Emodin Attenuates LPS-Induced Acute Lung Injury by Inhibiting NLRP3 Inflammasome-Dependent Pyroptosis Signaling Pathway In vitro and In vivo

Acute Lung Injury and the NLRP3 Inflammasome

Acute lung injury (ALI) manifests through harm to the capillary endothelium and alveolar epithelial cells, arising from a multitude of factors, leading to scattered interstitial alterations, pulmonary edema, and subsequent acute hypoxic respiratory insufficiency. Acute lung injury (ALI), along with its more serious counterpart, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), carry a fatality rate that hovers around 30-40%. Its principal pathological characteristic lies in the unchecked inflammatory reaction. Currently, the main strategies for treating ALI are alleviation of inflammation and prevention of respiratory failure. Concerning the etiology of ALI, NLRP3 Inflammasome is essential to the body's innate immune response. The composition of this inflammasome complex includes NLRP3, the pyroptosis mediator ASC, and pro-caspase-1. Recent research has reported that the inflammatory response centered on NLRP3 inflammasomes plays a key part in inflammation in ALI, and may hence be a prospective candidate for therapeutic intervention. In the review, we present an overview of the ailment characteristics of acute lung injury along with the constitution and operation of the NLRP3 inflammasome within this framework. We also explore therapeutic strategies targeting the NLRP3 inflammasome to combat acute lung injury.

Neuroprotective effect of emodin on Aβ25-35-induced cytotoxicity in PC12 cells involves Nrf2/GPX4 and TLR4/p-NF-κB/NLRP3 pathways

The present study aims to investigate the neuroprotective effects of emodin in Alzheimer's disease (AD). PC12 cells were used to explore the underlying mechanism and were incubated with Aβ25-35 for 24 h as the model group, incubated with emodin at different concentrations (2.5, 5, 10 μM) as the drug administration groups. The content of MDA and the enzymic activities of CAT, GSH-Px were detected by the corresponding commercial kits. The ROS level in Aβ25-35 induced cells was decreased by emodin dose-dependently, but the MMP in these cells were elevated. The expressions of AChE, TLR4, p-NF-κB, NLRP3, IL-1β, and TNF-α in PC12 cells were increased by Aβ25-35 treatment, the expressions of Nrf2, HO-1, GPX4, xCT were decreased, all the levels of expressions were reversed by emodin. Besides, ultraviolet spectrophotometry and infrared spectrophotometry were ultilized to ascertain the production of emodin-Fe (Ⅱ) complex. The FerroOrange results showed that emodin reduced free Fe2+ in cells. The immunofluorescent intensities of Nrf2, GPX4, and p-NF-κB offered direct visible evidence for emodin's multi-targets in AD treatment. Collectively, emodin could inhibit the activity of AChE and exert neuroprotective effects against AD through antioxidant, anti-ferroptotic, anti-inflammatory properties via Nrf2/GPX4 and TLR4/p-NF-κB/NLRP3 pathways.

Systematic investigation of the material basis, effectiveness and safety of Thesium chinense Turcz. and its preparation Bairui Granules against lung inflammation

BACKGROUND

Thesium chinense Turcz. (Named as Bai Rui Cao in Chinese) and its preparations (e.g., Bairui Granules) have been used to treat inflammatory diseases, such as acute mastitis, lobar pneumonia, tonsillitis, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and upper respiratory tract infection. However, the material basis, pharmacological efficiency, and safety have not been illustrated.

METHODS

Anti-inflammatory activity-guided isolation of constituents has been performed using multiple column chromatography, and their structures were elucidated by NMR spectroscopy and ECD calculations. The inhibitory effects on lung inflammation and safety of the crude ethanol extract (CE), Bairui Granules (BG), and the purified active constituents were evaluated using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated acute lung inflammation (ALI) mice model or normal mice.

RESULTS

Seven new compounds (1-7) and fifty-six known compounds (8-63) were isolated from T. chinense, and fifty-four were reported from this plant for the first time. The new flavonoid glycosides 1-2, new fatty acids 4-5, new alkaloid 7 as well as the known constituents including flavonoid aglycones 8-11, lignans 46-54, alkaloids 34 and 45, coumarins 57, phenylpropionic acids 27, and simple aromatic compounds 39, 44 and 58 exhibited anti-inflammatory activity. Network pharmacology analysis indicated that anti-inflammation of T. chinense was attributed to flavonoids and alkaloids by regulating inflammation-related proteins (e.g., TNF, NF-κB, TGF-β). Furthermore, constituents of T. chinense including kaempferol-3-O-glucorhamnoside (KN, also named as Bairuisu I, 19), astragalin (AG, Bairuisu II, 12), and kaempferol (KF, Bairuisu III, 8), as well as CE and BG could alleviate lung inflammation caused by LPS in mice by preventing neutrophils infiltration and the expression of the genes for pro-inflammatory cytokines NLRP3, caspase-1, IL-1β, and COX-2. After a 28-day subacute toxicity test, BG at doses of 4.875 g/kg and 9.750 g/kg (equivalent to onefold and twofold the clinically recommended dose) and CE at a dose of 11.138 g/kg (equivalent to fourfold the clinical dose of BG) were found to be safe and non-toxic.

CONCLUSIONS

The discovery of sixty-three constituents comprehensively illustrated the material basis of T. chinense. T. chinense and Bairui Granules could alleviate lung inflammation by regulating inflammation-related proteins and no toxicity was observed under the twofold of clinically used doses.

FTO Deficiency Alleviates LPS-induced Acute Lung Injury by TXNIP/NLRP3-mediated Alveolar Epithelial Cell Pyroptosis

N6-methyladenosine (m6A) plays a role in various diseases, but it has rarely been reported in acute lung injury (ALI). The FTO (fat mass and obesity-associated) protein can regulate mRNA metabolism by removing m6A residues. The aim of this study was to examine the role and mechanism of the m6A demethylase FTO in LPS-induced ALI. Lung epithelial FTO-knockout mice and FTO-knockdown/overexpression human alveolar epithelial (A549) cell lines were constructed to evaluate the effects of FTO on ALI. Bioinformatics analysis and a series of in vivo and in vitro assays were used to examine the mechanism of FTO regulation. Rescue assays were conducted to examine whether the impact of FTO on ALI depended on the TXNIP/NLRP3 pathway. In LPS-induced ALI, RNA m6A modification amounts were upregulated, and FTO expression was downregulated. In vivo, lung epithelial FTO knockout alleviated alveolar structure disorder, tissue edema, and pulmonary inflammation and improved the survival of ALI mice. In vitro, FTO knockdown reduced A549 cell damage and death induced by LPS, whereas FTO overexpression exacerbated cell damage and death. Mechanistically, bioinformatics analysis revealed that TXNIP was a downstream target of FTO. FTO deficiency mitigated pyroptosis in LPS-induced ALI via the TXNIP/NLRP3 pathway. Rescue assays confirmed that the impact of FTO on the TXNIP/NLRP3 pathway was significantly reversed by the TXNIP inhibitor SRI-37330. Deficiency of FTO alleviates LPS-induced ALI via TXNIP/NLRP3 pathway-mediated alveolar epithelial cell pyroptosis, which might be a novel therapeutic strategy for combating ALI.

Magnolol attenuates macrophage pyroptosis triggered by Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus

Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus (SEZ) is a zoonotic bacterial pathogen that causes life-threatening infections and various diseases such as meningitis, endocarditis and pneumonia. With the use of antibiotics being severely restricted in the international community, an alternative to antibiotics is urgently needed against bacterial. In the present study, the herbal extract magnolol protected mice against SEZ infection, reflected by increased survival rate and reduced bacterial burden. A pro-inflammatory form of cell death occurred in SEZ-infected macrophage. Magnolol downregulated the expression of pyroptosis-related proteins and reduced the formation of cell membrane pores in infected macrophages to suppress the development of subsequent inflammation. We further demonstrated that magnolol directly suppressed SEZ-induced macrophage pyroptosis, which partially protected macrophages from SEZ infection. Our study revealed that magnolol suppressed inflammation and protected mice against SEZ infection, providing a possible treatment for SEZ infection.

ACT001 alleviates inflammation and pyroptosis through the PPAR-γ/NF-κB signaling pathway in LPS-induced alveolar macrophages

BACKGROUND

ACT001 is an anti-inflammatory agent that has been widely investigated for its role in tumors, intracranial diseases, and fibrotic diseases, but its effect on acute lung injury is less known.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect and mechanism of ACT001 on regulating inflammation and pyroptosis in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced alveolar macrophages.

METHODS

NR8383 alveolar macrophages treated with LPS were used to replicate the proinflammatory macrophage phenotype observed during acute lung injury. After ACT001 treatment, we measured the secretion and expression levels of critical inflammatory cytokines, the rate of pyroptosis, and the expression of NLRP3 inflammasome-associated proteins and pyroptosis-associated proteins. In addition, we assessed the role of the PPAR-γ/NF-κB signaling pathways and further validated the results with a PPAR-γ inhibitor.

RESULTS

Our findings confirmed that ACT001 reduced the expression and release of inflammatory factors, attenuated cell pyroptosis, and downregulated the expression of NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1 p20, and GSDMD-N. These effects may be achieved by activating PPAR-γ expression and then inhibiting the NF-κB signaling pathway. When macrophages were treated with the PPAR-γ inhibitor, the protective effects of ACT001 were reversed.

CONCLUSION

ACT001 significantly ameliorated inflammation and pyroptosis via the PPAR-γ/NF-κB signaling pathways in LPS-induced NR8383 alveolar macrophages.

Dachengqi decoction alleviates acute lung injury by suppressing HIF-1α-mediated glycolysis

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Acute lung injury (ALI) is an aggressive inflammatory disease of the lungs characterized by a high mortality rate. More and more researchers have found that herbal medicines are highly effective in preventing and treating inflammatory lung diseases. Among them, Dachengqi Decoction (DCQD) is considered to be the representative prescription of "lung-intestine combined treatment" in traditional Chinese medicine, and its potential protective mechanism against ALI is worthy of further study.

AIM OF THE STUDY

Based on the theory of "lung-intestine combined treatment", the protective effect and molecular mechanism of DCQD in alleviating ALI were verified by network pharmacology and experiments.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The active ingredients of DCQD were obtained by UPLC-MS. Network pharmacology and molecular docking techniques were used to screen the active ingredient-target pathway of DCQD for ALI treatment. Additionally, the ALI model was constructed and verified in vivo according to the predicted results.

RESULTS

34 active components and 570 potential targets of DCQD were selected by network pharmacological analysis. In addition, 950 target genes of ALI and 2095 target genes related to sepsis were obtained, and 570 interlinked target genes of the two were identified. We finally screened out 199 common target genes critical to DCQD treatment of ALI and sepsis, and then enriched them with GO and KEGG. In the ALI model, studies have found that DCQD alleviates the inflammatory response of ALI, possibly by inhibiting HIF-1α-mediated glycolysis.

CONCLUSION

This study confirmed the preventive effect of DCQD on ALI, and found that DCQD can improve the protective mechanism of ALI by regulating the expression of HIF-1α, down-regulating glycolysis and reducing inflammation.

Mechanism of DaiTongXiao in the treatment of gouty arthritis through the NLRP3 signaling pathway

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

DaiTongXiao (DTX) is a traditional Chinese Dai folk formulation utilized for gouty arthritis treatment, with substantial evidence supporting its anti-inflammatory properties. The NLRP3 inflammasome disorder is tightly linked to the development of many inflammatory diseases.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To elucidate the therapeutic efficacy of DTX in gouty arthritis and reveal its potential underlying mechanism.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The primary active constituents in DTX were determined through ultraviolet spectrophotometry and gas chromatography. Rats underwent induction with monosodium urate (MSU), followed by treatment of J774A.1 cells with adenosine triphosphate (ATP) activation and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induction and the subsequent culture in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium. The degree of foot joint swelling in rats was assessed, and ankle joints were evaluated through H&E staining. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was performed to measure the levels of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in both serum and cells. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was performed to determine the relative mRNA expression levels of NLRP3, ASC, Caspase-1, and NF-κB in J774A.1 macrophages. The expression of NLRP3, ASC, Caspase-1, and NF-κB was examined by western blotting.

RESULTS

DTX could alleviate MSU-induced joint swelling in rats, as evidenced by a reduction in joint inflammation. Moreover, DTX effectively enhanced the survival rate of J774A.1 cells following LPS induction and ATP activation. Furthermore, DTX significantly reduced IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α levels in both cell culture medium and rat serum. RT-PCR results revealed that DTX notably downregulated the mRNA expression levels of NLRP3, ASC, Caspase-1, and NF-κB in J774A.1 cells. Additionally, DTX downregulated NLRP3, ASC, NF-κB, and Caspase-1 expression in the joint tissue.

CONCLUSIONS

DTX exerts a significant anti-gouty arthritis effect, with its mechanism being tightly linked to the NLRP3 inflammatory signaling pathway. This pathway may be modulated by inhibiting IL-1β differentiation and maturation by downregulating NLRP3, ASC, Caspase-1, and NF-κB protein expression. This, in turn, leads to a reduction in the release of IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α, ultimately impeding gouty arthritis progression.

Pyroptosis: a double-edged sword in lung cancer and other respiratory diseases

Pyroptosis is an active cell death process mediated by gasdermin family proteins including Gasdermin A (GSDMA), Gasdermin B (GSDMB), Gasdermin C (GSDMC), Gasdermin D (GSDMD), Gasdermin E (GSDME, DFNA5), and DFNB59. Emerging evidences have shown that pyroptosis contributes to many pulmonary diseases, especially lung cancer, and pneumonia. The exact roles of pyroptosis and gasdermin family proteins are tremendously intricate. Besides, there are evidences that pyroptosis contributes to these respiratory diseases. However, it often plays a dual role in these diseases which is a cause for concern and makes it difficult for clinical translation. This review will focus on the multifaceted roles of pyroptosis in respiratory diseases.

Neutrophil membrane-engineered Panax ginseng root-derived exosomes loaded miRNA 182-5p targets NOX4/Drp-1/NLRP3 signal pathway to alleviate acute lung injury in sepsis: experimental studies

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study was to prepare neutrophil membrane-engineered Panax ginseng root-derived exosomes (N-exo) and investigate the effects of N-exo microRNA (miRNA) 182-5p (N-exo-miRNA 182-5p) on acute lung injury (ALI) in sepsis.

METHODS

Panax ginseng root-derived exosomes were separated by differential centrifugation. Neutrophil membrane engineering was performed on exo to obtain N-exo. miRNA182-5p was transmitted into N-exo by electroporation technology to obtain N-exo-miRNA 182-5p. LPS was used to establish an in-vivo and in-vitro model of ALI of sepsis to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effect of N-exo-miRNA 182-5p.

RESULTS

The results of transmission electron microscope showed that exo was a double-layer membrane structure like a saucer. Nanoparticle size analysis showed that the average particle size of exo was 129.7 nm. Further, compared with exo, the level of miRNA182-5p was significantly increased in N-exo. The experimental results showed that N-exo-miRNA 182-5p significantly improved ALI via target regulation of NOX4/Drp-1/NLRP3 signal pathway in vivo and in vitro .

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, this study prepared a novel engineered exosome (N-exo and N-exo-miRNA 182-5p significantly improved ALI in sepsis via target regulation of NOX4/Drp-1/NLRP3 signal pathway, providing new ideas and methods for treatment of ALI in sepsis.

Emodin exhibits anti-acne potential by inhibiting cell growth, lipogenesis, and inflammation in human SZ95 sebocytes

Emodin, a natural anthraquinone derivative, possesses anti-proliferative and anti-inflammatory properties in skin diseases. However, little information is available on the efficacy of emodin in treating acne vulgaris (acne). This study aims to investigate the protective effects and potential mechanisms of emodin as an anti-acne agent. In vitro, SZ95 sebocytes was chose to establish an acneigenic cellular model. We found that emodin effectively inhibited proliferation, induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis of SZ95 sebocytes in a dose-dependent manner. To evaluate the lipid-lowering potential of emodin, we examined the levels of lipid contents and lipogenic transcription factors, and found that both lipid production and protein expression of PPARγ, LXR α/β, and SREBP-1 were decreased after treatment with emodin. Furthermore, our results revealed that emodin inhibited sebaceous lipogenesis induced by insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), which was accompanied by a potent inhibition of the phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt/forkhead box protein O1 (FoxO1) pathway. In detail, emodin augmented the inhibitory effect of isotretinoin and PI3K inhibitor LY294002, while attenuating the activation of IGF-1 on PI3K/Akt/FoxO1 pathway. In addition, emodin could decrease the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and IL-8, and suppress the expression of NLRP3, capase-1, IL-1β, and IL-18 in SZ95 sebocytes exposed to Cutibacterium acnes. Overall, our study provides preliminary evidence supporting the anti-growth, anti-lipogenic and anti-inflammatory properties of emodin, indicating the potential therapeutic application of emodin for acne treatment.

Gasdermins in sepsis

Sepsis is a hyper-heterogeneous syndrome in which the systemic inflammatory response persists throughout the course of the disease and the inflammatory and immune responses are dynamically altered at different pathogenic stages. Gasdermins (GSDMs) proteins are pore-forming executors in the membrane, subsequently mediating the release of pro-inflammatory mediators and inflammatory cell death. With the increasing research on GSDMs proteins and sepsis, it is believed that GSDMs protein are one of the most promising therapeutic targets in sepsis in the future. A more comprehensive and in-depth understanding of the functions of GSDMs proteins in sepsis is important to alleviate the multi-organ dysfunction and reduce sepsis-induced mortality. In this review, we focus on the function of GSDMs proteins, the molecular mechanism of GSDMs involved in sepsis, and the regulatory mechanism of GSDMs-mediated signaling pathways, aiming to provide novel ideas and therapeutic strategies for the diagnosis and treatment of sepsis.

RNA m6A methylation regulators in sepsis

N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification is a class of epitope modifications that has received significant attention in recent years, particularly in relation to its role in various diseases, including sepsis. Epigenetic research has increasingly focused on m6A modifications, which is influenced by the dynamic regulation of three protein types: ‟Writers" (such as METTL3/METTL14/WTAP)-responsible for m6A modification; ‟Erasers" (FTO and ALKBH5)-involved in m6A de-modification; and ‟Readers" (YTHDC1/2, YTHDF1/2/3)-responsible for m6A recognition. Sepsis, a severe and fatal infectious disease, has garnered attention regarding the crucial effect of m6A modifications on its development. In this review, we attempted to summarize the recent studies on the involvement of m6A and its regulators in sepsis, as well as the significance of m6A modifications and their regulators in the development of novel drugs and clinical treatment. The potential value of m6A modifications and modulators in the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of sepsis has also been discussed.

Sepsis-Induced Acute Lung Injury Is Alleviated by Small Molecules from Dietary Plants via Pyroptosis Modulation

Sepsis-induced acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) has high morbidity and mortality, and it has three major pathogeneses, namely alveolar-capillary barrier destruction, elevated gut permeability, and reduced neutrophil extracellular traps (NETS), all of which are pyroptosis-involved. Due to limitations of current agents like adverse reaction superposition, inevitable drug resistance, and relatively heavier financial burden, naturally extracted small-molecule compounds have a broad market even though chemically modified drugs have straightforward efficacy. Despite increased understanding of the molecular biology and mechanism underlying sepsis-induced ARDS, there are no specific reviews concerning how small molecules from dietary plants alleviate sepsis-induced acute lung injury (ALI) via regulating pyroptotic cell death. Herein, we traced and reviewed the molecular underpinnings of sepsis-induced ALI with a focus on small-molecule compounds from dietary plants, the top three categories of which are respectively flavonoids and flavone, terpenoids, and polyphenol and phenolic acids, and how they rescued septic ALI by restraining pyroptosis.

Combination therapy with budesonide and acetylcysteine alleviates LPS-induced acute lung injury via the miR-381/NLRP3 molecular axis

BACKGROUND

Acute lung injury (ALI) usually has a high morbidity and mortality rate, but the current treatment is relatively scarce. Both budesonide (Bud) and N-acetylcysteine (NAC) exhibit protective effects in ALI, so we further investigated whether they have a synergistic effect on ALI when used together.

METHODS

Establishment of a rat model of ALI with Lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Bud and NAC were administered by nebulized inhalation alone or in combination. Subsequently, HE staining was performed to observe the pathological changes in lungs of rat. Evans blue staining was implemented to assess alveolar permeability, and the pulmonary edema was assessed by measuring the ratio of wet to dry weight of the lung. Moreover, a TUNEL kit was served to test apoptosis in lung tissues. Western blot and immunohistochemistry were analyzed for expression of scorch-related proteins and NLRP3 in lung tissue, respectively. ELISA was implemented to detect inflammatory factor levels in BALF. and RT-qPCR was utilized to assess the expression level of miR-381. After stable transfection of miR-381 inhibitor or OE-NLRP3 in BEAS-2B treated with LPS, Bud and NAC, miR-381 expression was assessed by RT-qPCR, scorch death-related protein expression was measured by western blot, cell proliferation/viability was assayed by CCK-8, apoptosis was measured by flow cytometry, and ELISA was implemented to assess inflammatory factor levels. Furthermore, the Dual-luciferase assay was used to verify the targeting relationship.

RESULTS

Bud and NAC treatment alone or in combination with nebulized inhalation attenuated the increased alveolar permeability, pulmonary edema, inflammatory response and scorching in LPS-induced ALI rats, and combined treatment with Bud and NAC was the most effective. In addition, combined treatment with Bud and NAC upregulated miR-381 expression and inhibited NLRP3 expression in cellular models and LPS-induced ALI rats. Transfection of the miR-381 inhibitor and OE-NLRP3 partially reversed the protective effects of Bud and NAC combination treatment on BEAS-2B cell proliferation inhibition, apoptosis, focal death and the inflammatory response.

CONCLUSION

Combined Bud and NAC nebulization therapy alleviates LPS-induced ALI by modulating the miR-381/NLRP3 molecular axis.

Emodin attenuates inflammation and demyelination in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

Emodin, a substance extracted from herbs such as rhubarb, has a protective effect on the central nervous system. However, the potential therapeutic effect of emodin in the context of multiple sclerosis remains unknown. In this study, a rat model of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis was established by immune induction to simulate multiple sclerosis, and the rats were intraperitoneally injected with emodin (20 mg/kg/d) from the day of immune induction until they were sacrificed. In this model, the nucleotide-binding domain-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome and the microglia exacerbated neuroinflammation, playing an important role in the development of multiple sclerosis. In addition, silent information regulator of transcription 1 (SIRT1)/peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha coactivator (PGC-1α) was found to inhibit activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome, and SIRT1 activation reduced disease severity in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. Furthermore, treatment with emodin decreased body weight loss and neurobehavioral deficits, alleviated inflammatory cell infiltration and demyelination, reduced the expression of inflammatory cytokines, inhibited microglial aggregation and activation, decreased the levels of NLRP3 signaling pathway molecules, and increased the expression of SIRT1 and PGC-1α. These findings suggest that emodin improves the symptoms of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, possibly through regulating the SIRT1/PGC-1α/NLRP3 signaling pathway and inhibiting microglial inflammation. These findings provide experimental evidence for treatment of multiple sclerosis with emodin, enlarging the scope of clinical application for emodin.

Yinma Jiedu Granule attenuates LPS-induced acute lung injury in rats via suppressing inflammation level

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Yinma Jiedu Granule (YMJD) is a traditional Chinese patent medicine (CPM), which has been proved to have anti-inflammatory effects and therapeutical effects on obstructive pulmonary disease.

AIM OF STUDY

The purpose of the current investigation is to find out if YMJD can alleviate acute lung injury (ALI) induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in rats and its underlying mechanisms.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Rats were treated with either vehicle or YMJD for 14 consecutive days, and 2 h after the last administration, the rat model of ALI was induced by the intratracheal instillation of LPS. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was applied for the fingerprint analysis of YMJD. The efficacy and molecular mechanisms were investigated.

RESULTS

The results showed that treatment with YMJD improved the general state of rats, reduced weight loss and serum lactate (LA) levels, attenuated pulmonary edema and pathological damage of the lung tissue. Moreover, we found that YMJD effectively decreased the infiltration of white blood cells (WBC), lymphocytes (LYM), mononuclear cells (MON) and neutrophils (NEUT) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), reduced the concentration of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and inhibited inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression in the lung tissue. Additionally, we found that YMJD could significantly increase the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and reduce the malondialdehyde (MDA) level in the lung tissue. By employing RNA-sequencing, we have identified that JAK2/STAT1 is an important pathway that is involved in the lung protection of YMJD, and further Western blot assay verified that YMJD could effectively inhibit the activation of the JAK2/STAT1 pathway.

CONCLUSIONS

YMJD could attenuate LPS-induced ALI through suppressing inflammation and oxidative stress in the lung tissue of rats, associating with the inhibition of JAK2/STAT1 activation. These findings provide evidence for the clinical use of YMJD for treatment of inflammatory pulmonary diseases like ALI.

Role of emodin in atherosclerosis and other cardiovascular diseases: Pharmacological effects, mechanisms, and potential therapeutic target as a phytochemical

The morbidity and mortality of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are increasing in recent years, and atherosclerosis (AS), a major CVD, becomes a disorder that afflicts human beings severely, especially the elders. AS is recognized as the primary cause and pathological basis of some other CVDs. The active constituents of Chinese herbal medicines have garnered increasing interest in recent researches owing to their influence on AS and other CVDs. Emodin (1,3,8-trihydroxy-6-methylanthraquinone) is a naturally occurring anthraquinone derivative found in some Chinese herbal medicines such as Rhei radix et rhizome, Polygoni cuspidati rhizoma et radix and Polygoni multiflori root. In this paper, we first review the latest researches about emodin's pharmacology, metabolism and toxicity. Meanwhile, it has been shown to be effective in treating CVDs caused by AS in dozens of previous studies. Therefore, we systematically reviewed the mechanisms by which emodin treats AS. In summary, these mechanisms include anti-inflammatory activity, lipid metabolism regulation, anti-oxidative stress, anti-apoptosis and vascular protection. The mechanisms of emodin in other CVDs are also discussed, such as vasodilation, inhibition of myocardial fibrosis, inhibition of cardiac valve calcification and antiviral properties. We have further summarized the potential clinical applications of emodin. Through this review, we hope to provide guidance for clinical and preclinical drug development.

Emodin alleviates lung ischemia-reperfusion injury by suppressing gasdermin D-mediated pyroptosis in rats

BACKGROUND

Pyroptosis refers to programmed cell death associated with inflammation. Emodin has been reported to alleviate lung injuries caused by various pathological processes and attenuate ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injuries in diverse tissues.

METHODS

Lewis rats were assigned into the sham, the I/R, and the I/R + emodin groups. Emodin and phosphate-buffered saline were intraperitoneally injected into rats of the emodin group and I/R group for 30 min, respectively. These rats were then subjected to left thoracotomy followed by 90-min clamping of the left hilum and 120-min reperfusion. Sham-operated rats underwent 210-min ventilation. Lung functions, histological changes, lung edema, and cytokine levels were assessed. Protein levels were measured by western blotting. Immunofluorescence staining was conducted to evaluate pyroptosis.

RESULTS

Emodin alleviated the I/R-induced lung dysfunction, lung damages, and inflammation. Protective effects of emodin against I/R-mediated endothelial pyroptosis was observed in vivo and in vitro. Mechanistically, emodin inactivated the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB/NLRP3 pathway.

CONCLUSION

Emodin attenuates lung ischemia-reperfusion injury by inhibiting GSDMD-mediated pyroptosis in rats.

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.

A 4-Benzene-Indol Derivative Alleviates LPS-Induced Acute Lung Injury Through Inhibiting the NLRP3 Inflammasome

Acute lung injury (ALI) is a common complication of critical illness that could frequently lead to acute respiratory distress syndrome and other serious clinical consequences. Sepsis is one of the major and most common inducements among all causes of ALI. Due to its high incidence and mortality rate and also the complexity in treatment, sepsis-related ALI has become an urgent clinical problem waiting to be solved effectively. At present, only the protective ventilation strategy, restrictive fluid management, and antibiotics application are measures that can improve the prognosis with evidence-based medical proof. No pharmacological treatment is currently available to protect or significantly reverse the prognosis. Seeking for effective interventions measures for sepsis-related ALI is one of the most necessitous research directions. In this research, a conspicuous discovery of treatment-related translational use for a 4-benzene-indol derivative was elaborated by screening a large number of chemical compounds. The results showed that 4-benzene-indol derivative could not only suppress the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome both in vitro and alleviate LPS-induced ALI in vivo but also suppress the NLRP3 inflammasome in human myeloid leukemia mononuclear cells (THP-1) cell lines. Mechanistically, 1,2-diol blocks the NLRP3 inflammasome activation by disrupting NLRP3–NEK7 interaction and the subsequent NLRP3 inflammasome assembly and activation. To summarize, this research indicated that the newly-discovered 4-benzene-indol derivative targets NLRP3 inflammasome signaling, which consequently alleviates sepsis-related ALI. Collectively, the 4-benzene-indol derivative may serve as a potential therapeutic drug and NLRP3 inflammasome signaling would be a novel pharmaceutical target for clinical treatment of sepsis-related ALI.

Emodin Alleviates High-Glucose-Induced Pancreatic β-Cell Pyroptosis by Inhibiting NLRP3/GSDMD Signaling

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic noninfectious disease that is mainly featured by pancreatic β-cell (β-cell) dysfunction and impaired glucose homeostasis. Currently, the pathogenesis of dysfunction of the β-cells in DM remains unclear, and therapeutic approaches to it are limited. Emodin (EMD), a natural anthraquinone derivative, has been preliminarily proven to show antidiabetic effects. However, the underlying mechanism of EMD on β-cells still needs to be elucidated. In this study, we investigated the protective effects of EMD on the high glucose (50 mM)-induced INS-1 cell line and the underlying mechanism. INS-1 cells were treated with EMD (5, 10, and 20 μM) when exposed to high glucose. The effects of EMD were examined by using the inverted phase-contrast microscope, qRT-PCR, ELISA, and western blot. The results showed that EMD could alleviate cellular morphological changes, suppress IL-1β and LDH release, and promote insulin secretion in high-glucose-induced INS-1 cells. Furthermore, EMD inhibits NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) activation and gasdermin D (GSDMD) cleavage to alleviate pyroptosis induced by high glucose. Overexpression of NLRP3 reversed the above changes caused by EMD. Collectively, our findings suggest that EMD attenuates high-glucose-induced β-cell pyroptosis by inhibiting NLRP3/GSDMD signaling.