Paeonol ameliorates monosodium urate-induced arthritis in rats through inhibiting nuclear factor-κB-mediated proinflammatory cytokine production

Traditional herbal medicine: Therapeutic potential in acute gouty arthritis

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Acute gouty arthritis (AGA) is characterized by a rapid inflammatory reaction caused by the build-up of monosodium urate (MSU) crystals in the tissues surrounding the joints. This condition often associated with hyperuricemia (HUA), is distinguished by its symptoms of intense pain, active inflammation, and swelling of the joints. Traditional approaches in AGA management often fall short of desired outcomes in clinical settings. However, recent ethnopharmacological investigations have been focusing on the potential of Traditional Herbal Medicine (THM) in various forms, exploring their therapeutic impact and targets in AGA treatment.

AIM OF THE REVIEW

This review briefly summarizes the current potential pharmacological mechanisms of THMs - including active ingredients, extracts, and prescriptions -in the treatment of AGA, and discusses the relevant potential mechanisms and molecular targets in depth. The objective of this study is to offer extensive information and a reference point for the exploration of targeted AGA treatment using THMs.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This review obtained scientific publications focused on in vitro and in vivo studies of anti-AGA THMs conducted between 2013 and 2023. The literature was collected from various journals and electronic databases, including PubMed, Elsevier, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. The retrieval and analysis of relevant articles were guided by keywords such as "acute gouty arthritis and Chinese herbal medicine," "acute gouty arthritis herbal prescription," "acute gouty arthritis and immune cells," "acute gouty arthritis and inflammation," "acute gouty arthritis and NOD-like receptor thermoprotein domain associated protein 3 (NLRP3)," "acute gouty arthritis and miRNA," and "acute gouty arthritis and oxidative stress."

RESULTS

We found that AGA has a large number of therapeutic targets, highlighting the effectiveness the potential of THMs in AGA treatment through in vitro and in vivo studies. THMs and their active ingredients can mitigate AGA symptoms through a variety of therapeutic targets, such as influencing macrophage polarization, neutrophils, T cells, natural killer (NK) cells, and addressing factors like inflammation, NLRP3 inflammasome, signaling pathways, oxidative stress, and miRNA multi-target interactions. The anti-AGA properties of THMs, including their active components and prescriptions, were systematically summarized and categorized based on their respective therapeutic targets.

CONCLUSION

phenolic, flavonoid, terpenoid and alkaloid compounds in THMs are considered the key ingredients to improve AGA. THMs and their active ingredients achieve enhanced efficacy through interactions with multiple targets, of which NLRP3 is a main therapeutic target. Nonetheless, given the intricate composition of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), additional research is required to unravel the underlying mechanisms and molecular targets through which THMs alleviate AGA.

Effect and mechanism of aqueous extract of Chinese herbal prescription (TFK) in treating gout arthritis

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

With the rapid development of China's economic level, great changes have taken place in people's diet structure, gout has become a common disease that puzzles people's health, seriously affects the realization of China's "Healthy China" strategic goal. Gouty arthritis (GA) is a common joint disease caused by chronic purine metabolism disorder. Currently, drugs used to treat GA are allopurinol and colchicine. However, these drugs can only temporarily relieve the clinical symptoms of GA with significant side effects. More and more basic and clinical studies have confirmed that Traditional Chinese medicine has definite curative effect on GA.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To elucidate the potential molecular mechanism of Tongfengkang (TFK) in the treatment of GA, and to provide experimental basis for the search and development of efficient and low-toxicity Chinese medicine for GA treatment.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Aqueous extract of TFK (AETFK) were determined by liquid phase high resolution mass spectrometry and the possible effective constituents were screened out. Acute GA model rats were established to detect the anti-inflammatory and detumification effects of AETFK on GA and explore the potential mechanism. The effect of AETFK on serum uric acid and urinary uric acid levels in acute GA rats was determined by automatic biochemical analyzer, and the effect of AETFK on the expression of acute GA-related immunoinflammatory factors were determined by protein thermal fluorescence chip. The effect of AETFK on the concentration of neutrophils in the joint fluid of acute GA rats were determined by Reichs-Giemsa staining. The effect of AETFK on macrophage activation was detected by ELISA. In order to further investigate the mechanism of AETFK in the treatment of GA, a rat model of hyperuricemia was established to detect the effect of AETFK on the level of uric acid in hyperuricemia model rats. Biochemical indexes of liver and kidney and hematoxylin-eosin staining (HE) were used to evaluate the effects of AETFK on the organs, and to preliminatively evaluate the safety of ventilation confufang.

RESULTS

Compared with the model group, the joint swelling degree of GA rats in AETFK treatment group were significantly reduced, and the levels of blood uric acid and urine uric acid were also significantly decreased. Protein thermal fluorescence microarray results showed that the levels of gout - related inflammatory factors in GA rats in AETFK treatment group were significantly lower than those in control group. Reichsen-giemsa staining and ELISA showed that AETFK could reduce the activation of macrophages and the accumulation of neutrophils in the joint fluid. The results of liver and kidney biochemical indexes and HE staining showed that no obvious tissue damage was observed in the organs of rats treated with AETFK.

CONCLUSIONS

AETFK not only has significant anti-inflammatory effects on GA, but also can significantly reduce the level of blood uric acid in GA rats, without obvious toxic and side effects. These effects may be related to AETFK's inhibition of neutrophil enrichment and macrophage activation during early inflammation.

Exploring effect of herbal monomers in treating gouty arthritis based on nuclear factor-kappa B signaling: A review

Gouty arthritis (GA) is an inflammatory disease caused by disorders of the purine metabolism. Although increasing number of drugs have been used to treat GA with the deepening of relevant research, GA still cannot be cured by simple drug therapy. The nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway plays a key role in the pathogenesis of GA. A considerable number of Chinese herbal medicines have emerged as new drugs for the treatment of GA. This article collected relevant research on traditional Chinese medicine monomers in the treatment of GA using NF-κB, GA, etc. as keywords; and conducted a systematic search of relevant published articles using the PubMed database. In this study, we analyzed the therapeutic effects of traditional Chinese medicine monomers on GA in the existing literature through in vivo and in vitro experiments using animal and cell models. Based on this review, we believe that traditional Chinese medicine monomers that can treat GA through the NF-κB signaling pathway are potential new drug development targets. This study provides research ideas for the development and application of new drugs for GA.

Protective mechanism of Paeonol on central nervous system

Cerebrovascular diseases involve neuronal damage, resulting in degenerative neuropathy and posing a serious threat to human health. The discovery of effective drug components from natural plants and the study of their mechanism are a research idea different from chemical synthetic medicines. Paeonol is the main active component of traditional Chinese medicine Paeonia lactiflora Pall. It widely exists in many medicinal plants and has pharmacological effects such as anti-atherosclerosis, antiplatelet aggregation, anti-oxidation, and anti-inflammatory, which keeps generally used in the treatment of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Based on the therapeutic effects of Paeonol for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, this article reviewed the pharmacological effects of Paeonol in Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, stroke, epilepsy, diabetes encephalopathy, and other neurological diseases, providing a reference for the research of the mechanism of Paeonol in central nervous system diseases.

Trained immunity in monocyte/macrophage: Novel mechanism of phytochemicals in the treatment of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease

Atherosclerosis (AS) is the pathology of atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (ASCVD), characterized by persistent chronic inflammation in the vessel wall, in which monocytes/macrophages play a key role. It has been reported that innate immune system cells can assume a persistent proinflammatory state after short stimulation with endogenous atherogenic stimuli. The pathogenesis of AS can be influenced by this persistent hyperactivation of the innate immune system, which is termed trained immunity. Trained immunity has also been implicated as a key pathological mechanism, leading to persistent chronic inflammation in AS. Trained immunity is mediated via epigenetic and metabolic reprogramming and occurs in mature innate immune cells and their bone marrow progenitors. Natural products are promising candidates for novel pharmacological agents that can be used to prevent or treat cardiovascular diseases (CVD). A variety of natural products and agents exhibiting antiatherosclerotic abilities have been reported to potentially interfere with the pharmacological targets of trained immunity. This review describes in as much detail as possible the mechanisms involved in trained immunity and how phytochemicals of this process inhibit AS by affecting trained monocytes/macrophages.

Research on the effect and underlying molecular mechanism of Cangzhu in the treatment of gouty arthritis

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to identify the active ingredients and elucidate the underlying mechanism of action of Atractylodes lancea (Thunb.) DC (namely, Cangzhu) for the treatment of gouty arthritis (GA) based on network pharmacology methods. These findings are expected to provide a theoretical basis for the clinical treatment of GA.

METHODS

We used monosodium urate (MSU)-induced GA rats as a model to test the overall efficacy of Cangzhu in vivo. Then, the components of the Cangzhu decoction were analyzed and identified, and we screened the active ingredients and their targets. The GA disease targets were predicted by GeneCards and Disgenet databases and found to overlap in both databases. The STRING database was used to construct a protein-protein interaction network, followed by identification of the hub genes using Network Analyzer. Thereafter, Cytoscape software (version 3.8.2) was applied to construct a network for drug-active ingredient-key targets. Next, we applied cluego, a plug-in of Cytoscape, to perform gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) signal pathway enrichment analyses. Additionally, molecular docking was used to verify the characteristics of the key candidate components interacting with the hub therapeutic targets. Finally, we established an inflammatory injury model of LPS using RAW264.7 macrophages and used it to experimentally validate the critical active ingredients.

RESULTS

Cangzhu effectively protected against gouty arthritis in vivo, and network pharmacology results revealed various active ingredients in Cangzhu, such as wogonin, atractylenolide I and atractylenolide II. These compounds were found to act on 16 hub targets, including tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin 6 (IL-6), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2 (PTGS2), recombinant mitogen-activated protein kinase 14 (MAPK14) and transcription factor p65 (RELA), which have significant effects on regulating inflammatory factors and apoptosis-related pathways to improve the proinflammatory or anti-inflammatory imbalance in the body, and this may be one of the underlying mechanisms of Cangzhu in anti-GA.

CONCLUSION

Our findings revealed that Cangzhu comprises multiple active components that exert various targeted effects during GA treatment. These findings provide relevant insights to illuminate the mechanism of Cangzhu in the treatment of GA and provide a reference for further experimental research.

Paeonol inhibits inflammatory response and protects chondrocytes by upregulating sirtuin 1

Paeonol is the bioactive component in Paeonia lactiflora Pall., Cynanchum paniculatum and Paeonia × suffruticosa Andr. Paeonol has been previously demonstrated to inhibit the release of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and interluekin 6 (IL-6) in chondrocytes. Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) is downregulated in degraded cartilage and paeonol could induce nuclear accumulation of SIRT1. Therefore, the present study aims to investigate the possible role of paeonol in chondrocyte inflammation and cartilage protection in osteoarthritis (OA) as well as its regulation of SIRT1. Primary chondrocytes from rat knee joints were transfected with short hairpin (sh) - SIRT1 and (or) paeonol prior to IL-1β exposure, and then inflammatory response, apoptosis, and extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation in the cells were evaluated concurrent with the activation of the nuclear factor κβ (NF-κβ) signaling pathway. Increased levels of TNF-α, IL-17, IL-6, matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MMP-1), MMP-3, and MMP-13 along with decreased tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 1 and type II collagen levels were found in IL-1β-stimulated chondrocytes. Chondrocyte apoptosis was elevated and the NF-κβ signaling pathway was activated in response to IL-1β treatment. Paeonol enhanced SIRT1 expression to inactivate the NF-κβ signaling pathway, thereby ameliorating inflammatory cytokine secretion, ECM degradation, and chondrocyte apoptosis. In conclusion, the results of the present study confirm the potential of paeonol as a candidate OA drug.

Guizhi-Shaoyao-Zhimu decoction attenuates monosodium urate crystal-induced inflammation through inactivation of NF-κB and NLRP3 inflammasome

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Guizhi-Shaoyao-Zhimu decoction (GSZD), a classical traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) prescription, is used empirically to treat various types of arthritis in TCM clinical practice. However, the underlying mechanisms of GSZD on gouty inflammation are not totally elucidated.

AIM OF STUDY

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of GSZD on peritoneal recruitment of neutrophils, production of proinflammatory mediators, activations of nuclear factor (NF)-κB and nucleotide oligomerization domain-like receptor protein-3 (NLRP3) inflammasome in mice with monosodium urate crystal (MSU)-induced peritonitis (MIP).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Mice were intragastrically administered with GSZD for 7 days. After the last administration, mice were intraperitoneally injected with MSU. Peritoneal exudates of mice were harvested, and total peritoneal cells were calculated. Levels of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6 and monocyte chemotactic protein (MCP)-1 in peritoneal exudates were tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Expressions of IL-1β, NLRP3, cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase (caspase)-1, apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing the caspase activation and recruitment domain (ASC), phosphorylated (p)-p65, inhibitor of NF-κB (IκB)α, p-IκB kinase (IKK)β, nuclear p65, p-mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) in peritoneal cells were analyzed by Western blot. Binding activity of NF-κB to DNA was measured by a Trans AM™ kit for p65. Interaction between ASC and pro-caspase-1 was assessed by co-immunoprecipitation assay.

RESULTS

Total peritoneal cells, levels of IL-1β, IL-6 and MCP-1 were significantly reduced by GSZD treatment in peritoneal exudates of MIP mice. As for the activation of NF-κB, GSZD treatment significantly reduced the levels of p-p65, p-IKKβ, nuclear p65 and p-MAPKs, enhanced the level of IκBα and abated the binding ability of NF-κB to DNA in peritoneal cells of MIP mice. As for the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome, GSZD treatment significantly reduced the levels of IL-1β, NLRP3 and caspase-1, and alleviated the interaction between ASC and pro-caspase-1 in peritoneal cells of MIP mice. Nevertheless, GSZD didn't remarkably change the level of ASC.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that GSZD attenuates the MSU-induced inflammation through inhibiting the activations of NF-κB and NLRP3 inflammasome.

Paeonol reduces IL-β production by inhibiting the activation of nucleotide oligomerization domain-like receptor protein-3 inflammasome and nuclear factor-κB in macrophages

Interleukin-1β, a key cytokine in gouty inflammation, is precisely regulated by the NLRP3 inflammasome and NF-κB. Our previous study demonstrated that paeonol suppressed IL-1β production in rats with monosodium urate (MSU)-induced arthritis. Whether NLRP3 inflammasome or NF-κB is responsible for the anti-inflammatory effect of paeonol remains unclear. In this study, J774A.1 cells induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) plus MSU, was used to investigate the effect of paeonol on NLRP3 inflammasome activation, and J774A.1 cells induced by LPS alone were used to investigate the effect of paeonol on NF-κB activation. In J774A.1 cells induced by LPS plus MSU, paeonol decreased the levels of IL-1β and caspase-1 and reduced the MSU-induced interaction of pro-caspase-1 and apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing caspase recruitment domain (ASC), but did not affect the levels of pro-IL-1β and pro-caspase-1. In J774A.1 cells induced by LPS alone, paeonol reduced the levels of IL-1β, NLRP3, p-IKK, p-IκBα, and p-p65, but did not affect ASC levels. Paeonol also promoted the content of IκBα and retained more p65 in the cytoplasm. Furthermore, paeonol reduced the DNA-binding activity of p65 and lowered the levels of p-JNK, p-ERK, and p-p38. These results suggest that paeonol inhibits IL-1β production by inhibiting the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome, NF-κB, and MAPK signaling pathways.

Advances in Experimental and Clinical Research of the Gouty Arthritis Treatment with Traditional Chinese Medicine

Gouty arthritis (GA) is a multifactorial disease whose pathogenesis is utterly complex, and the current clinical treatment methods cannot wholly prevent GA development. Western medicine is the primary treatment strategy for gouty arthritis, but it owns an unfavorable prognosis. Therefore, the prevention and treatment of GA are essential. In China, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been adopted for GA prevention and treatment for thousands of years. Gout patients are usually treated with TCM according to their different conditions, and long-term results can be achieved by improving their physical condition. And TCM has been proved to be an effective method to treat gout in modern China. Nevertheless, the pharmacological mechanism of TCM for gout is still unclear, which limits its spread. The theory of prevention and treatment of gout with TCM is more well acknowledged in China than in abroad. In this article, Chinese herbs and ancient formula for gout were summarized first. A total of more than 570 studies published from 2004 to June 2021 in PubMed, Medline, CNKI, VIP, Web of Science databases and Chinese Pharmacopoeia and traditional Chinese books were searched; the current status of TCM in the treatment of GA was summarized from the following aspects: articular chondrocyte apoptosis inhibition, antioxidative stress response, inflammatory cytokine levels regulation, uric acid excretion promotion, immune function regulation, uric acid reduction, and intestinal flora improvement in subjects with gout. The literature review concluded that TCM has a specific curative effect on the prevention and treatment of GA, particularly when combined with modern medical approaches. However, lacking a uniform definition of GA syndrome differentiation and the support of evidence-based medicine in clinical practice have provoked considerable concern in previous studies, which needs to be addressed in future research.

Long non-coding RNA MEG3 promotes cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity through regulating AKT/TSC/mTOR-mediated autophagy

Cis-Diamminedichloroplatinum (II) (DDP)-induced nephrotoxicity (DDPIN) may cause irreversible renal injury associated with high morbidity and mortality. Current standard therapies have not achieved satisfactory clinical outcomes due to unclear molecular and cellular mechanisms. Therefore, exploring potential therapies on DDPIN represents an urgent medical need. Present study characterized the role of lncRNA maternally expressed gene 3 (lnc-MEG3) in the pathogenesis of DDPIN. In both in vitro and in murine models of DDP-induced nephrotoxicity, lnc-MEG3 exacerbated DDPIN by negatively regulating miRNA-126 subsequently causing a decreased AKT/TSC/mTOR-mediated autophagy. By silencing lnc-MEG3 or incorporating miRNA-126 mimetics, the proliferation and migration of DDP-treated cells were restored. In vivo, we identified Paeonol to alleviate DDPIN by the inhibition of lnc-MEG3. Taken together, lnc-MEG3 represents a novel therapeutic target for DDPIN and Paeonol may serve as a promising treatment by inhibiting lnc-MEG3 and its related signaling pathways.

Paeonol inhibits human lung cancer cell viability and metastasis in vitro via miR-126-5p/ZEB2 axis

Paeonol exerted an effect in lung cancer, but the underlying mechanism remained vague. In this research, we assessed the effects of Paeonol and microRNA (miR)-126-5p on the viability, migration, invasion, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of lung cancer cells. Lung cancer cells and BEAS-2B cells were treated with Paeonol, and viability was detected by 3-(4,5)-dimethylthiahiazo (-z-y1)-3,5-di- phenytetrazoliumromide (MTT) assay. The migration and invasion of lung cancer cells after treatment with Paeonol at 40 μg/mL or 80 μg/mL were detected by wound healing assay and Transwell assay, respectively. The effects of Paeonol on transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1)-induced EMT and relative expressions of EMT-related proteins were determined using Western blot. The target gene of miR-126-5p and the binding sites between them were predicted by TargetScan, and confirmed using dual-luciferase reporter assay. Relative expressions of miR-126-5p, its target gene and EMT-related proteins were determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blot. Rescue assay was performed to analyze the relation between Paeonol and miR-126-5p. Paeonol down-regulated cell viability and inhibited migration, invasion and TGF-β1-induced EMT while up-regulating miR-126-5p expression in lung cancer cells as the dose increased. However, miR-126-5p inhibitor could reverse the effect of Paeonol. ZEB2 was the target gene of miR-126-5p, and silencing ZEB2 expression reversed the effects of miR-126-5p downregulation. Paeonol also regulated the expression of ZEB2 in lung cancer cells, and this regulation depends on the regulation of miR-126-5p. Paeonol inhibits human lung cancer cell viability and metastasis via the miR-126-5p/ZEB2 axis, and could be adopted as a potential agent for lung cancer treatment.

Exploring targets and signaling pathways of paeonol involved in relieving inflammation based on modern technology

Paeonol, derived from natural plants (Moutan Cortex), has a wide range of biological effects, including anti-inflammatory and antitumor effects as well as favorable effects against cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. The anti-inflammatory action is the main pharmacological activity of paeonol and has the greatest clinical relevance. However, the anti-inflammatory mechanism of paeonol has not been reported in sufficient detail. We systematically analyzed the anti-inflammatory mechanism of paeonol using network pharmacological databases and platforms, including TCMSP, Swiss TargetPrediction, OMIM, DrugBank, TTD, Jevnn, STRING11.0, and Metascape. Furthermore, we used high-throughput molecular docking method to prove the results of the above analyses, providing a reference for exploring the mechanism of paeonol and developing targeted drugs.

Paeonol for the Treatment of Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease: A Pharmacological and Mechanistic Overview

With improvement in living standards and average life expectancy, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease incidences and mortality have been increasing annually. Paeonia suffruticosa, a natural herb, has been used for the treatment of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease for thousands of years in Eastern countries. Paeonol is an active ingredient extracted from Paeonia suffruticosa. Previous studies have extensively explored the clinical benefits of paeonol. However, comprehensive reviews on the cardiovascular protective effects of paeonol have not been conducted. The current review summarizes studies reporting on the protective effects of paeonol on the cardiovascular system. This study includes studies published in the last 10 years. The biological characteristics of Paeonia suffruticosa, pharmacological mechanisms of paeonol, and its toxicological and pharmacokinetic characteristics were explored. The findings of this study show that paeonol confers protection against atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease through various mechanisms, including inflammation, platelet aggregation, lipid metabolism, mitochondria damage, endoplasmic reticulum stress, autophagy, and non-coding RNA. Further studies should be conducted to elucidate the cardiovascular benefits of paeonol.

Simiao Wan attenuates monosodium urate crystal-induced arthritis in rats through contributing to macrophage M2 polarization

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Simiao Wan (SMW) is a classical traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) prescription to empirically treat gouty arthritis (GA) in TCM clinical practice. However, the potential mechanisms of SMW on GA are not fully evaluated.

AIM OF STUDY

The aim of this study is to investigate the role of macrophage polarization in the anti-GA activity of SMW.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Rats were intragastricly treated with SMW for consecutive 7 days. On day 6, monosodium urate (MSU) crystal-induced arthritis (MIA) in the ankle joint was prepared. Paw volume, gait score and histological score were measured. Levels of interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-10 in serum were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Expressions of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), arginase (Arg)-1, phosphorylated (p)-p65, inhibitor of nuclear factor (NF)-κB (IκB)α, p-signal transducer and transcription activator (STAT)3 and p-Janus kinase (JAK)2 in synovial tissues were determined by Western blot.

RESULTS

The elevated paw volume, gait score and histological score in MIA rats were significantly decreased by SMW treatment. Meanwhile, SMW significantly decreased the IL-1β level and increased the IL-10 level in serum of MIA rats. Furthermore, SMW reduced the expressions of iNOS, p-p65 and enhanced the expressions of Arg-1, IκBα, p-STAT3 and p-JAK2 in synovial tissues of MIA rats.

CONCLUSIONS

The results suggest that SMW attenuates the inflammation in MIA rats through promoting macrophage M2 polarization.

MiR-223-3p inhibits inflammation and pyroptosis in monosodium urate-induced rats and fibroblast-like synoviocytes by targeting NLRP3

Down-regulated miR-223-3p was found in rheumatoid arthritis. This study aimed to further explore the level and role of miR-223-3p in gout arthritis (GA). After monosodium urate (MSU)-induced GA rat and fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs) models were established, the rat paw volume and gait score were documented and the FLSs were transfected with miR-223-3p mimic/inhibitor or NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) over-expression plasmids. The MiR-223-3p target was found through bioinformatics and the dual-luciferase reporter. The rat joint pathological damage was observed by hematoxylin and eosin staining. The levels of interleukin (IL)-1β, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and articular elastase in rats were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The viability and pyroptosis of FLSs were detected by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) and flow cytometry. The expressions of miR-223-3p, NLRP3, cleaved caspase-1, IL-1β, apoptosis-associated speck-like protein (AS) and cleaved N-terminal gasdermin D (GSDMD) in FLSs or rat synovial tissues were detected by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), immunofluorescence, Western blot or immunohistochemistry analysis. MSU increased the paw volume, gait score, inflammation in synovial tissues and increased the levels of IL-1β, TNF-α and articular elastase in rats. MSU decreased the viability and increased the pyroptosis of FLSs, up-regulated the expression of NLRP3, ASC, cleaved caspase-1, cleaved N-terminal GSDM, and IL-1β, and down-regulated miR-223-3p expression in synovial tissues of rat joints and FLSs. MiR-223-3p mimic reversed the effect of MSU on lowering cell viability, increasing pyroptosis in FLSs, while miR-223-3p inhibitor further enhanced the effect of MSU on FLSs. NLRP3 was a target of miR-223-3p. Also, NLRP3 over-expression reversed the effects of miR-223-3p on MSU-induced FLSs. MiR-223-3p inhibited pyroptosis in MSU-induced rats and FLSs by targeting NLRP3.

Paeonol protects melanocytes against hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative stress through activation of Nrf2 signaling pathway

Oxidative stress plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of vitiligo. Paeonol, a phenolic compound found in the root bark of Cortex Moutan, has been suggested to have therapeutic effects on various diseases through nuclear factor Nrf2 mediated antioxidant pathways. However, the therapeutic effects of paeonol on vitiligo have not been investigated. In this study, we investigated whether paeonol could protect melanocytes against oxidative stress through Nrf2 activation. Hydrogen peroxide (H₂ O₂ ) was used to mimic the oxidative stress. PIG1 cells were pretreated with paeonol for 24 h, and then were treated with H₂ O₂ for 24 h. To detect the role of Nrf2, siRNA method was used to knockdown the Nrf2 expression. After that, cell viability, melanin content, tyrosinase activity, intracellular reactive oxygen species, antioxidant enzymes activities, nuclear translocation of Nrf2, and mRNA expression of Nrf2 downstream antioxidant genes were detected. Paeonol improved cell viability and melanogenesis in PIG1 cells treated with H₂ O₂ . Paeonol also alleviated oxidative stress by restoring the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase. Paeonol promoted Nrf2 nuclear translocation and the expression of its downstream-regulated antioxidative genes under oxidative stress. Furthermore, Nrf2 knockdown by siRNA abolished the protective effects of paeonol on PIG1 cells against oxidative damage. Paeonol protected melanocytes against H₂ O₂ -induced oxidative stress by Nrf2 mediated antioxidant pathways. Paeonol is a potential therapeutic drug for vitiligo.

Exploration of the mechanism of Zisheng Shenqi decoction against gout arthritis using network pharmacology

BACKGROUND

In this study, the network pharmacological methods were used to predict the target of effective components of compounds in Zisheng Shenqi Decoction (ZSD, or Nourishing Kidney Qi Decoction) in the treatment of gouty arthritis (GA).

METHOD

The main effective components and corresponding key targets of herbs in the ZSD were discerned through the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis (TCMSP), Bioinformatics Analysis Tool for Molecular mechanism of Traditional Chinese Medicine (BATMAN-TCM) database. UniProt database and Swiss Target Prediction (STP) database was used to rectify and unify the target names and supply the target information. The targets related to GA were obtained by using GeneCards database. After we discovered the potential common targets between ZSD and GA, the interaction network diagram of "ZSD-component-GA-target" was constructed by Cytoscape software (Version 3.7.1). Subsequently, the Protein-protein interaction (PPI) network of ZSD effective components-targets and GA-related targets was constructed by Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes Database (STRING). Bioconductor package "org.Hs.eg.db" and "cluster profiler" package were installed in R software (Version 3.6.0) which used for Gene Ontology analysis and KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) pathway enrichment analysis.

RESULTS

146 components and 613 targets of 11 herbal medicines in the ZSD were got from TCMSP database and BATMAN-TCM database. 987 targets of GA were obtained from GeneCards database. After intersected and removed duplications, 132 common targets between ZSD and GA were screened out by Cytoscape software (Version 3.7.1). These common targets derived from 81 effective components of 146 components, such as quercetin, stigmasterol and kaempferol. They were closely related to anti-inflammatory, analgesic and anti oxidative stress and the principal targets comprised of Purinergic receptor P2X, ligand-gated ion channel 7 (P2x7R), Nod-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) and IL-1β. GO enrichment analysis and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis by R software (Version 3.6.0) showed that the key target genes had close relationship with oxidative stress, reactive oxygen species (ROS) metabolic process and leukocyte migration in aspects of biological process, cell components and molecular function. It also indicated that ZSD could decrease inflammatory reaction, alleviate ROS accumulation and attenuate pain by regulating P2 × 7R and NOD like receptor signaling pathway of inflammatory reaction.

CONCLUSION

A total of 81 effective components and 132 common target genes between ZSD and GA were screened by network pharmacology. The PPI network, GO enrichment analysis and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis suggested that ZSD can exerte anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects on the treatment of GA by reducing decreasing inflammatory reaction, alleviating ROS accumulation, and attenuating pain. The possible molecular mechanism of it mainly involved multiple components, multiple targets and multiple signaling pathways, which provided a comprehensive understanding for further study. In general, the network pharmacological method applied in this study provides an alternative strategy for the mechanism of ZSD in the treatment of GA.

Chemical Fingerprinting and Quantitative Analysis of Cortex Moutan From Different Tree Peony Cultivars Using HPLC-ESI/MS

To evaluate the relationship between tree peony cultivars and the quality consistency of Cortex Moutan, a sensitive, reliable, and validated method based on high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization/mass spectrometry was developed for the quantitative analysis of paeonol and chemical fingerprinting of Cortex Moutan. Results from quantitative analysis showed that the content of paeonol in Paeonia ostii “Feng Dan” was the highest (24.51 ± 0.83 mg/g), followed by Paeonia suffruticosa “Luoyang Hong” (14.29 ± 0.76 mg/g), P. suffruticosa “Taiping Hong” (13.99±1.13 mg/g), and P. suffruticosa “Zhaofen” (13.08±0.85 mg/g). Paeonia ostii “Luoyang Feng Dan” was found to have the lowest content (8.76±0.46 mg/g) of paeonol. In qualitative analysis, 5 tree peony cultivars collected from different plantations in China were used to establish the fingerprint. For the fingerprint analysis, 17 characteristic peaks were used to evaluate similarities among tree peony cultivars, and they were found to show similarities. In short, the results of quantitative and qualitative analyses suggested that there was no significant difference in the chemical composition of Cortex Moutan from different tree peony varieties; however, there were significant differences in the levels of chemical components. The method developed in this study provides an important reference to establish a quality control method for other related traditional Chinese medicinal preparations.

Anti-inflammatory and anti-gouty-arthritic effect of free Ginsenoside Rb1 and nano Ginsenoside Rb1 against MSU induced gouty arthritis in experimental animals

Ginsenoside Rb1 (GsRb1) is the best constituent of ginseng and although it shows clinical efficacy as an antineoplastic, antioxidative and antirheumatic agent, its oral bioavailability is poor due to its limited solubility. In this study, the solubility of GsRb1 was improved by encapsulating it in polymeric nanocapsules (encapsulation efficiency: 99.79%), therefore, improving the oral bioavailability. The encapsulation resulted in stable, homogenous and well-dispersed nano-GsRb1, whose mean particle size and zeta potential were 183.9 nm and +36.9 mV, respectively. A significant improvement was observed in the in vitro release profile of nano-GsRb1 as compared to its free form. Our study also indicated a significant repression of the degradation of nuclear factor of kappa light polypeptide gene enhancer in B-cells inhibitor, alpha (IκBα), the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway, NOD-, LRR- and pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activation, and the mitochondrial damage, thereby, reducing inflammation and gouty arthritis induced by monosodium urate (MSU), when compared to free GsRb1, strongly suggesting that polymeric nano-particles can be a novel approach for delivering the GsRb1 into the inflamed joints for a better treatment effectiveness.

The Possible Contribution of P-Glycoprotein in the Protective Effect of Paeonol against Methotrexate-Induced Testicular Injury in Rats

Paeonol, a phenolic ingredient in the genus Paeonia, possesses antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Methotrexate (MTX) is a commonly used chemotherapeutic agent; however, its germ cell damage is a critical problem. P-glycoprotein (P-gp), an efflux transporter, is a member of the blood–testis barrier. The present study evaluated the protective effect of paeonol on MTX-induced testicular injury in rats with the exploration of its mechanism and the possible contribution of P-gp in such protection. Testicular weight, serum testosterone, and testicular P-gp levels were measured. Testicular oxidant/antioxidant status was evaluated via determining the levels of malondialdehyde, total nitrite, reduced glutathione, and superoxide dismutase activity. The inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and the apoptotic marker caspase 3 were estimated immunohistochemically. Testicular histopathology and spermatogenesis scores were also examined. MTX caused histopathologically evident testicular damage with decreased testicular weight, testosterone level, and spermatogenesis score, as well as significant increases in oxidative, inflammatory, and apoptotic responses. Paeonol significantly restored testicular weight, testosterone level, spermatogenesis score, and oxidant/antioxidant balance. Moreover, paeonol increased the testicular P-gp level and significantly decreased TNF-α and caspase 3 immunostaining. In conclusion, paeonol offered a protective effect against MTX-induced testicular injury through its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiapoptotic effects, as well as by increasing testicular P-gp level.

Paeonol protects against testicular ischaemia-reperfusion injury in rats through inhibition of oxidative stress and inflammation

Ischaemia-reperfusion (IR) is the most common form of testicular injury that results in oxidative damage and inflammation ending by subinfertility. Paeonol, a natural phenolic compound, exhibits antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Thus, the present study investigated the role of paeonol in rat testicular IR injury. Thirty adult Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups; sham, sham treated with paeonol, IR injury, and IR pre-treated with paeonol at low and high doses. Serum testosterone and testicular levels of malondialdehyde and reduced glutathione (GSH) besides superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were determined. Gene quantifications for tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) and heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) were also assessed. Histopathological pictures and the immunohistochemical expression of testicular nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were shown. Pre-treatment with paeonol prevented the drop in serum testosterone, alongside with improvement of testicular malondialdehyde and GSH levels plus SOD activity. Paeonol regained the normal spermatogenesis with prevention of IR-induced increase in TNF-α, HIF-1α and HSP70 gene expression besides IL-1β and IL-6 immunostaining and reduction in Nrf2 protein expression. Paeonol exerted a dose-dependent beneficial effect on testicular IR injury. This effect was achieved by its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.