Ganoderic Acid A Attenuates IL-1β-Induced Inflammation in Human Nucleus Pulposus Cells Through Inhibiting the NF-κB Pathway

Fuyuan decoction prevents nasopharyngeal carcinoma metastasis by inhibiting circulating tumor cells/ endothelial cells interplay and enhancing anti-cancer immune response

Distant metastasis is a major cause of treatment failure in cancer patients and a key challenge to improving cancer care today. We hypothesized that enhancing anti-cancer immune response and inhibiting circulating tumor cells (CTCs) adhesion and transendothelial migration through synergistic multi-target approaches may effectively prevent cancer metastasis. "Fuyuan Decoction" (FYD) is a traditional Chinese medicine compound that is widely used to prevent postoperative metastasis in cancer patients, but its underlying mechanism remains unclear. In this work, we systematically elucidated the underlying molecular mechanism by which FYD prevents cancer metastasis through multi-compound and multi-target synergies in vitro and in vivo. FYD significantly prevented cancer metastasis at non-cytotoxic concentrations by suppressing the adhesion of CTCs to endothelial cells and their subsequent transendothelial migration, as well as enhancing anti-cancer immune response. Mechanistically, FYD interrupts adhesion of CTCs to vascular endothelium by inhibiting TNF-α-induced CAMs expression via regulation of the NF-κB signaling pathway in endothelial cells. FYD inhibits invasion and migration of CTCs by suppressing EMT, PI3K/AKT and FAK signaling pathways. Moreover, FYD enhances the anti-cancer immune response by significantly increasing the population of Tc and NK cells in the peripheral immune system. In addition, the chemical composition of FYD was determined by UPLC-HRMS, and the results indicated that multiple compounds in FYD prevents cancer metastasis through multi-target synergistic treatment. This study provides a modern medical basis for the application of FYD in the prevention of cancer metastasis, and suggesting that multi-drug and multi-target synergistic therapy may be one of the most effective ways to prevent cancer metastasis.

Visualizing the bibliometrics of the inflammatory mechanisms in intervertebral disc degeneration

OBJECTIVE

Intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) constitutes a crucial pathological foundation for spinal degenerative diseases (SDD) and stands as a primary contributor to both low back pain (LBP) and disability. The progression of IVDD is linked to structural and functional alterations in tissues, where an imbalance in the inflammatory microenvironment can induce extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation, senescence, and apoptosis. This imbalance is a key pathomechanism in the disease's development, gaining considerable attention in recent years. This study aims to conduct a bibliometric analysis of publications pertaining to the inflammatory mechanisms of IVDD to quantitatively assess current research hotspots and directions.

METHODS

In this study, we queried the Web of Science Core Collection (WOSCC) database covering the period from January 1, 2001, to November 7, 2023. Content in this area was analyzed and visualized using software such as Citespace, Vosviewer, and the bibliometrix package.

RESULTS

Findings indicate a consistent annual increase in the number of publications, highlighting the widespread attention garnered by research on the inflammatory mechanisms of IVDD. In terms of journal research, Spine emerged with the highest number of publications, along with significantly elevated total citations and average citations compared to other journals. Regarding country analysis, China led in the number of publications, while the USA claimed the highest number of citations and total link strength. Institutional analysis revealed Sun Yat-sen University as having the highest number of publications and total link strength, with Thomas Jefferson University securing the highest total citations. Author analysis identified Ohtori, S. with the highest number of publications, Risbud, M.V. with the highest number of citations, and Inoue, G. with the highest total link strength, all of whom have made significant contributions to the field's development. Citation and co-citation analyses indicated that highly cited documents primarily focused on classical studies exploring inflammatory mechanisms in IVDD pathogenesis. Keyword analysis showcased the ongoing research hotspot as the further investigation of mechanisms and treatment studies. Recent years have seen a shift towards exploring pyroptosis, necrotic apoptosis, autophagy, ferroptosis, oxidative stress, and bacterial infection, among other mechanisms. In terms of treatment, alongside traditional monomer, drug, and compound therapies for IVDD, research is increasingly concentrating on stem cell therapy, exosomes, hydrogels, and scaffolds.

CONCLUSION

This bibliometric analysis of research on inflammatory mechanisms in IVDD provides insights into the current status, hotspots, and potential future trends. These findings can serve as a valuable reference and guide for researchers in the field.

Chemodiversity, pharmacological activity, and biosynthesis of specialized metabolites from medicinal model fungi Ganoderma lucidum

Ganoderma lucidum is a precious fungus, particularly valued for its dual use as both medicine and food. Ganoderic acids (GAs), the distinctive triterpenoids found in the Ganoderma genus, exhibit a wide range of pharmacological activities. However, the limited resources of GAs restrict their clinic usage and drug discovery. In this review, we presented a comprehensive summary focusing on the diverse structures and pharmacological activity of GAs in G. lucidum. Additionally, we discussed the latest advancements in the elucidation of GA biosynthesis, as well as the progress in heterosynthesis and liquid fermentation methods aimed at further increasing GA production. Furthermore, we summarized the omics data, genetic transformation system, and cultivation techniques of G. lucidum, described as medicinal model fungi. The understanding of Ganoderic acids chemodiversity and biosynthesis in medicinal model fungi Ganoderma lucidum will provide important insights into the exploration and utilization of natural products in medicinal fungi.

ZIP4 upregulation aggravates nucleus pulposus cell degradation by promoting inflammation and oxidative stress by mediating the HDAC4-FoxO3a axis

BACKGROUND

Extracellular matrix metabolism dysregulation in nucleus pulposus (NP) cells represents a crucial pathophysiological feature of intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD). Our study elucidates the role and mechanism of Testis expressed 11 (TEX11, also called ZIP4) extracellular matrix degradation in the NP.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and H2O2 were used to treat NP cells to establish an IDD cell model. Normal NP tissues and NP tissues from IDD patients were harvested. ZIP4 mRNA and protein profiles in NP cells and tissues were examined. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) confirmed the profiles of TNF-α, IL-6, MDA, and SOD in NP cells. The alterations of reactive oxygen species (ROS), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), COX2, iNOS, MMP-3, MMP-13, collagen II, aggrecan, FoxO3a, histone deacetylase 4 (HDAC4), Sirt1 and NF-κB levels in NP cells were determined using different assays.

RESULTS

The ZIP4 profile increased in the NP tissues of IDD patients and IL-1β- or H2O2-treated NP cells. ZIP4 upregulation bolstered inflammation and oxidative stress in NP cells undergoing IL-1β treatment and exacerbated their extracellular matrix degradation, whereas ZIP4 knockdown produced the opposite outcome. Mechanistically, ZIP4 upregulated HDAC4 and enhanced NF-κB phosphorylation while repressing Sirt1 and FoxO3a phosphorylation levels. HDAC4 knockdown or Sirt1 promotion attenuated the effects mediated by ZIP4 overexpression in NP cells.

CONCLUSIONS

ZIP4 upregulation aggravates the extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation of NP cells by mediating inflammation and oxidative stress through the HDAC4-FoxO3a axis.

Ganoderic acid A slows osteoarthritis progression by attenuating endoplasmic reticulum stress and blocking NF-Κb pathway

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalent degenerative pathology, however, there exists a lack of cost-effective pharmacological interventions that efficaciously inhibit its progression. ganoderic acid A (GAA), a triterpenoid derived from Ganoderma lucidum, possesses antiapoptotic and -inflammatory effects. Our objective was to better understand the therapeutic effects of GAA on OA as well as to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of its action. To establish an OA cell model in vitro, chondrocytes (CHONs) were treated with interleukin (IL)-1β. Subsequently, the investigation was conducted afterward according to the following indicators: cell viability, apoptosis, inflammation, and extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation. Western blotting analysis (WB) was employed to assess both endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and proteins associated with the nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway. Furthermore, based on molecular docking studies, GAA exhibits a significant binding competence to p65. OA mouse models were constructed by performing a destabilization medial meniscus (DMM) operation. Moreover, histopathology and immunohistochemistry were used to determine the GAA therapeutic effect in reducing OA in vivo. Our findings revealed that GAA has antiapoptotic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-ECM degradation effects by inhibiting the ER stress and NF-κB axis in CHONs in vitro. Furthermore, our findings suggest that GAA may attenuate the progression of osteoarthritis in vivo. GAA can protect CHONs by regulating apoptosis, ECM changes, and inflammation thereby preventing OA progression. These promising results indicate that GAA may be a therapeutic agent for OA treatment.

IL-1β-mediated inflammatory responses in intervertebral disc degeneration: Mechanisms, signaling pathways, and therapeutic potential

Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) has been widely recognized as the primary cause of low back pain and is one of the major chronic diseases imposing a severe socioeconomic burden worldwide. IDD is a degenerative process characterized by inflammatory responses, and its underlying pathological mechanisms remain complex. Genetic, developmental, biochemical, and biomechanical factors contribute to the development of IDD. There is a pressing need for an effective non-surgical treatment, mainly due to the lack of comprehensive understanding of the specific mechanisms involved and the effective therapeutic targets for IDD. Recently, interleukin (IL)-1β has been recognized as an essential inflammatory factor and a key mediator of the inflammatory process in IDD. Current studies have found that IL-1β is mainly involved in IDD by affecting the metabolism of the extracellular matrix and regulating cell death (RCD), such as apoptosis, pyroptosis, and ferroptosis (a new form of RCD). Although analysis of clinical samples from different laboratories confirmed how IL-1β is induced in IDD, its specific signal transduction pathway, and the inflammatory role mediated in IDD remains unclear. This review describes the molecules and mechanisms involved in IL-1β-mediated inflammatory responses, and their roles in resolving the inflammatory process in IDD. Understanding the signaling pathways involved in IL-1β may lead to a new class of targets that promote remission for IDD patients. This review aims to provide a framework for the treatment of IDD by analyzing the signaling mechanism and function related to IL-1β, especially in terms of inflammation, matrix metabolism, and cell death regulation.

Stevioside protects primary articular chondrocytes against IL-1β-induced inflammation and catabolism by targeting integrin

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common, progressive, and chronic disorder of the joints that is characterized by the inflammation and degradation of articular cartilage and is known to significantly impair quality of daily life. Stevioside (SVS) is a natural diterpenoid glycoside that has anti-inflammatory benefits. Hence, in the current research, it was hypothesized that SVS might exert anti-inflammatory effects on articular chondrocytes and alleviate cartilage degradation in mice with OA. The expression of inflammatory cytokines, like inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), NOD-, LRR- and pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in chondrocytes after interleukin-1β (IL-1β) exposure, was inhibited by the pretreatment of SVS. As well, SVS inhibited the reduction of collagen II and sry-box transcription factor 9 (SOX9) in chondrocytes stimulated by IL-1β and suppressed the expression of MMP3 and MMP13. Further, after treatment with SVS, cell cytometry, autophagy flux, and related protein expression showed diminished cell apoptosis and reduced autophagy impairment. Moreover, SVS blocked the activation of phosphoinositide-3-kinase/Akt/nuclear factor-kappa beta (PI3K/Akt/NF-κB) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways stimulated by IL-1β. This resulted in decreased cellular inflammation. In vivo experiments with intra-articular injections of SVS in mice with the DMM mouse model demonstrated a decrease in cartilage degradation and an improvement in subchondral bone remodeling. After the integrin αVβ3-related knockdown using siRNA, a reversed effect was observed on the anti-inflammatory, anabolic promoting, catabolic blocking, and NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathway inhibition of SVS on chondrocytes treated with IL-1β. The above findings highlighted that SVS blocked IL-1β, triggered an inflammatory response in mice chondrocytes, and prevented cartilage degradation in vivo through integrin αVβ3. This suggested that SVS might serve as a novel therapeutic option for OA.

Ganoderic Acid A and Its Amide Derivatives as Potential Anti-Cancer Agents by Regulating the p53-MDM2 Pathway: Synthesis and Biological Evaluation

The mechanisms of action of natural products and the identification of their targets have long been a research hotspot. Ganoderic acid A (GAA) is the earliest and most abundant triterpenoids discovered in Ganoderma lucidum. The multi-therapeutic potential of GAA, in particular its anti-tumor activity, has been extensively studied. However, the unknown targets and associated pathways of GAA, together with its low activity, limit in-depth research compared to other small molecule anti-cancer drugs. In this study, GAA was modified at the carboxyl group to synthesize a series of amide compounds, and the in vitro anti-tumor activities of the derivatives were investigated. Finally, compound A2 was selected to study its mechanism of action because of its high activity in three different types of tumor cell lines and low toxicity to normal cells. The results showed that A2 could induce apoptosis by regulating the p53 signaling pathway and may be involved in inhibiting the interaction of MDM2 and p53 by binding to MDM2 (K_D = 1.68 µM). This study provides some inspiration for the research into the anti-tumor targets and mechanisms of GAA and its derivatives, as well as for the discovery of active candidates based on this series.

Molecular mechanisms of the chemical constituents from anti-inflammatory and antioxidant active fractions of Ganoderma neo-japonicum Imazeki

Ganoderma neo-japonicum Imazeki is a rare medicinal mushroom that has been reported to play a role in scavenging free radicals, protecting the liver, and inhibiting tumor cell activity. In this study, crude extracts were prepared, and 47 triterpenoids were identified by Ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole time-of flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Triple TOF-MS/MS). Then, the crude extracts were subjected to column chromatography for the first time to obtain six fractions (Fr. (a), (b), (c), (d), (e) and (f)). Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory active tracking assays of all fractions found that Fr. (c) exhibited the strongest bioactivity. Subsequently, the chemical composition of Fr. (c) was clarified, and eight triterpenoids were determined in combination with the standard substances. In addition, this study demonstrated that Fr. (c) reduced the levels of inflammatory cytokines and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages. Further studies showed that Fr. (c) could down-regulate the expression level of proteins associated of NF-κB signaling pathway, and upregulated Nrf2 and HO-1 protein level. In conclusion, our study showed that Fr. (c) inhibited LPS-mediated inflammatory response and oxidative stress by activating the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway and inactivating the NF-κB pathway. In the future, with the clearing of its composition and activity mechanism, Fr. (c) of G. neo-japonicum are expected to become a functional food for health and longevity.

Follistatin-Like 1 Induces the Activation of Type 2 Innate Lymphoid Cells to Promote Airway Inflammation in Asthma

Asthma is a chronic disease closely related to airway inflammation. It has been proven that type 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) play an essential role in airway inflammation in asthma. Furthermore, there is growing evidence that Follistatin-like 1 (FSTL1) can participate in various inflammatory reactions mediated by the JAK/STAT signaling pathway, among others. Therefore, we put forward a new hypothesis: FSTL1 promotes asthmatic airway inflammation by activating ILC2. This study generated an ovalbumin-sensitized asthma model in C57BL/6 and Fstl1^+/- mice. The results showed that the absolute number and the proportion of ILC2 in the ovalbumin-challenged Fstl1^+/- group were lower than in the ovalbumin-challenged wild-type group. We also measured the levels of Th2-type cytokines in the serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of mice and found that the corresponding cytokines in the Fstl1^+/- were lower than in the wild-type groups. Finally, we tested whether MEK-JAK-STAT-GATA3 is the specific pathway for FSTL1 to activate ILC2, and further tested our working hypothesis by adding various inhibitors of proteins from this pathway. Overall, these findings reveal that FSTL1 can activate ILC2 through MEK-JAK-STAT-GATA3 to promote airway inflammation and participate in the pathogenesis of asthma.