The signaling pathways of traditional Chinese medicine in promoting diabetic wound healing

Betaine combined with traditional Chinese medicine ointment to treat skin wounds in microbially infected diabetic mice

BACKGROUND

Skin wounds are highly common in diabetic patients, and with increasing types of pathogenic bacteria and antibiotic resistance, wounds and infections in diabetic patients are difficult to treat and heal.

AIM

To explore the effects of betaine ointment (BO) in promoting the healing of skin wounds and reducing the inflammation and apoptosis of skin cells in microbially infected diabetic mice.

METHODS

By detecting the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of betaine and plant monomer components such as psoralen, we prepared BO with betaine as the main ingredient, blended it with traditional Chinese medicines such as gromwell root and psoralen, and evaluated its antibacterial effects and safety in vitro and in vivo. The skin infection wound models of ordinary mice and diabetic mice were constructed, and the OTC drugs mupirocin ointment and Zicao ointment were used as controls to evaluate the antibacterial effects in vivo and the anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects of BO.

RESULTS

The MICs of betaine against microorganisms such as Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans ranged from 4 to 32 μg/mL. Gromwell root and psoralea, both of which contain antimicrobial components, mixed to prepare BO with MICs ranging from 16 to 64 μg/mL, which is 32-256 times lower than those of Zicao ointment, although the MIC is greater than that of betaine. After 15 days of treatment with BO for USA300-infected ordinary mice, the wound scab removal rates were 83.3%, while those of mupirocin ointment and Zicao ointment were 66.7% and 0%, respectively, and the differences were statistically significant. In diabetic mice, the wound scab removal rate of BO and mupirolacin ointment was 80.0%, but BO reduced wound inflammation and the apoptosis of skin cells and facilitated wound healing.

CONCLUSION

The ointment prepared by mixing betaine and traditional Chinese medicine can effectively inhibit common skin microorganisms and has a strong effect on the skin wounds of sensitive or drug-resistant S. aureus-infected ordinary mice and diabetic mice.

San Huang Xiao Yan recipe promoted wound healing in diabetic ulcer mice by inhibiting Th17 cell differentiation

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Diabetic ulcer is a serious diabetes complication and a primary reason for amputations. For many years, the San Huang Xiao Yan (SHXY) recipe has served as a conventional remedy for these ulcers, effectively reducing inflammatory factors and exhibiting considerable therapeutic efficacy. However, the precise mechanism remains incompletely understood.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To explore the efficacy and mechanisms of SHXY and its active ingredients in treating diabetic ulcer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A diabetic ulcer mouse model was established using C57BL/6J mice on a high-fat diet, followed by streptozotocin injection and skin damage. We investigated the bioactive compounds, key targets, and pharmacological mechanisms of SHXY in addressing diabetic ulcers through network pharmacology, molecular docking, both in vitro and in vivo validation experiments.

RESULTS

One week after intragastric administration, SHXY can reduce inflammation and edema, increase collagen synthesis, and reduce the expression of RORγT and IL-17A without affecting Treg cells. In vitro, SHXY-containing serum inhibited the differentiation of Th17 cells but did not affect Treg and Th1 cells. Network pharmacology found that SHXY acts through inflammatory pathways, including TNF, IL-17, Th17 cell differentiation, HIF-1, and PI3K-Akt.

CONCLUSIONS

SHXY and its candidate enhance healing in diabetic ulcers by modulating CD4+ T cells, particularly by inhibiting Th17 cell differentiation.

Multifunctional carboxymethyl chitosan/oxidized carboxymethyl cellulose hydrogel loaded with ginsenoside Rg1 and polydopamine nanoparticles for infected diabetic wound healing

Besides bacterial infection, diabetic wounds are often accompanied by local inflammatory response, oxidative stress imbalances, and vascular formation disorders, which are the main reasons for long-term non-healing of diabetic wounds. In order to solve this problem, Ch-OCMC-PDA NPs-Rg1 self-healing hydrogel was constructed by Schiff base reaction. With the addition of PDA NPs and Rg1, Ch-OCMC-PDA NPs-Rg1 hydrogel showed excellent physical properties, like compressive strength of 142 kPa, swelling ratio of 148.91 %, and Rg1 carried in the hydrogel could achieve a slow release of 90.59 % within 48 h. What's more, PDA NPs endowed it with highly efficient photothermal antibacterial properties. In addition to excellent biocompatibility, Ch-OCMC-PDA NPs-Rg1 hydrogel could effectively clear intracellular reactive oxygen species, promote macrophages M2 transformation, and facilitate human umbilical vein endothelial cells migration and tube formation. In vivo experiments exhibited that Ch-OCMC-PDA NPs-Rg1 hydrogel could reduce wound inflammation, stimulate early angiogenesis, promote collagen deposition, and shorten the healing process of diabetic infected wounds, and the wound healing rate was significantly increased compared with other groups, reaching 98.41 ± 0.31 %. In summary, the multi-functional dynamic Ch-OCMC-PDA NPs-Rg1 hydrogel provides a new possibility for the treatment of diabetic infection wounds.

Cratylia mollis lectin reduces inflammatory burden induced by multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in diabetic wounds

In diabetes, tissue repair is impaired, increasing susceptibility to Staphylococcus aureus infections, a pathogen commonly found in wounds. The emergence of S. aureus strains that are highly resistant to antimicrobial agents highlights the urgent need for alternative therapeutic options. One promising candidate is Cramoll (Cratylia mollis seed lectin), known for its immunomodulatory, mitogenic, and healing properties. However, its efficacy in infected diabetic wounds remains unexplored. This study evaluated the effects of topical Cramoll treatment on diabetic wounds infected by S. aureus. Diabetic Swiss mice (induced by streptozotocin) were subjected to an 8-mm wound on the back and subsequently infected with a suspension of multidrug-resistant S. aureus. During the treatment period, the wounds were clinically evaluated for inflammation and the area of injury. After seven days, samples were collected from the wounds to quantify the bacterial load and histopathological and immunological analyses. Wounds infected by S. aureus exhibited more pronounced areas and severity indices, which were significantly reduced by Cramoll treatment (p < 0.05). Histopathological analysis revealed a reduction in inflammatory cells and an increase in revascularization with Cramoll treatment (p < 0.05). Cramoll also promoted greater collagen production compared to controls (p < 0.05). Furthermore, Cramoll treatment significantly reduced the S. aureus load in wounds (p < 0.0001), decreased TNF-α and IL-6 levels in infected wounds, and increased ERK pathway activation (p < 0.05). In conclusion, Cramoll lectin improves the healing of diabetic wounds, and these results contribute to the understanding of Cramoll healing mechanisms, reinforcing its potential as a healing agent in various clinical conditions.

Macrophages: Key players in diabetic wound healing

In this editorial, we discuss the article by Wen et al published. Diabetic foot ulcers are prevalent and serious complications of diabetes, significantly impacting patients' quality of life and often leading to disability or death, thereby placing a heavy burden on society. Effective diabetic wound healing is hindered by an imbalance in macrophage polarization; many macrophages fail to transition from the pro-inflammatory M1 phenotype to the anti-inflammatory M2 phenotype, which is crucial for tissue remodelling and repair. The wound healing process is both dynamic and complex. Healthy M1 macrophages, which have strong phagocytic abilities, are vital during the inflammatory phase of diabetic wound healing. However, the failure to transition to M2 macrophages during the proliferative phase hinders wound healing. We anticipate the development of new therapies that can repair damaged M1 macrophages during the inflammatory phase and promote M2 macrophage polarization during the proliferative phase, thereby enhancing the overall healing process.

Recent advances in sodium alginate-based dressings for targeted drug delivery in the context of diabetic wound healing

Diabetic wounds pose a significant challenge in healthcare due to impaired healing and increased risk of complications. In recent years, various drug delivery systems with stimuli-responsive features have been developed to address these issues. These systems enable precise dosage control and tailored drug release, promoting comprehensive tissue repair and regeneration. This review explores targeted therapeutic agents, such as carboxymethyl chitosan-alginate hydrogel formulations, nanofiber mats, and core-shell nanostructures, for diabetic wound healing. Additionally, the integration of nanotechnology and multifunctional biomimetic scaffolds shows promise in enhancing wound healing outcomes. Future research should focus on optimizing the design, materials, and printing parameters of 3D-bio-printed wound dressings, as well as exploring combined strategies involving the simultaneous release of antibiotics and nitric oxide for improved wound healing.

Composite Polysaccharide Hydrogel Loaded with Scutellaria baicalensis Extract for Diabetic Wound Treatment

Diabetic wounds present significant burdens to both patients and the healthcare system due to their prolonged inflammatory phase and adverse microenvironment. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), particularly Scutellaria baicalensis extract (SE), has shown promise in wound healing. Herein, sesbania gum (SG) was oxidized and formed hydrogel with carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS) through the imine bond. Then, SE was loaded into the hydrogel as a wound dressing (CMCS-OSG@SE hydrogel). In vitro experiments demonstrated the mechanical properties and ROS scavenging efficiency of the hydrogel, as well as the release of SE and its biocompatibility. In an vivo study, diabetic mice with S. aureus infection were used, and the CMCS--OSG@SE hydrogel dressing accelerated wound healing by promoting epidermal regeneration and collagen deposition. This composite polysaccharide hydrogel loaded with SE shows great potential for diabetic wound treatment.

5(S)-5-Carboxystrictosidine from the Root of Mappianthus iodoides Ameliorates H2O2-induced Apoptosis in H9c2 Cardiomyocytes via PI3K/AKT and ERK Pathways

5(S)-5-carboxystrictosidine (5-CS) is a compound found in the root of Mappianthus iodoides, a traditional Chinese medicine used for the treatment of coronary artery disease. The aim of the present study was to investigate the protective effect of 5-CS against oxidative stress-induced apoptosis in H9c2 cardiomyocytes and the underlying mechanisms. 5-CS pretreatment significantly protected against H2O2-induced cell death, LDH leakage, and malondialdehyde (MDA) production, which are indicators for oxidative stress injury. 5-CS also enhanced the activity of SOD and CAT. In addition, 5-CS pretreatment significantly inhibited H2O2-induced apoptosis, as determined by flow cytometer, suppressed the activity of caspase-3 and caspase-9, and attenuated the activation of cleaved caspase-3 and caspase-9. 5-CS also increased Akt and ERK activation altered by H2O2 using Western blot analysis. The PI3K-specific inhibitor LY294002 abolished 5-CS-induced Akt activation. The ERK-specific inhibitor PD98059 abolished 5-CS-induced ERK activation. Both LY294002 and PD98059 attenuated the protective effect of 5-CS on H9c2 cardiomyocytes against H2O2-induced apoptosis and cell death. Taken together, these results demonstrate that 5-CS prevents H2O2-induced oxidative stress injury in H9c2 cells by enhancing the activity of the endogenous antioxidant enzymes, inhibiting apoptosis, and modulating PI3K/Akt and ERK signaling pathways.

A Multifunctional Herb-Derived Glycopeptide Hydrogel for Chronic Wound Healing

Chronic wounds constitute an increasingly prevalent global healthcare issue, characterized by recurring bacterial infections, pronounced oxidative stress, compromised functionality of immune cells, unrelenting inflammatory reactions, and deficits in angiogenesis. In response to these multifaceted challenges, the study introduced a stimulus-responsive glycopeptide hydrogel constructed by oxidized Bletilla striata polysaccharide (OBSP), gallic acid-grafted ε-Polylysine (PLY-GA), and paeoniflorin-loaded micelles (MIC@Pae), called OBPG&MP. The hydrogel emulates the structure of glycoprotein fibers of the extracellular matrix (ECM), exhibiting exceptional injectability, self-healing, and biocompatibility. It adapts responsively to the inflammatory microenvironment of chronic wounds, sequentially releasing therapeutic agents to eradicate bacterial infection, neutralize reactive oxygen species (ROS), modulate macrophage polarization, suppress inflammation, and encourage vascular regeneration and ECM remodeling, playing a critical role across the inflammatory, proliferative, and remodeling phases of wound healing. Both in vitro and in vivo studies confirmed the efficacy of OBPG&MP hydrogel in regulating the wound microenvironment and enhancing the regeneration and remodeling of chronic wound skin tissue. This research supports the vast potential for herb-derived multifunctional hydrogels in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.

Investigating the effects of Ginkgo biloba leaf extract on cognitive function in Alzheimer's disease

AIMS

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder with limited treatment options. This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effects of Ginkgo biloba leaf extract (GBE) on AD and explore its potential mechanisms of action.

METHODS

Key chemical components of GBE, including quercetin, luteolin, and kaempferol, were identified using network pharmacology methods. Bioinformatics analysis revealed their potential roles in AD through modulation of the PI3K/AKT/NF-κB signaling pathway.

RESULTS

Mouse experiments demonstrated that GBE improved cognitive function, enhanced neuronal morphology, and reduced serum inflammatory factors. Additionally, GBE modulated the expression of relevant proteins and mRNA.

CONCLUSION

GBE shows promise as a potential treatment for AD. Its beneficial effects on cognitive function, neuronal morphology, and inflammation may be attributed to its modulation of the PI3K/AKT/NF-κB signaling pathway. These findings provide experimental evidence for the application of Ginkgo biloba leaf in AD treatment and highlight its potential mechanisms of action.

The impact and mechanism study of Sijunzi decoction and Rg1 on proliferation and differentiation of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells: An experimental study

BACKGROUND

Previous researches have demonstrated that the traditional Chinese medicine could therapeutically treat inflammatory and hypoxic diseases by enhancing the functionality of mesenchymal stem cells. However, its mechanism was not yet clear. This research aimed to investigate the impact of the traditional Chinese medicine Sijunzi decoction and its herb monomer ginsenoside Rg1 on the proliferation and differentiation of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUC-MSCs) and explore the underlying mechanisms.

METHODS

Different concentrations of Sijunzi decoction and Rg1 were applied to differentiating induced hUC-MSCs. The CCK-8 test was utilized to evaluate cell proliferation activity and identify suitable drug concentrations. Alizarin Red staining was employed to detect the formation of calcium nodules, and Oil Red O staining was used to assess the formation of lipid droplets. PCR was utilized to examine gene expression related to osteogenic differentiation, adipogenic differentiation, and the HIF-1α signaling pathway in hUC-MSCs. Western blot analysis was conducted to evaluate protein expression in osteogenic differentiation and HIF-1α. ELISA was performed to measure HIF-1α signaling factors and inflammatory cytokine expression. Biochemical assays were used to assess changes in oxidative stress indicators.

RESULTS

The Sijunzi decoction and Rg1 both demonstrated a dose-dependent promotion of hUC-MSC proliferation. The Sijunzi decoction significantly increased the expression of genes and proteins relevant to osteogenesis, such as osterix, osteocalcin, RUNX2, and osteopontin, and activated the HIF-1α pathway in hUC-MSCs. (P < .05). Similar effects were observed at the gene level after treatment with Rg1. Simultaneously, Sijunzi decoction significantly reduced the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β, while increasing the secretion of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 during osteogenic differentiation (P < .05). Moreover, Sijunzi decoction lowered oxidative stress levels and enhanced the antioxidant capacity of hUC-MSCs during osteogenic differentiation (P < .05). However, the impact of Sijunzi decoction on hUC-MSCs toward adipogenic differentiation was not significant (P > .05).

CONCLUSION

Sijunzi decoction promotes the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of hUC-MSCs, potentially through the activation of the HIF-1α signaling pathway and by modulating the microenvironment via reducing inflammation and oxidative stress levels. Rg1 might be involved in this process.

X-Paste improves wound healing in diabetes via NF-E2-related factor/HO-1 signaling pathway

BACKGROUND

Diabetic foot ulcers (DFU), as severe complications of diabetes mellitus (DM), significantly compromise patient health and carry risks of amputation and mortality.

AIM

To offer new insights into the occurrence and development of DFU, focusing on the therapeutic mechanisms of X-Paste (XP) of wound healing in diabetic mice.

METHODS

Employing traditional Chinese medicine ointment preparation methods, XP combines various medicinal ingredients. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) identified XP's main components. Using streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic, we aimed to investigate whether XP participated in the process of diabetic wound healing. RNA-sequencing analyzed gene expression differences between XP-treated and control groups. Molecular docking clarified XP's treatment mechanisms for diabetic wound healing. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were used to investigate the effects of Andrographolide (Andro) on cell viability, reactive oxygen species generation, apoptosis, proliferation, and metastasis in vitro following exposure to high glucose (HG), while NF-E2-related factor-2 (Nrf2) knockdown elucidated Andro's molecular mechanisms.

RESULTS

XP notably enhanced wound healing in mice, expediting the healing process. RNA-sequencing revealed Nrf2 upregulation in DM tissues following XP treatment. HPLC identified 21 primary XP components, with Andro exhibiting strong Nrf2 binding. Andro mitigated HG-induced HUVECs proliferation, metastasis, angiogenic injury, and inflammation inhibition. Andro alleviates HG-induced HUVECs damage through Nrf2/HO-1 pathway activation, with Nrf2 knockdown reducing Andro's proliferative and endothelial protective effects.

CONCLUSION

XP significantly promotes wound healing in STZ-induced diabetic models. As XP's key component, Andro activates the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway, enhancing cell proliferation, tubule formation, and inflammation reduction.

Development of novel lysosome-related signatures and their potential target drugs based on bulk RNA-seq and scRNA-seq for diabetic foot ulcers

BACKGROUND

Diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) is the most serious complication of diabetes mellitus, which has become a global health problem due to its high morbidity and disability rates and the poor efficacy of conventional treatments. Thus, it is urgent to identify novel molecular targets to improve the prognosis and reduce disability rate in DFU patients.

RESULTS

In the present study, bulk RNA-seq and scRNA-seq associated with DFU were downloaded from the GEO database. We identified 1393 DFU-related DEGs by differential analysis and WGCNA analysis together, and GO/KEGG analysis showed that these genes were associated with lysosomal and immune/inflammatory responses. Immediately thereafter, we identified CLU, RABGEF1 and ENPEP as DLGs for DFU using three machine learning algorithms (Randomforest, SVM-RFE and LASSO) and validated their diagnostic performance in a validation cohort independent of this study. Subsequently, we constructed a novel artificial neural network model for molecular diagnosis of DFU based on DLGs, and the diagnostic performance in the training and validation cohorts was sound. In single-cell sequencing, the heterogeneous expression of DLGs also provided favorable evidence for them to be potential diagnostic targets. In addition, the results of immune infiltration analysis showed that the abundance of mainstream immune cells, including B/T cells, was down-regulated in DFUs and significantly correlated with the expression of DLGs. Finally, we found latamoxef, parthenolide, meclofenoxate, and lomustine to be promising anti-DFU drugs by targeting DLGs.

CONCLUSIONS

CLU, RABGEF1 and ENPEP can be used as novel lysosomal molecular signatures of DFU, and by targeting them, latamoxef, parthenolide, meclofenoxate and lomustine were identified as promising anti-DFU drugs. The present study provides new perspectives for the diagnosis and treatment of DFU and for improving the prognosis of DFU patients.

Dang-Gui-Si-Ni decoction facilitates wound healing in diabetic foot ulcers by regulating expression of AGEs/RAGE/TGF-β/Smad2/3

Diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) is a predominant complication of diabetes mellitus with poor prognosis accompanied by high amputation and mortality rates. Dang-Gui-Si-Ni decoction (DSD), as a classic formula with a long history in China, has been found to improve DFU symptoms. However, mechanism of DSD for DFU therapy remains unclear with no systematic elaboration. In vivo, following establishment of DFU rat model, DSD intervention with low, medium and high doses was done, with Metformin (DM) as a positive control group. With wound healing detection, pathological changes by HE staining, inflammatory factor expression by ELISA and qRT-PCR, oxidative stress levels by ELISA, and AGEs/RAGE/TGF-β/Smad2/3 expression by Western blot were performed. In vitro, intervention with LY2109761 (TGF-β pathway inhibitor) based on DSD treatment in human dermal fibroblast-adult (HDF-a) cells was made. Cell viability by CCK8, migration ability by cell scratch, apoptosis by flow cytometry, and AGEs/RAGE/TGF-β/Smad2/3 expression by Western blot were measured. DFU rats exhibited elevated AGEs/RAGE expression, whereas decreased TGF-β1 and p-Smad3/Smad3 protein expression, accompanied by higher IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α levels, and oxidative stress. DSD intervention reversed above effects. Glucose induction caused lower cell viability, migration, TGF-β1 and p-Smad3/Smad3 protein expression, with increased apoptosis and AGEs/RAGE expression in HDF-a cells. These effects were reversed after DSD intervention, and further LY2109761 intervention inhibited DSD effects in cells. DSD intervention may facilitate wound healing in DFU by regulating expression of AGEs/RAGE/TGF-β/Smad2/3, providing scientific experimental evidence for DSD clinical application for DFU therapy.

Qing-Re-Chu-shi decoction ameliorates 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene-induced atopic dermatitis in NC/Nga mice through anti-inflammation and immunoregulatory mechanisms

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Qing-Re-Chu-Shi Decoction (QRCSD), a traditional Chinese herbal formula, has been employed as a complementary and alternative therapy for inflammatory skin diseases. However, its active constituents and the mechanistic basis of its action on atopic dermatitis remain in adequately understood.

AIM OF THE STUDY

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is an allergic dermatitis marked by eczematous lesions and pruritus. The study aimed to elucidate the underlying effects of QRCSD on AD and to identify the components responsible for its therapeutic efficacy in a mouse model.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Network pharmacology and UPLC-mass analysis were used to anticipate the pharmacological mechanisms and to identify active components of QRCSD, respectively. A DNCB-induced AD-like model was established in NC/Nga mice. QRCSD or prednisolone (as a positive control) was administered via gavage every other day from day14 to day 21. Dermatitis severity score, scratching behavior, skin barrier function, spleen index, Th1/Th2 lymphocyte ratio, and serum IgE levels were evaluated. Protein arrays, including 40 inflammatory cytokines, were performed on skin lesions, followed by confirmation experiments of Western blotting in dorsal skin lesions.

RESULTS

The construction of a QRCSD-AD-Network and topological analysis firstly proposed potential targets of QRCSD acting on AD. Animal experiments demonstrated that oral administration of QRCSD ameliorated AD-like lesions, reduced epidermal thickness and mast cell count, decreased serum IgE levels, augmented tight junction protein (Claudin 1, Occludin) levels, and regulated the Th1/Th2 balance in the spleen, as well as spleen index. Elevated levels of interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-17, and Eotaxin were revealed in AD-like skin lesions by protein arrays. Western blotting confirmed that the phosphorylation levels of ERK, P38, JNK, STAT3 and P65 were downregulated, and IL-6 expression was also reduced following QRCSD treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

The study enhances the understanding of the anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects of QRCSD, showcasing its significant protective role against atopic dermatitis. Treatment with QRCSD may be considered as a viable candidate for complementary and alternative therapy in managing atopic dermatitis.

Dang-Gui-Bu-Xue decoction improves wound healing in diabetic rats by the activation of Notch signaling

Diabetes serves as a severe chronic disease that severely affects the normal life of human beings. Diabetes causes the complication of diabetic wound dysfunction, which is characterized by sustained inflammation, altered angiogenesis, delayed epithelialization and abnormal secretion of protease. Dang-Gui-Bu-Xue decoction (DBD) is a Chinese traditional medicine that comprises Radix Astragali and Radix Angelicae sinensis and is widely applied in treatment of multiple diseases owing to its functions against inflammation, lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress. Nevertheless, the impact of DBD on diabetic wound healing remains elusive. In this study, we aimed to explore the function of DBD in the regulation of wound healing. We observed that the gavage administration of DBD reduced the wound area, inflammatory infiltration, inflammatory factor levesl, and enhanced granulation tissue formation, wound extracellular matrix (ECM) production, and CD31 accumulation in the diabetic rat wound model, and the co-treatment of gavage administration and the external administration of gauze containing DBD further improved the wound healing effect, while the combination of Notch signaling inhibitor DAPT ((N- [N- (3, 5-difluorophenacetyl)-l-alanyl]-s-phenylglycinet-butyl ester)) could attenuate the improvement. Regarding to the mechanism, the expression levels of Notch1, Delta-like canonical Notch ligand 4 (Dll4), Jagged1, and Hairy Enhancer of Split-1 (Hes1) were increased by DBD, while the treatment of DAPT impaired the effect in the rats. Furthermore, we found that the high glucose (HG)-inhibited viability and tube formation were induced by DBD in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), in which DAPT could reverse this effect. Therefore, we concluded that DBD contributed to wound healing by the activation of Notch signaling. Our finding provides new insight into the potential role of DBD in promoting diabetic wound healing.

Sanchi-mediated inactivation of IL1B accelerates wound healing through the NFκB pathway deficit

Context

Sanchi promotes wound healing by repressing fibroblast proliferation.

Objective

This study examined the effect of Sanchi on keratinocytes (KCs) and microvascular endothelial cells (MECs) and rats with skin injury.

Materials & methods

Hydrogels containing different concentrations of Sanchi extract were prepared to observe wound closure over 10 days. SD rats were divided into the control, Hydrogel, 5% Hydrogel, 10% Hydrogel, 10% Hydrogel + Ad5-NC, and 10% Hydrogel + Ad5-IL1B groups. KCs and MECs were induced with H2O2 for 24 h. Cell viability, apoptosis, and the levels of inflammation- and oxidative stress-related factors were examined. The effect of IL1B on wound healing was also evaluated.

Results

Compared to the Control group (83% ± 7.4%) or Hydrogel without Sanchi extract (84% ± 8.5%), Hydrogel with 5% (95% closure ± 4.0%) or 10% Sanchi extract (98% ± 1.7%) accelerated wound healing in rats and attenuated inflammation and oxidative stress. Hydrogels containing Sanchi extract increased collagen deposition and CD31 expression in tissues. H2O2 (100 μM) induced injury in KCs and MECs, whereas Sanchi rescued the viability of KCs and MECs. Sanchi inhibited cell inflammation and oxidative stress and decreased apoptosis. As Sanchi blocked the NFκB pathway via IL1B, IL1B mitigated the therapeutic effect of Sanchi.

Discussion and conclusion

Sanchi demonstrated therapeutic effects on wound healing in rats by promoting KCs and MECs activity. These findings provide valuable information for the clinical application of Sanchi, which needs to be validated in future clinical trials.

Chinmedomics: a potent tool for the evaluation of traditional Chinese medicine efficacy and identification of its active components

As an important part of medical science, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) attracts much public attention due to its multi-target and multi-pathway characteristics in treating diseases. However, the limitations of traditional research methods pose a dilemma for the evaluation of clinical efficacy, the discovery of active ingredients and the elucidation of the mechanism of action. Therefore, innovative approaches that are in line with the characteristics of TCM theory and clinical practice are urgently needed. Chinmendomics, a newly emerging strategy for evaluating the efficacy of TCM, is proposed. This strategy combines systems biology, serum pharmacochemistry of TCM and bioinformatics to evaluate the efficacy of TCM with a holistic view by accurately identifying syndrome biomarkers and monitoring their complex metabolic processes intervened by TCM, and finding the agents associated with the metabolic course of pharmacodynamic biomarkers by constructing a bioinformatics-based correlation network model to further reveal the interaction between agents and pharmacodynamic targets. In this article, we review the recent progress of Chinmedomics to promote its application in the modernisation and internationalisation of TCM.

Hydroxysafflor Yellow A Promotes HaCaT Cell Proliferation and Migration by Regulating HBEGF/EGFR and PI3K/AKT Pathways and Circ_0084443

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect and possible mechanism of hydroxysafflor yellow A (HSYA) on human immortalized keratinocyte cell proliferation and migration.

METHODS

HaCaT cells were treated with HSYA. Cell proliferation was detected by the cell counting kit-8 assay, and cell migration was measured using wound healing assay and Transwell migration assay. The mRNA and protein expression levels of heparin-binding epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like growth factor (HBEGF), EGF receptor (EGFR), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), protein kinase B (AKT), mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), and hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) were detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blot, respectively. Circ_0084443-overexpressing HaCaT cells and empty plasmid HaCaT cells were constructed using the lentiviral stable transfection and treated with HSYA. The expression of circ_0084443 was detected by qRT-PCR.

RESULTS

HSYA (800 µmol/L) significantly promoted HaCaT cell proliferation and migration (P<0.05 or P<0.01). It also increased the mRNA and protein expression levels of HBEGF, EGFR, PI3K, AKT, mTOR and HIF-1α, and increased the phosphorylation levels of PI3K and AKT (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Furthermore, HSYA promoted HaCaT cell proliferation and migration via the HBEGF/EGFR and PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathways (P<0.01). Circ_0084443 attenuated the mRNA expression levels of HBEGF, EGFR, PI3K, AKT, mTOR and HIF-1α (P<0.05). HSYA inhibited the circ_0084443 expression, further antagonized the inhibition of circ_0084443 on HBEGF, EGFR, PI3K, AKT, mTOR and HIF-1α, and promoted the proliferation of circ_0084443-overexpressing HaCaT cells (P<0.05 or P<0.01). However, HSYA could not influence the inhibitory effect of circ_0084443 on HaCaT cell migration (P>0.05).

CONCLUSION

HSYA played an accelerative role in HaCaT cell proliferation and migration, which may be attributable to activating HBEGF/EGFR and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways, and had a particular inhibitory effect on the keratinocyte negative regulator circ_0084443.

A dihydromyricetin-loaded phellinus igniarius polysaccharide/l-arginine modified chitosan-based hydrogel for promoting wound recovery in diabetic mice via JNK and TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway

The wound of diabetes has long-term excessive inflammation leading to wound fibrosis and scar formation. In the process of diabetic wound healing, good wound dressing is required for intervention. In this study, we designed a dihydromyricetin-loaded hydrogel (PCD) based on phellinus igniarius polysaccharide and l-arginine modified chitosan as an alternative material to promote diabetes wound healing. PCD had a uniform porous structure, good thermal stability, excellent mechanical properties, high water absorption, excellent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities and good biocompatibility and biodegradability. In addition, in the full-thickness skin trauma model of diabetes, PCD significantly inhibited the JNK signaling pathway to reduce inflammatory response, and significantly down-regulated the expression of TGF-β1, Smad2, Smad3 and Smad4 to directly inhibit the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway to accelerate wound healing and slow down scar formation in diabetes mice. Therefore, PCD has a broad application prospect in promoting diabetes wound healing.

Echinacoside regulates PI3K/AKT/HIF-1α/VEGF cross signaling axis in proliferation and apoptosis of breast cancer

CONTEXT

Echinacoside (ECH) is a natural anti-cancer compound and is of great value in cancer treatment. However, the mechanism underlying this effect on breast cancer (BC) was unclear.

OBJECTIVE

To explore the mechanism of ECH treating BC by network pharmacology and experimental validation.

MATERIALS & METHODS

Several databases were searched to screen potential targets of ECH and obtain information on targets related to BC. STRING was applied to construct a Protein-protein interaction (PPI) network. DAVID was applied for Gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis. Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA) was searched for the relationship between the expression profile and overall survival of major targets in normal breast and BC tissues. Finally, the results of network pharmacology analysis were validated by experiments.

RESULTS

Seventeen targets of ECH overlapped with targets in BC. Ten hub targets were determined through PPI. By GO and KEGG analysis 15 entries and 25 pathways were obtained, in which phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), protein kinase B (AKT), hypoxia inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) played greater roles. Validation of key targets in the GEPIA database showed that PIK3R1 and PIK3CD remained consistent with the results of the study. Experiments in vitro showed ECH inhibited proliferation, induced apoptosis and reduced mRNA levels and protein expression of PI3K, AKT, hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) and vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) in MCF-7 cells. Furthermore, experiments in vivo revealed that ECH significantly reduced tumor growth, promoted apoptosis and decreased the related mRNA levels and protein expression, suggesting ECH works on BC by regulating PI3K/AKT/HIF-1α/VEGF signaling pathway.

DISCUSSION & CONCLUSION

In summary, ECH played an important role in anti-BC by regulating PI3K/AKT/HIF-1α/VEGF signaling pathway. Furthermore, ECH had multi-target and multi-pathway effects, which may be a promising natural compound for treating BC.

Network Pharmacology Study on Herb Pair Bletilla striata-Galla chinensis in the Treatment of Chronic Skin Ulcers

BACKGROUND

Herb pair Bletilla striata-Galla chinensis (BS-GC) is a classic combination of topical traditional Chinese medicine formulae in the treatment of chronic skin ulcers (CSUs).

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to explore the effective active ingredients of BS-GC, as well as the core targets and signal transduction pathways of its action on CSUs.

METHODS

The ingredients of BS-GC were obtained from TCMSP and HERB databases. The targets of all active ingredients were retrieved from the SwissTargetPrediction database. The targets of CSUs were obtained from OMIM, GeneCards, Drugbank, and DisGeNET databases. A drug-disease target protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed to select the most core targets, and an herb-ingredient-target network was built by utilizing Cytoscape 3.7.2. Furthermore, we performed Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes database (KEGG) analysis and verified the results of network pharmacology through molecular docking.

RESULTS

A total of 40 active ingredients from the herb pair BS-GC were initially screened, and a total of 528 targets were retrieved. Meanwhile, the total number of CSU targets was 1032. Then, the number of common targets between BS-GC and CSUs was 107. The 13 core targets of herb pair BS-GC with CSUs were filtered out according to the PPI network, including AKT1, TNF, EGFR, BCL2, HIF1A, MMP-9, etc. The 5 main core active ingredients were 1-(4-Hydroxybenzyl)-2-methoxy-9,10-dihydrophenanthrene-4,7-diol, 1-(4- Hydroxybenzyl)-4-methoxy-9,10-dihydrophenanthrene-2,7-diol, physcion, dihydromyricetin, and myricetin. The main biological processes were inflammation, oxidative stress, and immune response, involving the AGE-RAGE signaling pathway in diabetic complications, HIF-1 signaling pathway, NF-κB signaling pathway, and calcium signaling pathway. Molecular docking results showed good binding activity between the 5 main core active ingredients and 13 core targets.

CONCLUSION

This study predicted the core targets and signal transduction pathways in the treatment of CSUs to provide a reference for further molecular mechanism research.

Underlying Mechanism of Traditional Herbal Formula Chuang-Ling-Ye in the Treatment of Diabetic Foot Ulcer through Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking

BACKGROUND

Chuang-Ling-Ye (CLY) has been clinically proven to be an effective Chinese medicine for the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers (DFU).

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to investigate the possible mechanism of CLY in relation to DFU using network pharmacology and molecular docking.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Firstly, relevant targets of CLY against DFU were obtained from TCMSP, Swiss Target Prediction database and GEO database. Then, topological analysis was employed by Cytoscape to screen the top 6 core active ingredients and the top 8 hub targets. Furthermore, the OmicShare Tools were applied for gene ontology (GO) functional enrichment analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) signaling pathway enrichment analysis. Finally, the results of network pharmacology were verified by molecular docking method.

RESULTS

CLY has 61 active compounds and 361 targets after de-duplication, and the top 8 hub targets were EGFR, TP53, CCND1, IL-1B, CREBBP, AR, PTGS2 and PGR. GO enrichment analysis is mainly related to signal transducer activity, receptor activity, and molecular transducer activity. KEGG pathway analysis indicated that these shared targets were primarily focused on AGE-RAGE signaling pathway in diabetic complications, HIF-1 signaling pathway, IL-17 signaling pathway, and JAK-STAT signaling pathway. Molecular docking results showed that physciondiglucoside, 2-cinnamoyl-glucose and kinobeon A were well bound with EGFR, IL-1B, AR and PTGS2.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrated that CLY has anti-oxidative stress and anti-inflammatory effects in the treatment of DFU through various constituents, multiple targets, and multiple pathways, which provides a valuable point of reference for future investigations on CLY.

Identifying and Validating GSTM5 as an Immunogenic Gene in Diabetic Foot Ulcer Using Bioinformatics and Machine Learning

Background

A diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) is a serious, long-term condition associated with a significant risk of disability and mortality. However, research on its biomarkers is still limited. This study utilizes bioinformatics and machine learning methods to identify immune-related biomarkers for DFU and validates them through external datasets and animal experiments.

Methods

This study used bioinformatics and machine learning to analyze microarray data from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database to identify key genes associated with DFU. Animal experiments were conducted to validate these findings. This research employs the datasets GSE68183 and GSE80178 retrieved from the GEO database as the training dataset for building a gene machine learning model, and after conducting differential analysis on the data, this study used package glmnet and package e1071 to construct LASSO and SVM-RFE machine learning models, respectively. Subsequently, we validated the model using the training set and validation set (GSE134431). We conducted enrichment analysis, including GSEA and GSVA, on the model genes. We also performed immune functional analysis and immune-related analysis on the model genes. Finally, we conducted immunohistochemistry (IHC) validation on the model genes.

Results

This study identifies GSTM5 as a potential immune-related key target in DFU using machine learning and bioinformatics methods. Subsequent validation through external datasets and IHC experiments also confirms GSTM5 as a critical biomarker for DFU. The gene may be associated with T cells regulatory (Tregs) and T cells follicular helper, and it influences the NF-κB, GnRH, and MAPK signaling pathway.

Conclusion

This study identified and validated GSTM5 as a biomarker for DFU. This finding may potentially provide a target for immune therapy for DFU.

Targeting Signalling Pathways in Chronic Wound Healing

Chronic wounds fail to achieve complete closure and are an economic burden to healthcare systems due to the limited treatment options and constant medical attention. Chronic wounds are characterised by dysregulated signalling pathways. Research has focused on naturally derived compounds, stem-cell-based therapy, small molecule drugs, oligonucleotide delivery nanoparticles, exosomes and peptide-based platforms. The phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT), Wingless-related integration (Wnt)/β-catenin, transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), Notch and hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) signalling pathways have critical roles in wound healing by modulating the inflammatory, proliferative and remodelling phases. Moreover, several regulators of the signalling pathways were demonstrated to be potential treatment targets. In this review, the current research on targeting signalling pathways under chronic wound conditions will be discussed together with implications for future studies.

Functional Microneedle Patch for Wound Healing and Biological Diagnosis and Treatment

Wound healing, especially chronic wounds, has been one of the major challenges in the field of biomedicine. Drug therapy alone is not effective, so a variety of functional wound healing dressings have been developed. Microneedles have attracted more and more attentions in the field of wound healing dressings due to their penetration and high drug delivery efficiency. In this review, all the studies on the application of microneedles in wound healing in recent years are summarized, classify different microneedles according to their functions in the process of wound healing, discuss the current challenges in the transformation of microneedle technology toward clinical applications, and finally look forward to the future design and development directions of microneedles in this field.

Functional nucleic acids for the treatment of diabetic complications

In recent decades, diabetes mellitus (DM) has become a major global health problem owing to its high prevalence and increased incidence of diabetes-associated complications, including diabetic wounds (DWs), diabetic nephropathy, metabolic syndrome, diabetic retinopathy, and diabetic neuropathy. In both type 1 and type 2 diabetes, tissue damage is organ-specific, but closely related to the overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and hyperglycaemia-induced macrovascular system damage. However, existing therapies have limited effects on complete healing of diabetic complications. Fortunately, recent advances in functional nucleic acid materials have provided new opportunities for the treatment and diagnosis of diabetic complications. Functional nucleic acids possess independent structural functions that can replace traditional proteases and antibodies and perform specific biological non-genetic functions. This review summarises the current functional nucleic acid materials reported for the treatment of diabetic complications, including tetrahedral framework nucleic acids (tFNAs), short interfering RNA (siRNA), micorRNA (miRNA), locked nucleic acids, antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs), and DNA origami, which may assist in the development of novel nucleic acids with new functions and capabilities for better healing of diabetic complications.

Harnessing strategies for enhancing diabetic wound healing from the perspective of spatial inflammation patterns

Diabetic wound is a great threat to patient's health and lives. The refractory diabetic wound shows spatial inflammation patterns, in which the early-wound pattern depicts a deprived acute inflammatory response, and the long-term non-healing wound pattern delineates an excessive and persistent inflammation due to the delayed immune cell infiltration in a positive feedback loop. In this work, we give points to some strategies to normalize the dysregulated immune process based on the spatial inflammation pattern differences in diabetic wound healing. First of all, inhibiting inflammatory response to avoid subsequent persistent and excessive immune infiltration for the early diabetic wound is proposed. However, diabetic wounds are unperceptive trauma that makes patients miss the best treatment time. Therefore, we also introduce two strategies for the long-term non-healing diabetic wound. One strategy is about changing chronic wounds to acute ones, which aims to rejuvenate M1 macrophages in diabetic wounds and make spontaneous M2 polarization possible. To activate the controllable proinflammatory response, western medicine delivers proinflammatory molecules while traditional Chinese medicine develops "wound-pus promoting granulation tissue growth theory". Another strategy to solve long-term non-healing wounds is seeking switches that target M1/M2 transition directly. These investigations draw a map that delineates strategies for enhancing diabetic wound healing from the perspective of spatial inflammation patterns systematically.

The effect of externally applied traditional Chinese medicine in diabetic foot: A systematic review and meta-analysis of 34 RCTs

AIM

This study aimed to investigate the clinical efficacy of externally applied Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) on diabetic foot.

METHODS

We searched the China Knowledge Network (CNKI), Wanfang Database, PubMed and Web of Science from inception to July 31, 2022, to find all randomized control trials (RCTs) related to externally applied TCMs in diabetic foot treatment. Information about the total effective rate, healing rate, and healing time were extracted. In addition, the relative risk (RR)/odds ratio (OR) or standardized mean difference (SMD) and 95 % confidence interval (CI) were calculated.

RESULTS

Finally, a total of 34 RCTs including 3758 patients were included in this meta-analysis. There were 5 articles that reported hydropathic compress with astrogalin, 14 articles that reported MEBO burn cream, 9 articles that reported compound cortex phellodendri liquid and 6 articles that reported Shengji Yuhong ointment. Compared with the basic treatment, the externally applied TCM (astrogalin, MEBO burn cream, compound cortex phellodendri liquid and Shengji Yuhong ointment) combined with basic treatment improved the total effective rate (RR = 1.31 [1.20, 1.42], P < 0.0001) and healing rate (RR = 1.84 [1.56, 2.17], P < 0.0001) and shortened the healing time (SMD = - 2.51 [- 3.39, - 1.63], P < 0.0001).

CONCLUSION

Our systematic review and meta-analysis revealed that common TCM applied externally could significantly improve the clinical efficacy comparing to the basic treatment.

Chitosan-based double network hydrogel loading herbal small molecule for accelerating wound healing

Skin injuries are one of the most common clinical traumas worldwide, and wound dressings are considered to be one of key factors in wound healing. Natural polymer-based hydrogels have been developed as ideal materials for a new generation of dressings due to their excellent biocompatibility and wetting ability. However, the inadequate mechanical performances and lack of efficacy in promoting wound healing have limited the application of natural polymer-based hydrogels as wound dressings. In this work, a double network hydrogel based on natural chitosan molecules was constructed to enhance the mechanical properties, and emodin, a herbal natural product, was loaded into the hydrogel to improve the healing effect of the dressing. The structure of the chitosan-emodin network formed by Schiff base reaction and microcrystalline network of biocompatible polyvinyl alcohol endowed hydrogels with excellent mechanical properties and ensured its integrity as wound dressings. Moreover, the hydrogel showed excellent wound healing properties due to the loading of emodin. The hydrogel dressing could promote cell proliferation, cell migration, and secretion of growth factors. The animal experimental results also demonstrated that the hydrogel dressing facilitated the regeneration of blood vessels and collagen and accelerated wound healing.

Functional drug-delivery hydrogels for oral and maxillofacial wound healing

The repair process for oral and maxillofacial injuries involves hemostasis, inflammation, proliferation, and remodeling. Injury repair involves a variety of cells, including platelets, immune cells, fibroblasts, and various cytokines. Rapid and adequate healing of oral and maxillofacial trauma is a major concern to patients. Functional drug-delivery hydrogels play an active role in promoting wound healing and have shown unique advantages in wound dressings. Functional hydrogels promote wound healing through their adhesive, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial, hemostatic, angiogenic, and re-epithelialization-promoting properties, effectively sealing wounds and reducing inflammation. In addition, functional hydrogels can respond to changes in temperature, light, magnetic fields, pH, and reactive oxygen species to release drugs, enabling precise treatment. Furthermore, hydrogels can deliver various cargos that promote healing, including nucleic acids, cytokines, small-molecule drugs, stem cells, exosomes, and nanomaterials. Therefore, functional drug-delivery hydrogels have a positive impact on the healing of oral and maxillofacial injuries. This review describes the oral mucosal structure and healing process and summarizes the currently available responsive hydrogels used to promote wound healing.

The signaling pathways of traditional Chinese medicine in treating diabetic retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is one of the common diabetic microvascular complications that occurs in the eyes and is closely associated with vision loss in working adults. However, the clinical treatment of DR is limited or accompanied by a large number of complications. Therefore, the development of new drugs for the treatment of DR is urgently needed. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is widely used to treat DR in China, and its multi-pathway and multi-level characteristics can effectively address the complex pathogenesis of DR. Growing evidence suggests that inflammation, angiogenesis, and oxidative stress are the core pathological mechanisms in the development of DR. This study innovatively considers the aforementioned processes as the fundamental unit and sheds light on the molecular mechanisms and potential of TCM against DR in terms of signaling pathways. The results showed that NF-κB, MAPK/NF-κB, TLR4/NF-κB, VEGF/VEGFR2, HIF-1α/VEGF, STAT3, and Nrf2/HO-1 are the key signaling pathways for the treatment of DR by TCMs, which involved curcumolide, erianin, quercetin, blueberry anthocyanins, puerarin, arjunolic acid, ethanol extract of Scutellaria barbata D. Don, Celosia argentea L. extract, ethanol extract of Dendrobium chrysotoxum Lindl., Shengpuhuang-tang, and LuoTong formula. The purpose of this review is to update and summarize the signaling pathways of TCM in the treatment of DR and provide ideas for the development of new drugs against DR in the future.

Molecular regulation mechanism of intestinal stem cells in mucosal injury and repair in ulcerative colitis

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic nonspecific inflammatory disease with complex causes. The main pathological changes were intestinal mucosal injury. Leucine-rich repeat-containing G protein coupled receptor 5 (LGR5)-labeled small intestine stem cells (ISCs) were located at the bottom of the small intestine recess and inlaid among Paneth cells. LGR5+ small ISCs are active proliferative adult stem cells, and their self-renewal, proliferation and differentiation disorders are closely related to the occurrence of intestinal inflammatory diseases. The Notch signaling pathway and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway are important regulators of LGR5-positive ISCs and together maintain the function of LGR5-positive ISCs. More importantly, the surviving stem cells after intestinal mucosal injury accelerate division, restore the number of stem cells, multiply and differentiate into mature intestinal epithelial cells, and repair the damaged intestinal mucosa. Therefore, in-depth study of multiple pathways and transplantation of LGR5-positive ISCs may become a new target for the treatment of UC.

Jia-Wei-Si-Miao-Yong-An Fang stimulates the healing of acute radiation-induced cutaneous wounds through MAPK/ERK pathway

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

A famous traditional oral Chinese medicine formula, Si-Miao-Yong-An decoction, has been used to treat thromboangiitis obliterans from the Qing Dynasty. Because its therapeutic principles including clearing away heat, detoxification, accelerating blood circulation and relieving pains are consistent with acute radiation-induced cutaneous wounds in traditional Chinese medicine, we tried to add herbs and improve them into an external dosage form, called Jia-Wei-Si-Miao-Yong-An Fang (JWSMYA). However, its mechanism on radiation-induced cutaneous wounds is still unknown.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study evaluated the therapeutic effect of JWSMYA and investigated the mechanism of repair and anti-fibrosis on acute radiation-induced cutaneous wounds with JWSMYA.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Firstly, we prepared JWSMYA, and determined the composition through UHPLC LC-MS/MS. Then we used ionizing radiation to make a cutaneous wound model of rats, and observed wound healing through their skin injury score, wound contraction percentage and histological staining. In addition, immunohistochemical staining, Western blot analysis, qRT-PCR and Elisa were used to explore wound rehabilitation and anti-fibrosis mechanisms.

RESULTS

An in vivo assay revealed that JWSMYA promoted the repairment of acute radiation-induced cutaneous wounds, facilitated MAPK/ERK phosphorylation, inhibited PI3K/AKT activation, reduced the level of alpha-smooth muscle actin (a-sma), collagen type-I alpha 2 (Col1a2) and transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1) in cutaneous tissues. However, no statistical difference was found in vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF).

CONCLUSION

JWSMYA accelerated the repair of acute radiation-induced cutaneous wounds, which might be associated with the MAPK/ERK pathway. In addition, PI3K/AKT might be associated with the inhibition of fibrosis and the promotion of high-quality wound healing.

Mechanisms of Nrf2 and NF-κB pathways in diabetic wound and potential treatment strategies

The issue of delayed wound healing or nonhealing in diabetic patients presents a challenge for modern medicine. A number of attempts have been made to understand the mechanisms behind diabetic wound. In a hyperglycemic environment, increased intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) disturb the balance between oxidation and antioxidant, causing the wound environment to deteriorate. It has been established that the nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) pathways play an important role in regulating inflammation and oxidative stress. Several potential treatment strategies involving Nrf2 and/or NF-κB pathways have been explored in previous studies. Hence, we analyzed mechanisms and changes in Nrf2 and NF-κB pathways in response to oxidative stress and inflammation in diabetic environment. Additionally, we reviewed potential treatment strategies from the past five years for diabetic wound by Nrf2 and/or NF-κB pathways, including receptor agonists, vitamins, hormones, exosomes, drugs, plants, and biomaterials. It may be useful to develop drugs to promote diabetic wound healing.

Pien-tze-huang promotes wound healing in streptozotocin-induced diabetes models associated with improving oxidative stress via the Nrf2/ARE pathway

Diabetic foot ulcers are a serious complication of diabetes, with high mortality and a lack of effective clinical treatment, which leads to a considerable financial burden. Pien-Tze-Huang (PZH) is a Chinese traditional medicine with a long history that has been found to be an effective and convenient treatment for inflammatory diseases such as skin abscesses and ulcers. In this study, we assessed the effects of PZH on diabetic wounds and the underlying mechanisms. The wounds were established on the backs of streptozotocin-induced type 1 diabetic rats and type 2 diabetic mouse models. We found that PZH treatment used locally or by gavage significantly promoted wound healing, accelerated re-epithelialization and vasculature in the wound tissue, upregulated the expression of the growth factors VEGF-A, PDGF, and EGF, and activated the Nrf2/ARE pathway in the wound tissue. In vitro assays showed that PZH improved the proliferation, migration and angiogenic function of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) cultured in palmitic acid, reduced the expression of the apoptotic proteins p53, Bax, and cleaved-caspase3, and activated Nrf2/ARE signaling; however, these protective effects were abrogated after Nrf2 was knocked down by specific siRNA. In addition, the levels of the serum inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-6 were reduced after PZH gavage treatment. In conclusion, the positive role of PZH in diabetic wound healing might be related to the activation of the Nrf2/ARE pathway to regulate the level of oxidative stress in vivo and increase the expression of growth factors to improve angiogenesis.

Moist exposed burn ointment accelerates diabetes-related wound healing by promoting re-epithelialization

Background

The incidence of diabetes-related wounds is widespread, and the treatment is challenging. We found that Moist Exposed Burn Ointment (MEBO) promotes the healing of diabetes-related wounds, but the mechanism is not clear.

Methods

This study aimed to explore the mechanism of MEBO on diabetic wound healing, which may be related to the promotion of re-epithelialization. A full-thickness skin resection model was established in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice. MEBO and Kangfuxin (KFX) were applied to the wound area, and the wound healing rate was analyzed by photographing. The granulation tissue and epidermal thickness, the collagen remodeling rate, and the expression of cytokeratin 10 (CK10), cytokeratin 14 (CK14), Ki67, Collagen I, and Collagen III in the regenerated skin were detected by H&E staining, Masson staining, and immunofluorescence staining, respectively. MEBO and KFX were applied to human immortalized keratinocytes (HaCaT), mouse dermal fibrolasts (MDF) cells, and cell viability, cell migration, and differentiation were determined by CCK-8, scratching assay, RT-qPCR, and Western blot (WB), respectively.

Results

We found that MEBO significantly promoted the formation of wound granulation tissue and collagen remodeling in diabetic mice. The application of MEBO to diabetic wounds not only promoted the formation of hair follicles and sebaceous glands but also promoted the expression of Ki67, CK10, and CK14 in epidermal cells. MEBO had no significant effect on the differentiation process of keratinocytes.

Conclusion

Our study further proved that MEBO plays a positive role in diabetic wound healing, and its excellent ability to promote re-epithelialization may be an important reason for promoting wound healing.

The role of mesenchymal stem cell-derived EVs in diabetic wound healing

Diabetic foot is one of the most common complications of diabetes, requiring repeated surgical interventions and leading to amputation. In the absence of effective drugs, new treatments need to be explored. Previous studies have found that stem cell transplantation can promote the healing of chronic diabetic wounds. However, safety issues have limited the clinical application of this technique. Recently, the performance of mesenchymal stem cells after transplantation has been increasingly attributed to their production of exocrine functional derivatives such as extracellular vesicles (EVs), cytokines, and cell-conditioned media. EVs contain a variety of cellular molecules, including RNA, DNA and proteins, which facilitate the exchange of information between cells. EVs have several advantages over parental stem cells, including a high safety profile, no immune response, fewer ethical concerns, and a reduced likelihood of embolism formation and carcinogenesis. In this paper, we summarize the current knowledge of mesenchymal stem cell-derived EVs in accelerating diabetic wound healing, as well as their potential clinic applications.

Uncovering the pharmacological mechanisms of Zizhu ointment against diabetic ulcer by integrating network analysis and experimental evaluation in vivo and in vitro

Diabetic ulcer (DU) has been recognized as one of the most prevalent and serious complications of diabetes. However, the clinical efficacy of standard treatments for DU remains poor. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) shows a positive therapeutic effect on DU. Specifically, Zizhu ointment (ZZO) has been widely used to treat DU in long-term clinical practice, but the exact mechanism by which it promotes DU wound healing remains unknown. In this study, network analysis and high-performance liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (UPLC-HRMS) were conducted to identify the active compounds of ZZO. We detected isovalerylshikonin (ISO), mandenol, daidzein, kaempferol, and formononetin in both network analysis and UPLC-HRMS. Moreover, ZZO could ameliorate DU by regulating the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT) and inflammation signaling pathways, according to the results of KEGG analysis. We established a DU mouse model with a high-fat diet and streptozotocin injection in vivo to evaluate the network analysis result. The experimental results showed that ZZO could inhibit inflammation, remodel fibrous tissue, and promote angiogenesis in the DU area, facilitating wound healing in DU mice. Moreover, the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway was indeed activated by ZZO treatment, promoting macrophage M2 polarization. In addition, we used molecular docking technology to evaluate the binding sites between ZZO and the PI3K/AKT pathway. The results showed that ISO has a good binding interaction with AKT. Moreover, ISO promoted M2 polarization in macrophages in a dose-dependent manner in vitro. Our study found that ZZO could promote DU wound healing by inhibiting inflammation, which was achieved by macrophage M2 polarization through activating the PI3K/AKT pathway. Further studies have demonstrated that ISO plays major role in the above process. These findings provide a theoretical basis for further preclinical evaluation and lay a foundation for nano-gel compound treatment with ZZO.

Advances in the Preparation of Nanofiber Dressings by Electrospinning for Promoting Diabetic Wound Healing

Chronic diabetic wounds are one of the main complications of diabetes, manifested by persistent inflammation, decreased epithelialization motility, and impaired wound healing. This will not only lead to the repeated hospitalization of patients, but also bear expensive hospitalization costs. In severe cases, it can lead to amputation, sepsis or death. Electrospun nanofibers membranes have the characteristics of high porosity, high specific surface area, and easy functionalization of structure, so they can be used as a safe and effective platform in the treatment of diabetic wounds and have great application potential. This article briefly reviewed the pathogenesis of chronic diabetic wounds and the types of dressings commonly used, and then reviewed the development of electrospinning technology in recent years and the advantages of electrospun nanofibers in the treatment of diabetic wounds. Finally, the reports of different types of nanofiber dressings on diabetic wounds are summarized, and the method of using multi-drug combination therapy in diabetic wounds is emphasized, which provides new ideas for the effective treatment of diabetic wounds.

Oral administration of sea cucumber (Stichopus japonicus) protein exerts wound healing effects via the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway

This study aimed to investigate the effect of the oral administration of sea cucumber protein (SCP) on wound healing. SCP was isolated and purified from the body wall of Stichopus japonicus. A mouse skin incision model was operated on to evaluate the wound repair effect of SCP. The histological changes in the skin at the wound sites of BALB/c mice were observed by staining with haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and Masson's trichrome. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to analyze the expression of inflammatory cytokines in BALB/c mice. The boost cell migration ability was detected by a scratch assay after HaCaT cells were cultured with digested SCP (dSCP). Western blotting and RT-PCR assays were performed to determine the mechanism of SCP promoting wound healing. As a result, the wound healing rate in the SCP high dose group was 1.3-fold, compared to that in the blank group on day 14. Also, increased epidermal thickness and 1.79-fold collagen deposition contrasted with the blank group. Additionally, SCP could up-regulate the levels of pro-inflammatory factors (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α) from day 3 to 7 firstly and decreased from day 7 to 14. IL-8 expression continuously decreased while the level of anti-inflammatory factor (IL-10) increased during the healing stage. Furthermore, the cell closure area reached 67% after being treated with 50 μg mL^-1 of dSCP for 48 h. Cell proliferation was associated with the dSCP-activated PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. Taken together, SCP can be orally used as an effective agent for wound repair.

Difficulties in the Treatment of Diabetic Foot and Research Progress of Combination of Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine

A diabetic foot is any disorder directly attributable to peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and/or the sensory neuropathies influencing the diabetic foot; it is a long-term (or “chronic”) complication of diabetes. Generally, it is a permanent (or “chronic”) comorbidity of diabetes. The swallowing of peripheral neuropathy and peripheral vascular disease leads to damage to the soft tissue, bone, and joint system of the foot. In addition, diabetic feet are also susceptible to infection, which can lead to lameness and even amputation. The management of the diabetic foot can be both challenging and chronic; it may comprise orthoses, surgery, antibacterial medication, and topical dressings. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has a variety of methods for the treatment of diabetic foot with obvious advantages, which can be divided into internal treatment and external treatment of TCM. These treatments include external foot bath, fumigation and washing stains, internal administration of traditional Chinese medicine, syndrome differentiation and staging treatment, empirical prescription, self-made prescription, internal use of proprietary Chinese medicine, massage, acupuncture, and paste powder application, which have significant value in the prevention and treatment of diabetic foot. Some studies have shown that modern medicine combined with herbal therapy can significantly improve the prognosis of diabetic foot. Therefore, this study summarized the difficulties in the therapeutic approaches to diabetic foot and the recent research progress in combining Chinese and Western medicine in the treatment of diabetic foot.

Preparation and characterization of vaccarin, hypaphorine and chitosan nanoparticles and their promoting effects on chronic wounds healing

Chronic wounds have become an important factor hindering human health, affecting tens of millions of people worldwide, especially diabetic wounds. Based on the antibacterial properties of chitosan, the angiogenesis promoting effect of vaccarin (VAC) and the anti-inflammatory effect of hypaphorine (HYP), nanoparticles with high bioavailability were prepared. VAC, HYP and chitosan nanoparticles (VAC + HYP-NPS) were used to the treatment of chronic wounds. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images showed the nanoparticles were spherical. ZetaPALS showed the potential of nanoparticles were -12.8 ± 5.53 mV and the size were 166.8 ± 29.95 nm. Methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay showed that VAC + HYP-NPS had no toxicity and the biocompatibility was satisfactory. In the treatment of chronic wounds in diabetic rats, VAC + HYP-NPS significantly promoted the re-epithelialization of chronic wounds and accelerated the healing of chronic wounds. In the process of chronic wounds healing, VAC + HYP-NPS played the antibacterial effect of chitosan, the angiogenic effect of VAC and the anti-inflammatory effect of HYP, and finally promoted the chronic wounds healing. Overall, the developed VAC + HYP-NPS have potential application in chronic wounds healing. In view of the complexity of the causes of chronic wounds, multi-target drug administration may be an effective way to treat chronic wounds.

Screening prolyl hydroxylase domain 2 inhibitory activity of traditional Chinese medicine by CZE-UV

Prolyl hydroxylase domain 2 (PHD2) is a key enzyme regulating the expression of hypoxia inducible factor (HIF). Its inhibitors can improve the expression of HIF and downstream genes, which can treat hypoxia-related diseases. Therefore, the establishment of a reliable PHD2 inhibitors screening method is of great significance for the drug development of hypoxia-related diseases. In this work, an accurate, rapid, and simple screening method for PHD2 inhibitors was introduced by capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE). In order to improve the detection sensitivity, the derivative reaction of α-ketoglutaric acid (α-OG) and 1,2-diaminobenzene (OPD) was used to enhance the UV absorption of α-OG (the substrate in the enzymatic reaction). The CZE method selected 20 mM Na₂ B₄ O₇ buffer (pH 9.0) as the separation buffer, +25 kV as the separation voltage, 25°C as the cartridge temperature, and 210 nm as the detection wavelength. Under this condition, the analysis of a single sample can be realized within 9 min. Compared with the existing reported methods, the present work can directly screen the PHD2 inhibitory activity of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) extracts, which is of significance for the target-purification of bioactive individual compounds from TCMs. Under the optimal conditions, the PHD2 inhibitor screening platform was successfully established, and it was found that 70% methanol/water extracts of Astragali Radix and Codonopsis pilosula had good PHD2 inhibitory activity. Furthermore, the present work provides a novel approach for screening the PHD2 inhibitory activity of TCM extracts and the discovery of anti-hypoxia bioactive compounds.

More studies are necessary to establish the effectiveness of Jinhuang powder in the treatment of diabetic foot

Diabetes mellitus is a common global public health problem that can cause serious illness and premature death. Diabetic foot ulcer, one of the complications of diabetes, is a major cause of morbidity and mortality and is associated with many other devastating complications. Previous study found that a group of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) can be used for treating diabetic foot ulcers. More and more attention is being paid to the use of Chinese medicine to heal diabetic feet. Under the guidance of relevant theories of traditional Chinese medicine, more studies are needed to reveal the key active components and related signal pathways of TCM in the treatment of diabetic foot ulcer. One clinical study explored the treatment of diabetic foot with infection combined moist exposed burn ointment with Jinhuang powder. However, large-scale multi-center, double blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trials and animal studies are necessary to establish the effectiveness of Jinhuang powder in the treatment of diabetic foot.

Topical Application of Chinese Formula Yeliangen Promotes Wound Healing in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats

Diabetic wound is one of the most severe complications of diabetes mellitus (DM). Despite the associated risks of wound healing impairment in diabetes, treatment strategies remain limited. Yeliangen (YLG) is a Chinese formulation mainly composed of the rhizome of Coptis chinensis, the root of Isatis tinctoria, and the leaf of Isatis indigotica. We investigated the wound healing effects of YLG in type 2 diabetic (T2DM) rats, which were induced by intraperitoneal administration of streptozotocin after a high-fat diet for four weeks. 3 × 3 cm² full-thickness excisional wounds were created on the dorsal surface of rats and then divided to control (DC), negative (DPJ), positive (DPC), and YLG-treated (DYLG) groups. Rat's wounds were treated twice daily for 21 days. Wound area and wound contraction were detected on days 0, 3, 7, 14, and 21. Histopathological examinations were performed by H&E staining and immunohistochemistry (IHC). The biochemical parameters, mRNAs, and protein expressions were analyzed through enzyme-linked immunoassays (ELISA), qPCR, and western blot, respectively. Compared with other groups, the histological changes of wound tissue in the DYLG group were improved, and the expressions of CD31, eNOS, and PCNA were significantly upregulated. Besides, YLG significantly reduced the inflammatory factors' expressions of TNF-α, NF-κB, MMP-9, and IL-1B on days 7, 14, and 21 postwounding. Moreover, YLG induced angiogenesis and neovascularization by significantly increasing the levels of VEGF, TGF-β1, EGF, PDGF, and SDF-1α on days 3, 7, and 14. In conclusion, YLG improved wound healing by reducing inflammation and increasing angiogenesis which may provide an alternative and effective approach for diabetic wound therapy.