Huang Bai Jian Pi decoction alleviates diarrhea and represses inflammatory injury via PI3K/Akt/NF-κB pathway: In vivo and in vitro studies

Modified Si Miao Powder granules alleviates osteoarthritis progression by regulating M1/M2 polarization of macrophage through NF-κB signaling pathway

Background

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic degenerative disease mainly characterized by cartilage damage and synovial inflammation. Si Miao Powder, an herbal formula, was recorded in ancient Chinese medicine prescription with excellent anti-inflammatory properties. Based on the classical formula, the modified Si Miao Powder (MSMP) was developed with the addition of two commonly Chinese orthopedic herbs, which had the efficacy of strengthening the therapeutic effect for OA.

Methods

In the in vivo experiments, thirty-six 8-week-old male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into six groups: sham group, OA group, celecoxib group, low-MSMP group, middle-MSMP group, and high-MSMP group. OA mice were constructed by destabilization of medial meniscus (DMM) and treated with MSMP granules or celecoxib by gavage. The effects of MSMP on cartilage, synovitis and inflammatory factor of serum were tested. For in vitro experiments, control serum and MSMP-containing serum were prepared from twenty-five C57BL/6 mice. Macrophages (RAW264.7 cells) were induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and then treated with MSMP-containing serum. The expression of inflammatory factors and the change of the NF-κB pathway were tested.

Results

In vivo, celecoxib and MSMP alleviated OA progression in the treated groups compared with OA group. The damage was partly recovered in cartilage, the synovial inflammatory were reduced in synovium, and the concentrations of IL-6 and TNF-α were reduced and the expression of IL-10 was increased in serum. The function of the middle MSMP was most effective for OA treatment. The results of in vitro experiments showed that compared with the LPS group, the MSMP-containing serum significantly reduced the expression levels of pro-inflammatory (M1-type) factors, such as CD86, iNOS, TNF-α and IL-6, and promoted the expression levels of anti-inflammatory (M2-type) factors, such as Arg1 and IL-10. The MSMP-containing serum further inhibited NF-κB signaling pathway after LPS induction.

Conclusion

The study demonstrated that MSMP alleviated OA progression in mice and MSMP-containing serum modulated macrophage M1/M2 phenotype by inhibiting the NF-κB signaling pathway. Our study provided experimental evidence and therapeutic targets of MSMP for OA treatment.

Buyang Huanwu Decoction suppresses cardiac inflammation and fibrosis in mice after myocardial infarction through inhibition of the TLR4 signalling pathway

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

It has been reported that cardiac inflammation and fibrosis participate in the development of heart failure (HF) following myocardial infarction (MI). Anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic treatments exhibit therapeutic efficacy in MI. Buyang Huanwu Decoction (BYHWD) has cardioprotective properties. However, whether BYHWD regulates cardiac inflammation and fibrosis in HF after MI, and the underlying mechanisms, are still unknown.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study aimed to explore the effects and potential mechanisms of BYHWD on cardiac inflammation and fibrosis after MI.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

An MI model was constructed through ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) in mice. The cardioprotective effects of BYHWD were determined by echocardiography, Masson trichrome staining, wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) staining and haematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining. The effects of BYHWD on inflammation and fibrosis, and on the TLR4 signalling pathway, were explored through immunohistochemistry (IHC), Western blot (WB), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) in vivo. Next, the effects of BYHWD on primary cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) inflammation and collagen synthesis, and on the TLR4 signalling pathway, were detected using WB, immunofluorescence (IF) and qRT-PCR in vitro. In addition, the suppression and overexpression of TLR4 in CFs were further explored.

RESULTS

BYHWD dose-dependently reduced cardiac inflammation, fibrosis and ventricular dysfunction. The expression levels of collagen Ⅰ/Ⅲ, IL-1β and IL-18, as well as critical proteins in the TLR4 signalling pathway and the NLRP3 inflammasome, were suppressed by BYHWD in the in vivo experiment. BYHWD inhibited CFs inflammation and collagen synthesis, as well as critical proteins in the TLR4 signalling pathway and the NLRP3 inflammasome, in the in vitro experiment. TLR4 suppression mitigated these inhibitory effects of BYHWD while overexpression of TLR4 markedly reversed these inhibitory effects of BYHWD.

CONCLUSION

BYHWD exerts anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic effects in mice after MI, and suppresses CFs inflammation and collagen synthesis through suppression of the TLR4 signalling pathway.

Critical Signaling Transduction Pathways and Intestinal Barrier: Implications for Pathophysiology and Therapeutics

The intestinal barrier is a sum of the functions and structures consisting of the intestinal mucosal epithelium, mucus, intestinal flora, secretory immunoglobulins, and digestive juices. It is the first-line defense mechanism that resists nonspecific infections with powerful functions that include physical, endocrine, and immune defenses. Health and physiological homeostasis are greatly dependent on the sturdiness of the intestinal barrier shield, whose dysfunction can contribute to the progression of numerous types of intestinal diseases. Disorders of internal homeostasis may also induce barrier impairment and form vicious cycles during the response to diseases. Therefore, the identification of the underlying mechanisms involved in intestinal barrier function and the development of effective drugs targeting its damage have become popular research topics. Evidence has shown that multiple signaling pathways and corresponding critical molecules are extensively involved in the regulation of the barrier pathophysiological state. Ectopic expression or activation of signaling pathways plays an essential role in the process of shield destruction. Although some drugs, such as molecular or signaling inhibitors, are currently used for the treatment of intestinal diseases, their efficacy cannot meet current medical requirements. In this review, we summarize the current achievements in research on the relationships between the intestinal barrier and signaling pathways. The limitations and future perspectives are also discussed to provide new horizons for targeted therapies for restoring intestinal barrier function that have translational potential.

Determination and Mechanism of Antidiarrheal Chemical Constituents of Paederia scandens Determined by HPLC-ESI-MS Integrated with Network Pharmacology

Paederia scandens is a natural medicinal plant that is widely used for its various pharmacological effects including antiviral, antitumor, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial activities. However, there is no scientific evidence to support its antidiarrheal effect. In this study, the antidiarrheal activity of P. scandens was evaluated using several validated models. By using HPLC-ESI-MS in conjunction with a network pharmacology approach, the possible antidiarrheal mechanisms of P. scandens active fragments were studied, and they were subsequently verified in a mouse model of diarrhea. Finally, utilizing molecular docking, active compounds that might have antidiarrheal properties were hypothesized. The results show that the main antidiarrheal part of P. scandens has 10 chemical components in the n-butanol fraction (PSNB). The key targets of PSNB and diarrhea, EGFR, AKT1, and PIK3CA, were screened by network pharmacology analysis. And the mechanism of PSNB in the treatment of diarrhea may be highly related to the EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor resistance and PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Besides, through the qRT-PCR and western-blot experiments, it was found that PSNB could inhibit the gene expression of proinflammatory factors by reducing the protein expression of AKT1 and PI3K and regulating the NF-κB signaling pathway in mice. In addition, asperuloside, paederosidic acid, paederoside, paederosidic acid methyl ester, and 6'-O-E-feruloylmonotropein have better docking energies than other chemical components in PSNB with EGFR, AKT1, and PIK3CA. In conclusion, the main antidiarrheal active site of P. scandens is the n-butanol site. PSNB may exert an antidiarrheal effect by regulating the PI3K/Akt/NF-κB signaling pathway. Among them, asperuloside, paederosidic acid, paederoside, paederosidic acid methyl ester, and 6'-O-E-feruloylmonotropein may be the active ingredients that exert an antidiarrheal effect.

Gegen Qinlian standard decoction alleviated irinotecan-induced diarrhea via PI3K/AKT/NF-κB axis by network pharmacology prediction and experimental validation combination

BACKGROUND

The frequently occurred chemotherapy-induced diarrhea (CID) caused by irinotecan (CPT-11) administration has been the most representative side-effects of CPT-11, resulting in the chemotherapy suspension or failure. Our previous studies indicated that Gegen Qinlian formula exhibited a significant alleviation effect on CPT-11-induced diarrhea. However, referencing to Japanese Kampo medicine, the TCM standard decoction would supply the gap between ancient preparation application and modern industrial production.

METHODS

The LC-MS technology combined with network pharmacology was employed to identify the active ingredients and mechanisms of GQD standard decoction for CPT-11-induced diarrhea. The anti-inflammatory activities associated with intestinal barrier function of GQD standard decoction were studied by SN-38 activated NCM460 cells in vitro and CPT-11-induced diarrhea in vivo. Proteins involved in inflammation, mRNA levels, disease severity scores, and histology involved in intestinal inflammation were analysed.

RESULTS

There were 37 active compounds were identified in GQD standard decoction. Network pharmacology analyses indicated that PI3K-AKT signaling pathway were probably the main pathway of GQD standard decoction in CPT-11-induced diarrhea treatment, and PIK3R1, AKT1, NF-κB1 were the core proteins. Moreover, we found that the key proteins and pathway predicted above was verified in vivo and in vitro experiments, and the GQD standard decoction could protect the cellular proliferation in vitro and ameliorate CPT-11-induced diarrhea in mice model.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrated the molecular mechanism of 37 active ingredients in GQD standard decoction against CPT-11-induced diarrhea. And the core proteins and pathway were validated by experiment. This data establishes the groundwork for particular molecular mechanism of GQD standard decoction active components, and this research can provide a scientific reference for the TCM therapy of CID.

Deep-fried Atractylodes lancea rhizome alleviates spleen deficiency diarrhea-induced short-chain fatty acid metabolic disorder in mice by remodeling the intestinal flora

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Atractylodes lancea (Thunb.) DC. is a Chinese herb that has been commonly used to treat spleen-deficiency diarrhea (SDD) in China for over a thousand years. However, the underlying mechanism of its antidiarrheal activity is not fully understood.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The antidiarrheal effects of the ethanol extract of deep-fried A. lancea rhizome (EEDAR) due to spleen deficiency induced by folium sennae (SE) were determined on the regulation of the short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) metabonomics induced by the intestinal flora.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The effects of EEDAR on a SE-induced mouse model of SDD were evaluated by monitoring the animal weight, fecal water content, diarrhea-grade rating, goblet cell loss, and pathological changes in the colon. The expression of inflammatory factors (tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-α, interleukin [IL]-1β, IL-6, IL-10), aquaporins (AQP3, AQP4, and AQP8), and tight junction markers (ZO-1, occludin, claudin-1) in colon tissues were determined using quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blotting. SCFA metabonomics in the feces of mice treated with EEDAR was evaluated using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Furthermore, 16S rDNA sequencing was used to determine the effect of EEDAR on the intestinal flora of SDD mice, and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) was used to confirm whether the intestinal flora was essential for the anti-SDD effect of EEDAR.

RESULTS

Treatment with EEDAR significantly improved the symptoms of mice with SDD by inhibiting the loss of colonic cup cells, alleviating colitis, and promoting the expression of AQPs and tight junction markers. More importantly, the effect of EEDAR on the increase of SCFA content in mice with SDD was closely related to the gut microbiota composition. EEDAR intervention did not significantly improve intestinal inflammation or the barrier of germ-free SDD mice, but FMT was effective.

CONCLUSION

EEDAR alleviated SE-induced SDD in mice, as well as the induced SCFA disorder by regulating the imbalance of the intestinal microbiota.

Potential pharmacological mechanisms of four active compounds of Macleaya cordata extract against enteritis based on network pharmacology and molecular docking technology

Background: Macleaya cordata extract (MCE) is effective in the treatment of enteritis, but its mechanism has not been fully elucidated. Therefore, this study combined network pharmacology and molecular docking technologies to investigate the potential pharmacological mechanism of MCE in the treatment of enteritis. Methods: The information of active compounds in MCE was accessed through the literature. Furthermore, PubChem, PharmMapper, UniProt, and GeneCards databases were used to analyze the targets of MCE and enteritis. The intersection of drug and disease targets was imported into the STRING database, and the analysis results were imported into Cytoscape 3.7.1 software to construct a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network and to screen core targets. The Metascape database was used for conducting Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses. AutoDock Tools software was used for the molecular docking of active compounds with the core targets. Results: MCE has four active compounds, namely, sanguinarine, chelerythrine, protopine, and allocryptopine, and a total of 269 targets after de-duplication. Furthermore, a total of 1,237 targets were associated with enteritis, 70 of which were obtained by aiding the drug-disease intersection with the aforementioned four active compound targets of MCE. Five core targets including mitogen-activated protein kinase 1 (MAPK1) and AKT serine/threonine kinase 1 (AKT1) were obtained using the PPI network, which are considered the potential targets for the four active compounds of MCE in the treatment of enteritis. The GO enrichment analysis involved 749 biological processes, 47 cellular components, and 64 molecular functions. The KEGG pathway enrichment analysis revealed 142 pathways involved in the treatment of enteritis by the four active compounds of MCE, among which PI3K-Akt and MAPK signaling pathways were the most important pathways. The results of molecular docking showed that the four active compounds demonstrated good binding properties at the five core targets. Conclusion: The pharmacological effects of the four active compounds of MCE in the treatment of enteritis involve acting on signaling pathways such as PI3K-Akt and MAPK through key targets such as AKT1 and MAPK1, thus providing new indications for further research to verify its mechanisms.

Differential proteomic of plasma provides a new perspective on scientific diagnosis and drug screening for dampness heat diarrhea in calves

Dampness heat diarrhea (DHD) is one of the most common syndromes of calf diarrhea. Its complex etiology and lack of objective diagnostic criteria bring great challenges to the diagnosis and treatment of this disease. This study aims to screen some prospective diagnostic biomarkers or therapeutic targets for calves with DHD by investigating the differential protein profiles of plasma between DHD calves and clinically healthy calves by mass spectrometry-based proteomic. A total of 120 DHD calves and 90 clinically healthy calves were divided into two groups randomly, 30 DHD calves and 30 clinically healthy calves in the test group, and 90 DHD calves and 60 clinically healthy calves in the validation group. In the test group, a total of 52 proteins were differentially expressed between calves with DHD and clinically healthy calves, 13 proteins were significantly increased and 39 proteins were significantly decreased. The differentially expressed proteins were associated with the intestinal immune network of IgA production, caffeine metabolism, purine metabolism, and PI3K signaling pathway. In the validation group, 13 proteins were selected from 52 differential expression proteins for parallel reaction monitoring validation to verify their associations with DHD calves. The targeted proteomic results showed that fibronectin precursor (FN1) and apolipoprotein C-IV precursor (APOC4) were significantly associated with DHD in calves, and they were downregulated in sick calves. In conclusion, the differential expression of plasma proteins was associated with DHD pathogenesis in calves, and the FN1 and APOC4 might be the potential clinical biomarkers for diagnosis of DHD in calves, and the intestinal immune network of IgA production, caffeine metabolism, purine metabolism, and PI3K signaling pathway are the candidate targets to treat DHD in calves. Our finding provides a reference for further investigating the pathogenesis, developing techniques of diagnosis, and screening treatment drugs for DHD in calves.