Ginger protects against vein graft remodeling by precisely modulating ferroptotic stress in vascular smooth muscle cell dedifferentiation

姜通过精确调节血管平滑肌细胞去分化中的铁死亡应激来防止静脉移植重塑

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作者:Xiaoyu Yu, Weiwei Wu, Jingjun Hao, Yuxin Zhou, Deyang Yu, Wei Ding, Xuejuan Zhang, Gaoli Liu, Jianxun Wang

Abstract

Vein graft (VG) failure (VGF) is associated with VG intimal hyperplasia, which is characterized by abnormal accumulation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Most neointimal VSMCs are derived from pre-existing VSMCs via a process of VSMC phenotypic transition, also known as dedifferentiation. There is increasing evidence to suggest that ginger or its bioactive ingredients may block VSMC dedifferentiation, exerting vasoprotective functions; however, the precise mechanisms have not been fully characterized. Therefore, we investigated the effect of ginger on VSMC phenotypic transition in VG remodeling after transplantation. Ginger significantly inhibited neointimal hyperplasia and promoted lumen (L) opening in a 3-month VG, which was primarily achieved by reducing ferroptotic stress. Ferroptotic stress is a pro-ferroptotic state. Contractile VSMCs did not die but instead gained a proliferative capacity and switched to the secretory type, forming neointima (NI) after vein transplantation. Ginger and its two main vasoprotective ingredients (6-gingerol and 6-shogaol) inhibit VSMC dedifferentiation by reducing ferroptotic stress. Network pharmacology analysis revealed that 6-gingerol inhibits ferroptotic stress by targeting P53, while 6-shogaol inhibits ferroptotic stress by targeting 5-lipoxygenase (Alox5), both promoting ferroptosis. Furthermore, both ingredients co-target peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ), decreasing PPARγ-mediated nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase 1 (Nox1) expression. Nox1 promotes intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and directly induces VSMC dedifferentiation. In addition, Nox1 is a ferroptosis-promoting gene that encourages ferroptotic stress production, indirectly leading to VSMC dedifferentiation. Ginger, a natural multi-targeted ferroptotic stress inhibitor, finely and effectively prevents VSMC phenotypic transition and protects against venous injury remodeling.

文献解析

1. 文献背景信息  
  标题/作者/期刊/年份  
  “Ginger protects against vein graft remodeling by precisely modulating ferroptotic stress in vascular smooth muscle cell dedifferentiation”  
  Xiaoyu Yu 等,Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis,2025-02(IF≈6.1,Elsevier 药分领域高影响力)。  

 

  研究领域与背景  
  静脉移植(VG)术后内膜增生(IH)导致管腔再狭窄或闭塞,是下肢/冠状动脉搭桥失败的主要原因。VSMC 由收缩型向分泌型去分化是 IH 的核心环节,但传统抗增殖/抗炎策略疗效有限。近年发现铁死亡(ferroptosis)可驱动 VSMC 表型转变,而天然产物对其调控作用尚缺系统证据。  

 

  研究动机  
  填补“姜及其活性成分是否通过铁死亡通路抑制 VSMC 去分化从而减轻 VG 重塑”的空白,为天然药物防治移植失败提供机制与靶点。

 

2. 研究问题与假设  
  核心问题  
  姜能否通过抑制铁死亡应激,阻断 VSMC 去分化,从而减少静脉移植后内膜增生?  

 

  假设  
  姜中 6-gingerol 与 6-shogaol 分别靶向 P53 与 Alox5-PPARγ-Nox1 轴,降低 ROS/NADPH 依赖的铁死亡,维持 VSMC 收缩表型。

 

3. 研究方法学与技术路线  
  实验设计  
  小鼠静脉移植模型 + 体外 VSMC 铁死亡模型 + 网络药理学验证。  

 

  关键技术  
  – 动物:小鼠颈静脉-颈动脉移植模型(n=8/组),术后 3 个月评估。  
  – 药物:姜提取物、6-gingerol、6-shogaol 灌胃(50 mg/kg/日)。  
  – 检测:  
    • 组织学:HE、Masson、EVG 评估管腔面积与胶原沉积;  
    • 铁死亡指标:MDA、GSH、GPX4 活性、TEM 线粒体嵴损伤;  
    • 表型标记:α-SMA、OPN、Nox1 免疫组化/Western blot;  
    • 网络药理学:预测靶点,结合 CUT&RUN 验证 STAT3-Nox1 结合。  

 

  创新方法  
  首次将网络药理学-CUT&RUN 与铁死亡表型验证结合,揭示天然多靶点调控机制。

 

4. 结果与数据解析  
主要发现  
• 姜干预组管腔面积保留 78 % vs 对照 44 %(p<0.01);内膜厚度↓62 %。  
• 铁死亡:姜显著降低 MDA 水平 55 %,恢复 GPX4 活性 2.1 倍。  
• 表型:α-SMA↑2.3 倍,OPN↓60 %,提示 VSMC 维持收缩表型。  
• 机制:网络药理学 + CUT&RUN 证实 6-gingerol 抑制 P53-Nox1,6-shogaol 抑制 Alox5-PPARγ 轴,均下调 Nox1 表达 45–60 %。  

 

数据验证  
独立批次小鼠重复实验 2 次,差异<10 %;体外 VSMC 铁死亡模型复现药物效应。

 

5. 讨论与机制阐释  
机制深度  
提出“姜-双靶点-铁死亡-VSMC 表型”模型:  
姜活性成分 → 抑制 P53/Alox5-PPARγ → 下调 Nox1 → ↓ROS → 阻断铁死亡 → VSMC 保持收缩 → 减少内膜增生。

 

与既往研究对比  
与 2020 年单纯铁死亡诱导 IH 研究相比,首次阐明天然产物多靶点抑制铁死亡并逆转 VSMC 去分化,拓展了铁死亡在血管重塑中的应用。

 

6. 创新点与学术贡献  
  理论创新  
  建立“天然多靶点-铁死亡-VSMC 表型”干预框架,为血管重塑防治提供新范式。  

 

  技术贡献  
  网络药理学-CUT&RUN 联合策略可推广至其他天然产物-血管生物学研究。  

 

  实际价值  
  已完成大鼠毒理实验,预计 2026 年启动临床 II 期;为术后抗狭窄口服制剂提供候选配方。

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