Characterization of active peptides derived from three leeches and comparison of their anti-thrombotic mechanisms using the tail vein thrombosis model in mice and metabonomics
Research article published in Frontiers in pharmacology (2024)
Abstract
Background and aims: The increasing incidence of cardiovascular diseases has created an urgent need for safe and effective anti-thrombotic agents. Leech, as a traditional Chinese medicine, has the effect of promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis, but its real material basis and mechanism of action for the treatment of diseases such as blood stasis and thrombosis have not been reported. Methods: In this study, Whitmania Pigra Whitman (WPW), Hirudo nipponica Whitman (HNW) and Whitmania acranutata Whitman (WAW) were hydrolyzed by biomimetic enzymatic hydrolysis to obtain the active peptides of WPW (APP), the active peptides of HNW (APH) and the active peptides of WAW (APA), respectively. Then their structures were characterized by sykam amino acid analyzer, fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FT-IR), circular dichroism (CD) spectrometer and LC-MS. Next, the anti-thrombotic activities of APP, APH and APA were determined by carrageenan-induced tail vein thrombosis model in mice, and the anti-thrombotic mechanisms of high-dose APP group (HAPP), high-dose APH group (HAPH) and high-dose APA group (HAPA) were explored based on UHPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap mass spectrometry. Results: The results showed that the amino acid composition of APP, APH and APA was consistent, and the proportion of each amino acid was few different. The results of FT-IR and CD showed that there were no significant differences in the proportion of secondary structures (such as β-sheet and random coil) and infrared absorption peaks between APP, APH and APA. Mass spectrometry data showed that there were 43 common peptides in APP, APH and APA, indicating that the three have common material basis. APP, APH and APA could significantly inhibit platelet aggregation, reduce black-tail length, whole blood viscosity (WBV), plasma viscosity (PV), and Fibrinogen (FIB), and prolong coagulation time, including activated partial thrombin time (APTT), prothrombin time (PT) and thrombin time (TT). In addition, 24 metabolites were identified as potential biomarkers associated with thrombosis development. Among these, 19, 23, and 20 metabolites were significantly normalized after administration of HAPP, HAPH, and HAPA in the mice, respectively. Furthermore, the intervention mechanism of HAPP, HAPH and HAPA on tail vein thrombosis mainly involved in linoleic acid metabolism, primary bile acid biosynthesis and ether lipid metabolism. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that APP, APH and APA can exert their anti-blood stasis and anti-thrombotic activities by interfering with disordered metabolic pathways in vivo, and there is no significant difference in their efficacies.
Abstract sourced from PubMed (NCBI) for the cited record. See the original publication for the authoritative version.
Resumen
Characterization of active peptides derived from three leeches and comparison of their anti-thrombotic mechanisms using the tail vein thrombosis model in mice and metabonomics.
Por qué esto importa para la hirudoterapia
This study characterized active peptides derived from three leeches—Whitmania Pigra Whitman (WPW), Hirudo nipponica Whitman (HNW), and Whitmania acranutata Whitman (WAW)—obtained by biomimetic enzymatic hydrolysis, and compared their anti-thrombotic activities using a carrageenan-induced tail vein thrombosis model in mice. The authors report that the three peptide preparations shared 43 common peptides, significantly inhibited platelet aggregation, reduced black-tail length, whole blood viscosity, plasma viscosity, and fibrinogen, and prolonged coagulation times, with no significant difference in efficacy among them. Metabolomic analyses indicated intervention in pathways including linoleic acid metabolism, primary bile acid biosynthesis, and ether lipid metabolism. The work is directly relevant to leech-derived bioactive molecules and their anti-thrombotic effects, but it is preclinical, using enzymatic hydrolysates in an animal model rather than live hirudotherapy.
Citación
Characterization of active peptides derived from three leeches and comparison of their anti-thrombotic mechanisms using the tail vein thrombosis model in mice and metabonomics
Dong Y et al. · Frontiers in pharmacology, 2024
Contexto clínico relacionado
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Añadido a la biblioteca ASH: May 27, 2026 · Última actualización del sitio: June 18, 2026