Cassia auriculata: Aspects of Safety Pharmacology and Drug Interaction

Safety pharmacology studies help in identifying preclinical adverse drug reactions. We carried out routine safety pharmacology with focus on cardiovascular variables and pharmacokinetic herb-drug interaction studies on rats fed with standardized traditional hydro-alcoholic extract and technology-based supercritical extract of Cassia auriculata for 12 weeks. Our studies indicate that both these extracts are pharmacologically safe and did not show any significant adverse reactions at the tested doses. The traditional hydro-alcoholic extract did not show any significant effect on pharmacokinetics; however, the technology-based supercritical extract caused a significant reduction in absorption of metformin. Our results indicate the need to include pharmacokinetic herb-drug interaction studies as evidence for safety especially for technology-based extracts

Anti-hyperglycemic and anti-hyperlipidaemic effect of Arjunarishta in high-fat fed animals

Background: Arjunarishta (AA), a formulation used as cardiotonic is a hydroalcoholic formulation of Terminalia arjuna (Roxb.) Wight and Arn. (TA) belonging to family Combretaceae. Objective: To evaluate the anti-hyperglycemic and anti-hyperlipidemic effect of Arjunarishta on high-fat diet fed animals. Materials and methods: High-fat diet fed (HFD) Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups and treated with phytochemically standardized Arjunarishta (1.8 ml/kg), and hydroalcoholic extract of T. arjuna (TAHA) (250 mg/kg) and rosuvastatin (10 mg/kg), for 3 months. Intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test, blood biochemistry, liver triglyceride and systolic blood pressure were performed in all the groups. Effect of these drugs on the expression of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) and peroxisome proliferators activated receptor γ coactivator 1-α (PGC-1α) were studied in liver tissue using Quantitative Real-time PCR. Results: HFD increased fasting blood glucose, liver triglyceride, systolic blood pressure and gene expression of TNF-α, IRS-1 and PGC-1α. Treatment of AA and TAHA significantly reduced fasting blood glucose, systolic blood pressure, total cholesterol and triglyceride levels. These treatments significantly decreased gene expression of TNF-α (2.4, 2.2 and 2.6 fold change); increased IRS-1 (2.8, 2.9 and 2.8 fold change) and PGC-1α (2.9, 3.7 and 3.3 fold change) as compared to untreated HFD. Conclusion: Anti-hyperglycemic, anti-hyperlipidemic effect of Arjunarishta may be mediated by decreased TNF-α and increased PGC-1α and IRS-1. Keywords: Rosuvastatin, Type 2 diabetes, Insulin sensitizer genes, Arjunarisht

Metabolic Syndrome Induces Release of Smaller Extracellular Vesicles from Porcine Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MSCs) belong to the endogenous cellular reparative system, and can be used exogenously in cell-based therapy. MSCs release extracellular vesicles (EVs), including exosomes and microvesicles, which mediate some of their therapeutic activity through intercellular communication. We have previously demonstrated that metabolic syndrome (MetS) modifies the cargo packed within swine EV, but whether it influences their phenotypical characteristics remains unclear. This study tested the hypothesis that MetS shifts the size distribution of MSC-derived EVs. Adipose tissue-derived MSC-EV subpopulations from Lean ( n = 6) and MetS ( n = 6) pigs were characterized for number and size using nanoparticle-tracking analysis, flow cytometry, and transmission electron microscopy. Expression of exosomal genes was determined using next-generation RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq). The number of EV released from Lean and MetS pig MSCs was similar, yet MetS-MSCs yielded a higher proportion of small-size EVs (202.4 ± 17.7 nm vs. 280.3 ± 15.1 nm), consistent with exosomes. RNA-seq showed that their EVs were enriched with exosomal markers. Lysosomal activity remained unaltered in MetS-MSCs. Therefore, MetS alters the size distribution of MSC-derived EVs in favor of exosome release. These observations may reflect MSC injury and membrane recycling in MetS or increased expulsion of waste products, and may have important implications for development of adequate cell-based treatments

Integrated transcriptomic and proteomic analysis of the molecular cargo of extracellular vesicles derived from porcine adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells

<div><p>Background</p><p>Mesenchymal stromal/stem cell (MSC) transplantation is a promising therapy for tissue regeneration. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) released by MSCs act as their paracrine effectors by delivering proteins and genetic material to recipient cells. To assess how their cargo mediates biological processes that drive their therapeutic effects, we integrated miRNA, mRNA, and protein expression data of EVs from porcine adipose tissue-derived MSCs.</p><p>Methods</p><p>Simultaneous expression profiles of miRNAs, mRNAs, and proteins were obtained by high-throughput sequencing and LC-MS/MS proteomic analysis in porcine MSCs and their daughter EVs (n = 3 each). TargetScan and ComiR were used to predict miRNA target genes. Functional annotation analysis was performed using DAVID 6.7 database to rank primary gene ontology categories for the enriched mRNAs, miRNA target genes, and proteins. STRING was used to predict associations between mRNA and miRNA target genes.</p><p>Results</p><p>Differential expression analysis revealed 4 miRNAs, 255 mRNAs, and 277 proteins enriched in EVs versus MSCs (fold change >2, p<0.05). EV-enriched miRNAs target transcription factors (TFs) and EV-enriched mRNAs encode TFs, but TF proteins are not enriched in EVs. Rather, EVs are enriched for proteins that support extracellular matrix remodeling, blood coagulation, inflammation, and angiogenesis.</p><p>Conclusions</p><p>Porcine MSC-derived EVs contain a genetic cargo of miRNAs and mRNAs that collectively control TF activity in EVs and recipient cells, as well as proteins capable of modulating cellular pathways linked to tissue repair. These properties provide the fundamental basis for considering therapeutic use of EVs in tissue regeneration.</p></div

miRNA enriched in EVs.

<p>A. Heat map, miRNA expression, and fold change showing that ssc-miR-183, ssc-miR-378, ssc-miR-140-3p, and ssc-miR-222 were upregulated in EVs compared to MSCs. B. Number (top) and distribution (bottom) of miRNA targets of EV-enriched miRNAs. C: Functional annotation clustering of miRNA targets.</p

Overview of experimental design and data analysis.

<p>Abdominal fat was collected from female domestic pigs, and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and their daughter extracellular vesicles (EVs) isolated and characterized. mRNA and miRNA sequencing analysis and LC-MS/MS proteomic analysis were performed in both MSCs and EVs (n = 3 each). Differentially expression analysis was performed and EV-enriched miRNA, mRNA, and proteins identified. miRNA predicted targets were identified with TargetScan and ComiR. Functional annotation clustering analysis was performed using DAVID 6.7 database to obtain a ranking of primary gene ontology categories for the enriched mRNA, miRNA target genes, and proteins. Venn diagrams were used to visualize genes shared between each group and their interactions, and STRING to predict associations between mRNA and miRNA target genes.</p

Characterization of MSC-derived EVs.

<p>A: Transmission electron microscopy showing cultured MSCs releasing EVs. B: EVs express common EV (CD9, CD29, and CD63) and MSC (CD73 and CD105) markers. C: Size distribution of isolated EVs revealed a similar proportion of small microvesicles and exosomes.</p