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Mou Y, Liao W, Li Y, Wan L, Liu J, Luo X, Shen H, Sun Q, Wang J, Tang J, Wang Z. Glycyrrhizin and the Related Preparations: An Inspiring Resource for the Treatment of Liver Diseases. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF CHINESE MEDICINE 2024; 52:315-354. [PMID: 38553799 DOI: 10.1142/s0192415x24500149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/18/2024]
Abstract
Liver diseases and their related complications endanger the health of millions of people worldwide. The prevention and treatment of liver diseases are still serious challenges both in China and globally. With the improvement of living standards, the prevalence of metabolic liver diseases, including non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and alcoholic liver disease, has increased at an alarming rate, resulting in more cases of end-stage liver disease. Therefore, the discovery of novel therapeutic drugs for the treatment of liver diseases is urgently needed. Glycyrrhizin (GL), a triterpene glycoside from the roots of licorice plants, possesses a wide range of pharmacological and biological activities. Currently, GL preparations (GLPs) have certain advantages in the treatment of liver diseases, with good clinical effects and fewer adverse reactions, and have shown broad application prospects through multitargeting therapeutic mechanisms, including antisteatotic, anti-oxidative stress, anti-inflammatory, immunoregulatory, antifibrotic, anticancer, and drug interaction activities. This review summarizes the currently known biological activities of GLPs and their medical applications in the treatment of liver diseases, and highlights the potential of these preparations as promising therapeutic options and their alluring prospects for the treatment of liver diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Mou
- Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 610072, P. R. China
| | - Wenhao Liao
- Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 610072, P. R. China
| | - Yuchen Li
- Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 610072, P. R. China
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 610072, P. R. China
| | - Lina Wan
- Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 610072, P. R. China
| | - Jingwen Liu
- Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 610072, P. R. China
| | - Xialing Luo
- Department of Respiratory, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 610072, P. R. China
| | - Hongping Shen
- National Traditional Chinese Medicine Clinical Research Base of the Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou 646000, P. R. China
| | - Qin Sun
- National Traditional Chinese Medicine Clinical Research Base of the Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou 646000, P. R. China
| | - Jing Wang
- Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 610072, P. R. China
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Bishan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chongqing 402760, P. R. China
| | - Jianyuan Tang
- Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 610072, P. R. China
- TCM Regulating Metabolic Diseases Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 610072, P. R. China
| | - Zhilei Wang
- Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 610072, P. R. China
- TCM Regulating Metabolic Diseases Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 610072, P. R. China
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Parisse S, Gianoncelli A, Isani G, Gambaro FL, Andreani G, Malucelli E, Aquilanti G, Carlomagno I, Carletti R, Mischitelli M, Ferri F, Paterna V, Lai Q, Mennini G, Melandro F, Di Gioia C, Rossi M, Iotti S, Fratini M, Ginanni Corradini S. Severity of Hepatocyte Damage and Prognosis in Cirrhotic Patients Correlate with Hepatocyte Magnesium Depletion. Nutrients 2023; 15:nu15112626. [PMID: 37299589 DOI: 10.3390/nu15112626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2023] [Revised: 05/29/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
We aimed to evaluate the magnesium content in human cirrhotic liver and its correlation with serum AST levels, expression of hepatocellular injury, and MELDNa prognostic score. In liver biopsies obtained at liver transplantation, we measured the magnesium content in liver tissue in 27 cirrhotic patients (CIRs) and 16 deceased donors with healthy liver (CTRLs) by atomic absorption spectrometry and within hepatocytes of 15 CIRs using synchrotron-based X-ray fluorescence microscopy. In 31 CIRs and 10 CTRLs, we evaluated the immunohistochemical expression in hepatocytes of the transient receptor potential melastatin 7 (TRPM7), a magnesium influx chanzyme also involved in inflammation. CIRs showed a lower hepatic magnesium content (117.2 (IQR 110.5-132.9) vs. 162.8 (IQR 155.9-169.8) μg/g; p < 0.001) and a higher percentage of TRPM7 positive hepatocytes (53.0 (IQR 36.8-62.0) vs. 20.7 (10.7-32.8)%; p < 0.001) than CTRLs. In CIRs, MELDNa and serum AST at transplant correlated: (a) inversely with the magnesium content both in liver tissue and hepatocytes; and (b) directly with the percentage of hepatocytes stained intensely for TRPM7. The latter also directly correlated with the worsening of MELDNa at transplant compared to waitlisting. Magnesium depletion and overexpression of its influx chanzyme TRPM7 in hepatocytes are associated with severity of hepatocyte injury and prognosis in cirrhosis. These data represent the pathophysiological basis for a possible beneficial effect of magnesium supplementation in cirrhotic patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simona Parisse
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Viale dell'Università 37, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandra Gianoncelli
- Elettra-Sincrotrone Trieste, Strada Statale 14 km 163,5 in AREA Science Park, Basovizza, 34149 Trieste, Italy
| | - Gloria Isani
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra 50, 50055-Ozzano dell'Emilia, 40064 Bologna, Italy
| | - Francesco Luigi Gambaro
- Department of Radiological Sciences, Oncology and Pathological Anatomy, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Giulia Andreani
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra 50, 50055-Ozzano dell'Emilia, 40064 Bologna, Italy
| | - Emil Malucelli
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Giuliana Aquilanti
- Elettra-Sincrotrone Trieste, Strada Statale 14 km 163,5 in AREA Science Park, Basovizza, 34149 Trieste, Italy
| | - Ilaria Carlomagno
- Elettra-Sincrotrone Trieste, Strada Statale 14 km 163,5 in AREA Science Park, Basovizza, 34149 Trieste, Italy
| | - Raffaella Carletti
- Department of Radiological Sciences, Oncology and Pathological Anatomy, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Monica Mischitelli
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Viale dell'Università 37, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Flaminia Ferri
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Viale dell'Università 37, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Veronica Paterna
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Viale dell'Università 37, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Quirino Lai
- General Surgery and Organ Transplantation Unit, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Gianluca Mennini
- General Surgery and Organ Transplantation Unit, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Fabio Melandro
- General Surgery and Organ Transplantation Unit, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Cira Di Gioia
- Department of Radiological Sciences, Oncology and Pathological Anatomy, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Massimo Rossi
- General Surgery and Organ Transplantation Unit, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Stefano Iotti
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
- National Institute of Biostructures and Biosystems, Via delle Medaglie d'oro, 305, 00136 Rome, Italy
| | - Michela Fratini
- CNR-Institute of Nanotechnology c/o Physics Department, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 7, 00185 Rome, Italy
- Laboratory of Neurophysics and Neuroimaging (NaN), IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Via Ardeatina 306, 00179 Rome, Italy
| | - Stefano Ginanni Corradini
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Viale dell'Università 37, 00185 Rome, Italy
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Hou XX, Li YW, Song JL, Zhang W, Liu R, Yuan H, Feng TT, Jiang ZY, Li WT, Zhu CL. Cryptotanshinone induces apoptosis of activated hepatic stellate cells via modulating endoplasmic reticulum stress. World J Gastroenterol 2023; 29:2616-2627. [PMID: 37213406 PMCID: PMC10198054 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v29.i17.2616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2022] [Revised: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/23/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cryptotanshinone (CPT) has wide biological functions, including anti-oxidative, antifibrosis, and anti-inflammatory properties. However, the effect of CPT on hepatic fibrosis is unknown.
AIM To investigate the effects of CPT treatment on hepatic fibrosis and its underlying mechanism of action.
METHODS Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and normal hepatocytes were treated with different concentrations of CPT and salubrinal. The CCK-8 assay was used to determine cell viability. Flow cytometry was used to measure apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot analyses were used to measure mRNA levels and protein expression of endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) signaling pathway related molecules, respectively. Carbon tetrachloride (CCL4) was used to induce in vivo hepatic fibrosis in mice. Mice were treated with CPT and salubrinal, and blood and liver samples were collected for histopathological examination.
RESULTS We found that CPT treatment significantly reduced fibrogenesis by modulating the synthesis and degradation of the extracellular matrix in vitro. CPT inhibited cell proliferation and induced cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase in cultured HSCs. Furthermore, we found that CPT promoted apoptosis of activated HSCs by upregulating expression of ERS markers (CHOP and GRP78) and activating ERS pathway molecules (PERK, IRE1α, and ATF4), which were inhibited by salubrinal. Inhibition of ERS by salubrinal partially eliminated the therapeutic effect of CPT in our CCL4-induced hepatic fibrosis mouse model.
CONCLUSION CPT can promote apoptosis of HSCs and alleviate hepatic fibrosis through modulating the ERS pathway, which represents a promising strategy for treating hepatic fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Xue Hou
- Department of Infectious Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210009, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Yu-Wen Li
- Department of Pediatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210009, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Jia-Li Song
- Department of Infectious Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210009, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Wen Zhang
- Department of Infectious Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210009, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Rui Liu
- Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou 570000, Hainan Province, China
| | - Hui Yuan
- Department of Infectious Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210009, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Tian-Tong Feng
- Department of Infectious Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210009, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Zheng-Yi Jiang
- Department of Infectious Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210009, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Wen-Ting Li
- Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou 570000, Hainan Province, China
| | - Chuan-Long Zhu
- Department of Infectious Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210009, Jiangsu Province, China
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Pan Q, Fan JG, Yilmaz Y. Pathogenetic Pathways in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: An Incomplete Jigsaw Puzzle. Clin Liver Dis 2023; 27:317-332. [PMID: 37024210 DOI: 10.1016/j.cld.2023.01.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/08/2023]
Abstract
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)-a condition of excess fat accumulation in hepatocytes associated with metabolic dysfunction-has surpassed viral hepatitis to become the most prevalent chronic liver disease worldwide. As of now, only modestly effective pharmacological therapies for NAFLD exist. The uncomplete understanding of the pathophysiology underlying the heterogeneous disease spectrum known as NAFLD remains one of the major obstacles to the development of novel therapeutic approaches. This review compiles current knowledge on the principal signaling pathways and pathogenic mechanisms involved in NAFLD, which are analyzed in relation to its main pathological hallmarks (ie, hepatic steatosis, steatohepatitis, and liver fibrosis).
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Affiliation(s)
- Qin Pan
- Research Center, Zhoupu Hospital Affiliated to the Shanghai University of Medicine & Health Sciences, Shanghai 201318, China; Department of Gastroenterology, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to the Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Jian-Gao Fan
- Department of Gastroenterology, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to the Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China; Shanghai Key Lab of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Shanghai 200092, China.
| | - Yusuf Yilmaz
- Department of Gastroenterology, School of Medicine, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University, Rize 53200, Turkey; Liver Research Unit, Institute of Gastroenterology, Marmara University, İstanbul 34840, Turkey.
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Vijayan N, Perumal MK. A critical review on anti-fibrotic phytochemicals targeting activated hepatic stellate cells. J Food Biochem 2022; 46:e14438. [PMID: 36209494 DOI: 10.1111/jfbc.14438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Revised: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Liver fibrosis is a major health concern occurring worldwide. It arises due to prolonged wound healing response of various insults like viral, autoimmune, cholestatic, drug-induced, and metabolic diseases. Currently, there is no clinically approved drug for liver fibrosis treatment. Hepatic stellate cells are the principal liver cells that are activated during liver fibrosis, and targeting these activated cells is an ideal therapeutic strategy. Numerous phytochemicals have been demonstrated in vitro and in vivo treating experimental liver fibrosis; however, none of them have been clinically approved for therapeutic use. This review mainly focuses on such hepatoprotective phytochemicals reported inhibiting major signaling pathways that are dysregulated in activated hepatic stellate cells. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Liver fibrosis is a global health concern and there is no FDA approved drug to treat liver fibrosis. Although notable pharmacological agents like pentoxifylline, gliotoxin, imatinibmesylate, Gleevec, and so on are reported to exhibit anti-fibrotic effect, the major concern is their side effect. Hence, phytochemicals are promising candidates that could be employed against liver fibrosis. In this review, the anti-fibrotic potential of phytochemicals targeting activated HSCs are summarized. Understanding these phytochemicals will further help in the development of agents that are more effective against liver fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nivya Vijayan
- Department of Biochemistry, CSIR-Central Food Technological Research Institute, Mysore, India.,Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, India
| | - Madan Kumar Perumal
- Department of Biochemistry, CSIR-Central Food Technological Research Institute, Mysore, India.,Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, India
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Zheng Y, Zhao T, Wang J, Jiang R, Huang J, Li W, Wang J. Curcumol alleviates liver fibrosis through inducing autophagy and ferroptosis in hepatic stellate cells. FASEB J 2022; 36:e22665. [PMID: 36398583 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202200933rr] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2022] [Revised: 10/30/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
To explore the effect of curcumol on autophagy and ferroptosis of hepatic stellate cells, and to clarify the molecular mechanism of its anti-hepatic fibrosis. In the present study, we report that curcumol promotes the death of activated HSCs and reduces the deposition of extracellular matrix. Interestingly, curcumol treatment can trigger ferroptosis to eliminate activated HSCs characterized by iron overload, lipid ROS accumulation, glutathione depletion, and lipid peroxidation. Curcumol promotes HSC autophagy, which may be the key mechanism for its induction of ferroptosis. It is worth noting that the upregulation of nuclear receptor coactivator 4 (NCOA4) may play a key molecular mechanism. NCOA4 mediates the release of iron ions and induces the occurrence of ferroptosis. Overall, curcumol promotes autophagy in hepatic stellate cells, mediates the degradation of NCOA4 and FTH1 complexes, releases iron ions, leads to iron overload, and induces ferroptosis, which may be an important mechanism for its anti-hepatic fibrosis effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Zheng
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Chinese Medicine Science, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, China
| | - Tiejian Zhao
- College of Basic Medicine, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, China
| | - Jiaru Wang
- College of Basic Medicine, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, China
| | - Ruizhu Jiang
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Chinese Medicine Science, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, China
| | - Jinbiao Huang
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Chinese Medicine Science, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, China
| | - Weimin Li
- College of Basic Medicine, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, China
| | - Jiahui Wang
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Chinese Medicine Science, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, China
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7
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Luo P, Liu D, Zhang Q, Yang F, Wong YK, Xia F, Zhang J, Chen J, Tian Y, Yang C, Dai L, Shen HM, Wang J. Celastrol induces ferroptosis in activated HSCs to ameliorate hepatic fibrosis via targeting peroxiredoxins and HO-1. Acta Pharm Sin B 2022; 12:2300-2314. [PMID: 35646542 PMCID: PMC9136576 DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2021.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 46.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2021] [Revised: 10/28/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Ferroptosis is a form of regulated cell death, characterized by excessive membrane lipid peroxidation in an iron- and ROS-dependent manner. Celastrol, a natural bioactive triterpenoid extracted from Tripterygium wilfordii, shows effective anti-fibrotic and anti-inflammatory activities in multiple hepatic diseases. However, the exact molecular mechanisms of action and the direct protein targets of celastrol in the treatment of liver fibrosis remain largely elusive. Here, we discover that celastrol exerts anti-fibrotic effects via promoting the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and inducing ferroptosis in activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). By using activity-based protein profiling (ABPP) in combination with bio-orthogonal click chemistry reaction and cellular thermal shift assay (CETSA), we show that celastrol directly binds to peroxiredoxins (PRDXs), including PRDX1, PRDX2, PRDX4 and PRDX6, through the active cysteine sites, and inhibits their anti-oxidant activities. Celastrol also targets to heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) and upregulates its expression in activated-HSCs. Knockdown of PRDX1, PRDX2, PRDX4, PRDX6 or HO-1 in HSCs, to varying extent, elevated cellular ROS levels and induced ferroptosis. Taken together, our findings reveal the direct protein targets and molecular mechanisms via which celastrol ameliorates hepatic fibrosis, thus supporting the further development of celastrol as a promising therapeutic agent for liver fibrosis.
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Key Words
- ABPP
- ABPP, activity-based protein profiling
- ALP, alkaline phosphatase
- ALT, alanine aminotransferase
- AST, aspartate aminotransferase
- Anti-oxidant
- CCl4, carbon tetrachloride
- CETSA, cellular thermal shift assay
- COL1A1, collagen type I alpha-1
- COX-2, cyclooxygenase 2
- Cel-P, celastrol-probe
- Celastrol
- ECM, extracellular matrix
- Ferroptosis
- GPX4, glutathione peroxidase 4
- HCC, hepatocellular carcinoma
- HMGB1, high mobility group protein B1
- HO-1
- HO-1, heme oxygenase 1
- HSCs, hepatic stellate cells
- Hepatic fibrosis
- LPO, lipid peroxidation
- PPARγ, peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor γ
- PRDXs, peroxiredoxins
- Peroxiredoxin
- ROS, reactive oxygen species
- Reactive oxygen species
- VDACs, voltage-dependent anion channels
- VIM, vimentin
- α-SMA, alpha smooth muscle actin
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Affiliation(s)
- Piao Luo
- Artemisinin Research Center, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
- Central People's Hospital of Zhanjiang, Zhanjiang 524037, China
| | - Dandan Liu
- Artemisinin Research Center, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Qian Zhang
- Artemisinin Research Center, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Fan Yang
- Department of Urology, the Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University (Shenzhen People's Hospital), Shenzhen 518020, China
- Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine Postdoctoral Research Station, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Yin-Kwan Wong
- Artemisinin Research Center, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Fei Xia
- Artemisinin Research Center, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Junzhe Zhang
- Artemisinin Research Center, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Jiayun Chen
- Artemisinin Research Center, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Ya Tian
- Artemisinin Research Center, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Chuanbin Yang
- Department of Urology, the Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University (Shenzhen People's Hospital), Shenzhen 518020, China
| | - Lingyun Dai
- Department of Urology, the Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University (Shenzhen People's Hospital), Shenzhen 518020, China
| | - Han-Ming Shen
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau 999078, China
| | - Jigang Wang
- Artemisinin Research Center, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
- Central People's Hospital of Zhanjiang, Zhanjiang 524037, China
- Department of Urology, the Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University (Shenzhen People's Hospital), Shenzhen 518020, China
- Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine Postdoctoral Research Station, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
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Xiao Q, Liu Y, Jiang G, Liu Y, Huang Y, Liu W, Zhang Z. Heteroleptic Gold(I)-bisNHC complex with excellent activity in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo against endometrial cancer. Eur J Med Chem 2022; 236:114302. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2022.114302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2022] [Revised: 03/08/2022] [Accepted: 03/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
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2-Amino-3-Methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline Triggering Liver Damage by Inhibiting Autophagy and Inducing Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress in Zebrafish ( Danio rerio). Toxins (Basel) 2021; 13:toxins13110826. [PMID: 34822609 PMCID: PMC8620671 DOI: 10.3390/toxins13110826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2021] [Revised: 11/19/2021] [Accepted: 11/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
It is important to note that 2-Amino-3-methylimidazole[4,5-f]quinoline (IQ) is one of the most common heterocyclic amines (HCAs), which is a class of mutagenic/carcinogenic harmful compounds mainly found in high-protein thermal processed foods and contaminated environments. However, the pre-carcinogenic toxicity of IQ to the liver and its mechanism are poorly understood, further research is needed. In light of this, we exposed zebrafish to IQ (0, 8, 80, and 800 ng/mL) for 35 days, followed by comprehensive experimental studies. Histopathological and ultrastructural analysis showed that hepatocytes were damaged. TUNEL results showed that IQ induced apoptosis of liver cells, the expression of apoptosis factor gene was significantly increased, and the expression of Bcl-2 protein was significantly decreased. In addition, upregulated expression of the 78-kDa glucose-regulated protein (GRP78) and C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP) and endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS)-related factors transcription levels were elevated obviously, suggesting that IQ induced ERS. Decreased protein expression of autophagy-related 5 (Atg5)-Atg12, Beclin1, and LC3-II, increased protein expression of p62, and autophagy-related factors transcription levels were significantly decreased, suggesting that IQ inhibited autophagy. Overall, our research showed that the potential harm of IQ to the liver before the occurrence of liver cancer was related to ERS and its mediated autophagy and apoptosis pathways.
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Debieu S, Solier S, Colombeau L, Versini A, Sindikubwabo F, Forrester A, Müller S, Cañeque T, Rodriguez R. Small Molecule Regulators of Ferroptosis. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2021; 1301:81-121. [PMID: 34370289 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-62026-4_6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Ferroptosis is a dedicated mode of cell death involving iron, reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxidation. Involved in processes such as glutathione metabolism, lysosomal iron retention or interference with lipid metabolism, leading either to activation or inhibition of ferroptosis. Given the implications of ferroptosis in diseases such as cancer, aging, Alzheimer and infectious diseases, new molecular mechanisms underlying ferroptosis and small molecules regulators that target those mechanisms have prompted a great deal of interest. Here, we discuss the current scenario of small molecules modulating ferroptosis and critically assess what is known about their mechanisms of action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylvain Debieu
- Institut Curie, 26 rue d'Ulm, 75248 Paris Cedex 05, France
- PSL Université Paris, Paris, France
- Chemical Biology of Cancer Laboratory, CNRS UMR 3666, INSERM U1143, Paris, France
| | - Stéphanie Solier
- Institut Curie, 26 rue d'Ulm, 75248 Paris Cedex 05, France
- PSL Université Paris, Paris, France
- Chemical Biology of Cancer Laboratory, CNRS UMR 3666, INSERM U1143, Paris, France
| | - Ludovic Colombeau
- Institut Curie, 26 rue d'Ulm, 75248 Paris Cedex 05, France
- PSL Université Paris, Paris, France
- Chemical Biology of Cancer Laboratory, CNRS UMR 3666, INSERM U1143, Paris, France
| | - Antoine Versini
- Institut Curie, 26 rue d'Ulm, 75248 Paris Cedex 05, France
- PSL Université Paris, Paris, France
- Chemical Biology of Cancer Laboratory, CNRS UMR 3666, INSERM U1143, Paris, France
| | - Fabien Sindikubwabo
- Institut Curie, 26 rue d'Ulm, 75248 Paris Cedex 05, France
- PSL Université Paris, Paris, France
- Chemical Biology of Cancer Laboratory, CNRS UMR 3666, INSERM U1143, Paris, France
| | - Alison Forrester
- Institut Curie, 26 rue d'Ulm, 75248 Paris Cedex 05, France
- PSL Université Paris, Paris, France
- Chemical Biology of Cancer Laboratory, CNRS UMR 3666, INSERM U1143, Paris, France
| | - Sebastian Müller
- Institut Curie, 26 rue d'Ulm, 75248 Paris Cedex 05, France
- PSL Université Paris, Paris, France
- Chemical Biology of Cancer Laboratory, CNRS UMR 3666, INSERM U1143, Paris, France
| | - Tatiana Cañeque
- Institut Curie, 26 rue d'Ulm, 75248 Paris Cedex 05, France
- PSL Université Paris, Paris, France
- Chemical Biology of Cancer Laboratory, CNRS UMR 3666, INSERM U1143, Paris, France
| | - Raphaël Rodriguez
- Institut Curie, 26 rue d'Ulm, 75248 Paris Cedex 05, France.
- PSL Université Paris, Paris, France.
- Chemical Biology of Cancer Laboratory, CNRS UMR 3666, INSERM U1143, Paris, France.
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11
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Bian M, Fan R, Jiang G, Wang Y, Lu Y, Liu W. Halo and Pseudohalo Gold(I)-NHC Complexes Derived from 4,5-Diarylimidazoles with Excellent In Vitro and In Vivo Anticancer Activities Against HCC. J Med Chem 2020; 63:9197-9211. [PMID: 32787098 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c00257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
A series of halo and pseudohalo gold(I)-NHC complexes (NHC-Au-X) (X = Cl, Br, I, NCO, and OAc) derived from 4,5-diarylimidazoles were synthesized, structurally characterized, and analyzed for their biological activities. The most active complex was iodo(1,3-diethyl-4,5-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene)gold(I) (6), which was at least 2-fold more cytotoxic than cisplatin and auranofin against hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. In vivo studies indicated that complex 6 exhibited a considerably higher anticancer efficacy (IRT = 75.7%) than cisplatin (IRT = 44.4%) in a HepG2 xenograft mouse model and ameliorated liver injury caused by CCl4 in chronic HCC. Further studies revealed that complex 6 can inhibit the expression of the thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) both in vitro and in vivo, block the HepG2 cells in the G2/M phase, induce reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, damage mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), and promote HepG2 cell apoptosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mianli Bian
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, School of Pharmacy, School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, P. R. China
| | - Rong Fan
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, School of Pharmacy, School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, P. R. China
| | - Guizhi Jiang
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, School of Pharmacy, School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, P. R. China
| | - Yingxiang Wang
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, School of Pharmacy, School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, P. R. China
| | - Yunlong Lu
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, School of Pharmacy, School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, P. R. China
| | - Wukun Liu
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, School of Pharmacy, School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, P. R. China.,State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, P. R. China.,State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, P. R. China
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12
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Different Phenolic Extracts of Oil Palm Fruits and Caffeic Acid Prevent Palmitic Acid-Induced Lipotoxicity in HepG2 Cells via Improving Mitochondrial Function. J FOOD QUALITY 2020. [DOI: 10.1155/2020/8827707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) fruits are rich in antioxidative phenolic compounds, which exert various health improving effects. This study aimed to comparatively study the protective effects of different phenolic fractions from the fruits treated with or without ultrahigh pressure (UHP) and their most abundant phenolic substance, caffeic acid, against the palmitic acid-induced lipotoxicity in HepG2 cells and to clarify the potential mechanisms. Results showed that the TG accumulation, intracellular reactive oxygen species content, cell apoptosis, and mitochondrial membrane potential depolarization were relieved by the administration of those phenolic fractions and caffeic acid. The protection of insoluble-bound (IB) phenolic fraction was the best, and UHP treatment significantly enhanced its protective effect on lipotoxicity. The lipotoxicity preventive effect may be achieved by alleviating intracellular oxidative stress, downregulating the expression of P-P38, COX-2, and iNOS to relieve inflammation, and downregulating Bax and cytochrome C and upregulating Bcl-2 to suppress the mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis. Therefore, the oil palm fruits phenolic fractions, especially the IB phenolic fraction, might be utilized as dietary antioxidants to relieve the adverse effects of a high-fat diet on the body, and UHP treatment is a potential method to increase this bioactivity.
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13
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Zhang Z, Guo M, Shen M, Kong D, Zhang F, Shao J, Tan S, Wang S, Chen A, Cao P, Zheng S. The BRD7-P53-SLC25A28 axis regulates ferroptosis in hepatic stellate cells. Redox Biol 2020; 36:101619. [PMID: 32863216 PMCID: PMC7330619 DOI: 10.1016/j.redox.2020.101619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 106] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2020] [Revised: 06/05/2020] [Accepted: 06/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Ferroptosis is a recently discovered form of programmed cell death, but its regulatory mechanisms are not fully understood. In the current study, we reported that the BRD7-P53-SLC25A28 axis played a crucial role in regulating ferroptosis in hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). Upon exposure to ferroptosis inducers, bromodomain-containing protein 7 (BRD7) protein expression was remarkably increased through the inhibition of the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated BRD7 knockout conferred resistance to HSC ferroptosis, whereas specific BRD7 plasmid-mediated BRD7 overexpression facilitated HSC ferroptosis. Interestingly, the elevated BRD7 expression exhibited to promote p53 mitochondrial translocation via direct binding with p53 N-terminal transactivation domain (TAD), which may be the underlying mechanisms for BRD7-enhanced HSC ferroptosis. Site-directed mutations of serine 392 completely blocked the binding of BRD7 to p53, and, in turn, prevented p53 mitochondrial translocation and HSC ferroptosis. Importantly, mitochondrial p53 interacted with solute carrier family 25 member 28 (SLC25A28) to form complex and enhanced the activity of SLC25A28, which could lead to the abnormal accumulation of redox-active iron and hyperfunction of electron transfer chain (ETC). SLC25A28 knockdown impaired BRD7-or p53-mediated ferroptotic events. In mice, erastin treatment ameliorated pathological damage of liver fibrosis through inducing HSC ferroptosis. HSC-specific blockade of BRD7-P53-SLC25A28 axis could abrogate erastin-induced HSC ferroptosis. Of note, we analyzed the effect of sorafenib on HSC ferroptosis in advanced fibrotic patients with hepatocellular carcinoma receiving sorafenib monotherapy. Attractively, BRD7 upregulation, p53 mitochondrial translocation, combination of SLC25A28 and p53, and ferroptosis induction occurred in primary human HSCs. Overall, these findings reveal novel signal transduction and regulatory mechanism of ferroptosis, and also suggest BRD7-P53-SLC25A28 axis as potential targets for liver fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zili Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Mei Guo
- Department of Pathogenic Biology and Immunology, Medical School, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Min Shen
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Desong Kong
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Feng Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Jiangjuan Shao
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Shanzhong Tan
- Nanjing Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210003, China
| | - Shijun Wang
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, 250035, China
| | - Anping Chen
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Saint Louis University, St Louis, MO63104, USA
| | - Peng Cao
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China; Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210028, China.
| | - Shizhong Zheng
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China.
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14
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Wang Z, Yang X, Kai J, Wang F, Wang Z, Shao J, Tan S, Chen A, Zhang F, Wang S, Zhang Z, Zheng S. HIF-1α-upregulated lncRNA-H19 regulates lipid droplet metabolism through the AMPKα pathway in hepatic stellate cells. Life Sci 2020; 255:117818. [PMID: 32445757 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2020.117818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2020] [Revised: 05/04/2020] [Accepted: 05/17/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) is a central event in the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis and is characterized by the disappearance of lipid droplets. Although the exogenous supplementation of lipid droplet content can effectively reverse the activation of HSCs, the underlying molecular mechanisms are largely unknown. In our current study, we sought to investigate the role of lncRNA-H19 in the process of lipid droplets disappearance and to further examine the underlying molecular mechanisms. We found that the lncRNA-H19 level was increased in CCl4-induced fibrotic liver, which activated HSCs. Further research showed that hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) significantly increased lncRNA-H19 expression by binding to the lncRNA-H19 promoter at two hypoxia response element (HRE) sites located at 492-499 and 515-522 bp. Importantly, lncRNA-H19 knockdown markedly inhibited HSC activation and alleviated liver fibrosis, indicating that lncRNA-H19 may be a potential target for anti-fibrosis therapeutic approaches. Moreover, lncRNA-H19 knockdown could reverse the lipid droplet phenotype of activated HSCs, inhibiting the phosphorylated AMPKα-mediated lipid oxidation signaling pathway. The AMPK agonist AICAR promoted AMPKα phosphorylation and abrogated lipid droplets restoration in HSCs transfected with the lncRNA-H19 knockdown plasmid. Experimental molecular analysis showed that lncRNA-H19 triggered AMPKα to interact with LKB1 and resulted in AMPKα phosphorylation, which accelerating lipid droplets degradation and lipid oxidation. Taken together, our results highlighted the role of lncRNA-H19 in the metabolism of lipid droplets in HSCs, and revealed a new molecular target for alleviating liver fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhimin Wang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Xiang Yang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Jun Kai
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Feixia Wang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Zhenyi Wang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Jiangjuan Shao
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Shanzhong Tan
- Nanjing Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Anping Chen
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Saint Louis University, MO 63104, USA
| | - Feng Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Shijun Wang
- Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan 250035, China
| | - Zili Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China.
| | - Shizhong Zheng
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China.
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15
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Bian M, Sun Y, Liu Y, Xu Z, Fan R, Liu Z, Liu W. A Gold(I) Complex Containing an Oleanolic Acid Derivative as a Potential Anti‐Ovarian‐Cancer Agent by Inhibiting TrxR and Activating ROS‐Mediated ERS. Chemistry 2020; 26:7092-7108. [DOI: 10.1002/chem.202000045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2020] [Revised: 02/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mianli Bian
- School of Pharmacy Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine Nanjing 210023 P. R. China
| | - Ying Sun
- School of Pharmacy Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine Nanjing 210023 P. R. China
| | - Yuanhao Liu
- School of Pharmacy Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine Nanjing 210023 P. R. China
| | - Zhongren Xu
- School of Pharmacy Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine Nanjing 210023 P. R. China
| | - Rong Fan
- School of Pharmacy Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine Nanjing 210023 P. R. China
| | - Ziwen Liu
- School of Pharmacy Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine Nanjing 210023 P. R. China
| | - Wukun Liu
- School of Pharmacy Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine Nanjing 210023 P. R. China
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines China Pharmaceutical University Nanjing 210009 P. R. China
- State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry Nanjing University Nanjing 210023 P. R. China
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16
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Bian M, Wang X, Sun Y, Liu W. Synthesis and biological evaluation of gold(III) Schiff base complexes for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma through attenuating TrxR activity. Eur J Med Chem 2020; 193:112234. [PMID: 32213395 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2020.112234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2020] [Revised: 03/04/2020] [Accepted: 03/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common cancers and a leading cause of death worldwide. Increased thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) levels were recently identified as possible prognostic markers for HCC. Here, four gold(III) complexes 1b-4b bearing Schiff base ligands were synthesized, characterized, and screened for antitumor activity against HCC. All complexes triggered significant antiproliferative effects against HCC cells, especially the most active complex 1b induced HepG2 cells apoptosis by activating the endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS). 1b could clearly inhibit the TrxR activity to elevate reactive oxygen species (ROS), mediate ERS and lead to mitochondrial dysfunction. Notably, treatment of 1b improved the CCl4-induced liver damage in vivo by down-regulation of TrxR expression and inflammation level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mianli Bian
- School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, PR China
| | - Xin Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, PR China
| | - Ying Sun
- School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, PR China
| | - Wukun Liu
- School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, PR China.
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17
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Ruan Q, Wang H, Burke LJ, Bridle KR, Li X, Zhao CX, Crawford DHG, Roberts MS, Liang X. Therapeutic modulators of hepatic stellate cells for hepatocellular carcinoma. Int J Cancer 2020; 147:1519-1527. [PMID: 32010970 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.32899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2019] [Revised: 01/14/2020] [Accepted: 01/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of primary tumor in the liver and is a leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are key components of the HCC microenvironment and play an important role in the onset and progression of HCC through the secretion of growth factors and cytokines. Current treatment modalities that include chemotherapy, radiotherapy and ablation are able to activate HSCs and remodel the tumor microenvironment. Growing evidence has demonstrated that the complex interaction between activated HSCs and tumor cells can facilitate cancer chemoresistance and metastasis. Therefore, therapeutic targeting of activated HSCs has emerged as a promising strategy to improve treatment outcomes for HCC. This review summarizes the molecular mechanisms of HSC activation triggered by treatment modalities, the function of activated HSCs in HCC, as well as the crosstalk between tumor cells and activated HSCs. Pathways of activated HSC reduction are discussed, including inhibition, apoptosis, and reversion to the inactivated state. Finally, we outline the progress and challenges of therapeutic approaches targeting activated HSCs in the development of HCC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Ruan
- The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD, Australia
| | - Haolu Wang
- The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD, Australia.,Gallipoli Medical Research Institute, Greenslopes Private Hospital, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,Department of Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Leslie J Burke
- The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD, Australia.,Gallipoli Medical Research Institute, Greenslopes Private Hospital, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Kim R Bridle
- Gallipoli Medical Research Institute, Greenslopes Private Hospital, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Xinxing Li
- Department of General Surgery, Changzheng Hospital, The Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Chun-Xia Zhao
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Darrell H G Crawford
- Gallipoli Medical Research Institute, Greenslopes Private Hospital, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Michael S Roberts
- The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD, Australia
| | - Xiaowen Liang
- The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD, Australia.,Gallipoli Medical Research Institute, Greenslopes Private Hospital, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
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18
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Zhou J, Liu X, Chen T, Cheng G, Cai S. Preventive effect of ethanol extract from Chinese sumac fruits against tetrachloromethane-induced liver fibrosis in mice. Food Funct 2020; 11:7061-7072. [DOI: 10.1039/d0fo00548g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Chinese sumac (Rhus chinensis Mill.) fruits effectively prevent CCl4-induced liver fibrosis in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiexin Zhou
- Faculty of Agriculture and Food
- Yunnan Institute of Food Safety
- Kunming University of Science and Technology
- Kunming
- People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaojing Liu
- Faculty of Agriculture and Food
- Yunnan Institute of Food Safety
- Kunming University of Science and Technology
- Kunming
- People's Republic of China
| | - Taiming Chen
- Faculty of Agriculture and Food
- Yunnan Institute of Food Safety
- Kunming University of Science and Technology
- Kunming
- People's Republic of China
| | - Guiguang Cheng
- Faculty of Agriculture and Food
- Yunnan Institute of Food Safety
- Kunming University of Science and Technology
- Kunming
- People's Republic of China
| | - Shengbao Cai
- Faculty of Agriculture and Food
- Yunnan Institute of Food Safety
- Kunming University of Science and Technology
- Kunming
- People's Republic of China
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19
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Zhang Z, Guo M, Li Y, Shen M, Kong D, Shao J, Ding H, Tan S, Chen A, Zhang F, Zheng S. RNA-binding protein ZFP36/TTP protects against ferroptosis by regulating autophagy signaling pathway in hepatic stellate cells. Autophagy 2019; 16:1482-1505. [PMID: 31679460 DOI: 10.1080/15548627.2019.1687985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 253] [Impact Index Per Article: 50.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Ferroptosis is a recently discovered form of programmed cell death, but its regulatory mechanisms remain poorly understood. Here, we show that the RNA-binding protein ZFP36/TTP (ZFP36 ring finger protein) plays a crucial role in regulating ferroptosis in hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). Upon exposure to ferroptosis-inducing compounds, the ubiquitin ligase FBXW7/CDC4 (F-box and WD repeat domain containing 7) decreased ZFP36 protein expression by recognizing SFSGLPS motif. FBXW7 plasmid contributed to classical ferroptotic events, whereas ZFP36 plasmid impaired FBXW7 plasmid-induced HSC ferroptosis. Interestingly, ZFP36 plasmid inhibited macroautophagy/autophagy activation by destabilizing ATG16L1 (autophagy related 16 like 1) mRNA. ATG16L1 plasmid eliminated the inhibitory action of ZFP36 plasmid on ferroptosis, and FBXW7 plasmid enhanced the effect of ATG16L1 plasmid on autophagy. Importantly, ZFP36 plasmid promoted ATG16L1 mRNA decay via binding to the AU-rich elements (AREs) within the 3'-untranslated region. The internal mutation of the ARE region abrogated the ZFP36-mediated ATG16L1 mRNA instability, and prevented ZFP36 plasmid-mediated ferroptosis resistance. In mice, treatment with erastin and sorafenib alleviated murine liver fibrosis by inducing HSC ferroptosis. HSC-specific overexpression of Zfp36 impaired erastin- or sorafenib-induced HSC ferroptosis. Noteworthy, we analyzed the effect of sorafenib on HSC ferroptosis in fibrotic patients with hepatocellular carcinoma receiving sorafenib monotherapy. Attractively, sorafenib monotherapy led to ZFP36 downregulation, ferritinophagy activation, and ferroptosis induction in human HSCs. Overall, these results revealed novel molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways of ferroptosis, and also identified ZFP36-autophagy-dependent ferroptosis as a potential target for the treatment of liver fibrosis. ABBREVIATIONS ARE: AU-rich elements; ATG: autophagy related; BECN1: beclin 1; CHX: cycloheximide; COL1A1: collagen type I alpha 1 chain; ELAVL1/HuR: ELAV like RNA binding protein 1; FBXW7/CDC4: F-box and WD repeat domain containing 7; FN1: fibronectin 1; FTH1: ferritin heavy chain 1; GPX4/PHGPx: glutathione peroxidase 4; GSH: glutathione; HCC: hepatocellular carcinoma; HSC: hepatic stellate cell; LSEC: liver sinusoidal endothelial cell; MAP1LC3A: microtubule associated protein 1 light chain 3 alpha; MDA: malondialdehyde; NCOA4: nuclear receptor coactivator 4; PTGS2/COX2: prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2; RBP: RNA-binding protein; ROS: reactive oxygen species; SLC7A11/xCT: solute carrier family 7 member 11; SQSTM1/p62: sequestosome 1; TNF: tumor necrosis factor; TP53/p53: tumor protein p53; UTR: untranslated region; ZFP36/TTP: ZFP36 ring finger protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zili Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine , Nanjing, China
| | - Mei Guo
- Department of Pathogenic biology and Immunology, Medical School, Southeast University , Nanjing, China
| | - Yujia Li
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine , Nanjing, China
| | - Min Shen
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine , Nanjing, China
| | - Desong Kong
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine , Nanjing, China
| | - Jiangjuan Shao
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine , Nanjing, China
| | - Hai Ding
- Department of Integrated TCM and Western Medicine, Nanjing Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine , Nanjing, China
| | - Shanzhong Tan
- Department of Integrated TCM and Western Medicine, Nanjing Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine , Nanjing, China
| | - Anping Chen
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Saint Louis University , St Louis, USA
| | - Feng Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine , Nanjing, China.,Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Therapeutic Material of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine , Nanjing, China
| | - Shizhong Zheng
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine , Nanjing, China.,Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Therapeutic Material of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine , Nanjing, China
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20
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Bian M, He J, Jin H, Lian N, Shao J, Guo Q, Wang S, Zhang F, Zheng S. Oroxylin A induces apoptosis of activated hepatic stellate cells through endoplasmic reticulum stress. Apoptosis 2019; 24:905-920. [DOI: 10.1007/s10495-019-01568-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
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21
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Chen X, Bian M, Jin H, Lian N, Shao J, Zhang F, Zheng S. Dihydroartemisinin attenuates alcoholic fatty liver through regulation of lipin-1 signaling. IUBMB Life 2019; 71:1740-1750. [PMID: 31265202 DOI: 10.1002/iub.2113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2019] [Accepted: 06/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is generated from excessive alcohol consumption, characterized by hepatic steatosis. Mechanistically, excessive hepatic lipid accumulation was attributed to the aberrant lipin-1 signaling during the development of alcoholic steatosis in rodent species and human. Dihydroartemisinin (DHA) has been recently identified to relieve hepatocytes necrosis and prevent from hepatic steatosis in alcohol-induced liver diseases; however, the role of DHA in ALD has not been elucidated completely. Therefore, this study was aimed to further identify the potential mechanisms of pharmacological effects of DHA on ALD. Results demonstrated that DHA regulated the expression and nucleocytoplasmic shuttling of lipin-1 in mice with chronic ethanol exposure. Results confirmed that the disruption of lipin-1 signaling abolished the suppression of DHA on alcohol-induced hepatic steatosis. Interestingly, DHA also significantly improved liver injury, and inflammation mediated by lipin-1 signaling in chronic alcohol-fed mice. in vivo experiments further consolidated the concept that DHA protected against hepatocyte lipoapoptosis dependent on the regulation of nucleocytoplasmic shuttling of lipin-1 signaling, resulting in attenuated ratio of Lpin1 β/α. Obvious increases in cell apoptosis were observed in alcohol-treated lipin1β-overexpressed mice. Although DHA attenuated cell apoptosis, overexpression of lipin-1β neutralized DHA action. DHA ameliorated activation of endoplasmic reticulum stress through inhibiting activation of JNK and CHOP, which was abrogated by overexpression of lipin-1β. In summary, DHA significantly improved liver injury, steatosis and hepatocyte lipoapoptosis in chronic alcohol-fed mice via regulation of lipin-1 signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingran Chen
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Mianli Bian
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Huanhuan Jin
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, China
| | - Naqi Lian
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jiangjuan Shao
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.,Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Feng Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.,Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Shizhong Zheng
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.,Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
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22
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Yang YZ, Zhao XJ, Xu HJ, Wang SC, Pan Y, Wang SJ, Xu Q, Jiao RQ, Gu HM, Kong LD. Magnesium isoglycyrrhizinate ameliorates high fructose-induced liver fibrosis in rat by increasing miR-375-3p to suppress JAK2/STAT3 pathway and TGF-β1/Smad signaling. Acta Pharmacol Sin 2019; 40:879-894. [PMID: 30568253 DOI: 10.1038/s41401-018-0194-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2018] [Accepted: 11/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Increasing evidence has demonstrated that excessive fructose intake induces liver fibrosis. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) driven by transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1)/mothers against decapentaplegic homolog (Smad) signaling activation promotes the occurrence and development of liver fibrosis. Magnesium isoglycyrrhizinate is clinically used as a hepatoprotective agent to treat liver fibrosis, but its underlying molecular mechanism has not been identified. Using a rat model, we found that high fructose intake reduced microRNA (miR)-375-3p expression and activated the janus-activating kinase 2 (JAK2)/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) cascade and TGF-β1/Smad signaling, which is consistent with the EMT and liver fibrosis. To further verify these observations, BRL-3A cells and/or primary rat hepatocytes were exposed to high fructose and/or transfected with a miR-375-3p mimic or inhibitor or treated with a JAK2 inhibitor, and we found that the low expression of miR-375-3p could induce the JAK2/STAT3 pathway to activate TGF-β1/Smad signaling and promote the EMT. Magnesium isoglycyrrhizinate was found to ameliorate high fructose-induced EMT and liver fibrosis in rats. More importantly, magnesium isoglycyrrhizinate increased miR-375-3p expression to suppress the JAK2/STAT3 pathway and TGF-β1/Smad signaling in these animal and cell models. This study provides evidence showing that magnesium isoglycyrrhizinate attenuates liver fibrosis associated with a high fructose diet.
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23
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Yang Q, Zhang P, Liu T, Zhang X, Pan X, Cen Y, Liu Y, Zhang H, Chen X. Magnesium isoglycyrrhizinate ameliorates radiation-induced pulmonary fibrosis by inhibiting fibroblast differentiation via the p38MAPK/Akt/Nox4 pathway. Biomed Pharmacother 2019; 115:108955. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2019.108955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2019] [Revised: 04/26/2019] [Accepted: 05/03/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
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24
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Natural products in licorice for the therapy of liver diseases: Progress and future opportunities. Pharmacol Res 2019; 144:210-226. [PMID: 31022523 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2019.04.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 159] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2019] [Revised: 04/18/2019] [Accepted: 04/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Liver diseases related complications represent a significant source of morbidity and mortality worldwide, creating a substantial economic burden. Oxidative stress, excessive inflammation, and dysregulated energy metabolism significantly contributed to liver diseases. Therefore, discovery of novel therapeutic drugs for the treatment of liver diseases are urgently required. Licorice is one of the most commonly used herbal drugs in Traditional Chinese Medicine for the treatment of liver diseases and drug-induced liver injury (DILI). Various bioactive components have been isolated and identified from the licorice, including glycyrrhizin, glycyrrhetinic acid, liquiritigenin, Isoliquiritigenin, licochalcone A, and glycycoumarin. Emerging evidence suggested that these natural products relieved liver diseases and prevented DILI through multi-targeting therapeutic mechanisms, including anti-steatosis, anti-oxidative stress, anti-inflammation, immunoregulation, anti-fibrosis, anti-cancer, and drug-drug interactions. In the current review, we summarized the recent progress in the research of hepatoprotective and toxic effects of different licorice-derived bioactive ingredients and also highlighted the potency of these compounds as promising therapeutic options for the treatment of liver diseases and DILI. We also outlined the networks of underlying molecular signaling pathways. Further pharmacology and toxicology research will contribute to the development of natural products in licorice and their derivatives as medicines with alluring prospect in the clinical application.
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25
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Tee JK, Peng F, Tan YL, Yu B, Ho HK. Magnesium Isoglycyrrhizinate Ameliorates Fibrosis and Disrupts TGF-β-Mediated SMAD Pathway in Activated Hepatic Stellate Cell Line LX2. Front Pharmacol 2018; 9:1018. [PMID: 30319402 PMCID: PMC6167412 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2018.01018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2018] [Accepted: 08/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Liver fibrosis is a histological change often attributed to the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and the excessive formation of scar tissues in the liver. Advanced stages of the disease frequently lead to cirrhosis. Magnesium isoglycyrrhizinate (MgIG) has been accepted as a hepatoprotective drug with the potential of alleviating inflammatory conditions and thus promote liver recovery from viral- or drug-induced injury. While MgIG has been empirically integrated into the clinics to treat some liver diseases, its anti-fibrotic effect and the associated mechanisms remain poorly characterized. Herein, we demonstrated that 1 mg/ml MgIG attenuated the production of αSMA and collagen-1 in activated HSCs using TGF-β1-induced human HSCs LX2 as the fibrotic cell model. We found that MgIG exerts an inhibitory effect on the TGF-β-SMAD signaling pathway by arresting the binding of downstream transcription factors SMAD2/3 and SMAD4. Furthermore, MgIG was shown to suppress proliferation and induce senescence of activated LX2 cells. Protein expression of p27 and enzymatic activity of senescence-associated β-galactosidase were elevated upon exposure to MgIG. In addition, we observed that exposure of activated LX2 cells to MgIG reduces TGF-β-induced apoptosis. Interestingly, a lower toxicity profile was observed when human fetal hepatocytes LO2 were exposed to the same concentration and duration of the drug, suggesting the specificity of MgIG effect toward activated HSCs. Overall, hepatoprotective concentrations of MgIG is shown to exert a direct effect on liver fibrosis through inhibiting TGF-β-signaling, in which SMAD2/3 pathway could be one of the mechanisms responsible for the fibrotic response, thereby restoring the surviving cells toward a more quiescent phenotype. This provides critical mechanistic insights to support an otherwise empirical therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Kai Tee
- NUS Graduate School for Integrative Sciences and Engineering, Centre for Life Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.,Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Fei Peng
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Yeong Lan Tan
- NUS Graduate School for Integrative Sciences and Engineering, Centre for Life Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.,Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Bo Yu
- Department of Pharmacy, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China
| | - Han Kiat Ho
- NUS Graduate School for Integrative Sciences and Engineering, Centre for Life Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.,Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
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26
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The inhibition of Hippo/Yap signaling pathway is required for magnesium isoglycyrrhizinate to ameliorate hepatic stellate cell inflammation and activation. Biomed Pharmacother 2018; 106:83-91. [PMID: 29957470 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2018.06.102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2018] [Revised: 06/17/2018] [Accepted: 06/18/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Liver fibrosis is a reversible pathological process accompanied by abnormal inflammation, and its end-stage cirrhosis is responsible for high morbidity and mortality worldwide. This study was to investigate the effect of Magnesium isoglycyrrhizinate (MgIG) on liver fibrosis and inflammation, and to further clarify molecular mechanism. We found that MgIG treatment significantly alleviated carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver fibrosis and HSC activation by regulating TGF-β signaling and MMP/TIMP systems. In addition, MgIG treatment significantly inhibited the inflammatory response of liver fibrosis in mice characterized by reduced pro-inflammatory factors expression and increased anti-inflammatory factors expression. Interestingly, experiments in vitro also showed that MgIG treatment significantly reduced the expression of hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation markers. Besides, MgIG treatment not only inhibited the expression of pro-inflammatory factors, but also promoted the production of anti-inflammatory factors in activated HSCs. Importantly, treatment with MgIG inhibited Hippo/Yap signaling pathway, which was a potential mechanism for MgIG-induced anti-inflammatory effects. The overexpression of Hippo/Yap signaling effector YAP completely impaired MgIG-induced anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic effects. Taken together, these results provide novel implications to reveal the molecular mechanism of the anti-inflammatory properties induced by MgIG, by which points to the possibility of using MgIG to treat liver fibrosis.
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27
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Sui M, Jiang X, Chen J, Yang H, Zhu Y. Magnesium isoglycyrrhizinate ameliorates liver fibrosis and hepatic stellate cell activation by regulating ferroptosis signaling pathway. Biomed Pharmacother 2018; 106:125-133. [PMID: 29957462 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2018.06.060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2018] [Revised: 06/11/2018] [Accepted: 06/13/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Ferroptosis is recently reported as a new mode of regulated cell death. It is triggered by disturbed redox homeostasis, overloaded iron and increased lipid peroxidation. Howerver, the role of ferroptosis in hepatic fibrosis remains obscure. In the current study, we attempted to investigate the effect of Magnesium isoglycyrrhizinate (MgIG) on ferroptosis in liver fibrosis, and to further clarify the possible mechanisms. Our data showed that MgIG treatment markedly attenuated liver injury and reduced fibrotic scar formation in the rat model of liver fibrosis. Moreover, experiments in vitro also confirmed that MgIG treatment significantly decreased expression of hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation markers. Interestingly, HSCs treated by MgIG presented morphological features of ferroptosis. Furthermore, MgIG treatment remarkably induced HSC ferroptosis by promoting the accumulation of iron and lipid peroxides, whereas inhibition of ferroptosis by specific inhibitor ferrostatin-1 (Fer-1) completely abolished MgIG-induced anti-fibrosis effect. More importantly, our results determined that heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) was in the upstream position of MgIG-induced HSC ferroptosis. Conversely, HO-1 knockdown by siRNA evidently blocked MgIG-induced HSC ferroptosis and in turn exacerbated liver fibrosis. Overall, our research revealed that HO-1 mediated HSC ferroptosis was necessary for MgIG to ameliorate CCl4-induced hepatic fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miao Sui
- Xuzhou Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Xuzhou 221009, China
| | - Xiaofei Jiang
- Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Jun Chen
- Xuzhou Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Xuzhou 221009, China.
| | - Haiyan Yang
- Xuzhou Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Xuzhou 221009, China
| | - Yan Zhu
- Xuzhou Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Xuzhou 221009, China
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