QiShen YiQi and its components attenuate acute thromboembolic stroke and carotid thrombosis by inhibition of CD62P/PSGL-1-mediated platelet-leukocyte aggregate formation

Biomed Pharmacother. 2023 Apr:160:114323. doi: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.114323. Epub 2023 Feb 2.

Abstract

Background: QiShen YiQi (QSYQ) dropping pill, a component-based Chinese medicine consisting of benefiting Qi (YQ) and activating blood (HX) components, has been reported to exert a beneficial effect on cerebral ischemia-induced stroke. However, its efficacy and pharmacological mechanism on acute thromboembolic stroke is not clear.

Purpose: This study is to explore the preventative effect and pharmacological mechanism of QSYQ and its YQ/HX components on the formation of platelet-leukocyte aggregation (PLA) in acute thromboembolic stroke.

Study design and methods: In vivo thromboembolic stroke model and FeCl3-induced carotid arterial occlusion models were used. Immunohistochemistry, Western blot, RT-qPCR, and flow cytometry experiments were performed to reveal the pharmacological mechanisms of QSYQ and its YQ/HX components.

Results: In thromboembolic stroke rats, QSYQ significantly attenuated infarct area, improved neurological recovery, reduced PLA formation, and inhibited P-selection (CD62P)/ P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 (PSGL-1) expressions. The YQ component preferentially down-regulated PSGL-1 expression in leukocyte, while the HX component preferentially down-regulated CD62P expression in platelet. In carotid arterial thrombosis mice, QSYQ and its YQ/HX components inhibited thrombus formation, prolonged vessel occlusion time, reduced circulating leukocytes and P-selectin expression. PLA formation and platelet/leukocyte adhesion to endothelial cell were also inhibited by QSYQ and its YQ/HX components in vitro.

Conclusion: QSYQ and YQ/HX components attenuated thromboembolic stroke and carotid thrombosis by decreasing PLA formation via inhibiting CD62P/PSGL-1 expressions. This study shed a new light on the prevention of thromboembolic stroke.

Keywords: Carotid artery thrombosis; Component-based Chinese medicine; Platelet-leukocyte aggregate; QiShen YiQi; Thromboembolic stroke.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Carotid Artery Thrombosis* / drug therapy
  • Carotid Artery Thrombosis* / metabolism
  • Leukocytes / metabolism
  • Mice
  • P-Selectin / metabolism
  • Polyesters
  • Rats
  • Stroke* / complications
  • Stroke* / drug therapy
  • Stroke* / metabolism
  • Thrombosis* / drug therapy
  • Thrombosis* / metabolism

Substances

  • qishen yiqi
  • P-selectin ligand protein
  • P-Selectin
  • Polyesters