Trifolin inhibits the calcium-driven contraction pathway in vascular smooth muscle

Trifolin, a bioactive component of the Qingda granule, has demonstrated significant antihypertensive potential; however, its precise mechanisms of action remain largely unknown. This study aimed to investigate the antihypertensive effects of trifolin and unravel its underlying molecular mechanisms....

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Main Authors: Renfeng Li, Jinkong Wu, Meizhu Wu, Farman Ali, Yanyan Yang, Hong Chen, Zhi Guo, Dawei Lian, Aling Shen, Jun Peng
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-05-01
Series:Frontiers in Pharmacology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1573483/full
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author Renfeng Li
Renfeng Li
Renfeng Li
Renfeng Li
Jinkong Wu
Jinkong Wu
Jinkong Wu
Jinkong Wu
Meizhu Wu
Meizhu Wu
Meizhu Wu
Meizhu Wu
Farman Ali
Farman Ali
Farman Ali
Farman Ali
Yanyan Yang
Hong Chen
Hong Chen
Hong Chen
Hong Chen
Zhi Guo
Zhi Guo
Zhi Guo
Zhi Guo
Dawei Lian
Dawei Lian
Dawei Lian
Dawei Lian
Aling Shen
Aling Shen
Aling Shen
Aling Shen
Jun Peng
Jun Peng
Jun Peng
Jun Peng
author_facet Renfeng Li
Renfeng Li
Renfeng Li
Renfeng Li
Jinkong Wu
Jinkong Wu
Jinkong Wu
Jinkong Wu
Meizhu Wu
Meizhu Wu
Meizhu Wu
Meizhu Wu
Farman Ali
Farman Ali
Farman Ali
Farman Ali
Yanyan Yang
Hong Chen
Hong Chen
Hong Chen
Hong Chen
Zhi Guo
Zhi Guo
Zhi Guo
Zhi Guo
Dawei Lian
Dawei Lian
Dawei Lian
Dawei Lian
Aling Shen
Aling Shen
Aling Shen
Aling Shen
Jun Peng
Jun Peng
Jun Peng
Jun Peng
author_sort Renfeng Li
collection DOAJ
description Trifolin, a bioactive component of the Qingda granule, has demonstrated significant antihypertensive potential; however, its precise mechanisms of action remain largely unknown. This study aimed to investigate the antihypertensive effects of trifolin and unravel its underlying molecular mechanisms. The influence of trifolin on vascular contraction and relaxation and its regulatory effects on ion channels were evaluated through a vascular tension experiment. Morphological changes in the aortic tissues of mice with angiotensin Ⅱ-induced hypertension and the expression profiles of contraction-associated proteins were analyzed via hematoxylin-eosin staining and immunohistochemistry. Additionally, trifolin’s impact on calcium ion dynamics and contraction-associated protein expression in angiotensin Ⅱ-activated vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) was determined through calcium flux assays and western blot analyses. Trifolin treatment decreased the constriction of isolated abdominal aortic rings induced by norepinephrine, KCl, and angiotensin Ⅱ in an endothelium-independent manner and extracellular Ca2+ influx induced by these three substances and thapsigargin. Moreover, trifolin treatment significantly reduced the abdominal aortic wall thickness and downregulated the expression of store-operated channels channel proteins (STIM1 and ORAI1) and calcium signaling-related proteins (CaM, myosin light chain kinase, and p-MLC2) in the abdominal aorta of hypertensive mice and angiotensin Ⅱ-induced VSMCs. In conclusion, calcium signaling inhibition may underlie trifolin’s antihypertensive effects and its ability to ameliorate vascular function. These findings offer new therapeutic insights for hypertension treatment.
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spelling doaj-art-e4e4e1ad1e7241319459b6a16c55b0602025-08-20T03:12:49ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Pharmacology1663-98122025-05-011610.3389/fphar.2025.15734831573483Trifolin inhibits the calcium-driven contraction pathway in vascular smooth muscleRenfeng Li0Renfeng Li1Renfeng Li2Renfeng Li3Jinkong Wu4Jinkong Wu5Jinkong Wu6Jinkong Wu7Meizhu Wu8Meizhu Wu9Meizhu Wu10Meizhu Wu11Farman Ali12Farman Ali13Farman Ali14Farman Ali15Yanyan Yang16Hong Chen17Hong Chen18Hong Chen19Hong Chen20Zhi Guo21Zhi Guo22Zhi Guo23Zhi Guo24Dawei Lian25Dawei Lian26Dawei Lian27Dawei Lian28Aling Shen29Aling Shen30Aling Shen31Aling Shen32Jun Peng33Jun Peng34Jun Peng35Jun Peng36Academy of Integrative Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian, ChinaCollege of Integrative Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian, ChinaFujian Key Laboratory of Integrative Medicine on Geriatrics, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian, ChinaFujian Collaborative Innovation Center for Integrative Medicine in Prevention and Treatment of Major Chronic Cardiovascular Diseases, Fuzhou, Fujian, ChinaAcademy of Integrative Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian, ChinaCollege of Integrative Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian, ChinaFujian Key Laboratory of Integrative Medicine on Geriatrics, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian, ChinaFujian Collaborative Innovation Center for Integrative Medicine in Prevention and Treatment of Major Chronic Cardiovascular Diseases, Fuzhou, Fujian, ChinaAcademy of Integrative Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian, ChinaCollege of Integrative Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian, ChinaFujian Key Laboratory of Integrative Medicine on Geriatrics, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian, ChinaFujian Collaborative Innovation Center for Integrative Medicine in Prevention and Treatment of Major Chronic Cardiovascular Diseases, Fuzhou, Fujian, ChinaAcademy of Integrative Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian, ChinaCollege of Integrative Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian, ChinaFujian Key Laboratory of Integrative Medicine on Geriatrics, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian, ChinaFujian Collaborative Innovation Center for Integrative Medicine in Prevention and Treatment of Major Chronic Cardiovascular Diseases, Fuzhou, Fujian, ChinaInnovation and Transformation Center, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian, ChinaAcademy of Integrative Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian, ChinaCollege of Integrative Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian, ChinaFujian Key Laboratory of Integrative Medicine on Geriatrics, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian, ChinaFujian Collaborative Innovation Center for Integrative Medicine in Prevention and Treatment of Major Chronic Cardiovascular Diseases, Fuzhou, Fujian, ChinaAcademy of Integrative Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian, ChinaCollege of Integrative Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian, ChinaFujian Key Laboratory of Integrative Medicine on Geriatrics, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian, ChinaFujian Collaborative Innovation Center for Integrative Medicine in Prevention and Treatment of Major Chronic Cardiovascular Diseases, Fuzhou, Fujian, ChinaAcademy of Integrative Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian, ChinaCollege of Integrative Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian, ChinaFujian Key Laboratory of Integrative Medicine on Geriatrics, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian, ChinaFujian Collaborative Innovation Center for Integrative Medicine in Prevention and Treatment of Major Chronic Cardiovascular Diseases, Fuzhou, Fujian, ChinaAcademy of Integrative Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian, ChinaCollege of Integrative Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian, ChinaFujian Key Laboratory of Integrative Medicine on Geriatrics, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian, ChinaFujian Collaborative Innovation Center for Integrative Medicine in Prevention and Treatment of Major Chronic Cardiovascular Diseases, Fuzhou, Fujian, ChinaAcademy of Integrative Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian, ChinaCollege of Integrative Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian, ChinaFujian Key Laboratory of Integrative Medicine on Geriatrics, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian, ChinaFujian Collaborative Innovation Center for Integrative Medicine in Prevention and Treatment of Major Chronic Cardiovascular Diseases, Fuzhou, Fujian, ChinaTrifolin, a bioactive component of the Qingda granule, has demonstrated significant antihypertensive potential; however, its precise mechanisms of action remain largely unknown. This study aimed to investigate the antihypertensive effects of trifolin and unravel its underlying molecular mechanisms. The influence of trifolin on vascular contraction and relaxation and its regulatory effects on ion channels were evaluated through a vascular tension experiment. Morphological changes in the aortic tissues of mice with angiotensin Ⅱ-induced hypertension and the expression profiles of contraction-associated proteins were analyzed via hematoxylin-eosin staining and immunohistochemistry. Additionally, trifolin’s impact on calcium ion dynamics and contraction-associated protein expression in angiotensin Ⅱ-activated vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) was determined through calcium flux assays and western blot analyses. Trifolin treatment decreased the constriction of isolated abdominal aortic rings induced by norepinephrine, KCl, and angiotensin Ⅱ in an endothelium-independent manner and extracellular Ca2+ influx induced by these three substances and thapsigargin. Moreover, trifolin treatment significantly reduced the abdominal aortic wall thickness and downregulated the expression of store-operated channels channel proteins (STIM1 and ORAI1) and calcium signaling-related proteins (CaM, myosin light chain kinase, and p-MLC2) in the abdominal aorta of hypertensive mice and angiotensin Ⅱ-induced VSMCs. In conclusion, calcium signaling inhibition may underlie trifolin’s antihypertensive effects and its ability to ameliorate vascular function. These findings offer new therapeutic insights for hypertension treatment.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1573483/fulltrifolinhypertensionvasoconstrictioncalcium signaling pathwaysmooth vascular muscle
spellingShingle Renfeng Li
Renfeng Li
Renfeng Li
Renfeng Li
Jinkong Wu
Jinkong Wu
Jinkong Wu
Jinkong Wu
Meizhu Wu
Meizhu Wu
Meizhu Wu
Meizhu Wu
Farman Ali
Farman Ali
Farman Ali
Farman Ali
Yanyan Yang
Hong Chen
Hong Chen
Hong Chen
Hong Chen
Zhi Guo
Zhi Guo
Zhi Guo
Zhi Guo
Dawei Lian
Dawei Lian
Dawei Lian
Dawei Lian
Aling Shen
Aling Shen
Aling Shen
Aling Shen
Jun Peng
Jun Peng
Jun Peng
Jun Peng
Trifolin inhibits the calcium-driven contraction pathway in vascular smooth muscle
Frontiers in Pharmacology
trifolin
hypertension
vasoconstriction
calcium signaling pathway
smooth vascular muscle
title Trifolin inhibits the calcium-driven contraction pathway in vascular smooth muscle
title_full Trifolin inhibits the calcium-driven contraction pathway in vascular smooth muscle
title_fullStr Trifolin inhibits the calcium-driven contraction pathway in vascular smooth muscle
title_full_unstemmed Trifolin inhibits the calcium-driven contraction pathway in vascular smooth muscle
title_short Trifolin inhibits the calcium-driven contraction pathway in vascular smooth muscle
title_sort trifolin inhibits the calcium driven contraction pathway in vascular smooth muscle
topic trifolin
hypertension
vasoconstriction
calcium signaling pathway
smooth vascular muscle
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1573483/full
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