Resveratrol(Res) is a kind of polyphenolic compound, possessing multiple biological activities such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, cardioprotective, and anticancer effects. In recent years, the cardiovascular protective mechanism of Res has become a research hotspot. Studies have shown that Res has a protective effect on the cardiovascular system through various pathways, such as inhibiting oxidative stress, regulating ferroptosis of cells, improving ischemia-reperfusion(I/R) injury, regulating lipid metabolism, suppressing inflammatory responses, and enhancing endothelial function. It can also alleviate cardiotoxicity caused by drugs and chemicals. In terms of oxidative stress, Res reduces the level of intracellular reactive oxygen species(ROS) by enhancing the expression of proteins such as silent information regulator 1(SIRT1) and regulating mitochondrial function, thereby alleviating myocardial cell damage. Regarding ferroptosis, Res inhibits the occurrence of ferroptosis by regulating the expression of proteins related to iron metabolism. Res can also improve I/R injury through mechanisms such as activating autophagy and the mitochondrial quality control network. In regard to improving endothelial function, Res protects the function of endothelial cells by regulating multiple signaling pathways, such as downregulating the PREP1-mediated pathway. Res can also regulate lipid metabolism and inhibit the progression of atherosclerosis. In terms of inflammatory responses, Res exerts anti-inflammatory effects through mechanisms such as inhibiting the nuclear factor-kappa B(NF-κB) signaling pathway. In addition, Res has an improving effect on cardiotoxicity caused by different drugs or environmental factors. However, the clinical application of Res still faces limitations such as poor pharmacokinetic properties. In the future, in-depth exploration is needed at multiple levels from basic research to clinical application to clarify the dose-response relationship and standardize the standards of medication regimens with the expectation of providing more effective strategies for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases.
Humans ; Resveratrol/pharmacology* ; Animals ; Cardiotonic Agents/pharmacology* ; Oxidative Stress/drug effects* ; Cardiovascular Diseases/genetics* ; Cardiovascular System/metabolism* ; Signal Transduction/drug effects*

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) poses a serious threat to human health. Exercise plays an important role in both the prevention and treatment of CVD and is one of the key non-pharmacological interventions. Exercise can regulate the level of exerkine secreted by different tissue cells, directly affect the cardiovascular system or play a role in cardiovascular protection by improving cardiovascular risk factors. Exerkine such as meteorin-like protein (Metrnl), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21), and exosomal microRNA (miRNA) play an important role in regulating vascular and cardiac diseases such as atherosclerosis, heart failure, cardiac ischemia-reperfusion and myocardial infarction, as well as their risk factors. Exploring the signaling pathways and mechanisms by which Metrnl, BDNF, FGF21, and exosomal miRNAs exert cardiovascular protective effects can provide novel insights into exercise-based strategies for preventing and treating cardiovascular diseases.
Humans ; Cardiovascular Diseases/prevention & control* ; Exercise/physiology* ; Fibroblast Growth Factors/physiology* ; MicroRNAs/metabolism* ; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor/physiology* ; Cardiovascular System/physiopathology* ; Exosomes/metabolism* ; Signal Transduction

Two-pore-domain potassium channels (K2P) family is widely expressed in many human cell types and organs, which has important regulatory effect on physiological processes. K2P is sensitive to a variety of chemical and physical stimuli, and they have also been critically implicated in transmission of neural signal, ion homeostasis, cell development and death, and synaptic plasticity. Aberrant expression and dysfunction of K2P channels are involved in a range of diseases, including autoimmune, central nervous system, cardiovascular disease and others. The scope of this review is to give a detailed overview of the structure, function, pharmacological regulation, and related diseases of TREK-1 channels, a member of the K2P family.
Potassium Channels, Tandem Pore Domain/genetics* ; Humans ; Animals ; Cardiovascular Diseases/physiopathology* ; Autoimmune Diseases/metabolism* ; Central Nervous System Diseases/physiopathology*

Mushrooms are a group of fungi with great diversity and ultra-accelerated metabolism. As a consequence, mushrooms have developed a protective mechanism consisting of high concentrations of antioxidants such as selenium, polyphenols, β-glucans, ergothioneine, various vitamins and other bioactive metabolites. The mushrooms of the Pleurotus genus have generated scientific interest due to their therapeutic properties, especially related to risk factors connected to the severity of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). In this report, we highlight the therapeutic properties of Pleurotus mushrooms that may be associated with a reduction in the severity of COVID-19: antihypertensive, antihyperlipidemic, antiatherogenic, anticholesterolemic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antihyperglycemic properties. These properties may interact significantly with risk factors for COVID-19 severity, and the therapeutic potential of these mushrooms for the treatment or prevention of this disease is evident. Besides this, studies show that regular consumption of Pleurotus species mushrooms or components isolated from their tissues is beneficial for immune health. Pleurotus species mushrooms may have a role in the prevention or treatment of infectious diseases either as food supplements or as sources for pharmacological agents.
Agaricales ; Antioxidants/pharmacology* ; COVID-19/drug therapy* ; Cardiovascular System ; Pleurotus/metabolism* ; Risk Factors

BACKGROUND: Vitamin D has been known to play an important role in calcium homeostasis and bone metabolism. It has also been implicated in diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, and immune diseases. Several cross-sectional studies conducted worldwide have found that vitamin D is negatively correlated with obesity. In Korea, however, the results of similar studies were found to be inconsistent.METHODS: The study consisted of 585 adults over 18 years of age, who visited a health promotion center at a university hospital from March, 2015 to February, 2016 and their serum vitamin D levels were recorded. They were divided into two groups according to their sex. The correlation coefficients were calculated using Pearson correlation analysis between obesity and vitamin D. Finally, subjects with vitamin D levels less than <20 ng/mL were classified as deficient. Bivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine the odds ratio of vitamin D deficiency.RESULTS: We observed a significant negative correlation between obesity and vitamin D (P<0.05) among the women but not in the men. The following are the details of the findings: ≥25 in body mass index (model 3 adjusted odds ratio [OR], 4.11; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.59–10.67), ≥85 cm in waist circumference (model 3 adjusted OR, 1.81; 95% CI, 1.02–4.01), ≥30% in body fat (model 3 adjusted OR, 2.29; 95% CI, 1.17–4.62).CONCLUSION: Based on the results of this study, we suggest that obesity and vitamin D are negatively correlated and that obesity in women predisposes them to vitamin D deficiency.
Adipose Tissue ; Adult ; Animals ; Body Mass Index ; Calcium ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Fat Body ; Female ; Health Promotion ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Immune System Diseases ; Korea ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Metabolism ; Obesity ; Odds Ratio ; Vitamin D ; Vitamin D Deficiency ; Waist Circumference

The rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) is a key region in cardiovascular regulation. It has been demonstrated that cholinergic synaptic transmission in the RVLM is enhanced in hypertensive rats. Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) in the brain plays beneficial roles in cardiovascular function in hypertension. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of ACE2 overexpression in the RVLM on cholinergic synaptic transmission in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). Four weeks after injecting lentiviral particles containing enhanced green fluorescent protein and ACE2 bilaterally into the RVLM, the blood pressure and heart rate were notably decreased. ACE2 overexpression significantly reduced the concentration of acetylcholine in microdialysis fluid from the RVLM and blunted the decrease in blood pressure evoked by bilateral injection of atropine into the RVLM in SHRs. In conclusion, we suggest that ACE2 overexpression in the RVLM attenuates the enhanced cholinergic synaptic transmission in SHRs.
Acetylcholine ; metabolism ; Animals ; Blood Pressure ; physiology ; Cardiovascular System ; metabolism ; Cholinergic Neurons ; metabolism ; Hypertension ; metabolism ; Male ; Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred SHR ; metabolism

Taurine is an abundant, β-amino acid with diverse cytoprotective activity. In some species, taurine is an essential nutrient but in man it is considered a semi-essential nutrient, although cells lacking taurine show major pathology. These findings have spurred interest in the potential use of taurine as a therapeutic agent. The discovery that taurine is an effective therapy against congestive heart failure led to the study of taurine as a therapeutic agent against other disease conditions. Today, taurine has been approved for the treatment of congestive heart failure in Japan and shows promise in the treatment of several other diseases. The present review summarizes studies supporting a role of taurine in the treatment of diseases of muscle, the central nervous system, and the cardiovascular system. In addition, taurine is extremely effective in the treatment of the mitochondrial disease, mitochondrial encephalopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes (MELAS), and offers a new approach for the treatment of metabolic diseases, such as diabetes, and inflammatory diseases, such as arthritis. The review also addresses the functions of taurine (regulation of antioxidation, energy metabolism, gene expression, ER stress, neuromodulation, quality control and calcium homeostasis) underlying these therapeutic actions.
Acidosis, Lactic ; Arthritis ; Brain Diseases ; Calcium ; Cardiovascular System ; Central Nervous System ; Cytoprotection ; Energy Metabolism ; Gene Expression ; Heart Failure ; Japan ; MELAS Syndrome ; Metabolic Diseases ; Mitochondrial Diseases ; Neurodegenerative Diseases ; Pathology ; Quality Control ; Taurine*

Growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) is a member of the transforming growth factor beta superfamily. GDF-15 expression is dramatically upregulated during acute brain injury, cancer, cardiovascular disease, and inflammation, suggesting its potential value as a disease biomarker. It has been suggested that GDF-15 has neurotropic effects in the nervous system. Our studies showed that GDF-15 modulated the expression of neuronal Kand Caion channels and increased the release of excitatory transmitter in the medial prefrontal cortex of mice. GDF-15 is also involved in the complex modulation of cancer and cardiovascular disease. Here, we reviewed studies involving the modulation of GDF-15 expression and its mechanisms, the primary pathological and physiological functions of GDF-15 in neurological and cardiovascular systems, and its role in cancer progression. The biological effects and the values of GDF-15 in basic research and clinical applications were also addressed.
Animals ; Brain Injuries ; physiopathology ; Calcium Channels ; metabolism ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; physiopathology ; Disease Progression ; Growth Differentiation Factor 15 ; metabolism ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Mice ; Neoplasms ; physiopathology ; Nervous System ; metabolism ; Potassium Channels ; metabolism ; Prefrontal Cortex ; metabolism ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; Up-Regulation

Vitamin D is a molecule that is actively involved in multiple metabolic pathways. It is mostly known for its implications related to calcium metabolism. It has also been determined that it actively participates in the cardiovascular system, influencing blood pressure, coronary artery disease and other vascular diseases, such as heart failure and atrial fibrillation. Furthermore, it has been established that this vitamin is extensively involved in the regulation of both the renin angiotensin aldosterone system and the immune system. In this review, we present the different vitamin D metabolic pathways associated with the cardiovascular pathophysiology, and we include studies in animal and human models, as well as some of the controversies found in the literature. This review also incorporates an overview of the implications in the molecular biology and public health fields.
Animals ; Atrial Fibrillation ; Blood Pressure ; Calcium ; Cardiovascular Diseases* ; Cardiovascular System ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Immune System ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; Metabolism ; Molecular Biology ; Public Health ; Renin-Angiotensin System ; Vascular Diseases ; Vitamin D* ; Vitamins*

The combination of herbs and drugs is one of the most important approaches in the prevention and treatment of diseases in the integrated traditional and Western medicine (ITWM). While most medical practices have proved that the combination of herbs and drugs led to a clinical efficacy that was often superior to merely using only one of them; results from some studies have triggered adverse reactions to such an approach. Since few herb-drug interaction studies were carried out during treatments combining herbs and drugs, it really restricts the development of treatment and treatment theory of the combination of herbs and drugs. Given that herb-drug interactions may occur through the main pathway of cytochrome P450 enzymes and transporters; then to exhaustively study the role and impact of herbs in drug metabolism, as well as to establish a corresponding database, is of great significance for guiding the rational combination of herbs and drugs. When the herb-drug interaction information platform is implemented, we would get at ease a reasonable herb-drug prescription to achieve a better outcome, reduce dosage of some expensive drugs preserving the same efficacy, or even reduce some side effects of particular drugs; which might also promote the dynamic combination of Chinese and Western medicine, and accelerate the theory development of ITWM.
Cardiovascular Diseases ; drug therapy ; prevention & control ; Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System ; metabolism ; Herb-Drug Interactions ; Humans ; Integrative Medicine ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Membrane Transport Proteins ; metabolism