Yi Cai,Shan Shan Yu,Yang He,Xue Ying Bi,Si Gao,Ting Dong Yan,Guo Dong Zheng,Ting Ting Chen,Jian Tao Ye,Pei Qing Liu
Aim Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), the major polyphenol found in green tea, exerts multiple protective effects against cardiovascular diseases, including cardiac hypertrophy. However, the molecular mechanism underlying its anti-hypertrophic effect has not been clarified. This study revealed that EGCG could inhibit pressure overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy by regulating the PSMB5/Nmnat2/SIRT6-dependent signalling pathway. Methods Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blotting were used to determine the expression of mRNA and protein respectively. A fluorometric assay kit was used to determine the activity of SIRT6, a histone deacetylase. Luciferase reporter gene assay and electrophoretic mobility shift assay were employed to measure transcriptional activity and DNA binding activity respectively. Results EGCG could significantly increase Nmnat2 protein expression and enzyme activity in cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes stimulated with angiotensin II (Ang II) and heart tissues from rats subjected to abdominal aortic constriction. Nmnat2 knockdown by RNA interference attenuated the inhibitory effect of EGCG on cardiac hypertrophy. EGCG blocked NF-κB DNA binding activity induced by Ang II, which was dependent on Nmnat2 and the subsequent SIRT6 activation. Moreover the activation of PSMB5 (20S proteasome subunit β-5, chymotrypsin-like) was required for EGCG-induced Nmnat2 protein expression. Additionally, we demonstrated that EGCG might interact with PSMB5 and inhibit the activation of the proteasome. Conclusions These findings serve as the first evidence that the effect of EGCG against cardiac hypertrophy may be, at least partially, attributed to the modulation of the PSMB5/Nmnat2-dependent signalling pathway, suggesting the therapeutic potential of EGCG in the prevention and treatment of cardiac hypertrophy.
Ligustrazine (TMP) is a natural pyrazine alkaloid extracted from the roots of Ligusticum Chuanxiong Hort, which has the potential as an antitumor agent. A series of 33 ligustrazine–heterocycle (TMPH) derivatives were designed, synthesized, and investigated via antitumor screening assays, molecular docking analysis, and prediction of drug-like properties. TMP was attached to other heterocyclic derivatives by an 8–12 methylene alkyl chain as a linker to obtain 33 TMPH derivatives. The structures were confirmed by 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, and high-resolution mass spectroscopy spectral (HR-MS) data. The antiproliferative activity against human breast cancer MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, mouse breast cancer 4T1, mouse fibroblast L929, and human umbilical vein endothelial HUVEC cell lines was evaluated by MTT assay. Compound 12–9 displayed significant inhibitory activity with IC50 values in the low micromolar range (0.84 ± 0.02 µM against the MDA-MB-231 cell line). The antitumor effects of compound 12–9 were further evaluated by plate cloning, Hoechst 33 342 staining, and annexin V-FITC/PI staining. The results indicated that compound 12–9 inhibited the proliferation and apoptosis of breast cancer cells. Furthermore, molecular docking of compound 12–9 into the active site of the Bcl-2, CASP-3, and PSMB5 target proteins was performed to explore the probable binding mode. The 33 newly synthesized compounds were predicted to have good drug-like properties in a theoretical study. Overall, these results indicated that compound 12–9 inhibited cell proliferation through PSMB5 and apoptosis through Bcl-2/CASP-3 apoptotic signaling pathways and had good drug-like properties. These results provided more information, and key precursor lead derivatives, in the search for effective bioactive components from Chinese natural medicines.