Pharmaceuticals
Scutellarin Alleviates Pulmonary Hypertension by Inhibiting the NF-κB/NLRP3 Signaling Pathway to Suppress Inflammation and Pyroptosis
By Xiaoyu Zhang, Jiahui Xie, Yuan Zhou and 4 others.
Abstract
Background
Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a progressive fatal cardiovascular disorder characterized by pulmonary vascular remodeling, elevated pulmonary vascular resistance and right heart failure, mainly driven by chronic inflammation and aberrant cell death. Scutellarin (SCU), a natural flavonoid with anti-inflammatory and vasculoprotective properties, exhibits unknown therapeutic effects and mechanisms against PAH. This study aimed to explore the therapeutic potential of SCU for PAH and to clarify its underlying mechanism targeting NF-κB/NLRP3 signaling-mediated inflammation and pyroptosis.
Methods
Network pharmacology and molecular docking were performed to screen the core therapeutic targets and binding activity of SCU against PAH. A Su5416/hypoxia (SuHx)-induced rat PAH model was established for in vivo verification, and hypoxia-stimulated human pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (HPASMCs) were used for in vitro functional validation.