Antifibrotic action of Yifei Sanjie formula enhanced autophagy via PI3K-AKT-mTOR signaling pathway in mouse model of pulmonary fibrosis

Yifei Sanjie formula alleviates lung cancer progression via regulating PRMT6-YBX1-CDC25A axis

Lung cancer (LC) is the most prevalent cancer type, with a high mortality rate worldwide. The current treatment options for LC have not been particularly successful in improving patient outcomes. Yifei Sanjie (YFSJ), a well-applicated traditional Chinese medicine formula, is widely used to treat pulmonary diseases, especially LC, yet little is known about its molecular mechanisms. This study was conducted to explore the molecular mechanism by which YFSJ ameliorated LC progression. The A549, NCI-H1975, and Calu-3 cells were treated with the YFSJ formula and observed for colony number, apoptosis, migration, and invasion properties recorded via corresponding assays. The PRMT6-YBX1-CDC25A axis was tested and verified through luciferase reporter, RNA immunoprecipitation, and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays and rescue experiments. Our results demonstrated that YFSJ ameliorated LC cell malignant behaviors by increasing apoptosis and suppressing proliferation, migration, and invasion processes. We also noticed that the xenograft mouse model treated with YFSJ significantly reduced tumor growth compared with the control untreated group in vivo. Mechanistically, it was found that YFSJ suppressed the expression of PRMT6, YBX1, and CDC25A, while the knockdown of these proteins significantly inhibited colony growth, migration, and invasion, and boosted apoptosis in LC cells. In summary, our results suggest that YFSJ alleviates LC progression via the PRMT6-YBX1-CDC25A axis, confirming its efficacy in clinical use. The findings of our study provide a new regulatory network for LC growth and metastasis, which could shed new insights into pulmonary medical research.

Qingfei Tongluo Mixture Attenuates Bleomycin-Induced Pulmonary Inflammation and Fibrosis through mTOR-Dependent Autophagy in Rats

As an interstitial fibrosis disease characterized by diffuse alveolitis and structural alveolar disorders, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) has high lethality but lacks limited therapeutic drugs. A hospital preparation used for the treatment of viral pneumonia, Qingfei Tongluo mixture (QFTL), is rumored to have protective effects against inflammatory and respiratory disease. This study aims to confirm whether it has a therapeutic effect on bleomycin-induced IPF in rats and to elucidate its mechanism of action. Male SD rats were randomly divided into the following groups: control, model, CQ + QFTL (84 mg/kg chloroquine (CQ) + 3.64 g/kg QFTL), QFTL-L, M, H (3.64, 7.28, and 14.56 g/kg, respectively) and pirfenidone (PFD 420 mg/kg). After induction modeling and drug intervention, blood samples and lung tissue were collected for further detection. Body weight and lung coefficient were examined, combined with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and Masson staining to observe lung tissue lesions. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and the hydroxyproline (HYP) assay kit were used to detect changes in proinflammatory factors (transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin-1β (IL-1β)) and HYP. Immunohistochemistry and Western blotting were performed to observe changes in proteins related to pulmonary fibrosis (α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and matrix metalloproteinase 12 (MMP12)) and autophagy (P62 and mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR)). Treatment with QFTL significantly improved the adverse effects of bleomycin on body weight, lung coefficient, and pathological changes. Then, QFTL reduced bleomycin-induced increases in proinflammatory mediators and HYP. The expression changes of pulmonary fibrosis and autophagy marker proteins are attenuated by QFTL. Furthermore, the autophagy inhibitor CQ significantly reversed the downward trend in HYP levels and α-SMA protein expression, which QFTL improved in BLM-induced pulmonary fibrosis rats. In conclusion, QFTL could effectively attenuate bleomycin-induced inflammation and pulmonary fibrosis through mTOR-dependent autophagy in rats. Therefore, QFTL has the potential to be an alternative treatment for IPF in clinical practice.

Inhibitor of PD-1/PD-L1: a new approach may be beneficial for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a globally prevalent, progressive disease with limited treatment options and poor prognosis. Because of its irreversible disease progression, IPF affects the quality and length of life of patients and imposes a significant burden on their families and social healthcare services. The use of the antifibrotic drugs pirfenidone and nintedanib can slow the progression of the disease to some extent, but it does not have a reverse effect on the prognosis. The option of lung transplantion is also limited owing to contraindications to transplantation, possible complications after transplantation, and the risk of death. Therefore, the discovery of new, effective treatment methods is an urgent need. Over recent years, various studies have been undertaken to investigate the relationship between interstitial pneumonia and lung cancer, suggesting that some immune checkpoints in IPF are similar to those in tumors. Immune checkpoints are a class of immunosuppressive molecules that are essential for maintaining autoimmune tolerance and regulating the duration and magnitude of immune responses in peripheral tissues. They can prevent normal tissues from being damaged and destroyed by the immune response. While current studies have focused on PD-1/PD-L1 and CTLA-4, PD-1/PD-L1 may be the only effective immune checkpoint IPF treatment. This review discusses the application of PD-1/PD-L1 checkpoint in IPF, with the aim of finding a new direction for IPF treatment.

Chinese medicine as a therapeutic option for pulmonary fibrosis: Clinical efficacies and underlying mechanisms

ETHNIC PHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is a fibrotic interstitial lung disease caused by continuous damage and excessive repair of alveolar epithelial cells, the pathogenesis of which is not fully understood. At present, the incidence of PF has increased significantly around the world. The therapeutic arsenals against PF are relatively limited, with often poor efficacy and many adverse effects. As a conventional and effective therapeutic strategy, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been widely applied in treating lung fibrosis for thousands of years in China. Due to the multi-ingredient, multi-target characteristics, Chinese medicines possess promising clinical benefits for PF treatment.

AIM OF THIS REVIEW

This review aims to systematically analyze the clinical efficacy of Chinese medicine on PF, and further summarize the relevant mechanisms of Chinese medicine treating PF in preclinical studies, in order to provide a comprehensive insight into the beneficial effects of Chinese medicines on PF.

METHODS

Eight major Chinese and English databases were searched from database inception up to October 2022, and all randomized clinical trials (RCTs) investigating the effects of Chinese medicine intervention on effectiveness and safety in the treatment of PF patients were included. Subsequently, preclinical studies related to the treatment of PF in Chinese medicine, including Chinese medicine compounds, Chinese herbal materials and extracts, and Chinese herbal formulas (CHFs) were searched through PubMed and Web of science to summarize the related mechanisms of Chinese medicine against PF.

RESULTS

A total of 56 studies with 4019 patients were included by searching the relevant databases. Total clinical efficacy, pulmonary function, blood gas analysis, lung high resolution CT (HRCT), 6 min walk test (6-MWT), St George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) scores, clinical symptom scores, TCM syndrome scores and other outcome indicators related to PF were analyzed. Besides, numerous preclinical studies have shown that many Chinese medicine compounds, Chinese herbal materials and extracts, and CHFs play a preventive and therapeutic role in PF by reducing oxidative stress, ameliorating inflammation, inhibiting epithelial-mesenchymal transition and myofibroblasts activation, and regulating autophagy and apoptosis.

CONCLUSION

Chinese medicines show potential as supplements or substitutes for treating PF. And studies on Chinese medicines will provide a new approach to better management of PF.

From Basic Research to Clinical Practice: Considerations for Treatment Drugs for Silicosis

Silicosis, characterized by irreversible pulmonary fibrosis, remains a major global public health problem. Nowadays, cumulative studies are focusing on elucidating the pathogenesis of silicosis in order to identify preventive or therapeutic antifibrotic agents. However, the existing research on the mechanism of silica-dust-induced pulmonary fibrosis is only the tip of the iceberg and lags far behind clinical needs. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), as a pulmonary fibrosis disease, also has the same problem. In this study, we examined the relationship between silicosis and IPF from the perspective of their pathogenesis and fibrotic characteristics, further discussing current drug research and limitations of clinical application in silicosis. Overall, this review provided novel insights for clinical treatment of silicosis with the hope of bridging the gap between research and practice in silicosis.

Chlorogenic Acid Inhibited Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition to Treat Pulmonary Fibrosis through Modulating Autophagy

Chlorogenic acid (CGA), derived from dicotyledons and ferns, has been demonstrated with anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and free radical-scavenging effects and can be used to treat pulmonary fibrosis (PF). However, the specific mechanism by which CGA treats PF needs to be further investigated. In this study, in vivo experiment was firstly performed to evaluate the effects of CGA on epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and autophagy in bleomycin (BLM)-induced PF mice. Then, the effects of CGA on EMT and autophagy was assessed using transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) 1-induced EMT model in vitro. Furthermore, autophagy inhibitor (3-methyladenine) was used to verify that the inhibitory mechanism of CGA on EMT was associated with activating autophagy. Our results found that 60 mg/kg of CGA treatment significantly ameliorated lung inflammation and fibrosis in mice with BLM-induced PF. Besides, CGA inhibited EMT and promoted autophagy in mice with PF. In vitro studies also demonstrated that 50 µM of CGA treatment inhibited EMT and induced autophagy related factors in TGF-β1-induced EMT cell model. Moreover, the inhibitory effect of CGA on autophagy and EMT in vitro was abolished after using autophagy inhibitor. In conclusion, CGA could inhibit EMT to treat BLM-induced PF in mice through, activating autophagy.

Nicorandil mitigates amiodarone-induced pulmonary toxicity and fibrosis in association with the inhibition of lung TGF-β1/PI3K/Akt1-p/mTOR axis in rats

The long-term side effect of the antiarrhythmic drug, amiodarone (AMIO), such as lung toxicity, remains a critical clinical issue. The previous knowledge denotes diverse antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antifibrotic properties of the anti-anginal drug, nicorandil (NI). Therefore, we aimed to investigate the possible protective effect of NI on pulmonary tissue remodelling following AMIO-induced lung toxicity. The included rats were assigned into four equal groups (n = 8): (1) control, (2) control group that received NI 10 mg kg^-1  day^-1 , (3) model group that received AMIO in a dose of 60 mg kg^-1  day^-1 , and (4) treated group (AMIO-NI) that were treated with AMIO plus NI as shown above. Drug administration continued for 10 weeks. AMIO resulted in deteriorated (p < 0.001) pulmonary functions accompanied by respiratory acidosis. AMIO showed an obvious histological injury score with intense collagen deposition, disturbed nitric oxide synthase enzymes (NOS/iNOS), and increased alpha smooth muscle actin expression. Furthermore, AMIO upregulated the transforming growth factor (TGF-β1)/phosphoinositide-3 kinase (PI3K)-Akt1-p/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) axis, which determined the possible mechanism of AMIO on pulmonary remodelling. NI treatment significantly (p < 0.001) prevented the AMIO-induced lung toxicity, as well as inhibited the TGF-β1/PI3K/Akt1-p/mTOR axis in the lung tissue of rats. The results were confirmed by an in-vitro study. CONCLUSION: The current results revealed that NI was effective in preserving the lung structure and functions. Amelioration of the oxidative stress and modulation of TGF-β1/PI3K/Akt1-p/mTOR have been achieved. This study suggests NI administration as a preventive therapy from the serious pulmonary fibrosis side effect of AMIO.

The role of autophagy in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: from mechanisms to therapies

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is an interstitial pulmonary disease with an extremely poor prognosis. Autophagy is a fundamental intracellular process involved in maintaining cellular homeostasis and regulating cell survival. Autophagy deficiency has been shown to play an important role in the progression of pulmonary fibrosis. This review focused on the six steps of autophagy, as well as the interplay between autophagy and other seven pulmonary fibrosis related mechanisms, which include extracellular matrix deposition, myofibroblast differentiation, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, pulmonary epithelial cell dysfunction, apoptosis, TGF-β1 pathway, and the renin-angiotensin system. In addition, this review also summarized autophagy-related signaling pathways such as mTOR, MAPK, JAK2/STAT3 signaling, p65, and Keap1/Nrf2 signaling during the development of IPF. Furthermore, this review also illustrated the commonly used autophagy detection methods, the currently approved antifibrotic drugs pirfenidone and nintedanib, and several prospective compounds targeting autophagy for the treatment of IPF.

The role of PD-1/PD-L1 axis in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: Friend or foe?

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a devastating interstitial lung disease with a bleak prognosis. Mounting evidence suggests that IPF shares bio-molecular similarities with lung cancer. Given the deep understanding of the programmed cell death-1 (PD-1)/programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) pathway in cancer immunity and the successful application of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in lung cancer, recent studies have noticed the role of the PD-1/PD-L1 axis in IPF. However, the conclusions are ambiguous, and the latent mechanisms remain unclear. In this review, we will summarize the role of the PD-1/PD-L1 axis in IPF based on current murine models and clinical studies. We found that the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway plays a more predominant profibrotic role than its immunomodulatory role in IPF by interacting with multiple cell types and pathways. Most preclinical studies also indicated that blockade of the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway could attenuate the severity of pulmonary fibrosis in mice models. This review will bring significant insights into understanding the role of the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway in IPF and identifying new therapeutic targets.

A novel Nanocellulose-Gelatin-AS-IV external stent resists EndMT by activating autophagy to prevent restenosis of grafts

Vein grafts are widely used for coronary artery bypass grafting and hemodialysis access, but restenosis remains the "Achilles' heel" of these treatments. An extravascular stent is one wrapped around the vein graft and provides mechanical strength; it can buffer high arterial pressure and secondary vascular dilation of the vein to prevent restenosis. In this study, we developed a novel Nanocellulose-gelatin hydrogel, loaded with the drug Astragaloside IV (AS-IV) as an extravascular scaffold to investigate its ability to reduce restenosis. We found that the excellent physical and chemical properties of the drug AS-IV loaded Nanocellulose-gelatin hydrogel external stent limit graft vein expansion and make the stent biocompatible. We also found it can prevent restenosis by resisting endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) in vitro. It does so by activating autophagy, and AS-IV can enhance this effect both in vivo and in vitro. This study has added to existing research on the mechanism of extravascular stents in preventing restenosis of grafted veins. Furthermore, we have developed a novel extravascular stent for the prevention and treatment of restenosis. This will help optimize the clinical treatment plan of external stents and improve the prognosis in patients with vein grafts.

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The NC-Gelatin extravascular stent has suitable physicochemical properties to prevent restenosis of the grafted veins.

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The NC-Gelatin extravascular stent has excellent biocompatibility, which is critical for grafting veins.

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The NC-Gelatin extravascular stent prevents restenosis by activating autophagy against EndMT.

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AS-IV can enhance the effect of the stent to activate autophagy against EndMT.

Yifei Sanjie Formula Treats Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease by Remodeling Pulmonary Microbiota

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the most common pulmonary diseases. Evidence suggests that dysbiosis of pulmonary microbiota leads to the COPD pathological process. Yifei Sanjie Formula (YS) is widely used to treat diseases in respiratory systems, yet little is known about its mechanisms. In the present study, we first established the fingerprint of YS as the background for UHPLC-QTOF-MS. Components were detected, including alkaloids, amino acid derivatives, phenylpropanoids, flavonoids, terpenoids, organic acids, phenols, and the like. The therapeutic effect of YS on COPD was evaluated, and the pulmonary function and ventilatory dysfunction (EF50, TV, and MV) were improved after the administration of YS. Further, the influx of lymphocytes was inhibited in pulmonary parenchyma, accompanied by down-regulation of inflammation cytokines via the NLRP3/caspase-1/IL-1β signaling pathway. The severity of pulmonary pathological damage was reversed. Disturbed pulmonary microbiota was discovered to involve an increased relative abundance of Ralstonia and Mycoplasma and a decreased relative abundance of Lactobacillus and Bacteroides in COPD animals. However, the subversive effect was shown. The abundance and diversity of pulmonary microflora were remodeled, especially increasing beneficial genua Lactobacillus and Bacteroides, as well as downregulating pathogenic genua Ralstonia and Mycoplasma in the YS group. Environmental factor correlation analysis showed that growing pulmonary microbiota was positively correlated with the inflammatory factor, referring to Ralstonia and Mycoplasma, as well as negatively correlated with the inflammatory factor, referring to Lactobacillus and Bacteroides. These results suggest that the effects of YS involved remodeling lung microbes and anti-inflammatory signal pathways, revealing that intervention microbiota and an anti-inflammatory may be a potential therapeutic strategy for COPD.

Anti-PD-L1 antibody alleviates pulmonary fibrosis by inducing autophagy via inhibition of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway

Pulmonary fibrosis is a fatal lung disease for which no effective treatment is available. Previous studies have shown that the expression of programmed cell death-Ligand (PD-L1) is significantly increased in pulmonary fibrosis, and that this is related to the occurrence of this disease. However, the underlying mechanism is not clear. To clarify the efficacy and mechanism of an anti-PD-L1 monoclonal antibody (anti-PD-L1 mAb) as a treatment for pulmonary fibrosis, we conducted histopathological, molecular, and functional analyses in a mouse model of bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis and a cell model of fibrosis induced by transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1). Our results indicate that PD-L1 is highly expressed in the lung fibrosis model. The anti-PD-L1 mAb significantly alleviated bleomycin-induced lung structural disorders and collagen deposition in mice and inhibited the proliferation, migration, activation and extracellular matrix deposition of TGF-β1-induced lung fibroblasts. Interestingly, the anti-PD-L1 mAb could also alleviate the autophagy impairment observed in pulmonary fibrosis. The potential mechanism is through the downregulation of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway. Our study provides evidence of the crucial ability of anti-PD-L1 mAbs to activate autophagy in the context of pulmonary fibrosis, providing a new strategy for the treatment of this disease.

Natural Product-Based Potential Therapeutic Interventions of Pulmonary Fibrosis

Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is a disease-refractive lung condition with an increased rate of mortality. The potential factors causing PF include viral infections, radiation exposure, and toxic airborne chemicals. Idiopathic PF (IPF) is related to pneumonia affecting the elderly and is characterized by recurring scar formation in the lungs. An impaired wound healing process, defined by the dysregulated aggregation of extracellular matrix components, triggers fibrotic scar formation in the lungs. The potential pathogenesis includes oxidative stress, altered cell signaling, inflammation, etc. Nintedanib and pirfenidone have been approved with a conditional endorsement for the management of IPF. In addition, natural product-based treatment strategies have shown promising results in treating PF. In this study, we reviewed the recently published literature and discussed the potential uses of natural products, classified into three types—isolated active compounds, crude extracts of plants, and traditional medicine, consisting of mixtures of different plant products—in treating PF. These natural products are promising in the treatment of PF via inhibiting inflammation, oxidative stress, and endothelial mesenchymal transition, as well as affecting TGF-β-mediated cell signaling, etc. Based on the current review, we have revealed the signaling mechanisms of PF pathogenesis and the potential opportunities offered by natural product-based medicine in treating PF.

4-Hydroxyderricin Promotes Apoptosis and Cell Cycle Arrest through Regulating PI3K/AKT/mTOR Pathway in Hepatocellular Cells

4-hydroxyderricin (4-HD), as a natural flavonoid compound derived from Angelica keiskei, has largely unknown inhibition and mechanisms on liver cancer. Herein, we investigated the inhibitory effects of 4-HD on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells and clarified the potential mechanisms by exploring apoptosis and cell cycle arrest mediated via the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. Our results show that 4-HD treatment dramatically decreased the survival rate and activities of HepG2 and Huh7 cells. The protein expressions of apoptosis-related genes significantly increased, while those related to the cell cycle were decreased by 4-HD. 4-HD also down-regulated PI3K, p-PI3K, p-AKT, and p-mTOR protein expression. Moreover, PI3K inhibitor (LY294002) enhanced the promoting effect of 4-HD on apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in HCC cells. Consequently, we demonstrate that 4-HD can suppress the proliferation of HCC cells by promoting the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway mediated apoptosis and cell cycle arrest.

The role of natural products in the prevention and treatment of pulmonary fibrosis: a review

Pulmonary fibrosis is an incurable end-stage lung disease and remains a global public health problem. Although there have been some breakthroughs in understanding the pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis, effective intervention methods are still limited. Natural products have the advantages of multiple biological activities and high levels of safety, which are important factors for preventing and treating pulmonary fibrosis. In this review, we summarized the mechanisms and health benefits of natural products against pulmonary fibrosis. These natural products target oxidative stress, inflammatory injury, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), fibroblast activation, extracellular matrix accumulation and metabolic regulation, and the mechanisms involve the NF-κB, TGF-β1/Smad, PI3K/Akt, p38 MAPK, Nrf2-Nox4, and AMPK signaling pathways. We hope to provide new ideas for pulmonary fibrosis prevention and treatment strategies.

Understanding the implication of autophagy in the activation of hepatic stellate cells in liver fibrosis: are we there yet?

Liver fibrosis (LF) occurs as a result of persistent liver injury and can be defined as a pathologic, chronic, wound-healing process in which functional parenchyma is progressively replaced by fibrotic tissue. As a phenomenon involved in the majority of chronic liver diseases, and therefore prevalent, it exerts a significant impact on public health. This impact becomes even more patent given the lack of a specific pharmacological therapy, with LF only being ameliorated or prevented through the use of agents that alleviate the underlying causes. Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are fundamental mediators of LF, which, activated in response to pro-fibrotic stimuli, transdifferentiate from a quiescent phenotype into myofibroblasts that deposit large amounts of fibrotic tissue and mediate pro-inflammatory effects. In recent years, much effort has been devoted to understanding the mechanisms through which HSCs are activated or inactivated. Using cell culture and/or different animal models, numerous studies have shown that autophagy is enhanced during the fibrogenic process and have provided specific evidence to pinpoint the fundamental role of autophagy in HSC activation. This effect involves - though may not be limited to - the autophagic degradation of lipid droplets. Several hepatoprotective agents have been shown to reverse the autophagic alteration present in LF, but clinical confirmation of these effects is pending. On the other hand, there is evidence that implicates autophagy in several anti-fibrotic mechanisms in HSCs that stimulate HSC cell cycle arrest and cell death or prevent the generation of pro-fibrotic mediators, including excess collagen accumulation. The objective of this review is to offer a comprehensive analysis of published evidence of the role of autophagy in HSC activation and to provide hints for possible therapeutic targets for the treatment and/or prevention of LF related to autophagy. © 2021 The Authors. The Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. on behalf of The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.

Transcriptome sequencing and metabolite analysis reveal the toxic effects of nanoplastics on tilapia after exposure to polystyrene

Plastic particles, which are formed from routinely used plastics and their fragments, have become a new pollutant raising widespread concern about their potential effects. Several studies have been conducted to examine their toxicity, but the effects of nano-sized plastic fragments on freshwater organisms remain largely unclear and need to be further investigated. In this study, larval tilapia were first exposed to 100 nm polystyrene nanoparticles (PS-NPs, 20 mg/L) for seven days and then returned to freshwater without PS-NPs for another seven days in order to determine the toxic effects of PS-NPs at both transcriptomic and metabolomic levels. A total of 203 significantly changed metabolites, and 2,152 differentially expressed unigenes were identified between control and PS-NP treatment groups, control and recovery groups, as well as treatment and recovery groups. Our data suggested that PS-NPs induced abnormal metabolism of glycolipids, energy, and amino acids in tilapia after short-term exposure. Additionally, PS-NPs caused disturbed signaling, as suggested by the transcriptomic results. Different transcriptomic and metabolomic levels between the treatment group and recovery group indicated a persistent impact of PS-NPs on tilapia. The presence of adhesion molecule-related differentially expressed genes (DEGs) suggested that PS-NPs might cause early inflammatory responses. Notably, the detection of chemical stimulus involved in the sensory perception of smell was the most severely impacted biological process. Our work systemically studied the ecotoxicity of nano-sized plastics in aquatic creatures at the molecular and genetic levels, serving as a basis for future investigations on the prevention and treatment of such pollutants.

Knockdown of CLN5 inhibits the tumorigenic properties of glioblastoma cells via the Akt/mTOR signaling pathway

Gliomas are highly malignant tumors with a rapid progression and poor prognosis. The present study investigated the cellular effects of CLN5-knockdown in the glioblastoma (GBM) U251 and U87MG cell lines. The Cell Counting Kit-8 and colony formation assays indicated that CLN5-knockdown inhibited the proliferation of GBM cells. Additionally, the results of the Transwell and scratch assays revealed that CLN5-knockdown significantly inhibited migration and invasion, and the flow cytometry analysis confirmed that apoptosis was promoted. Knockdown of CLN5 downregulated the expression levels of MMP-2, Bcl-2, cyclin D1, CDK4 and CDK6, and upregulated the expression levels of Bax and activated caspase-9. Additionally, it blocked GBM cells in the G1-phase and induced early apoptosis. Knockdown of CLN5 inhibited the activation of the Akt and mTOR signaling pathways in GBM by decreasing the levels of phosphorylated (p)-Akt and p-mTOR. The present data suggested that downregulation of CLN5 may be a potential treatment option for GBM. Knockdown of CLN5 inhibited the development of GBM via the inhibition of the Akt and mTOR signaling pathways.

Induction of autophagy via the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway by astragaloside Ⅳ contributes to the amelioration of inflammation in RAW264.7 cells

Cigarette smoking-related lung injury is one of the most common and fatal etiologies of many respiratory diseases, for which no effective interventions are available. Astragaloside Ⅳ (ASⅣ) is an active component extracted from Astragalus membranaceus. It is prescribed as a treatment for upper respiratory tract infections. Here, we report the potential anti-inflammatory effects and mechanisms of ASⅣ on cigarette smoking extract- (CSE)-exposed RAW264.7 cells. Murine macrophages were exposed to CSE, followed by administration of ASⅣ at 25-100 μg/mL for 24 h. ASⅣ significantly rescued CSE-induced cell death by inhibition of release pro-inflammatory cytokines. We measured autophagy as an intracellular scavenger by analyzing autophagic flux using tandem mRFP-GFP-LC3 fluorescence microscopy. Following administration with ASⅣ in CSE-exposed RAW264.7 cells, there was a notable increase in autophagosomes and a range of autophagic vacuoles were generated, as seen with transmission electron microscopy. Loss of autophagy following transfection siRNA aggravated inflammatory injury and release of inflammatory cytokines. Mechanistically, ASⅣ-triggered autophagy is mediated by the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway to reduce inflammation. Taken together, our findings suggest that ASⅣ acts stimulates autophagy, and that ASⅣ induces autophagy by inhibiting the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway, contributing to alleviation of inflammation.

A Network Pharmacology Approach to Explore the Potential Mechanisms of Yifei Sanjie Formula in Treating Pulmonary Fibrosis

Objective

Yifei Sanjie Formula (YFSJF) is an effective formula on pulmonary fibrosis (PF), which has been used in clinic for more than 30 years. In order to investigate the molecular mechanism of YFSJF in treating PF, network pharmacology was used to predict the cooperative ingredients and associated pathways.

Methods

Firstly, we collected potential active ingredients of YFSJF by TCMSP databases. Secondly, we obtained PF-associated targets through OMIM and Genecards database. Finally, metascape was applied for the analysis of GO terms and KEGG pathways.

Results

We screened out 76 potential active ingredients and 98 associated proteins. A total of 5715 items were obtained by GO enrichment analysis (P < 0.05), including 4632 biological processes, 444 cellular components, and 639 molecular functions. A total of 143 related KEGG pathways were enriched (P < 0.05), including IL-17 signaling pathway, T cell receptor signaling pathway, TNF signaling pathway, calcium signaling pathway, TH17 cell differentiation, HIF-1 signaling pathway, and PI3K-Akt signaling pathway.

Conclusion

YFSJF can interfere with immune and inflammatory response through multiple targets and pathways, which has a certain role in the treatment of PF. This study lays a foundation for future experimental research.

Comparison of the Effects of Nonprotein and Protein Nitrogen on Apoptosis and Autophagy of Rumen Epithelial Cells in Goats

Simple Summary

Proteins provide important raw materials for the self-renewal of cells in the gastrointestinal tract. Cell self-renewal is inseparable from the coordination between apoptosis and autophagy. Previous researchers have explored whether different nitrogen sources are linked to activation or inhibition of apoptosis/autophagy. However, information on the regulatory mechanism of apoptosis and autophagy induced by different nitrogen sources among cells in the gastrointestinal tract is limited. This study attempted to compare the effects of different nitrogen sources on apoptosis and autophagy of rumen epithelial cells in goats through molecular biology techniques such as flow cytometry, transmission electron microscopy, and fluorescence microscopy. On the basis of the obtained results, we found that autophagy had a less obvious ameliorative effect on ruminal epithelial cell apoptosis after treatment with protein nitrogen than after treatment with nonprotein nitrogen.

Abstract

Protein nutrition is particularly important for the self-renewal processes of gastrointestinal epithelial cells. The self-renewal of cells is inseparable from the interaction between apoptosis and autophagy. However, there are few reports on the relationship between different nitrogen sources and apoptosis/autophagy. In this study, the relative protein expression of Bcl-2-associated X protein(Bax), caspase-3, and p62 was significantly higher (p < 0.05), while that of Bcl-xl, Bcl-2, Beclin1, and Microtuble-associated protein light chain 3 (LC3-II) was significantly lower (p < 0.05), in the NH₄Cl group in comparison with the NH₄Cl + 4-phenylbutyric acid (4PBA) group. In addition, the relative protein expression of Bax and caspase-3 was significantly higher (p < 0.05), while that of Bcl-2 and Bcl-xl was decreased significantly (p < 0.05), in the NH₄Cl + 3-Methyladenine (3-MA) group and the methionine (Met) + 3-MA group in comparison with the NH₄Cl group. Furthermore, the relative protein expression of Beclin1 and LC3B-II was significantly lower (p < 0.05), while that of p62 was significantly higher (p < 0.05), in the NH₄Cl + Z-VAD-FMK group and the Met + Z-VAD-FMK group in comparison with the NH₄Cl group. In conclusion, our results suggested that endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress played a critical role in the crosstalk between apoptosis and autophagy induced by NH₄Cl and Met. Autophagy had a more obvious ameliorative effect on ruminal epithelial cell apoptosis after treatment with nonprotein nitrogen than after treatment with protein nitrogen. These findings may reveal the molecular mechanism of apoptosis and autophagy induced by nonprotein nitrogen and protein nitrogen.

Network pharmacology and molecular docking analyses on Lianhua Qingwen capsule indicate Akt1 is a potential target to treat and prevent COVID-19

Objectives

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) is rapidly spreading worldwide. Lianhua Qingwen capsule (LQC) has shown therapeutic effects in patients with COVID‐19. This study is aimed to discover its molecular mechanism and provide potential drug targets.

Materials and Methods

An LQC target and COVID‐19–related gene set was established using the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology database and seven disease‐gene databases. Gene ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis and protein‐protein interaction (PPI) network were performed to discover the potential mechanism. Molecular docking was performed to visualize the patterns of interactions between the effective molecule and targeted protein.

Results

A gene set of 65 genes was generated. We then constructed a compound‐target network that contained 234 nodes of active compounds and 916 edges of compound‐target pairs. The GO and KEGG indicated that LQC can act by regulating immune response, apoptosis and virus infection. PPI network and subnetworks identified nine hub genes. The molecular docking was conducted on the most significant gene Akt1, which is involved in lung injury, lung fibrogenesis and virus infection. Six active compounds of LQC can enter the active pocket of Akt1, namely beta‐carotene, kaempferol, luteolin, naringenin, quercetin and wogonin, thereby exerting potential therapeutic effects in COVID‐19.

Conclusions

The network pharmacological strategy integrates molecular docking to unravel the molecular mechanism of LQC. Akt1 is a promising drug target to reduce tissue damage and help eliminate virus infection.

Ketogenic diet induces autophagy to alleviate bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in murine models

AIM OF THE STUDY

Ketogenic diet (KD) has been identified as an effective strategy in treating multiple diseases. KD is capable of inducing autophagy which is an important therapeutic target for pulmonary fibrosis (PF). This study aimed to investigate the effect of KD treatment on PF progression. Materials and Methods: Intratracheal instillation of bleomycin (BLM, 5 mg/kg) to establish PF model in male Kunming mice fed either KD or standard diet. The survival of mice was recorded every day for 3 weeks. The pulmonary tissues were weighed on day 21 and the pulmonary index was calculated. The histopathological changes of pulmonary tissues were analyzed by hematoxylin and eosin staining and Masson staining, and the collagen deposition by hydroxyproline assay. Then the content of proinflammatory factors in pulmonary tissues was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and the expression of profibrogenic cytokines, autophagy markers and PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway-related proteins in pulmonary tissues using western blotting or immunohistochemistry. Results: KD treatment significantly restored the BLM-induced increase of pulmonary index and had a tendency to increase the survival rate of PF mice. Furthermore, KD treatment restored the BLM-induced damage of alveolar structure, infiltration of inflammatory cells and collagen deposition and decreased hydroxyproline content. In addition, the BLM-induced secretion of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-6 and interleukin-1β and expression of transforming growth factor β1, phospho-Smad2/3, connective tissue growth factor, α-smooth muscle actin and collagen type III alpha 1 chain were inhibited by KD. KD treatment also up-regulated the expression of light chain 3 II/I and Beclin1 and down-regulated the expression of p62, phospho-AKT, phospho-mTOR and phospho-p70S6K, suggesting that KD induced autophagy and suppressed the BLM-induced activation of PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. Conclusions: These findings indicate that KD can alleviate PF in vivo by regulating autophagy and PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway, which provides a novel therapeutic strategy for PF.

Ophiocordyceps lanpingensis polysaccharides attenuate pulmonary fibrosis in mice

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a fatal lung disease with growing prevalence. Currently available therapies for treating IPF are not desirable due to the limited efficacy and multiple side effects. Ophiocordyceps lanpingensis is one strain of entomogenous fungi, which has been collected from the eastern part of the Himalayas. This study revealed that O. lanpingensis polysaccharides (OLP) could attenuate bleomycin (BLM) induced lung fibrosis in mice. Results showed that OLP treatments significantly reduced BLM-induced collagen deposition and decreased the accumulation of macrophages. The oxidative stress of the lung was alleviated by OLP. The expression levels of pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrogenic factors in OLP groups were also decreased compared with those in the BLM group, which might explain the improved alveolar integrity and function in the OLP treated groups. Our findings indicated that OLP treatment could alleviate pulmonary fibrosis progression mainly through reducing the recruitment of macrophages to the lungs.