scholarly journals Cannabidiol Promotes Endothelial Cell Survival by Heme Oxygenase-1-Mediated Autophagy

Cells ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 1703 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sabine Böckmann ◽  
Burkhard Hinz

Cannabidiol (CBD), a non-psychoactive cannabinoid, has been reported to mediate antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-angiogenic effects in endothelial cells. This study investigated the influence of CBD on the expression of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and its functional role in regulating metabolic, autophagic, and apoptotic processes of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). Concentrations up to 10 µM CBD showed a concentration-dependent increase of HO-1 mRNA and protein and an increase of the HO-1-regulating transcription factor nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2). CBD-induced HO-1 expression was not decreased by antagonists of cannabinoid-activated receptors (CB1, CB2, transient receptor potential vanilloid 1), but by the reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenger N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC). The incubation of HUVEC with 6 µM CBD resulted in increased metabolic activity, while 10 µM CBD caused decreased metabolic activity and an induction of apoptosis, as demonstrated by enhanced caspase-3 cleavage. In addition, CBD triggered a concentration-dependent increase of the autophagy marker LC3A/B-II. Both CBD-induced LC3A/B-II levels and caspase-3 cleavage were reduced by NAC. The inhibition of autophagy by bafilomycin A1 led to apoptosis induction by 6 µM CBD and a further increase of the proapoptotic effect of 10 µM CBD. On the other hand, the inhibition of HO-1 activity with tin protoporphyrin IX (SnPPIX) or knockdown of HO-1 expression by Nrf2 siRNA was associated with a decrease in CBD-mediated autophagy and apoptosis. In summary, our data show for the first time ROS-mediated HO-1 expression in endothelial cells as a mechanism by which CBD mediates protective autophagy, which at higher CBD concentrations, however, can no longer prevent cell death inducing apoptosis.

Marine Drugs ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 86
Author(s):  
Yunok Oh ◽  
Chang-Bum Ahn ◽  
Jae-Young Je

Oxidative stress-induced endothelial dysfunction is strongly linked to the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases. A previous study revealed that seahorse hydrolysates ameliorated oxidative stress-mediated human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) injury. However, the responsible compounds have not yet been identified. This study aimed to identify cytoprotective peptides and to investigate the molecular mechanism underlying the cytoprotective role in H2O2-induced HUVECs injury. After purification by gel filtration and HPLC, two peptides were sequenced by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry as HGSH (436.43 Da) and KGPSW (573.65 Da). The synthesized peptides and their combination (1:1 ratio) showed significant HUVECs protection effect at 100 μg/mL against H2O2-induced oxidative damage via significantly reducing intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). Two peptides and their combination treatment resulted in the increased heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), a phase II detoxifying enzyme, through the activation of nuclear transcription factor-erythroid 2-related factor (Nrf2). Additionally, cell cycle and nuclear staining analysis revealed that two peptides and their combination significantly protected H2O2-induced cell death through antiapoptotic action. Two peptides and their combination treatment led to inhibit the expression of proapoptotic Bax, the release of cytochrome C into the cytosol, the activation of caspase 3 by H2O2 treatment in HUVECs, whereas antiapoptotic Bcl-2 expression was increased with concomitant downregulation of Bax/Bcl-2 ratio. Taken together, these results suggest that seahorse-derived peptides may be a promising agent for oxidative stress-related cardiovascular diseases.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Ruoyun Wu ◽  
Tunyu Jian ◽  
Xiaoqin Ding ◽  
Han Lv ◽  
Xiuhua Meng ◽  
...  

Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica Lindl.), a subtropical fruit tree native to Asia, is not only known to be nutritive but also beneficial for the treatment of diabetes in the south of China. To expand its development, this study was undertaken concerning the potential therapeutic role of total sesquiterpene glycosides (TSGs) from loquat leaves in insulin resistance (IR), the major causative factor of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Male C57BL/6 mice were fed on high-fat diet (HFD) to induce IR and then were given TSG by oral administration at 25 and 100 mg/kg/day, respectively. TSG notably improved metabolic parameters including body weight, serum glucose, and insulin levels and prevented hepatic injury. Moreover, inflammatory response and oxidative stress were found to be remarkably alleviated in IR mice with TSG supplement. Further research in liver of IR mice demonstrated that TSG repaired the signalings of insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1)/glucose transporter member 4 (GLUT4) and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), which improved glucose and lipid metabolism and prevented lipid accumulation in liver. It was also observed that TSG suppressed the expression of transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1), whereas the signaling pathway of sirtuin-6 (SIRT6)/nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) was significantly promoted. Based on the results, the current study demonstrated that TSG from loquat leaves potentially ameliorated IR in vivo by enhancing IRS-1/GLUT4 signaling and AMPK activation and modulating TRPV1 and SIRT6/Nrf2 signaling pathways.


Circulation ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 116 (suppl_16) ◽  
Author(s):  
David Zhang ◽  
Suelhem Mendoza ◽  
Aaron Bubolz ◽  
Makoto Suzuki ◽  
David Gutterman

Agonist-induced Ca 2+ entry in endothelial cells is important for the synthesis and release of vasoactive factors, although mechanisms of Ca 2+ entry remain largely unknown. Emerging evidence suggests that the transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 (TRPV4) channel, a Ca 2+ -permeant TRP channel, is expressed in endothelial cells and may be involved in the regulation of vascular tone. Here we investigated the potential role of TRPV4 channels in acetylcholine-induced vasodilation in vitro and in vivo using the TRPV4 knockout (TRPV4 −/− ) mice model. Carotid arteries were isolated and preconstricted with the thromboxane A2 mimetic U46619. Concentration-dependent relaxations to acetylcholine (10 −9 –10 −5 M) were markedly reduced in carotids of TRPV4 −/− vs. wild-type (WT) mice (maximal relaxations of 31±12% vs 53±4%, respectively; n=4 mice). There was no significant change in the ED50 for Ach. In both WT and TRPV4 −/− , acetylcholine-induced relaxations were blocked and converted to constrictions by the NO synthase inhibitor L-NAME (maximal relaxations of −25±6% and −24±7%, respectively). There was no difference in papaverine-induced relaxations between WT and TRPV4 −/− mice (maximal relaxations of 93±3% vs. 90±3%, respectively). U46619 caused similar contractions in carotid arteries from those mice. We also compared in vivo vasodilator effects of acetylcholine by measuring changes in blood pressure in those animals. Intravenous administration of acetylcholine (15 ng/gm bolus) decreased blood pressure by 32±6 mmHg in WT mice (from 90±15 to 57±10 mmHg; n=6), whereas blood pressure was reduced by only 10 mmHg in TRPV4 −/− mice (from 67±6 to 56±4 mmHg; n=12). Acetylcholine caused similar reductions in heart rate in WT and TRPV4 −/− mice, with mean changes of 365±57 and 292±40 beats/min, respectively. We conclude that the endothelium-dependent vasodilator response to acetylcholine is reduced both in vitro and in vivo in TRPV4 −/− mice, and these findings may provide novel insight into the mechanisms of Ca 2+ entry evoked by chemical agonists in endothelial cells. The paradoxically lower baseline blood pressure in TRPV4 −/− mice requires further investigation.


2011 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
pp. 1056-1067 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huayan Pang ◽  
Pan Yi ◽  
Ping Wu ◽  
Zhuoya Liu ◽  
Zhongjie Liu ◽  
...  

Excessive oxidative stress, decreased antioxidant capacity, and enhanced cellular calcium levels are initial factors that cause endothelial cell (EC) hyperpermeability, which represents a crucial event in the pathogenesis of pre-eclampsia. Lipoxin A4 (LXA4) strongly attenuated lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced hyperpermeability through maintaining the normal expression of VE-cadherin and β-catenin. This effect was mainly mediated by a specific LXA4receptor. LXA4could also obviously inhibit LPS-induced elevation of the cellular calcium level and up-regulation of the transient receptor potential protein family C 1, an important calcium channel in ECs. At the same time, LXA4strongly blocked LPS-triggered reactive oxidative species production, while it promoted the expression of the NF-E2 related factor 2 (Nrf2) protein. Our findings demonstrate that LXA4could prevent the EC hyperpermeability induced by LPS in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), under which the possible mechanism is through Nrf2 as well as Ca2+-sensitive pathways.


2007 ◽  
Vol 41 (9) ◽  
pp. 990-996 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nan Chen ◽  
Wei Shao ◽  
Pingping Lv ◽  
Shuluo Zhang ◽  
Yingying Chen ◽  
...  

2016 ◽  
Vol 44 (02) ◽  
pp. 377-388 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shaowei Zhuang ◽  
Tzu-Hurng Cheng ◽  
Nang-Lang Shih ◽  
Ju-Chi Liu ◽  
Jin-Jer Chen ◽  
...  

Tanshinone IIA is the main effective component of Salvia miltiorrhiza, known as “Danshen,” which has been used in many therapeutic remedies in traditional Chinese medicine. However, the direct effects of tanshinone IIA on vascular endothelial cells have not yet been fully described. In the present study, we demonstrated that tanshinone IIA increased heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expression in human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Western blot analyses and experiments with specific inhibitors indicated tanshinone IIA enhanced HO-1 expression through the activation of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt and the subsequent induction of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) nuclear translocation. In addition, tanshinone IIA inhibited cyclic strain induced interleukin-8 (IL-8) expression. HO-1 silencing significantly abrogated the repressive effects of tanshinone IIA on strain-induced IL-8 expression, which suggests HO-1 has a role in mediating the effects of tanshinone IIA. This study reports for the first time that tanshinone IIA inhibits cyclic strain-induced IL-8 expression via the induction of HO-1 in endothelial cells, providing valuable new insight into the molecular pathways that may contribute to the effects of tanshinone IIA.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenichi Goto ◽  
Takanari Kitazono

Vascular endothelial cells regulate arterial tone through the release of nitric oxide and other diffusible factors such as prostacyclin and endothelium derived hyperpolarizing factors. Alongside these diffusible factors, contact-mediated electrical propagation from endothelial cells to smooth muscle cells via myoendothelial gap junctions, termed endothelium-dependent hyperpolarization (EDH), plays a critical role in endothelium-dependent vasodilation in certain vascular beds. A rise in intracellular Ca2+ concentration in endothelial cells is a prerequisite for both the production of diffusible factors and the generation of EDH, and Ca2+ influx through the endothelial transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 (TRPV4) ion channel, a nonselective cation channel of the TRP family, plays a critical role in this process in various vascular beds. Emerging evidence suggests that the dysregulation of endothelial TRPV4 channels underpins endothelial dysfunction associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors, including hypertension, obesity, diabetes, and aging. Because endothelial dysfunction is a precursor to CVD, a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying impaired TRPV4 channels could lead to novel therapeutic strategies for CVD prevention. In this mini review, we present the current knowledge of the pathophysiological changes in endothelial TRPV4 channels associated with CVD risk factors, and then explore the underlying mechanisms involved.


2014 ◽  
Vol 111 (06) ◽  
pp. 1077-1088 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yarúa Jaimes ◽  
Ananta Paine ◽  
Constanca Figueiredo ◽  
Britta Eiz-Vesper ◽  
Rainer Blasczyk ◽  
...  

SummaryThe antioxidant enzyme heme oxygenase (HO)-1, which catalyses the first and rate-limiting step of heme degradation, has major anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects via its cell-type-specific functions in the endothelium. In the current study, we investigated whether the key endothelial adhesion and signalling receptor PECAM-1 (CD31) might be involved in the regulation of HO-1 gene expression in human endothelial cells (ECs). To this end PECAM-1 expression was down-regulated in human umbilical vein ECs (HUVECs) by an adenoviral vector-based knockdown approach. PECAM-1 knockdown markedly induced HO-1, but not the constitutive HO isoform HO-2. Nuclear translocation of the transcription factor NF-E2-related factor-2 (Nrf2), which is a master regulator of the inducible antioxidant cell response, and intracellular levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were increased in PECAM-1-deficient HUVECs, respectively. PECAM-1-dependent HO-1 regulation was also examined in PECAM-1 over-expressing Chinese hamster ovary and murine L-cells. Endogenous HO-1 gene expression and reporter gene activity of transiently transfected luciferase HO-1 promoter constructs with Nrf2 target sequences were decreased in PECAM-1 over-expressing cells. Moreover, a regulatory role of ROS for HO-1 regulation in these cells is demonstrated by studies with the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine and exogenous hydrogenperoxide. Finally, direct interaction of PECAM-1 with a native complex of its binding partner NB1 (CD177) and serine proteinase 3 (PR3) from human neutrophils, markedly induced HO-1 expression in HUVECs. Taken together, we demonstrate a functional link between HO-1 gene expression and PECAM-1 in human ECs, which might play a critical role in the regulation of inflammation.


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