Effects of Danhong injection on hemodynamics and the inflammation-related NF-κB signaling pathway in patients with acute cerebral infarction

Abstract

ABSTRACT. The objective of the current study was to investigate effects of Danhong injection on hemodynamics, inflammatory cytokines, and the NF-κB pathway in acute cerebral infarction. In total, 246 patients with acute cerebral infarction were divided into control (N = 121) and observation (N = 125) groups based on treatment. The control group underwent conventional treatment, while the observation group was treated with conventional medicine and Danhong injection. Fourteen days later, the curative effect, hemorheology, mRNA, and protein levels of inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-1β) in peripheral white blood cells, and changes in the NF-κB signaling pathway were analyzed. The observation group had a significantly higher curative effect compared to the control group. The hemodynamic indices (high shear viscosity, low shear viscosity, plasma viscosity, hematocrit, platelet aggregation rate, and erythrocyte aggregation index) were significantly improved in both groups, although changes were more remarkable in the observation group. Peripheral white blood cells from patients in the observation ©FUNPEC-RP www.funpecrp.com.br Genetics and Molecular Research 14 (4): 16929-16937 (2015) 16930Y. Jiang and Y.J. Lian ©FUNPEC-RP www.funpecrp.com.br Genetics and Molecular Research 14 (4): 16929-16937 (2015) group had significantly lower mRNA and protein levels of inflammatory cytokines IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-1β after treatment compared to cells from patients in the control group. NF-κB p65 in the cytoplasm of peripheral blood cells of the observation group increased significantly after treatment compared to that of the control group, while nuclear NF-κB p65 decreased compared to that in the control group. In conclusion, Danhong injection has a significant curative effect on patients with acute cerebral infarction, lowers inflammation, and improves hemodynamic changes; therefore, it is worth clinical application.

Network pharmacology exploration reveals endothelial inflammation as a common mechanism for stroke and coronary artery disease treatment of Danhong injection

“…In a recent clinical study, initial results from a randomized controlled trial suggested that DHI was effective in improving endothelial repair and protecting the endothelial lesion by mobilizing endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) and inhibiting the inflammatory response after percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with CAD 52 . In patients with acute cerebral infarction, DHI was observed to lower the mRNA and protein levels of inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α and IL-1β) and decreased nuclear NF-κB p65 expression in peripheral white blood cells 94 . Basic science studies identified at least nine potential anti-inflammatory ingredients in DHI: danshensu, protocatechuic acid, protocatechuic aldehyde, caffeic acid, hydroxysafflor yellow A, safflor yellow A, salvianolic acid A, salvianolic acid B and salvianolic acid C, which could significantly suppress inflammatory responses via TNF-α induced NF-κB pathway in EA.hy926 cells 53 .…”

Aspirin ameliorates cerebral infarction through regulation of TLR4/NF‑κB‑mediated endoplasmic reticulum stress in mouse model

“…A previous study demonstrated that plasma concentration levels of IL-6, TNF-α and IL-1β were upregulated in patients with cerebral infarction (17,23,24). Another study revealed that the inflammation-related NF-κB signaling pathway was activated in patients with acute cerebral infarction (25). It has also been indicated that cytokine production and NF-κB activation were upregulated in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with cerebral infarction (26).…”

Danhong injection in cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases: Pharmacological actions, molecular mechanisms, and therapeutic potential

“…In a first study, patients with acute cerebral infarction were assigned to control group or DHI group. After 14 days of treatment, DHI significantly improved the outcome of acute cerebral infarction patients, by reducing the inflammatory responses [78]. In another similar study, patients with acute cerebral infarction were assigned to control group or DHI group.…”