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Wang S, Taledaohan A, Tuohan M, Zhang J, Li Y, Song W, Wang Y, Liang X, Wu Q. Jinmaitong alleviates diabetic neuropathic pain by inhibiting JAK2/STAT3 signaling in microglia of diabetic rats. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2024; 333:118442. [PMID: 38852640 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2024.118442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2024] [Revised: 05/27/2024] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Jinmaitong (JMT) is a prescription of Traditional Chinese Medicine that is composed of 12 crude drugs. It has been used in the treatment of diabetic neuropathic pain (DNP) for more than 30 years. AIM OF STUDY Microglia are thought to play an important role in neuropathic pain. This study aimed to evaluate the protective effect of JMT against DNP and to investigate the underlying mechanisms in which the microglia and JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway were mainly involved. MATERIALS AND METHODS The chemical composition of JMT was analyzed using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. The diabetes model was constructed using 11 to 12-week-old male Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rat (fa/fa). The model rats were divided into 5 groups and were given JMT at three dosages (11.6, 23.2, and 46.4 g/kg, respectively, calculated as the crude drug materials), JAK inhibitor AG490 (positive drug, 10 μg/day), and placebo (deionized water), respectively, for eight weeks (n = 6). Meanwhile, Zucker lean controls (fa/+) were given a placebo (n = 6). Body weight was tested weekly and blood glucose was monitored every 2 weeks. The mechanical allodynia and heat hyperalgesia were assessed using mechanical withdrawal threshold (MWT) and thermal withdrawal latency (TWL) tests. After treatment, the microglia activation marker Iba-1, CD11B, CD68, neuroinflammatory mediators, and mediators of the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway were compared between different groups. The mRNA and protein levels of target genes were assessed by quantitative real-time PCR and Western Blot, respectively. RESULTS We found that JMT significantly inhibited the overactivation of microglia in spinal cords, and suppressed neuroinflammation of DNP model rats, thereby ameliorating neurological dysfunction and injuries. Furthermore, these effects of JMT could be attributed to the inhibition of the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggested that JMT effectively ameliorated DNP by modulating microglia activation via inhibition of the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway. The present study provided a basis for further research on the therapeutic strategies of DNP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuyu Wang
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, China.
| | - Ayijiang Taledaohan
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Capital Medical University, Beijing Area Major Laboratory of Peptide and Small Molecular Drugs, Beijing Laboratory of Biomedical Materials, Engineering Research Center of Endogenous Prophylactic of Ministry of Education of China, Beijing, 100069, China.
| | - Maermaer Tuohan
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Capital Medical University, Beijing Area Major Laboratory of Peptide and Small Molecular Drugs, Beijing Laboratory of Biomedical Materials, Engineering Research Center of Endogenous Prophylactic of Ministry of Education of China, Beijing, 100069, China.
| | - Jiyi Zhang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Capital Medical University, Beijing Area Major Laboratory of Peptide and Small Molecular Drugs, Beijing Laboratory of Biomedical Materials, Engineering Research Center of Endogenous Prophylactic of Ministry of Education of China, Beijing, 100069, China.
| | - Yaoyang Li
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, China.
| | - Wei Song
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Infrastructures for Translational Medicine, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, China.
| | - Yuji Wang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Capital Medical University, Beijing Area Major Laboratory of Peptide and Small Molecular Drugs, Beijing Laboratory of Biomedical Materials, Engineering Research Center of Endogenous Prophylactic of Ministry of Education of China, Beijing, 100069, China.
| | - Xiaochun Liang
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, China.
| | - Qunli Wu
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, China.
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Li Z, Chen Z, Wang Y, Li Z, Huang H, Shen G, Ren Y, Mao X, Wang W, Ou J, Lin L, Zhou J, Guo W, Li G, Lu YJ, Hu Y. Icariside I enhances the effects of immunotherapy in gastrointestinal cancer via targeting TRPV4 and upregulating the cGAS-STING-IFN-I pathway. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 177:117134. [PMID: 39013225 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2024.117134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2024] [Revised: 07/06/2024] [Accepted: 07/10/2024] [Indexed: 07/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Gastrointestinal cancer is among the most common cancers worldwide. Immune checkpoint inhibitor-based cancer immunotherapy has become an innovative approach in cancer treatment; however, its efficacy in gastrointestinal cancer is limited by the absence of infiltration of immune cells within the tumor microenvironment. Therefore, it is therefore urgent to develop a novel therapeutic drug to enhance immunotherapy. In this study, we describe a previously unreported potentiating effect of Icariside I (ICA I, GH01), the main bioactive compound isolated from the Epimedium species, on anti-tumor immune responses. Mechanistically, molecular docking and SPR assay result show that ICA I binding with TRPV4. ICA I induced intracellular Ca2+ increasing and mitochondrial DNA release by targeting TRPV4, which triggered cytosolic ox-mitoDNA release. Importantly, these intracellular ox-mitoDNA fragments were taken up by immune cells in the tumor microenvironment, which amplified the immune response. Moreover, our study shows the remarkable efficacy of sequential administration of ICA I and anti-α-PD-1 mAb in advanced tumors and provides a strong scientific rationale for recommending such a combination therapy for clinical trials. ICA I enhanced the anti-tumor effects with PD-1 inhibitors by regulating the TRPV4/Ca2+/Ox-mitoDNA/cGAS/STING axis. We expect that these findings will be translated into clinical therapies, which will benefit more patients with cancer in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenhao Li
- Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine for Gastrointestinal Tumors, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Zhian Chen
- Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine for Gastrointestinal Tumors, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Yutong Wang
- Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine for Gastrointestinal Tumors, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Zhenyuan Li
- Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine for Gastrointestinal Tumors, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Huilin Huang
- Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine for Gastrointestinal Tumors, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Guodong Shen
- Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine for Gastrointestinal Tumors, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Yingxin Ren
- Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine for Gastrointestinal Tumors, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Xinyuan Mao
- Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine for Gastrointestinal Tumors, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Weisheng Wang
- Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine for Gastrointestinal Tumors, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Jinzhou Ou
- Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine for Gastrointestinal Tumors, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Liwei Lin
- Golden Health (Guangdong) Biotechnology Co., Ltd., Guangdong 528200, China; Engineering Research Academy of High Value Utilization of Green Plants, Meizhou 514021, China
| | - Jinlin Zhou
- Golden Health (Guangdong) Biotechnology Co., Ltd., Guangdong 528200, China; Engineering Research Academy of High Value Utilization of Green Plants, Meizhou 514021, China
| | - Weihong Guo
- Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine for Gastrointestinal Tumors, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Guoxin Li
- Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine for Gastrointestinal Tumors, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Yu-Jing Lu
- School of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China; Engineering Research Academy of High Value Utilization of Green Plants, Meizhou 514021, China.
| | - Yanfeng Hu
- Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine for Gastrointestinal Tumors, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China.
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He Y, Cun S, Fan J, Wang J. Screening for promising multi-target bioactive components from Cortex Mori Radicis for the treatment of chronic cor pulmonale based on immobilized beta 1-adrenergic receptor and beta 2-adrenergic receptor chromatography. J Chromatogr B Analyt Technol Biomed Life Sci 2024; 1242:124175. [PMID: 38917653 DOI: 10.1016/j.jchromb.2024.124175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2024] [Revised: 05/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/25/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024]
Abstract
Cortex Morin Radicis (CMR) is the dried root bark of Morus alba. L. It has a variety of effects such as antibacterial, anti-tumour, treatment of cardiovascular diseases or upper respiratory tract disease and so on. The pursuit for drugs selected from Cortex Mori Radicis having improved therapeutic efficacy necessitates increasing research on new assays for screening bioactive compounds with multi-targets. In this work, we applied immobilized β1-AR and β2-AR as the stationary phase in chromatographic column to screen bioactive compounds from Cortex Morin Radicis. Specific ligands of the two receptors (e.g. esmolol, metoprolol, atenolol, salbutamol, methoxyphenamine, tulobuterol and clorprenaline) were utilized to characterize the specificity and bioactivity of the columns. We used high performance affinity chromatography coupled with ESI-MS to screen targeted compounds of Cortex Morin Radicis. By zonal elution, we identified morin as a bioactive compound simultaneously binding to β1-AR and β2-AR. The compound exhibited the association constants of 3.10 × 104 and 2.60 × 104 M-1 on the β1-AR and β2-AR column. On these sites, the dissociation rate constants were calculated to be 0.131 and 0.097 s-1. Molecular docking indicated that the binding of morin to the two receptors occurred on Asp200, Asp121, and Val122 of β1-AR, Asn312, Thr110, Asp113, Tyr316, Gly90, Phe193, Ile309, and Trp109 of β2-AR. Likewise, mulberroside C was identified as the bioactive compound binding to β2-AR. The association constants and dissociation rate constants were calculated to be 1.08 × 104 M-1 and 0.900 s-1. Molecular docking also indicated that mulberroside C could bind to β2-AR receptor on its agonist site. Taking together, we demonstrated that the chromatographic strategy to identify bioactive natural products based on the β1-AR and β2-AR immobilization, has potential for screening bioactive compounds with multi-targets from complex matrices including traditional Chinese medicines.
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MESH Headings
- Morus/chemistry
- Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-2/metabolism
- Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-2/chemistry
- Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-1/metabolism
- Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-1/chemistry
- Molecular Docking Simulation
- Plant Extracts/chemistry
- Chromatography, Affinity/methods
- Humans
- Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid/methods
- Flavonoids/analysis
- Flavonoids/chemistry
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunzhi He
- College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, China
| | - Sidi Cun
- College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, China
| | - Junni Fan
- College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, China
| | - Jing Wang
- College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, China
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Li X, Wang M, Zhong Y, Yin Q, Hu Z, Tian W, Liu Z, Liu Z. Comparative pharmacokinetics of six components in normal and rheumatoid arthritis rats after intragastrical administration of Qianghuo Shengshi Decoction granules by LC-MS/MS. CHINESE HERBAL MEDICINES 2024; 16:457-465. [PMID: 39072204 PMCID: PMC11283214 DOI: 10.1016/j.chmed.2023.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Revised: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Objective To investigate the plasma pharmacokinetics of six representative components (nodakenin, osthole, 5-O-methylvisammioside, ferulic acid, liquiritigenin, and liquiritin), which were the ingredients of Qianghuo Shengshi Decoction (QSD) granules, in normal and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) rats administrated QSD granules intragastrically. Methods A rapid and accurate ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method was developed for the simultaneous determination of six components in plasma, and it showed a good specificity, linearity, intra-day and inter-day precision, intra-day and inter-day accuracy, extraction recovery, stability, and the less matrix effect. Results The validated LC-MS/MS method was successfully used to compare the plasma pharmacokinetics of six ingredients between normal and RA rats after intragastrical administration of QSD granules and differences in the pharmacokinetics were found in two types of rats. The absorption rate in the RA rats was lower for nodakenin, osthole, 5-O-methylvisammioside, liquiritigenin and liquiritin than in the normal group, while the absorption rate of ferulic acid remained constant in two groups. In comparison with the normal rats, the exposure concentration of nodakenin was higher and that of other five components except for nodakenin was lower under pathological conditions. Additionally, the absorptive amount of nodakenin, osthole, 5-O-methylvisammioside and liquiritin was increased and that of ferulic acid and liquiritigenin was reduced in the RA rats than in the normal rats. Compared with the normal rats, the retention time of nodakenin, ferulic acid and liquiritin was reduced in vivo, whereas the retention time of osthole, 5-O-methylvisammioside and liquiritigenin was raised in the body for the RA rats. In contrast to the normal rats, the data demonstrated an increase in the elimination velocity of nodakenin and a decrease in the elimination velocity of the other five components except for nodakenin in the pathological state. Conclusion This study showed that the pharmacokinetic behavior of the six components, nodakenin, osthole, 5-O-methylvisammioside, ferulic acid, liquiritigenin, and liquiritin, is different in vivo between normal and pathological states of rats, and this research provided the necessary experimental data to explain the pharmacokinetics of QSD granules in both normal and pathological states and provide some references for its clinical application at some level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Li
- Engineering Research Center of Modern Chinese Medicine Discovery and Preparation Technique, Ministry of Education, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, China
- State Key Laboratory of Component-based Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, China
- Haihe Laboratory of Modern Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, China
| | - Min Wang
- Engineering Research Center of Modern Chinese Medicine Discovery and Preparation Technique, Ministry of Education, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, China
- State Key Laboratory of Component-based Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, China
- Haihe Laboratory of Modern Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, China
| | - Yuhong Zhong
- Engineering Research Center of Modern Chinese Medicine Discovery and Preparation Technique, Ministry of Education, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, China
- State Key Laboratory of Component-based Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, China
- Haihe Laboratory of Modern Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, China
| | - Qianqian Yin
- Engineering Research Center of Modern Chinese Medicine Discovery and Preparation Technique, Ministry of Education, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, China
- State Key Laboratory of Component-based Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, China
- Haihe Laboratory of Modern Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, China
| | - Zheming Hu
- Engineering Research Center of Modern Chinese Medicine Discovery and Preparation Technique, Ministry of Education, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, China
- State Key Laboratory of Component-based Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, China
- Haihe Laboratory of Modern Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, China
| | - Wenli Tian
- Engineering Research Center of Modern Chinese Medicine Discovery and Preparation Technique, Ministry of Education, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, China
- State Key Laboratory of Component-based Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, China
- Haihe Laboratory of Modern Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, China
| | - Zhongyan Liu
- Engineering Research Center of Modern Chinese Medicine Discovery and Preparation Technique, Ministry of Education, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, China
- State Key Laboratory of Component-based Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, China
- Haihe Laboratory of Modern Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, China
| | - Zhidong Liu
- Engineering Research Center of Modern Chinese Medicine Discovery and Preparation Technique, Ministry of Education, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, China
- State Key Laboratory of Component-based Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, China
- Haihe Laboratory of Modern Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, China
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Ji X, Liu N, Huang S, Zhang C. A Comprehensive Review of Licorice: The Preparation, Chemical Composition, Bioactivities and Its Applications. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF CHINESE MEDICINE 2024; 52:667-716. [PMID: 38716617 DOI: 10.1142/s0192415x24500289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2024]
Abstract
Licorice (Glycyrrhiza) is a medicinal and food homologue of perennial plants derived from the dried roots and rhizomes of the genus Glycyrrhiza in the legume family. In recent years, the comprehensive utilization of licorice resources has attracted people's attention. It is widely utilized to treat diseases, health food products, food production, and other industrial applications. Furthermore, numerous bioactive components of licorice are found using advanced extraction processes, which mainly include polyphenols (flavonoids, dihydrostilbenes, benzofurans, and coumarin), triterpenoids, polysaccharides, alkaloids, and volatile oils, all of which have been reported to possess a variety of pharmacological characteristics, including anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, anticancer, neuroprotective, antidepressive, antidiabetic, antiparasitic, antisex hormone, skin effects, anticariogenic, antitussive, and expectorant activities. Thereby, all of these compounds promote the development of novel and more effective licorice-derived products. This paper reviews the progress of research on extraction techniques, chemical composition, bioactivities, and applications of licorice to provide a reference for further development and application of licorice in different areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyu Ji
- Henan International Joint Laboratory of Animal Welfare and Health Breeding, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471023, P. R. China
- Henan Engineering Research Center of Livestock and Poultry, Emerging Disease Detection and Control, Luoyang 471023, P. R. China
| | - Ning Liu
- Henan International Joint Laboratory of Animal Welfare and Health Breeding, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471023, P. R. China
- Henan Engineering Research Center of Livestock and Poultry, Emerging Disease Detection and Control, Luoyang 471023, P. R. China
| | - Shucheng Huang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, P. R. China
| | - Cai Zhang
- Henan International Joint Laboratory of Animal Welfare and Health Breeding, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471023, P. R. China
- Henan Engineering Research Center of Livestock and Poultry, Emerging Disease Detection and Control, Luoyang 471023, P. R. China
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Cai Y, Zhu J, Zhu L, Hong L, Zhang J, Kong L, Chen C, Luo J. Physalin H ameliorates LPS-induced acute lung injury via KEAP1/NRF2 axis. Int Immunopharmacol 2024; 131:111789. [PMID: 38484668 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2024.111789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2024] [Revised: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024]
Abstract
Physalin H (PH), a withanolide isolated from Physalisangulata L. has been reported to have anti-inflammatory effect. However, its impact on acute lung injury (ALI) remains unexplored. In this study, we observed that PH significantly alleviated inflammation in LPS-stimulated macrophages by suppressing the release of proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6) and down-regulating the expression of the inflammation-related genes. RNA sequencing analysis revealed a significant up-regulation of the NRF2 pathway by PH. Further investigation elucidated that PH attenuated the ubiquitination of NRF2 by impeding the interaction between NRF2 and KEAP1, thereby facilitating NRF2 nuclear translocation and up-regulating the expression of target genes. Consequently, it regulated redox system and exerted anti-inflammatory effect. Consistently, PH also significantly alleviated pathological damage and inflammation in LPS-induced ALI mice model, which could be reversed by administration of an NRF2 inhibitor. Collectively, these results suggest that PH ameliorates ALI by activating the KEAP1/NRF2 pathway. These findings provide a foundation for further development of pH as a new anti-inflammatory agent for ALI therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuxing Cai
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Bioactive Natural Product Research and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Jiangmin Zhu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Bioactive Natural Product Research and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Ling Zhu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Bioactive Natural Product Research and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Lihong Hong
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Bioactive Natural Product Research and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Jianfei Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Bioactive Natural Product Research and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Lingyi Kong
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Bioactive Natural Product Research and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Chen Chen
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Bioactive Natural Product Research and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China.
| | - Jianguang Luo
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Bioactive Natural Product Research and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China.
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Liu T, Lin S. Comprehensive characterization of the chemical constituents of Lianhua Qingwen capsule by ultra high performance liquid chromatography coupled with Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry. Heliyon 2024; 10:e27352. [PMID: 38496865 PMCID: PMC10944244 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e27352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Lianhua Qingwen capsule is a famous traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) prescription that is widely used for the treatment of respiratory diseases in China. To facilitate in-depth and global characterization of the chemical constituents of Lianhua Qingwen capsule, a profiling method based on ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (UHPLC-FT-ICR-MS) was applied in both positive and negative ion modes for the comprehensive characterization of the chemical profiles of Lianhua Qingwen capsule. A total of 596 compounds were identified or tentatively characterized, including 137 flavonoids, 46 phenylpropanoids, 43 phenylethanoid glycosides, 145 terpenoids, 83 organic acids and their derivatives, 15 quinones, 39 alkaloids, 32 alcohol glycosides and 56 other compounds. Thus, this results widely extended and enriched the chemical constituents of Lianhua Qingwen capsule, which will provide comprehensive and valuable information for its quality control and further pharmacological study, facilitate understanding the effective substance and pharmacodynamic material basis, thereby providing a solid foundation for further development of the Lianhuaqingwen capsule.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Liu
- School of Pharmacy, Shenyang Medical College, Shenyang, 110034, China
| | - Shu Lin
- School of Pharmacy, Shenyang Medical College, Shenyang, 110034, China
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Zeng J, Li Y, Wang C, Fu S, He M. Combination of in silico prediction and convolutional neural network framework for targeted screening of metabolites from LC-HRMS fingerprints: A case study of "Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae - FructusAurantii". Talanta 2024; 269:125514. [PMID: 38071769 DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2023.125514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Revised: 11/26/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
In this study, a novel approach is introduced, merging in silico prediction with a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) framework for the targeted screening of in vivo metabolites in Liquid Chromatography-High Resolution Mass Spectrometry (LC-HRMS) fingerprints. Initially, three predictive tools, supplemented by literature, identify potential metabolites for target prototypes derived from Traditional Chinese Medicines (TCMs) or functional foods. Subsequently, a CNN is developed to minimize false positives from CWT-based peak detection. The Extracted Ion Chromatogram (EIC) peaks are then annotated using MS-FINDER across three levels of confidence. This methodology focuses on analyzing the metabolic fingerprints of rats administered with "Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae - Fructus Aurantii" (PCR-FA). Consequently, 384 peaks in positive mode and 282 in negative mode were identified as true peaks of probable metabolites. By contrasting these with "blank serum" data, EIC peaks of adequate intensity were chosen for MS/MS fragment analysis. Ultimately, 14 prototypes (including flavonoids and lactones) and 40 metabolites were precisely linked to their corresponding EIC peaks, thereby providing deeper insight into the pharmacological mechanism. This innovative strategy markedly enhances the chemical coverage in the targeted screening of LC-HRMS metabolic fingerprints.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Zeng
- Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering, Xiangtan University, Xiangtan 411105, China
| | - Yaping Li
- Department of Quality Control, Xiangtan Central Hospital, Xiangtan 411100, China
| | - Chuanlin Wang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering, Xiangtan University, Xiangtan 411105, China
| | - Sheng Fu
- Hunan prevention and treatment institute for occupational disease, Changsha 410007, China
| | - Min He
- Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering, Xiangtan University, Xiangtan 411105, China.
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Zhao B, Zhang Q, He Y, Cao W, Song W, Liang X. Targeted metabolomics reveals the aberrant energy status in diabetic peripheral neuropathy and the neuroprotective mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine JinMaiTong. J Pharm Anal 2024; 14:225-243. [PMID: 38464790 PMCID: PMC10921333 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpha.2023.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2023] [Revised: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is a common and devastating complication of diabetes, for which effective therapies are currently lacking. Disturbed energy status plays a crucial role in DPN pathogenesis. However, the integrated profile of energy metabolism, especially the central carbohydrate metabolism, remains unclear in DPN. Here, we developed a metabolomics approach by targeting 56 metabolites using high-performance ion chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPIC-MS/MS) to illustrate the integrative characteristics of central carbohydrate metabolism in patients with DPN and streptozotocin-induced DPN rats. Furthermore, JinMaiTong (JMT), a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula, was found to be effective for DPN, improving the peripheral neurological function and alleviating the neuropathology of DPN rats even after demyelination and axonal degeneration. JMT ameliorated DPN by regulating the aberrant energy balance and mitochondrial functions, including excessive glycolysis restoration, tricarboxylic acid cycle improvement, and increased adenosine triphosphate (ATP) generation. Bioenergetic profile was aberrant in cultured rat Schwann cells under high-glucose conditions, which was remarkably corrected by JMT treatment. In-vivo and in-vitro studies revealed that these effects of JMT were mainly attributed to the activation of adenosine monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and downstream peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (PGC-1α). Our results expand the therapeutic framework for DPN and suggest the integrative modulation of energy metabolism using TCMs, such as JMT, as an effective strategy for its treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bingjia Zhao
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Qian Zhang
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Yiqian He
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Weifang Cao
- Institute of Basic Medicine Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100005, China
| | - Wei Song
- Medical Research Center, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Xiaochun Liang
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100730, China
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10
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Lin S, Chen Z, Li S, Chen B, Wu Y, Zheng Y, Huang J, Chen Y, Lin X, Yao H. Anti-tumor effect and mechanism of the total biflavonoid extract from S doederleinii on human cervical cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. Heliyon 2024; 10:e24778. [PMID: 38304845 PMCID: PMC10830543 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e24778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024] Open
Abstract
In this study, the therapeutic effect and possible mechanism of the total biflavonoid extract of Selaginella doederleinii Hieron (SDTBE) against cervical cancer were originally investigated in vitro and in vivo. First, the inhibition of SDTBE on proliferation of cervical cancer HeLa cells was evaluated, followed by morphological observation with AO/EB staining, Annexin V/PI assay, and autophagic flux monitoring to evaluate the possible effect of SDTBE on cell apoptosis and autophagy. Cell cycle, as well as mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔѰm), was detected with flow cytometry. Further, the apoptosis related protein expression and the autophagy related gene LC3 mRNA transcription level were analyzed by Western blot (WB) and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), respectively. Finally, the anti-cervical cancer effect of the SDTBE was also validated in vivo in HeLa cells grafts mice. As results, SDTBE inhibited HeLa cells proliferation with the IC50 values of 49.05 ± 6.76 and 44.14 ± 4.75 μg/mL for 48 and 72 h treatment, respectively. The extract caused mitochondrial ΔѰ loss, induced cell apoptosis by upregulating Bax, downregulating Bcl-2, activating Caspase-9 and Caspase-3, promoting cell autophagy and blocking the cell cycle in G0/G1 phase. Furthermore, 100, 200, and 300 mg/kg SDTBE suppressed the growth of HeLa cells xenografts in mice with the mean inhibition rates, 25.3 %, 57.5 % and 62.9 %, respectively, and the change of apoptosis related proteins and microvascular density was confirmed in xenografts by immunohistochemistry analysis. The results show that SDTBE possesses anti-cervical cancer effect, and the mechanism involves in activating Caspase-dependent mitochondrial apoptosis pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shilan Lin
- Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, School of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Zhijie Chen
- Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, School of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Shaoguang Li
- Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, School of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Bing Chen
- Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, School of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Youjia Wu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, School of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Yanjie Zheng
- Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, School of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Jianyong Huang
- Department of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, 350001, China
| | - Yan Chen
- Department of Medical Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Xinhua Lin
- Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, School of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Hong Yao
- Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, School of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
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11
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Liu M, Zhao Y, Li X, Zhang T, Xu X, Jiang M, Tian X, Zhang P, Wu H, Gao X, Li X, Wang H, Yang W. Two Multidimensional Chromatography/High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry Approaches Enabling the In-Depth Metabolite Characterization Simultaneously from Three Glycyrrhiza Species: Method Development, Comparison, and Integration. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2024; 72:1339-1353. [PMID: 38183657 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.3c07496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2024]
Abstract
Two offline multidimensional chromatography/high-resolution mass spectrometry systems (method 1: fractionation and online two-dimensional liquid chromatography, 2D-LC; method 2: fractionation and offline 2D-LC) were established to characterize the metabolites simultaneously from three Glycyrrhiza species. Ion exchange chromatography in the first-dimensional (1D) separation was well fractionated between the acidic (mainly triterpenoids) and weakly acidic components (flavonoids). These obtained subsamples got sophisticated separation by the second (2D) and third dimension (3D) of chromatography either by online reversed-phase chromatography × reversed-phase chromatography (RPC × RPC) or offline hydrophilic interaction chromatography × RPC (HILIC × RPC). Orthogonality for the 2D/3D separations reached 0.73 for method 1 and 0.81 for method 2, respectively. We could characterize 1097 compounds from three Glycyrrhiza species based on an in-house library and 33 reference standards, involving 618 by method 1 and 668 by method 2, respectively. They exhibited a differentiated performance and complementarity in identifying the multiple subclasses of Glycyrrhiza components.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meiyu Liu
- Haihe Laboratory of Modern Chinese Medicine, 10 Poyanghu Road, Tianjin 301617, China
- National Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Modernization, State Key Laboratory of Component-Based Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 10 Poyanghu Road, Tianjin 301617, China
| | - Yuying Zhao
- Haihe Laboratory of Modern Chinese Medicine, 10 Poyanghu Road, Tianjin 301617, China
- National Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Modernization, State Key Laboratory of Component-Based Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 10 Poyanghu Road, Tianjin 301617, China
| | - Xiaohang Li
- Haihe Laboratory of Modern Chinese Medicine, 10 Poyanghu Road, Tianjin 301617, China
- National Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Modernization, State Key Laboratory of Component-Based Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 10 Poyanghu Road, Tianjin 301617, China
| | - Tingting Zhang
- Haihe Laboratory of Modern Chinese Medicine, 10 Poyanghu Road, Tianjin 301617, China
- National Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Modernization, State Key Laboratory of Component-Based Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 10 Poyanghu Road, Tianjin 301617, China
| | - Xiaoyan Xu
- Haihe Laboratory of Modern Chinese Medicine, 10 Poyanghu Road, Tianjin 301617, China
- National Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Modernization, State Key Laboratory of Component-Based Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 10 Poyanghu Road, Tianjin 301617, China
| | - Meiting Jiang
- Haihe Laboratory of Modern Chinese Medicine, 10 Poyanghu Road, Tianjin 301617, China
- National Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Modernization, State Key Laboratory of Component-Based Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 10 Poyanghu Road, Tianjin 301617, China
| | - Xiaoxuan Tian
- Haihe Laboratory of Modern Chinese Medicine, 10 Poyanghu Road, Tianjin 301617, China
- National Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Modernization, State Key Laboratory of Component-Based Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 10 Poyanghu Road, Tianjin 301617, China
| | - Peng Zhang
- Haihe Laboratory of Modern Chinese Medicine, 10 Poyanghu Road, Tianjin 301617, China
- National Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Modernization, State Key Laboratory of Component-Based Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 10 Poyanghu Road, Tianjin 301617, China
| | - Honghua Wu
- Haihe Laboratory of Modern Chinese Medicine, 10 Poyanghu Road, Tianjin 301617, China
- National Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Modernization, State Key Laboratory of Component-Based Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 10 Poyanghu Road, Tianjin 301617, China
| | - Xiumei Gao
- Haihe Laboratory of Modern Chinese Medicine, 10 Poyanghu Road, Tianjin 301617, China
- National Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Modernization, State Key Laboratory of Component-Based Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 10 Poyanghu Road, Tianjin 301617, China
- Key Laboratory of Pharmacology of Traditional Chinese Medical Formulae, Ministry of Education, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 10 Poyanghu Road, Tianjin 301617, China
| | - Xue Li
- Haihe Laboratory of Modern Chinese Medicine, 10 Poyanghu Road, Tianjin 301617, China
- National Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Modernization, State Key Laboratory of Component-Based Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 10 Poyanghu Road, Tianjin 301617, China
| | - Hongda Wang
- Haihe Laboratory of Modern Chinese Medicine, 10 Poyanghu Road, Tianjin 301617, China
- National Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Modernization, State Key Laboratory of Component-Based Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 10 Poyanghu Road, Tianjin 301617, China
| | - Wenzhi Yang
- Haihe Laboratory of Modern Chinese Medicine, 10 Poyanghu Road, Tianjin 301617, China
- National Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Modernization, State Key Laboratory of Component-Based Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 10 Poyanghu Road, Tianjin 301617, China
- Key Laboratory of Pharmacology of Traditional Chinese Medical Formulae, Ministry of Education, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 10 Poyanghu Road, Tianjin 301617, China
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12
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Zhang L, Wu Q, Huang Y, Zheng J, Guo S, He L. Formononetin ameliorates airway inflammation by suppressing ESR1/NLRP3/Caspase-1 signaling in asthma. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 168:115799. [PMID: 37922653 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.115799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2023] [Revised: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Since inhaled glucocorticoids are the first-line treatment for asthma, asthma management becomes extremely difficult when asthma does not react well to glucocorticoids. Formononetin, a bioactive isoflavone and typical phytoestrogen, has been shown to have an anti-inflammatory impact while alleviating epithelial barrier dysfunction, which plays a role in the pathogenesis of allergic illnesses like asthma. However, the biological mechanisms behind this impact are unknown. As a result, we set out to investigate the effects of formononetin on airway inflammation and epithelial barrier repair in house dust mite (HDM)-induced asthmatic mice. We further expanded on formononetin's putative mode of action in reducing airway inflammation by modifying epithelial barrier dysfunction. In the current study, researchers discovered that formononetin significantly lowered total IgE levels in serum and interleukin (IL)-4, IL-6, and IL-17A levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) in HDM-challenged asthmatic mice. Experiments on cell proliferation, migration, and apoptosis were performed in vitro to determine the effect of formononetin on bronchial epithelial barrier repair. Furthermore, in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated 16HBE cells, formononetin increased cell proliferation and migration while preventing apoptosis and lowering the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio. In vitro and in vivo, formononetin significantly inhibited toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and estrogen receptor (ESR1)/Nod-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3)/Caspase-1 signaling. These findings show that formononetin can reduce airway inflammation in HDM-challenged asthmatic mice by promoting epithelial barrier repair and possibly by inhibiting ESR1/NLRP3/Caspase-1 signaling as the underlying mechanism; formononetin could be a promising alternative treatment for asthma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Zhang
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai Children's Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qian Wu
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai Children's Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuying Huang
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai Children's Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jun Zheng
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Shanghai Children's Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Sheng Guo
- Department of Endocrine, Genetics and Metabolism, Shanghai Children's Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Li He
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai Children's Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
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13
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Qu L, Liu Y, Deng J, Ma X, Fan D. Ginsenoside Rk3 is a novel PI3K/AKT-targeting therapeutics agent that regulates autophagy and apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma. J Pharm Anal 2023; 13:463-482. [PMID: 37305788 PMCID: PMC10257150 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpha.2023.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Revised: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third leading cause of cancer death worldwide. Ginsenoside Rk3, an important and rare saponin in heat-treated ginseng, is generated from Rg1 and has a smaller molecular weight. However, the anti-HCC efficacy and mechanisms of ginsenoside Rk3 have not yet been characterized. Here, we investigated the mechanism by which ginsenoside Rk3, a tetracyclic triterpenoid rare ginsenoside, inhibits the growth of HCC. We first explored the possible potential targets of Rk3 through network pharmacology. Both in vitro (HepG2 and HCC-LM3 cells) and in vivo (primary liver cancer mice and HCC-LM3 subcutaneous tumor-bearing mice) studies revealed that Rk3 significantly inhibits the proliferation of HCC. Meanwhile, Rk3 blocked the cell cycle in HCC at the G1 phase and induced autophagy and apoptosis in HCC. Further proteomics and siRNA experiments showed that Rk3 regulates the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT) pathway to inhibit HCC growth, which was validated by molecular docking and surface plasmon resonance. In conclusion, we report the discovery that ginsenoside Rk3 binds to PI3K/AKT and promotes autophagy and apoptosis in HCC. Our data strongly support the translation of ginsenoside Rk3 into novel PI3K/AKT-targeting therapeutics for HCC treatment with low toxic side effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linlin Qu
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Degradable Biomedical Materials, School of Chemical Engineering, Northwest University, Xi'an, 710069, China
- Shaanxi R&D Center of Biomaterials and Fermentation Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering, Northwest University, Xi'an, 710069, China
- Biotech. & Biomed. Research Institute, Northwest University, Xi'an, 710069, China
- Xi'an Giant Biotechnology Co., Ltd., Xi'an, 710076, China
| | - Yannan Liu
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Degradable Biomedical Materials, School of Chemical Engineering, Northwest University, Xi'an, 710069, China
- Shaanxi R&D Center of Biomaterials and Fermentation Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering, Northwest University, Xi'an, 710069, China
- Biotech. & Biomed. Research Institute, Northwest University, Xi'an, 710069, China
| | - Jianjun Deng
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Degradable Biomedical Materials, School of Chemical Engineering, Northwest University, Xi'an, 710069, China
- Shaanxi R&D Center of Biomaterials and Fermentation Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering, Northwest University, Xi'an, 710069, China
- Biotech. & Biomed. Research Institute, Northwest University, Xi'an, 710069, China
| | - Xiaoxuan Ma
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Degradable Biomedical Materials, School of Chemical Engineering, Northwest University, Xi'an, 710069, China
- Shaanxi R&D Center of Biomaterials and Fermentation Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering, Northwest University, Xi'an, 710069, China
- Biotech. & Biomed. Research Institute, Northwest University, Xi'an, 710069, China
| | - Daidi Fan
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Degradable Biomedical Materials, School of Chemical Engineering, Northwest University, Xi'an, 710069, China
- Shaanxi R&D Center of Biomaterials and Fermentation Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering, Northwest University, Xi'an, 710069, China
- Biotech. & Biomed. Research Institute, Northwest University, Xi'an, 710069, China
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14
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Zhou H, Yang T, Lu Z, He X, Quan J, Liu S, Chen Y, Wu K, Cao H, Liu J, Yu L. Liquiritin exhibits anti-acute lung injury activities through suppressing the JNK/Nur77/c-Jun pathway. Chin Med 2023; 18:35. [PMID: 37013552 PMCID: PMC10068703 DOI: 10.1186/s13020-023-00739-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Licorice (Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch.), a well-known traditional medicine, is traditionally used for the treatment of respiratory disorders, such as cough, sore throat, asthma and bronchitis. We aim to investigate the effects of liquiritin (LQ), the main bioactive compound in licorice against acute lung injury (ALI) and explore the potential mechanism. METHODS Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was used to induce inflammation in RAW264.7 cells and zebrafish. Intratracheal instillation of 3 mg/kg of LPS was used for induction an ALI mice model. The concentrations of IL-6 and TNF-α were tested using the enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Western blot analysis was used to detect the expression of JNK/Nur77/c-Jun related proteins. Protein levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was measured by BCA protein assay. The effect of JNK on Nur77 transcriptional activity was determined by luciferase reporter assay, while electrophoretic mobility shift assay was used to examine the c-Jun DNA binding activity. RESULTS LQ has significant anti-inflammatory effects in zebrafish and RAW264.7 cells. LQ inhibited the expression levels of p-JNK (Thr183/Tyr185), p-Nur77 (Ser351) and p-c-Jun (Ser63), while elevated the Nur77 expression level. Inhibition of JNK by a specific inhibitor or small interfering RNA enhanced the regulatory effect of LQ on Nur77/c-Jun, while JNK agonist abrogated LQ-mediated effects. Moreover, Nur77-luciferase reporter activity was suppressed after JNK overexpression. The effects of LQ on the expression level of c-Jun and the binding activity of c-Jun with DNA were attenuated after Nur77 siRNA treatment. LQ significantly ameliorated LPS-induced ALI with the reduction of lung water content and BALF protein content, the downregulation of TNF-α and IL-6 levels in lung BALF and the suppression of JNK/Nur77/c-Jun signaling, which can be reversed by a specific JNK agonist. CONCLUSION Our results indicated that LQ exerts significant protective effects against LPS-induced inflammation both in vivo and in vitro via suppressing the activation of JNK, and consequently inhibiting the Nur77/c-Jun signaling pathway. Our study suggests that LQ may be a potential therapeutic candidate for ALI and inflammatory disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongling Zhou
- Third Level Research Laboratory of State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, People's Republic of China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Pharmaceutics, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, People's Republic of China
| | - Tangjia Yang
- Third Level Research Laboratory of State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, People's Republic of China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Pharmaceutics, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, People's Republic of China
| | - Zibin Lu
- Third Level Research Laboratory of State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, People's Republic of China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Pharmaceutics, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, People's Republic of China
| | - Xuemei He
- Third Level Research Laboratory of State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, People's Republic of China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Pharmaceutics, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, People's Republic of China
| | - Jingyu Quan
- Third Level Research Laboratory of State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, People's Republic of China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Pharmaceutics, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, People's Republic of China
| | - Shanhong Liu
- Third Level Research Laboratory of State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, People's Republic of China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Pharmaceutics, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuyao Chen
- Third Level Research Laboratory of State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, People's Republic of China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Pharmaceutics, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, People's Republic of China
| | - Kangtai Wu
- Third Level Research Laboratory of State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, People's Republic of China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Pharmaceutics, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, People's Republic of China
| | - Huihui Cao
- Third Level Research Laboratory of State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, People's Republic of China.
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Pharmaceutics, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, People's Republic of China.
| | - Junshan Liu
- Third Level Research Laboratory of State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, People's Republic of China.
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Pharmaceutics, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, People's Republic of China.
- Department of Pharmacy, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510282, People's Republic of China.
| | - Linzhong Yu
- Third Level Research Laboratory of State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, People's Republic of China.
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Pharmaceutics, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, People's Republic of China.
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