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As a major contributor to neonatal death and neurological sequelae, hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) lacks a viable medication for treatment. Oxidative stress induced by hypoxic-ischemic brain damage (HIBD) predisposes neurons to ferroptosis due to the fact that neonates accumulate high levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids for their brain developmental needs but their antioxidant capacity is immature. Ferroptosis is a form of cell death caused by excessive accumulation of iron-dependent lipid peroxidation and is closely associated with mitochondria. Mitophagy is a type of mitochondrial quality control mechanism that degrades damaged mitochondria and maintains cellular homeostasis. In this study we employed mitophagy agonists and inhibitors to explore the mechanisms by which mitophagy exerted ferroptosis resistance in a neonatal rat HIE model. Seven-days-old neonatal rats were subjected to ligation of the right common carotid artery, followed by exposure to hypoxia for 2 h. The neonatal rats were treated with a mitophagy activator Tat-SPK2 peptide (0.5, 1 mg/kg, i.p.) 1 h before hypoxia, or in combination with mitochondrial division inhibitor-1 (Mdivi-1, 20 mg/kg, i.p.), and ferroptosis inhibitor Ferrostatin-1 (Fer-1) (2 mg/kg, i.p.) at the end of the hypoxia period. The regulation of ferroptosis by mitophagy was also investigated in primary cortical neurons or PC12 cells in vitro subjected to 4 or 6 h of OGD followed by 24 h of reperfusion. We showed that HIBD induced mitochondrial damage, ROS overproduction, intracellular iron accumulation, lipid peroxidation and ferroptosis, which were significantly reduced by the pretreatment with Tat-SPK2 peptide, and aggravated by the treatment with Mdivi-1 or BNIP3 knockdown. Ferroptosis inhibitors Fer-1 and deferoxamine B (DFO) reversed the accumulation of iron and lipid peroxides caused by Mdivi-1, hence reducing ferroptosis triggered by HI. We demonstrated that Tat-SPK2 peptide-activated BNIP3-mediated mitophagy did not alleviate neuronal ferroptosis through the GPX4-GSH pathway. BNIP3-mediated mitophagy drove the P62-KEAP1-NRF2 pathway, which conferred ferroptosis resistance by maintaining iron and redox homeostasis via the regulation of FTH1, HO-1, and DHODH/FSP1-CoQ10-NADH. This study may provide a new perspective and a therapeutic drug for the treatment of neonatal HIE., Competing Interests: Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Chinese Pharmacological Society.)

Mitochondria and the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) are vital organelles that influence various cellular physiological and pathological processes. Recent evidence shows that about 5%-20% of the mitochondrial outer membrane is capable of forming a highly dynamic physical connection with the ER, maintained at a distance of 10-30 nm. These interconnections, known as MAMs, represent a relatively conserved structure in eukaryotic cells, acting as a critical platform for material exchange between mitochondria and the ER to maintain various aspects of cellular homeostasis. Particularly, ER-mediated Ca 2+ release and recycling are intricately associated with the structure and functionality of MAMs. Thus, MAMs are integral in intracellular Ca 2+ transport and the maintenance of Ca 2+ homeostasis, playing an essential role in various cellular activities including metabolic regulation, signal transduction, autophagy, and apoptosis. The disruption of MAMs observed in certain pathologies such as cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases as well as cancers leads to a disturbance in Ca 2+ homeostasis. This imbalance potentially aggravates pathological alterations and disease progression. Consequently, a thorough understanding of the link between MAM-mediated Ca 2+ transport and these diseases could unveil new perspectives and therapeutic strategies. This review focuses on the changes in MAMs function during disease progression and their implications in relation to MAM-associated Ca 2+ transport., Competing Interests: Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Chinese Pharmacological Society.)

Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) binds to the epidermal growth factor precursor homologous domain A (EGF-A) of low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) in the liver and triggers the degradation of LDLR via the lysosomal pathway, consequently leading to an elevation in plasma LDL-C levels. Inhibiting PCSK9 prolongs the lifespan of LDLR and maintains cholesterol homeostasis in the body. Thus, PCSK9 is an innovative pharmacological target for treating hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerosis. In this study, we discovered that E28362 was a novel small-molecule PCSK9 inhibitor by conducting a virtual screening of a library containing 40,000 compounds. E28362 (5, 10, 20 μM) dose-dependently increased the protein levels of LDLR in both total protein and the membrane fraction in both HepG2 and AML12 cells, and enhanced the uptake of DiI-LDL in AML12 cells. MTT assay showed that E28362 up to 80 μM had no obvious toxicity in HepG2, AML12, and HEK293a cells. The effects of E28362 on hyperlipidemia and atherosclerosis were evaluated in three different animal models. In high-fat diet-fed golden hamsters, administration of E28362 (6.7, 20, 60 mg·kg -1 ·d -1 , i.g.) for 4 weeks significantly reduced plasma total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) and PCSK9 levels, and reduced liver TC and TG contents. In Western diet-fed ApoE -/- mice (20, 60 mg·kg -1 ·d -1 , i.g.) and human PCSK9 D374Y overexpression mice (60 mg·kg -1 ·d -1 , i.g.), administration of E28362 for 12 weeks significantly decreased plasma LDL-C levels and the area of atherosclerotic lesions in en face aortas and aortic roots. Moreover, E28362 significantly increased the protein expression level of LDLR in the liver. We revealed that E28362 selectively bound to PCSK9 in HepG2 and AML12 cells, blocked the interaction between LDLR and PCSK9, and induced the degradation of PCSK9 through the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway, which finally resulted in increased LDLR protein levels. In conclusion, E28362 can block the interaction between PCSK9 and LDLR, induce the degradation of PCSK9, increase LDLR protein levels, and alleviate hyperlipidemia and atherosclerosis in three distinct animal models, suggesting that E28362 is a promising lead compound for the treatment of hyperlipidemia and atherosclerosis., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Chinese Pharmacological Society.)

The integrated stress response (ISR) triggered in response to various cellular stress enables mammalian cells to effectively cope with diverse stressful conditions while maintaining their normal functions. Four kinases (PERK, PKR, GCN2, and HRI) of ISR regulate ISR signaling and intracellular protein translation via mediating the phosphorylation of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2 α (eIF2α) at Ser51. Early ISR creates an opportunity for cells to repair themselves and restore homeostasis. This effect, however, is reversed in the late stages of ISR. Currently, some studies have shown the non-negligible impact of ISR on diseases such as ischemic diseases, cognitive impairment, metabolic syndrome, cancer, vanishing white matter, etc. Hence, artificial regulation of ISR and its signaling with ISR modulators becomes a promising therapeutic strategy for relieving disease symptoms and improving clinical outcomes. Here, we provide an overview of the essential mechanisms of ISR and describe the ISR-related pathways in organelles including mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, and lysosomes. Meanwhile, the regulatory effects of ISR modulators and their potential application in various diseases are also enumerated., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Chinese Pharmacological Society.)

The γ isoform of Class I PI3Ks (PI3Kγ) is primarily found in leukocytes and is essential for the function of myeloid cells, as it regulates the migration, differentiation, and activation of myeloid-lineage immune cells. Thus, PI3Kγ has been identified as a promising drug target for the treatment of inflammation, autoimmune disease, and immuno-oncology. Due to the high incidence of serious adverse events (AEs) associated with PI3K inhibitors, in the development of PI3Kγ inhibitors, isoform selectivity was deemed crucial. In this review, an overview of the development of PI3Kγ selective inhibitors in the past years is provided. The isoform selectivity of related drugs was achieved by different strategies, including inducing a specificity pocket by a propeller-shape structure, targeting steric differences in the solvent channel, and modulating the conformation of the Asp-Phe-Gly DFG motif, which have been demonstrated feasible by several successful cases. The insights in this manuscript may provide a potential direction for rational drug design and accelerate the discovery of PI3Kγ selective inhibitors., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Chinese Pharmacological Society.)

The nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD + /NADH) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP + /NADPH) redox couples function as cofactors or/and substrates for numerous enzymes to retain cellular redox balance and energy metabolism. Thus, maintaining cellular NADH and NADPH balance is critical for sustaining cellular homeostasis. The sources of NADPH generation might determine its biological effects. Newly-recognized biosynthetic enzymes and genetically encoded biosensors help us better understand how cells maintain biosynthesis and distribution of compartmentalized NAD(H) and NADP(H) pools. It is essential but challenging to distinguish how cells sustain redox couple pools to perform their integral functions and escape redox stress. However, it is still obscure whether NADPH is detrimental or beneficial as either deficiency or excess in cellular NADPH levels disturbs cellular redox state and metabolic homeostasis leading to redox stress, energy stress, and eventually, to the disease state. Additional study of the pathways and regulatory mechanisms of NADPH generation in different compartments, and the means by which NADPH plays a role in various diseases, will provide innovative insights into its roles in human health and may find a value of NADPH for the treatment of certain diseases including aging, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, cardiovascular diseases, ischemic stroke, diabetes, obesity, cancer, etc., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to CPS and SIMM.)

Our previous studies confirm that exogenous reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) exerts a neuroprotective effect in animal models of ischemic stroke, and its primary mechanism is related to anti-oxidative stress and improved energy metabolism. However, it is unknown whether nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) also plays a neuroprotective role and whether NADPH is superior to NADH against ischemic stroke? In this study we compared the efficacy of NADH, NADPH, and edaravone in ameliorating brain injury and metabolic stress in ischemic stroke. Transient middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion (t-MCAO/R) mouse model and in vitro oxygen glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R) model were established. The mice were intravenously administered the optimal dose of NADPH (7.5 mg/kg), NADH (22.5 mg/kg), or edaravone (3 mg/kg) immediately after reperfusion. We showed that the overall efficacy of NADPH in ameliorating ischemic injury was superior to NADH and edaravone. NADPH had a longer therapeutic time window (within 5 h) after reperfusion than NADH and edaravone (within 2 h) for ischemic stroke. In addition, NADPH and edaravone were better in alleviating the brain atrophy, while NADH and NADPH were better in increasing the long-term survival rate. NADPH showed stronger antioxidant effects than NADH and edaravone; but NADH was the best in terms of maintaining energy metabolism. Taken together, this study demonstrates that NADPH exerts better neuroprotective effects against ischemic stroke than NADH and edaravone., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to CPS and SIMM.)

TIGAR (TP53-induced glycolysis and apoptosis regulator) is the downstream target gene of p53, contains a functional sequence similar to 6-phosphofructose kinase/fructose-2, 6-bisphosphatase (PFKFB) bisphosphatase domain. TIGAR is mainly located in the cytoplasm; in response to stress, TIGAR is translocated to nucleus and organelles, including mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum to regulate cell function. P53 family members (p53, p63, and p73), some transcription factors (SP1 and CREB), and noncoding miRNAs (miR-144, miR-885-5p, and miR-101) regulate the transcription of TIGAR. TIGAR mainly functions as fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase to hydrolyze fructose-1,6-diphosphate and fructose-2,6-diphosphate to inhibit glycolysis. TIGAR in turn facilitates pentose phosphate pathway flux to produce nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) and ribose, thereby promoting DNA repair, and reducing intracellular reactive oxygen species. TIGAR thus maintains energy metabolism balance, regulates autophagy and stem cell differentiation, and promotes cell survival. Meanwhile, TIGAR also has a nonenzymatic function and can interact with retinoblastoma protein, protein kinase B, nuclear factor-kappa B, hexokinase 2, and ATP5A1 to mediate cell cycle arrest, inflammatory response, and mitochondrial protection. TIGAR might be a potential target for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular and neurological diseases, as well as cancers., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to CPS and SIMM.)

The PARK7 gene (encode DJ-1 protein) was first discovered as an oncogene and later found to be a causative gene for autosomal recessive early onset Parkinson's disease. DJ-1 has been proposed as a potential therapeutic anticancer target due to its pivotal role in tumorigenesis and cancer progression. Based on the homodimer structure of DJ-1, a series of bis-isatin derivatives with different length linkers were designed, synthesized, and evaluated as dimeric inhibitors targeting DJ-1 homodimer. Among them, DM10 with alkylene chain of C10 displayed the most potent inhibitory activity against DJ-1 deglycase. We further demonstrated that DM10 bound covalently to the homodimer of DJ-1. In human cancer cell lines H1299, MDA-MB-231, BEL7402, and 786-O, DM10 (2.5-20 μM) inhibited the cell growth in a concentration-dependent manner showing better anticancer effects compared with the positive control drug STK793590. In nude mice bearing H1299 cell xenograft, intratumor injection of DM10 (15 mg/kg) produced significantly potent tumor growth inhibition when compared with that caused by STK793590 (30 mg/kg). Moreover, we found that DM10 could significantly enhance N-(4-hydroxyphenyl)retinamide-based apoptosis and erastin-based ferroptosis in H1299 cells. In conclusion, DM10 is identified as a potent inhibitor targeting DJ-1 homodimer with the potential as sensitizing agent for other anticancer drugs, which might provide synergistical therapeutic option for cancer treatment.

Our previous study shows that nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) plays an important role in protecting against cerebral ischemia injury. In this study we investigated whether NADPH exerted cardioprotection against myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. To induce myocardial I/R injury, rats were subjected to ligation of the left anterior descending branch of coronary artery for 30 min followed by reperfusion for 2 h. At the onset of reperfusion, NADPH (4, 8, 16 mg· kg -1 · d -1 , iv) was administered to the rats. We found that NADPH concentrations in plasma and heart were significantly increased at 4 h after intravenous administration. Exogenous NADPH (8-16 mg/kg) significantly decreased myocardial infarct size and reduced serum levels of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and cardiac troponin I (cTn-I). Exogenous NADPH significantly decreased the apoptotic rate of cardiomyocytes, and reduced the cleavage of PARP and caspase-3. In addition, exogenous NADPH reduced mitochondrial vacuolation and increased mitochondrial membrane protein COXIV and TOM20, decreased BNIP3L and increased Bcl-2 to protect mitochondrial function. We conducted in vitro experiments in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes (NRCM) subjected to oxygen-glucose deprivation/restoration (OGD/R). Pretreatment with NADPH (60, 500 nM) significantly rescued the cell viability and inhibited OGD/R-induced apoptosis. Pretreatment with NADPH significantly increased the phosphorylation of AMPK and downregulated the phosphorylation of mTOR in OGD/R-treated NRCM. Compound C, an AMPK inhibitor, abolished NADPH-induced AMPK phosphorylation and cardioprotection in OGD/R-treated NRCM. In conclusion, exogenous NADPH exerts cardioprotection against myocardial I/R injury through the activation of AMPK/mTOR pathway and inhibiting mitochondrial damage and cardiomyocyte apoptosis. NADPH may be a potential candidate for the prevention and treatment of myocardial ischemic diseases.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the selective loss of dopaminergic neurons in substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc). Although the pathogenic mechanism underlying PD remains largely unknown, decreased nigral glutathione (GSH) in postmortem brains of PD patients supports the presence of oxidative stress in PD. We found that Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH), which is important for maintaining the level of GSH, protected dopaminergic (DA) neurons from neurotoxicity of MPTP/MPP + . In the present study, NADPH prevented DA neurons from MPTP toxicity with increased GSH and decreased reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in the ventral midbrain of mice, and improved motor activity. Our present results demonstrated that NADPH inhibited the phosphorylation of p38MAPK, decreased the level of TP53 protein, and inhibited TP53 nuclear translocation in DA neurons of SNpc and in MES23.5 cells. Furthermore, NADPH decreased the protein level of TP53 target gene, Bax, cleavage of PARP, and nuclei condensation. Taken together, NADPH abrogated MPTP-induced p38MAPK phosphorylation, TP53 nuclear translocation, and Bax induction, and finally, MPTP/MPP + -induced apoptosis of DA neurons. This study suggests that NADPH may be a novel therapeutic candidate for PD.

Autophagy is an evolutionarily conserved and lysosome-dependent process for degrading and recycling cellular constituents. Autophagy is activated following an ischemic insult or preconditioning, but it may exert dual roles in cell death or survival during these two processes. Preconditioning or lethal ischemia may trigger autophagy via multiple signaling pathways involving endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, AMPK/TSC/mTOR, Beclin 1/BNIP3/SPK2, and FoxO/NF-κB transcription factors, etc. Autophagy then interacts with apoptotic and necrotic signaling pathways to regulate cell death. Autophagy may also maintain cell function by removing protein aggregates or damaged mitochondria. To date, the dual roles of autophagy in ischemia and preconditioning have not been fully clarified. The purpose of the present review is to summarize the recent progress in the mechanisms underlying autophagy activation during ischemia and preconditioning. A better understanding of the dual effects of autophagy in ischemia and preconditioning could help to develop new strategies for the preventive treatment of ischemia.

Aim: To investigate whether endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress participates in the neuroprotective effects of ischemic preconditioning (IPC)-induced neuroprotection and autophagy activation in rat brains., Methods: The right middle cerebral artery in SD rats was occluded for 10 min to induce focal cerebral IPC, and was occluded permanently 24 h later to induce permanent focal ischemia (PFI). ER stress inhibitor salubrinal (SAL) was injected via intracerebral ventricle infusion 10 min before the onset of IPC. Infarct volume and motor behavior deficits were examined after the ischemic insult. The protein levels of LC3, p62, HSP70, glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP 78), p-eIF2α and caspase-12 in the ipsilateral cortex were analyzed using immunoblotting. LC3 expression pattern in the sections of ipsilateral cortex was observed with immunofluorescence., Results: Pretreatment with SAL (150 pmol) abolished the neuroprotective effects of IPC, as evidenced by the significant increases in mortality, infarct volume and motor deficits after PFI. At the molecular levels, pretreatment with SAL (150 pmol) significantly increased p-eIF2α level, and decreased GRP78 level after PFI, suggesting that SAL effectively inhibited ER stress in the cortex. Furthermore, the pretreatment with SAL blocked the IPC-induced upregulation of LC3-II and downregulation of p62 in the cortex, thus inhibiting the activation of autophagy. Moreover,SAL blocked the upregulation of HSP70, but significantly increased the cleaved caspase-12 level, thus promoting ER stress-dependent apoptotic signaling in the cortex., Conclusion: ER stress-induced autophagy might contribute to the neuroprotective effect of brain ischemic preconditioning.

Aim: To examine the effects of a mixed formulation composed of prostaglandin E1 and lithium (PGE1+Li mixture) on brain damage after cerebral ischemia. The effects of the mixture on protein expression of heat shock proteins (HSPs), p53, and Bcl-2 were also determined., Methods: Brain ischemia was induced with a permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (pMCAO) in rats. Rats were treated with a single intravenous administration of PGE1, lithium or a PGE1+Li mixture immediately after the ischemic insult. The infarct volume and motor behavior deficits were analyzed 24 h after the ischemic insult. The protein levels of HSP70, glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78), HSP60, Bcl-2, and p53 in the striatum of the ipsilateral hemisphere were examined using immunoblotting., Results: The mixture (PGE1 22.6 nmol/kg+Li 0.5 mmol/kg) reduced infarct volume and neurological deficits induced by focal cerebral ischemia. Moreover, the mixture had a greater neuroprotective effect against cerebral ischemia compared with PGE1 or lithium alone. The mixture was effective even if it was administered 3 h after ischemia. PGE1+Li also significantly upregulated cytoprotective HSP70, GRP78, HSP60, and Bcl-2 protein levels, while decreasing p53 expression., Conclusion: These results demonstrated a PGE1+Li mixture with a therapeutic window of up to 3 h for clinical treatment of cerebral ischemia. The PGE1+Li mixture potentially exerts a protective effect after stroke through the induction of HSPs and Bcl-2 proteins.

Brain ischemia is one of the most common causes of death and the leading cause of adult disability in the world. Brain ischemic preconditioning (BIP) refers to a transient, sublethal ischemia which results in tolerance to later, otherwise lethal, cerebral ischemia. Many attempts have been made to understand the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying the neuroprotection offered by ischemic preconditioning. Many studies have shown that neuroprotective mechanisms may involve a series of molecular regulatory pathways including activation of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) and adenosine receptors; activation of intracellular signaling pathways such as mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPK) and other protein kinases; upregulation of Bcl-2 and heat shock proteins (HSPs); and activation of the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway and the autophagic-lysosomal pathway. A better understanding of the processes that lead to cell death after stroke as well as of the endogenous neuroprotective mechanisms by which BIP protects against brain ischemic insults could help to develop new therapeutic strategies for this devastating neurological disease. The purpose of the present review is to summarize the neuroprotective mechanisms of BIP and to discuss the possibility of mimicking ischemic preconditioning as a new strategy for preventive treatment of ischemia.

Aim: Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are important regulators of cellular survival and exert neuroprotective effects against cerebral ischemia. Both prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) and lithium have been reported to protect neurons against ischemic injury. The present study was undertaken to examine if lithium could potentiate the neuroprotection of PGE1 against cerebral ischemia, and if the synergetic effects take place at the level of HSPs., Methods: Brain ischemia was induced by a permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (pMCAO) in rats. Rats were pretreated with subcutaneous injection of lithium for 2 d and a single intravenous administration of PGE1 immediately after ischemic insult. Cerebrocortical blood flow of each group was closely monitored prior to onset of ischemia, 5 min, 15 min, 30 min and 60 min after surgical operation. Body temperature was measured before, 5 min, 2 h and 24 h after the onset of pMCAO. The infarct volume, brain edema and motor behavior deficits were analyzed 24 h after ischemic insult. Cytoprotective HSP70 and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in the striatum of the ipsilateral hemisphere were detected by immunoblotting. Brain sections from the striatum of the ipsilateral hemisphere were double-labeled with the anti-HSP70 antibody and 4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI)., Results: Treatment with PGE1 (8 and 16 microg/kg, iv) or lithium (0.5 mEq/kg, sc) alone reduced infarct volume, neurological deficits and brain edema induced by focal cerebral ischemia in rats. Moreover, a greater neuroprotection was observed when PGE1 and lithium were given together. Co-administration of PGE1 and lithium significantly upregulated cytoprotective HSP70 and HO-1 protein levels., Conclusion: Lithium and PGE1 may exert synergistic effects in treatment of cerebral ischemia and thus may have potential clinical value for the treatment of stroke.

Aim: To investigate the effects of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) on pressure overload and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) induced cardiac myocyte apoptosis., Methods: Cardiac hypertrophy was established in rats by abdominal aortic constriction. EGCG 25, 50 and 100 mg/kg were administered intragastrically (ig). Cultured newborn rat cardiomyocytes were preincubated with EGCG, and oxidative stress injury was induced by H2O2., Results: In cardiac hypertrophy induced by AC in rats, relative to the model group, EGCG 25, 50 and 100 mg/kg ig for 6 weeks dose-dependently reduced systolic blood pressure (SBP) and heart weight indices, decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) content, and increased superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) activity, both in serum and in the myocardium. Also, treatment with EGCG 50 and 100 mg/kg markedly improved cardiac structure and inhibited fibrosis in HE and van Gieson (VG) stain, and reduced apoptotic myocytes in the hypertrophic myocardium detected by terminal transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end-labeling (TUNEL) assay. In the Western blot analysis, EGCG significantly inhibited pressure overload-induced p53 increase and bcl-2 decrease. In H2O2-induced cardiomyocyte injury, when preincubated with myocytes for 6-48 h, EGCG 12.5-200 mg/L increased cell viability determined by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. EGCG also attenuated H2O2-induced lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release and MDA formation. Meanwhile, EGCG 50 and 100 mg/L significantly inhibited the cardiomyocyte apoptotic rate in flow cytometry., Conclusion: EGCG inhibits cardiac myocyte apoptosis and oxidative stress in pressure overload induced cardiac hypertrophy. Also, EGCG prevented cardiomyocyte apoptosis from oxidative stress in vitro. The mechanism might be related to the inhibitory effects of EGCG on p53 induction and bcl-2 decrease.

Aim: To investigate the role of quercetin (Que) in the proliferation of cultured human skin microvascular endothelial cells (MVEC)., Methods: Cell count and [methyl-3H]thymidine ([3H]TdR) uptake assay were used to measure the effect of Que in the proliferation of cultured MVEC. Cytotoxicity of Que on MVEC was also evaluated by 51Cr release assay., Results: When MVEC were treated with Que, the proliferation was significantly inhibited in a time-course and dose-dependent manner. Que 5 micromol/L did not inhibit the proliferation of MVEC. When the concentration of Que increased to 20, 40, 80, and 160 micromol/L, the cell numbers per well were decreased and the inhibition rate was 12.2 %, 23.5 %, 35.3 %, and 54.1 % respectively with IC50 of 138 micromol/L. The inhibitory rate of [3H]-TdR uptake was 18.7 %, 34.4 %, 48.9 %, and 62.5 % respectively (IC(50)=87.5 micromol/L). (51)Cr release assay showed that Que 160 micromol/L incubated with MVEC from 1 to 16 h had no clear cytotoxicity compared with control group., Conclusion: Que greatly inhibited the proliferation of cultured human MVEC in vitro. This effect may not be related to the cytotoxicity of Que on MVEC.

Aim: To study the effects of 9-(4-ethoxycarbonylyphenoxy)-6,7-dimethoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroacridine (EDT) on cerebral ischemia and glutamic acid (Glu) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP)-induced neurocytotoxicity in primary cortical culture., Methods: Focal cerebral ischemia was produced by permanent occlusion of left middle cerebral artery (MCA) in mice. The infarct tissue was measured by 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining technique. The extent of neurological deficits was evaluated. In primary cortical culture, colorimetric MTT assay was used to determine cell survival rate, and leakage of LDH and NO release assay were measured., Results: In focal cerebral ischemia, pretreatment with EDT 2.5, 5, and 10 mg/kg and nimodipine 2 mg/kg for 5 d effectively improved the abnormal neurological symptoms and reduced the infarct rate. In primary cortical culture, EDT 0.01-3 micromol/L concentration-dependently attenuated NO release induced by Glu 500 micromol/L and increased the cell survival. It also remarkably reduced the LDH excessive efflux., Conclusion: EDT possessed protective effects against cerebral ischemia, which may be related to blocking Glu receptor and inhibiting NO formation.