Salvianolic acid B exerts anti-liver fibrosis effects via inhibition of MAPK-mediated phospho-Smad2/3 at linker regions in vivo and in vitro

A mussel-inspired, antibacterial, antioxidant, injectable composite hydrogel for the sustain delivery of salvianolic acid B for the treatment of frozen shoulder

Frozen shoulder (FS) manifests as progressively worsening pain and a reduction in shoulder range of motion (ROM). Salvianolic acid B (SaB) is recently expected to be used in the treatment of fibrosis diseases including FS. We firstly demonstrate that SaB can effectively hinder the progression of oxidative stress, inflammation, and pathological fibrosis within the synovial tissue in FS, potentially leading to the reduction or reversal of capsule fibrosis and joint stiffness. For further clinical application, we design and synthesize a novel, superior, antioxidant and antibacterial CSMA-PBA/OD-DA (CPDA) hydrogel for the delivery of SaB. In vitro experiments demonstrate that the CPDA hydrogel exhibits excellent biocompatibility and rheological properties, rendering it suitable for intra-articular injections. Upon injection into the contracted joint cavity of FS model rat, the SaB-CPDA hydrogel accelerate the recovery of ROM and exhibit superior anti-fibrosis effect, presenting the promise for the treatment of FS in vivo.

Progress in clinical and basic research of fuzheng Huayu formula for the treatment of liver fibrosis

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Traditional Chinese medicine has great potential and advantages in the treatment of liver fibrosis, with Fuzheng Huayu formula (FZHY) serving as a prime example due to its remarkable efficacy in delaying and reversing liver fibrosis while simultaneously improving clinical symptoms for patients.

AIM OF THE REVIEW

In this paper, we present a comprehensive review of recent studies on the therapeutic potential of FZHY and its components/ingredients in the treatment of liver fibrosis and cirrhosis, with the aim of providing insights for future research endeavors.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A comprehensive literature search was conducted on FZHY, TCM319, traditional Chinese medicine 319, liver fibrosis and cirrhosis using multiple internationally recognized databases including PubMed, Embase, Springer, Web of science, SciVerse ScienceDirect, Clinical Trails. Gov, CNKI, Wanfang, and VIP.

RESULTS

FZHY is widely used clinically for liver fibrosis and cirrhosis caused by various chronic liver diseases, with the effects of improving serum liver function, liver pathological histology, serological indices related to liver fibrosis, decreasing liver stiffness values and portal hypertension, as well as reducing the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma and morbidity/mortality in patients with cirrhosis. Numerous in vivo and in vitro experiments have demonstrated that FZHY possesses anti-fibrotic effects by inhibiting hepatic stellate cell activation, reducing inflammation, protecting hepatocytes, inhibiting hepatic sinusoidal capillarization and angiogenesis, promoting extracellular matrix degradation, and facilitating liver regeneration. In recent years, there has been a growing focus on investigating the primary active components/ingredients of FZHY, and significant strides have been made in comprehending their synergistic mechanisms that enhance efficacy.

CONCLUSION

FZHY is a safe and effective drug for treating liver fibrosis. Future research on FZHY should focus on its active components/ingredients and their synergistic effects, as well as the development of modern cocktail drugs based on its components/ingredients. This will facilitate a more comprehensive understanding of the molecular mechanisms and targets of FZHY in treating liver fibrosis, thereby further guide clinical applications and drug development.

FAK-p38 signaling serves as a potential target for reverting matrix stiffness-modulated liver sinusoidal endothelial cell defenestration

Liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) are highly specific endothelial cells which play an essential role in the maintenance of liver homeostasis. During the progression of liver fibrosis, matrix stiffening promotes LSEC defenestration, however, the underlying mechanotransduction mechanism remains poorly understood. Here, we applied stiffness-tunable hydrogels to assess the matrix stiffening-induced phenotypic changes in primary mouse LSECs. Results indicated that increased stiffness promoted LSEC defenestration through cytoskeletal reorganization. LSECs sensed the increased matrix stiffness via focal adhesion kinase (FAK), leading to the activation of p38-mitogen activated protein kinase activated protein kinase 2 (MK2) pathway, thereby inducing actin remodeling via LIM Kinase 1 (LIMK1) and Cofilin. Interestingly, inhibition of FAK or p38-MK2 pathway was able to effectively restore the fenestrae to a certain degree in LSECs isolated from early to late stages of liver fibrosis mice. Thus, this study highlights the impact of mechanotransduction in LSEC defenestration, and provides novel insights for potential therapeutic interventions for liver fibrosis.

Salvianolic Acid B Significantly Suppresses the Migration of Melanoma Cells via Direct Interaction with β-Actin

Melanoma is the most aggressive and difficult to treat of all skin cancers. Despite advances in the treatment of melanoma, the prognosis for melanoma patients remains poor, and the recurrence rate remains high. There is substantial evidence that Chinese herbals effectively prevent and treat melanoma. The bioactive ingredient Salvianolic acid B (SAB) found in Salvia miltiorrhiza, a well-known Chinese herbal with various biological functions, exhibits inhibitory activity against various cancers. A375 and mouse B16 cell lines were used to evaluate the main targets and mechanisms of SAB in inhibiting melanoma migration. Online bioinformatics analysis, Western blotting, immunofluorescence, molecular fishing, dot blot, and molecular docking assays were carried out to clarify the potential molecular mechanism. We found that SAB prevents the migration and invasion of melanoma cells by inhibiting the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process of melanoma cells. As well as interacting directly with the N-terminal domain of β-actin, SAB enhanced its compactness and stability, thereby inhibiting the migration of cells. Taken together, SAB could significantly suppress the migration of melanoma cells via direct binding with β-actin, suggesting that SAB could be a helpful supplement that may enhance chemotherapeutic outcomes and benefit melanoma patients.

Salvianolic Acid B Alleviates High Glucose-Induced Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Inflammation by Upregulating the miR-486a-5p Expression

The macrovascular complications of diabetes cause high mortality and disability in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The inflammatory response of vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) runs through its pathophysiological process. Salvianolic acid B (Sal B) exhibits beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system. However, its role and mechanism in diabetic vascular inflammatory response remain unclear. In this study, we found that Sal B reduced vascular inflammation in diabetic mice and high glucose- (HG-) induced VSMC inflammation. Subsequently, we found that Sal B reduced HG-induced VSMC inflammation by downregulating FOXO1. Furthermore, miR-486a-5p expression was obviously reduced in HG-treated VSMC. Sal B attenuated HG-induced VSMC inflammation by upregulating miR-486a-5p. Loss- and gain-of-function experiments had proven that the transfection of the miR-486a-5p mimic inhibited HG-induced VSMC inflammation whereas that of the miR-486a-5p inhibitor promoted HG-induced VSMC inflammation, thereby leading to the amelioration of vascular inflammation in the diabetic mice. Furthermore, studies had shown that miR-486a-5p inhibited FOXO1 expression by directly targeting its 3'-UTR. In conclusion, Sal B alleviates the inflammatory response of VSMC by upregulating miR-486a-5p and aggravating its inhibition of FOXO1 expression. Sal B exerts a significant anti-inflammatory effect in HG-induced VSMC inflammation by modulating the miR-486a-5p/FOXO1 axis.

Recent Advances in Research on Active Compounds Against Hepatic Fibrosis

BACKGROUND

Almost all chronic liver diseases cause fibrosis, which can lead to cirrhosis and eventually liver cancer. Liver fibrosis is now considered to be a reversible pathophysiological process and suppression of fibrosis is necessary to prevent liver cancer. At present, no specific drugs have been found that have hepatic anti-fibrotic activity.

OBJECTIVE

The research progress of anti-hepatic fibrosis compounds in recent ten years was reviewed to provide a reference for the design and development of anti-hepatic fibrosis drugs.

METHODS

According to the structure of the compounds, they are divided into monocyclic compounds, fused-heterocyclic compounds, and acyclic compounds.

RESULTS

In this article, the natural products and synthetic compounds with anti-fibrotic activity in recent ten years were reviewed, with emphasis on their pharmacological activity and structure-activity relationship (SAR).

CONCLUSION

Most of these compounds are natural active products and their derivatives, and there are few researches on synthetic compounds and SAR studies on natural product.

Salvianolic acid B attenuates tubulointerstitial fibrosis by inhibiting EZH2 to regulate the PTEN/Akt pathway

CONTEXT

Salvianolic acid B (SAB) can alleviate renal fibrosis and improve the renal function.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of SAB on renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis and explore its underlying mechanisms.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Male C57 mice were subjected to unilateral ureteric obstruction (UUO) and aristolochic acid nephropathy (AAN) for renal fibrosis indication. Vehicle or SAB (10 mg/kg/d, i.p.) were given consecutively for 2 weeks in UUO mice while 4 weeks in AAN mice. The serum creatinine (Scr) and blood urine nitrogen (BUN) were measured. Masson's trichrome staining and the fibrotic markers (FN and α-SMA) were used to evaluate renal fibrosis. NRK-49F cells exposed to 2.5 ng/mL TGF-β were treated with SAB in the presence or absence of 20 μM 3-DZNep, an inhibitor of EZH2. The protein expression of EZH2, H3k27me3 and PTEN/Akt signaling pathway in renal tissue and NRK-49F cells were measured by Western blots.

RESULTS

SAB significantly improved the levels of Scr by 24.3% and BUN by 35.7% in AAN mice. SAB reduced renal interstitial collagen deposition by 34.7% in UUO mice and 72.8% in AAN mice. Both in vivo and in vitro studies demonstrated that SAB suppressed the expression of FN and α-SMA, increased PTEN and decreased the phosphorylation of Akt, which were correlated with the down-regulation of EZH2 and H3k27me3. The inhibition of EZH2 attenuated the anti-fibrotic effects of SAB in NRK-49Fs.

CONCLUSION

SAB might have therapeutic potential on renal fibrosis of CKD through inhibiting EZH2, which encourages further clinical trials.

Triptolide attenuates CCL4-induced liver fibrosis by regulating the differentiation of CD4+ T cells in mice

Liver fibrosis is a major global health issue, and immune dysregulation is a main contributor. Triptolide is a natural immunosuppressive agent with demonstrated effectiveness in ameliorating liver fibrosis, but whether it exerts anti-liver fibrotic effects via immunoregulation remains obscure. In this study, first, by employing a CCL4-induced liver fibrosis mouse model, we demonstrated that triptolide could alleviate pathological damage to liver tissue and attenuate liver function damaged by CCL4. In addition, triptolide inhibited the expression of liver fibrotic markers such as hydroxyproline, collagen type IV, hyaluronidase, laminin, and procollagen type III, and the protein expression of α-SMA in CCL4-induced liver fibrosis. Second, with the help of network pharmacology, we predicted that triptolide's anti-liver fibrotic effects might occur through the regulation of Th17, Th1, and Th2 cell differentiation, which indicated that triptolide might mitigate liver fibrosis via immunoregulation. Finally, multiplex immunoassays and flow cytometry were adopted to verify this prediction. The results suggested that triptolide could reverse the aberrant expression of inflammatory cytokines caused by CCL4 and regulate the differentiation of Th1, Th2, Th17, and Treg cells. In conclusion, triptolide could attenuate CCL4-induced liver fibrosis by regulating the differentiation of CD4+ T cells. The results obtained in this study extended the application of triptolide and introduced a new mechanism of triptolide's anti-liver fibrotic effects.

Salvianolic acid B inhibits hepatic stellate cell activation and liver fibrosis by targeting PDGFRβ

Liver fibrosis is a reversible pathological process and a wound healing response to liver injury. As an early stage of various liver diseases, liver fibrosis can develop into cirrhosis, liver failure, and even liver cancer if not controlled in time. Salvia miltiorrhiza is a medicinal plant with hepatoprotective effects. Salvianolic acid B (Sal B) is the representative component of S. miltiorrhiza. Many studies have reported the anti-liver fibrosis effects and mechanisms of Sal B. However, the direct anti-fibrotic targets of Sal B have not yet been reported. Platelet-derived growth factor receptor β (PDGFRβ) is one of the most classical targets in liver fibrosis, which is closely related to hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) activated. Previously, we established and applied a PDGFRβ affinity chromatography model, and found that Sal B binds well to PDGFRβ. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the direct targets of Sal B against liver fibrosis. We confirmed the binding ability of Sal B to PDGFRβ by molecular docking and a surface plasmon resonance biosensor. Our findings indicated that Sal B targeted PDGFRβ to inhibit the activation, migration and proliferation of HSCs and suppressed the PDGF-BB-induced PDGFRβ signaling pathway. Annexin V-FITC/PI assay showed that Sal B reversed the PDGF-BB-induced decrease in HSC apoptosis rate. In the mouse liver fibrosis model, Sal B inhibited the PDGFRβ signaling pathway, HSC activation and reduced inflammatory response, ultimately improved CCl4-induced liver fibrosis. In summary, the direct anti-fibrotic targets of Sal B may be PDGFRβ, and this study clarified the anti-liver fibrosis effects and mechanism of Sal B.

Salvianolic Acid B: A Review of Pharmacological Effects, Safety, Combination Therapy, New Dosage Forms, and Novel Drug Delivery Routes

Salvianolic acid B is extracted from the roots and rhizomes of Danshen (Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge., family Labiatae). It is a water-soluble, weakly acidic drug that has demonstrated antitumor and anti-inflammatory effects on various organs and tissues such as the lung, heart, kidney, intestine, bone, liver, and skin and protective effects in diseases such as depression and spinal cord injury. The mechanisms underlying the protective effects of salvianolic acid B are mainly related to its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti- or pro-apoptotic, anti- or pro-autophagy, anti-fibrotic, and metabolism-regulating functions. Salvianolic acid B can regulate various signaling pathways, cells, and molecules to achieve maximum therapeutic effects. This review summarizes the safety profile, combination therapy potential, and new dosage forms and delivery routes of salvianolic acid B. Although significant research progress has been made, more in-depth pharmacological studies are warranted to identify the mechanism of action, related signaling pathways, more suitable combination drugs, more effective dosage forms, and novel routes of administration of salvianolic acid B.

Salvianolic acid B attenuates inflammation and prevent pathologic fibrosis by inhibiting CD36-mediated activation of the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway in frozen shoulder

Frozen shoulder (FS) is characterized by pain and limited range of motion (ROM). Inflammation and fibrosis are accepted as main pathologic processes associated with the development of FS. However, the intrinsic mechanisms underlying pathologic fibrosis remain unclear. We aimed to elucidate the key molecules involved in pathologic fibrosis and explore new therapeutic targets for FS. Synovial fibroblasts isolated from patient biopsies were identified using immunofluorescence. Western blotting, RT-qPCR, cell adhesion tests, and would-healing assays were used to evaluate the fibrosis-related functions of synovial fibroblasts. Elevated cluster of differentiation 36 (CD36) expression was detected in FS using Western blotting and immunohistochemistry. Salvianolic acid b (SaB) inhibited CD36, blocking synovial fibroblast-induced inflammation and fibrosis. Our RNA-seq data showed that knocking down CD36 dramatically impaired the capacity of synovial fibroblasts for cell adhesion and that the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway may be crucial to the fibrotic process of FS. By up-regulating CD36 and inhibiting the phosphorylation of Akt, we demonstrated that CD36 promotes pathologic fibrosis by activating the PI3k-Akt pathway. Finally, rats treated with SaB had improved ROM and less collagen fiber deposition than the FS model group. Conclusion: SaB attenuates inflammation and inhibited the CD36-mediated activation of the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway to block pathologic fibrosis of FS in vitro and in vivo models.

Protective effect of Anneslea fragrans ethanolic extract against CCl4-induced liver injury by inhibiting inflammatory response, oxidative stress and apoptosis

Anneslea Fragrans Wall. (AF) is a medicinal and edible plant distributed in China. Its leaves and bark generally used for the treatments of diarrhea, fever, and liver diseases. While its ethnopharmacological application against liver diseases has not been fully studied. This study was aimed to evaluate the hepatoprotective effect of ethanolic extract from A. fragrans (AFE) on CCl₄ induced liver injury in mice. The results showed that AFE could effectively reduce plasma activities of ALT and AST, increase antioxidant enzymes activities (SOD and CAT) and GSH level, and decrease MDA content in CCl₄ induced mice. AFE effectively decreased the expressions of inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, COX-2 and iNOS), cell apoptosis-related proteins (Bax, caspase-3 and caspase-9) and increased Bcl-2 protein expression via inhibiting MAPK/ERK pathway. Additionally, TUNEL staining, Masson and Sirius red staining, immunohistochemical analyses revealed that AFE could inhibit the CCl₄-induced hepatic fibrosis formation via reducing depositions of α-SMA, collagen I and collagen III. Conclusively, the present study demonstrated that AFE had an hepatoprotective effect by MAPK/ERK pathway to inhibit oxidative stress, inflammatory response and apoptosis in CCl₄-induced liver injury mice, suggesting that AFE might be served as a hepatoprotective ingredient in the prevention and treatment of liver injury.

Salvianolic Acid B Attenuates Hypertrophic Scar Formation In Vivo and In Vitro

BACKGROUND

Hypertrophic scars (HTSs) are a fibroproliferative disorder that occur following skin injuries. Salvianolic acid B (Sal-B) is an extractant from Salvia miltiorrhiza that has been reported to ameliorate fibrosis in multiple organs. However, the antifibrotic effect on HTSs remains unclear. This study aimed to determine the antifibrotic effect of Sal-B in vitro and in vivo.

METHODS

In vitro, hypertrophic scar-derived fibroblasts (HSFs) were isolated from human HTSs and cultured. HSFs were treated with (0, 10, 50, 100 μmol/L) Sal-B. Cell proliferation and migration were evaluated by EdU, wound healing, and transwell assays. The protein and mRNA levels of TGFβI, Smad2, Smad3, α-SMA, COL1, and COL3 were detected by Western blots and real-time PCR. In vivo, tension stretching devices were fixed on incisions for HTS formation. The induced scars were treated with 100 μL of Sal-B/PBS per day according to the concentration of the group and followed up for 7 or 14 days. The scar condition, collagen deposition, and α-SMA expression were analyzed by gross visual examination, H&E, Masson, picrosirius red staining, and immunofluorescence.

RESULTS

In vitro, Sal-B inhibited HSF proliferation, migration, and downregulated the expression of TGFβI, Smad2, Smad3, α-SMA, COL1, and COL3 in HSFs. In vivo, 50 and 100 μmol/L Sal-B significantly reduced scar size in gross and cross-sectional observations, with decreased α-SMA expression and collagen deposition in the tension-induced HTS model.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study demonstrated that Sal-B inhibits HSFs proliferation, migration, fibrotic marker expression and attenuates HTS formation in a tension-induced HTS model in vivo.

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Remodeling of white adipose tissue microenvironment against obesity by phytochemicals

Obesity is a kind of chronic disease due to a long-term imbalance between energy intake and expenditure. In recent years, the number of obese people around the world has soared, and obesity problem should not be underestimated. Obesity is characterized by changes in the adipose microenvironment, mainly manifested as hypertrophy, chronic inflammatory status, hypoxia, and fibrosis, thus contributing to the pathological changes of other tissues. A plethora of phytochemicals have been found to improve adipose microenvironment, thus prevent and resist obesity, providing a new research direction for the treatment of obesity and related diseases. This paper discusses remodeling of the adipose tissue microenvironment as a therapeutic avenue and reviews the progress of phytochemicals in fighting obesity by improving the adipose microenvironment.

Salvianolic acid B exerts an anti-hepatocellular carcinoma effect by regulating the Hippo/YAP pathway and promoting pSmad3L to pSmad3C simultaneously

Salvianolic acid B (Sal B) is a component obtained from Salvia miltiorrhiza and is empirically used for liver diseases. The TGF-β/Smad and Hippo/YAP pathways may interact with each other in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Previously, we found that Sal B mediates the TGF-β/Smad pathway in mice and delays liver fibrosis-carcinoma progression by promoting the conversion of pSmad3L to pSmad3C, but the effect of Sal B on the Hippo/YAP pathway has not been determined. Therefore, we used a DEN/CCl₄/C₂H₅OH-induced liver cancer model in mice to analyze liver index and tumor incidence, detect AST and ALT serological markers, observe liver pathology and the number of Ki67-positive cells to evaluate the anti-HCC effect of Sal B in vivo. We used a TGF-β₁-induced HepG2 cell model, and applied an MST1/2 inhibitor, XMU-MP-1, to detect the changes in pSmad3C/pSmad3L signaling induced by MST1/2 inhibition. Sal B significantly inhibited tumorigenesis in DEN/CCl₄/C₂H₅OH-induced mice in vivo, and suppressed the growth of HepG2 cells by inhibiting cell proliferation and migration in vitro. Here, our study also validated the role of Sal B in reversing XMU-MP-1-induced proliferation and migration of HepG2 cells in vitro. Most importantly, we elucidated for the first time the potential mechanism of Sal B against HCC via the Hippo/YAP pathway, which may be specifically related to upregulation of MST1 and inhibition of its downstream effector protein YAP. In conclusion, these findings indicate that Sal B possesses anti- HCC effects both in vivo and in vitro by regulating the Hippo/YAP pathway and promoting pSmad3L to pSmad3C synchronously.

Whole-transcriptome sequencing revealed differentially expressed mRNAs and non-coding RNAs played crucial roles in NiONPs-induced liver fibrosis

Nickel oxide nanoparticles (NiONPs) induced liver fibrosis, while its mechanisms associated with transcriptome remained unclear. This study aimed to investigate the roles of differentially expressed (DE) messenger RNAs (mRNAs) and non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) in NiONPs-induced liver fibrosis, and further confirm whether JNK/c-Jun pathway enriched by the DE RNAs was involved in the regulation of the disease. A liver fibrosis rat model was established by intratracheal perfusion of NiONPs twice a week for 9 weeks. Whole-transcriptome sequencing was applied to obtain expression profiles of mRNAs, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), microRNAs (miRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs) in the model rat and control liver tissues. Comparing the RNA expression profiles of the model and control liver tissues, we identified 324 DE mRNAs, 129 DE lncRNAs, 24 DE miRNAs and 33 DE circRNAs, and the potential interactions among them were revealed by constructing two co-expression networks, including lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA and circRNA-miRNA-mRNA networks. Using RT-qPCR, we verified the sequencing results of some RNAs in the networks and obtained similar expression profiles, indicating our sequencing results were reliable and referable. Through Gene Ontology (GO) annotation and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis, we predicted the biological functions and signaling pathways potentially related to NiONPs-induced liver fibrosis, such as "positive regulation of JNK cascade", "inflammatory response", "transcription factor binding", and MAPK, Wnt, PI3K-Akt signaling pathways. JNK/c-Jun pathway, a subclass of MAPK signal, was selected for further investigation because it was significantly enriched by fibrosis-related DE genes and activated in animal models. In vitro, we detected the cytotoxicity of NiONPs on LX-2 cells and treated the cells with 5 μg/ml NiONPs for 12 h. The results showed NiONPs induced the up-regulated protein expression of fibrotic factors collagen-1a1 (Col-1a1) and matrix metalloproteinas2 (MMP2) and JNK/c-Jun pathway activation. While these effects were reversed after JNK/c-Jun pathway was blocked by SP600125 (JNK pathway inhibitor), indicating the pathway was involved in NiONPs-induced excessive collagen formation. In conclusion, our results revealed the DE mRNAs and ncRNAs played crucial roles in NiONPs-induced liver fibrosis, and JNK/c-Jun pathway mediated the development of the disease.

Salvianolic acid B suppresses hepatic stellate cell activation and liver fibrosis by inhibiting the NF-κB signaling pathway via miR-6499-3p/LncRNA-ROR

BACKGROUND

Long non-coding RNA (LncRNAs) have been reported to play an important role in liver fibrosis and are closely associated with hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation. We previously found that salvianolic acid B (Sal B) improves liver fibrosis by regulating the NF-κB signaling pathway. However, whether the LncRNA, regulator of reprogramming (LncRNA-ROR) plays a role in Sal B-mediated anti-fibrosis effects via the NF-κB signaling pathway remain unclear.

PURPOSE

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of Sal B on HSC activation and liver fibrosis and investigate its mechanism from the perspective of LncRNA-ROR-mediated NF-κB signaling pathways.

METHODS

LX-2 and T6 cell lines were cultured. Animal models of liver fibrosis were established using CCl4 in male BALB/c mice. Primary HSCs were isolated from mice and cultured. Serum biochemical and liver histological analyses were performed to evaluate the effects of Sal B on liver fibrosis. The index of HSC activation and the expression of LncRNA-ROR, microRNAs (miRNAs), and inflammatory factors were determined by quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) or immunofluorescence staining. Cell proliferation was measured by a Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8). NF-κB signaling-associated protein levels were assessed using western blotting or immunofluorescence staining. A luciferase reporter assay was used to detect transcription activity.

RESULTS

In this study, a lower level of LncRNA-ROR was found during Sal B attenuating HSC activation in HSCs. Mechanistically, Sal B impeded the NF-κB signaling pathway to inhibit HSC proliferation and activation by downregulating LncRNA-ROR. Additionally, Sal B upregulated miR-6499-3p to target LncRNA-ROR for degradation. Functionally, Sal B treatment ameliorated CCl4-induced liver fibrosis in mice by inhibiting HSC activation.

CONCLUSION

Sal B suppresses HSC activation and liver fibrosis via regulation of miR-6499-3p/LncRNA-ROR-mediated NF-κB signaling pathway. These results reveal a new molecular mechanism of Sal B on liver fibrosis from the insight of LncRNAs.

Salvia miltiorrhiza in thorax and abdomainal organ fibrosis: A review of its pharmacology

Organ fibrosis is a common pathological change that finally results in organ failure, which involves the destruction of parenchyma cells, the activation of mesenchymal cells and the imbalance of immunological cells. In recent years, although some breakthroughs have been made in understanding the pathogenesis and therapeutics of organ fibrosis, no registered drugs could directly target the fibrotic process, which constitutes a major biomedical challenge. Salvia miltiorrhiza (SM) is a well-known medicinal plant in China, which has been widely applied because of its pharmacological effects on anti-oxidative, anti-myocardial infarction, anti-fibrotic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-neoplastic properties. Accumulated evidence suggested that SM played critical roles against organ fibrosis in vivo and in vitro experiments by its multiple biological compounds. In this review, we discussed the recent advances on the phytochemistry and pharmacological mechanisms of SM and its active ingredients in liver, lung, kidney, and heart fibrosis, which might help to promote the treatment of fibrotic diseases in thorax and abdomainal viscera in clinic.

Nano-delivery of salvianolic acid B induces the quiescence of tumor-associated fibroblasts via interfering with TGF-β1/Smad signaling to facilitate chemo- and immunotherapy in desmoplastic tumor

As the key stromal cells that mediate the desmoplastic reaction, tumor-associated fibroblasts (TAFs) play a critical role in the limited nanoparticle penetration and suppressive immune tumor microenvironment. Herein, we found that salvianolic acid B-loaded PEGylated liposomes (PEG-SAB-Lip) can interfere with the activation of TAFs by inhibiting the secretion of TGF-β1. After inhibiting the activation of TAFs, collagen deposition in tumors was reduced, and the penetration of nanoparticles in tumors was enhanced. The results of RT-qPCR and immunofluorescence staining showed the high expression of Th1 cytokines and chemokines (CXCL9 and CXCL10) and the recruitment of CD4⁺, CD8⁺ T cells, and M1 macrophages in the tumor area. At the same time, the low expression of Th2 cytokine and chemokine CXCL13, as well as the decrease of MDSCs, Tregs, and M2 macrophages were also observed in the tumor area. These results were related to the inactivation of TAFs. The combined treatment of PEG-SAB-Lip and docetaxel-loaded PEG-modified liposomes (PEG-DTX-Lip) can significantly inhibit tumor growth. Moreover, PEG-SAB-Lip further inhibited tumor metastasis to the lung. Therefore, our results showed that PEG-SAB-Lip can remodel the tumor microenvironment and improve the efficacy of nanoparticles.

Limonin relieves TGF-β-induced hepatocyte EMT and hepatic stellate cell activation in vitro and CCl4-induced liver fibrosis in mice via upregulating Smad7 and subsequent suppression of TGF-β/Smad cascade

Liver fibrosis is a pathological process as a result of intrahepatic deposition of excessive extracellular matrix. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of hepatocytes and activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) both play important roles in the etiology of liver fibrosis. Here, we found that limonin repressed transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β)-induced EMT in AML-12 hepatocytes and activation of LX-2 HSCs. In both kinds of cells, limonin suppressed TGF-β-provoked Smad2/3 C-terminal phosphorylation and subsequent nuclear translocation. Transcription of Smad2/3-downstream genes was in turn reduced. However, limonin exerted few effects on Smad2/3 phosphorylation at linker region. Mechanistically, limonin increased Smad7 at mRNA level in both AML-12 and LX-2 cells. Knockdown of Smad7 abrogated inhibitory effects of limonin on TGF-β-induced EMT in AML-12 cells and activation of LX-2 cells. Further studies revealed that limonin alleviated mouse liver fibrosis induced by CCl₄. In livers of model mice, limonin upregulated Smad7 and declined C-terminal phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of Smad2/3. Transcription of Smad2/3-responsive genes was also attenuated. Our findings indicated that limonin inhibits TGF-β-induced EMT of hepatocytes and activation of HSCs in vitro and CCl₄-induced liver fibrosis in mice. Upregulated Smad7 which suppresses Smad2/3-dependent gene transcription is implicated in the hepatoprotective activity of limonin.

Astragaloside IV suppresses migration and invasion of TGF-β1-induced human hepatoma HuH-7 cells by regulating Nrf2/HO-1 and TGF-β1/Smad3 pathways

Astragaloside IV (AS-IV), one of the major compounds extract from Astragalus membranaceus, has shown attractive anti-cancer effects in certain malignancies. Oxidative stress (OS) is considered as a crucial factor in promoting the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In response to OS, nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) upregulates and induces heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) to combat oxidative damages. The phosphorylation of the COOH-terminal of Smad3 (pSmad3C) activates p21 to resist HCC progression, while the phosphorylation of the linker region of Smad3 (pSmad3L) up-regulates c-Myc transcription to exert promoting effect towards HCC. This study aimed to explore whether AS-IV suppresses migration and invasion of human hepatoma HuH-7 cells by regulating Nrf2/HO-1 and TGF-β₁/Smad3 pathways. HuH-7 cells were induced with TGF-β₁ (9 or 40 pM) to establish HCC model in vitro and pretreated with AS-IV at different concentration (5, 10, and 20 μM) for 24 h. Cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) of HuH-7 cells were measured. The expression of Nrf2, pSmad3C, Nrf2/pNrf2, HO-1, pSmad3C/3L, c-Myc, and p21 were detected. Exposure of HuH-7 cells to TGF-β₁ enhanced the cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and ROS production. Pretreatment with AS-IV (5, 10, and 20 μM) significantly reduced the cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and ROS production in HuH-7 cells. Furthermore, AS-IV increased the expressions of Nrf2/pNrf2, HO-1, pSmad3C, and p21, meanwhile reduced the expressions of pSmad3L and c-Myc. In conclusion, our study suggested that AS-IV inhibit HuH-7 cells migration and invasion, which related to activate Nrf2/HO-1 pathway, up-regulation pSmad3C/p21 pathway, and down-regulation pSmad3L/c-Myc pathway. The present research supports the notion that AS-IV may be a latent agent for the treatment of HCC.

Salvianolic acid B acts against non‑small cell lung cancer A549 cells via inactivation of the MAPK and Smad2/3 signaling pathways

Salvianolic acid B (Sal B) is a potential cytotoxic polyphenol against cancer. In the present study the effect of Sal B and its molecular mechanism were investigated in the non‑small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) A549 cell line. The TGF‑β/MAPK/Smad signaling axis was explored. A549 cells were co‑cultured with and without different concentrations of Sal B (25, 50 and 100 µM respectively) and TGF‑β1 (9 pM) for 24 h. Cell epithelial‑mesenchymal transition (EMT), cell migration, cell cycle distribution, autophagy and apoptosis were assessed by western blotting (WB), wound healing assay and flow cytometry, respectively. Moreover, activation of MAPK, Smad2/3 and the downstream target, plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI‑1), were assessed by WB. The results demonstrated that Sal B inhibited TGF‑β1‑induced EMT and migration of A549 cells, hampered cell cycle progression and induced cell autophagy and apoptosis. Furthermore, Sal B inactivated MAPK signaling pathways and the phosphorylation of Smad2/3, especially the phosphorylation of Smad3 at the linker region, which resulted in decreased protein expression levels of PAI‑1 in TGF‑β1‑stimulated A549 cells. Overall, these results demonstrated that Sal B may have a potential therapeutic effect against NSCLC in vitro. The results of the present study indicated that the underlying active mechanism of Sal B in NSCLC may be closely related to the impeded activation of the MAPK and Smad2/3 signaling pathways. Therefore, Sal B may be a potential candidate NSCLC therapeutic agent.

Salvianolic acid B attenuates the inflammatory response in atherosclerosis by regulating MAPKs/ NF-κB signaling pathways in LDLR-/- mice and RAW264.7 cells

Objectives: Salvianolic acid B (Sal B) is the main effective water-soluble component of Salvia miltiorrhiza. In this study, the anti-inflammatory effect of Sal B was explored in high-fat-diet (HFD)-induced LDLR-/- mice and oxidized low-density-lipoprotein (ox-LDL)-induced or lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW264.7 cells. Methods: The LDLR-/- mice were randomly divided into four groups after 12 weeks of high-fat diet. Then, the mice were administrated with 0.9% saline or Sal B (25 mg/kg) or Atorvastatin (1.3 mg/kg) for 12 weeks. RAW 264.7 cells were induced with ox-LDL/LPS, or ox-LDL/LPS plus different concentrations of Sal B (1.25 μg/mL, 2.5 μg/mL, 5 μg/mL), or ox-LDL plus Sal B plus MAPKs activators. ELISA was used for detecting serum lipid profiles and inflammatory cytokines, RT-qPCR used for gene expression, Oil Red O used for plaque sizes, and immunofluorescence staining used for NF-κB p65 and TNF-α production. Inflammation-related proteins and MAPKs pathways were detected by Western Blot. Results: The results showed that Sal B decreased the levels of serum lipids (TC, TG, and LDL-C), attenuated inflammatory cytokines, and improved lipid accumulation in the aorta. Sal B also attenuated the elevation of inflammatory cytokines induced by ox-LDL or LPS in RAW264.7 cells, and the phosphorylation of MAPKs/NF-κB pathways in the aorta and RAW264.7 cells, resulting in a significant decrease in the contents of p-JNK, p-ERK 1/2, p-P38, p-IκB, and p-NF-κB p65. Conclusions: Sal B could exert anti-inflammatory effects on atherosclerosis via MAPKs/NF-κB signaling pathways in vivo and in vitro.

WITHDRAWN: The Role of the Vascular Niche in Organ Fibrosis and COVID-19-Related Organ Damage and the Countermeasures adopted by Chinese and Western Medicine

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De novo Biosynthesis of Salvianolic Acid B in Saccharomyces cerevisiae Engineered with the Rosmarinic Acid Biosynthetic Pathway

Salvianolic acid B (SAB), also named lithospermic acid B, belongs to a class of water-soluble phenolic acids, originating from plants such as Salvia miltiorrhiza. SAB exhibits a variety of biological activities and has been clinically used to treat cardio- and cerebrovascular diseases and also has great potential as a health care product and medicine for other disorders. However, its biosynthetic pathway has not been completely elucidated. Here, we report the de novo biosynthesis of SAB in Saccharomyces cerevisiae engineered with the heterologous rosmarinic acid (RA) biosynthetic pathway. The created pathway contains seven genes divided into three modules on separate plasmids, pRS424-FjTAL-Sm4CL2, pRS425-SmTAT-SmHPPR or pRS425-SmTAT-CbHPPR, and pRS426-SmRAS-CbCYP-CbCPR. These three modules were cotransformed into S. cerevisiae, resulting in the recombinant strains YW-44 and YW-45. Incubation of the recombinant strains in a basic medium without supplementing any substrates yielded 34 and 30 μg/L of SAB. The findings in this study indicate that the created heterologous RA pathway cooperates with the native metabolism of S. cerevisiae to enable the de novo biosynthesis of SAB. This provides a novel insight into a biosynthesis mechanism of SAB and also lays the foundation for the production of SAB using microbial cell factories.

Effects of novel Fufang Biejia Ruangan Tablets with sheep placenta as substitute for hominis placenta on CCl4-induced liver fibrosis

Objective

Fufang Biejia Ruangan Tablet (FBRT) is widely used for the treatment of liver fibrosis. However, Hominis Placenta (HP), as an important adjuvant of FBRT, has been restricted for medicinal using due to the limited availability, ethical controversy and safety issues. The present study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effects of novel FBRT (N-FBRT) with sheep placenta (SP) as substitute for HP on liver fibrosis and explore its possible mechanisms. Different dosages of SP in N-FBRT were also evaluated.

Methods

Rats were subcutaneously injected with CCl₄ to induce liver fibrosis and then treated with N-FBRT and FBRT. The anti-hepatic fibrosis effect was determined based on biomarkers analysis of liver function and hepatic fibrosis, and the liver pathology was visualized by H&E staining and Masson staining. The oxidative stress and inflammatory cytokines were also detected. Immunohistochemical staining of α-SMA, real time PCR and Western blotting were performed to evaluate hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) activation and TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway.

Results

N-FBRT and FBRT could ameliorate CCl₄-induced liver fibrosis and improve liver function, as evidenced by lowering serum biomarkers levels of liver function and hepatic fibrosis, and decreasing hepatic Hyp content and collagen deposition, and improving the hepatic morphology and architecture changes. Moreover, the anti-liver fibrosis effect was better when the dosage of SP used in N-FBRT was 1/2 of HP in FBRT. Administration of N-FBRT markedly alleviated oxidative stress and inflammatory cytokines, and inhibited α-SMA expression. Furthermore, the mRNA expression of Col I, Col III, α-SMA and TGF-β1, and proteins expression of α-SMA, TGF-β1, Smad2/3 and p-Smad2/3 were significantly down-regulated by N-FBRT treatment.

Conclusion

SP can be used as substitute for HP to prepare N-FBRT for the treatment of liver fibrosis and the anti-liver fibrosis effect of N-FBRT is achieved by eliminating oxidative stress and inflammation, and inhibiting HSCs activation and ECM production by blocking TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway.

The Potential Application of Chinese Medicine in Liver Diseases: A New Opportunity

Liver diseases have been a common challenge for people all over the world, which threatens the quality of life and safety of hundreds of millions of patients. China is a major country with liver diseases. Metabolic associated fatty liver disease, hepatitis B virus and alcoholic liver disease are the three most common liver diseases in our country, and the number of patients with liver cancer is increasing. Therefore, finding effective drugs to treat liver disease has become an urgent task. Chinese medicine (CM) has the advantages of low cost, high safety, and various biological activities, which is an important factor for the prevention and treatment of liver diseases. This review systematically summarizes the potential of CM in the treatment of liver diseases, showing that CM can alleviate liver diseases by regulating lipid metabolism, bile acid metabolism, immune function, and gut microbiota, as well as exerting anti-liver injury, anti-oxidation, and anti-hepatitis virus effects. Among them, Keap1/Nrf2, TGF-β/SMADS, p38 MAPK, NF-κB/IκBα, NF-κB-NLRP3, PI3K/Akt, TLR4-MyD88-NF-κB and IL-6/STAT3 signaling pathways are mainly involved. In conclusion, CM is very likely to be a potential candidate for liver disease treatment based on modern phytochemistry, pharmacology, and genomeproteomics, which needs more clinical trials to further clarify its importance in the treatment of liver diseases.

Salvianolic acid B blocks hepatic stellate cell activation via FGF19/FGFR4 signaling

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES

The activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) is the main cause of liver fibrosis. The beneficial effects of fibroblast growth factor (FGF) 19 on liver fibrosis were recently reported. The S. miltiorrhiza as well as S. miltiorrhiza derived bioactive chemical components has shown prominent antifibrotic effects in liver fibrosis but the mechanism is still not fully understood. We aimed to investigate the bioactive compounds derived from S. miltiorrhiza which exerts antifibrotic effects in HSCs via regulating FGF19.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

FGF19 level in culture media was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Cell proliferation was measured by Cell Counting Kit-8 assay. Further, mRNA and protein expressions were assessed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blotting, respectively. Knocking down of FGF receptor 4 (FGFR4) by transfection with siRNA was used to confirm the role of FGF19/FGFR4 signaling.

RESULTS

Using the human HSC cell line LX-2, we screened several natural products and found that bioactive compounds isolated from Salvia miltiorrhiza, particularly salvianolic acid B, strongly upregulated FGF19 secretion by LX-2 cells. We further showed that salvianolic acid B inhibited lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced HSC proliferation and activation. LPS treatment may also reduce the mRNA and protein levels of FGF19 and its receptor FGFR4. Salvianolic acid B treatment restored the impaired expressions of FGF19 and FGFR4. Finally, FGFR4 knockdown abolished the antifibrotic effects of salvianolic acid B in the LPS-induced HSC activation model.

CONCLUSIONS

Salvianolic acid B prevented LPS-induced HSC proliferation and activation by enhancing antifibrotic FGF19/FGFR4 signaling.

Astragaloside IV inhibits hepatocellular carcinoma by continually suppressing the development of fibrosis and regulating pSmad3C/3L and Nrf2/HO-1 pathways

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Astragalus is a medicinal herb used in China for the prevention and treatment of diseases such as diabetes and cancer. As one of the main active ingredients of astragalus, Astragaloside IV (AS-IV) has a wide range of pharmacological effects, including anti-inflammation and anti-cancer effects.

AIM OF THE STUDY

Different phosphorylated forms of Smad3 differentially regulate the progression of hepatic carcinoma. The phosphorylation of the COOH-terminal of Smad3 (pSmad3C) and activation of the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway inhibits hepatic carcinoma, while phosphorylation of the linker region of Smad3 (pSmad3L) promotes progression. Thus, pSmad3C/3L and Nrf2/HO-1 pathways are potential targets for drug of anti-cancer development. AS-IV is anti-apoptotic and can inhibit hepatocellular carcinoma cell (HCC) proliferation, invasion, and tumor growth in nude mice. However, it is not clear whether AS-IV has a therapeutic effect on inhibiting the progression of primary liver cancer by regulating the pSmad3C/3L and Nrf2/HO-1 pathway. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether AS-IV inhibits hepatocellular carcinoma by regulating pSmad3C/3L and Nrf2/HO-1 pathway.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

primary liver cancer in mice induced by DEN/CCl₄/C₂H₅OH (DCC) and HSC-T6/HepG2 cell models activated by TGF-β₁ was investigated for the mechanisms of AS-IV. In vivo assays included liver biopsy, histopathology and post-mortem analysis included immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescent, and Western blotting analysis, and in vitro assays included immunofluorescent, and Western blotting analysis.

RESULTS

AS-IV significantly inhibited the development of primary liver cancer, reflecting improved liver biopsy, histopathology. The incidence and multiplicity of primary liver cancer were markedly decreased by AS-IV treatment at the 20th week. AS-IV had observable effects on the TGF-β₁/Smad and Nrf2/HO-1 expression in vivo, especially up-regulated pSmad3C, pNrf2, HO-1, and NQO1, while it down-regulated pSmad2C, pSmad2L, pSmad3L, PAI-1, and α-SMA at the 12th week and the 20th week. Furthermore, in vitro analysis further confirmed that AS-IV regulated the expression of pSmad3C/3L and Nrf2/HO-1 pathway in HSC-T6 and HepG2 cells activated by TGF-β₁.

CONCLUSION

AS-IV administration delays the occurrence of primary liver cancer by continually suppressing the development of fibrosis, the mechanism of the therapeutic effect involving the regulation of the pSmad3C/3L and Nrf2/HO-1 pathways, especially in regulation reversibility and antagonism of pSmad3C and pSmad3L and promoting the phosphorylation of Nrf2.

A New Strategy to Investigate the Efficacy Markers Underlying the Medicinal Potentials of Orthosiphon stamineus Benth

Orthosiphon stamineus Benth. (OSB) is a well-known herbal medicine exerting various pharmacological effects and medicinal potentials. Owing to its complex of phytochemical constituents, as well as the ambiguous relationship between phytochemical constituents and varied bioactivities, it is a great challenge to explore which constituents make a core contribution to the efficacy of OSB, making it difficult to determine the efficacy makers underlying the varied efficacies of OSB. In our work, a new strategy was exploited and applied for investigating efficacy markers of OSB consisting of phytochemical analysis, in vivo absorption analysis, bioactive compound screening, and bioactive compound quantification. Using liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry, a total of 34 phytochemical components were detected in the OSB extract. Subsequently, based on in vivo absorption analysis, 14 phytochemical constituents in the form of prototypes were retained as potential bioactive compounds. Ten diseases were selected as the potential indications of OSB based on previous reports, and then the overall interaction between compounds, action targets, action pathways, and diseases was revealed based on bioinformatic analysis. After refining key pathways and targets, the interaction reversing from pathways, targets to constituents was deduced, and the core constituents, including tanshinone IIA, sinensetin, salvianolic acid B, rosmarinic acid, and salvigenin, were screened out as the efficacy markers of OSB. Finally, the contents of these five constituents were quantified in three different batches of OSB extracts. Among them, the content of salvianolic acid B was the highest while the content of tanshinone IIA was the lowest. Our work could provide a promising direction for future research on the quality control and pharmacological mechanism of OSB.

QiShenYiQi ameliorates salt-induced hypertensive nephropathy by balancing ADRA1D and SIK1 expression in Dahl salt-sensitive rats

BACKGROUND

Hypertension is a leading risk factor for developing kidney disease. Current single-target antihypertensive drugs are not effective for hypertensive nephropathy, in part due to its less understood mechanism of pathogenesis. We recently showed that QiShenYiQi (QSYQ), a component-based cardiovascular Chinese medicine, is also effective for ischemic stroke. Given the important role of the brain-heart-kidney axis in blood pressure control, we hypothesized that QSYQ may contribute to blood pressure regulation and kidney protection in Dahl salt-sensitive hypertensive rats.

METHODS

The therapeutic effects of QSYQ on blood pressure and kidney injury in Dahl salt-sensitive rats fed with high salt for 9 weeks were evaluated by tail-cuff blood pressure monitoring, renal histopathological examination and biochemical indicators in urine and serum. RNA-seq was conducted to identify QSYQ regulated genes in hypertensive kidney, and RT-qPCR, immunohistochemistry, and Western blotting analysis were performed to verify the transcriptomics results and validate the purposed mechanisms.

RESULTS

QSYQ treatment significantly decreased blood pressure in Dahl salt-sensitive hypertensive rats, alleviated renal tissue damage, reduced renal interstitial fibrosis and collagen deposition, and improved renal physiological function. RNA-seq and subsequent bioinformatic analysis showed that the expression of ADRA1D and SIK1 genes were among the most prominently altered by QSYQ in salt-sensitive hypertensive rat kidney. RT-qPCR, immunohistochemistry and Western blotting results confirmed that the mRNA and protein expression levels of alpha-1D adrenergic receptor (ADRA1D) in the kidney tissue of the QSYQ-treated rats were markedly down-regulated, while the mRNA and protein levels of salt inducible kinase 1 (SIK1) were significantly increased.

CONCLUSION

QSYQ not only lowered blood pressure, but also alleviated renal damage via reducing the expression of ADRA1D and increasing the expression of SIK1 in the kidney of Dahl salt-sensitive hypertensive rats.

Salvianolic acid B inhalation solution enhances antifibrotic and anticoagulant effects in a rat model of pulmonary fibrosis

The purpose of this study was to investigate the antifibrotic effect and anticoagulant ability of salvianolic acid B (SAB) inhalation solution on bleomycin (BLM)-induced idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) in rats. We investigated how the osmotic pressure and concentration of SAB in an aerosol exerted effects. We also determined the aerodynamic particle size distribution and the uniformity of the delivery dose; these parameters were found to be suitable for inhalation. Compared with BLM group, the levels of hydroxyproline (HYP), collagen-1 (Col-1), tissue factor (TF) / coagulation factor VII (TF-VIIa), activated coagulation factor X (FXa), thrombin-antithrombin complex (TAT), fibrinogen degradation product (FDP) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) decreased in SAB group. The increased expression of coagulation factor Ⅱ (FⅡ), coagulation factor X (FX), tissue type plasminogen activator (t-PA) and urokinase type plasminogen activator (u-PA) proved that SAB has obvious antifibrotic and anticoagulant effects. Western blotting and immunofluorescence further showed that compared with the BLM group, the SAB group of rats exhibited significant reductions in the expression levels of protease-activated receptors-1 (PAR-1) and phospho-protein kinase C (p-PKC) and increased expression levels of protein kinase C (PKC) in lung tissue. Furthermore, SAB reduced the infiltration of lymphocytes and neutrophils, protected the basic structure of the lung from destruction, inhibited the proliferation of fibrous tissue. Collectively, our data revealed that SAB may exert its antifibrotic and anticoagulant effects by preventing the expression of PAR-1 and phosphorylation of PKC.

Anti-Fibrosis Effects of Magnesium Lithospermate B in Experimental Pulmonary Fibrosis: By Inhibiting TGF-βRI/Smad Signaling

Pulmonary fibrosis is a severe and irreversible interstitial pulmonary disease with high mortality and few treatments. Magnesium lithospermate B (MLB) is a hydrosoluble component of Salvia miltiorrhiza and has been reported to have antifibrotic effects in other forms of tissue fibrosis. In this research, we studied the effects of MLB on pulmonary fibrosis and the underlying mechanisms. Our results indicated that MLB treatment (50 mg/kg) for seven days could attenuate bleomycin (BLM)-induced pulmonary fibrosis by reducing the alveolar structure disruption and collagen deposition in the C57 mouse model. MLB was also found to inhibit transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β)-stimulated myofibroblastic transdifferentiation of human lung fibroblast cell line (MRC-5) cells and collagen production by human type II alveolar epithelial cell line (A549) cells, mainly by decreasing the expression of TGF-β receptor I (TGF-βRI) and regulating the TGF-β/Smad pathway. Further studies confirmed that the molecular mechanisms of MLB in BLM-induced pulmonary fibrosis mice were similar to those observed in vitro. In summary, our results demonstrated that MLB could alleviate experimental pulmonary fibrosis both in vivo and in vitro, suggesting that MLB has great potential for pulmonary fibrosis treatment.

A Comprehensive Review of Natural Products against Liver Fibrosis: Flavonoids, Quinones, Lignans, Phenols, and Acids

Liver fibrosis resulting from continuous long-term hepatic damage represents a heavy burden worldwide. Liver fibrosis is recognized as a complicated pathogenic mechanism with extracellular matrix (ECM) accumulation and hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation. A series of drugs demonstrate significant antifibrotic activity in vitro and in vivo. No specific agents with ideally clinical efficacy for liver fibrosis treatment have been developed. In this review, we summarized the antifibrotic effects and molecular mechanisms of 29 kinds of common natural products. The mechanism of these compounds is correlated with anti-inflammatory, antiapoptotic, and antifibrotic activities. Moreover, parenchymal hepatic cell survival, HSC deactivation, and ECM degradation by interfering with multiple targets and signaling pathways are also involved in the antifibrotic effects of these compounds. However, there remain two bottlenecks for clinical breakthroughs. The low bioavailability of natural products should be improved, and the combined application of two or more compounds should be investigated for more prominent pharmacological effects. In summary, exploration on natural products against liver fibrosis is becoming increasingly extensive. Therefore, natural products are potential resources for the development of agents to treat liver fibrosis.

Vildagliptin, a DPP-4 inhibitor, attenuates carbon tetrachloride-induced liver fibrosis by targeting ERK1/2, p38α, and NF-κB signaling

Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and nuclear factor (NF)-ĸB signaling have been recognized for their causal connection with liver fibrosis. Hence, it is encouraging to discover drugs that can modify the interactions between these signaling cascades. It has been suggested that glucagon-like peptide-1 receptors (GLP-1Rs) might have a role in the observed hepatoprotection of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors other than vildagliptin (VLD). Consequently, we aimed to elucidate the mechanisms underlying its potential antifibrotic activity in a CCl₄-intoxicated mouse model. VLD increased the percentage of viable CCl₄-intoxicated primary rat hepatocytes in vitro. It also attenuated hepatic fibrosis, improved liver function, and prolonged survival of CCl₄-intoxicated mice in a dose-dependent manner. This hepatoprotection might be mediated mainly through interference with extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase 1/2 phosphorylation, the most downstream signal of the MAPK pathway. In addition, VLD hepatoprotective activity could be partially mediated through inhibition of p38α phosphorylation and phosphorylation-induced NF-ĸB activation. As a result, VLD downregulated profibrogenic mediators, such as tumor necrosis factor α, transforming growth factor β, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 and platelet-derived growth factor BB. Consequently, decreased expression levels of fibrosis markers, such as hydroxyproline and α smooth muscle actin, were confirmed. VLD showed a strong trend toward increasing the antioxidant defense machinery of fibrotic tissue, and we confirmed that GLP-1Rs were not implicated in the observed hepatoprotection. Since VLD poses little risk of hypoglycemia and is a safe drug for patients with liver injury, it may be a hopeful candidate for adjuvant treatment of liver fibrosis in humans.

Activation of Nrf2/AREs-mediated antioxidant signalling, and suppression of profibrotic TGF-β1/Smad3 pathway: a promising therapeutic strategy for hepatic fibrosis - A review

Hepatic fibrosis (HF) is a wound-healing response that occurs during chronic liver injury and features by an excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) components. Activation of hepatic stellate cell (HSC), the leading effector in HF, is responsible for overproduction of ECM. It has been documented that transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) stimulates superfluous accumulation of ECM and triggers HSCs activation mainly via canonical Smad-dependent pathway. Also, the pro-fibrogenic TGF-β1 is correlated with generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and inhibition of antioxidant mechanisms. Moreover, involvement of oxidative stress (OS) can be clearly elucidated as a fundamental event in liver fibrogenesis. Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2-antioxidant response elements (Nrf2-AREs) pathway, a group of OS-mediated transcription factors with diverse downstream targets, is associated with the induction of diverse detoxifying enzymes and the most pivotal endogenous antioxidative system. More specifically, Nrf2-AREs pathway has recently assigned as a new therapeutic target for cure of HF. The overall goal of this review will focus on recent findings about activation of Nrf2-AREs-mediated antioxidant and suppression of profibrotic TGF-β1/Smad3 pathway in the liver, providing an overview of recent advances in transcriptional repressors that dislocated during HF formation, and highlighting possible novel therapeutic targets for liver fibrosis.

Targeting Hepatic Stellate Cells for the Treatment of Liver Fibrosis by Natural Products: Is It the Dawning of a New Era?

Liver fibrosis is a progressive liver damage condition that is worth studying widely. It is important to target and alleviate the disease at an early stage before turning into later cirrhosis or liver cancer. There are currently no direct medicines targeting the attenuation or reversal of liver fibrosis, and so there is an urgent need to look into this area. Traditional Chinese Medicine has a long history in using herbal medicines to treat liver diseases including fibrosis. It is time to integrate the ancient wisdom with modern science and technology to look for the best solution to the disease. In this review, the principal concept of the pathology of liver fibrosis will be described, and then some of the single compounds isolated from herbal medicines, including salvianolic acids, oxymatrine, curcumin, tetrandrine, etc. will be discussed from their effects to the molecular mechanism behind. Molecular targets of the compounds are analyzed by network pharmacology approach, and TGFβ/SMAD was identified as the most common pathway. This review serves to summarize the current findings of herbal medicines combining with modern medicines in the area of fibrosis. It hopefully provides insights in further pharmaceutical research directions.