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Chen Y, Chen M, Zhu W, Zhang Y, Liu P, Li P. Morroniside attenuates podocytes lipid deposition in diabetic nephropathy: A network pharmacology, molecular docking and experimental validation study. Int Immunopharmacol 2024; 138:112560. [PMID: 38959541 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2024.112560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2024] [Revised: 06/12/2024] [Accepted: 06/22/2024] [Indexed: 07/05/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Dysregulation of lipid metabolism is a key factor influencing the progression of diabetic nephropathy (DN). Morroniside (MOR) is a major active compound isolated from the traditional Chinese herb Cornus officinalis, our previous research found that it can improve the lipid deposition of renal tubular epithelial cells. The purpose of this study is to explore whether MOR can improve podocyte lipid deposition and its mechanism of reducing DN. METHODS Initially, we used network pharmacology and bioinformatics techniques to predict the relationship between renal lipid metabolism of MOR and DN. Subsequently, the binding activity of MOR with lipid-related proteins was studied by molecular docking to determine how MOR acts through these proteins. After determining the target of MOR, animal experiments and cell tests were carried out to verify it. RESULTS Using network pharmacology, bioinformatics, and molecular docking, target proteins for MOR treatment of DN were predicted and screened, including PGC-1α, LXRs, ABCA1, PPARY, CD36, and nephrin. It is particularly noted that MOR effectively binds to PGC-1α, while LXRs, ABCA1, PPARY and CD36 are downstream molecules of PGC-1α. Silencing the PGC-1α gene significantly reduced the therapeutic effects of MOR. Conversely, in groups without PGC-1α knockdown, MOR was able to increase the expression levels of PGC-1α and influence the expression of downstream proteins. Furthermore, through in vivo and in vitro experiments, utilizing techniques such as lipid droplet staining, PAS, MASSON staining, immunofluorescence, and Western blot, we found that MOR effectively elevated the expression levels of the podocyte protein nephrin and lipid metabolism-regulating proteins PGC-1α, PPARY, and ABCA1, while significantly inhibiting the expression of the lipid accumulation promoter CD36. CONCLUSION MOR can regulate the cholesterol efflux in podocytes via the PGC-1α/LXRs/ABCA1 signaling pathway, and control cholesterol intake via the PGC-1α/PPARY/CD36 signaling pathway, thereby ameliorating lipid deposition in DN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao Chen
- Renal Division, Department of Medicine, Heilongjiang Academy of Chinese Medicine Sciences, Harbin, China
| | - Ming Chen
- Renal Division, Department of Medicine, Heilongjiang Academy of Chinese Medicine Sciences, Harbin, China
| | - Wenhui Zhu
- Renal Division, Department of Medicine, Heilongjiang Academy of Chinese Medicine Sciences, Harbin, China
| | - Yonggang Zhang
- First People's Hospital of Qiqihaer City, Heilongjiang Province, China
| | - Peng Liu
- Shunyi Hospital, Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China.
| | - Ping Li
- Beijing Key Lab for Immune-Mediated Inflammatory Diseases, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China.
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He Q, Yao W, Luo J, Wu J, Zhang F, Li C, Gao L, Zhang Y. Knockdown of PROX1 promotes milk fatty acid synthesis by targeting PPARGC1A in dairy goat mammary gland. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 266:131043. [PMID: 38518943 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.131043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2024] [Revised: 03/19/2024] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/24/2024]
Abstract
Goat milk is rich in various fatty acids that are beneficial to human health. Chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by sequencing (ChIP-seq) and RNA-seq analyses of goat mammary glands at different lactation stages revealed a novel lactation regulatory factor, Prospero homeobox 1 (PROX1). However, the mechanism whereby PROX1 regulates lipid metabolism in dairy goats remains unclear. We found that PROX1 exhibits the highest expression level during peak lactation period. PROX1 knockdown enhanced the expression of genes related to de novo fatty acid synthesis (e.g., SREBP1 and FASN) and triacylglycerol (TAG) synthesis (e.g., DGAT1 and GPAM) in goat mammary epithelial cells (GMECs). Consistently, intracellular TAG and lipid droplet contents were significantly increased in PROX1 knockdown cells and reduced in PROX1 overexpression cells, and we observed similar results in PROX1 knockout mice. Following PROX1 overexpression, RNA-seq showed a significant upregulation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator-1 alpha (PPARGC1A) expression. Further, PPARGC1A knockdown attenuated the inhibitory effects of PROX1 on TAG contents and lipid-droplet formation in GMECs. Moreover, we found that PROX1 promoted PPARGC1A transcription via the PROX1 binding sites (PBSs) located in the PPARGC1A promoter. These results suggest a novel target for manipulating the goat milk-fat composition and improving the quality of goat milk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiuya He
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Agriculture, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
| | - Weiwei Yao
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Agriculture, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
| | - Jun Luo
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Agriculture, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China.
| | - Jiao Wu
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Agriculture, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China; Yunnan Agricultural University, Faculty of Animal Science and Technology, Kunming 65201, China
| | - Fuhong Zhang
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Agriculture, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
| | - Chun Li
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Agriculture, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
| | - Liangjiahui Gao
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Agriculture, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
| | - Yong Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China
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Danielewski M, Rapak A, Kruszyńska A, Małodobra-Mazur M, Oleszkiewicz P, Dzimira S, Kucharska AZ, Słupski W, Matuszewska A, Nowak B, Szeląg A, Piórecki N, Zaleska-Dorobisz U, Sozański T. Cornelian Cherry ( Cornus mas L.) Fruit Extract Lowers SREBP-1c and C/EBPα in Liver and Alters Various PPAR-α, PPAR-γ, LXR-α Target Genes in Cholesterol-Rich Diet Rabbit Model. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1199. [PMID: 38256272 PMCID: PMC10816641 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25021199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2023] [Revised: 01/13/2024] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Cornelian cherry (Cornus mas L.) fruits, abundant in iridoids and anthocyanins, are natural products with proven beneficial impacts on the functions of the cardiovascular system and the liver. This study aims to assess and compare whether and to what extent two different doses of resin-purified cornelian cherry extract (10 mg/kg b.w. or 50 mg/kg b.w.) applied in a cholesterol-rich diet rabbit model affect the levels of sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1c (SREBP-1c) and CCAAT/enhancer binding protein α (C/EBPα), and various liver X receptor-α (LXR-α), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α (PPAR-α), and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ) target genes. Moreover, the aim is to evaluate the resistive index (RI) of common carotid arteries (CCAs) and aortas, and histopathological changes in CCAs. For this purpose, the levels of SREBP-1c, C/EBPα, ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1), ATP-binding cassette transporter G1 (ABCG1), fatty acid synthase (FAS), endothelial lipase (LIPG), carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1A (CPT1A), and adiponectin receptor 2 (AdipoR2) in liver tissue were measured. Also, the levels of lipoprotein lipase (LPL), visceral adipose tissue-derived serine protease inhibitor (Vaspin), and retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) in visceral adipose tissue were measured. The RI of CCAs and aortas, and histopathological changes in CCAs, were indicated. The oral administration of the cornelian cherry extract decreased the SREBP-1c and C/EBPα in both doses. The dose of 10 mg/kg b.w. increased ABCA1 and decreased FAS, CPT1A, and RBP4, and the dose of 50 mg/kg b.w. enhanced ABCG1 and AdipoR2. Mitigations in atheromatous changes in rabbits' CCAs were also observed. The obtained outcomes were compared to the results of our previous works. The beneficial results confirm that cornelian cherry fruit extract may constitute a potentially effective product in the prevention and treatment of obesity-related disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maciej Danielewski
- Department of Pharmacology, Wroclaw Medical University, J. Mikulicza-Radeckiego 2, 50-345 Wroclaw, Poland; (W.S.); (A.M.); (B.N.); (A.S.)
| | - Andrzej Rapak
- Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, R. Weigla 12, 53-114 Wroclaw, Poland; (A.R.); (A.K.)
| | - Angelika Kruszyńska
- Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, R. Weigla 12, 53-114 Wroclaw, Poland; (A.R.); (A.K.)
| | - Małgorzata Małodobra-Mazur
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Division of Molecular Techniques, Wroclaw Medical University, M. Sklodowskiej-Curie 52, 50-369 Wroclaw, Poland;
| | - Paweł Oleszkiewicz
- Department of Radiology and Imaging Diagnostics II, Lower Silesian Center of Oncology, Pulmonology and Hematology, Grabiszynska 105, 53-439 Wroclaw, Poland;
| | - Stanisław Dzimira
- Department of Pathology, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, C. K. Norwida 31, 50-375 Wroclaw, Poland;
| | - Alicja Z. Kucharska
- Department of Fruit, Vegetable, and Plant Nutraceutical Technology, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, J. Chelmonskiego 37, 51-630 Wroclaw, Poland;
| | - Wojciech Słupski
- Department of Pharmacology, Wroclaw Medical University, J. Mikulicza-Radeckiego 2, 50-345 Wroclaw, Poland; (W.S.); (A.M.); (B.N.); (A.S.)
| | - Agnieszka Matuszewska
- Department of Pharmacology, Wroclaw Medical University, J. Mikulicza-Radeckiego 2, 50-345 Wroclaw, Poland; (W.S.); (A.M.); (B.N.); (A.S.)
| | - Beata Nowak
- Department of Pharmacology, Wroclaw Medical University, J. Mikulicza-Radeckiego 2, 50-345 Wroclaw, Poland; (W.S.); (A.M.); (B.N.); (A.S.)
| | - Adam Szeląg
- Department of Pharmacology, Wroclaw Medical University, J. Mikulicza-Radeckiego 2, 50-345 Wroclaw, Poland; (W.S.); (A.M.); (B.N.); (A.S.)
| | - Narcyz Piórecki
- Bolestraszyce Arboretum and Institute of Physiography, Bolestraszyce 130, 37-722 Wyszatyce, Poland;
- Institute of Physical Culture Sciences, Medical College, University of Rzeszow, Cicha 2A, 35-326 Rzeszow, Poland
| | - Urszula Zaleska-Dorobisz
- Department of General and Pediatric Radiology, Wroclaw Medical University, M. Sklodowskiej-Curie 50/52, 50-369 Wroclaw, Poland;
| | - Tomasz Sozański
- Department of Preclinical Sciences, Pharmacology and Medical Diagnostics, Faculty of Medicine, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Wybrzeze Wyspianskiego 27, 50-370 Wroclaw, Poland;
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