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Xu S, Chen Y, Miao J, Li Y, Liu J, Zhang J, Liang J, Chen S, Hou S. Esculin inhibits hepatic stellate cell activation and CCl 4-induced liver fibrosis by activating the Nrf2/GPX4 signaling pathway. PHYTOMEDICINE : INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOTHERAPY AND PHYTOPHARMACOLOGY 2024; 128:155465. [PMID: 38471319 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2024.155465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2023] [Revised: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Liver fibrosis (LF) is a pathological process of the liver that threatens human health. Currently, effective treatments are still lacking. Esculin, a prominent constituent found in the Fraxinus rhynchophylla. (bark), Aesculus hippocastanum. (bark), and Cichorium intybus. (herb), has been shown to possess significant anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antibacterial properties. However, to date, there have been no studies investigating its potential efficacy in the treatment of LF. OBJECTIVE The study aims to investigate the therapeutic effect of esculin on LF and elucidate its potential molecular mechanism. METHODS Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) was injected intraperitoneally to induce LF in mice, and transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) was injected to induce LX-2 cells to investigate the improvement effect of esculin on LF. Kit, histopathological staining, immunohistochemistry (IHC), immunofluorescence (IF), polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and western blot (WB) were used to detect the expression of fiber markers and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)/glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) signaling pathway in liver tissue and LX-2 cells. Finally, molecular docking, cellular thermal shift assay (CETSA), and drug affinity responsive target stability (DARTS) were used to verify the targeting between Nrf2 and esculin. RESULTS Esculin significantly inhibited CCl4-induced hepatic fibrosis and inflammation in mice. This was evidenced by the improvement of liver function indexes, fibrosis indicators, and histopathology. Additionally, esculin treatment prominently reduced the levels of pro-inflammatory factors, oxidative stress, and liver Fe2+ in CCl4-induced mice. In vitro studies also showed that esculin treatment significantly inhibited TGF-β1-induced LX-2 cell activation and decreased alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and collagen I expression. Mechanism experiments proved that esculin can activate the Nrf2/GPX4 signaling pathway and inhibit liver ferroptosis. However, when LX-2 cells were treated with the Nrf2 inhibitor (ML385), the therapeutic effect of esculin significantly decreased. CONCLUSION This study is the first to demonstrate that esculin is a potential natural active ingredient in the treatment of LF, which can inhibit the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSC) and improve LF. Its therapeutic effect is related to the activation of the Nrf2/GPX4 signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuoxi Xu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, PR China
| | - Yonger Chen
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, PR China
| | - Jindian Miao
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, PR China
| | - Yuhua Li
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, PR China
| | - Jiaying Liu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, PR China
| | - Jing Zhang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, PR China
| | - Jian Liang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, PR China
| | - Shuxian Chen
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510000, PR China.
| | - Shaozhen Hou
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, PR China.
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Lan T, Li P, Zhang SJ, Liu SY, Zeng XX, Chai F, Tong YH, Mao ZJ, Wang SW. Paeoniflorin promotes PPARγ expression to suppress HSCs activation by inhibiting EZH2-mediated histone H3K27 trimethylation. PHYTOMEDICINE : INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOTHERAPY AND PHYTOPHARMACOLOGY 2024; 128:155477. [PMID: 38489890 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2024.155477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Revised: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The alleviating effect of paeoniflorin (Pae) on liver fibrosis has been established; however, the molecular mechanism and specific target(s) underlying this effect remain elusive. PURPOSE This study was to investigate the molecular mechanism underlying the regulatory effect of Pae on hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) activation in liver fibrosis, with a specific focus on the role of Pae in modulating histone methylation modifications. METHODS The therapeutic effect of Pae was evaluated by establishing in vivo and in vitro models of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced mice and transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1)-induced LX-2 cells, respectively. Molecular docking, surface plasmon resonance (SPR), chromatin immunoprecipitation-quantitative real time PCR (ChIP-qPCR) and other molecular biological methods were used to clarify the molecular mechanism of Pae regulating HSCs activation. RESULTS Our study found that Pae inhibited HSCs activation and histone trimethylation modification in liver of CCl4-induced mice and LX-2 cells. We demonstrated that the inhibitory effect of Pae on the activation of HSCs was dependent on peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) expression and enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2). Mechanistically, Pae directly binded to EZH2 to effectively suppress its enzymatic activity. This attenuation leaded to the suppression of histone H3K27 trimethylation in the PPARγ promoter region, which induced upregulation of PPARγ expression. CONCLUSION This investigative not only sheds new light on the precise targets that underlie the remission of hepatic fibrogenesis induced by Pae but also emphasizes the critical significance of EZH2-mediated H3K27 trimethylation in driving the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tian Lan
- Laboratory Animal Resources Center, The Quzhou Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Quzhou People's Hospital, No. 100 Minjiang Road, Quzhou 324000, China; Panvascular Diseases Research Center, The Quzhou Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Quzhou People's Hospital, Quzhou 324000, China.
| | - Ping Li
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, No. 548 Binwen Road, Hangzhou 310053, China
| | - Si-Jia Zhang
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, No. 548 Binwen Road, Hangzhou 310053, China
| | - Shi-Yu Liu
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, No. 548 Binwen Road, Hangzhou 310053, China
| | - Xi-Xi Zeng
- Panvascular Diseases Research Center, The Quzhou Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Quzhou People's Hospital, Quzhou 324000, China
| | - Fang Chai
- Department of Orthopedics, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, People's Hospital of Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou 310014, China
| | - Yu-Hua Tong
- Panvascular Diseases Research Center, The Quzhou Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Quzhou People's Hospital, Quzhou 324000, China; Department of Ophthalmology, The Quzhou Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Quzhou People's Hospital, Quzhou 324000, China
| | - Zhu-Jun Mao
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, No. 548 Binwen Road, Hangzhou 310053, China; Department of Ophthalmology, The Quzhou Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Quzhou People's Hospital, Quzhou 324000, China.
| | - Si-Wei Wang
- Laboratory Animal Resources Center, The Quzhou Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Quzhou People's Hospital, No. 100 Minjiang Road, Quzhou 324000, China; Panvascular Diseases Research Center, The Quzhou Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Quzhou People's Hospital, Quzhou 324000, China.
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Chen M, Wu GB, Hua S, Zheng L, Fan Q, Luo M. Dibutyl phthalate (DBP) promotes Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) to aggravate liver fibrosis into cirrhosis and portal hypertension (PHT) via ROS/TGF-β1/Snail-1 signalling pathway in adult rats. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2024; 274:116124. [PMID: 38503108 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.116124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2023] [Revised: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 02/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The primary objective of this study was to investigate the toxicological impact of Dibutyl phthalate (DBP) on the process of liver fibrosis transitioning into cirrhosis and the subsequent development of portal hypertension (PHT) through the mechanism of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) mediated by the ROS/TGF-β/Snail-1 signaling pathway. METHOD Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) (1 mg/kg) was introduced in adult rats by oral feeding in CCl4 and CCl4+DBP groups twice a week for 8 weeks, and twice for another 8 week in CCl4 group. DBP was introduced by oral feeding in the CCl4+DBP group twice over the following 8 weeks. We subsequently analyzed hemodynamics measurements and liver cirrhosis degree, hepatic inflammation and liver function in the different groups. EMT related genes expression in rats in the groups of Control, DBP, CCl4 and CCl4+DBP were measured by immunohistochemistry (IHC). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent Assay (ELISA), qRT-PCR, western blot were used to detect the EMT related proteins and mRNA gene expression levels in rats and primary hepatocytes (PHCs). Reactive oxygen species (ROS) were examined with a ROS detection kit. RESULTS The results showed that the CCl4+DBP group had higher portal pressure (PP) and lower mean arterial pressure (MAP) than the other groups. Elevated collagen deposition, profibrotic factor, inflammation, EMT levels were detected in DBP and CCl4+DBP groups. ROS, TGF-β1 and Snail-1 were highly expressed after DBP exposure in vitro. TGF-β1 had the potential to regulate Snail-1, and both of them were subject to regulation by ROS. CONCLUSION DBP could influence the progression of EMT through its toxicological effect by ROS/TGF-β1/Snail-1 signalling pathway, causing cirrhosis and PHT in final. The findings of this research might contribute to a novel comprehension of the underlying toxicological mechanisms and animal model involved in the progression of cirrhosis and PHT, and potentially offered a promising therapeutic target for the treatment of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Chen
- Department of General Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Guang-Bo Wu
- Department of General Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Shan Hua
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Shanghai East Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Lei Zheng
- Department of General Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Qiang Fan
- Department of General Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
| | - Meng Luo
- Department of General Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
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Zhang T, Wang C, Song A, Lei X, Li G, Sun H, Wang X, Geng Z, Shu G, Deng X. Water extract of earthworms mitigates mouse liver fibrosis by potentiating hepatic LKB1/Nrf2 axis to inhibit HSC activation and hepatocyte death. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2024; 321:117495. [PMID: 38016572 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2023.117495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2023] [Revised: 11/18/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 11/30/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE When left untreated, liver fibrosis (LF) causes various chronic liver diseases. Earthworms (Pheretima aspergillum) are widely used in traditional medicine because of their capacity to relieve hepatic diseases. AIM OF THE STUDY This study aimed to explore the anti-LF effects of water extract of earthworms (WEE) and the underlying molecular mechanisms. MATERIALS AND METHODS A CCl4-induced mouse model of LF was used to study the impact of WEE on LF in vivo. The anti-LF activity of WEE in mice was compared with that of silybin, which can be clinically applied in LF intervention and was used as a positive control. Activation of LX-2 hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and apoptosis and ferroptosis of AML-12 hepatocytes induced by TGFβ1 were used as in vitro models. RESULTS WEE drastically improved LF in mice. WEE reduced markers of activated HSCs in mice and inhibited TGFβ1-induced activation of LX-2 HSCs in vitro. Additionally, WEE suppressed CCl4-induced apoptosis and ferroptosis in mouse hepatocytes. Mechanistically, WEE induced Nrf2 to enter the nuclei of the mouse liver cells, and the hepatic levels of Nrf2-downstream antioxidative factors increased. LKB1/AMPK/GSK3β is an upstream regulatory cascade of Nrf2. In the LF mouse model, WEE increased hepatic phosphorylated LKB1, AMPK, and GSK3β levels. Similar results were obtained for the LX-2 cells. In AML-12 hepatocytes and LX-2 HSCs, WEE elevated intracellular Nrf2 levels, promoted its nuclear translocation, and inhibited TGFβ1-induced ROS accumulation. Knocking down LKB1 abolished the impact of WEE on the AMPK/GSK3β/Nrf2 cascade and eliminated its protective effects against TGFβ1. CONCLUSIONS Our findings reveal that WEE improves mouse LF triggered by CCl4 and supports its application as a promising hepatoprotective agent against LF. The potentiation of the hepatic antioxidative AMPK/GSK3β/Nrf2 cascade by activating LKB1 and the subsequent suppression of HSC activation and hepatocyte apoptosis and ferroptosis are implicated in WEE-mediated alleviation of LF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiantian Zhang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, South-Central Minzu University, Wuhan, China
| | - Chuo Wang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, South-Central Minzu University, Wuhan, China
| | - Anning Song
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, South-Central Minzu University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiao Lei
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, South-Central Minzu University, Wuhan, China
| | - Guangqiong Li
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, South-Central Minzu University, Wuhan, China
| | - Hui Sun
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, South-Central Minzu University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiaoming Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Zhirong Geng
- College of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Guangwen Shu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, South-Central Minzu University, Wuhan, China.
| | - Xukun Deng
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, South-Central Minzu University, Wuhan, China.
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He C, Wang W, Wei G, Wang Y, Wei Y, Wang J, Zhang Z. Sodium alginate combined with oxymatrine ameliorates CCl 4-induced chemical hepatic fibrosis in mice. Int Immunopharmacol 2023; 125:111144. [PMID: 37922569 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2023.111144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2023] [Revised: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
Hepatic fibrosis (HF) is a challenging clinical problem. Both sodium alginate (SA) and oxymatrine (OM) can be used to treat HF; however, the influence of viscosity on the therapeutic efficacy of sodium alginate is currently unknown. This study used a CCl4-induced HF mouse model to screen the specifications and doses of SA and investigate its therapeutic effects on HF in combination with OM. Sodium alginate of different viscosities ameliorated HF in mice, with 232 mPa·s SA delivered at a dose of 100 mg/kg showing remarkable therapeutic effect, characterized by reduced aspartate transaminase/alanine transaminase levels, reduced expression of α-SMA, collagen I, and other related genes, and increased abundance of beneficial intestinal probiotics such as Lactococcus and Blautia. The combination treatment further improved other related indices and increased the abundance of Phascolarctobacterium and Oscillospiraceae. These results suggest that the oral administration of SA may improve HF via the "gut-liver axis" based on the gut microbiota and has potential clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen He
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Drug Delivery Systems of Chinese Materia Medica, Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, 100 Shizi Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210028, China
| | - Wenjing Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Drug Delivery Systems of Chinese Materia Medica, Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, 100 Shizi Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210028, China
| | - Guoli Wei
- Nanjing Lishui District Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211200, China
| | - Yuqing Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Drug Delivery Systems of Chinese Materia Medica, Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, 100 Shizi Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210028, China
| | - Yingjie Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Drug Delivery Systems of Chinese Materia Medica, Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, 100 Shizi Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210028, China
| | - Jing Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Drug Delivery Systems of Chinese Materia Medica, Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, 100 Shizi Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210028, China.
| | - Zhenhai Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Drug Delivery Systems of Chinese Materia Medica, Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, 100 Shizi Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210028, China.
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Wang Z, Sun P, Zhao T, Cao J, Liu Y, Khan A, Zhou W, Cheng G. E Se tea extract ameliorates CCl 4 induced liver fibrosis via regulating Nrf2/NF-κB/TGF-β1/Smad pathway. PHYTOMEDICINE : INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOTHERAPY AND PHYTOPHARMACOLOGY 2023; 115:154854. [PMID: 37156058 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2023.154854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Revised: 04/26/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Liver fibrosis is a crucial progress to deteriorate liver disease. E Se tea (ES) is an ethnic herbal tea in China that has various biological activities for human beings. However, the traditional application on the treatment of liver disease is not studied. PURPOSE This study is firstly performed to explore the chemical constituents of ES extract together with its anti-hepatic fibrosis effect and potential mechanism on CCl4 treated mice. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS The chemical constituents of ethanol-aqueous extract from ES (ESE) were analyzed by UPLC-ESI-MS/MS. The anti-hepatic fibrosis effect of ESE was determined by measuring ALT and AST activities, antioxidative indexes, inflammatory cytokines and collagen protein levels on CCl4 treated mice. Moreover, H&E, Masson staining and immunohistochemical analysis were performed for evaluating the protective effect of ESE on histopathological changes of liver tissues. RESULTS UHPLCHRESI-MS/MS analysis showed that the ESE was rich in flavonoids such as phlorizin, phloretin, quercetin and hyperoside. ESE could significantly reduce the plasma AST and ALT activities. The cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α, IL-1β) expressions were inhibited after ESE administration via suppressing NF-κB pathway. In addition, ESE could decrease MDA accumulation for alleviating CCl4 induced liver oxidative stress via regulating Nrf2 pathway to promote the expressions of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, HO-1, CAT and NQO1). Moreover, ESE could inhibit the expressions of TGF-β1, Smad2, α-SMA, and collagens Ⅰ and III proteins, thereby effectively alleviate the liver fibrosis. CONCLUSION This study demonstrated that ESE could alleviate liver fibrosis through enhancing antioxidant and anti-inflammatory abilities by Nrf2/NF-κB pathway and reducing deposition of liver fibrosis via suppressing TGF-β/Smad pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengxuan Wang
- Faculty of Food Science and Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, 650500, China
| | - Pengzhen Sun
- Faculty of Food Science and Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, 650500, China
| | - Tianrui Zhao
- Faculty of Food Science and Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, 650500, China
| | - Jianxin Cao
- Faculty of Food Science and Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, 650500, China
| | - Yaping Liu
- Faculty of Food Science and Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, 650500, China
| | - Afsar Khan
- Department of Chemistry, COMSATS University Islamabad, Abbottabad Campus, Abbottabad, 22060, Pakistan
| | - Wenbing Zhou
- Yunnan Tobacco Company, Yuxi Branch, Yuxi, 653100, China.
| | - Guiguang Cheng
- Faculty of Food Science and Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, 650500, China.
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Bian J, Ding Y, Wang S, Jiang Y, Wang M, Wei K, Si L, Zhao X, Shao Y. Celastrol confers ferroptosis resistance via AKT/GSK3β signaling in high-fat diet-induced cardiac injury. Free Radic Biol Med 2023; 200:36-46. [PMID: 36906189 DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2023.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2022] [Revised: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023]
Abstract
Obesity-induced cardiac dysfunction is a severe global disease associated with high dietary fat intake, and its pathogenesis includes inflammation, oxidative stress, and ferroptosis. Celastrol (Cel) is a bioactive compound isolated from the herb Tripterygium wilfordii, which has a protective influence on cardiovascular diseases. In this study, the role of Cel in obesity-induced ferroptosis and cardiac injury was investigated. We found that Cel alleviated ferroptosis induced by Palmitic acid (PA), exhibiting a decrease in the LDH, CK-MB, Ptgs2, and Lipid Peroxidation levels. After cardiomyocytes were treated with additional LY294002 and LiCl, Cel exerted its protective effect through increased AKT/GSK3β phosphorylation and decreased level of lipid peroxidation and Mitochondrial ROS. The systolic left ventricle (LV) dysfunction of obese mice was alleviated via ferroptosis inhibition by elevated p-GSK3β and decreased Mitochondrial ROS under Cel treatment. Moreover, mitochondrial anomalies included swelling and distortion in the myocardium which was relieved with Cel. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that ferroptosis resistance with Cel under HFD conditions targets AKT/GSK3β signaling, which provides novel therapeutic strategies in obesity-induced cardiac injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinhui Bian
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yi Ding
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu, China
| | - Song Wang
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yefan Jiang
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu, China
| | - Mingyan Wang
- Department of Pediatrics, The Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212001, China
| | - Ke Wei
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu, China
| | - Linjie Si
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Xin Zhao
- Department of Health Management Center, The First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Yongfeng Shao
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu, China.
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Munakarmi S, Gurau Y, Shrestha J, Risal P, Park HS, Shin HB, Jeong YJ. Hepatoprotective Effects of a Natural Flavanol 3,3'-Diindolylmethane against CCl 4-Induced Chronic Liver Injury in Mice and TGFβ1-Induced EMT in Mouse Hepatocytes via Activation of Nrf2 Cascade. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms231911407. [PMID: 36232707 PMCID: PMC9569868 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231911407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2022] [Revised: 09/21/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatic fibrosis is a form of irregular wound-healing response with acute and chronic injury triggered by the deposition of excessive extracellular matrix. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a dynamic process that plays a crucial role in the fibrogenic response and pathogenesis of liver fibrosis. In the present study, we postulated a protective role of 3,3'-diindolylmethane (DIM) against TGF-β1 mediated epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in vitro and carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver fibrosis in mice. TGF-β1-induced AML-12 hepatocyte injury was evaluated by monitoring cell morphology, measuring reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitochondrial membrane potential, and quantifying apoptosis, inflammatory, and EMT-related proteins. Furthermore, CCl4-induced liver fibrosis in mice was evaluated by performing liver function tests, including serum ALT and AST, total bilirubin, and albumin to assess liver injury and by performing H&E and Sirius red staining to determine the degree of liver fibrosis. Immunoblotting was performed to determine the expression levels of inflammation, apoptosis, and Nrf2/HO-1 signaling-related proteins. DIM treatment significantly restored TGF-β1-induced morphological changes, inhibited the expression of mesenchymal markers by activating E-cadherin, decreased mitochondrial membrane potential, reduced ROS intensity, and upregulated levels of Nrf2-responsive antioxidant genes. In the mouse model of CCl4-induced liver fibrosis, DIM remarkably attenuated liver injury and liver fibrosis, as reflected by the reduced ALT and AST parameters with increased serum Alb activity and fewer lesions in H&E staining. It also mitigated the fibrosis area in Sirius red and Masson staining. Taken together, our results suggest a possible molecular mechanism of DIM by suppressing TGF-β1-induced EMT in mouse hepatocytes and CCl4-induced liver fibrosis in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suvesh Munakarmi
- Research Institute of Clinical Medicine of Jeonbuk National University, Biomedical Research Institute, Jeonbuk National University Hospital, Jeonju 54907, Korea
| | - Yamuna Gurau
- Research Institute of Clinical Medicine of Jeonbuk National University, Biomedical Research Institute, Jeonbuk National University Hospital, Jeonju 54907, Korea
| | - Juna Shrestha
- Alka Hospital Private Limited, Jwalakhel, Kathmandu 446010, Nepal
| | - Prabodh Risal
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medical Sciences, Kathmandu University, Dhulikhel 45200, Nepal
| | - Ho Sung Park
- Research Institute of Clinical Medicine of Jeonbuk National University, Biomedical Research Institute, Jeonbuk National University Hospital, Jeonju 54907, Korea
- Department of Pathology, Jeonbuk National University Hospital, Jeonju 54907, Korea
| | - Hyun Beak Shin
- Research Institute of Clinical Medicine of Jeonbuk National University, Biomedical Research Institute, Jeonbuk National University Hospital, Jeonju 54907, Korea
- Department of Surgery, Jeonbuk National University Hospital, Jeonju 54907, Korea
| | - Yeon Jun Jeong
- Research Institute of Clinical Medicine of Jeonbuk National University, Biomedical Research Institute, Jeonbuk National University Hospital, Jeonju 54907, Korea
- Department of Surgery, Jeonbuk National University Hospital, Jeonju 54907, Korea
- Correspondence:
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Hu X, Sun A, Chen H, Yan X, Ding F, Zheng P, Li Z, Yan YE. Saponins from Panax japonicus alleviate adipose tissue fibrosis and metabolic dysfunction in high-fat-diet-induced obese mice. Biomarkers 2022; 27:784-794. [DOI: 10.1080/1354750x.2022.2122566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoqin Hu
- Department of Pharmacology, Wuhan University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Ao Sun
- Department of Pharmacology, Wuhan University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Huijian Chen
- Department of Pharmacology, Wuhan University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Xiyue Yan
- Department of Pharmacology, Wuhan University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Fei Ding
- Department of Pharmacology, Wuhan University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Peng Zheng
- Department of Pharmacology, Wuhan University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Zhen Li
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - You-e Yan
- Department of Pharmacology, Wuhan University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China
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Zhang C, Zhang D, Wang Y, Zhang L, Qi S, Fang Q, Xu Y, Chen J, Cheng X, Liu P, Wang C, Liu W. Pharmacokinetics and anti-liver fibrosis characteristics of amygdalin: Key role of the deglycosylated metabolite prunasin. PHYTOMEDICINE : INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOTHERAPY AND PHYTOPHARMACOLOGY 2022; 99:154018. [PMID: 35247668 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2022.154018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2021] [Revised: 01/24/2022] [Accepted: 02/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Amygdalin (Amy) is a cyanoside and is one of the chief active ingredients in Persicae Semen, Armeniacae Semen Amarum, and Pruni Semen. Amy has extensive and remarkable pharmacological activities, including against anti-hepatic fibrosis. However, the pharmacokinetic and anti-liver fibrosis effects of Amy and its enzyme metabolite prunasin (Pru) in vivo have not been studied and compared, and studies on Pru are limited. PURPOSE To investigate the pharmacokinetic characteristics and anti-liver fibrosis effect of Amy and its metabolite Pru in vivo and in vitro, and elucidate whether the metabolism of Amy in vivo for Pru is activated. METHODS Pru was prepared from Amy via the enzymatic hydrolysis of β-glucosidase, and isolated by silica gel column chromatography. An efficient and sensitive ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-Q exactive hybrid quadrupole orbitrap high-resolution accurate mass spectrometry was developed and validated to determine simultaneously Amy and Pru in rat plasma after dosing intravenously and orally for pharmacokinetic studies. The affinities of Amy and Pru for β-glucosidase were compared by enzyme kinetic experiments to explain the possible reasons for the differences in pharmacokinetic behavior. In vitro, the inhibitory effects of Amy and Pru on hepatic stellate cell activation and macrophage inflammation on JS1 and RAW 264.7 cells were determined. In vivo, the ameliorative effects of Amy and Pru on liver fibrosis effects were comprehensively evaluated by CCl4-induced liver fibrosis model in mice. RESULTS The standard curves of Amy and Pru in rat plasma showed good linearity within the concentration range of 1.31-5000.00 ng/ml, with acceptable selectivity, carry-over, detection limit and quantification limits, intra- and inter-day precision, accuracy, matrix effect, and stability. The Cmax and AUC(0-∞) of Pru (Cmax = 1835.12 ± 268.09 ng/ml, AUC(0-∞) = 103,913.17 ± 14,202.48 ng•min/ml) were nearly 79.51- and 66.22-fold higher than those of Amy (Cmax = 23.08 ± 5.08 ng/ml, AUC(0-∞) = 1569.22 ± 650.62 ng•min/ml) after the oral administration of Amy. The oral bioavailability of Pru (64.91%) was higher than that of Amy (0.19%). The results of enzyme hydrolysis kinetics assay showed that the Vmax and Km of Pru were lower than those of Amy in commercial β-glucosidase and intestinal bacteria. In vitro cellular assays showed that Amy and Pru were comparable in inhibiting the NO production in the RAW264.7 cell supernatant and the mRNA expression of α-SMA and Col1A1 in JS1 cells. Amy and Pru were also showed comparable activity in ameliorating CCl4-induced liver fibrosis in mice. CONCLUSION The pharmacokinetic characteristics of Amy and Pru in rat plasma were significantly different. After the separate gavage of Amy and Pru, Amy was absorbed predominantly as it's metabolite Pru, whereas Pru was absorbed predominantly as a prototype. The anti-liver fibrosis effects of Amy and its deglycosylated metabolite Pru were comparable in vivo and in vitro. The deglycosylated activated metabolite Pru of Amy plays an important role in anti-liver fibrosis. These findings will facilitate the further exploitation of Amy and Pru.
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Affiliation(s)
- Congcong Zhang
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, The MOE Key Laboratory for Standardization of Chinese Medicines and The SATCM Key Laboratory for New Resources and Quality Evaluation of Chinese Medicines, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1200 Cailun Rood, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Dingqi Zhang
- Institute of Liver Diseases, Key Laboratory of Liver and Kidney Diseases (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Clinical Medicine, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 528 Zhangheng Road, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Yongli Wang
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, The MOE Key Laboratory for Standardization of Chinese Medicines and The SATCM Key Laboratory for New Resources and Quality Evaluation of Chinese Medicines, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1200 Cailun Rood, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Linzhang Zhang
- Institute of Liver Diseases, Key Laboratory of Liver and Kidney Diseases (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Clinical Medicine, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 528 Zhangheng Road, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Shenglan Qi
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, The MOE Key Laboratory for Standardization of Chinese Medicines and The SATCM Key Laboratory for New Resources and Quality Evaluation of Chinese Medicines, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1200 Cailun Rood, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Qinqin Fang
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, The MOE Key Laboratory for Standardization of Chinese Medicines and The SATCM Key Laboratory for New Resources and Quality Evaluation of Chinese Medicines, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1200 Cailun Rood, Shanghai 201203, China; Institute of Liver Diseases, Key Laboratory of Liver and Kidney Diseases (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Clinical Medicine, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 528 Zhangheng Road, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Ying Xu
- Institute of Liver Diseases, Key Laboratory of Liver and Kidney Diseases (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Clinical Medicine, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 528 Zhangheng Road, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Jiamei Chen
- Institute of Liver Diseases, Key Laboratory of Liver and Kidney Diseases (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Clinical Medicine, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 528 Zhangheng Road, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Xuemei Cheng
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, The MOE Key Laboratory for Standardization of Chinese Medicines and The SATCM Key Laboratory for New Resources and Quality Evaluation of Chinese Medicines, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1200 Cailun Rood, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Ping Liu
- Institute of Liver Diseases, Key Laboratory of Liver and Kidney Diseases (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Clinical Medicine, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 528 Zhangheng Road, Shanghai 201203, China.
| | - Changhong Wang
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, The MOE Key Laboratory for Standardization of Chinese Medicines and The SATCM Key Laboratory for New Resources and Quality Evaluation of Chinese Medicines, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1200 Cailun Rood, Shanghai 201203, China.
| | - Wei Liu
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, The MOE Key Laboratory for Standardization of Chinese Medicines and The SATCM Key Laboratory for New Resources and Quality Evaluation of Chinese Medicines, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1200 Cailun Rood, Shanghai 201203, China; Institute of Liver Diseases, Key Laboratory of Liver and Kidney Diseases (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Clinical Medicine, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 528 Zhangheng Road, Shanghai 201203, China.
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