Imatinib mitigates experimentally-induced ulcerative colitis: Possible contribution of NF-kB/JAK2/STAT3/COX2 signaling pathway

Integrated network pharmacology and experimental validation-based approach to reveal the underlying mechanisms and key material basis of Jinhua Qinggan granules against acute lung injury

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Jinhua Qinggan granules (JHQG), the traditional Chinese formula come into the market in 2016, has been proved clinically effective against coronavirus disease. Acute lung injury (ALI) is a major complication of respiratory infection such as coronavirus and influenza virus, with a high clinical fatality rate. Macrophage activation-induced inflammatory response plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of ALI. However, the participation of inflammatory response in the efficacy of JHQG and its material basis against ALI is still unknown.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The research aims to investigate the inflammatory response-involved efficacy of JHQG on ALI, explore the "ingredient-target-pathway" mechanisms, and searching for key material basis of JHQG by integrated network pharmacology and experimental validation-based approach.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced ALI mice was established to assess the protective impact of JHQG. Network pharmacology was utilized to identify potential targets of JHQG and investigate its action mechanisms related to inflammatory response in treating ALI. The therapeutic effect and mechanism of the primary active ingredient in JHQG was verified through high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and a combination of wet experiments.

RESULTS

JHQG remarkably alleviated lung damage in mice model via suppressing macrophage activation, and inhibiting pro-inflammatory mediator level, p-ERK and p-STAT3 expression, TLR4/NF-κB activation. Network pharmacology combined with HPLC found luteolin is the main effective component of JHQG, and it could interact with TLR4/MD2 complex, further exerting the anti-inflammatory property and the protective role against ALI.

CONCLUSIONS

In summary, our finding clarified the underlying mechanisms and material basis of JHQG therapy for ALI by integrated network pharmacology and experimental validation-based strategy.

Tracking the therapeutic efficacy of a ketone mono ester and β-hydroxybutyrate for ulcerative colitis in rats: New perspectives

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an inflammatory condition that affects the colon's lining and increases the risk of colon cancer. Despite ongoing research, there is no identified cure for UC. The recognition of NLRP3 inflammasome activation in the pathogenesis of UC has gained widespread acceptance. Notably, the ketone body β-hydroxybutyrate inhibits NLRP3 demonstrating its anti-inflammatory properties. Additionally, BD-AcAc 2 is ketone mono ester that increases β-hydroxybutyrate blood levels. It has the potential to address the constraints associated with exogenous β-hydroxybutyrate as a therapeutic agent, including issues related to stability and short duration of action. However, the effects of β-hydroxybutyrate and BD-AcAc 2 on colitis have not been fully investigated. This study found that while both exogenous β-hydroxybutyrate and BD-AcAc 2 produced the same levels of plasma β-hydroxybutyrate, BD-AcAc 2 demonstrated superior effectiveness in mitigating dextran sodium sulfate-induced UC in rats. The mechanism of action involves modulating the NF-κB signaling, inhibiting the NLRP3 inflammasome, regulating antioxidant capacity, controlling tight junction protein expression and a potential to inhibit apoptosis and pyroptosis. Certainly, BD-AcAc 2's anti-inflammatory effects require more than just increasing plasma β-hydroxybutyrate levels and other factors contribute to its efficacy. Local ketone concentrations in the gastrointestinal tract, as well as the combined effect of specific ketone bodies, are likely to have contributed to the stronger protective effect observed with ketone mono ester ingestion in our experiment. As a result, further investigations are necessary to fully understand the mechanisms of BD-AcAc 2 and optimize its use.

Network pharmacology mechanisms and experimental verification of licorice in the treatment of ulcerative colitis

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Licorice is widely used in the treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC) and has good antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, but its specific active ingredients and mechanisms of action are still unknown.

THE PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

To elucidate the specific molecular mechanisms of licorice in the treatment of UC and to experimentally verify its activity.

METHODS

Through network pharmacology, the active ingredients of licorice and the molecular targets of UC were identified. A traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)-components-target-disease network diagram was established, and the binding energies of the active ingredient and targets of licorice were verified by molecular docking. A BALB/c mice model of UC was established by treatment with 3% dextran sulfate sodium (DSS). The effect of licorice on colon tissue injury was histologically assessed. The expression of IL-6 and IL-17 in colon tissue was detected by immunohistochemistry (IHC). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to observe morphological changes in mitochondria in the colon. Caco2 cells were treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) for 24 h to establish the cell inflammatory damage model, and cells were exposed to different concentrations of drug-containing serum of Licorice (DCSL) for 24 h. In cells treated with the drug, the contents of oxidation markers were measured and ELISA was used to determine the levels of inflammatory factors in the cells. TEM was used to observe morphological changes in mitochondria. ZO-1 and occludin were detected by Western blotting. DCSL effects on autophagy were evaluated by treating cells with DCSL and autophagy inhibitor for 24 h after LPS injection. Small interfering ribonucleic acid (si-RNA) was used to silence Nrf2 gene expression in Caco2 cells to observe the effects of DCSL on autophagy through the Nrf2/PINK1 pathway. Nrf2, PINK1, HO-1, Parkin, P62, and LC3 were detected by Western blotting.

RESULTS

Ninety-one active ingredients and 339 action targets and 792 UC disease targets were identified, 99 of which were overlapping targets. Molecular docking was used to analyze the binding energies of liquiritin, liquiritigenin, glycyrrhizic acid, and glycyrrhetinic acid to the targets, with glycyrrhetinic acid having the strongest binding energy. In the UC mouse model, licorice improved colon histopathological changes, reduced levels of IL-6 and IL-17 and repaired mitochondrial damage. In the LPS-induced inflammation model of Caco2 cells, DCSL decreased MDA, IL-1β, Il-6, and TNF-α levels and increased those of Superoxide Dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX), and IL-10, and improved the morphological changes of mitochondria. Increased expression of Nrf2, PINK1, Parkin, HO-1, ZO-1, occludin, P62, and LC3 promoted autophagy and reduced inflammation levels.

CONCLUSION

Licorice improves UC, which may be related to the activation of the Nrf2/PINK1 signaling pathway that regulates autophagy.