Parthenolide ameliorates Concanavalin A-induced acute hepatitis in mice and modulates the macrophages to an anti-inflammatory state

New Insights on NLRP3 Inflammasome: Mechanisms of Activation, Inhibition, and Epigenetic Regulation

Inflammasomes are important modulators of inflammation. Dysregulation of inflammasomes can enhance vulnerability to conditions such as neurodegenerative diseases, autoinflammatory diseases, and metabolic disorders. Among various inflammasomes, Nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain leucine-rich repeat and pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) is the best-characterized inflammasome related to inflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases. NLRP3 is an intracellular sensor that recognizes pathogen-associated molecular patterns and damage-associated patterns resulting in the assembly and activation of NLRP3 inflammasome. The NLRP3 inflammasome includes sensor NLRP3, adaptor apoptosis-associated speck-like protein (ASC), and effector cysteine protease procaspase-1 that plays an imperative role in caspase-1 stimulation which further initiates a secondary inflammatory response. Regulation of NLRP3 inflammasome ameliorates NLRP3-mediated diseases. Much effort has been invested in studying the activation, and exploration of specific inhibitors and epigenetic mechanisms controlling NLRP3 inflammasome. This review gives an overview of the established NLRP3 inflammasome assembly, its brief molecular mechanistic activations as well as a current update on specific and non-specific NLRP3 inhibitors that could be used in NLRP3-mediated diseases. We also focused on the recently discovered epigenetic mechanisms mediated by DNA methylation, histone alterations, and microRNAs in regulating the activation and expression of NLRP3 inflammasome, which has resulted in a novel method of gaining insight into the mechanisms that modulate NLRP3 inflammasome activity and introducing potential therapeutic strategies for CNS disorders.

Exploring and validating the metastasis mechanism of pathenolide interfering with cutaneous melanoma through ER stress-dependent apoptosis based on the network pharmacology

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to explore the mechanism of parthenolide in inhibiting melanoma metastasis through network pharmacology and cell experiment.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This research obtained the targets of the drug from the HERB database and PubChem database, the differential expression gene of metastatic cutaneous melanoma was obtained by differentially expression gene analysis of four Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets. The intersection of drug targets and differentially expression genes were considered to be related to drugs that inhibit metastasis of cutaneous melanoma. The STRING database was used to construct the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network, and cytohubba package in Cytoscape software was used to rank the PPI network targets. The enrichment analysis was used to screen out the relevance Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway and gene ontology to explain the underlying mechanism of drug inhibiting the cutaneous melanoma metastatic; cell viability, apoptosis, cell migration and protein levels were assessed using cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, Annexin V-FITC/PI assay, wound healing assay, respectively. Finally, combining pathway maps and literature, we detected ATF4 and proteins upstream and downstream of ATF4 through Western blot.

RESULTS

A total of 87 targets were screened out from the drug databases, and a total of 1635 differentially expression genes was obtained from the differentially expression genes analysis of GEO datasets, a total of nine targets (VEGFA, ANXA5, ICAM1, SELE, NFKBIA, ATF4, CTNNB1, SELP and HPGDS) were considered to be related to drugs that inhibit metastasis of cutaneous melanoma. The result of enrichment analysis showed that the drug inhibits the metastatic of cutaneous melanoma through multiple pathways such as TNF signalling pathway, lipid and atherosclerosis and fluid shear stress and atherosclerosis, relevance multiple biological processes, cellular components and molecular function; cell experiments showed that parthenolide could inhibit tumour cell migration and induce a decrease of cell viability. Flow cytometry results showed that parthenolide induced tumour cell apoptosis. Western blot results suggested that parthenolide exerted therapeutic effects by regulating ATF4 protein and its upstream and downstream proteins, namely endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress signalling pathway.

CONCLUSION

Parthenolide induces ER stress-dependent apoptosis in melanoma cells.

Deacetylation via SIRT2 prevents keratin-mutation-associated injury and keratin aggregation

Keratin (K) and other intermediate filament (IF) protein mutations at conserved arginines disrupt keratin filaments into aggregates and cause human epidermolysis bullosa simplex (EBS; K14-R125C) or predispose to mouse liver injury (K18-R90C). The challenge for more than 70 IF-associated diseases is the lack of clinically utilized IF-targeted therapies. We used high-throughput drug screening to identify compounds that normalized mutation-triggered keratin filament disruption. Parthenolide, a plant sesquiterpene lactone, dramatically reversed keratin filament disruption and protected cells and mice expressing K18-R90C from apoptosis. K18-R90C became hyperacetylated compared with K18-WT and treatment with parthenolide normalized K18 acetylation. Parthenolide upregulated the NAD-dependent SIRT2, and increased SIRT2-keratin association. SIRT2 knockdown or pharmacologic inhibition blocked the parthenolide effect, while site-specific Lys-to-Arg mutation of keratin acetylation sites normalized K18-R90C filaments. Treatment of K18-R90C-expressing cells and mice with nicotinamide mononucleotide had a parthenolide-like protective effect. In 2 human K18 variants that associate with human fatal drug-induced liver injury, parthenolide protected K18-D89H- but not K8-K393R-induced filament disruption and cell death. Importantly, parthenolide normalized K14-R125C-mediated filament disruption in keratinocytes and inhibited dispase-triggered keratinocyte sheet fragmentation and Fas-mediated apoptosis. Therefore, keratin acetylation may provide a novel therapeutic target for some keratin-associated diseases.

Trends in parthenolide research over the past two decades: A bibliometric analysis

Parthenolide (PTL) is a new compound extracted from traditional Chinese medicine. In recent years, it has been proven to play an undeniable role in tumors, autoimmune diseases, and inflammatory diseases. Similarly, an increasing number of experiments have also confirmed the biological mechanism of PTL in these diseases. In order to better understand the development trend and potential hot spots of PTL in cancer and other diseases, we conducted a detailed bibliometric analysis. The purpose of presenting this bibliometric analysis was to highlight and inform researchers of the important research directions, co-occurrence relationships and research status in this field. Publications related to PTL research from 2002 to 2022 were extracted on the web of science core collection (WoSCC) platform. CiteSpace, VOSviewers and R package "bibliometrix" were applied to build relevant network diagrams. The bibliometric analysis was presented in terms of performance analysis (including publication statistics, top publishing countries, top publishing institutions, publishing journals and co-cited journals, authors and co-cited authors, co-cited references statistics, citation bursts statistics, keyword statistics and trend topic statistics) and science mapping (including citations by country, citations by institution, citations by journal, citations by author, co-citation analysis, and keyword co-occurrence). The detailed discussion of the results explained the focus and latest trends from the bibliometric analysis. Finally, the current status and shortcomings of the research field on PTLwere clearly pointed out for reference by scholars.

Nano Parthenolide Improves Intestinal Barrier Function of Sepsis by Inhibiting Apoptosis and ROS via 5-HTR2A

Background

Intestinal barrier dysfunction is an important complication of sepsis, while the treatment is limited. Recently, parthenolide (PTL) has attracted much attention as a strategy of sepsis, but whether nano parthenolide (Nano PTL) is therapeutic in sepsis-induced intestinal barrier dysfunction is obscured.

Methods

In this study, cecal ligation and puncture (CLP)-induced sepsis rats and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) were used to investigate the effect of PTL on intestinal barrier dysfunction. Meanwhile, we synthesized Nano PTL and compared the protective effect of Nano PTL with ordinary PTL on intestinal barrier function in septic rats and IECs. Network pharmacology and serotonin 2A (5-HTR2A) inhibitor were used to explore the mechanism of PTL on the intestinal barrier function of sepsis.

Results

The encapsulation rate of Nano PTL was 95±1.5%, the drug loading rate was 11±0.5%, and the average uptake rate of intestinal epithelial cells was 94%. Ordinary PTL and Nano PTL improved the survival rate and survival time of septic rats, reduced the mean arterial pressure and the serum level of inflammatory cytokines, and protected the liver and kidney functions in vivo, and increased the value of transmembrane resistance (TEER) reduced the reactive oxygen species (ROS) and apoptosis in IECs in vitro through 5-HTR2A. Nano PTL had better effect than ordinary PTL.

Conclusion

Ordinary PTL and Nano PTL can protect the intestinal barrier function of septic rats by inhibiting apoptosis and ROS through up-regulating 5-HTR2A, Nano PTL is better than ordinary PTL.

Sequential anti-inflammatory and osteogenic effects of a dual drug delivery scaffold loaded with parthenolide and naringin in periodontitis

PURPOSE

Our pilot study showed that a 3-dimensional dual drug delivery scaffold (DDDS) loaded with Chinese herbs significantly increased the regenerated bone volume fraction. This study aimed to confirm the synergistic anti-inflammatory and osteogenic preclinical effects of this system.

METHODS

The targets and pathways of parthenolide and naringin were predicted. Three cell models were used to assess the anti-inflammatory effects of parthenolide and the osteogenic effects of naringin. First, the distance between the cementoenamel junction and alveolar bone crest (CEJ-ABC) and the bone mineral density (BMD) of surgical defects were measured in a rat model of periodontitis with periodontal fenestration defects. Additionally, the mRNA expression levels of matrix metallopeptidase 9 (MMP9) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were measured. Furthermore, the number of inflammatory cells and osteoclasts, as well as the protein expression levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and levels of ALP were determined.

RESULTS

Target prediction suggested prostaglandin peroxidase synthase (PTGS2) as a potential target of parthenolide, while cytochrome P450 family 19 subfamily A1 (CYP19A1) and taste 2 receptor member 31 (TAS2R31) were potential targets of naringin. Parthenolide mainly targeted inflammation-related pathways, while naringin participated in steroid hormone synthesis and taste transduction. In vitro experiments revealed significant anti-inflammatory effects of parthenolide on RAW264.7 cells, and significant osteogenic effects of naringin on bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and MC3T3-E1 cells. DDDS loaded with parthenolide and naringin decreased the CEJ-ABC distance and increased BMD and ALP levels in a time-dependent manner. Inflammation was significantly alleviated after 14 days of DDDS treatment. Additionally, after 56 days, the DDDS group exhibited the highest BMD and ALP levels.

CONCLUSIONS

DDDS loaded with parthenolide and naringin in a rat model achieved significant synergistic anti-inflammatory and osteogenic effects, providing powerful preclinical evidence.

Downregulation of the enhancer of zeste homolog 1 transcriptional factor predicts poor prognosis of triple-negative breast cancer patients

Background

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most malignant subtype of breast cancer and lacks effective biomarkers. This study seeks to unravel the expression status and the prospective transcriptional mechanisms of EZH1/EZH2 in TNBC tissue samples. Moreover, another objective of this study is to reveal the prognostic molecular signatures for risk stratification in TNBC patients.

Methods

To determine the expression status of EZH1/EZH2 in TNBC tissue samples, microarray analysis and immunohistochemistry were performed on in house breast cancer tissue samples. External mRNA expression matrices were used to verify its expression patterns. Furthermore, the prospective transcriptional mechanisms of EZH1/EZH2 in TNBC were explored by performing differential expression analysis, co-expression analysis, and chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing analysis. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and univariate Cox regression analysis were utilized to detect the prognostic molecular signatures in TNBC patients. Nomogram and time-dependent receiver operating characteristic curves were plotted to predict the risk stratification ability of the prognostic-signatures-based Cox model.

Results

In-house TMAs (66 TNBC vs. 106 non-TNBC) and external gene microarrays, as well as RNA-seq datasets (1,135 TNBC vs. 6,198 non-TNBC) results, confirmed the downregulation of EZH1 at both the protein and mRNA levels (SMD = -0.59 [-0.80, -0.37]), as is opposite to that of EZH2 (SMD = 0.74 [0.40, 1.08]). The upregulated transcriptional target genes of EZH1 were significantly aggregated in the cell cycle pathway, where CCNA2, CCNB1, MAD2L1, and PKMYT1 were determined as key transcriptional targets. Additionally, the downregulated transcriptional targets of EZH2 were enriched in response to the hormone, where ESR1 was identified as the hub gene. The six-signature-based prognostic model produced an impressive performance in this study, with a training AUC of 0.753, 0.981, and 0.977 at 3-, 5-, and 10-year survival probability, respectively.

Conclusion

EZH1 downregulation may be a key modulator in the progression of TNBC through negative transcriptional regulation by targeting CCNA2, CCNB1, MAD2L1, and PKMYT1.

Parthenolide ameliorates neurological deficits and neuroinflammation in mice with traumatic brain injury by suppressing STAT3/NF-κB and inflammasome activation

BACKGROUND

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) triggers a set of complex inflammation that results in secondary injury. Parthenolide (PTN) is a sesquiterpene lactone extracted from the herb Tanacetum parthenium (Feverfew) and has potent anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptosis and anti-oxidative stress effects in the central nervous system (CNS)-related diseases. This study focuses on investigating the potential neuroprotective effect of PTN on TBI and the related mechanism.

METHODS

Bv2 microglia, primary microglia were stimulated by LPS, and HT22 neuron cells were stimulated by OGD/R, and they were treated with different doses of PTN. The expression profiles of pro-inflammatory cytokines, proteins, oxidative stress mediators, STAT3/NF-κB pathway, inflammasomes were detected. Forty male/female C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into the sham, PTN, TBI, and TBI + PTN groups (10 mice per group). A mouse TBI model was set up with a controlled cortical impact (CCI) device. The modified nerve severity score (mNSS) was implemented to check short-term neurological impairment in mice, and the mice's memory and learning were assessed by the Morris water maze test. The water content in the mice's brains was measured by the dry-wet method. Hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining, Nissl staining and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay were applied for neuronal apoptosis.

RESULTS

PTN dramatically alleviated LPS-induced inflammation in microglia, and OGD-mediated neuronal apoptosis and oxidative stress. In addition, PTN repressed LPS- or OGD-modulated STAT3/NF-κB and NLR family pyrin domain containing 1 (NLRP1), NLRP3, NLR family CARD domain containing 4 (NLRC4) inflammasomes activation. Administering the STAT3 inhibitor Stattic or NF-κB inhibitor Bay 11-7082 attenuated PTN-mediated effects. In vivo, PTN treatment relieved neural function deficits, brain edema and neuron apoptosis and improved the memory and learning function of TBI mice. Additionally, PTN impeded microglial activation and reduced the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines in brain lesions of TBI mice. Furthermore, PTN hindered STAT3/NF-κB and inflammasome activation.

CONCLUSION

PTN can curb microglial activation and neuron apoptosis by dampening the STAT3/NF-κB pathway, thus exerting neuroprotective effects in TBI mice.

Anti-fibrotic activity of sitagliptin against concanavalin A-induced hepatic fibrosis. Role of Nrf2 activation/NF-κB inhibition

Sitagliptin is known for its anti-diabetic activity though it has other pleiotropic pharmacological actions. Its effect against concanavalin A (Con A)-induced hepatic fibrosis has not been investigated yet. Our target was to test whether sitagliptin can suppress the development of Con A-induced hepatic fibrosis and if so, what are the mechanisms involved? Con A (6 mg/kg) was injected once weekly to male Swiss albino mice for four weeks. Sitagliptin was daily administered concurrently with Con A. Results have shown the potent hepatoprotective activity of sitagliptin against Con A-induced hepatitis and fibrosis. That was evident through the amelioration of hepatotoxicity serum parameters (ALT, AST, ALP, and LDH) and the increase in the level of serum albumin in sitagliptin treated mice. Simultaneously, there was amendment of the Con A-induced hepatic lesions and repression of fibrosis in sitagliptin-treated animals. Hydroxyproline, collagen content and the immuno-expression of the fibrotic markers, TGF-β and α-SMA were depressed upon sitagliptin treatment. Sitagliptin suppressed Con A-induced oxidative stress and increased antioxidants. RT-PCR analysis showed enhancement of mRNA expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and its target genes (GCLc, GCLm, NQO-1, HO-1) by sitagliptin. Furthermore, sitagliptin ameliorated the level and immuno-expression of nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) alongside the immuno-expression of the inflammatory cytokine, TNF-α. Taken together, this study demonstrates the hepatoprotective activity of sitagliptin which may be in part related to enhancement of Nrf2 signaling pathway and inhibition of NF-κB which interact inflammatory response in liver. Sitagliptin might be a new candidate to suppress hepatitis-associated fibrosis.

Parthenolide, bioactive compound of Chrysanthemum parthenium L., ameliorates fibrogenesis and inflammation in hepatic fibrosis via regulating the crosstalk of TLR4 and STAT3 signaling pathway

The current study focused on the regulatory effects of parthenolide (PNL), a bioactive component derived from Chrysanthemum parthenium L., against hepatic fibrosis via regulating the crosstalk of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) in activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). HSCs or Raw 264.7 macrophages were activated by TGF-β or LPS for 1 hr, respectively, and then treated with PNL, CLI-095 (TLR4 inhibitor), or Niclosamide (STAT3 inhibitor) for the indicated time to detect the crosstalk of TLR4 and STAT3. PNL significantly decreased the expressions of α-SMA, collagen I, and the ratio of TIMP1 and MMP13 in TGF-β-activated HSCs. PNL significantly reduced the releases of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including IL-6, IL-1β, IL-1α, IL-18, and regulated signaling P2X7r/NLRP3 axis activation. PNL obviously induced the apoptosis of activated HSCs by regulating bcl-2 and caspases family. PNL significantly inhibited the expressions of TLR4 and STAT3, including their downstream signaling. PNL could regulate the crosstalk of TLR4 and STAT3, which were verified by their inhibitors in activated HSCs or Raw 264.7 cell macrophages. Thus, PNL could decrease the expressions of fibrosis markers, reduce the releases of inflammatory cytokines, and also induce the apoptosis of activated HSCs. In conclusion, PNL could bi-directionally inhibit TLR4 and STAT3 signaling pathway, suggesting that blocking the crosstalk of TLR4 and STAT3 might be the potential mechanism of PNL against hepatic fibrosis.

Parthenolide plays a protective role in the liver of mice with metabolic dysfunction‑associated fatty liver disease through the activation of the HIPPO pathway

Metabolic dysfunction‑associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is a serious threat to human health. Parthenolide (PAR) displays several important pharmacological activities, including the promotion of liver function recovery during hepatitis. The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of PAR on MAFLD in a mouse model. Body weight, liver to body weight ratios, histological score, alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, total cholesterol and triglyceride levels were determined to evaluate liver injury. Liver hydroxyproline concentrations were also assessed. The expression levels of lipid metabolism‑related genes (sterol regulatory element binding protein‑1c, fatty acid synthase, acetyl CoA carboxylase 1, stearoyl CoA desaturase 1 and carbohydrate response element‑binding protein, peroxisome proliferator‑activated receptor α, carnitine palmitoyl transferase 1α and acyl‑CoA dehydrogenase short chain), liver fibrosis‑associated genes (α‑smooth muscle actin, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 and TGF‑β1), pro‑inflammatory cytokines (TNF‑α, IL‑1β and IL‑6) and oxidative stress‑associated enzymes (malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase) were measured in mice with MAFLD. The expression levels of genes associated with the HIPPO pathway were also measured. In vivo experiments using a specific inhibitor of HIPPO signalling were performed to verify the role of this pathway in the effects of PAR. PAR exerted beneficial effects on liver injury, lipid metabolism, fibrosis, inflammation and oxidative stress in mice with MAFLD, which was mediated by activation of the HIPPO pathway.

Parthenolide Augments the Chemosensitivity of Non-small-Cell Lung Cancer to Cisplatin via the PI3K/AKT Signaling Pathway

The mortality rate of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains high worldwide. Although cisplatin-based chemotherapy may greatly enhance patient prognosis, chemotherapy resistance remains an obstacle to curing patients with NSCLC. Therefore, overcoming drug resistance is the main route to successful treatment, and combinatorial strategies may have considerable clinical value in this effort. In this study, we observed that both parthenolide (PTL) and cisplatin (DDP) inhibited the growth of NSCLC cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The combination of PTL and DDP presented a synergistic inhibitory effect on NSCLC at a ratio of 50:1. The combination of PTL and DDP synergistically inhibited cell migration and invasion, inhibited cell cycle progression, and induced apoptosis of A549 and PC9 cells. Bioinformatics and network pharmacology analysis indicated that PTL may primarily affect the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)-AKT signaling pathway. After treatment with PTL and DDP either alone or in combination, Western blot analysis revealed that the proteins levels of Bax and cleaved Caspase-3 were upregulated, while p-PI3K, p-Akt, Caspase-3, and Bcl-2 proteins were downregulated. Among these alterations, the combination of PTL and DDP was found to exhibit the most significant effects. PTL might therefore be considered as a new option for combination therapy of NSCLC.

Summary of Natural Products Ameliorate Concanavalin A-Induced Liver Injury: Structures, Sources, Pharmacological Effects, and Mechanisms of Action

Liver diseases represent a threat to human health and are a significant cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a progressive and chronic hepatic inflammatory disease, which may lead to severe complications. Concanavalin A (Con A)-induced hepatic injury is regarded as an appropriate experimental model for investigating the pathology and mechanisms involved in liver injury mediated by immune cells as well as T cell-related liver disease. Despite the advances in modern medicine, the only available strategies to treat AIH, include the use of steroids either solely or with immunosuppressant drugs. Unfortunately, this currently available treatment is associated with significant side-effects. Therefore, there is an urgent need for safe and effective drugs to replace and/or supplement those in current use. Natural products have been utilized for treating liver disorders and have become a promising therapy for various liver disorders. In this review, the natural compounds and herbal formulations as well as extracts and/or fractions with protection against liver injury caused by Con A and the underlying possible mechanism(s) of action are reviewed. A total of 53 compounds from different structural classes are discussed and over 97 references are cited. The goal of this review is to attract the interest of pharmacologists, natural product researchers, and synthetic chemists for discovering novel drug candidates for treating immune-mediated liver injury.

Treatment of Non-Alcoholic Steatosis: Preclinical Study of a New Nutraceutical Multitarget Formulation

Multifactorial pathogenesis of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) disease, a wide-spread liver pathology associated with metabolic alterations triggered by hepatic steatosis, should be hit by multitarget therapeutics. We tested a multicomponent food supplement mixture (AP-NHm), whose components have anti-dislipidemic, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, on in vitro and in vivo models of NASH. In vitro, hepatic cells cultures were treated for 24 h with 0.5 mM oleic acid (OA): in the co-treatment set cells were co-treated with AP-NH mixtures (AP-NHm, 1:3:10 ratio) and in the post-injury set AP-NHm was added for 48 h after OA damage. In vivo, C57BL/6 mice were fed with high-fat diet (HFD) for 12 weeks, inducing NASH at 7th week, and treated with AP-NHm at two dosages (1:3 ratio) in co-treatment or post-injury protocols, while a control group was fed with a standard diet. In in vitro co-treatment protocol, alterations of redox balance, proinflammatory cytokines release and glucose uptake were restored in a dose-dependent manner, at highest dosages also in post-injury regimen. In both regimens, pathologic dyslipidemias were also ameliorated by AP-NHm. In vivo, high-dose-AP-NHm-co-treated-HFD mice dose-dependently gained less body weight, were protected from dyslipidemia, and showed a lower liver weight. Dose-dependently, AP-NHm treatment lowered hepatic LDL, HDL, triglycerides levels and oxidative damage; co-treatment regimen was anti-inflammatory, reducing TNF-α and IL-8 levels. Hepatic lipidic infiltration significantly decreased in co-treated and post-injury-AP-NHm-HFD animals. The multitarget approach with AP-NHm was effective in preventing and reducing NASH-related pathologic features, warranting for the clinical development of this compound.

Hepatoprotective activity of isostrictiniin from Nymphaea candida on Con A-induced acute liver injury in mice

This study is to investigate hepatoprotective activity of isostrictiniin from Nymphaea candida. Hepatic injury in mice was induced immunologically by caudal vein injecting Con A (20 mg/kg) on tenth day of isostrictiniin (25, 50, or 100 mg/kg) intragastric administration. The results demonstrated that pretreatment with isostrictiniin significantly and dose-dependently prevented increase of serum AST and ALT induced by Con A (P < 0.05). Isostrictiniin significantly reduced the levels of MDA and NO in the liver tissue and restored activities of antioxidant enzymes SOD and GSH compared with model group (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the increase of pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-18 levels were significantly suppressed by isostrictiniin pretreatment compared with model group (P < 0.05). Histopathological analysis showed that isostrictiniin attenuated the hepatocellular necrosis and reduction of inflammatory cells infiltration. The results indicates that preventive effect of isostrictiniin on acute liver injury may be attributed to its antioxidative and immunomodulatory activities.

Parthenolide regulates oxidative stress-induced mitophagy and suppresses apoptosis through p53 signaling pathway in C2C12 myoblasts

Muscle redox disturbances and oxidative stress have emerged as a common pathogenetic mechanism and potential therapeutic intervention in some muscle diseases. Parthenolide (PTL), a sesquiterpene lactone found in large amounts in the leaves of feverfew, possesses anti-inflammatory, anti-migraine, and anticancer properties. Although PTL was reported to alleviate cancer cachexia and improve skeletal muscle characteristics in a cancer cachexia model, its actions on oxidative stress-induced damage in C2C12 myoblasts have not been reported and the regulatory mechanisms have not yet been defined. In our study, PTL attenuated H₂ O₂ -induced growth inhibition and morphological changes. Furthermore, PTL exhibited scavenging activity against reactive oxygen species and protected C2C12 cells from apoptosis in response to H₂ O₂ . Meanwhile, PTL suppressed collapse of the mitochondrial membrane potential, thereby contributing to normalizing H₂ O₂ -induced autophagy flux and mitophagy, correlating with inhibiting degradation of mitochondrial marker protein TIM23, the increase in LC3-II expression and the reduction of mitochondria DNA. Besides its protective effect on mitochondria, PTL also prevented H₂ O₂ -induced lysosomes damage in C2C12 cells. In addition, the phosphorylation of p53, cathepsin B, and Bax/Bcl-2 protein levels, and the translocation of Bax from the cytosol to mitochondria induced by H₂ O₂ in C2C12 cells was significantly reduced by PTL. In conclusion, PTL modulates oxidative stress-induced mitophagy and protects C2C12 myoblasts against apoptosis, suggesting a potential protective effect against oxidative stress-associated skeletal muscle diseases.

Ratio of Creatine Kinase to Alanine Aminotransferase as a Biomarker of Acute Liver Injury in Dystrophinopathy

Objective

To investigate the ratios of creatine kinase (CK) to aminotransferases as biomarkers of acute liver injury in dystrophinopathy.

Methods

C57 and mdx (dystrophic) mice were treated with a hepatotoxic reagent D-galactosamine (D-GalN). The degrees of liver and muscle injury were assessed using histological examinations. To examine whether serum CK-adjusted aminotransferase levels could indicate liver status in dystrophic mice, the CK/alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and CK/aspartate aminotransferase (AST) ratios were analyzed. Furthermore, we enrolled 658 male patients with dystrophinopathy and 378 male patients without muscle and liver injury as control, whose serum ALT, AST, and CK levels were examined.

Results

Animal experiments indicated that D-GalN treatment could induce acute liver injury but not muscle injury. Additionally, D-GalN decreased the CK/ALT and CK/AST ratios in both C57 mice and mdx mice (P < 0.001). However, there was an overlap of the CK/AST ratio between dystrophic mice with and without acute liver injury. In patients with dystrophinopathy, CK-adjusted ALT diminished the variability associated with age, genotype, clinical phenotype, and motor function (P > 0.05).

Conclusions

CK/ALT is a potential biomarker for the differential evaluation of acute liver injury in dystrophic mice, which highlights the value to further evaluate the practice of CK/ALT in dystrophinopathy patients.

Arctigenin protects against liver injury from acute hepatitis by suppressing immune cells in mice

As a phenylpropanoid and dibenzylbutyrolactone lignan present in medical plants, such as those used in traditional Chinese herbal medicine, including Arctium lappa (Niubang), arctigenin exhibits antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer activities. In this study, we investigated the protective role of arctigenin in Concanavalin A (ConA)-induced acute hepatitis in mice. Arctigenin remarkably reduced the congestion and necroinflammation of livers, and improved hepatic function (ALT and AST) in ConA-induced acute hepatitis in vivo. The infiltration of CD4 T, NKT and macrophages into the livers was found to be reduced with arctigenin treatment. Arctigenin suppressed ConA-induced T lymphocyte proliferations that might have resulted from enhanced IL-10 production by macrophages and CD4 T cells. These results suggested that arctigenin could be a powerful drug candidate for acute hepatitis through immune suppression.