Echinochrome A Reverses Kidney Abnormality and Reduces Blood Pressure in a Rat Model of Preeclampsia

We aimed to observe the effects of Echinochrome A (Ech A) on systemic changes using a rat model of preeclampsia. The results showed that an infusion of angiotensin II (Ang II) through an osmotic pump (1 μg/kg/min) on GD 8 increased systolic and diastolic blood pressures and reduced fetal weight and placental weight. The diameters of the glomeruli were expended and glomeruli capillaries were diminished. No change was observed in the heart and liver in the Ang II group, but epithelial structures were disrupted in the uterus. Ech A treatment on GD 14 (100 μg/μL) through the jugular vein reduced systolic and diastolic blood pressures and reversed glomerulus alterations, but the fetal or placental parameters were unaffected. Ech A only partly reversed the effect on the uterus. The mRNA expression of TNF–α was increased and IL–10 and VEGF were reduced in the uterus of the Ang II group, while Ech A restored these changes. A similar trend was observed in the kidney, liver, and heart of this group. Furthermore, Bcl–2 was reduced and Bcl–2/Bax ratios were significantly reduced in the kidney and heart of the Ang II group, while Ech A reversed these changes. We suggest that Ech A modulates inflammation and apoptosis in key systemic organs in Ang II-induced rat preeclampsia and preserves kidney and uterus structures and reduces blood pressure

Spinochrome D Attenuates Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiomyocyte Death via Improving Glutathione Metabolism and Attenuating Oxidative Stress

Doxorubicin, an anthracycline from Streptomyces peucetius, exhibits antitumor activity against various cancers. However, doxorubicin is cardiotoxic at cumulative doses, causing increases in intracellular reactive oxygen species in the heart. Spinochrome D (SpD) has a structure of 2,3,5,6,8-pentahydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone and is a structural analogue of well-known sea urchin pigment echinochrome A. We previously reported that echinochrome A is cardioprotective against doxorubicin toxicity. In the present study, we assessed the cardioprotective effects of SpD against doxorubicin and determined the underlying mechanism. 1H-NMR-based metabolomics and mass spectrometry-based proteomics were utilized to characterize the metabolites and proteins induced by SpD in a human cardiomyocyte cell line (AC16) and human breast cancer cell line (MCF-7). Multivariate analyses identified 12 discriminating metabolites (variable importance in projection > 1.0) and 1814 proteins from SpD-treated AC16 cells. Proteomics and metabolomics analyses showed that glutathione metabolism was significantly influenced by SpD treatment in AC16 cells. SpD treatment increased ATP production and the oxygen consumption rate in D-galactose-treated AC16 cells. SpD protected AC16 cells from doxorubicin cytotoxicity, but it did not affect the anticancer properties. With SpD treatment, the mitochondrial membrane potential and mitochondrial calcium localization were significantly different between cardiomyocytes and cancer cell lines. Our findings suggest that SpD could be cardioprotective against the cytotoxicity of doxorubicin

Multiple Effects of Echinochrome A on Selected Ion Channels Implicated in Skin Physiology

Echinochrome A (Ech A), a naphthoquinoid pigment from sea urchins, is known to have anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects that have been suggested to be mediated by antioxidant activity and intracellular signaling modulation. In addition to these mechanisms, the ion channels in keratinocytes, immune cells, and nociceptive neurons may be the target for the pharmacological effects. Here, using the patch clamp technique, we investigated the effects of Ech A on the Ca2+-permeable TRPV3, TRPV1 and Orai1 channels and the two-pore domain K+ (K2P) channels (TREK/TRAAK, TASK-1, and TRESK) overexpressed in HEK 293 cells. Ech A inhibited both the TRPV3 and Orai1 currents, with IC50 levels of 2.1 and 2.4 μM, respectively. The capsaicin-activated TRPV1 current was slightly augmented by Ech A. Ech A alone did not change the amplitude of the TREK-2 current (ITREK2), but pretreatments with Ech A markedly facilitated ITREK2 activation by 2-APB, arachidonic acid (AA), and acidic extracellular pH (pHe). Similar facilitation effects of Ech A on TREK-1 and TRAAK were observed when they were stimulated with 2-APB and AA, respectively. On the contrary, Ech A did not affect the TRESK and TASK-1 currents. Interestingly, the ITREK2 maximally activated by the combined application of 2-APB and Ech A was not inhibited by norfluoxetine but was still completely inhibited by ruthenium red. The selective loss of sensitivity to norfluoxetine suggested an altered molecular conformation of TREK-2 by Ech A. We conclude that the Ech A-induced inhibition of the Ca2+-permeable cation channels and the facilitation of the TREK/TRAAK K2P channels may underlie the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of Ech A

Echinochrome A Promotes Ex Vivo Expansion of Peripheral Blood-Derived CD34+ Cells, Potentially through Downregulation of ROS Production and Activation of the Src-Lyn-p110δ Pathway

Intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) play an important role in the proliferation and differentiation of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs). HSPCs are difficult to be expanded ex vivo while maintaining their stemness when they are exposed to oxidative damage after being released from the bone marrow. There have been efforts to overcome this limitation by using various cytokine cocktails and antioxidants. In this study, we investigated the effects of echinochrome A (Ech A)-a well-established and non-toxic antioxidant-on the ex vivo expansion of HSPCs by analyzing a CD34+ cell population and their biological functions. We observed that Ech A-induced suppression of ROS generation and p38-MAPK/JNK phosphorylation causes increased expansion of CD34+ cells. Moreover, p38-MAPK/JNK inhibitors SB203580 and SP600125 promoted ex vivo expansion of CD34+ cells. We also demonstrated that the activation of Lyn kinase and p110δ is a novel mechanism for Ech A to enhance ex vivo expansion of CD34+ cells. Ech A upregulated phospho-Src, phospho-Lyn, and p110δ expression. Furthermore, the Ech A-induced ex vivo expansion of CD34+ cells was inhibited by pretreatment with the Src family inhibitor PP1 and p110δ inhibitor CAL-101; PP1 blocked p110δ upregulation and PI3K/Akt activation, whereas CAL-101 and PI3K/Akt pathway inhibitor LY294002 did not block Src/Lyn activation. These results suggest that Ech A initially induces Src/Lyn activation, upregulates p110δ expression, and finally activates the PI3K/Akt pathway. CD34+ cells expanded in the presence of Ech A produced equal or more hematopoietic colony-forming cells than unexpanded CD34+ cells. In conclusion, Ech A promotes the ex vivo expansion of CD34+ cells through Src/Lyn-mediated p110δ expression, suppression of ROS generation, and p38-MAPK/JNK activation. Hence, Ech A is a potential candidate modality for the ex vivo, and possibly in vivo, expansion of CD34+ cells

Multiple Effects of Echinochrome A on Selected Ion Channels Implicated in Skin Physiology

Echinochrome A (Ech A), a naphthoquinoid pigment from sea urchins, is known to have anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects that have been suggested to be mediated by antioxidant activity and intracellular signaling modulation. In addition to these mechanisms, the ion channels in keratinocytes, immune cells, and nociceptive neurons may be the target for the pharmacological effects. Here, using the patch clamp technique, we investigated the effects of Ech A on the Ca2+-permeable TRPV3, TRPV1 and Orai1 channels and the two-pore domain K+ (K2P) channels (TREK/TRAAK, TASK-1, and TRESK) overexpressed in HEK 293 cells. Ech A inhibited both the TRPV3 and Orai1 currents, with IC50 levels of 2.1 and 2.4 μM, respectively. The capsaicin-activated TRPV1 current was slightly augmented by Ech A. Ech A alone did not change the amplitude of the TREK-2 current (ITREK2), but pretreatments with Ech A markedly facilitated ITREK2 activation by 2-APB, arachidonic acid (AA), and acidic extracellular pH (pHe). Similar facilitation effects of Ech A on TREK-1 and TRAAK were observed when they were stimulated with 2-APB and AA, respectively. On the contrary, Ech A did not affect the TRESK and TASK-1 currents. Interestingly, the ITREK2 maximally activated by the combined application of 2-APB and Ech A was not inhibited by norfluoxetine but was still completely inhibited by ruthenium red. The selective loss of sensitivity to norfluoxetine suggested an altered molecular conformation of TREK-2 by Ech A. We conclude that the Ech A-induced inhibition of the Ca2+-permeable cation channels and the facilitation of the TREK/TRAAK K2P channels may underlie the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of Ech A

Echinochrome A Protects Mitochondrial Function in Cardiomyocytes against Cardiotoxic Drugs

Echinochrome A (Ech A) is a naphthoquinoid pigment from sea urchins that possesses antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and chelating abilities. Although Ech A is the active substance in the ophthalmic and cardiac drug Histochrome®, its underlying cardioprotective mechanisms are not well understood. In this study, we investigated the protective role of Ech A against toxic agents that induce death of rat cardiac myoblast H9c2 cells and isolated rat cardiomyocytes. We found that the cardiotoxic agents tert-Butyl hydroperoxide (tBHP, organic reactive oxygen species (ROS) inducer), sodium nitroprusside (SNP; anti-hypertension drug), and doxorubicin (anti-cancer drug) caused mitochondrial dysfunction such as increased ROS level and decreased mitochondrial membrane potential. Co-treatment with Ech A, however, prevented this decrease in membrane potential and increase in ROS level. Co-treatment of Ech A also reduced the effects of these cardiotoxic agents on mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation and adenosine triphosphate level. These findings indicate the therapeutic potential of Ech A for reducing cardiotoxic agent-induced damage

Depolymerization of Birch-Wood Organosolv Lignin Over Solid Catalysts in Supercritical Ethanol

Проведено исследование процесса каталитической деполимеризации органосольвентного лигнина в среде сверхкритического этанола при 260 ºC. В качестве катализаторов были испытаны материалы с различными кислотно-основными свойствами: сепиолит, цеолит ZSM-5 на Al2O3 и модифицированный окислением углеродный материал Сибунит, а также Ru-содержащие катализаторы, приготовленные на основе вышеперечисленных материалов. Установлено, что среди катализаторов, не содержащих рутений, наиболее высокие значения выхода жидких продуктов удалось достичь при использовании углеродного образца, обладающего наибольшим числом кислотных центров. Нанесение Ru на все типы носителей привело к значительному увеличению их каталитической активности. Использование Ru-содержащего катализатора на основе Сибунита в процессе деполимеризации лигнина позволило избежать процесса коксообразования, увеличить количество ароматических мономеров и общий выход жидких продуктов до 76 %, что более чем в два раза выше по сравнению с экспериментом без катализатораCatalytic depolymerization of birch-wood organosolv lignin was studied in supercritical ethanol at 260 ºC. Three different acid-basic materials namely sepiolite, zeolite ZSM-5 supported on Al2O3 and Sibunit graphite-like mesoporous carbon promoted via oxidation were tested as catalysts. Moreover, Ru-containing catalysts based on these supports were studied. Among the catalysts without ruthenium, Sibunit matherial was found to produce highest yield of liquid products due to the highest amount of surface acid sites. Precipitating Ru significantly increases the activity of all three supports. Using Ru-containing Sibunit catalyst in lignin depolymerization process allows to avoid coke formation, increases the amount of aromatic monomers and the total yield of liquid products up to 76 %. The yield obtained in best catalytic experiment is more then twice higher compared to the process without any catalys

A Novel Atypical PKC-Iota Inhibitor, Echinochrome A, Enhances Cardiomyocyte Differentiation from Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells

Echinochrome A (EchA) is a marine bioproduct extracted from sea urchins having antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and chelating effects, and is the active component of the clinical drug histochrome. We investigated the potential use of Ech A for inducing cardiomyocyte differentiation from mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs). We also assessed the effects of Ech A on mitochondrial mass, inner membrane potential (Δψm), reactive oxygen species generation, and levels of Ca2+. To identify the direct target of Ech A, we performed in vitro kinase activity and surface plasmon resonance binding assays. Ech A dose-dependently enhanced cardiomyocyte differentiation with higher beating rates. Ech A (50 μM) increased the mitochondrial mass and membrane potential but did not alter the mitochondrial superoxide and Ca2+ levels. The in vitro kinase activity of the atypical protein kinase C-iota (PKCι) was significantly decreased by 50 μM of Ech A with an IC50 for PKCι activity of 107 μM. Computational protein-ligand docking simulation results suggested the direct binding of Ech A to PKCι, and surface plasmon resonance confirmed the direct binding with a low KD of 6.3 nM. Therefore, Ech A is a potential drug for enhancing cardiomyocyte differentiation from mESCs through direct binding to PKCι and inhibition of its activity