Triptriolide antagonizes triptolide-induced nephrocyte apoptosis via inhibiting oxidative stress in vitro and in vivo

A Single-Cell Transcriptome Profiling of Triptolide-Induced Nephrotoxicity in Mice

Triptolide (TP), an active component isolated from the traditional Chinese herb Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F (TWHF), shows great promise for treating inflammation-related diseases. However, its potential nephrotoxic effects remain concerning. The mechanism underlying TP-induced nephrotoxicity is inadequately elucidated, particularly at single-cell resolution. Hence, single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) of kidney tissues from control and TP-treated mice is performed to generate a thorough description of the renal cell atlas upon TP treatment. Heterogeneous responses of nephron epithelial cells are observed after TP exposure, attributing differential susceptibility of cell subtypes to excessive reactive oxygen species and increased inflammatory responses. Moreover, TP disrupts vascular function by activating endothelial cell immunity and damaging fibroblasts. Severe immune cell damage and the activation of pro-inflammatory Macro_C1 cells are also observed with TP treatment. Additionally, ligand-receptor crosstalk analysis reveals that the SPP1 (osteopontin) signaling pathway targeting Macro_C1 cells is triggered by TP treatment, which may promote the infiltration of Macro_C1 cells to exacerbate renal toxicity. Overall, this study provides comprehensive information on the transcriptomic profiles and cellular composition of TP-associated nephrotoxicity at single-cell resolution, which can strengthen the understanding of the pathogenesis of TP-induced nephrotoxicity and provide valuable clues for the discovery of new therapeutic targets to ameliorate TP-associated nephrotoxicity.

Bergenin attenuates triptolide-caused premature ovarian failure in mice based on the antioxidant activity

Tripterygium wilfordii (TW) preparations have been utilized in China for treating rheumatoid arthritis and autoimmune diseases. However, their clinical use is limited due to reproductive toxicity, notably premature ovarian failure (POF). Our study aimed to investigate the effect and mechanism of bergenin in attenuating POF induced by triptolide in mice. POF was induced in female ICR mice via oral triptolide administration (50 μg/kg) for 60 days. Mice received bergenin (25, 50, 100 mg/kg, i.g.) or estradiol valerate (EV) (0.1 mg/kg, i.g.) daily, 1 h before triptolide treatment. In vitro, ovarian granulosa cells (OGCs) were exposed to triptolide (100 nM) and bergenin (1, 3, 10 μM). Antioxidant enzyme activity, protein expression, apoptosis rate, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were assessed. The results showed that triptolide-treated mice exhibited evident atrophy, along with an increase in atretic follicles. Bergenin (50, 100 mg/kg) and EV (0.1 mg/kg), orally administered, exerted significant anti-POF effect. Bergenin and EV also decreased apoptosis in mouse ovaries. In vitro, bergenin (1, 3, 10 μM) attenuated triptolide-induced OGCs apoptosis by reducing levels of apoptosis-related proteins. Additionally, bergenin reduced oxidative stress through downregulation of antioxidant enzymes activity and overall ROS levels. Moreover, the combined use with Sh-Nrf2 resulted in a reduced protection of bergenin against triptolide-induced apoptosis of OGCs. Together, bergenin counteracts triptolide-caused POF in mice by inhibiting Nrf2-mediated oxidative stress and preventing OGC apoptosis. Combining bergenin with TW preparations may effectively reduce the risk of POF.

Integrated study reveals mechanism of Tripterygium Wilfordii against cholangiocarcinoma based on bioinformatics approaches and molecular dynamics simulation

BACKGROUND

Tripterygium wilfordii Hook. f. (TW) shows anticancer activity, and no study has comprehensively investigated the effects of TW in treating cholangiocarcinoma (CHOL). This study was designed to identify the therapeutic role and the mechanism of TW against CHOL to obtain anti-CHOL candidate components and targets.

METHODS

Ingredients of TW were collected from the Traditional Chinese Medicine System Pharmacology Database and literature. Limma package and weighted gene co-expression network analysis were used to identify the genes related to CHOL. Enrichment analysis of Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and Gene Ontology (GO) was performed by R package Cluster-Profiler and Metascape, respectively. Protein-Protein Interaction (PPI) network was used to select core genes in the treatment of CHOL by TW, followed by GEPIA2, UALCAN database, and ROC curves to assess their diagnostic and prognostic capability. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation were applied to explore the binding affinity and stability of the complex between the bioactive ingredients in TW and core targets.

RESULTS

A total of 67 ingredients in TW were collected, and 495 genes were obtained as genes of CHOL. 55 common TW-CHOL targets were identified. 171 biological process terms and 100 KEGG pathways were enriched. 12 genes were regarded as core genes through PPI analysis, such as CYP3A4, CES1, GC, and PLG, whose good diagnostic and prognostic capability were identified. Ten ingredients were selected through the construction of Herb-Components-Targets-Disease network. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation both confirmed the good binding affinity and stability of the ligand-protein complexes.

CONCLUSION

This study identified the therapeutic role and predicted the mechanism of TW against CHOL, where TW may combat CHOL through the regulation of metabolic conditions of the body, bile acid secretion, xenobiotics metabolism, and the inflammatory response. Celastrol, triptonide, triptolide and wilforlide A emerged as promising anti-CHOL candidates. So, this study offered a reference for the treatment of CHOL and the development of anti-CHOL drugs.

The efficacy of natural products for the treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a malignant tumor originating in the nasopharyngeal epithelium with a high incidence in southern China and parts of Southeast Asia. The current treatment methods are mainly radiotherapy and chemotherapy. However, they often have side effects and are not suitable for long-term exposure. Natural products have received more and more attention in cancer prevention and treatment because of their its high efficiency, low toxic side effects, and low toxicity. Natural products can serve as a viable alternative, and this study aimed to review the efficacy and mechanisms of natural products in the treatment of NPC by examining previous literature. Most natural products act by inhibiting cell proliferation, metastasis, inducing cell cycle arrest, and apoptosis. Although further research is needed to verify their effectiveness and safety, natural products can significantly improve the treatment of NPC.

Review on kidney diseases: types, treatment and potential of stem cell therapy

Renal disorders are an emerging global public health issue with a higher growth rate despite progress in supportive therapies. In order to find more promising treatments to stimulate renal repair, stem cell-based technology has been proposed as a potentially therapeutic option. The self-renewal and proliferative nature of stem cells raised the hope to fight against various diseases. Similarly, it opens a new path for the treatment and repair of damaged renal cells. This review focuses on the types of renal diseases; acute and chronic kidney disease-their statistical data, and the conventional drugs used for treatment. It includes the possible stem cell therapy mechanisms involved and outcomes recorded so far, the limitations of using these regenerative medicines, and the progressive improvement in stem cell therapy by adopting approaches like PiggyBac, Sleeping Beauty, and the Sendai virus. Specifically, about the paracrine activities of amniotic fluid stem cells, renal stem cells, embryonic stem cells, mesenchymal stem cell, induced pluripotent stem cells as well as other stem cells.

PGM1 suppresses colorectal cancer cell migration and invasion by regulating the PI3K/AKT pathway

BACKGROUND

Phosphoglucomutase 1 (PGM1) is known for its involvement in cancer pathogenesis. However, its biological role in colorectal cancer (CRC) has remained unknown. Here, we studied the functions and mechanisms of PGM1 in CRC.

METHODS

We verified PGM-1 as a differentially expressed gene (DEG) by employing a comprehensive strategy of TCGA-COAD dataset mining and computational biology. Relative levels of PGM-1 in CRC tumors and adjoining peritumoral tissues were determined by qRT-PCR, western blotting (WB), and immunohistochemical (IHC) staining in a tissue microarray. PGM1 functions were analyzed by CCK8, EdU, colony formation, cell cycle, apoptosis, and Transwell migration and invasion assays. The influence of PGM1 was further investigated by studying tumor formation in vivo.

RESULTS

The levels of PGM1 mRNA and protein were both reduced in CRC tissues, and the reductions were related to CRC pathology and overall survival. PGM1 knockdown stimulated both cell proliferation and colony formation, and inhibited cell cycle arrest and apoptosis, while overexpression of PGM1 produced the opposite effects in CRC cells both in vivo and in vitro. Furthermore, the effects of PGM1 were related to the PI3K/ AKT pathway.

CONCLUSION

We verified that PGM1 suppresses CRC progression via the PI3K/AKT pathway. These results suggest the potential for targeting PGM1 in treatment of CRC.

Upregulation of ADAMDEC1 correlates with tumor progression and predicts poor prognosis in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) via the PI3K/AKT pathway

Background

ADAM‐like decysin‐1 (ADAMDEC1) has been reported to play an important role in the pathogenesis of multiple diseases, including cancers. However, its biological role in non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains largely unknown. Here, we aimed to investigate the biological functions and potential mechanism of ADAMDEC1 in NSCLC.

Methods

We verified ADAMDEC1 as a DEG by a comprehensive strategy of TCGA and GEO datasets miming and computational biology. Relative levels of ADAMDEC1 in NSCLC tissues and the adjacent peritumoral tissues were identified by qRT‐PCR, WB and IHC staining. The biological function of ADAMDEC1 was determined by CCK8, EdU, colony formation assay, apoptosis, wound healing migration and transwell invasion assays. Then, an in vivo tumor formation assay was conducted to explore the effects of ADAMDEC1 on tumor growth.

Results

The mRNA and protein expression levels of ADAMDEC1 were upregulated in NSCLC tissues and cell lines. ADAMDEC1 expression was associated with clinicopathological characteristics and overall survival of patients with NSCLC. Knockdown of ADAMDEC1 could decrease proliferation and colony forming ability of NSCLC cells, and promoted cell apoptosis, whereas ADAMDEC11 overexpression has opposite effects in NSCLC cells both in vivo and in vitro. Furthermore, we identified ADAMDEC1 accelerates NSCLC progression via activation of the PI3K/ AKT pathway.

Conclusion

We verified that ADAMDEC1 promotes the progression of NSCLC via the PI3K/AKT pathway. These findings showed the potential of ADAMDEC1 to be used for therapeutic approaches in NSCLC.

Sanqi Oral Solution Mitigates Proteinuria in Rat Passive Heymann Nephritis and Blocks Podocyte Apoptosis via Nrf2/HO-1 Pathway

Idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN) is the most common pathological type in adult nephrotic syndrome where podocyte apoptosis was found to mediate the development of proteinuria. Sanqi oral solution (SQ), an effective Chinese herbal preparation clinically used in treatment of IMN for decades, plays an important role in reducing proteinuria, but the underlying mechanisms have not been fully elucidated yet. The current study tested the hypothesis that SQ directly lessens proteinuria in IMN by reducing podocyte apoptosis. To investigate the effects of SQ, we established the experimental passive Heymann nephritis (PHN) rat model induced by anti-Fx1A antiserum in vivo and doxorubicin hydrochloride (ADR)-injured apoptotic podocyte model in vitro. SQ intervention dramatically reduced the level of proteinuria, together with the rat anti-rabbit IgG antibodies, complement C3, and C5b-9 deposition in glomerulus of PHN rats, accompanied by an elevation of serum albumin. Protein expression of synaptopodin, marker of podocyte injury, restored after SQ administration, whereas the electron microscopic analysis indicated that fusion of foot processes, and the pachynsis of glomerular basement membrane was markedly diminished. Further studies showed that SQ treatment could significantly inhibit podocyte apoptosis in PHN rats and ADR-injured podocytes, and protein levels of Cleaved Caspase-3 or the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 were significantly decreased with SQ treatment in vivo or in vitro. Moreover, we found that the nuclear factor erythroid 2–related factor-2/heme oxygenase 1 (Nrf2/HO-1) pathway mediated the anti-apoptosis effective of SQ in podocyte. Thus, SQ mitigates podocyte apoptosis and proteinuria in PHN rats via the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway.

The screening of drug-induced nephrotoxicity using gold nanocluster-based ratiometric fluorescent probes

Herbal medicines are potential candidates for the treatment of various diseases, but their medication safety remains poorly regulated. Current screening methods for the herbal medicine-induced nephrotoxic effects include histological and serological assessments, which often fail to reflect the kidney dysfunction instantly. Here we report a ratiometric fluorescence approach for the rapid and facile screening of drug-induced acute kidney injury using chromophore-modified gold nanoclusters. These gold nanoclusters are highly sensitive to reactive oxygen species (ROS), with a detection limit of 14 nM for ˙OH. After passing through the glomerular filtration barrier, the gold nanocluster-based probes can quantify the fluctuation of the ROS level in the kidneys and evaluate the risk of drug-induced nephrotoxicity. We further employed nephrotoxic triptolide as the model drug and the screening of drug-induced early renal injury was demonstrated using the nanoprobes, which is unattainable by conventional diagnostic approaches. Our fluorescent probes also allow the identification of other nephrotoxic components from herbal medicine such as aristolochine, providing a high-throughput strategy for the screening of herbal supplement-induced nephrotoxicity.

Study of the Active Components and Molecular Mechanism of Tripterygium wilfordii in the Treatment of Diabetic Nephropathy

We aimed to explore the active ingredients and molecular mechanism of Tripterygium wilfordii (TW) in the treatment of diabetic nephropathy (DN) through network pharmacology and molecular biology. First, the active ingredients and potential targets of TW were obtained through the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform (TCMSP) and related literature materials, and Cytoscape 3.7.2 software was used to construct the active ingredient-target network diagram of TW. Second, the target set of DN was obtained through the disease database, and the potential targets of TW in the treatment of DN were screened through a Venn diagram. A protein interaction network diagram (PPI) was constructed with the help of the String platform and Cytoscape 3.7.2. Third, the ClueGO plug-in tool was used to enrich the GO biological process and the KEGG metabolic pathway. Finally, molecular docking experiments and cell pathway analyses were performed. As a result, a total of 52 active ingredients of TW were screened, and 141 predicted targets and 49 target genes related to DN were identified. The biological process of GO is mediated mainly through the regulation of oxygen metabolism, endothelial cell proliferation, acute inflammation, apoptotic signal transduction pathway, fibroblast proliferation, positive regulation of cyclase activity, adipocyte differentiation and other biological processes. KEGG enrichment analysis showed that the main pathways involved were AGE-RAGE, vascular endothelial growth factor, HIF-1, IL-17, relaxin signalling pathway, TNF, Fc epsilon RI, insulin resistance and other signaling pathways. It can be concluded that TW may treat DN by reducing inflammation, reducing antioxidative stress, regulating immunity, improving vascular disease, reducing insulin resistance, delaying renal fibrosis, repairing podocytes, and reducing cell apoptosis, among others, with multicomponent, multitarget and multisystem characteristics.

Metabolic profiling of 19 amino acids in triptolide-induced liver injured rats by gas chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry

The liver is an important organ for amino acid metabolism, and its damage can be reflected in the changes of amino acid level in the body. Triptolide (TP) has broad anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor activities, but its clinical application is limited due to hepatotoxicity. In this work, a simple, accurate and sensitive gas chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (GC-QqQ-MS/MS) method was developed and validated for evaluating the serum levels of amino acids from control and TP-induced liver injured rats, and chemometric analysis was employed for amino acid metabolic profiles analysis. It was found that 11 amino acids showed significant changes after TP administration, and they were mainly involved in 5 metabolic pathways that are phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan biosynthesis, alanine, aspartate and glutamate metabolism, glutamine and glutamate metabolism, phenylalanine metabolism and arginine biosynthesis. Five amino acids including tyrosine, glutamine, glutamic acid, tryptophan and alanine were identified as biomarkers of TP hepatotoxicity by further analysis. These results indicated that the novel amino acid metabolic profiling study based on the GC-QqQ-MS/MS provided not only exact concentrations of serum amino acids, but also a prospective methodology for evaluation of chemically induced liver injury.

Metabolic profiling of fatty acids in Tripterygium wilfordii multiglucoside- and triptolide-induced liver-injured rats

Tripterygium wilfordii multiglucoside (TWM) is a fat-soluble extract from a Chinese herb T. wilfordii, that’s used in treating rheumatoid arthritis, nephrotic syndrome and other skin diseases. Triptolide (TP) is a major active component in TWM. However, clinical applications of TWM are limited by its various toxicities especially hepatotoxicity. In recent studies, it has been reported that drug-induced liver injury (DILI) could induce the disorder of lipid metabolism in animals. Hence, this study focuses on the metabolic profile of fatty acids in TWM- and TP-induced liver-injured rats. In serum and liver tissue, 16 free and 16 esterified fatty acids were measured by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. Metabolic profile of serum fatty acids in rats with liver injury was identified by multivariate statistical analysis. The fatty acid levels in the serum of TWM- and TP-treated rats significantly decreased, whereas those in the liver tissue of TWM- and TP-treated rats obviously increased when compared with the vehicle-treated rats. Four free fatty acids were identified as candidate biomarkers of TWM- and TP-induced liver injury. Therefore, the targeted metabolomic method may be used as a complementary approach for DILI diagnosis in clinic.

[Arctiin antagonizes triptolide-induced renal toxicity in rats via anti-inflammatory pathway]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the protective effect of arctiin with anti-inflammatory bioactivity against triptolide-induced nephrotoxicity in rats and explore the underlying mechanism.

METHODS

Forty SD rats were divided into 4 groups for gastric lavage of normal saline, arctiin (500 mg/kg), triptolide (500 μg/kg), or both arctiin (500 mg/kg) and triptolide (500 μg/kg). Blood samples were collected for analysis of biochemical renal parameters, and the renal tissues were harvested for determining the kidney index and for pathological evaluation with HE staining. In the in vitro experiment, HK-2 cells were treated with arctiin and triptolide either alone or in combination, and the cell viability was determined with MTT assay; the cell morphological changes was observed using laser confocal microscopy, cell apoptosis was detected using flow cytometry, and the expressions of inflammation-related protein expression were detected by Western blotting.

RESULTS

In SD rats, arctiin significantly antagonized triptolide-induced elevation of BUN, Scr and kidney index (P < 0.05) and obviously improved renal tissue damages induced by triptolide including cell swelling, vacuolization and spotty necrosis. Arctiin significantly inhibited triptolide-induced cytotoxicity in HK-2 cells and increased the cell viability at 24 h (P < 0.05). Arctiin also attenuated triptolide-induced cell morphological changes, decreased cell apoptosis rate (P < 0.05) and reversed the expressions of IκBα and nuclear p65 (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Arctiin can protect the kidney from triptolide-induced damages in rats possibly through the anti-inflammatory pathway.

Triptolide attenuates renal damage by limiting inflammatory responses in DOCA-salt hypertension

BACKGROUND

Triptolide (TP), a principal bioactive component of traditional Chinese medicine Tripterygium wilfordii Hook. F., has been shown to have immunosuppressive/anti-inflammatory actions in vitro. Moreover, it is well established that inflammatory mechanisms contribute to the progression of hypertension-induced renal injury. Therefore, this study was performed to determine the protective effects of TP on renal injury in salt-sensitive hypertension and to identify the possible mechanisms for TP-induced protection.

METHODS

Ten-week-old male C57BL/6 mice were subjected to uninephrectomy and deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA)-salt treatment with or without intraperitoneal administration of various concentrations of TP.

RESULTS

Five weeks after the treatment, systolic blood pressure measured by tail-cuff plethysmography increased in DOCA-salt-treated mice, but no difference was found between DOCA-salt-treated mice with or without TP treatment. Treatment with TP dose-dependently attenuated increments in urinary albumin and 8-isoprostane excretion, and glomerulosclerosis and tubulointerstitial injury and fibrosis in DOCA-salt-treated mice. Moreover, our data showed that treatment with TP dose-dependently inhibited DOCA-salt-induced interstitial monocyte/macrophage infiltration associated with decreases in renal levels of proinflammatory cytokine/chemokine and adhesion molecule, as well as renal activated NF-κB concentrations. Our results also demonstrated that suppression of inflammatory responses with dexamethasone, an immunosuppressive agent, alleviated DOCA-salt hypertension-induced renal injury.

CONCLUSIONS

TP treatment induced renal protection associated with inhibition of monocyte/macrophage-mediated inflammatory responses without lowering blood pressure. Thus, our data for the first time indicate that TP treatment ameliorates renal injury possibly via attenuating inflammatory responses in salt-sensitive hypertension.

Synthesis of celastrol derivatives as potential non-nucleoside hepatitis B virus inhibitors

A series of para-quinone methide (pQM) moiety and C-20- modified derivatives of celastrol were synthesized and evaluated for their inhibitory effect on the secretion of HBsAg and HBeAg as well as the inhibitory effect against HBV DNA replication. The results suggested that amidation of C-20 carboxylic group could generate derivatives with good anti-HBV profile, among them compound 14 showed the best inhibitory activity on the secretion of HBsAg (IC₅₀  = 11.9 µμ) and HBeAg (IC₅₀  = 13.1 µμ) with SI of 3.3 and 3.0, respectively. In addition, 14 also showed potent inhibitory effect against HBV DNA replication (48.5 ± 15.1%, 25 µM). This is, to our knowledge, the first report of celastrol derivatives as potential non-nucleoside HBV inhibitors.

Effect of CYP3A4 on liver injury induced by triptolide

Triptolide (TP), one of the main bioactive diterpenes of the herbal medicine Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F, is used for the treatment of autoimmune diseases in the clinic and is accompanied by severe hepatotoxicity. CYP3A4 has been reported to be responsible for TP metabolism, but the mechanism remains unclear. The present study applied a UPLC-QTOF-MS-based metabolomics analysis to characterize the effect of CYP3A4 on TP-induced hepatotoxicity. The metabolites carnitines, lysophosphatidylcholines (LPCs) and a serious of amino acids were found to be closely related to liver damage indexes in TP-treated female mice. Metabolomics analysis further revealed that the CYP3A4 inducer dexamethasone improved the level of LPCs and amino acids, and defended against oxidative stress. On the contrary, pretreatment with the CYP3A4 inhibitor ketoconazole increased liver damage with most metabolites being markedly altered, especially carnitines. Among these metabolites, except for LPC18:2, LPC20:1 and arginine, dexamethasone and ketoconazole both affected oxidative stress induced by TP. The current study provides new mechanistic insights into the metabolic alterations, leading to understanding of the role of CYP3A4 in hepatotoxicity induced by TP.