Emodin alleviated pulmonary inflammation in rats with LPS-induced acute lung injury through inhibiting the mTOR/HIF-1α/VEGF signaling pathway

Retracted article: Protective effects of ulinastatin on rats with acute lung injury induced by lipopolysaccharide

Qitong Lu, Zhiyong Liu, Wei He and Xin Chu. Protective effects of ulinastatin on rats with acute lung injury induced by lipopolysaccharide. Bioengineered. 2021 Oct. doi: 10.1080/21655979.2021.1987083.Since publication, significant concerns have been raised about the compliance with ethical policies for human research and the integrity of the data reported in the article.When approached for an explanation, the authors provided some original data but were not able to provide all the necessary supporting information. As verifying the validity of published work is core to the scholarly record's integrity, we are retracting the article. All authors listed in this publication have been informed.We have been informed in our decision-making by our editorial policies and the COPE guidelines. The retracted article will remain online to maintain the scholarly record, but it will be digitally watermarked on each page as 'Retracted.'

Natural Products with Potential Effects on Hemorrhoids: A Review

Hemorrhoid disease is a common anorectal disorder affecting populations worldwide, with high prevalence, treatment difficulties, and considerable treatment costs. Compared to other treatment options, medical therapy for hemorrhoids offers minimal harm, more dignity to patients, and is more economical. Unfortunately, there are few chemical hemorrhoid medications available clinically, which makes the search for efficacious, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly new medication classes a focal point of research. In this context, searching for available natural products to improve hemorrhoids exhibits tremendous potential. These products are derived from nature, predominantly from plants, with a minor portion coming from animals, fungi, and algae. They have excellent coagulation pathway regulation, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and tissue regeneration activities. Therefore, we take the view that they are a class of potential hemorrhoid drugs, prevention products, and medication add-on ingredients. This article first reviews the factors contributing to the development of hemorrhoids, types, primary symptoms, and the mechanisms of natural products for hemorrhoids. Building on this foundation, we screened natural products with potential hemorrhoid improvement activity, including polyphenols and flavonoids, terpenes, polysaccharides, and other types.

Emodin activates autophagy to suppress oxidative stress and pyroptosis via mTOR-ULK1 signaling pathway and promotes multi-territory perforator flap survival

BACKGROUND

Multi-territory perforator flap reconstruction has been proven effective in treating large skin and soft tissue defects in clinical settings. However, in view of that the multi-territory perforator flap is prone to partial postoperative necrosis, increasing its survival is the key to the success of reconstruction. In this study, we aimed to clarify the effect of emodin on multi-territory perforator flap survival.

METHODS

Flap survival was assessed by viability area analysis, infrared laser imaging detector, HE staining, immunohistochemistry, and angiography. Western blotting, immunofluorescence assays, and real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR were performed to detect the indicators of oxidative stress, pyroptosis and autophagy.

RESULTS

After emodin treatment, the multi-territory perforator flap showed a significantly increased survival rate, which was shown to be closely related to the inhibition of oxidative stress and pyroptosis and enhanced autophagy. Meanwhile, the use of autophagy inhibitor 3 MA was found to reverse the inhibitory effects of emodin on oxidative stress and pyroptosis and weaken the improving effect of emodin on flap survival, suggesting that autophagy plays a critical role in emodin-treated flaps. Interestingly, our mechanistic investigations revealed that the positive effect of emodin on multi-territory perforator flap was attributed to the mTOR-ULK1 signaling pathway activation.

CONCLUSIONS

Emodin can inhibit oxidative stress and pyroptosis by activating autophagy via the mTOR-ULK1 pathway, thereby improving the multi-territory perforator flap survival.

Comprehensive characterization of the chemical constituents of Lianhua Qingwen capsule by ultra high performance liquid chromatography coupled with Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry

Lianhua Qingwen capsule is a famous traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) prescription that is widely used for the treatment of respiratory diseases in China. To facilitate in-depth and global characterization of the chemical constituents of Lianhua Qingwen capsule, a profiling method based on ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (UHPLC-FT-ICR-MS) was applied in both positive and negative ion modes for the comprehensive characterization of the chemical profiles of Lianhua Qingwen capsule. A total of 596 compounds were identified or tentatively characterized, including 137 flavonoids, 46 phenylpropanoids, 43 phenylethanoid glycosides, 145 terpenoids, 83 organic acids and their derivatives, 15 quinones, 39 alkaloids, 32 alcohol glycosides and 56 other compounds. Thus, this results widely extended and enriched the chemical constituents of Lianhua Qingwen capsule, which will provide comprehensive and valuable information for its quality control and further pharmacological study, facilitate understanding the effective substance and pharmacodynamic material basis, thereby providing a solid foundation for further development of the Lianhuaqingwen capsule.

Marine-Derived Leads as Anticancer Candidates by Disrupting Hypoxic Signaling through Hypoxia-Inducible Factors Inhibition

The inadequate vascularization seen in fast-growing solid tumors gives rise to hypoxic areas, fostering specific changes in gene expression that bolster tumor cell survival and metastasis, ultimately leading to unfavorable clinical prognoses across different cancer types. Hypoxia-inducible factors (HIF-1 and HIF-2) emerge as druggable pivotal players orchestrating tumor metastasis and angiogenesis, thus positioning them as prime targets for cancer treatment. A range of HIF inhibitors, notably natural compounds originating from marine organisms, exhibit encouraging anticancer properties, underscoring their significance as promising therapeutic options. Bioprospection of the marine environment is now a well-settled approach to the discovery and development of anticancer agents that might have their medicinal chemistry developed into clinical candidates. However, despite the massive increase in the number of marine natural products classified as 'anticancer leads,' most of which correspond to general cytotoxic agents, and only a few have been characterized regarding their molecular targets and mechanisms of action. The current review presents a critical analysis of inhibitors of HIF-1 and HIF-2 and hypoxia-selective compounds that have been sourced from marine organisms and that might act as new chemotherapeutic candidates or serve as templates for the development of structurally similar derivatives with improved anticancer efficacy.

Emodin is a Potential Drug Targeting CD44-positive Hepatocellular Cancer

BACKGROUND

Liver cancer is one of the most prevalent forms of cancer of the digestive system in our country. The most common subtype of this disease is hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Currently, treatment options for HCC patients include surgical resection, liver transplantation, radiofrequency ablation, chemoembolization, and biologic-targeted therapy. However, the efficacy of these treatments is suboptimal, as they are prone to drug resistance, metastasis, spread, and recurrence. These attributes are closely related to cancer stem cells (CSCs). Therefore, the utilization of drugs targeting CSCs may effectively inhibit the development and recurrence of HCC.

METHODS

HepG2 and Huh7 cells were used to analyze the antitumor activity of emodin by quantifying cell growth and metastasis, as well as to study its effect on stemness.

RESULTS

Emodin effectively suppressed the growth and movement of HCC cells. Emodin also significantly inhibited the proliferation of CD44-positive hepatoma cells.

CONCLUSION

Emodin shows promise as a potential therapeutic agent for HCC by targeting CD44-- positive hepatoma cells.

Synergistic anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of ceria/resatorvid co-decorated nanoparticles for acute lung injury therapy

BACKGROUND

Acute lung injury (ALI) is a critical inflammatory response syndrome that rapidly develops into acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Currently, no effective therapeutic modalities are available for patients with ALI/ARDS. According to recent studies, inhibiting both the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) as early as possible may be a promising therapy for ALI.

RESULTS

In this study, a ROS-responsive nano-delivery system based on oxidation-sensitive chitosan (Ox-CS) was fabricated for the simultaneous delivery of Ce NPs and RT. The in vitro experiments have shown that the Ox-CS/Ceria-Resatorvid nanoparticles (Ox-CS/CeRT NPs) were rapidly and efficiently internalised by inflammatory endothelial cells. Biological evaluations validated the significant attenuation of ROS-induced oxidative stress and cell apoptosis by Ox-CS/CeRT NPs, while maintaining mitochondrial function. Additionally, Ox-CS/CeRT NPs effectively inhibited the release of pro-inflammatory factors. After intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration, Ox-CS/CeRT NPs passively targeted the lungs of LPS-induced inflamed mice and released the drug activated by the high ROS levels in inflammatory tissues. Finally, Ox-CS/CeRT NPs significantly alleviated LPS-induced lung injury through inhibiting both oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory cytokine expression.

CONCLUSIONS

The created Ox-CS/CeRT NPs could act as a prospective nano-delivery system for a combination of anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant therapy of ALI.

Network Pharmacology and Experimental Validation of the Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Tingli Dazao Xiefei Decoction in Acute Lung Injury Treatment

Purpose

Tingli Dazao Xiefei Decoction (TDXD) is a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) formula used to treat acute lung injury (ALI). However, the precise mechanism of TDXD in treating ALI remains unclear. We investigated the therapeutic mechanism of TDXD against ALI using a complementary approach combining network pharmacology, molecular docking, and in vitro and in vivo experiments.

Material and Methods

Potential drug targets of TDXD and relevant target genes associated with ALI were retrieved from Chinese medicines and disease genes databases. Bioinformatics technology was employed to screen potential active ingredients and core targets. Validation experiments were conducted using a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced ALI mouse (C57BL/6J) model, LPS-induced inflammatory RAW264.7 cells, and molecular docking between active compounds of TDXD and potential targets.

Results

Network pharmacology suggested that the mechanism of TDXD against ALI involved phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) / protein kinase B (AKT) / phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) and Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) / signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) pathways. Quercetin, β-sitosterol, kaempferol, isorhamnetin, and L-stepholidine were identified as the main active compounds of TDXD that exerted anti-ALI effects. Molecular docking indicated that these compounds exhibited good binding capabilities (≤ -5kcal/mol) to key targets in PI3K/AKT/PTEN and JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathways. In the animal model, TDXD alleviated injuries and inflammatory responses in lung tissues, accompanied by inhibition of expression of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), Interleukin-6 (IL-6), STAT3, and Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling 3 (SOCS3) mRNA, and key proteins in PI3K/AKT/PTEN and JAK2/STAT3 pathways (all P values < 0.05). Cell based experiments showed that TDXD dose-dependently inhibited the expression of essential proteins in PI3K/AKT/PTEN and JAK2/STAT3 pathways (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

This study revealed that the mechanism of TDXD in ALI treatment might involve simultaneous regulation of PI3K/AKT/PTEN and JAK2/STAT3 pathways.

Induction of heme oxygenase-1 antagonizes PM2.5-induced pulmonary VEGFA expression through regulating HIF-1α

Particulate matter (PM) 2.5 has long been regarded as a major risk factor of the respiratory system, which constitutes a threat to human health. Although the positive relationship between PM2.5 exposure and the development of respiratory diseases has been well established, limited studies investigate the intrinsic self-protection mechanisms against PM2.5-induced respiratory injuries. Excessive pulmonary inflammation served as a key pathogenic mechanism in PM2.5-induced airway dysfunction, and we have previously shown that PM2.5 induced the production of vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) in the bronchial epithelial cells, which subsequently led to pulmonary inflammatory responses. In the current study, we found that PM2.5 also concurrently induced the expression of the stress-responsive protein heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) along with VEGFA in the bronchial epithelial cells both in vivo and in vitro. Importantly, knocking down of HO-1 expression significantly increased the synthesis and secretion of VEGFA; while overexpression of HO-1 showed the opposite effects, indicating that HO-1 induction can antagonize VEGFA production in the bronchial epithelial cells upon PM2.5 exposure. Mechanistically, HO-1 inhibited PM2.5-evoked VEGFA induction through modulating hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha (HIF-1α), which was the upstream transcriptional factor of VEGFA. More specifically, HO-1 could not only inhibit HIF-1α expression, but also suppress its transactivity. Taken together, our results suggested that HO-1 was an intrinsic protective factor against PM2.5-induced pulmonary VEGFA production with a mechanism relating to HIF-1α, thus providing a potential treatment strategy against PM2.5 triggered airway injuries.

Advances in the pharmacological effects and molecular mechanisms of emodin in the treatment of metabolic diseases

Rhubarb palmatum L., Polygonum multijiorum Thunb., and Polygonum cuspidatum Sieb. Et Zucc. are traditional Chinese medicines that have been used for thousands of years. They are formulated into various preparations and are widely used. Emodin is a traditional Chinese medicine monomer and the main active ingredient in Rhubarb palmatum L., Polygonum multijiorum Thunb., and Polygonum cuspidatum Sieb. Et Zucc. Modern research shows that it has a variety of pharmacological effects, including promoting lipid and glucose metabolism, osteogenesis, and anti-inflammatory and anti-autophagy effects. Research on the toxicity and pharmacokinetics of emodin can promote its clinical application. This review aims to provide a basis for further development and clinical research of emodin in the treatment of metabolic diseases. We performed a comprehensive summary of the pharmacology and molecular mechanisms of emodin in treating metabolic diseases by searching databases such as Web of Science, PubMed, ScienceDirect, and CNKI up to 2023. In addition, this review also analyzes the toxicity and pharmacokinetics of emodin. The results show that emodin mainly regulates AMPK, PPAR, and inflammation-related signaling pathways, and has a good therapeutic effect on obesity, hyperlipidemia, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, diabetes and its complications, and osteoporosis. In addition, controlling toxic factors and improving bioavailability are of great significance for its clinical application.

Network pharmacology and experimental validation of Maxing Shigan decoction in the treatment of influenza virus-induced ferroptosis

Influenza is an acute viral respiratory infection that has caused high morbidity and mortality worldwide. Influenza A virus (IAV) has been found to activate multiple programmed cell death pathways, including ferroptosis. Ferroptosis is a novel form of programmed cell death in which the accumulation of intracellular iron promotes lipid peroxidation, leading to cell death. However, little is known about how influenza viruses induce ferroptosis in the host cells. In this study, based on network pharmacology, we predicted the mechanism of action of Maxing Shigan decoction (MXSGD) in IAV-induced ferroptosis, and found that this process was related to biological processes, cellular components, molecular function and multiple signaling pathways, where the hypoxia inducible factor-1(HIF-1) signaling pathway plays a significant role. Subsequently, we constructed the mouse lung epithelial (MLE-12) cell model by IAV-infected in vitro cell experiments, and revealed that IAV infection induced cellular ferroptosis that was characterized by mitochondrial damage, increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) release, increased total iron and iron ion contents, decreased expression of ferroptosis marker gene recombinant glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), increased expression of acyl-CoA synthetase long chain family member 4 (ACSL4), and enhanced activation of hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), induced nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the HIF-1 signaling pathway. Treatment with MXSGD effectively reduced intracellular viral load, while reducing ROS, total iron and ferrous ion contents, repairing mitochondrial results and inhibiting the expression of cellular ferroptosis and the HIF-1 signaling pathway. Finally, based on animal experiments, it was found that MXSGD effectively alleviated pulmonary congestion, edema and inflammation in IAV-infected mice, and inhibited the expression of ferroptosis-related protein and the HIF-1 signaling pathway in lung tissues.

Hybrid molecules based on an emodin scaffold. Synthesis and activity against SARS-CoV-2 and Plasmodium

Since the Covid-19 epidemic, it has been clear that the availability of small and affordable drugs that are able to efficiently control viral infections in humans is still a challenge in medicinal chemistry. The synthesis and biological activities of a series of hybrid molecules that combine an emodin moiety and other structural moieties expected to act as possible synergistic pharmacophores in a single molecule were studied. Emodin has been reported to block the entry of the SARS-CoV-2 virus into human cells and might also inhibit cytokine production, resulting in the reduction of pulmonary injury induced by SARS-CoV-2. The pharmacophore associated with emodin was either a polyamine residue (emodin-PA series), a choice driven by the fact that a natural alkyl PA like spermine and spermidine play regulatory roles in immune cell functions, or a diphenylmethylpiperazine derivative of the norchlorcyclizine series (emoxyzine series). In fact, diphenylmethylpiperazine antagonists of the H1 histamine receptor display activity against several viruses by multiple interrelated mechanisms. In the emoxyzine series, the most potent drug against SARS-CoV-2 was (R)-emoxyzine-2, with an EC50 value = 1.9 μM, which is in the same range as that of the reference drug remdesivir. However, the selectivity index was rather low, indicating that the dissociation of antiviral potency and cytotoxicity remains a challenge. In addition, since emodin was also reported to be a relatively high-affinity inhibitor of the virulence regulator FIKK kinase from the malaria parasite Plasmodium vivax, the antimalarial activity of the synthesized hybrid compounds has been evaluated. However, these molecules cannot efficiently compete with the currently used antimalarial drugs.

The role and advantage of traditional Chinese medicine in the prevention and treatment of COVID-19

The global coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had a massive impact on global social and economic development and human health. By combining traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) with modern medicine, the Chinese government has protected public health by supporting all phases of COVID-19 prevention and treatment, including community prevention, clinical treatment, control of disease progression, and promotion of recovery. Modern medicine focuses on viruses, while TCM focuses on differential diagnosis of patterns associated with viral infection of the body and recommends the use of TCM decoctions for differential treatment. This differential diagnosis and treatment approach, with its profoundly empirical nature and holistic view, endows TCM with an accessibility advantage and high application value for dealing with COVID-19. Here, we summarize the advantage of and evidence for TCM use in COVID-19 prevention and treatment to draw attention to the scientific value and accessibility advantage of TCM and to promote the use of TCM in response to public health emergencies. Please cite this article as: Huang M, Liu YY, Xiong K, Yang FW, Jin XY, Wang ZQ, Zhang JH, Zhang BL. The role and advantage of traditional Chinese medicine in the prevention and treatment of COVID-19. J Integr Med. 2023; 21(5): 407-412.

The lung-gut crosstalk in respiratory and inflammatory bowel disease

Both lung and gut belong to the common mucosal immune system (CMIS), with huge surface areas exposed to the external environment. They are the main defense organs against the invasion of pathogens and play a key role in innate and adaptive immunity. Recently, more and more evidence showed that stimulation of one organ can affect the other, as exemplified by intestinal complications during respiratory disease and vice versa, which is called lung-gut crosstalk. Intestinal microbiota plays an important role in respiratory and intestinal diseases. It is known that intestinal microbial imbalance is related to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), this imbalance could impact the integrity of the intestinal epithelial barrier and leads to the persistence of inflammation, however, gut microbial disturbances have also been observed in respiratory diseases such as asthma, allergy, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and respiratory infection. It is not fully clarified how these disorders happened. In this review, we summarized the latest examples and possible mechanisms of lung-gut crosstalk in respiratory disease and IBD and discussed the strategy of shaping intestinal flora to treat respiratory diseases.

Loss of cytochrome P450 (CYP)1B1 mitigates hyperoxia response in adult mouse lung by reprogramming metabolism and translation

Oxygen supplementation is life saving for premature infants and for COVID-19 patients but can induce long-term pulmonary injury by triggering inflammation, with xenobiotic-metabolizing CYP enzymes playing a critical role. Murine studies showed that CYP1B1 enhances, while CYP1A1 and CYP1A2 protect from, hyperoxic lung injury. In this study we tested the hypothesis that Cyp1b1-null mice would revert hyperoxia-induced transcriptomic changes observed in WT mice at the transcript and pathway level. Wild type (WT) C57BL/6J and Cyp1b1-null mice aged 8-10 weeks were maintained in room air (21% O2) or exposed to hyperoxia (>95% O2) for 48h. Transcriptomic profiling was conducted using the Illumina microarray platform. Hyperoxia exposure led to robust changes in gene expression and in the same direction in WT, Cyp1a1-, Cyp1a2-, and Cyp1b1-null mice, but to different extents for each mouse genotype. At the transcriptome level, all Cyp1-null murine models reversed hyperoxia effects. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis identified 118 hyperoxia-affected pathways mitigated only in Cyp1b1-null mice, including lipid, glutamate, and amino acid metabolism. Cell cycle genes Cdkn1a and Ccnd1 were induced by hyperoxia in both WT and Cyp1b1-null mice but mitigated in Cyp1b1-null O2 compared to WT O2 mice. Hyperoxia gene signatures associated positively with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), which occurs in premature infants (with supplemental oxygen being one of the risk factors), but only in the Cyp1b1-null mice did the gene profile after hyperoxia exposure show a partial rescue of BPD-associated transcriptome. Our study suggests that CYP1B1 plays a pro-oxidant role in hyperoxia-induced lung injury.

Network pharmacology and molecular docking to explore Polygoni Cuspidati Rhizoma et Radix treatment for acute lung injury

BACKGROUND

Polygoni Cuspidati Rhizoma et Radix (PCRR), a well-known traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), inhibits inflammation associated with various human diseases. However, the anti-inflammatory effects of PCRR in acute lung injury (ALI) and the underlying mechanisms of action remain unclear.

AIM

To determine the ingredients related to PCRR for treatment of ALI using multiple databases to obtain potential targets for fishing.

METHODS

Recognized and candidate active compounds for PCRR were obtained from Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology, STITCH, and PubMed databases. Target ALI databases were built using the Therapeutic Target, DrugBank, DisGeNET, Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man, and Genetic Association databases. Network pharmacology includes network construction, target prediction, topological feature analysis, and enrichment analysis. Bioinformatics resources from the Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery were utilized for gene ontology biological process and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes network pathway enrichment analysis, and molecular docking techniques were adopted to verify the combination of major active ingredients and core targets.

RESULTS

Thirteen bioactive compounds corresponding to the 433 PCRR targets were identified. In addition, 128 genes were closely associated with ALI, 60 of which overlapped with PCRR targets and were considered therapeutically relevant. Functional enrichment analysis suggested that PCRR exerted its pharmacological effects in ALI by modulating multiple pathways, including the cell cycle, cell apoptosis, drug metabolism, inflammation, and immune modulation. Molecular docking results revealed a strong associative relationship between the active ingredient and core target.

CONCLUSION

PCRR alleviates ALI symptoms via molecular mechanisms predicted by network pharmacology. This study proposes a strategy to elucidate the mechanisms of TCM at the network pharmacology level.

Shengjiang San alleviated sepsis-induced lung injury through its bidirectional regulatory effect

BACKGROUND

Sepsis is a life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by dysregulated host responses to infection, for which effective therapeutic strategies are still absent. Shengjiang San (SJS), a well-known Traditional Chinese Medicine formula, has been widely used clinically. However, its role in sepsis-induced lung injury remains unclear.

METHODS

To explore its specific mechanism, we firstly established a sepsis animal model using cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) and treated MH-S cells with LPS plus ATP. Then, UPLC/Q-TOF-MS/MS was utilized to identify its active ingredients. Network pharmacology analysis was performed to uncover the potential mechanism. HE staining and biochemical analysis were conducted to validate its therapeutic effect. ELISA was applied to detect the release of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines. Western blot was utilized to detect the protein levels of GSDMD, NLRP3, P65, ASC and caspase-1.

RESULTS

SJS could dramatically increase the survival rate of sepsis. In addition, it is able to inhibit the pro-inflammatory cytokines release at day 1 post CLP while promote their production at day 7, indicating SJS could attenuate uncontrolled inflammatory response in the early stage and improve immunosuppression in the late phase. Network pharmacology analysis showed that pyroptosis is the crucial action SJS exerted in the protection of sepsis-induced lung injury. Western blot data implicated SJS could attenuate pyroptosis in early sepsis while enhance in the late phase.

CONCLUSIONS

SJS acted to alleviate sepsis-induced lung injury through its bidirectional regulatory effect.

Remote preconditioning combined with nebulized budesonide alleviate lipopolysaccharide induced acute lung injury via regulating HO-1 and NF-κB in rats

BACKGROUND

Acute lung injury (ALI) may result in severe systemic inflammation and is life-threatening. Remote inflammatory preconditioning (RIPC) has been confirmed to have an endogenous protective effect against ALI. Budesonide (BS) is a potent corticosteroid typically administered through nebulization that reduces inflammation in the lungs. We speculate that the combined use of RIPC and nebulized BS has a stronger protective effect on ALI.

METHODS

48 Sprague-Dawley male rats were used for the experiments. Animals were divided evenly and randomly into three groups, control (NS injection), LPS (LPS injection), and RIPC (LPS injection with RIPC). Each group was then divided into two subgroups with inhalation of nebulized normal saline (NS) or BS. Prior to injection of LPS, RIPC was performed by tying and untying the right hind limb for three cycles of five minutes each. Following LPS injection, animals in each subgroup were placed in a same cage for nebulized inhalation. Animals were sacrificed 6 hours after LPS injection. Histological evaluation of ALI and lung wet-to-dry weight ratio were measured. Serum lactate acid, inflammatory cytokines, oxidative stress indicators were detected. The expression of HO-1, NF-κB p65 and p-p65 was measured by western blotting.

RESULTS

RIPC combined with nebulized BS significantly attenuated the LPS-induced ALI in rats. Reduction of MDA, increasing of SOD activity were found significantly improved by the joint strategy. TNF- and IL-1β rise brought on by LPS was reduced, but IL-10 production dramatically enhanced when compared to the LPS group. The expression of HO-1 was significantly increased by RIPC combined with nebulized BS while the expression of NF-κB p65 and p-p65 was decreased when compared with the LPS group.

CONCLUSION

RIPC combined with nebulized budesonide is protective for ALI induced by LPS in rats.

Discovery of 4-oxo-N-phenyl-1,4-dihydroquinoline-3-carboxamide derivatives as novel anti-inflammatory agents for the treatment of acute lung injury and sepsis

Acute lung injury (ALI) and sepsis, characterized by systemic inflammatory response syndrome, remain the major causes of death in severe patients. Inhibiting the release of proinflammatory cytokines is considered to be a promising method for the treatment of inflammation-related diseases. In this study, a total of 28 4-oxo-N-phenyl-1,4-dihydroquinoline-3-carboxamide derivatives were designed and synthesized and their anti-inflammatory activities in J774A.1 were evaluated. Among them, derivative 13a was found to significantly inhibit lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced expression of the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) on J774A.1, THP-1 and LX-2 cells, and inhibited the activation of the NF-κB pathway. Furthermore, administration of 13ain vivo significantly improved the symptoms in LPS-induced ALI mice, including alleviation of pathological changes in the lung tissue, reduction of pulmonary edema, and inhibition of macrophage infiltration. Moreover, the administration of 13ain vivo significantly promoted survival in LPS-induced sepsis mice. 13a demonstrated favorable pharmacokinetic properties with T_1/2 value of 11.8 h and F value of 36.3%. Therefore, this study has identified a novel 4-oxo-N-phenyl-1,4-dihydroquinoline-3-carboxamide derivative, 13a, which is an effective anti-inflammatory agent. The findings have laid a foundation for the further development of agents to treat ALI and sepsis.

Type I Cystatin Derived from Fasciola gigantica Suppresses Macrophage-Mediated Inflammatory Responses

There is an inverse relationship between the high incidence of helminth infection and the low incidence of inflammatory disease. Hence, it may be that helminth molecules have anti-inflammatory effects. Helminth cystatins are being extensively studied for anti-inflammatory potential. Therefore, in this study, the recombinant type I cystatin (stefin-1) of Fasciola gigantica (rFgCyst) was verified to have LPS-activated anti-inflammatory potential, including in human THP-1-derived macrophages and RAW 264.7 murine macrophages. The results from the MTT assay suggest that rFgCyst did not alter cell viability; moreover, it exerted anti-inflammatory activity by decreasing the production of proinflammatory cytokines and mediators, including IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, iNOS, and COX-2 at the gene transcription and protein expression levels, as determined by qRT-PCR and Western blot analysis, respectively. Further, the secretion levels of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α determined by ELISA and the NO production level determined by the Griess test were decreased. Furthermore, in Western blot analysis, the anti-inflammatory effects involved the downregulation of pIKKα/β, pIκBα, and pNF-κB in the NF-κB signaling pathway, hence reducing the translocation from the cytosol into the nucleus of pNF-κB, which subsequently turned on the gene of proinflammatory molecules. Therefore, cystatin type 1 of F. gigantica is a potential candidate for inflammatory disease treatment.

Protective effects of pentoxifylline against chlorine-induced acute lung injury in rats

OBJECTIVE

Chlorine is a chemical threat agent that can be harmful to humans. Inhalation of high levels of chlorine can lead to acute lung injury (ALI). Currently, there is no satisfactory treatment, and effective antidote is urgently needed. Pentoxifylline (PTX), a methylxanthine derivative and nonspecific phosphodiesterase inhibitor, is widely used for the treatment of vascular disorders. The present study was aimed to investigate the inhibitory effects of PTX on chlorine-induced ALI in rats.

METHODS

Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to 400 ppm Cl₂ for 5 min. The histopathological examination was carried out and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were measured by the confocal laser scanning system. Subsequently, to evaluate the effect of PTX, a dose of 100 mg/kg was administered. The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the contents of malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), oxidized glutathione (GSSG) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were determined by using commercial kits according to the manufacturer's instructions. Western blot assay was used to detect the protein expressions of SOD1, SOD2, catalase (CAT), hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), occludin, E-cadherin, bcl-xl, LC 3, Beclin 1, PTEN-induced putative kinase 1 (PINK 1) and Parkin.

RESULTS

The histopathological examination demonstrated that chlorine could destroy the lung structure with hemorrhage, alveolar collapse, and inflammatory infiltration. ROS accumulation was significantly higher in the lungs of rats suffering from inhaling chlorine (P<0.05). PTX markedly reduced concentrations of MAD and GSSG, while increased GSH (P<0.05). The protein expression levels of SOD1 and CAT also decreased (P<0.05). Furthermore, the activity of LDH in rats treated with PTX was significantly decreased compared to those of non-treated group (P<0.05). Additionally, the results also showed that PTX exerted an inhibition effect on protein expressions of HIF-1α, VEGF and occludin, and increased the level of E-cadherin (P<0.05). While the up-regulation of Beclin 1, LC 3II/I, Bcl-xl, and Parkin both in the lung tissues and mitochondria, were found in PTX treated rats (P<0.05). The other protein levels were decreased when treated with PTX (P<0.05).

CONCLUSION

PTX could ameliorate chlorine-induced lung injury via inhibition effects on oxidative stress, hypoxia and autophagy, thus suggesting that PTX could serve as a potential therapeutic approach for ALI.

Huoxiang Zhengqi Oral Liquid Attenuates LPS-Induced Acute Lung Injury by Modulating Short-Chain Fatty Acid Levels and TLR4/NF-κB p65 Pathway

Huoxiang Zhengqi Oral Liquid (HZOL) is a classic Chinese patent medicine used in China for more than 1,000 years in treating gastrointestinal and respiratory diseases. Clinically applied HZOL in early respiratory disease stages can reduce the proportion of lung infection patients that progress to severe acute lung injury (ALI). However, few pharmacological studies evaluated its level of protection against ALI. We explored mechanisms of HZOL against ALI by employing network pharmacology, molecular docking, and rat experiments. Firstly, network pharmacology prediction and published biological evaluation of active ingredients of HZOL suggested that HZOL exerted the protective effect in treating ALI mainly in the areas of regulation of cell adhesion, immune response, and inflammatory response and closely related to the NF-κB pathway. Secondly, molecular docking results demonstrated that imperatorin and isoimperatorin combined well with targets in the NF-κB pathway. Finally, ALI rats induced by lipopolysaccharides (LPS) were used to validate prediction after pretreatment with HZOL for 2 weeks. Results confirmed that lung and colon injury occurred in ALI rats. Furthermore, HZOL exerts anti-inflammatory effects on LPS-induced ALI and gut injury by repairing lung and colon pathology, reducing and alleviating pulmonary edema, inhibiting abnormal enhancement of thymus and spleen index, modulating hematologic indices, and increasing levels of total short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in the cecum. Additionally, abnormal accumulation of inflammatory cytokines IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, and IFN-γ in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid was significantly reduced after pretreating with HZOL. Furthermore, HZOL downregulated the expression of TLR4, CD14, and MyD88 and phosphorylation of NF-κB p65 in lung tissue. Altogether, HZOL was found to exert an anti-inflammatory effect regulation by increasing levels of SCFAs, inhibiting the accumulation of inflammatory cytokines, and attenuating the activation of the TLR4/NF-κB p65 pathway. Our study provided experimental evidences for the application of HZOL in preventing and treating ALI.

Multiple Beneficial Effects of Aloesone from Aloe vera on LPS-Induced RAW264.7 Cells, Including the Inhibition of Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, M1 Polarization, and Apoptosis

Aloesone is a major metabolic compound in Aloe vera, which has been widely used as a food source and therapeutic agent in several countries. Our recent study demonstrated that aloesone has anti-epileptic effects on glutamate-induced neuronal injury by suppressing the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Unless ROS are naturally neutralized by the endogenous antioxidant system, they lead to the activation of inflammation, polarization, and apoptosis. This study aimed to identify the multiple beneficial effects of aloesone and explore its molecular mechanism in macrophages. Hence, the murine macrophage cell line RAW264.7 was pretreated with aloesone and then exposed to lipopolysaccharides (LPS). The results demonstrated that aloesone, within a dosage range of 0.1-100 µM, dramatically decreased the LPS-induced elevation of ROS production, reduced nitric oxide (NO) release, inhibited the M1 polarization of RAW264.7 cells, and prevented cells from entering the LPS-induced early and late phases of apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. Simultaneously, aloesone significantly decreased the mRNA expression of inflammation-related genes (iNOS, IL-1ꞵ, TNF-α) and increased the expression of antioxidant enzymes (Gpx-1 and SOD-1). The core genes HSP90AA1, Stat3, Mapk1, mTOR, Fyn, Ptk2b, and Lck were closely related to these beneficial effects of aloesone. Furthermore, immunofluorescence staining and flow cytometry data confirmed that aloesone significantly repressed the activation of mTOR, p-mTOR, and HIF-1α induced by LPS and inhibited the protein expression of TLR4, which is the target of LPS. In conclusion, aloesone demonstrated multiple protective effects against LPS-induced oxidative stress, inflammation, M1 polarization, and apoptosis in macrophages, suggesting its potential as a prodrug.

Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Garcinol Extracted from Garcinia dulcis via Modulating NF-κB Signaling Pathway

Garcinia is a significant medicinal plant with many beneficial phytoconstituents, including garcinol. This study investigated the anti-inflammatory effect of garcinol isolated from Garcinia dulcis fruit in LPS-activated THP-1 and Raw 264.7 macrophages. The results demonstrated that the low concentration of garcinol did not alter cell viability. Furthermore, co-incubation of garcinol with LPS inhibited the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including TNF-α, IL-8, IL-6, IL-1β, and pro-inflammatory mediators, including iNOS and COX-2 at the mRNA and protein expression levels. Garcinol also decreased the secretion of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, PGE2, and NO. Moreover, the anti-inflammatory effects involved an alteration in the NF-κB signaling pathway. Downregulation of pIKKα/β, pIκBα, and pNF-κB was observed, hence reducing the translocation of pNF-κB from the cytosol into the nucleus, which subsequently decreased the production of pro-inflammatory molecules. Therefore, garcinol isolated from Garcinia dulcis is a potential candidate as an anti-inflammatory agent for inflammation-related disease treatment.

Traditional Chinese medicine for treatment of sepsis and related multi-organ injury

Sepsis is a common but critical illness in patients admitted to the intensive care unit and is associated with high mortality. Although there are many treatments for sepsis, specific and effective therapies are still lacking. For over 2,000 years, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has played a vital role in the treatment of infectious diseases in Eastern countries. Both anecdotal and scientific evidence show that diverse TCM preparations alleviate organ dysfunction caused by sepsis by inhibiting the inflammatory response, reducing oxidative stress, boosting immunity, and maintaining cellular homeostasis. This review reports on the efficacy and mechanism of action of various TCM compounds, herbal monomer extracts, and acupuncture, on the treatment of sepsis and related multi-organ injury. We hope that this information would be helpful to better understand the theoretical basis and empirical support for TCM in the treatment of sepsis.

Emodin protects against apoptosis and inflammation by regulating reactive oxygen species-mediated NF-κB signaling in interleukin-1β-stimulated human nucleus pulposus cells

Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is a complex degradative disorder associated with inflammation. Emodin, an anthraquinone derivative, possesses strong anti-inflammatory activity. This study focused on the in vitro therapeutic action of emodin in a cellular model of IDD. Human nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs) were stimulated with interleukin-1β (IL-1β) to induce inflammation. Cell Counting Kit-8 and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling staining assays were performed to evaluate the viability and apoptosis of NPCs, respectively. Caspase-3 activity was measured to indirectly assess cell apoptosis. Western blot analysis was performed to detect protein expression levels. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction was performed for the detection of relative mRNA levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and IL-6. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was performed to analyze TNF-α and IL-6 secretion. Our results showed that emodin treatment mitigated IL-1β-induced reduction of cell viability in NPCs. Moreover, the increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, apoptotic rate, and caspase-3 activity in IL-1β-stimulated NPCs was reduced by emodin treatment. Treatment with emodin also abolished IL-1β-induced inflammation in NPCs, as indicated by reduced secretion of IL-6 and TNF-α. Besides, the increase in expression levels of phosphorylated p65 and nuclear p65 in IL-1β-stimulated NPCs was suppressed by emodin treatment. Furthermore, inhibition of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) activation with pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate aggravated the protective effects of emodin. These results suggested that emodin protected NPCs against IL-1β-induced apoptosis and inflammation via inhibiting ROS-mediated activation of NF-κB.

AA, Kudriaeva AA, Bugrimov DY, Krasnorutskaya ON, Murashev AN. Derinat® has an immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effect on the model of acute lung injury in male SD rats

To simulate acute lung injury (ALI) in SD male rats they we administered intratracheally with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) followed by hyperventilation of the lungs (HVL), which lead to functional changes in the respiratory system and an increase in the blood serum concentration of inflammatory cytokines. LPS + HVL after 4 h lead to pronounced histological signs of lung damage. We have studied the effectiveness of Derinat^® when administered intramuscularly at dose of 7.5 mg/kg for 8 days in the ALI model. Derinat^® administration lead to an increase in the concentration of most of the studied cytokines in a day. In the ALI model the administration of Derinat^® returned the concentration of cytokines to its original values already 48 h after LPS + HVL, and also normalized the parameters of pulmonary respiration in comparison with animals without treatment. By the eighth day after LPS + HVL, respiratory parameters and cytokine levels, as well as biochemical and hematological parameters did not differ between groups, while histological signs of residual effects of lung damage were found in all animals, and were more pronounced in Derinat^® group, which may indicate stimulation of the local immune response. Thus, the administration of Derinat^® stimulates the immune response, has a pronounced protective effect against cytokinemia and respiratory failure caused by ALI, has immunomodulatory effect, and also stimulates a local immune response in lung tissues. Thus, Derinat^® is a promising treatment for ALI.

Potential Treatment of COVID-19 with Traditional Chinese Medicine: What Herbs Can Help Win the Battle with SARS-CoV-2?

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been successfully applied worldwide in the treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). However, the pharmacological mechanisms underlying this success remain unclear. Hence, the aim of this review is to combine pharmacological assays based on the theory of TCM in order to elucidate the potential signaling pathways, targets, active compounds, and formulas of herbs that are involved in the TCM treatment of COVID-19, which exhibits combatting viral infections, immune regulation, and amelioration of lung injury and fibrosis. Extensive reports on target screening are elucidated using virtual prediction via docking analysis or network pharmacology based on existing data. The results of these reports indicate that an intricate regulatory mechanism is involved in the pathogenesis of COVID-19. Therefore, more pharmacological research on the natural herbs used in TCM should be conducted in order to determine the association between TCM and COVID-19 and account for the observed therapeutic effects of TCM against COVID-19.

Exploring the active ingredients and pharmacological mechanisms of the oral intake formula Huoxiang Suling Shuanghua Decoction on influenza virus type A based on network pharmacology and experimental exploration

Objective

To investigate the active ingredients, underlying anti-influenza virus effects, and mechanisms of Huoxiang Suling Shuanghua Decoction (HSSD).

Materials and methods

The therapeutic effect of HSSD were confirmed through the survival rate experiment of H1N1-infected mice. Then, the HSSD solution and the ingredients absorbed into the blood after treatment with HSSD in rats were identified by UPLC/Q-TOF MS, while the main contents of ingredients were detected by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Next, a systems pharmacology approach incorporating target prediction, gene ontology (GO) enrichment, kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis, and molecular docking were performed to screen out the active compounds and critical pathways of HSSD in treating influenza. According to prediction results, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and immunohistochemistry assay were used to detect the mRNA and protein expression levels of critical targets in H1N1-infected mice lungs.

Results

Huoxiang Suling Shuanghua Decoction improved the survival rate of H1N1-infected mice and prolonged the mice’s lifespan. Besides, HSSD exerts an antivirus effect by decreasing the levels of hemagglutinin (HA) and nucleoprotein (NP) to inhibit the replication and proliferation of H1N1, reducing the lung pathological state, inhibiting the cell apoptosis in the lung, and regulating the abnormal responses of peripheral blood, including GRA, LYM, white blood cell (WBC), PLT, and hemoglobin (HGB). Then, 87 compounds in the HSSD solution and 20 ingredients absorbed into the blood after treatment with HSSD were identified. Based on this, combined with the network analysis and previous research on antivirus, 16 compounds were screened out as the active components. Moreover, 16 potential targets were predicted by network pharmacology analysis. Next, molecular docking results showed stable binding modes between compounds and targets. Furthermore, experimental validation results indicated that HSSD regulates the contents of Immunoglobulin A (IgA), Immunoglobulin M (IgM), and Immunoglobulin G (IgG) in serum, modulating the levels of IFN-γ, IL-6, IL-10, MCP-1, MIP-1α, and IP-10 in the lung tissue, and significantly decreasing the mRNA and protein expressions of TLR4, CD14, MyD88, NF-κB p65, HIF1 α, VEGF, IL17A, and IL6 in the lung tissue.

Conclusion

Huoxiang Suling Shuanghua Decoction exerts an anti-influenza effect by affecting the expressions of mRNA and protein including TLR4, CD14, MyD88, NF-kB p65, HIF-1α, VEGF, IL17A, IL6, and inhibiting the accumulation of inflammation. Our study provided experimental pieces of evidence about the practical application of HSSD in treating influenza.

In Vitro, Molecular Docking and In Silico ADME/Tox Studies of Emodin and Chrysophanol against Human Colorectal and Cervical Carcinoma

Anthraquinones (AQs) are present in foods, dietary supplements, pharmaceuticals, and traditional treatments and have a wide spectrum of pharmacological activities. In the search for anti-cancer drugs, AQ derivatives are an important class. In this study, anthraquinone aglycons chrysophanol (Chr), emodin (EM) and FDA-approved anticancer drug fluorouracil were analyzed by molecular docking studies against receptor molecules caspase-3, apoptosis regulator Bcl-2, TRAF2 and NCK-interacting protein kinase (TNIK) and cyclin-dependent protein kinase 2 (CDK2) as novel candidates for future anticancer therapeutic development. The ADMET SAR database was used to predict the toxicity profile and pharmacokinetics of the Chr and EM. Furthermore, in silico results were validated by the in vitro anticancer activity against HCT-116 and HeLa cell lines to determine the anticancer effect. According to the docking studies simulated by the docking program AutoDock Vina 4.0, Chr and EM had good binding energies against the target proteins. It has been observed that Chr and EM show stronger molecular interaction than that of the FDA-approved anticancer drug fluorouracil. In the in vitro results, Chr and EM demonstrated promising anticancer activity in HCT-116 and HeLa cells. These findings lay the groundwork for the potential use of Chr and EM in the treatment of human colorectal and cervical carcinomas.

Negative Effects of Chronic High Intake of Fructose on Lung Diseases

In the modern diet, excessive fructose intake (>50 g/day) had been driven by the increase, in recent decades, of the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages. This phenomenon has dramatically increased within the Caribbean and Latin American regions. Epidemiological studies show that chronic high intake of fructose related to sugar-sweetened beverages increases the risk of developing several non-communicable diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma, and may also contribute to the exacerbation of lung diseases, such as COVID-19. Evidence supports several mechanisms—such as dysregulation of the renin−angiotensin system, increased uric acid production, induction of aldose reductase activity, production of advanced glycation end-products, and activation of the mTORC1 pathway—that can be implicated in lung damage. This review addresses how these pathophysiologic and molecular mechanisms may explain the lung damage resulting from high intake of fructose.

Jiu-Wei-Yong-An Formula suppresses JAK1/STAT3 and MAPK signaling alleviates atopic dermatitis-like skin lesions

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Jiu-Wei-Yong-An (JWYA) formula is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) prescription used to treat atopic dermatitis (AD) in the clinic. JWYA is considered to have anti-inflammatory and antipruritic properties. However, the mechanism of JWYA remains unclear.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study aimed to investigate the effect of JWYA on an experimental mouse AD model.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Mice were sensitized with 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) and intragastrically administered with JWYA for 14 days. The therapeutic effect was assessed using a grade four dermatitis score, skin moisture, thickness measurements, and a mouse behavior tests. H&E and toluidine blue staining were used to observe epidermal inflammatory thickening and mast cells in mouse skin lesions. Serum IgE levels and skin TNF-α and IL-4 levels were determined using ELISAs. The TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-4, IL-13, IL-31, IL-33, and IFN-γ mRNA expression levels in skin lesions were detected using qPCR. Network pharmacology analysis based on serum active components was performed to elucidate the mechanism, and the results were verified by Western blotting. Finally, we tested the binding affinity between the active ingredients of JWYA and JAK1 via molecular docking.

RESULTS

JWYA improved the skin lesions of AD mice, relieved itching and reduced skin thickening. Additionally, JWYA decreased the serum IgE level and the levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-4, IL-13, IL-31, IL-33, and IFN-γ in skin. Moreover, JWYA inhibited the activation of JAK1/STAT3 and MAPK (p38, ERK, and JNK) signaling. Molecular docking showed that kaempferol, luteolin, and forsythin have high affinity for JAK1.

CONCLUSIONS

JWYA alleviates AD-like skin lesions and inhibited inflammation and skin itch. The effect of JWYA is attributed to blocking the JAK1/STAT3 and MAPK signaling pathways. We suggest that JWYA may be an alternative therapy for the treatment of AD.

Nutritional Sensor REDD1 in Cancer and Inflammation: Friend or Foe?

Regulated in Development and DNA Damage Response 1 (REDD1)/DNA Damage-Induced Transcript 4 (DDIT4) is an immediate early response gene activated by different stress conditions, including growth factor depletion, hypoxia, DNA damage, and stress hormones, i.e., glucocorticoids. The most known functions of REDD1 are the inhibition of proliferative signaling and the regulation of metabolism via the repression of the central regulator of these processes, the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). The involvement of REDD1 in cell growth, apoptosis, metabolism, and oxidative stress implies its role in various pathological conditions, including cancer and inflammatory diseases. Recently, REDD1 was identified as one of the central genes mechanistically involved in undesirable atrophic effects induced by chronic topical and systemic glucocorticoids widely used for the treatment of blood cancer and inflammatory diseases. In this review, we discuss the role of REDD1 in the regulation of cell signaling and processes in normal and cancer cells, its involvement in the pathogenesis of different diseases, and the approach to safer glucocorticoid receptor (GR)-targeted therapies via a combination of glucocorticoids and REDD1 inhibitors to decrease the adverse atrophogenic effects of these steroids.

Macrophages-Related Genes Biomarkers in the Deterioration of Atherosclerosis

Background

The macrophages are involved in all stages of cardiovascular diseases, demonstrating the correlation between inflammation, atherosclerosis, and myocardial infarction (MI). Here, we aim to investigate macrophages-related genes in the deterioration of atherosclerosis.

Methods

GSE41571 was downloaded and the abundance of immune cells was estimated by utilizing the xCell. By utilizing the limma test and correlation analysis, differentially expressed macrophages-related genes (DEMRGs) were documented. The functional pathways and the protein–protein interaction (PPI) network were analyzed and the hub DEMRGs were obtained. The hub DEMRGs and their interactions were analyzed using NetworkAnalyst 3.0 and for validation, the expressions of hub DEMRGs were analyzed using the GSE135055 and GSE116250 datasets as well as atherosclerosis and MI mice model.

Results

A total of 509 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were correlated with the abundance of macrophages and were identified as DEMRGs (Pearson correlation coefficients (PCC) &gt; 0.6), which were mainly enriched in extracellular structure organization, lysosomal membrane, MHC protein complex binding, and so on. After screening out, 28 hub DEMRGs were obtained with degrees ≥20, including GNAI1 (degree = 113), MRPS2 (degree = 56), HCK (degree = 45), SOCS3 (degree = 40), NET1 (degree = 28), and so on. After validating using Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets and the atherosclerosis and MI mice model, eight proteins were validated using ApoE-/- and C57 mice. The expression levels of proteins, including SYNJ2, NET1, FZD7, LCP2, HCK, GNB2, and PPP4C were positively correlated to left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), while that of EIF4EBP1 was negatively correlated to LVEF.

Conclusion

The screened hub DEMRGs, SYNJ2, NET1, FZD7, LCP2, HCK, GNB2, EIF4EBP1, and PPP4C, may be therapeutic targets for treatment and prediction in the patients with plaque progression and MI recurrent events. The kit of the eight hub DEMRGs may test plaque progression and MI recurrent events and help in the diagnosis and treatment of MI-induced heart failure (HF), thus decreasing mortality and morbidity.

Emodin Ameliorates Acute Pancreatitis-Associated Lung Injury Through Inhibiting the Alveolar Macrophages Pyroptosis

Objective: To investigate the protective effect of emodin in acute pancreatitis (AP)-associated lung injury and the underlying mechanisms. Methods: NaT-AP model in rats was constructed using 3.5% sodium taurocholate, and CER+LPS-AP model in mice was constructed using caerulein combined with Lipopolysaccharide. Animals were divided randomly into four groups: sham, AP, Ac-YVAD-CMK (caspase-1 specific inhibitor, AYC), and emodin groups. AP-associated lung injury was assessed with H&E staining, inflammatory cytokine levels, and myeloperoxidase activity. Alveolar macrophages (AMs) pyroptosis was evaluated by flow cytometry. In bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, the levels of lactate dehydrogenase and inflammatory cytokines were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Pyroptosis-related protein expressions were detected by Western Blot. Results: Emodin, similar to the positive control AYC, significantly alleviated pancreas and lung damage in rats and mice. Additionally, emodin mitigated the pyroptotic process of AMs by decreasing the level of inflammatory cytokines and lactate dehydrogenase. More importantly, the protein expressions of NLRP3, ASC, Caspase1 p10, GSDMD, and GSDMD-NT in AMs were significantly downregulated after emodin intervention. Conclusion: Emodin has a therapeutic effect on AP-associated lung injury, which may result from the inhibition of NLRP3/Caspase1/GSDMD-mediated AMs pyroptosis signaling pathways.

Effects of Anthraquinones on Immune Responses and Inflammatory Diseases

The anthraquinones (AQs) and derivatives are widely distributed in nature, including plants, fungi, and insects, with effects of anti-inflammation and anti-oxidation, antibacterial and antiviral, anti-osteoporosis, anti-tumor, etc. Inflammation, including acute and chronic, is a comprehensive response to foreign pathogens under a variety of physiological and pathological processes. AQs could attenuate symptoms and tissue damages through anti-inflammatory or immuno-modulatory effects. The review aims to provide a scientific summary of AQs on immune responses under different pathological conditions, such as digestive diseases, respiratory diseases, central nervous system diseases, etc. It is hoped that the present paper will provide ideas for future studies of the immuno-regulatory effect of AQs and the therapeutic potential for drug development and clinical use of AQs and derivatives.

Roles and new Insights of Macrophages in the Tumor Microenvironment of Thyroid Cancer

Although most thyroid cancers have a good and predictable prognosis, the anaplastic, medullary, and refractory thyroid cancers still prone to recurrence and metastasis, resulting in poor prognosis. Although a number of newly developed targeted therapies have begun to be indicated for the above types of thyroid cancer in recent years, their ability to improve overall survival remain hindered by low efficacy. As the largest component of immune cells in tumor microenvironment, tumor-associated macrophages play a key role in the invasion and metastasis of thyroid cancer. There is much evidence that the immune system, tumor microenvironment and cancer stem cell interactions may revolutionize traditional therapeutic directions. Tumor-associated macrophages have been extensively studied in a variety of tumors, however, research on the relationship between thyroid cancer and macrophages is still insufficient. In this review, we summarize the functions of tumor-associated macrophages in different types of thyroid cancer, their cytokines or chemokines effect on thyroid cancer and the mechanisms that promote tumor proliferation and migration. In addition, we discuss the mechanisms by which tumor-associated macrophages maintain the stemness of thyroid cancer and potential strategies for targeting tumor-associated macrophages to treat thyroid cancer.

PM2.5 deregulated microRNA and inflammatory microenvironment in lung injury

PM2.5 negatively affects human health, particularly lung injury. However, the role of PM2.5-regulated miRNAs in lung injury remains unknown. MiRNA array results showed mmu-miR-467c-5p regulated Prdx6 expression to adapt to lung injury condition, and deregulated miRNAs regulated macrophages to build a localized inflammatory microenvironment. In addition, miRNAs were transferred into adjacent alveolar epithelial cells, regulating the expressions of cell injury signaling pathway-targeted genes, and accelerating local lung tissue injury. NO and RAGE were increased in the coculture supernatant, and SPD was decreased. PM2.5 exposure induced local lung injury, promoted inflammation in local lung tissues, increased capillary permeability in the lung tissue, and rearranged the local lung tissue structure. We also confirmed in AECOPD patients TNF-α and IL-1β levels are obviously higher than healthy person. These findings provide new mechanistic insights regarding PM2.5 and targeted miRNAs in the inflammatory microenvironment, which increases our knowledge of PM2.5-lung injury interactions.

Emodin relieves the inflammation and pyroptosis of lipopolysaccharide-treated 1321N1 cells by regulating methyltransferase-like 3 -mediated NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 expression

Sepsis brain injury (SBI) is a major cause of death in critically ill patients. The present study aimed to investigate the role of emodin in SBI development. Human astrocyte 1321N1 cells were stimulated with 100 ng/mL lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to establish an SBI model in vitro. Flow cytometry was performed to measure the cell pyroptosis. The protein expression levels of syndecan-1 (SDC-1), NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3), Caspase-1, and the N-terminal fragment of gasdermin D (GSDMD-N) were measured using Western blotting. Interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-10, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α levels in cells were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. The N⁶-methyladenosine (m⁶A) modification was analyzed using the methylated RNA immunoprecipitation assay. NLRP3 activator, nigericin, was used to overexpress NLRP3. LPS treatment significantly enhanced the pyroptosis in 1321N1 cells, increased the levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6, and decreased the levels of IL-10. The protein expression levels of NLRP3, SDC-1, GSDMD-N, and Caspase-1 were also increased. Emodin treatment decreased the levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, NLRP3, SDC-1, GSDMD-N, and Caspase-1, while increasing the levels of IL-10 in LPS-treated 1321N1 cells. Nigericin reversed the effects of emodin. Furthermore, emodin upregulated m⁶A levels in NLRP3 by increasing the expression of methyltransferase-like 3 (METTL3). Meanwhile, knockdown of METTL3 reversed the effects of emodin on the mRNA expression and stability of NLRP3. Therefore, emodin inhibits the inflammation and pyroptosis of LPS-treated 1321N1 cells by inactivating METTL3-mediated NLRP3 expression.

Qingwenzhike Prescription Alleviates Acute Lung Injury Induced by LPS via Inhibiting TLR4/NF-kB Pathway and NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation

Background: Acute lung injury (ALI) is characterized by dysfunction of the alveolar epithelial membrane caused by acute inflammation and tissue injury. Qingwenzhike (QWZK) prescription has been demonstrated to be effective against respiratory viral infections in clinical practices, including coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection. So far, the chemical compositions, protective effects on ALI, and possible anti-inflammatory mechanisms remain unknown.

Methods: In this study, the compositions of QWZK were determined via the linear ion trap/electrostatic field orbital trap tandem high-resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-LTQ-Orbitrap MS). To test the protective effects of QWZK on ALI, an ALI model induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in rats was used. The effects of QWZK on the LPS-induced ALI were evaluated by pathological changes and the number and classification of white blood cell (WBC) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). To investigate the possible underlying mechanisms, the contents of interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP-1), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-18 (IL-18), and immunoregulatory-related factors interferon-γ (IFN-γ) were detected by ELISA. Furthermore, the expression of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), p-IKKα/β, IKKα, IKKβ, p-IκBα, IκBα, p-NF-κB, nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3), cleaved caspase-1, pro-caspase-1, apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing CARD (ASC), and β-actin were tested by Western blot.

Results: A total of 99 compounds were identified in QWZK, including 33 flavonoids, 23 phenolic acids, 3 alkaloids, 3 coumarins, 20 triterpenoids, 5 anthraquinones, and 12 others. ALI rats induced by LPS exhibited significant increase in neutrophile, significant decrease in lymphocyte, and evidently thicker alveolar wall than control animals. QWZK reversed the changes in WBC count and alveolar wall to normal level on the model of ALI induced by LPS. ELISA results revealed that QWZK significantly reduced the overexpression of proinflammatory factors IL-6, TNF-α, MCP-1, IL-1β, IL-18, and IFN-γ induced by LPS. Western blot results demonstrated that QWZK significantly downregulated the overexpression of TLR4, p-IKKα/β, p-IκBα, p-NF-κB, NLRP3, cleaved caspase-1, and ASC induced by LPS, which suggested that QWZK inhibited TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway and NLRP3 inflammasomes.

Conclusions: The chemical compositions of QWZK were first identified. It was demonstrated that QWZK showed protective effects on ALI induced by LPS. The possible underlying mechanisms of QWZK on ALI induced by LPS was via inhibiting TLR4/NF-kB signaling pathway and NLRP3 inflammasome activation. This work suggested that QWZK is a potential therapeutic candidate for the treatments of ALI and pulmonary inflammation.

Hypoxia-Inducible Factor Signaling in Inflammatory Lung Injury and Repair

Inflammatory lung injury is characterized by lung endothelial cell (LEC) death, alveolar epithelial cell (AEC) death, LEC-LEC junction weakening, and leukocyte infiltration, which together disrupt nutrient and oxygen transport. Subsequently, lung vascular repair is characterized by LEC and AEC regeneration and LEC-LEC junction re-annealing, which restores nutrient and oxygen delivery to the injured tissue. Pulmonary hypoxia is a characteristic feature of several inflammatory lung conditions, including acute lung injury (ALI), acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The vascular response to hypoxia is controlled primarily by the hypoxia-inducible transcription factors (HIFs) 1 and 2. These transcription factors control the expression of a wide variety of target genes, which in turn mediate key pathophysiological processes including cell survival, differentiation, migration, and proliferation. HIF signaling in pulmonary cell types such as LECs and AECs, as well as infiltrating leukocytes, tightly regulates inflammatory lung injury and repair, in a manner that is dependent upon HIF isoform, cell type, and injury stimulus. The aim of this review is to describe the HIF-dependent regulation of inflammatory lung injury and vascular repair. The review will also discuss potential areas for future study and highlight putative targets for inflammatory lung conditions such as ALI/ARDS and severe COVID-19. In the development of HIF-targeted therapies to reduce inflammatory lung injury and/or enhance pulmonary vascular repair, it will be vital to consider HIF isoform- and cell-specificity, off-target side-effects, and the timing and delivery strategy of the therapeutic intervention.

Sirolimus combined with oseltamivir and corticosteroid treatment for a puerpera with severe pneumonia caused by 2009 pandemic H1N1: A case report

Severe pneumonia in patients infected with the 2009 pandemic H1N1 (pH1N1) virus was partially attributed to excessive immune response. Anti-virus treatment for these patients was insufficient. Here we reported the therapy effect of sirolimus, an immunosuppressor, combined with oseltamivir and corticosteroid for a puerpera with severe pneumonia caused by pH1N1 virus. This patient has infected with the pH1N1 virus in late pregnancy, and antiviral therapy was not implemented timely. She developed severe pneumonia and ARDS rapidly and need receive a cesarean section on the 39_th week after pregnancy. After giving birth to a healthy baby, she received a combination of oseltamivir, sirolimus and corticosteroid, and improved in the following days. Moreover, the cytokines in serum and viral loads in BALF decreased significantly. She recovered without infectious symptoms and was discharged. Sirolimus combined with oseltamivir and corticosteroid is likely responsible for lowering the viral loads, reducing the patient's cytokine level, and further improving her clinical outcomes. It provides evidence that adjuvant treatment was beneficial to patients with severe pneumonia induced by the pH1N1 virus.

Emodin Improves Intestinal Health and Immunity through Modulation of Gut Microbiota in Mice Infected by Pathogenic Escherichia coli O1

The effect of emodin on the intestinal mucosal barrier of a mouse E. coli O₁-induced diarrhea model was observed. Following successful establishment of a diarrhea model, the mice were treated with drugs for seven days. Intestinal lesions and the shape and the number of goblet cells were assessed via hematoxylin-eosin and periodic-acid-Schiff staining, while changes in inflammatory factors, ultrastructure of the small intestine, expression of MUC-2, and changes in the intestinal microbiota were analyzed via RT-PCR, electron microscopy, immunofluorescence, and 16S rRNA sequencing. Examination showed that emodin ameliorated pathological damage to the intestines of diarrheic mice. RT-PCR indicated that emodin reduced TNF-α, IL-β, IL-6, MPO, and COX-2 mRNA levels in duodenal tissues and increased the levels of sIgA and MUC-2 and the number of goblet cells. Microbiome analysis revealed that Escherichia coli O₁ reduced bacterial richness and altered the distribution pattern of bacterial communities at the phylum and order levels in cecum contents. Notably, pathogenic Clostridiales and Enterobacteriales were significantly increased in diarrheic mice. However, emodin reversed the trend. Thus, emodin protected against intestinal damage induced by E. coli O₁ and improved intestinal mucosal barrier function in mice by increasing the abundance of beneficial intestinal microbiota and inhibiting the abundance of harmful bacteria, thereby alleviating diarrhea.

PHD2 attenuates high-glucose-induced blood retinal barrier breakdown in human retinal microvascular endothelial cells by regulating the Hif-1α/VEGF pathway

OBJECTIVE

Diabetic macular edema (DME) is one of the most frequent causes of severe vision loss. The pathogenesis of DME is still not fully understood; however, it is hypothesized to result from breakdown of the blood-retinal barrier (BRB) due to retinal inflammation by vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) secretion under hyperglycemic conditions. In this investigation, we discovered that Prolyl-4-hydroxylase 2 (PHD2), an upstream regulator of hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) modulates VEGF expression and thus preserves BRB function in the mouse retina.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Primary human retinal microvascular endothelial cells (hRMECs) were cultured in human endothelial serum-free growth medium and exposed to hyperglycemia. Changes in cell viability were investigated by an MTT assay. BRB function in each group was revealed by a paracellular permeability assay and trans-endothelial electrical resistance (TEER). Morphological changes in the BRB were investigated by immunofluorescence staining of occludin and zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1). The mRNA and protein levels of the tight junction proteins, PHD2, HIF-1α, and VEGF were measured by reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR), western blot analysis and ELISA.

RESULTS

Under hyperglycemic conditions, the viability of hRMECs was decreased, and PHD2 expression was downregulated, accompanied by increased paracellular permeability and decreased trans-endothelial electrical resistance. Additionally, HIF-1α and VEGF expression levels were increased, whereas the expression levels of tight junction proteins, including occludin and ZO-1, were decreased and BRB function was compromised. The PHD2 activator R59949 (diacylglycerol kinase inhibitor II), altered these pathological changes, and the PHD2 inhibitor dimethyloxalylglycine (DMOG) resulted in the opposite effects.

CONCLUSION

These results demonstrated that PHD2 inhibited HIF-1 activity by inhibiting HIF-1α expression in hRMECs under hyperglycemic conditions, which led to the downregulation of the expression of the angiogenic factor VEGF, and thus helped to maintain the functions of hRMECs. Therefore, it is reasonable to propose that PHD2 could be a potential novel target for the treatment of DME or other diseases with a similar pathogenesis.

Advances in the study of emodin: an update on pharmacological properties and mechanistic basis

Rhei Radix et Rhizoma, also known as rhubarb or Da Huang, has been widely used as a spice and as traditional herbal medicine for centuries, and is currently marketed in China as the principal herbs in various prescriptions, such as Da-Huang-Zhe-Chong pills and Da-Huang-Qing-Wei pills. Emodin, a major bioactive anthraquinone derivative extracted from rhubarb, represents multiple health benefits in the treatment of a host of diseases, such as immune-inflammatory abnormality, tumor progression, bacterial or viral infections, and metabolic syndrome. Emerging evidence has made great strides in clarifying the multi-targeting therapeutic mechanisms underlying the efficacious therapeutic potential of emodin, including anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, anti-fibrosis, anti-tumor, anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and anti-diabetic properties. This comprehensive review aims to provide an updated summary of recent developments on these pharmacological efficacies and molecular mechanisms of emodin, with a focus on the underlying molecular targets and signaling networks. We also reviewed recent attempts to improve the pharmacokinetic properties and biological activities of emodin by structural modification and novel material-based targeted delivery. In conclusion, emodin still has great potential to become promising therapeutic options to immune and inflammation abnormality, organ fibrosis, common malignancy, pathogenic bacteria or virus infections, and endocrine disease or disorder. Scientifically addressing concerns regarding the poor bioavailability and vague molecular targets would significantly contribute to the widespread acceptance of rhubarb not only as a dietary supplement in food flavorings and colorings but also as a health-promoting TCM in the coming years.

Remote Inflammatory Preconditioning Alleviates Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Acute Lung Injury via Inhibition of Intrinsic Apoptosis in Rats

Background

Acute lung injury (ALI) always leads to severe inflammation. As inflammation and oxidative stress are the common pathological basis of endotoxin-induced inflammatory injury and ischemic reperfusion injury (IRI), we speculate that remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC) can be protective for ALI when used as remote inflammatory preconditioning (RInPC).

Method

A total of 21 Sprague-Dawley rats were used for the animal experiments. Eighteen rats were equally and randomly divided into the control (NS injection), LPS (LPS injection), and RInPC groups. The RInPC was performed prior to the LPS injection via tourniquet blockage of blood flow to the right hind limb and adopted three cycles of 5 min tying followed by 5 min untying. Animals were sacrificed 24 hours later. There were 2 rats in the LPS group and 1 in the RInPC group who died before the end of the experiment. Supplementary experiments in the LPS and RInPC groups were conducted to ensure that 6 animals in each group reached the end of the experiment.

Results

In the present study, we demonstrated that the RInPC significantly attenuated the LPS-induced ALI in rats. Apoptotic cells were reduced significantly by the RInPC, with the simultaneous improvement of apoptosis-related proteins. Reduction of MPO and MDA and increasing of SOD activity were found significantly improved by the RInPC. Increasing of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 induced by the LPS was inhibited, while IL-10 was significantly increased by RInPC, compared to the LPS group.

Conclusion

RInPC could inhibit inflammation and attenuate oxidative stress, thereby reducing intrinsic apoptosis and providing lung protection in the LPS-induced ALI in rats.