9.The mechanism of "Trichosanthis Fructus-Allii Macrostemonis Bulbus" on phlegm and blood stasis syndrome-related cardiovascular diseases based on network pharmacology and experimental verification
Bo ZHANG ; Yu-ning LIANG ; You-li BAO ; Li ZHU ; Xin SUN ; Hong-fei WU
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica 2023;58(6):1452-1463
This study aimed to investigate the mechanism of "Trichosanthis Fructus-Allii Macrostemonis Bulbus" (GX) on phlegm and blood stasis syndrome (PBSS) rats combining the methods of network pharmacology and experimental verification. Animal experiment ethical requirements were approved by the Ethical Committee Experimental Animal Center of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine (grant number: AHUCM-rats-2021070). Based on the HPLC-Q-TOF-MS analysis and database, 69 chemical constituents of GX and 163 targets of GX for the treatment of phlegm and blood stasis-related cardiovascular diseases were obtained. Then, key targets such as serine/threonine kinase 1 (Akt1), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin 6 (IL6), vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA), cellular tumor antigen p53 (Tp53) were screened. Pathway analysis showed that the targets of GX in the treatment of phlegm and blood stasis-relate cardiovascular diseases were mainly involved in PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, sphingolipid metabolism, platelet activation, hypoxia inducible factor-1 (HIF-1), ras-proximate-1 (rap1) and other signaling pathways. In addition, molecular docking analysis showed that apigenin, cucurbitacin D, linolenic acid and kaempferol and other key components had potential binding ability with Akt1, TNF, IL6, VEGFA and Tp53. In the animal experiments, compared to the phlegm and blood stasis syndrome group, GX could significantly improve the traditional Chinese medicine syndrome score, blood lipid, vascular endothelial structure disorders and reduce serum endothelin-1 (ET-1) level, increase serum nitric oxide (NO) and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) levels, which could restore aortic endothelial function. In addition, the expression of intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) in aorta could be significantly reduced, which could improve the vascular endothelial injury of aorta. Western blot revealed that GX could significantly decrease the phosphorylation levels of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) and Akt in aorta. This study revealed the mechanism of GX in treatment of phlegm and blood stasis-relate cardiovascular diseases is consistent with the characteristics of multiple ingredients, multiple targets and multiple pathways. In addition, this study also clarified that the reversal of pathological of phlegm and blood stasis syndrome rats may be related to GX inhibiting PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, which could improve vascular inflammation and vascular endothelial function injury.
10.Study on severe blast lung injury model of baby rabbits
Yi LIANG ; Wei DAI ; Chao MA ; Xiaojun ZHANG ; Xin YOU ; Jihong ZHOU
Journal of Regional Anatomy and Operative Surgery 2016;25(5):318-322
Objective To establish an animal model of severe blast lung injury in baby rabbits,and to provide a way to study the char-acteristic and treatment of blast lung injury in minors.Methods Randomly selected sixteen 4-weeks old New Zealand white rabbits,and the blast lung injuries were made by BST-Ⅰ biological shock tube with different drive pressure (4.0 MPa and 4.5 MPa)respectively.Then compared the injury severity of the 4.0 Mpa group and the 4.5 MPa group.Selected forty-eight 4-weeks old New Zealand white rabbits and di-vided them into the control group (8 rabbits)and the blast lung injury group (40 rabbits)Rabbits in the blast lung injury group were injured with 4.5 MPa drive pressure.Observed the vital signs,physiological index,gross anatomy of the lung,pathology,and pulmonary water content at the time of injury immediately (0 hour),2 hours,4 hours,6 hours,12 hours,24 hours,48 hours and 72 hours after the injury.Results Rabbits inthe 4.0 Mpa group and the 4.5 MPa group were all alive.The overpressure of blast wave of the 4.0Mpa group was (328.16 ± 4.78)kPa,rate of severe pulmonary defense was 12.5%,and the AIS score was (3.38 ±0.52)points.In the 4.5 MPa group,the overpressure of blast wave was (395.04 ±11.74)kPa,rate of severe pulmonary defense was 87.5%,and the AIS score was (4.13 ±0.64) points.Rabbits in the control group and the blast lung injury group were all alive.The spirits of rabbits were drooping immediately after inju-ry,and it last about 0.5 hour.Then the breathing and heart rate was accelerated,pulmonary water content was increased significantly,and there were extensive hemorrhage and edema in the lung.Most of the rabbits suffered severe lung injury,and the AIS score was (3.98 ±0.55) points.Lung tissue rupture,hemorrhage,edema,and inflammatory cells infiltration were the main pathological manifestations under light microscopy. Conclusion The model of severe blast lung injury in baby rabbits could be established with BST-Ⅰbiological shock tube and drive pressure of 4.5 MPa.It is relatively simple,easily controllable and highly repeatable,which can be used as a feasible model for the study of blast lung injury.