Shengui Sansheng San alleviates the worsening of blood–brain barrier integrity resulted from delayed tPA administration through VIP/VIPR1 pathway

Abstract Background Intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) is currently the only FDA-approved thrombolytic therapy for acute ischemic stroke (AIS), however, relative narrow therapeutic time window (within 4.5 h of AIS onset) and high risk of hemorrhagic transformation due to blood–brain barr...

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Main Authors: Jiacheng Hu, Yiyang Li, Xingping Quan, Yan Han, Jinfen Chen, Mengchen Yuan, Ying Chen, Manfei Zhou, Enze Yu, Jiahao Zhou, Dawei Wang, Ruibing Wang, Yonghua Zhao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-03-01
Series:Chinese Medicine
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s13020-025-01079-0
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author Jiacheng Hu
Yiyang Li
Xingping Quan
Yan Han
Jinfen Chen
Mengchen Yuan
Ying Chen
Manfei Zhou
Enze Yu
Jiahao Zhou
Dawei Wang
Ruibing Wang
Yonghua Zhao
author_facet Jiacheng Hu
Yiyang Li
Xingping Quan
Yan Han
Jinfen Chen
Mengchen Yuan
Ying Chen
Manfei Zhou
Enze Yu
Jiahao Zhou
Dawei Wang
Ruibing Wang
Yonghua Zhao
author_sort Jiacheng Hu
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) is currently the only FDA-approved thrombolytic therapy for acute ischemic stroke (AIS), however, relative narrow therapeutic time window (within 4.5 h of AIS onset) and high risk of hemorrhagic transformation due to blood–brain barrier (BBB) disruption limit tPA therapeutic benefits for patients. In this study, we extended the time window of tPA administration (5 h after the occurrence of AIS) and investigated whether Chinese medicine classical formula Shengui Sansheng San (SSS) administration was able to alleviate BBB integrity worsening, and the mechanism was related to vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP)/ VIP receptor 1 (VIPR1) pathway. Methods SSS was extracted using aqueous heating method and SFE-CO2 technology, and quality control was performed using UHPLC/MS analysis. Male C57BL/6 mice were suffered from middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo), followed by the removal of a silicone filament after 5 h, then, t-PA was administered via tail vein injection at once, along with SSS administration by gavage. Hemoglobin levels and Evans blue leakage were measured to assess brain hemorrhagic transformation and BBB permeability, respectively. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) was utilized to present brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMECs) tight junction morphology. TTC staining and laser speckle contrast imaging were employed for infarct volume and cerebral blood flow measurements. The modified neurological severity score (mNSS) test was conducted to evaluate neurological function. The expressions of VIP, VIPR1, ZO-1, Occludin, Lectin, GFAP, NeuN were detected by immunofluorescence staining or western blotting. In vitro, bEnd.3 and N2a cells were insulted by oxygen–glucose deprivation (OGD), and VIPR1 siRNA, and VIP shRNA transfection were respectively performed, and the molecular docking was applied to verify the SSS in-serum active compounds interacted with VIPR1. The transwell system was utilized to detect OGD-insulted BMECs permeability. Results SSS treatment significantly reduced the infarct area, cerebral hemorrhage, and neurological deficits, and enhanced cerebral blood flow in AIS mice received intravenous tPA beyond 4.5 h time window. Simultaneously, the permeability of BBB declined, with increased expressions of tight junction proteins ZO-1, and Occludin and proper BMECs tight junction morphology, and it suggested that VIP was released by neurons rather than astrocytes or BMECs. It also showed high expressions of VIP and VIPR1 in the penumbra area. The inhibition of VIP in N2a cells or VIPR1 in bEnd.3 cells abolished the viability and integrity of OGD-insulted bEnd.3 cells treated by tPA after SSS-containing serum administration, and the SSS in-serum active compounds were proved have high affinity to VIPR1 by molecular docking. Conclusion SSS alleviates the worsening of BBB integrity resulted from delayed tPA administration, reduces hemorrhagic transformation and infarction volume, and ameliorates brain blood flow and neurological function in AIS mice. The mechanisms are associated with the activation of VIP/VIPR1 pathway to enhance BMECs viability and maintain tight junction phenotype. Graphical Abstract
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spelling doaj-art-7cfad2ebfaa04d088d2c9ef6ac1124e52025-08-20T02:52:19ZengBMCChinese Medicine1749-85462025-03-0120111810.1186/s13020-025-01079-0Shengui Sansheng San alleviates the worsening of blood–brain barrier integrity resulted from delayed tPA administration through VIP/VIPR1 pathwayJiacheng Hu0Yiyang Li1Xingping Quan2Yan Han3Jinfen Chen4Mengchen Yuan5Ying Chen6Manfei Zhou7Enze Yu8Jiahao Zhou9Dawei Wang10Ruibing Wang11Yonghua Zhao12State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of MacauState Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of MacauState Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of MacauState Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of MacauState Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of MacauState Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of MacauSchool of Health Economics and Management, Nanjing University of Chinese MedicineState Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of MacauState Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of MacauState Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of MacauThe First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese MedicineState Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of MacauState Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of MacauAbstract Background Intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) is currently the only FDA-approved thrombolytic therapy for acute ischemic stroke (AIS), however, relative narrow therapeutic time window (within 4.5 h of AIS onset) and high risk of hemorrhagic transformation due to blood–brain barrier (BBB) disruption limit tPA therapeutic benefits for patients. In this study, we extended the time window of tPA administration (5 h after the occurrence of AIS) and investigated whether Chinese medicine classical formula Shengui Sansheng San (SSS) administration was able to alleviate BBB integrity worsening, and the mechanism was related to vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP)/ VIP receptor 1 (VIPR1) pathway. Methods SSS was extracted using aqueous heating method and SFE-CO2 technology, and quality control was performed using UHPLC/MS analysis. Male C57BL/6 mice were suffered from middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo), followed by the removal of a silicone filament after 5 h, then, t-PA was administered via tail vein injection at once, along with SSS administration by gavage. Hemoglobin levels and Evans blue leakage were measured to assess brain hemorrhagic transformation and BBB permeability, respectively. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) was utilized to present brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMECs) tight junction morphology. TTC staining and laser speckle contrast imaging were employed for infarct volume and cerebral blood flow measurements. The modified neurological severity score (mNSS) test was conducted to evaluate neurological function. The expressions of VIP, VIPR1, ZO-1, Occludin, Lectin, GFAP, NeuN were detected by immunofluorescence staining or western blotting. In vitro, bEnd.3 and N2a cells were insulted by oxygen–glucose deprivation (OGD), and VIPR1 siRNA, and VIP shRNA transfection were respectively performed, and the molecular docking was applied to verify the SSS in-serum active compounds interacted with VIPR1. The transwell system was utilized to detect OGD-insulted BMECs permeability. Results SSS treatment significantly reduced the infarct area, cerebral hemorrhage, and neurological deficits, and enhanced cerebral blood flow in AIS mice received intravenous tPA beyond 4.5 h time window. Simultaneously, the permeability of BBB declined, with increased expressions of tight junction proteins ZO-1, and Occludin and proper BMECs tight junction morphology, and it suggested that VIP was released by neurons rather than astrocytes or BMECs. It also showed high expressions of VIP and VIPR1 in the penumbra area. The inhibition of VIP in N2a cells or VIPR1 in bEnd.3 cells abolished the viability and integrity of OGD-insulted bEnd.3 cells treated by tPA after SSS-containing serum administration, and the SSS in-serum active compounds were proved have high affinity to VIPR1 by molecular docking. Conclusion SSS alleviates the worsening of BBB integrity resulted from delayed tPA administration, reduces hemorrhagic transformation and infarction volume, and ameliorates brain blood flow and neurological function in AIS mice. The mechanisms are associated with the activation of VIP/VIPR1 pathway to enhance BMECs viability and maintain tight junction phenotype. Graphical Abstracthttps://doi.org/10.1186/s13020-025-01079-0Acute ischemic strokeBlood brain barrierShengui Sansheng SanTissue plasminogen activatorVIP/VIPR1
spellingShingle Jiacheng Hu
Yiyang Li
Xingping Quan
Yan Han
Jinfen Chen
Mengchen Yuan
Ying Chen
Manfei Zhou
Enze Yu
Jiahao Zhou
Dawei Wang
Ruibing Wang
Yonghua Zhao
Shengui Sansheng San alleviates the worsening of blood–brain barrier integrity resulted from delayed tPA administration through VIP/VIPR1 pathway
Chinese Medicine
Acute ischemic stroke
Blood brain barrier
Shengui Sansheng San
Tissue plasminogen activator
VIP/VIPR1
title Shengui Sansheng San alleviates the worsening of blood–brain barrier integrity resulted from delayed tPA administration through VIP/VIPR1 pathway
title_full Shengui Sansheng San alleviates the worsening of blood–brain barrier integrity resulted from delayed tPA administration through VIP/VIPR1 pathway
title_fullStr Shengui Sansheng San alleviates the worsening of blood–brain barrier integrity resulted from delayed tPA administration through VIP/VIPR1 pathway
title_full_unstemmed Shengui Sansheng San alleviates the worsening of blood–brain barrier integrity resulted from delayed tPA administration through VIP/VIPR1 pathway
title_short Shengui Sansheng San alleviates the worsening of blood–brain barrier integrity resulted from delayed tPA administration through VIP/VIPR1 pathway
title_sort shengui sansheng san alleviates the worsening of blood brain barrier integrity resulted from delayed tpa administration through vip vipr1 pathway
topic Acute ischemic stroke
Blood brain barrier
Shengui Sansheng San
Tissue plasminogen activator
VIP/VIPR1
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s13020-025-01079-0
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