In renal hypertension, Cirsium japonicum strengthens cardiac function via the intermedin/nitric oxide pathway.

Cirsium japonicum, a constituent of traditional Chinese medicine, has been shown to exert inflammatory effects as well as to improve the circulation and thus to counteract hematologic stasis. Studies have demonstrated that intermedin (IMD) has protective effects on hypertension in rats by regulating the Ang/NO metabolic pathway. In this study, we investigated whether by regulating the expression of IMD, Cirsium japonicum could improve cardiac function in rats with 2k1c-induced renal hypertension. Renal hypertension was induced in Sprague-Dawley rats by occluding the renal artery. The rats were maintained on a normal diet and randomly divided into four groups: sham, 2k1c, 2k1c with Cirsium japonicum (1.8 g/kg per day) and 2k1c with IMD (n = 10 in each group). Cardiac function, plasma angiotensin II (Ang II), IMD, serum nitric oxide (NO) and nitric oxide synthase (NOS), as well as the expression of IMD and adrenomedullin (ADM) in the aorta and left ventricle were analyzed. Administration of Cirsium japonicum or IMD significantly strengthened cardiac function in 2k1c-induced rats, increased serum NO and NOS levels, reduced plasma Ang II, and upregulated IMD expression in the aorta and left ventricle. These results demonstrate that Cirsium japonicum has cardioprotective effects on 2k1c-induced renal hypertension in rats via the IMD/NO pathway.

Folate Protects Hepatocytes of Hyperhomocysteinemia Mice From Apoptosis via Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator (CFTR)-Activated Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress.

Folate deficiency is a known risk factor for liver injury; however, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. In this study, we employed a high homocysteine-induced liver injury model of Apolipoprotein E-deficient (ApoE-/- ) mice fed high-methionine diet and found that high homocysteine induced endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and liver cell apoptosis by downregulation of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) expression; observations that were attenuated with supplementation of dietary folate. The regulation on CFTR expression was mediated by CFTR promoter methylation and trimethylation of lysine 27 on histone H3 (H3K27me3). Mechanistically, folate inhibited homocysteine-induced CFTR promoter methylation and H3K27me3, which resulted in upregulation of CFTR expression, and reduced ER stress and liver cell apoptosis. Further study showed that folate inhibited the expression of DNA methyltransferase 1 and enhancer of zeste homolog 2, downregulated the cellular concentrations of S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) and S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH) and upregulated the SAM/SAH ratio, leading to the inhibition of Hcy-induced DNA hypermethylation and H3K27me3 in CFTR promoter. In conclusion, our results provide insight into the protective role of folate in homocysteine-induced ER stress and liver cell apoptosis through the regulation of CFTR expression. J. Cell. Biochem. 118: 2921-2932, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. HIGHLIGHTS: Folate protects hepatocytes of hyperhomocysteinemia mice from apoptosis. Folate alleviates Hcy-induced hepatocyte apoptosis. Folate inhibits Hcy-induced ER stress via upregulation of CFTR expression in hepatocytes. Folate inhibits Hcy-induced methylation of CFTR promotor and H3K27me3.