentiation in RHE. In ischemia-reperfusion model, the same anti-inflammatory effect was observed along with anti-oxidant properties through regulation of enzymes, such as catalase and GPx, as well as by decreasing TBARS formation. Animals imaging by positron emission tomography (PET) indicated significant less 18F-FDG uptake in animal treated with GQ-11 compared to controls, suggesting decrease of the inflammation process related to reperfusion after aorta clamping. Concluding, the dual PPARα/γ agonist GQ-11 has an important antiinflammatory effect, suggesting a new approach to tissue repair management in diabetes and in prevention of ischemia-reperfusion syndrome post-surgery

As tiazolidinadionas (TZDs) compreendem uma classe de fármacos hipoglicemiantes que reduzem a resistência à insulina pelos tecidos periféricos. Dados preliminares in vivo obtidos em nosso grupo de pesquisa mostraram que um dos novos derivados tiazolidínicos, GQ-11, além de aumentar a resposta à insulina, pode inibir citocinas pró-inflamatórias, o que a torna uma alternativa terapêutica promissora no reparo tecidual, em especial, nos casos de descompensação metabólica como ocorre na resistência à insulina e na isquemia/reperfusão. Nesse contexto, o objetivo deste trabalho foi investigar os efeitos da GQ-11 nas etapas do processo de reparo tecidual em três modelos: resistência à insulina utilizando camundongos db/db, epiderme humana reconstruída em matriz de colágeno glicado e isquemia/reperfusão induzida por clampeamento da aorta em ratos Wistar. No contexto de resistência à insulina, o tratamento com GQ-11 induziu a expressão de mediadores anti-inflamatórios como IL-10, TGF-ß e Arg-1 e diminuiu a expressão de citocinas pró-inflamatórias em lesões de camundongos db/db e em macrófagos, além de aumentar a capacidade de re-epitelização e a deposição de colágeno. Além disso, o tratamento também induziu a proliferação de queratinócitos e a diferenciação de fibroblastos em epiderme humana reconstruída em matriz de colágeno glicado. No modelo de isquemia-reperfusão, o mesmo efeito anti-inflamatório da GQ-11 foi observado ao lado de efeitos anti-oxidantes através da regulação de enzimas como catalase, GPx e diminuição de TBARS. O imageamento dos animais através de tomografia por emissão de pósitrons (PET) demonstrou menor captação de 18F-FDG (18F-fluordesoxiglicose), indicando diminuição do processo inflamatório decorrente da reperfusão pós clampeamento aórtico. Dessa forma, conclui-se que GQ-11, um agonista dual de PPARα/γ, tem efeito anti-inflamatório importante, podendo ser um candidato à fármaco com possível aplicação no reparo tecidual no diabetes e na prevenção da síndrome de isquemia-reperfusão desenvolvida após procedimentos cirúrgicos