Plantamajoside attenuates inflammatory response in LPS-stimulated human gingival fibroblasts by inhibiting PI3K/AKT signaling pathway

Heme oxygenase-1: potential therapeutic targets for periodontitis

Periodontitis is one of the most prevalent inflammatory disease worldwide, which affects 11% of the global population and is a major cause of tooth loss. Recently, oxidative stress (OS) has been found to be the pivital pathophysiological mechanism of periodontitis, and overactivated OS will lead to inflammation, apoptosis, pyroptosis and alveolar bone resorption. Interestingly, heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), a rate-limiting enzyme in heme degradation, can exert antioxidant activites through its products-carbon monoxide (CO), Fe2+, biliverdin and bilirubin in the inflammatory microenvironment, thus exhibiting anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, anti-pyroptosis and bone homeostasis-regulating properties. In this review, particular focus is given to the role of HO-1 in periodontitis, including the spatial-temporal expression in periodental tissues and pathophysiological mechanisms of HO-1 in periodontitis, as well as the current therapeutic applications of HO-1 targeted drugs for periodontitis. This review aims to elucidate the potential applications of various HO-1 targeted drug therapy in the management of periodontitis, investigate the influence of diverse functional groups on HO-1 and periodontitis, and pave the way for the development of a new generation of therapeutics that will benefit patients suffering from periodontitis.

Chloroplast genome of plantago major, a medicinal plant in China

Plantago major (Plantaginaceae) is a medicinal plant in Chinese folk culture, known for its famous medicinal components such as plantagomain. In this study, we conducted genome sequencing of P. major using Illumina sequencing technology. The assembled complete chloroplast genome had a length of 165,044 bp, comprising a large single-copy regions (82,963 bp), a small single-copy regions (4,633 bp), and a pair of inverted repeat regions (38,724 bp). A total of 140 genes were detected, including 94 CDS, 38 tRNA, and 8 rRNA. Phylogenetic analysis revealed a close genetic relationship between P. major and P. rigida. These findings provide valuable data for a comprehensive understanding of the biological characteristics of P. major.

A literature review of bioactive substances for the treatment of periodontitis: In vitro, in vivo and clinical studies

Periodontitis is a common chronic inflammatory disease of the supporting tissues of the tooth that involves a complex interaction of microorganisms and various cell lines around the infected site. To prevent and treat this disease, several options are available, such as scaling, root planning, antibiotic treatment, and dental surgeries, depending on the stage of the disease. However, these treatments can have various side effects, including additional inflammatory responses, chronic wounds, and the need for secondary surgery. Consequently, numerous studies have focused on developing new therapeutic agents for more effective periodontitis treatment. This review explores the latest trends in bioactive substances with therapeutic effects for periodontitis using various search engines. Therefore, this study aimed to suggest effective directions for therapeutic approaches. Additionally, we provide a summary of the current applications and underlying mechanisms of bioactive substances, which can serve as a reference for the development of periodontitis treatments.

Proposed mechanisms of action of herbal drugs and their biologically active constituents in the treatment of coughs: an overview

Various medicinal plants find their use in cough treatment, based on traditions and long-term experience. Pharmacological principles of their action, however, are much less known. Herbal drugs usually contain a mixture of potentially active compounds, which can manifest diverse effects. Expectorant or antitussive effects, which can be accompanied by others, such as anti-inflammatory or antibacterial, are probably the most important in the treatment of coughs. The aim of this review is to summarize the current state of knowledge of the effects of medicinal plants or their constituents on cough, based on reliable pharmacological studies. First, a comprehensive description of each effect is provided in order to explain the possible mechanism of action in detail. Next, the results related to individual plants and substances are summarized and critically discussed based on pharmacological in vivo and in vitro investigation.

Plantamajoside modulates immune dysregulation and hepatic lipid metabolism in rats with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease via AMPK/Nrf2 elevation

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a hepatic metabolic syndrome with a rapidly increasing prevalence globally. Plantamajoside (PMS), a phenylethanoid glycoside component extracted from Plantago asiatica, has various biological properties. However, its effect on NAFLD remains unknown. The study aimed to explore the effect and mechanism of PMS on NAFLD in the high-fat diet (HFD)-feeding rats. PMS induced a decrease in body and liver weight, and the amelioration in the blood lipid parameters and pathological symptoms in HFD-feeding rats. The increase in the serum concentrations and the relative protein expressions of proinflammatory factors was decreased by the PMS treatment in HFD-induced NAFLD rats. Additionally, PMS reduced the excessive lipid vacuoles, and modified the relative expressions of proteins involved in the fatty acid synthesis and uptake in HFD-feeding rats. Mechanically, the downregulation of AMPK/Nrf2 pathway in HFD-feeding rats was restored by the PMS treatment. Inhibition of AMPK pathway reversed the PMS-induced the increase in the level of inflammatory factors, pathological symptoms, excessive lipid vacuoles, and the relative expression of proteins involved in the fatty acid synthesis and uptake. Collectively, PMS ameliorated immune dysregulation and abnormal hepatic lipid metabolism by activating AMPK/Nrf2 pathway in rats with NAFLD.

Metabolites analysis of plantamajoside based on gut microbiota-drug interaction

BACKGROUND

Plantaginis Herba (Plantago asiatica L.) has the effects of clearing heat and diuresis, oozing wet and drenching. As the main active components of Plantaginis Herba (Plantago asiatica L.), plantamajoside have a wide range of antitumor activities but very low bioavailability. The process of interacting between plantamajoside and gut microbiota remains unclear.

PURPOSE

To illustrate the process of interacting between plantamajoside and gut microbiota based on high-resolution mass spectrometry and targeted metabolomics methods.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

This experiment was divided into two parts. First, metabolites produced from plantamajoside by gut microbiota were identified and quantified based on high-resolution mass spectrometry and LC-MS/MS. Additionally, stimulation of plantamajoside on gut microbiota-derived metabolites was determined by targeted metabolomics and gas chromatography.

RESULTS

We first found that plantamajoside was rapidly metabolized by gut microbiota. Then, we identified metabolites of plantamajoside by high-resolution mass spectrometry and speculated that plantamajoside was metabolized into five metabolites including calceolarioside A, dopaol glucoside, hydroxytyrosol, 3-(3-hydroxyphenyl) propionic acid (3-HPP) and caffeic acid. Among them, we quantitatively analyzed four possible metabolites based on LC‒MS/MS and found that hydroxytyrosol and 3-HPP were final products by the gut microbiota. In addition, we studied whether plantamajoside could affect the short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) and amino acid metabolites. We found that plantamajoside could inhibit the acetic acid, kynurenic acid (KYNA) and kynurenine (KN) produced by intestinal bacteria and promote the indole propionic acid (IPA) and indole formaldehyde (IALD) produced by intestinal bacteria.

CONCLUSION

An interaction between plantamajoside and gut microbiota was revealed in this study. Unlike the traditional metabolic system, the special metabolic characteristics of plantamajoside in gut microbiota was found. Plantamajoside was metabolized into the following active metabolites: calceolarioside A, dopaol glucoside, hydroxytyrosol, caffeic acid and 3-HPP. Besides, plantamajoside could affect SCFA and tryptophan metabolism by gut microbiota. Especially, the exogenous metabolites hydroxytyrosol, caffeic acid and endogenous metabolites IPA may have potential association with the antitumor activity of plantamajoside.

Role of Berberine Thermosensitive Hydrogel in Periodontitis via PI3K/AKT Pathway In Vitro

Periodontitis is a long-term inflammatory illness and a leading contributor to tooth loss in humans. Due to the influence of the anatomic parameters of teeth, such as root bifurcation lesions and the depth of the periodontal pocket, basic periodontal treatment on its own often does not completely obliterate flora microorganisms. As a consequence, topical medication has become a significant supplement in the treatment of chronic periodontitis. Berberine (BBR) has various pharmacological effects, such as hypoglycemic, antitumor, antiarrhythmic, anti-inflammatory, etc. The target of our project is to develop a safe and non-toxic carrier that can effectively release berberine, which can significantly reduce periodontal tissue inflammation, and to investigate whether berberine thermosensitive hydrogel can exert anti-inflammatory and osteogenic effects by modulating phosphatifylinositol-3-kinase/Protein Kinase B (PI3K/AKT) signaling pathway. Consequently, firstly berberine temperature-sensitive hydrogel was prepared, and its characterizations showed that the mixed solution gelated within 3 min under 37 °C with a hole diameter of 10-130 µm, and the accumulation of berberine release amounted to 89.99% at 21 days. CCK-8 and live-dead cell staining results indicated that this hydrogel was not biotoxic, and it is also presumed that the optimum concentration of berberine is 5 µM, which was selected for subsequent experiments. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blotting (WB)results demonstrated that inflammatory factors, as well as protein levels, were significantly reduced in the berberine-loaded hydrogel group, and LY294002 (PI3K inhibitor) could enhance this effect (p < 0.05). In the berberine-loaded hydrogel group, osteogenesis-related factor levels and protein profiles were visibly increased, along with an increase in alkaline phosphatase expression, which was inhibited by LY294002 (p < 0.05). Therefore, berberine thermosensitive hydrogel may be an effective treatment for periodontitis, and it may exert anti-inflammatory and osteogenic effects through the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

Plantamajoside Alleviates Substantia Nigra Damage in Parkinson's Disease Mice by Inhibiting HDAC2/MAPK Signaling and Reducing Microglia Polarization

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disorder caused by dopaminergic neuron progressive degeneration. Inhibition of microglial activation may contribute to the treatment and prevention of PD. Plantamajoside (PMS) is a natural compound extracted from plantain seeds. It has a wide range of biological activities, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, as well as antitumor effects. However, its possible effects on PD are still unclear. In this study, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was first injected into the right midbrain substantia nigra (SN) of male C57BL/6 mice to establish the PD mouse model. We found that PMS improved LPS-induced behavioral dysfunction in PD mice. PMS attenuated LPS-induced SN injury in PD mice. PMS could suppress LPS-induced microglial overactivation in PD mice. In addition, MS inhibited LPS-induced activation of the HDAC2/MAPK pathway in PD mice and BV-2 cells. It further revealed that PMS alleviated microglia polarization by inhibiting HDAC2. The limitation of this study was the lack of experiments for investigating the further molecular mechanism and in vivo animal validation, which needs to be further confirmed in the future. Collectively, our data suggested that PMS could serve as a promising drug for PD.

Plantamajoside suppresses the activation of NF-κB and MAPK and ameliorates the development of osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common degenerative bone and joint disorder characterized by progressive cartilage degeneration and secondary synovial inflammation. It is a common chronic joint disorder that affects people of all ages (especially the old). Plantamajoside is a phenylpropanoside derived from plantain. It has a variety of biological properties, including antioxidant, anti-malignant cell proliferation, and anti-inflammatory properties. In this study, the latent mechanism of plantamajoside was explored by slowing the in-vivo and in-vitro progression of osteoarthritis. The results revealed that plantamajoside pre-conditioning inhibited IL-1β induced pro-inflammatory factors like COX-2, iNOS, IL-6, and TNF-α. Moreover, plantamajoside also reversed the IL-1 β mediated type II collagen and aggrecan degradation within the extracellular matrix (ECM). The protective effects of plantamajoside have been attributed to the inhibition of both MAPK and NF-κB pathways. Furthermore, our in-vivo research found that plantamajoside could slow the progression of OA in mice. Finally, all findings point to plantamajoside as a potential anti-OA therapeutic candidate.

Phytochemicals, Biological Activities, Molecular Mechanisms, and Future Prospects of Plantago asiatica L

Plantago asiatica L. has been used as a vegetable and nutritious food in Asia for thousands of years. According to recent phytochemical and pharmacological research, the active compositions of the plant contribute to various health benefits, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, and anticancer. This article reviews the 87 components of the plant and their structures, as well as their biological activities and molecular research progress, in detail. This review provides valuable reference material for further study, production, and application of P. asiatica, as well as its components in functional foods and therapeutic agents.

Stimulation phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B signaling by Porphyromonas gingivalis lipopolysacch aride mediates interleukin-6 and interleukin-8 mRNA/protein expression in pulpal inflammation

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE

The signaling mechanisms for Porphyromonas gingivalis lipopolysaccharide (PgLPS)-induced inflammation in human dental pulp cells are not fully clarified. This in vitro study aimed to evaluate the involvement of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt) pathway in PgLPS-induced pulpal inflammation.

METHODS

Human dental pulp cells (HDPCs) were challenged with PgLPS with or without pretreatment and coincubation with a PI3K/Akt inhibitor (LY294002). The gene or protein levels of PI3K, Akt, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), osteocalcin and osteonectin were analyzed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (PCR), real-time PCR, western blotting, and immunofluorescent staining. In addition, an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to analyze IL-6 and IL-8 levels in culture medium.

RESULTS

In response to 5 μg/ml PgLPS, IL-6, IL-8, and PI3K, but not Akt mRNA expression of HDPCs, was upregulated. IL-6, IL-8, PI3K, and p-Akt protein levels were stimulated by 10-50 μg/ml of PgLPS in HDPCs. PgLPS also induced IL-6 and IL-8 secretion at concentrations higher than 5 μg/ml. Pretreatment and co-incubation by LY294002 attenuated PgLPS-induced IL-6 and IL-8 mRNA expression in HDPCs. The mRNA expression of ALP, but not osteocalcin and osteonectin, was inhibited by higher concentrations of PgLPS in HDPCs.

CONCLUSION

P. gingivalis contributes to pulpal inflammation in HDPCs by dysregulating PI3K/Akt signaling pathway to stimulate IL-6 and IL-8 mRNA/protein expression and secretion. These results are useful for understanding the pulpal inflammation and possible biomarkers of inflamed pulp diagnosis and treatment.

Porphyromonas gingivalis-Derived Lipopolysaccharide Promotes Glioma Cell Proliferation and Migration via Activating Akt Signaling Pathways

Periodontitis is significantly associated with the risk of cancers in the lung and the digestive system. Emerging evidence shows a plausible link between periodontitis and several types of brain diseases. However, the association between periodontal infection and glioma remains unclear. In the cultured GL261 glioma cells, P. gingivalis lipopolysaccharide (LPS) significantly promoted cell proliferation at concentrations ranging from 10 to 1000 ng/mL. It promoted cell migration at a higher concentration (100 and 1000 ng/mL). Additionally, exposure to 100 ng/mL P. gingivalis LPS induced a significant increase in the expression of TNF-α, TGF-β, MMP2, and MMP9, as well as the phosphorylation level of Akt at Ser473. These changes induced by P. gingivalis LPS were significantly antagonized by the Akt inhibitor. Furthermore, a total of 48 patients with brain tumors were enrolled to investigate their periodontal status before receiving tumor management. Poor periodontal status [probing depth (PD) ≥ 6 mm and attachment loss (AL) >5 mm] was found in 42.9% (9/21) of patients with glioma, which was significantly higher than that in patients with benign tumors and the relevant data in the 4th National Oral Health Survey in China. The glioma patients with both AL > 5 mm and PD ≥ 6 mm had a higher ki-67 labeling index than those with AL ≤ 5 mm or PD < 6 mm. These findings support the association between periodontal infection and glioma progression.

Lenabasum Reduces Porphyromonas gingivalis-Driven Inflammation

The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential anti-inflammatory and anti-resorptive effects of lenabasum in the context of Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg)-induced inflammation. Lenabasum or ajulemic acid (1',1'-dimethylheptyl-THC-11-oic-acid), a synthetic analog of THC-11-oic acid, has already demonstrated anti-inflammatory properties for the treatment of several inflammatory diseases. In vitro, the cytocompatibility of lenabasum was evaluated in human oral epithelial cells (EC), oral fibroblasts and osteoblasts by metabolic activity assay. The effect of lenabasum (5 µM) treatment of Pg-LPS- and P. gingivalis-infected EC on the pro- and anti-inflammatory markers was studied through RTqPCR. In vivo, lenabasum was injected subcutaneously in a P. gingivalis-induced calvarial abscess mouse model to assess its pro-healing effect. Concentrations of lenabasum up to 5 µM were cytocompatible in all cell types. Treatment of Pg-LPS and Pg-infected EC with lenabasum (5 µM; 6 h) reduced the gene expression of TNF-α, COX-2, NF-κB, and RANKL, whereas it increased the expression of IL-10 and resolvin E1 receptor respectively (p < 0.05). In vivo, the Pg-elicited inflammatory lesions' clinical size was significantly reduced by lenabasum injection (30 µM) vs untreated controls (45%) (p < 0.05). Histomorphometric analysis exhibited improved quantity and quality of bone (with reduced lacunae) and significantly reduced calvarial soft tissue inflammatory score in mice treated with lenabasum (p < 0.05). Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase activity assay (TRAP) also demonstrated decreased osteoclastic activity in the treatment group compared to that in the controls. Lenabasum showed promising anti-inflammatory and pro-resolutive properties in the management of Pg-elicited inflammation, and thus, its potential as adjuvant periodontal treatment should be further investigated.

Tamquam alter idem: formal similarities in a subset of reports on anti-inflammatory compounds in the years 2008–2019

A literature search on the in vitro testing of anti-inflammatory compounds of natural origin revealed a considerable number of studies adopting a similar template for data reporting in the years up to 2019. Sixty-five such reports appear to have been published between the years 2008 and 2019. Interestingly, this format template was clearly recognizable by a few hallmarks, such as a precise way of plotting cell viability data, extremely consistent endpoints, and the way these were graphically represented. In some instances the similarities extended to some textual features, such as in the case of figure legends. The similarity was so high that chance can be excluded and these studies can be safely assumed to have intentionally followed a template. By 2020, however, no new reports following this format have been published. Although a consistent and reproducible formatting for data reporting may improve report readability, this phenomenon should also be closely scrutinized to assess the rationale why it occurred, the validity of the endpoints that were chosen and why it was then abandoned. The present report reviewed the mean features of this format, traced its origin and its evolution over time, while discussing the limitations of this model.

Porphyromonas gingivalis lipopolysaccharide affects the angiogenic function of endothelial progenitor cells via Akt/FoxO1 signaling

AIMS

Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) function as the angiogenic switch of many physiological and pathological conditions. We aimed to investigate the effects of Porphyromonas gingivalis lipopolysaccharide on the angiogenic capacity of EPCs and delineate the underlying mechanisms.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

EPCs were isolated from human umbilical blood. CCK-8 assay was undertaken to analyze the cell viability. The migration and tube formation capacity were assessed by wound healing and tube formation, respectively. The protein expression of Akt/p-Akt, endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS)/p-eNOS, and Forkhead box O1 (FoxO1)/p-FoxO1 was determined by Western blot. The intracellular localization of FoxO1 was evaluated by immunofluorescent staining.

RESULTS

P. gingivalis LPS at 10 μg/ml significantly increased the viability (10.9 ± 2.9%), migration (16.3 ± 3.1%), and tube formation (38.6 ± 5.5%) of EPCs, along with increased phosphorylation of Akt, eNOS, and FoxO1. Mechanistically, Akt inhibition by specific inhibitor wortmannin and FoxO1 forced expression by adenovirus transfection in EPCs markedly attenuated the P. gingivalis LPS-induced eNOS activation, tube formation, and migration. Moreover, P. gingivalis LPS-induced phosphorylation and nuclear exclusion of FoxO1 were blunted by Akt inhibition.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study suggests that P. gingivalis LPS could affect the angiogenic function of EPCs through the Akt/FoxO1 signaling. The current findings may shed light on the clinical association of periodontitis with aberrant angiogenesis seen in atherosclerotic plaque rupture.

Healing effect of carboxymethyl chitosan-plantamajoside hydrogel on burn wound skin

BACKGROUND

It is known that hydrogels based on carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS) have properties controling microbial growth, reducing inflammatory cell infiltration, and promoting collagen deposition. Plantamajoside (PMS), a natural Chinese herbal medicine with biological activity, has the properties of reducing inflammation, anti-oxidation, and promoting wound healing. However, the effects of carboxymethyl chitosan/plantamajoside hydrogel on partial thickness burn wounds remain unclear.

METHODS

The healing effect of carboxymethyl chitosan/plantamajoside hydrogel was evaluated by in vitro cell viability assay, cell migration assay, and further evaluated in a rat model of partial-thickness burn wounds.

RESULTS

The hydrogels were highly porous with a pore size of about 250 μm, and these pores were interconnected. After adding plantamajoside, a dense microstructure was further formed. The hydrogels containing 0.25% plantamajoside significantly increased the viability and migration of L929 cells (P < 0.05). Carboxymethyl chitosan/plantamajoside hydrogel significantly improved wound healing, granulation tissue proliferation and re-epithelialization, and promoted collagen deposition (P < 0.05). Carboxymethyl chitosan/plantamajoside hydrogel also significantly decreased IL (interleukin)-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α expression, and increased IL-10 expression (P < 0.05). Furthermore, carboxymethyl chitosan/plantamajoside hydrogel significantly promoted the expression levels of VEGF, CD31, α-SMA (α-smooth muscle actin) and collagen III, and reduced the expression level of collagen Ⅰ (P < 0.05). Our data suggest that carboxymethyl chitosan/plantamajoside hydrogel promotes burn wound healing by accelerating angiogenesis and collagen deposition and reducing the inflammatory response.

Effects of Exopolysaccharides from Lactiplantibacillus plantarum JLAU103 on Intestinal Immune Response, Oxidative Stress, and Microbial Communities in Cyclophosphamide-Induced Immunosuppressed Mice

This study investigated the effects of the exopolysaccharide from Lactiplantibacillus plantarum JLAU103 (EPS103) on the intestinal immune response, oxidative stress, intestinal mucosal barrier, and microbial community in cyclophosphamide-induced immune-suppressed mice. The results showed that EPS103 promoted the secretion of cytokines and the generation of secretory immunoglobulin A and mucin-2 in the small intestine of mice, which might be related to the activation of the MAPK pathway. Additionally, EPS103 protected against oxidative stress by activating antioxidation enzymes and Nrf2/Keap1 pathways. It also improved the intestinal physical barrier functions via regulating the ratio of villous height to crypt depth and upregulating the expression of tight-junction proteins. Meanwhile, EPS103 promoted the generation of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and modulated the constituents of gut microbiota. These results suggested that EPS103 may modulate the intestinal immunoresponse relying on the regulation of SCFA production and gut microbiota in immunosuppressed mice, resulting in the activation of systemic immunity.

Promising Therapeutic Candidate for Myocardial Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury: What Are the Possible Mechanisms and Roles of Phytochemicals?

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is one of the most effective reperfusion strategies for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) despite myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury, causing one of the causes of most cardiomyocyte injuries and deaths. The pathological processes of myocardial I/R injury include apoptosis, autophagy, and irreversible cell death caused by calcium overload, oxidative stress, and inflammation. Eventually, myocardial I/R injury causes a spike of further cardiomyocyte injury that contributes to final infarct size (IS) and bound with hospitalization of heart failure as well as all-cause mortality within the following 12 months. Therefore, the addition of adjuvant intervention to improve myocardial salvage and cardiac function calls for further investigation. Phytochemicals are non-nutritive bioactive secondary compounds abundantly found in Chinese herbal medicine. Great effort has been put into phytochemicals because they are often in line with the expectations to improve myocardial I/R injury without compromising the clinical efficacy or to even produce synergy. We summarized the previous efforts, briefly outlined the mechanism of myocardial I/R injury, and focused on exploring the cardioprotective effects and potential mechanisms of all phytochemical types that have been investigated under myocardial I/R injury. Phytochemicals deserve to be utilized as promising therapeutic candidates for further development and research on combating myocardial I/R injury. Nevertheless, more studies are needed to provide a better understanding of the mechanism of myocardial I/R injury treatment using phytochemicals and possible side effects associated with this approach.

Plantamajoside promotes metformin-induced apoptosis, autophagy and proliferation arrest of liver cancer cells via suppressing Akt/GSK3β signaling

Metformin, a well-known antidiabetic drug, exhibits anticancer effect in a variety of cancers, including liver cancer. Plantamajoside (PMS), a phenylethanoid glycoside compound isolated from Plantago asiatica, is proved to possess anticancer effects, too. In our study, we hypothesized that PMS might promote metformin mediated anticancer effects on liver cancer. The half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) of metformin was evaluated by cell viability assay. The influence of PMS on proliferation, migration, invasion and apoptosis of metformin-treated cells was evaluated by BrdU incorporation assay, flow cytometry, western blot, wound scratch healing assay, transwell cell migration assay and immunofluorescence. A fasting/feeding mouse model was built to evaluate the influence of PMS on metformin sensitivity in vivo. PMS (2.5, 10 or 40 μg/mL) treatment reduced the IC₅₀ of metformin under different glucose concentrations. PMS (10 μg/mL) promoted metformin (5 mm) induced apoptosis and autophagy, and inhibition on proliferation, migration and invasion of HepG2 and HuH-7 cells. In the fasting/feeding mouse model, PMS (50 mg/kg) promoted metformin (200 mg/kg) induced proliferation arrest and apoptosis in vivo. Meanwhile, PMS reduced the level of pAkt^(ser473) and GSK3β^(ser9) in HepG2 and HuH-7 cells. Restoration of Akt/GSK3β signaling by a constitutively activated myr-Akt1 abrogated the effects of PMS on metformin-treated liver cancer cells. Our results demonstrated that PMS promoted the anticancer effects of metformin on liver cancer in vitro and in vivo.

MicroRNA‑93 inhibits the apoptosis and inflammatory response of tubular epithelial cells via the PTEN/AKT/mTOR pathway in acute kidney injury

Renal tubular epithelial cell injury is the main cause of septic acute kidney injury (AKI), which is characterized by the excessive inflammatory response and apoptosis. Numerous studies have demonstrated that miRNAs are associated with inflammatory response and apoptosis in numerous diseases. The present study mainly focuses on investigating the association between microRNA (miRNA/miR) expression and inflammatory response and apoptosis in the pathogenesis of AKI. In vitro and in vivo models of AKI were simulated using Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‑administrated kidney epithelial cells and mice, respectively. The miRNA expression profile was examined using miRNA microarray in kidney tissues. Next, the effects of miR‑93 upregulation on the apoptosis, cytokine expression and oxidative stress in the LPS‑stimulated TCMK‑1 were tested. The target genes of this miRNA were investigated, and the regulatory association between miR‑93 and the AKT/mTOR pathway was investigated. The results demonstrated that miR‑93 was the most downregulated miRNA in mice kidney. Furthermore, in LPS‑induced renal tubular epithelial cells (TECs) injury model, that upregulation of miR‑93 was found to attenuate the apoptosis and inflammatory response, as well as reactive oxygen species generation. Mechanistically, phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN) was identified as a target of miR‑93. Further experiments revealed that LPS‑induced the decrease of phosphorylated (p)‑AKT and p‑mTOR protein expression in vitro are reversed by the overexpression of miR‑93. The results of the present study suggested that the protective effect of miR‑93 on AKI may be associated with the activation of PTEN/AKT/mTOR pathway. miR‑93 may serve as a potential therapeutic target in sepsis‑induced AKI.

Resveratrol prevents inflammation and oxidative stress response in LPS-induced human gingival fibroblasts by targeting the PI3K/AKT and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathways

This study aimed to elucidate the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of resveratrol (RSV) in human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs) following stimulation by P. gingivalis lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The levels of the inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8 and TNFα, the activity of the antioxidant enzymes SOD and GSH-Px, and the levels of MDA, were evaluated by ELISA. It was observed that the expression of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8 and TNFα in LPS-induced HGFs was significantly downregulated by RSV in a dose-dependent manner. RSV also partly increased oxidative stress (OS)-related factors, including SOD and GSH-Px, which was accompanied by a decrease in MDA production, although the results were not statistically significant. Additionally, RSV-induced deactivation of the PI3K/AKT and Wnt/β-catenin pathways in LPS-induced HGFs was observed by western blot analysis. Subsequently, it was demonstrated treatment with PI3K/AKT pathway inhibitor (LY294002) or Wnt/β-catenin pathway inhibitor (Dickkopf-1, DKK-1) could further enhance the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of RSV by downregulating the expression of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8 and TNFα, and the production of MDA, and increasing the activity of SOD and GSH-Px in LPS-induced HGFs. These results suggested RSV attenuated the inflammation and OS injury of P. gingivalis LPS-treated HGFs by deactivating the PI3K/AKT and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathways.

Identification of the functional food ingredients with antithrombotic properties via virtual screen and experimental studies

Thrombin is a key therapeutic target protein of thrombosis. To date, massive studies have focused on the exploration of antithrombotic compounds. Here we capitalize on molecular docking, molecular simulations and spectroscopic experiments for virtually screening natural products that can inhibit thrombin and elucidating their interaction mechanism. Six compounds are screened from a natural product database by a cross-analysis based on two semi-flexible molecular docking methods. We show that four compounds can effectively inhibit thrombin and Calceolarioside B is the most competitive one based on enzyme inhibition experiments. Moreover, the binding free energies of these compounds with thrombin exhibit a consistent rank trend with their enzyme inhibition assay results. In addition, the Van der Waals is the main force to drive the interaction between the ligands and the receptor, which can be deduced from the fluorescence spectral results. This work provides a new insight into the development of antithrombotic natural compounds.

FXII regulates the formation of deep vein thrombosis via the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in mice

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a common peripheral vascular disease, which may result in pulmonary embolism and is accompanied by endothelial injury. However, the pathogenesis of DVT remains unclear. Coagulation factor XII (FXII), as an important coagulation factor, has been reported to be closely associated with thrombosis. However, the association between FXII protein and DVT formation is not yet fully understood. The present study examined the effects of FXII protein on DVT formation and aimed to reveal the underlying mechanism. In the present study, histological characterization of the femoral vein tissue was examined by hematoxylin and eosin staining. The damage to the femoral vein tissue was examined by TUNEL assay. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations were examined using ELISA. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‑α, interleukin (IL)‑6, IL‑8 and phosphoinositide 3‑kinase (PI3K)/AKT signaling were determined by ELISA, immunohistochemical staining and western blot analysis. The results demonstrated that thrombosis, FXII protein, cell apoptosis and the SOD concentrations were decreased, while the MDA concentrations were increased in mice with DVT compared with the control or sham groups. TNF‑α, IL‑6, IL‑8 and PI3K/AKT signaling was also upregulated in the mice with DVT. Furthermore, the knockdown of FXII significantly upregulated the SOD concentrations and downregulated thrombosis and cell apoptosis, as well as the MDA concentrations in mice with DVT. The knockdown of FXII also significantly downregulated the protein expression of TNF‑α, IL‑6 and IL‑8, and the activation of PI3K/AKT signaling. Additionally, LY294002 pre‑treatment markedly downregulated thrombosis and cell apoptosis and the MDA content, whereas it upregulated the SOD concentrations in mice with DVT. LY294002 pre‑treatment also significantly downregulated the TNF‑α, IL‑6 and IL‑8 protein levels. Taken together, the present study demonstrates that FXII protein promotes DVT via the activation of PI3K/AKT signaling by inducing an inflammatory response. Targeting FXII protein may thus prove to be a potential approach for the treatment of DVT.

The protective mechanism of action of plantamajoside on a rat model of acute spinal cord injury

Acute spinal cord injury (ASCI) is a severe traumatic disease of the central nervous system, characterized by a high incidence and high morbidity, for which there are no effective drug therapies in the clinic. A rat model of ASCI was established to study the effects of plantamajoside (PMS) treatment on the expression of apoptotic factors, including caspase-3, caspase-9, poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), Bax and Bcl-2. The Allen's weight hit rat ASCI model was used for the present study, and the rats were treated with various concentrations of PMS. The behavior of rats was assessed using the Basso-Beattle-Bresnahan locomotor rating scale (BBB), the histopathologic changes of spinal cord tissue were observed by hematoxylin and eosin staining, the survival of neurons was assessed by TUNEL staining and the expression levels of apoptotic proteins such as caspase-3, caspase-9, PARP, Bcl-2 and Bax was measured using western blot assays and RT-qPCR. It was observed that PMS could reverse the decrease in the BBB score after ASCI, improve the morphological characteristics of the spinal cord, reduce the degree apoptosis and affect the expression of caspase-3, caspase-9, PARP, Bax and Bcl-2 in a concentration dependent manner. In conclusion, PMS protected ASCI rats by inhibiting apoptosis; therefore PMS may be a potential candidate for ASCI therapy.

Plantamajoside protects H9c2 cells against hypoxia/reoxygenation-induced injury through regulating the akt/Nrf2/HO-1 and NF-κB signaling pathways

Myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury has been found to be associated with oxidative stress. Plantamajoside (PMS) is a major compound of Plantago asiatica that was reported to possess cardioprotective and antioxidant effects. The current study was designed to investigate the effect of PMS on myocardial I/R injury. Rat cardiomyocytes H9c2 cells were exposed to hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) to establish in vitro model of myocardial I/R injury. MTT assay proved that H9c2 cells viability was significant reduced under H/R treatment, while the reduction was ameliorated by PMS. H/R-induced ROS production in H9c2 cells was suppressed by PMS. The decreased activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in the H/R group were effectively elevated by PMS. In addition, treatment with PMS attenuated H/R-stimulated production of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β in H9c2 cells. Besides, PMS significantly suppressed bax expression and caspase 3 activity, as well as increased bcl-2 expression in H/R-stimulated H9c2 cells. Furthermore, we also found that PMS significantly enhanced the activation of Akt/Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway and suppressed the activation of NF-κB signaling pathway in H/R-stimulated H9c2 cells. These results provided substantial evidence that PMS protected against myocardial I/R injury via attenuating oxidative stress, inflammatory response and apoptosis. The protective effects of PMS were attributed to the Akt/Nrf2/HO-1 and NF-κB signaling pathways.

miRNA-26-5p inhibits cyclosporine A-induced overgrowth of gingival fibroblasts by regulating PTEN/PI3K/AKT pathway

We evaluated the effect of cyclosporine A (CsA) administration on the level of miR-26-5p in rat gingival tissues and human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs) by qRT-PCR assay. Further, we conducted Western blotting and immunohistochemical analysis to assess the expressions of PTEN, PI3K, and p-AKT, and evaluated cell proliferation of HGFs by MTT assay. CsA treatment significantly downregulated the expressions of miR-26-5p and PTEN and upregulated the expressions of PI3K and p-AKT in both rat gingival tissues and HGFs. Overexpression of miR-26-5p inhibited CsA-induced overgrowth of HGFs, whereas knockdown of miR-26-5p promoted the overgrowth. PTEN knockdown not only promoted CsA-induced overgrowth of human HGFs but also reversed the repressive effects of miR-26-5p on CsA-induced overgrowth of HGFs. Our results revealed that miRNA-26-5p could repress CsA-induced overgrowth of human HGFs by regulating PTEN/PI3K/AKT pathway.

Plantamajoside inhibits hypoxia-induced migration and invasion of human cervical cancer cells through the NF-κB and PI3K/akt pathways

Plantamajoside (PMS) is a major compound of Plantago asiatica and possesses anti-tumor property in several types of cancers. However, the effect of PMS on cervical cancer has not been investigated. This study aimed to investigate the effect of PMS on the migration and invasion of cervical cancer cell lines under hypoxic condition. Our results demonstrated that PMS significantly inhibited hypoxia-caused increases in cell migration and invasion of cervical cancer cells. The hypoxia-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process was prevented by PMS with increased E-cadherin expression, and decreased expression levels of N-cadherin and vimentin in cervical cancer cells. Besides, the expression levels of transcription factors slug and snail were suppressed by PMS in hypoxia-induced cervical cancer cells. The increased mRNA and protein levels of hypoxia-inducible factor 1alpha (HIF-1α) in hypoxia-induced cervical cancer cells were prevented by PMS. Furthermore, PMS blocked the hypoxia-induced activation of NF-κB and PI3K/Akt pathway in cervical cancer cells. Taken together, these findings suggest that PMS exerted an anti-tumor activity in cervical cancer through preventing the hypoxia-induced EMT. Thus, PMS might serve as a therapeutic agent for the treatment of cervical cancer.

Plantamajoside inhibits the proliferation and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in hepatocellular carcinoma cells via modulating hypoxia-inducible factor-1α-dependent gene expression

As a potential antitumor herbal medicine, plantamajoside (PMS) benefits the treatment of many human malignances. However, the role of PMS in the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and the related molecular mechanisms is still unknown. Here, we proved that the cell viabilities of HepG2 cells were gradually decreased with the increasing concentrations of CoCl₂ and/or PMS via cell counting kit-8 assay. Meanwhile, 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) and western blot assays were used to further confirm that PMS inhibited the CoCl₂ -induced cell proliferation in HepG2 cells via suppressing the Ki67 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen expressions. We also performed wound-healing and transwell assays and demonstrated that PMS inhibited CoCl₂ -induced migration and invasion in HepG2 cells via suppressing the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process. In addition, the use of 3-(5'-hydroxymethyl-2'-furyl)-1-benzylindazole further proved that PMS inhibited the malignant biological behaviors of HepG2 cells under hypoxic condition by suppressing the hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) expression. Besides, we further confirmed that PMS suppressed the growth and metastasis of implanted tumors in vivo. Given that PMS suppressed the proliferation and EMT induced by CoCl₂ in HCC cells via downregulating HIF-1α signaling pathway, we provided evidence that PMS might be a novel anti-cancer drug for HCC treatment.

Plantamajoside represses the growth and metastasis of malignant melanoma

Plantamajoside (PMS) has been shown to have anticancer effects and is the main compound of Plantago asiatica. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of PMS on malignant melanoma and its molecular mechanisms. The malignant melanoma cell line A2058 was treated with different concentrations of PMS (0, 20, 80 and 160 µg/ml) for 24, 48 or 72 h, followed by cell viability detection using the Cell Counting Kit-8 assay. The present results suggested that PMS inhibited cell viability in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, flow cytometry was used to analyze cell apoptosis, and Transwell assays were used to investigate cell migration and invasion. The present results suggested that PMS induced A2058 cell apoptosis, and inhibited cell invasion and migration in a dose-dependent manner. In order to study the molecular mechanism by which PMS inhibited malignant melanoma growth and metastasis, reverse transcription-quantitative PCR and western blotting were used to determine the expression levels of apoptotic-related genes and PI3K/AKT signaling pathway-related proteins. The present results indicated that PMS inhibited the protein and mRNA expression of Bcl-2, and promoted the expression of Bax and caspase-3 in a dose-dependent manner. The protein expression level of phosphorylated-AKT was dose-dependently reduced by PMS treatment. Collectively, the present results suggested that PMS inhibited the invasion, migration and viability of malignant melanoma cells. In addition, PMS induced apoptosis by regulating the expression levels of apoptotic-related genes and the activation of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, thereby exerting anti-malignant melanoma effects.

Between Innovation and Standardization, Is There Still a Room for Scientific Reports? The Rise of a Formatting Tradition in Periodontal Research

Everybody, regardless of their role, is aware that biomedical research is rapidly evolving, and the demand for reproducibility is increasing together with the amount of novel information. “Before reproducibility must come pre-producibility” “Checklists work to improve science”, just to quote some of the articles querying how to find a new bridge between ethics in science and the urgency for publishing. Looking for papers on anti-inflammatory compounds in periodontics, we came across a significant number of articles that could be considered a prototype of a consistent study format. The literature on the testing of active compounds on lipopolysaccharides- (LPS)-induced inflammation in gingival fibroblasts was searched to identify studies that followed a consistent format, to better understand their similarities and assess the appropriateness of their methods. Several studies were identified with a degree of similarity in their methods and formatting that was so high that it was possible to rule out that it was due to chance, and a format template common to these studies was outlined. Although this was most likely beyond the intentions of their authors, these studies may pose the basis for an in-vitro testing standard for anti-inflammatory compounds; however, the dangers of acritical uniformity are also apparent.

Baicalin prevents pulmonary arterial remodeling in vivo via the AKT/ERK/NF-κB signaling pathways

Pulmonary arterial hypertension is a rapidly progressive and often fatal disease. As the pathogenesis of pulmonary arterial hypertension remains unclear, there is currently no good drug for pulmonary arterial hypertension and new therapy is desperately needed. This study investigated the effects and mechanism of baicalin on vascular remodeling in rats with pulmonary arterial hypertension. A rat pulmonary arterial hypertension model was constructed using intraperitoneal injection of monocrotaline, and different doses of baicalin were used to treat these rats. The mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP) and right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP) were measured with a right heart catheter. Moreover, the hearts were dissected to determine the right ventricular hypertrophy index (RVHI). The lung tissues were stained with H&E and Masson's staining to estimate the pulmonary vascular remodeling and collagen fibrosis, and the expression of proteins in the AKT, ERK, and NF-κB p65 phosphorylation (p-AKT, p-ERK, p-p65) was examined by Western blot analysis. We found that compared with untreated pulmonary arterial hypertension rats, baicalin ameliorated pulmonary vascular remodeling and cardiorespiratory injury, inhibited p-p65 and p-ERK expression, and promoted p-AKT and p-eNOS expression. In conclusion, baicalin interfered with pulmonary vascular remodeling and pulmonary arterial hypertension development in rats through the AKT/eNOS, ERK and NF-κB signaling pathways.