Fufang Zhenzhu Tiaozhi (FTZ) suppression of macrophage pyroptosis: Key to stabilizing rupture-prone plaques.

BACKGROUND: Research on the Chinese herbal formula Fufang Zhenzhu Tiaozhi (FTZ) has demonstrated its effectiveness in treating hyperlipidemia and glycolipid metabolic disorders. Additionally, FTZ has shown inhibitory effects on oxidative stress, regulation of lipid metabolism, and reduction of inflammation in these conditions. However, the precise mechanisms through which FTZ modulates macrophage function in atherosclerosis remain incompletely understood. Therefore, this study aims to investigate whether FTZ can effectively stabilize rupture-prone plaques by suppressing macrophage pyroptosis and impeding the development of M1 macrophage polarization in ApoE-/- mice. METHODS: To assess the impact of FTZ on macrophage function and atherosclerosis in ApoE-/- mice, we orally administered FTZ at a dosage of 1.2 g/kg body weight daily for 14 weeks. Levels of interleukin-18 and interleukin-1ß were quantified using ELISA kits to gauge FTZ's influence on inflammation. Total cholesterol content was measured with a Cholesterol Assay Kit to evaluate FTZ's effect on lipid metabolism. Aortic tissues were stained with Oil Red O, and immunohistochemistry techniques were applied to assess atherosclerotic lesions and plaque stability. To evaluate the effects of FTZ on macrophage pyroptosis and oxidative damage, immunofluorescence staining was utilized. Additionally, we conducted an analysis of protein and mRNA expression levels of NLRP3 inflammasome-related genes and macrophage polarization-related genes using RT-PCR and western blotting techniques. RESULTS: This study illustrates the potential therapeutic effectiveness of FTZ in mitigating the severity of atherosclerosis and improving serum lipid profiles by inhibiting inflammation. The observed enhancements in atherosclerosis severity and inflammation can be attributed to the suppression of NLRP3 inflammasome activity and M1 polarization by FTZ. CONCLUSION: The current findings indicate that FTZ provides protection against atherosclerosis, positioning it as a promising candidate for novel therapies targeting atherosclerosis and related cardiovascular diseases.

The Chinese herbal medicine Fufang Zhenzhu Tiaozhi ameliorates diabetic cardiomyopathy by regulating cardiac abnormal lipid metabolism and mitochondrial dynamics in diabetic mice.

Diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) is an important complication leading to the death of patients with diabetes, but there is no effective strategy for clinical treatments. Fufang Zhenzhu Tiaozhi (FTZ) is a patent medicine that is a traditional Chinese medicine compound preparation with comprehensive effects for the prevention and treatment of glycolipid metabolic diseases under the guidance of "modulating liver, starting pivot and cleaning turbidity". FTZ was proposed by Professor Guo Jiao and is used for the clinical treatment of hyperlipidemia. This study was designed to explore the regulatory mechanisms of FTZ on heart lipid metabolism dysfunction and mitochondrial dynamics disorder in mice with DCM, and it provides a theoretical basis for the myocardial protective effect of FTZ in diabetes. In this study, we demonstrated that FTZ protected heart function in DCM mice and downregulated the overexpression of free fatty acids (FFAs) uptake-related proteins cluster of differentiation 36 (CD36), fatty acid binding protein 3 (FABP3) and carnitine palmitoyl transferase 1 (CPT1). Moreover, FTZ treatment showed a regulatory effect on mitochondrial dynamics by inhibiting mitochondrial fission and promoting mitochondrial fusion. We also identified in vitro that FTZ could restore lipid metabolism-related proteins, mitochondrial dynamics-related proteins and mitochondrial energy metabolism in PA-treated cardiomyocytes. Our study indicated that FTZ improves the cardiac function of diabetic mice by attenuating the increase in fasting blood glucose levels, inhibiting the decrease in body weight, alleviating disordered lipid metabolism, and restoring mitochondrial dynamics and myocardial apoptosis in diabetic mouse hearts.

Fufang Zhenzhu Tiaozhi (FTZ) capsule ameliorates diabetes-accelerated atherosclerosis via suppressing YTHDF2-mediated m6A modification of SIRT3 mRNA.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Fufang Zhenzhu TiaoZhi (FTZ), a Chinese medicinal decoction, has continuously been used to treat metabolic syndrome. Atherosclerosis is the main pathological basis of cardiovascular disease. The N6 methyladenosine (m6A) modification is a highly dynamic and reversible process involving a variety of important biological processes. AIM OF THE STUDY: Here, we investigated the therapeutic effects and mechanism of FTZ in diabetes-accelerated atherosclerosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Doppler ultrasonography was used to examine the carotid intima-media thickness and plaque area in diabetic atherosclerosis patients. HFD mice were injected with streptozotocin to induce diabetes. HE and Oil red O staining were used to assess the effect of FTZ on lipid deposition. HUVECs were induced with HG/ox-LDL as a model of diabetic atherosclerosis. Furthermore, application of m6A methylation level kit, qRT-PCR, Western blot, tunel staining, reactive oxygen species staining and mPTP staining were performed to analyze the detailed mechanism. RESULTS: Clinical trials of FTZ have shown obvious effect of lowering blood glucose and blood lipids. These effects were reversed after FTZ intervention. Compared with the control, lipid deposition decreased significantly after FTZ administration. FTZ reduced endothelial cell apoptosis. At the same time, we found that FTZ reversed the increase of methylation reader YTHDF2 caused by ox-LDL treatment. Subsequently, we discovered that YTHDF2 degraded SIRT3 mRNA, leading to endothelial cell apoptosis and oxidative stress. CONCLUSION: FTZ attenuated diabetes-accelerated atherosclerosis by decreasing blood glucose and serum lipids levels, and increased endothelial cell antioxidant capacity, inhibited endothelial cell apoptosis via inhibiting YTHDF2-mediated m6A modification of SIRT3 mRNA, which reduced mRNA degradation.

Fu Fang Zhen Zhu Tiao Zhi Capsules Protect against Myocardial Ischemia by Inhibiting Cardiomyocyte Pyroptosis.

Background: Fu Fang Zhen Zhu Tiao Zhi (FTZ) is a traditional Chinese herbal prescription widely used to treat dyslipidemia, metabolic diseases, and diabetic coronary disorders. Cardiomyocyte death and loss of regenerative ability cause cardiac dysfunction and heart failure. FTZ can effectively treat diabetic cardiomyopathy and macrovascular diseases; however, the mechanism behind the phenomenon is still unclear. Here, we determined the mechanism of action of FTZ in treating myocardial infarction. Methods: Male C57BL/6 mice were treated with 2.4 or 1.2 g/kg FTZ, or administered saline by oral gavage daily for four weeks, and a 24-hour ligation was administered to the artery. Echocardiography was used to evaluate cardiac function. Hematoxylin and eosin and Evans blue/triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining were carried out by staining the cardiac tissue, used to evaluate cardiac function and infarct size. Using western blotting and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, we determined the relative levels of NOD-like receptor protein (NLRP) 3, ASC, cleaved caspase-l (C-Caspase-1), GSDMD, and GSDMD-N. TUNEL, immunohistochemical, and immunofluorescence staining were used to determine cell death and NLRP3 expression. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the levels of interleukin (IL)-1ß and IL-18. Results: FTZ reduced ischemia-induced cardiomyocyte cell death in vivo and H2O2-induced cell death in vitro by maintaining cardiac architecture and restoring cardiac function. FTZ decreased the NLRP3 expression and inhibited pyroptosis-correlated genes, including NLRP3, ASC, GSDMD, C-Caspase-1, and GSDMD-N. NLRP3 overexpression impaired the efficacy of FTZ by inducing pyroptosis. Conclusion: FTZ could preserve cardiac function resulting from ischemic insult by inhibiting pyroptosis, which was partially reversed by NLRP3 overexpression, indicating that NLRP3 could be a potential target of FTZ in treating myocardial infarction.

The Traditional Chinese Medicine Formula FTZ Protects against Cardiac Fibrosis by Suppressing the TGFß1-Smad2/3 Pathway.

Background: Fu fang Zhen Zhu Tiao Zhi (FTZ) is a patented preparation of Chinese herbal medicine that has been used as a natural medicine to treat several chronic diseases including cardiovascular disease. However, its effects on cardiac fibrosis remain unclear. Therefore, this study was designed to investigate the effects and potential mechanisms of FTZ in treating cardiac fibrosis. Methods: FTZ was administered to mice by oral gavage daily at a dosage of 1.2 g/kg or 2.4 g/kg of body weight for 7 weeks after a transverse aorta constriction (TAC) surgery. Doppler echocardiography, hematoxylin and eosin staining, and Masson's trichrome staining were used to assess the effect of FTZ on the cardiac structure and function of mice that had undergone TAC. EdU and wound-healing assays were performed to measure the proliferative and migratory abilities of cardiac fibroblasts. Western blotting and qRT-PCR were used to determine the expression of TGFß1, Col1A2, Col3, and α-SMA proteins and mRNA levels. Results: FTZ treatment reduced collagen synthesis, attenuated cardiac fibrosis, and improved cardiac function in mice subjected to TAC. Moreover, FTZ treatment prevented the proliferation and migration of cardiac fibroblasts and reduced Ang-II-induced collagen synthesis. Furthermore, FTZ downregulated the expression of TGFß1, p-smad2, and p-smad3 and inhibited the TGFß1-Smad2/3 pathway in the setting of cardiac fibrosis. Conclusion: FTZ alleviated the proliferation and migration of cardiac fibroblasts and suppressed collagen synthesis via the TGFß1-Smad2/3 pathway during the progression of cardiac fibrosis. These findings indicated the therapeutic potential of FTZ in treating cardiac fibrosis.

The Chinese medicine Fufang Zhenzhu Tiaozhi capsule protects against atherosclerosis by suppressing EndMT via modulating Akt1/ß-catenin signaling pathway.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Fufang Zhenzhu Tiaozhi (FTZ) is a traditional Chinese herbal prescription that has been used to treat dyslipidemia, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, atherosclerosis, diabetes and its complications in the clinic for almost ten years. Endothelial-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) is the key driver of atherosclerosis. However, the effects of FTZ on endothelial dysfunction and EndMT remain unknown. AIM OF THE STUDY: To evaluate the therapeutic effects of FTZ against EndMT and the underlying mechanisms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An in vivo model of atherosclerosis was established by feeding ApoE-/- mice with a high-fat diet (HFD). The body weight, lipid levels, plaque area, lipid deposition and EndMT were evaluated using standard assays 12 weeks after intragastric administration of FTZ and simvastatin. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were treated with oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) to simulate EndMT in vitro. The degree of EndMT was assessed after treating the cells with FTZ or transfection with si-Akt1. The expression levels of genes involved in EndMT were quantified by real-time PCR or western blotting. RESULTS: FTZ ameliorated dyslipidemia and endothelial dysfunction in the atherosclerotic mice. In addition, FTZ reduced body weight and the total cholesterol, triglycerides and low-density lipoprotein levels, and increased that of high-density lipoproteins. FTZ also upregulated the expression of endothelial markers (CD31 and VE-cadherin) and decreased that of mesenchymal markers (ɑ-SMA and FSP1), indicating that it inhibits EndMT. Knocking down Akt1 exacerbated EndMT and reversed the therapeutic effect of FTZ. CONCLUSION: FTZ delayed atherosclerosis by inhibiting EndMT via the Akt1/ß-catenin pathway.

The Chinese herbal medicine Fufang Zhenzhu Tiaozhi protects against diabetic cardiomyopathy by alleviating cardiac lipotoxicity-induced oxidative stress and NLRP3-dependent inflammasome activation.

BACKGROUND: Fufang Zhenzhu Tiao Zhi (FTZ) formula is a Chinese herbal preparation used in the clinical treatment of disorders of glucolipid metabolism. Given its effective actions on the regulation of lipid dysfunction and its anti-inflammatory and antioxidative effects, we designed this study to investigate the cardioprotective effect and possible mechanism of FTZ in diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) mice. METHODS: FTZ was administered to diabetic mice by oral gavage daily at a dose of 1.2 g/kg or 2.4 g/kg bodyweight for 8 weeks. Doppler echocardiography, H&E, and WGA staining were used to evaluate cardiac function and structure in the mice. The levels of proinflammatory cytokines and lipids in serum were detected with corresponding commercial kits. Immunofluorescence staining and flow cytometry were used to detect oxidation damage and pyroptosis in myocardial cells. RT-PCR and western blotting were used to analyze the protein and mRNA expression levels of NLRP3 inflammasome-related genes. RESULTS: Our study indicated that FTZ improved cardiac function, attenuated heart hypertrophy, improved serum lipid and proinflammatory cytokine levels, and restrained oxidative stress and NLRP3 inflammasome-induced inflammatory activities in diabetic mouse hearts. The in vitro data suggested that FTZ suppressed intercellular lipid accumulation as well as palmitic acid (PA)-induced oxidative stress and NLRP3 inflammasome-dependent pyroptosis in cardiomyocytes. CONCLUSION: Our present findings indicate that FTZ inhibits DCM by inhibiting both oxidative stress and NLRP3 inflammasome activation induced by cardiac lipotoxicity.

FTZ protects against cardiac hypertrophy and oxidative injury via microRNA-214 / SIRT3 signaling pathway.

BACKGROUND: Despite the fact that the initial hypertrophic response to ventricular pressure overload is thought to be compensatory, prolonged stress often leads to heart failure. Previous studies have shown that the Fufang-Zhenzhu-Tiaozhi (FTZ) formula is beneficial for the treatment of dyslipidemia and hyperglycemia. However, the effects of FTZ on cardiac hypertrophy remain unclear. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to evaluate the protective effects of FTZ on cardiac hypertrophy and determine the underlying mechanisms. METHODS: TAC was utilized to establish a cardiac hypertrophy animal model, and FTZ was given via gavage for four weeks. Next, echocardiographic measurements were made. The morphology of mouse cardiomyocytes was examined using H&E and WGA staining. In vitro, the neonatal cardiomyocytes were stimulated with angiotensin Ⅱ (Ang Ⅱ). In addition to measuring the size of cardiomyocytes, qRT-PCR and western blotting were conducted to measure cardiac stress markers and pathway. RESULTS: According to our findings, FTZ alleviated cardiac hypertrophy in mice and cell models. Furthermore, expression of miR-214 was down-regulated following FTZ, whereas the effect of FTZ therapy was reversed using miR-214 transfection. Furthermore, the expression of Sirtuin 3 (SIRT3) was decreased in Ang Ⅱ-induced oxidative damage, which was associated with a reduction in SOD-1, GPX1, and HO-1 and an increase in MDA, while SIRT3 expression was restored following FTZ treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Collectively, these findings indicate that FTZ is a protective factor for cardiac hypertrophy due to its regulation of the miR-214-SIRT3 axis, which suggests that FTZ may be a therapeutic target for cardiac hypertrophy.