Salvianolic acid B protects against paraquat-induced pulmonary injury by mediating Nrf2/Nox4 redox balance and TGF-β1/Smad3 signaling

Monomeric compounds from natural products for the treatment of pulmonary fibrosis: a review

Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is the end stage of lung injury and chronic lung diseases that results in diminished lung function, respiratory failure, and ultimately mortality. Despite extensive research, the pathogenesis of this disease remains elusive, and effective therapeutic options are currently limited, posing a significant clinical challenge. In addition, research on traditional Chinese medicine and naturopathic medicine is hampered by several complications due to complex composition and lack of reference compounds. Natural product monomers, possessing diverse biological activities and excellent safety profiles, have emerged as potential candidates for preventing and treating PF. The effective anti-PF ingredients identified can be generally divided into flavonoids, saponins, polysaccharides, and alkaloids. Specifically, these monomeric compounds can attenuate inflammatory response, oxidative stress, and other physiopathological processes of the lung through many signaling pathways. They also improve pulmonary factors. Additionally, they ameliorate epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and fibroblast-myofibroblast transdifferentiation (FMT) by regulating multiple signal amplifiers in the lungs, thereby mitigating PF. This review highlights the significant role of monomer compounds derived from natural products in reducing inflammation, oxidative stress, and inhibiting EMT process. The article provides comprehensive information and serves as a solid foundation for further exploration of new strategies to harness the potential of botanicals in the treatment of PF.

Mingjing granule inhibits the subretinal fibrovascular membrane of two-stage laser-induced neovascular age-related macular degeneration in rats

Objective

The study aims to investigate the protective effect of Mingjing granule (MG) in a fibrovascular membrane rat model of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) and explore the underlying mechanism.

Methods

The nAMD fibrovascular membrane model was established by two-stage laser photocoagulation. BN rats were randomly divided into four groups: the model group was gavaged with distilled water, the anti-VEGF group was given an intravitreous injection of ranibizumab, the MG + anti-VEGF group was gavaged with MG combined with an intravitreous injection of ranibizumab, and the normal group not modeled only fed conventionally. Lesions were evaluated by color fundus photograph, optical coherence tomography, fundus fluorescein angiography, and retinal pigment epithelial-choroid-sclera flat mount. The changes in the retinal structure were observed by histopathology. The expression of inflammatory cell markers F4/80, Iba-1, and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP); the fibrosis-related factors collagen-1, fibronectin, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β); and the complement system-related factors C3a and C3aR in the retina were detected by immunofluorescence or qRT-PCR.

Results

The current study revealed that MG + anti-VEGF administration more significantly reduced the thickness of fibrovascular lesions, suppressed vascular leakage (exudation area and mean density value), inhibited the area of fibrovascular lesions, and restrained the formation of the fibrovascular membrane than the anti-VEGF agent alone in the two-stage laser-induced rat model. The fluorescence intensities of F4/80, Iba-1, collagen-1, fibronectin, TGF-β, and C3aR showed more significant inhibition in MG + anti-VEGF-treated rats than the anti-VEGF agent alone. The mRNA expression levels of F4/80, Iba-1, GFAP, collagen-1, fibronectin, α-SMA, TGF-β, and C3a showed lower levels in rats treated with MG + anti-VEGF than the anti-VEGF agent alone.

Conclusion

Combining MG with anti-VEGF treatment inhibits the growth of the fibrovascular membrane more effectively than using anti-VEGF treatment alone. The mechanism underlying this effect may involve limiting inflammatory cell aggregation, controlling complement system activation, and decreasing the expression of the fibrotic protein.

Therapeutic potential of traditional Chinese medicine for interstitial lung disease

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a chronic lung dysfunction disease with a poor prognosis and poor recovery. The clinically used therapeutic drugs, such as glucocorticoids and immunosuppressants, have no significant therapeutic effect and are accompanied with severe side effects. In recent years, considerable progress has been made in exploring and applying natural herb components for treating ILD. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) possesses innate, non-toxic characteristics and offers advantages in preventing and treating pulmonary ailments. However, a comprehensive study of TCM on ILD therapy has not yet been reviewed.

AIM OF THE REVIEW

This review aimed to provide a comprehensive summary of the monomer components, total extracts, and prescriptions of TCM for ILD therapy, elucidating their molecular mechanisms to serve as a reference in treating ILD.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The literature information was searched in the PubMed, Web of Science databases. The search keywords included 'interstitial lung disease', 'lung fibrosis' or 'pulmonary fibrosis', and 'traditional Chinese medicine', 'traditional herbal medicine', or 'herb medicine'.

RESULTS

The active components of single herbs, such as alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, phenols, and quinones, have potential therapeutic effects on ILD. The active extracts and prescriptions were also summarized and analyzed. The herbs, Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch. (Gancao), Astragalus membranaceus Fisch. Bunge. (Huangqi) and Angelicasinensis (Oliv.) Diels (Danggui), play significant roles in the treatment of ILD. The mechanisms involve the inhibition of inflammatory factor release, anti-oxidative injury, and interference with collagen production, etc. CONCLUSION: This review examines the therapeutic potential of TCM for ILD and elucidates its molecular mechanisms, demonstrating that mitigating inflammation and oxidative stress, modulating the immune system, and promoting tissue repair are efficacious strategies for ILD therapy. The depth research will yield both theoretical and practical implications.

Chinese medicine as a therapeutic option for pulmonary fibrosis: Clinical efficacies and underlying mechanisms

ETHNIC PHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is a fibrotic interstitial lung disease caused by continuous damage and excessive repair of alveolar epithelial cells, the pathogenesis of which is not fully understood. At present, the incidence of PF has increased significantly around the world. The therapeutic arsenals against PF are relatively limited, with often poor efficacy and many adverse effects. As a conventional and effective therapeutic strategy, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been widely applied in treating lung fibrosis for thousands of years in China. Due to the multi-ingredient, multi-target characteristics, Chinese medicines possess promising clinical benefits for PF treatment.

AIM OF THIS REVIEW

This review aims to systematically analyze the clinical efficacy of Chinese medicine on PF, and further summarize the relevant mechanisms of Chinese medicine treating PF in preclinical studies, in order to provide a comprehensive insight into the beneficial effects of Chinese medicines on PF.

METHODS

Eight major Chinese and English databases were searched from database inception up to October 2022, and all randomized clinical trials (RCTs) investigating the effects of Chinese medicine intervention on effectiveness and safety in the treatment of PF patients were included. Subsequently, preclinical studies related to the treatment of PF in Chinese medicine, including Chinese medicine compounds, Chinese herbal materials and extracts, and Chinese herbal formulas (CHFs) were searched through PubMed and Web of science to summarize the related mechanisms of Chinese medicine against PF.

RESULTS

A total of 56 studies with 4019 patients were included by searching the relevant databases. Total clinical efficacy, pulmonary function, blood gas analysis, lung high resolution CT (HRCT), 6 min walk test (6-MWT), St George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) scores, clinical symptom scores, TCM syndrome scores and other outcome indicators related to PF were analyzed. Besides, numerous preclinical studies have shown that many Chinese medicine compounds, Chinese herbal materials and extracts, and CHFs play a preventive and therapeutic role in PF by reducing oxidative stress, ameliorating inflammation, inhibiting epithelial-mesenchymal transition and myofibroblasts activation, and regulating autophagy and apoptosis.

CONCLUSION

Chinese medicines show potential as supplements or substitutes for treating PF. And studies on Chinese medicines will provide a new approach to better management of PF.

Protective effects of natural compounds against paraquat-induced pulmonary toxicity: the role of the Nrf2/ARE signaling pathway

Paraquat (PQ) is a toxic herbicide to humans. Once absorbed, it accumulates in the lungs. PQ has been well documented that the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is the main mechanism of its toxicity. Oxidative damage of PQ in lungs is represented as generation of cytotoxic and fibrotic mediators, interruption of epithelial and endothelial barriers, and inflammatory cell infiltration. No effective treatment for PQ toxicity is currently available. Several studies have shown that natural compounds (NCs) have the potential to alleviate PQ-induced pulmonary toxicity, due to their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. NCs function as protective agents through stimulation of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)/antioxidant response element (ARE) signaling pathways. Elevation of Nrf2 levels leads to the expression of its downstream enzymes such as SOD, CAT, and HO-1. The hypothesized role of the Nrf2/ARE signaling pathway as the protective mechanism of NCs against PQ-induced pulmonary toxicity is reviewed.

Trehalose prevents glyphosate-induced hepatic steatosis in roosters by activating the Nrf2 pathway and inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation

Glyphosate (Gly) is a globally spread herbicide that can cause toxic injuries to hepatocytes. Dietary trehalose (Tre) exerts cytoprotective effect in numerous liver diseases through anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. However, it is yet to be investigated whether Tre affords protection against Gly-induced hepatotoxicity. To evaluate the negative effect of Gly in liver and assess the possible protective role of Tre, sixty Hy-line Brown roosters were allocated into three groups: the first group presented the control with a normal diet, the second group fed normal feed containing 200mg/kg Gly, and the third group fed normal feed containing 200 mg/kg Gly and 5 g/kg Tre. Plasma and liver tissues were collected and analyzed after 120 days. Firstly, Gly-elevated serum levels of hepatic injury markers and liver histopathological damages were evidently alleviated by Tre administration. Also, Tre normalized Gly-altered serum and hepatic lipid profiles and Oil Red O-stained lipid levels, suggesting the improvement of hepatic steatosis. The severely accumulated malondialdehyde levels and impaired antioxidant status in Gly-exposed roosters were markedly improved by administration with Tre. Simultaneously, Gly-inhibited nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) level and consequent reduced levels of Nrf2-downstream targets in liver were markedly normalized by Tre treatment. Additionally, Tre treatment evidently mitigated Gly-induced inflammasome response via inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Overall, these observations provide novel insights that the protective action of Tre against Gly-induced hepatic steatosis is attributed to activation of Nrf2 pathway and inhibition of NLRP3 inflammasome activation.

Salvianolic Acid Ameliorates Pressure Overload-Induced Cardiac Endothelial Dysfunction via Activating HIF1[Formula: see text]/HSF1/CD31 Pathway

Pressure overload is a major risk factor for various cardiovascular diseases. Disorders of the endothelium are involved in the pathological mechanisms of pressure, and maintaining endothelial function is a practical strategy to alleviate pressure overload-induced cardiac injury. In this study, we provided evidence that salvianolic acid, the active component of Danshen, a traditional Chinese herb medicine, preserved pressure overload-induced cardiac dysfunction via protecting endothelium. Male C57BL/6J mice were imposed with transverse aortic constriction to mimic pressure overload and treated with salvianolic acid (200[Formula: see text]mg/kg/day) or vehicle for 6 weeks. The hemodynamic and cardiac functional parameters were detected by the cardiac catheter and transthoracic echocardiography. The pathological measurements were conducted by heart hematoxylin-eosin, wheat germ agglutinin staining, Masson's trichrome staining, and immunofluorescence staining. Endothelial cell (EC) proliferation was estimated using the Cell Counting Kit-8, EC migration was evaluated by scratched assay, and EC integrity was observed by electron microscope. Salvianolic acid notably inhibited cardiac chamber enlargement, restrained cardiac contractile dysfunction, and repressed cardiac fibrosis caused by chronic pressure overload. Salvianolic acid maintained endothelial tight junction integrity by boosting the expression of CD31. Furthermore, the endothelial protective effect of salvianolic acid against pressure overload is dependent on the activation of hypoxia-inducible factor 1[Formula: see text], which consequently activated heat shock factor 1 and promoted CD31 expression. Our study uncovered that salvianolic acid protected cardiac ECs against pressure overload via a HIF1[Formula: see text]/HSF1/CD31 pathway, indicating a potential appliance of salvianolic acid in hypertensive heart disease.

Polyphenols from Chinese Herbal Medicine: Molecular Mechanisms and Therapeutic Targets in Pulmonary Fibrosis

Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is a highly confounding and fatal pathological process with finite treatment options. Multiple factors such as oxidative and immune/inflammation involve key pathological processes in chronic lung disease, and their intimate interactions mediate chronic lung damage, denudation of the alveolar epithelium, hyperproliferation of type II alveolar epithelial cells (AECIIs), proliferation and differentiation of fibroblasts, and the permeability of microvessels. We reviewed the classic mechanism of PF and highlighted a few emerging mechanisms for studying complex networks in lung disease pathology. Polyphenols, as a multi-target drug, has excellent potential in the treatment of pulmonary fibrosis. We then reviewed recent advances in discovering phenolic compounds from fruits, tea, and medical herbs with the bioactivities of simultaneously regulating multiple factors (e.g., oxidative stress, inflammation, autophagy, apoptosis, pyroptosis) for minimizing pulmonary fibrosis injury. These compounds include resveratrol, curcumin, salvianolic acid B, epigallocatechin-3-gallate, gallic acid, corilagin. Each phenolic compound can exert its anti-PF effect through various mechanisms, and the signaling pathways involved in different phenolic compounds are not the same. This review summarized the available evidence on phenolic compounds' effectiveness in pulmonary diseases and explored the molecular mechanisms and therapeutic targets of phenolic compounds from Chinese herbal medicine with the properties of inhibition of ongoing fibrogenesis and resolution of existing fibrosis.

Screening and evaluation of quality markers from Shuangshen Pingfei formula for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis using network pharmacology and pharmacodynamic, phytochemical, and pharmacokinetic analyses

BACKGROUND

The Shuangshen Pingfei formula (SSPF), a classic Chinese medicine derivative formula, has been shown to exert therapeutic effects on idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). However, the quality control compounds of SSPF remain unclear.

PURPOSE

To select and confirm Q-markers of SSPF based on network pharmacology, cytobiology, animal-based pharmacodynamics, and phytochemical and pharmacokinetic analyses.

METHODS

A compound-target network was constructed based on previous research. In addition, high-degree compounds of SSPF were chosen as potential Q-marker candidates. Animal and cytological experiments were performed to verify key targets of IPF. Haematoxylin-eosin and Masson's trichrome staining were used to observe lung tissue pathology. Cytokine levels in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were measured using ELISA kits. Gene and protein expression levels were determined using PCR and western blotting, respectively. The contents of Q-marker candidates in different batches of SSPF were then determined for traceability research, and the quality consistency of SSPF was objectively evaluated using principal component analysis (PCA). Finally, pharmacokinetic research was performed, and candidates with desirable metabolite and bioavailability parameters were confirmed as Q-markers of SSPF.

RESULTS

The compound-target network included 56 compounds and 14 therapeutic targets. Animal experiments showed that SSPF attenuates lung fibrosis. SSPF decreased CC motif chemokine 2 (CCL2) and CC chemokine receptor type 2 (CCR2) levels in the BALF and downregulated the gene and protein expression of IPF therapy-related molecules, such as 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor 2A (HTR2A), CCL2, and CCR2, in the lungs. Cell experiments showed that nine Q-marker candidates in SSPF regulated the expression of CCL2 and CCR2, as predicted. Phytochemical analysis and PCA indicated that the qualities of SSPF in the nine batches were relatively stable. Pharmacokinetic studies demonstrated that mangiferin, salvianolic acid B, tanshinone IIA, naringin, and glycyrrhizic acid could be effectively absorbed into rat plasma, which ensured desirable bioavailability and confirmed their roles as Q-markers to represent anti-pulmonary fibrotic activity.

CONCLUSION

Our study is an integrated strategy, based on network pharmacology with experimental verification and phytochemical and pharmacokinetic analyses that provides a novel approach for Q-marker selection and validation of SSPF for IPF treatment.

Targeting Oxidative Stress as a Therapeutic Approach for Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic interstitial lung disease characterized by an abnormal reepithelialisation, an excessive tissue remodelling and a progressive fibrosis within the alveolar wall that are not due to infection or cancer. Oxidative stress has been proposed as a key molecular process in pulmonary fibrosis development and different components of the redox system are altered in the cellular actors participating in lung fibrosis. To this respect, several activators of the antioxidant machinery and inhibitors of the oxidant species and pathways have been assayed in preclinical in vitro and in vivo models and in different clinical trials. This review discusses the role of oxidative stress in the development and progression of IPF and its underlying mechanisms as well as the evidence of oxidative stress in human IPF. Finally, we analyze the mechanism of action, the efficacy and the current status of different drugs developed to inhibit the oxidative stress as anti-fibrotic therapy in IPF.

In vitro and computational insights revealing the potential inhibitory effect of Tanshinone IIA against influenza A virus

Seasonal human influenza is a serious respiratory infection caused by influenza viruses that can be found all over the world. Type A influenza is a contagious viral infection that, if left untreated, can lead to life-threatening consequences. Fortunately, the plant kingdom has many potent medicines with broad-spectrum antiviral activity. Herein, six plant constituents, namely Tanshinone IIA 1, Carnosic acid 2, Rosmarinic acid 3, Glycyrrhetinic acid 4, Baicalein 5, and Salvianolic acid B 6, were screened for their antiviral activities against H1N1 virus using in vitro and in silico approaches. Hence, their anti-influenza activities were tested in vitro to determine inhibitory concentration 50 (IC₅₀) values after measuring their CC₅₀ values using MTT assay on MDCK cells. Interestingly, Tanshinone IIA (TAN) 1 was the most promising member with CC₅₀ = 9.678 μg/ml. Moreover, the plaque reduction assay carried on TAN 1 revealed promising viral inhibition percentages of 97.9%, 95.8%, 94.4%, and 91.7% using concentrations 0.05 μg/μl, 0.025 μg/μl, 0.0125 μg/μl, and 0.006 μg/μl, respectively. Furthermore, in silico molecular docking disclosed the superior affinities of Salvianolic acid B (SAL) 6 towards both surface glycoproteins of influenza A virus (namely, hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA)). The docked complexes of both SAL and TAN inside HA and NA receptor pockets were selected for 100 ns MD simulations followed by MM-GBSA binding free energy calculation to confirm the docking results and give more insights regarding the stability of both compounds inside influenza mentioned receptors, respectively. The selection criteria of the previously mentioned complexes were based on the fact that SAL showed the highest docking scores on both viral HA and NA glycoproteins whereas TAN achieved the best inhibitory activity on the other hand. Finally, we urge more advanced preclinical and clinical research, particularly for TAN, which could be used to treat the human influenza A virus effectively.

Paraquat exposure impairs porcine oocyte meiotic maturation

Paraquat (PQ) is a heterocyclic pesticide that not only damages the testicular development and reduces the quality of semen, but also disturbs the secretion of hormones in the reproductive system. However, the effects of PQ on oocyte maturation and its toxic mechanism have not been yet fully clarified. Here we showed that PQ exposure could have toxic effects on porcine oocyte maturation. PQ exposure with 100 μM inhibited cumulus cell expansion and significantly reduced the rate of first polar body extrusion during oocyte maturation. PQ-exposed oocytes could not develop to the 2-cell and blastocyst stage. PQ exposure with 100 μM significantly increased abnormal spindle rate (65.2% ± 1.0%) and misaligned chromosome rate (63.2% ± 3.4%) compared to the control group (38.3% ± 1.0% and 38.4% ± 1.0%, respectively; P < 0.05). F-actin also exhibited reduced distribution in PQ-exposed oocytes (10.3% ± 1.0%) compared to the control group (14.4% ± 1.0%, P < 0.05). In addition, PQ exposure reduced the active mitochondria levels, but apparently increased the reactive oxygen species (ROS), rH2AX, and LC3 (autophagy marker) levels. qPCR analyses showed that PQ exposure caused the aberrant expression of genes associated with cumulus cell expansion, but did not affect the expression of apoptosis-related genes. Taken together, these results indicate that PQ exposure impaired oocyte nuclear and cytoplasmic maturation probably through oxidative stress.

Anti-SARS-CoV-2 activities of tanshinone IIA, carnosic acid, rosmarinic acid, salvianolic acid, baicalein, and glycyrrhetinic acid between computational and in vitro insights

Six compounds namely, tanshinone IIA (1), carnosic acid (2), rosmarinic acid (3), salvianolic acid B (4), baicalein (5), and glycyrrhetinic acid (6) were screened for their anti-SARS-CoV-2 activities against both the spike (S) and main protease (Mpro) receptors using molecular docking studies. Molecular docking recommended the superior affinities of both salvianolic acid B (4) and glycyrrhetinic acid (6) as the common results from the previously published computational articles. On the other hand, their actual anti-SARS-CoV-2 activities were tested in vitro using plaque reduction assay to calculate their IC₅₀ values after measuring their CC₅₀ values using MTT assay on Vero E6 cells. Surprisingly, tanshinone IIA (1) was the most promising member with IC₅₀ equals 4.08 ng μl^-1. Also, both carnosic acid (2) and rosmarinic acid (3) showed promising IC₅₀ values of 15.37 and 25.47 ng μl^-1, respectively. However, salvianolic acid (4) showed a weak anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity with an IC₅₀ value equals 58.29 ng μl^-1. Furthermore, molecular dynamics simulations for 100 ns were performed for the most active compound from the computational point of view (salvianolic acid 4), besides, the most active one biologically (tanshinone IIA 1) on both the S and Mpro complexes of them (four different molecular dynamics processes) to confirm the docking results and give more insights regarding the stability of both compounds inside the SARS-CoV-2 mentioned receptors, respectively. Also, to understand the mechanism of action for the tested compounds towards SARS-CoV-2 inhibition it was necessary to examine the mode of action for the most two promising compounds, tanshinone IIA (1) and carnosic acid (2). Both compounds (1 and 2) showed very promising virucidal activity with a most prominent inhibitory effect on viral adsorption rather than its replication. This recommended the predicted activity of the two compounds against the S protein of SARS-CoV-2 rather than its Mpro protein. Our results could be very promising to rearrange the previously mentioned compounds based on their actual inhibitory activities towards SARS-CoV-2 and to search for the reasons behind the great differences between their in silico and in vitro results against SARS-CoV-2. Finally, we recommend further advanced preclinical and clinical studies especially for tanshinone IIA (1) to be rapidly applied in COVID-19 management either alone or in combination with carnosic acid (2), rosmarinic acid (3), and/or salvianolic acid (4).

Active Components from Traditional Herbal Medicine for the Potential Therapeutics of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis: A Systemic Review

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a tumor-like disease, is a serious and fatal pulmonary inflammatory condition usually characterized by irreversible destruction of the lung parenchyma, excessive matrix accumulation, and decline in lung function. IPF still remains a great burden to the universe. At the moment, the available therapeutic regimens utilized for IPF such as non-pharmacological therapies (lung transplantation) and pharmacological therapies (drugs, nintedanib, pirfenidone, etc.) are normally accompanied by significant limitations, such as adverse reactions, low bioavailability, poor selectivity, low-tissue distribution, in vivo instability, systemic toxicity, inconveniency and unsafe usage. There is a need for the exploration and discovery of new novel remedies by researchers and scientists globally. Recent numerous preliminary studies have laid significant emphasis and demonstrated the antifibrotic importance, good curative actions (little or no adverse reactions), and multiple target sites of the active components from traditional herbal medicine (THM) against IPF, which could serve as a modern, alternative and potential therapeutics or drug candidates in treating IPF. This paper extensively summarizes the pharmacological actions and signaling pathways or mechanisms of active components obtained from THM for treating IPF. Moreover, the sources and modernization, markets, relevant FDA and CFDA studies (the USA and China), preclinical analysis, and various compositions of THM currently under clinical trials are also highlighted. Additionally, this present analytical data would be instrumental towards further drug progression or advancement of active components from THM for the potential therapeutics of IPF in the future.

Mechanisms of deleterious effects of some pesticide exposure on pigs

The increase in the size of the global population increases the food and energy demand, making the use of pesticides in agricultural and livestock industries unavoidable. Exposure to pesticides can be toxic to the non-target species, such as humans, wildlife, and livestock, in addition to the target organisms. Various chemicals are used in the livestock industry to control harmful organisms, such as insects, weeds, and parasites. Pigs are one of the most important food sources for humans. In addition, pigs can be used as promising models for assessing the risk of absorption of environmental pollutants through the skin and oral exposure since they are physiologically similar to humans. Exposure to numerous environmental pollutants, such as mycotoxins, persistent organic pollutants, and heavy metals, has been reported to adversely affect growth, fertility, and endocrine homeostasis in pigs. Various pesticides have been observed in porcine tissues, blood, urine, and processed foods; however, there is a lack of comprehensive understanding of their effects on porcine health. This review provides a comprehensive description of the characteristics of pesticides that pigs can be exposed to and how their exposure affects porcine reproductive function, intestinal health, and endocrine homeostasis in vivo and in vitro.

Role of the Hippo signaling pathway in safflower yellow pigment treatment of paraquat-induced pulmonary fibrosis

OBJECTIVE

To elucidate the molecular mechanisms by which safflower yellow (SY) mediates therapeutic effects in rats with paraquat intoxication-induced pulmonary fibrosis.

METHODS

Rats received combinations of paraquat, SY, and SB431542, a transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 receptor antagonist. Survival over 28 days was assessed by Kaplan-Meier analysis. Rat tissue and serum samples were assessed by hematoxylin and eosin staining, Masson's Trichrome staining, immunoblotting, quantitative polymerase chain reaction, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and transmission electron microscopy.

RESULTS

Survival rates were higher in SY and SB431542 groups (treatment and paraquat) than in the exposure group (paraquat alone). In the exposure group, serum TGF-β1 levels increased between days 3 and 14; mammalian STE20-like (MST) levels increased between days 3 and 7; TGF-β1 and Smad3 levels increased between days 3 and 14; and Yap and connective tissue growth factor levels increased between days 3 and 28. TGF-β1 levels were lower in SY and SB431542 groups than in the exposure group. Pathology scores were higher in exposure, SY, and SB431542 groups than in the control group throughout the experiment.

CONCLUSIONS

In rats with paraquat intoxication-induced pulmonary fibrosis, Hippo signaling could be activated by the MST-Yap pathway; SY and SB431542 could alleviate pulmonary fibrosis via Hippo signaling.

Chinese Herbs and Repurposing Old Drugs as Therapeutic Agents in the Regulation of Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in Pulmonary Diseases

Several pro-inflammatory factors and proteins have been characterized that are involved in the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases, including acute respiratory distress syndrome, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and asthma, induced by oxidative stress, cytokines, bacterial toxins, and viruses. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) act as secondary messengers and are products of normal cellular metabolism. Under physiological conditions, ROS protect cells against oxidative stress through the maintenance of cellular redox homeostasis, which is important for proliferation, viability, cell activation, and organ function. However, overproduction of ROS is most frequently due to excessive stimulation of either the mitochondrial electron transport chain and xanthine oxidase or reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) by pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin-1β and tumor necrosis factor α. NADPH oxidase activation and ROS overproduction could further induce numerous inflammatory target proteins that are potentially mediated via Nox/ROS-related transcription factors triggered by various intracellular signaling pathways. Thus, oxidative stress is considered important in pulmonary inflammatory processes. Previous studies have demonstrated that redox signals can induce pulmonary inflammatory diseases. Thus, therapeutic strategies directly targeting oxidative stress may be effective for pulmonary inflammatory diseases. Therefore, drugs with anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative properties may be beneficial to these diseases. Recent studies have suggested that traditional Chinese medicines, statins, and peroxisome proliferation-activated receptor agonists could modulate inflammation-related signaling processes and may be beneficial for pulmonary inflammatory diseases. In particular, several herbal medicines have attracted attention for the management of pulmonary inflammatory diseases. Therefore, we reviewed the pharmacological effects of these drugs to dissect how they induce host defense mechanisms against oxidative injury to combat pulmonary inflammation. Moreover, the cytotoxicity of oxidative stress and apoptotic cell death can be protected via the induction of HO-1 by these drugs. The main objective of this review is to focus on Chinese herbs and old drugs to develop anti-inflammatory drugs able to induce HO-1 expression for the management of pulmonary inflammatory diseases.

The herbicide paraquat-induced molecular mechanisms in the development of acute lung injury and lung fibrosis

The herbicide paraquat (PQ; 1,1'-dimethyl-4,4'-bipyridylium dichloride) is a highly toxic organic heterocyclic herbicide that has been widely used in agricultural settings. Since its commercial introduction in the early 1960s, numerous cases of fatal PQ poisonings attributed to accidental and/or intentional ingestion of PQ concentrated formulations have been reported. The clinical manifestations of the respiratory system during the acute phase of PQ poisoning mainly include acute lung injury (ALI)/acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), followed by pulmonary fibrosis in a later phase. The focus of this review is to summarize the most recent publications related to PQ-induced lung toxicity as well as the underlying molecular mechanisms for PQ-mediated pathologic processes. Growing sets of data from in vitro and in vivo models have demonstrated the involvement of the PQ in regulating lung oxidative stress, inflammatory response, epigenetics, apoptosis, autophagy, and the progression of lung fibrosis. The article also summarizes novel therapeutic avenues based on a literature review, which can be explored as potential means to combat PQ-induced lung toxicity. Finally, we also presented clinical studies on the association of PQ exposure with the incidence of lung injury and pulmonary fibrosis.

5-Aminolevulinic acid combined with sodium ferrous citrate (5-ALA/SFC) ameliorated liver injury in a murine acute graft-versus-host disease model by reducing inflammation responses through PGC1-α activation

Acute graft-versus-host disease (aGvHD) remains lethal as a life-threatening complication after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Inflammatory responses play an important role in aGvHD. 5-Aminolevulinic acid combined with sodium ferrous citrate (5-ALA/SFC) has been widely reported to have a major effect on the anti-inflammatory response; however, these effects in aGvHD models have never been reported. In this study, a murine aGvHD model was developed by transferring spleen cells from donor B6/N (H-2kb) mice into recipient B6D2F1 (H-2kb/d) mice. In addition to evaluating manifestations in aGvHD mice, we analyzed the serum ALT/AST levels, liver pathological changes, infiltrating cells and mRNA expression of inflammation-related cytokines and chemokines. 5-ALA/SFC treatment significantly ameliorated liver injury due to aGvHD and decreased the population of liver-infiltrating T cells, resulting in a reduced expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. Furthermore, the mRNA expression proliferator-activated receptor-γcoactivator (PGC-1α) was enhanced, which might explain why 5-ALA/SFC treatment downregulates inflammatory signaling pathways. Our results indicated that 5-ALA/SFC can ameliorate liver injury induced by aGvHD through the activation of PGC-1α and modulation of the liver mRNA expression of inflammatory-related cytokines and chemokines. This may be a novel strategy for treating this disease.

Inhibiting TGF-[Formula: see text] 1-Mediated Cellular Processes as an Effective Strategy for the Treatment of Pulmonary Fibrosis with Chinese Herbal Medicines

Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is a chronic and irreversible interstitial lung disease that even threatens the lives of some patients infected with COVID-19. PF is a multicellular pathological process, including the initial injuries of epithelial cells, recruitment of inflammatory cells, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, activation and differentiation of fibroblasts, etc. TGF-[Formula: see text]1 acts as a key effect factor that participates in these cellular processes of PF. Recently, much attention was paid to inhibiting TGF-[Formula: see text]1 mediated cell processes in the treatment of PF with Chinese herbal medicines (CHM), an important part of traditional Chinese medicine. Here, this review first summarized the effects of TGF-[Formula: see text]1 in different cellular processes of PF. Then, this review summarized the recent research on CHM (compounds, multi-components, single medicines and prescriptions) to directly and/or indirectly inhibit TGF-[Formula: see text]1 signaling (TLRs, PPARs, micrRNA, etc.) in PF. Most of the research focused on CHM natural compounds, including but not limited to alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols and terpenes. After review, the research perspectives of CHM on TGF-[Formula: see text]1 inhibition in PF were further discussed. This review hopes that revealing the inhibiting effects of CHM on TGF-[Formula: see text]1-mediated cellular processes of PF can promote CHM to be better understood and utilized, thus transforming the therapeutic activities of CHM into practice.

The Effect of Salvianolic Acid on Vascular Protection and Possible Mechanisms

Salvia miltiorrhiza (Danshen), as an important traditional Chinese medicinal plant, has been used in China for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases for hundreds of years. Salvianolic acids (salvianolic acid A and salvianolic acid B) as the most abundant water-soluble component extracted from Salvia miltiorrhiza have attracted more and more attention from cardiovascular scientists due to its comprehensive cardiovascular actions. In vivo and in vitro studies have rendered salvianolic acid an excellent drug candidate for the treatment and prevention of cardiovascular diseases. In this review, we surveyed the protective effects of salvianolic acid A and salvianolic acid B against cardiovascular diseases and the pharmacological basis, providing a strong scientific rationale for elucidating the important role of Salvia miltiorrhiza in cardiovascular therapy. More importantly, we also hope to provide new inspiration and perspectives on the development and innovation of small-molecule cardiovascular drugs based on salvianolic acid.

Andrade-Oliveira Salvianolic Acid B Modulates Caspase-1-Mediated Pyroptosis in Renal Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury via Nrf2 Pathway

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a serious disease characterized by a rapid decline in kidney function. Oxidative stress is the primary pathogenesis of AKI. Salvianolic acid B (SalB), a water-soluble compound extracted from Salvia miltiorrhiza, possesses a potent antioxidant activity. Here, we investigated the protective effect of SalB against renal ischemia-reperfusion injury (I/R) in mice. Briefly, by analyzing renal function, oxidative stress markers and inflammatory biomarkers, we found that SalB could improve kidney damage, reduce oxidative stress and inflammatory factor levels. Interestingly, the expression of the NLR family pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3), caspase-1, pyroptosis related proteins gasdermin D (GSDMD) and interleukin (IL)-1β, which were significantly upregulated in the kidney tissues of I/R group, was effectively reversed by SalB. Meanwhile, renal tubular epithelial cells hypoxia and reoxygenation model was used to explore pyroptosis of caspase-1-dependent. Further mechanism study showed that the SalB pretreatment could promote the increase of nuclear factor erythroid-2 related factor 2 (Nrf2) nuclear accumulation, which significantly suppressed oxidative stress, proinflammatory cytokines, NLRP3 inflammasome activation and pyroptosis. These results indicate that SalB can inhibit caspase-1/GSDMD-mediated pyroptosis by activating Nrf2/NLRP3 signaling pathway, resulting in alleviating I/R injury in mice.

The role of NOX4 in pulmonary diseases

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase 4 (NOX4) is a subtype of the NOX family, which is mainly expressed in the pulmonary vasculature and pulmonary endothelial cells in the respiratory system. NOX4 has unique characteristics, and is a constitutively active enzyme that primarily produces hydrogen peroxide. The signaling pathways associated with NOX4 are complicated. Negative and positive feedback play significant roles in regulating NOX4 expression. The role of NOX4 is controversial because NOX4 plays a protective or damaging role in different respiratory diseases. This review summarizes the structure, enzymatic properties, regulation, and signaling pathways of NOX4. This review then introduces the roles of NOX4 in different diseases in the respiratory system, such as acute respiratory distress syndrome, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and pulmonary fibrosis.

Klotho Alleviates Lung Injury Caused by Paraquat via Suppressing ROS/P38 MAPK-Regulated Inflammatory Responses and Apoptosis

Acute lung injury (ALI) induced by paraquat (PQ) progresses rapidly with high mortality; however, there is no effective treatment, and the specific mechanism is not well understood. The antiaging protein klotho (KL) has multiple functions and exerts significant influences on various pathophysiological processes. This work evaluated the impact of KL on PQ-induced ALI and investigated its underlying mechanisms. As for in vivo research, C57BL/6 mice were treated with PQ (30 mg/kg) intraperitoneal (IP) injection to create a toxicity model of ALI (PQ group). The mice were divided into control group, KL group, PQ group, and PQ+KL group. For in vitro experiment, A549 cells were incubated with or without KL and then treated in the presence or absence of PQ for 24 h. In vivo result indicated that KL reduced the mortality, reduced IL-1β and IL-6 in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), attenuated ALI, and decreased apoptosis in situ. In vitro result revealed that KL significantly improved cell viability, reduced the levels of IL-1β and IL-6 in culture supernatants, suppressed cell apoptosis, inhibited caspase-3 activation, and enhanced mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) after PQ treatment. Besides, KL effectively abated reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, improved GSH content, and lowered lipid peroxidation in PQ-exposed A549 cells. Further experiments indicated that phosphorylated JNK and P38 MAPK was increased after PQ treatment; however, KL pretreatment could significantly lower the phosphorylation of P38 MAPK. Suppression of P38 MAPK improved cell viability, alleviated inflammatory response, and reduced apoptosis-related signals; however, it had no obvious effect on the production of ROS. Treatment with N-acetylcysteine (NAC), a classic ROS scavenger, could suppress ROS production and P38 MAPK activation. These findings suggested that KL could alleviate PQ-caused ALI via inhibiting ROS/P38 MAPK signaling-regulated inflammatory responses and mitochondria-dependent apoptosis.

Chemical and pharmacological research on the polyphenol acids isolated from Danshen: A review of salvianolic acids

Danshen, the dried root of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge, is a common medicinal herb in Traditional Chinese Medicine, which has been used for the treatment of a number of diseases for thousands of years. More than 2000 years ago, the Chinese early pharmacy monograph "Shennong Materia Medica" recorded that Danshen could be used for the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases, cardiovascular diseases, certain gynecological diseases, etc. Since then, Danshen has been widely used clinically in many different prescriptions for many different diseases, especially for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Nowadays, many pharmacological studies about the water-soluble components from Danshen have been reported, especially salvianolic acids. It turned out that salvianolic acids showed strong anti-lipid peroxidation and anti-thrombic activities, and among them, SalAA and SalAB were the most potent. This review focused on the achievements in research of salvianolic acids regarding their bioactivities and pharmacological effects. These studies not only shed light on the water-soluble active components of Danshen and their mechanisms at the molecular level, but also provided theoretical information for the development of new medicines from Danshen for the treatment of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, inflammatory diseases, metabolic diseases, etc.

Salvia miltiorrhiza Restrains Reactive Oxygen Species-Associated Pulmonary Fibrosis via Targeting Nrf2-Nox4 Redox Balance

Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is characterized by myofibroblast activation, which can be triggered by oxidative stress. In this study, we investigated the antifibrotic effect of the ethyl acetate extract of Salvia miltiorrhiza (EASM) on PF and examined the underlying molecular mechanism. EASM suppressed myofibroblast activation with reduced extracellular matrix deposition in the lungs of mice subjected to bleomycin (BLM) challenge, demonstrating the inhibitory effects on PF. EASM positively alleviated oxidative stress by upregulating nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and concomitantly downregulating NADPH oxidase 4 (Nox4) in the lungs of BLM-treated mice. This effect was also observed in an in vitro model of transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-[Formula: see text]1)-stimulated fibroblast activation. EASM reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in fibroblasts by stabilizing Nrf2 protein with promoting kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1) degradation. Nrf2 knockdown in the lungs of BLM-treated mice diminished the inhibitory effects of EASM on fibrosis, providing evidence in vivo to address the unique role of Nrf2. Additionally, EASM inhibited TGF-[Formula: see text]1/Smad3 signaling by downregulating protein kinase C delta (PKC-[Formula: see text] and Smad3 phosphorylation (p-Smad3), which led to suppression of the TGF-[Formula: see text]1-induced fibrogenic response. These results indicate that EASM exhibits potent antifibrotic activity in vitro and in vivo, which might be associated with activation of Nrf2 pathway and inhibition of TGF-[Formula: see text]1/Smad3 pathway. Our findings support that EASM may act as an effective antifibrotic remedy for PF.

Ghrelin ameliorates A549 cell apoptosis caused by paraquat via p38-MAPK regulated mitochondrial apoptotic pathway

Paraquat has relatively strong detrimental effects on humans and animals and can cause acute lung injury with high mortality. Ghrelin is a brain-gut peptide which plays important roles in regulating various physiological processes. This study investigated whether ghrelin could inhibit paraquat-induced lung injuries and attempted to elucidate the possible molecular mechanisms. A549 cells were preincubated with different concentrations of ghrelin and then treated with 200 μM of PQ for 24 h. Then cell survival, apoptosis, cellular oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation of A549 cells were detected after different treatments. Subsequently, we analyzed the mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) and measured caspase-3 activation in A549 cells. In addition, we investigated the activation of the MAPKs pathway and the function of p38-MAPK within mitochondrial apoptosis. Our study indicated that ghrelin administration improved cell viability and reduced apoptosis of PQ-treated A549 cells dose-dependently. Ghrelin treatment reduced the elevation of ROS and MDA, while improved GSH content in A549 cells after paraquat exposure. Moreover, we found that ghrelin dose-dependently increased ΔΨm and decreased caspase-3 activity. The phosphorylated p38 MAPK and JNK levels elevated following PQ exposure, while the phosphorylation of p38 MAPK decreased following ghrelin pretreatment. p38 MAPK siRNA or SB203580 pretreatment ameliorated PQ-caused cell injury and apoptosis related signals, however, the intracellular ROS production was not affected. N-Acetylcysteine (NAC), a classic antioxidant pretreatment decreased the phosphorylated p38 MAPK level and intracellular ROS production, alleviated cell injury, and inhibited apoptosis. The results showed that p38-MAPK pathway plays an important role in PQ-caused alveolar epithelial cell insult, and ghrelin might attenuate PQ-induced cell injury by inhibiting ROS-induced p38-MAPK modulated mitochondrial apoptotic pathway.

Magnesium lithospermate B protects the endothelium from inflammation-induced dysfunction through activation of Nrf2 pathway

Magnesium lithospermate B (MLB) is an active component of Salvia miltiorrhiza Radix, a traditional Chinese herb used in treating cardiovascular diseases. In this study, we investigated the protective effects of MLB against inflammation-induced endothelial dysfunction in vitro and in vivo, and the underlying mechanisms. Endothelial dysfunction was induced in human dermal microvascular endothelial cells (HMEC-1) in vitro by lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 1 μg/mL). We showed that pretreatment with MLB (10-100 μM) dose-dependently inhibited LPS-induced upregulation of inflammatory cytokines ICAM1, VCAM1, and TNFα, which contributed to reduced leukocytes adhesion and attenuation of endothelial hyperpermeability in HMEC-1 cells. SD rats were injected with LPS (10 mg/kg, ip) to induce endothelial dysfunction in vivo. We showed that pretreatment with MLB (25-100 mg/kg, ip) dose-dependently restored LPS-impaired endothelial-dependent vasodilation in superior mesenteric artery (SMA), attenuated leukocyte adhesion in mesenteric venules and decreased vascular leakage in the lungs. We further elucidated the mechanisms underlying the protective effects of MLB, and revealed that MLB pretreatment inhibited NF-κB activation through inhibition of IκBα degradation and subsequent phosphorylation of NF-κB p65 in vitro and in vivo. In HMEC-1 cells, MLB pretreatment activated the nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) pathway. Knockdown of Nrf2 with siRNA abolished the inhibitory effects of MLB on IκBα degradation and ICAM1 up-regulation, which were mimicked by PKC inhibition (Gö6983) or PI3K/Akt inhibition (LY294002). In summary, our results demonstrate that MLB inhibits NF-κB activation through PKC- and PI3K/Akt-mediated Nrf2 activation in HMEC-1 cells and protects against LPS-induced endothelial dysfunction in murine model of acute inflammation.

Melittin Exerts Beneficial Effects on Paraquat-Induced Lung Injuries In Mice by Modifying Oxidative Stress and Apoptosis

Melittin (MEL) is a 26-amino acid peptide with numerous biological activities. Paraquat (PQ) is one of the most widely used herbicides, although it is extremely toxic to humans. To date, PQ poisoning has no effective treatment, and therefore the current study aimed to assess for the first time the possible effects of MEL on PQ-induced lung injuries in mice. Mice received a single intraperitoneal (IP) injection of PQ (30 mg/kg), followed by IP treatment with MEL (0.1 and 0.5 mg/kg) twice per week for four consecutive weeks. Histological alterations, oxidative stress, and apoptosis in the lungs were studied. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining indicated that MEL markedly reduced lung injuries induced by PQ. Furthermore, treatment with MEL increased superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity, and decreased malonaldehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) levels in lung tissue homogenates. Moreover, immunohistochemical staining showed that B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) and survivin expressions were upregulated after MEL treatment, while Ki-67 expression was downregulated. The high dose of MEL was more effective than the low dose in all experiments. In summary, MEL efficiently reduced PQ-induced lung injuries in mice. Specific pharmacological examinations are required to determine the effectiveness of MEL in cases of human PQ poisoning.

Salvianolic acid B ameliorates liver injury in a murine aGvHD model by decreasing inflammatory responses via upregulation of HO-1

Acute graft-versus-host disease (aGvHD) remains lethal, even after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Inflammatory responses play an important role in aGvHD. Salvianolic acid B (Sal B) has been widely reported to have a major effect on the anti-inflammatory response, but these effects in an aGvHD model have never been reported. B6 donor splenocytes were transplanted into unirradiated BDF1 recipients and liver and serum were collected on day 14 after transplantation with or without Sal B administration. We measured the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines and other manifestations in aGvHD mice after Sal B treatment. Sal B ameliorated liver injury in aGvHD and promoted survival in mice. Sal B treatment resulted in decreased expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines whose expressions in liver are normally elevated by aGvHD. Furthermore, Sal B treatment also enhanced PGC-1α expression in liver tissue and HO-1 expression in nonparenchymal cells. In addition, HO-1 inhibitor abrogated the improvement of survival rate of mice with aGvHD. These results indicated that the protective effect of Sal B relies on suppressing the inflammatory response phase in the aGvHD model, presumably by inducing HO-1. Taken together our data showed that Sal B ameliorates liver injury in aGvHD by decreasing inflammatory responses via upregulation of HO-1. It may provide a novel way to deal with this disease.

Salvianolic Acids: Potential Source of Natural Drugs for the Treatment of Fibrosis Disease and Cancer

Salvianolic acids, the most effective and abundant compounds extracted from Salvia miltiorrhiza (Danshen), are well known for its good anti-oxidative activity. Danshen has been extensively used as a traditional medicine to treat cardiovascular-related diseases in China and other Asian countries for hundreds of years. Recently, more and more studies have demonstrated that salvianolic acids also have a good effect on the alleviation of fibrosis disease and the treatment of cancer. In vivo and in vitro experiments have demonstrated that salvianolic acids can modulate signal transduction within fibroblasts and cancer cells. It is discovered that the cancer treatment of salvianolic acids is not only because salvianolic acids promote the apoptosis of cancer cells, but also due to the inhibition of cancer-associated epithelial-mesenchymal transition processes. In this article, we review a variety of studies focusing on the comprehensive roles of salvianolic acids in the treatment of fibrosis disease and cancer. These perspectives on the therapeutic potential of salvianolic acids highlight the importance of these compounds, which could be the novel and attractive drugs for fibrosis disease and cancer.

Costunolide inhibits pulmonary fibrosis via regulating NF-kB and TGF-β1/Smad2/Nrf2-NOX4 signaling pathways

Specific study about the inhibitory effect of costunolide (CN) and relevant mechanism is of great significance for the treatment of pulmonary fibrosis. Here, the pharmacological activity of costunolide on the treatment of pulmonary fibrosis was investigated in vivo and in vitro. The in vivo mice study, mice were received intratracheal injection of bleomycin (BLM, 5 mg/kg) on 0 day to obtain BLM-induced pulmonary fibrosis firstly. From 2 day to 21 day, mice were orally administered with different dose of CN (low dose(CNL): 10 mg/kg, high dose(CNH): 20 mg/kg) and pirfenidone (PFD)(positive control, 50 mg/kg). The in vitro cells model, cells were incubated with recombinant human TGF-β1 for 24 h to get TGF-β₁-induced pulmonary fibrosis. Cells were treated differently for 24 h and divided into five groups. Then, the activity of CN was evaluated by the expression level of related protein and the factors of oxidative stress in vivo and in vitro, and the mechanism was tested from the involved channel protein aspect. As a result, from the comparison of multiple factors (α-SMA, collagen type I/III, HYP, MDA, SOD) between pirfenidone group and CN group, it revealed the beneficial effects of CN against BLM-induced and TGF-β₁-induced pulmonary fibrosis. In addition, our study also proved that CN exerted its effects through suppressing the NF-kB dependent inflammation and regulated TGF-β₁/Smad₂/ NOX₄-Nrf₂ signaling pathways. In conclusion, CN could be a potential theraputic candidate for the treatment pulmonary fibrosis in the future.

Beneficial effects of ascorbic acid to treat lung fibrosis induced by paraquat

Paraquat (PQ) is one of the most widely employed herbicides that is used worldwide and it causes severe toxic effects in humans and animals. A PQ exposition can lead to pulmonary fibrosis (PF) and the mechanisms seem to be linked to oxidative stress, although other pathways have been suggested. Antioxidants can be useful as a therapy, although interventions with this kind of system are still controversial. Hence, this study has investigated the role of ascorbic acid (vitamin C) post-treatment on PQ-induced PF in male C57/BL6 mice. Pulmonary fibrosis was induced by a single PQ injection (10mg/kg; i.p.). The control group received a PQ vehicle. Seven days after the PQ or vehicle injections, the mice received vitamin C (150 mg/kg, ip, once a day) or the vehicle, over the following 7 days. Twenty-four hours after the last dose of vitamin C or the vehicle, the mice were euthanized and their bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and their lungs were collected. The data obtained showed that vitamin C reduced the cellular recruitment, the secretion of IL-17 –a cytokine involved in neutrophils migration, TGF-β–a pro-fibrotic mediator and the collagen deposition. Moreover, vitamin C elevated the superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase levels, both antioxidant enzymes, but it did not alter the tracheal contractile response that was evoked by methacholine. Therefore, the researchers have highlighted the mechanisms of vitamin C as being non-invasive and have suggested it as a promising tool to treat lung fibrosis when it is induced by a PQ intoxication.

Delayed death following paraquat poisoning: three case reports and a literature review

Paraquat (PQ) poisoning is principally reported in developing countries. However, most fatalities occur elsewhere due to the induction of multi-organ failure. PQ poisoning can hardly be managed by clinical practice, and no specific antidote has come into existence yet. Here three cases, including 17-, 20-, and 23-year-old men, who were poisoned with PQ, have been reported. Furthermore, the literature regarding biological mechanisms, clinical manifestation, and treatment of PQ-induced toxicity was reviewed. Patients who, either intentionally or accidentally, ingested PQ earlier were initially found to be stable at the emergency department (ED). Therefore, they were discharged from the hospital under a follow-up. However, after several days, the patients were referred to the hospital for the second time and despite cardiovascular resuscitation (CPR) efforts, they suddenly expired. The delayed death following exposure to PQ was reported for inducing gradual progressive pulmonary fibrosis, metabolic acidosis, neurotoxicity, renal failure, and liver injury in poisoned patients. Therefore, PQ-intoxicated patients should be supervised for up to several weeks, and kept in the hospital for a longer period of time. Clinical manifestations and laboratory findings are beneficial markers that act as useful predictors of PQ poisoning.

Therapeutic Potential of Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma against Human Diseases Based on Activation of Nrf2-Mediated Antioxidant Defense System: Bioactive Constituents and Mechanism of Action

Oxidative stress plays a central role in the pathogenesis of many human diseases. The nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is a key transcription factor regulating the intracellular antioxidant response and is an emerging target for the prevention and therapy of oxidative stress-related diseases. Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (SMRR) is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and is commonly used for the therapy of cardiac cerebral diseases. Cumulative evidences indicated that the extract of SMRR and its constituents, represented by lipophilic diterpenoid quinones and hydrophilic phenolic acids, were capable of activating Nrf2 and inhibiting oxidative stress. These bioactive constituents demonstrated a therapeutic potential against human diseases, exemplified by cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, diabetes, nephropathy, and inflammation, based on the induction of Nrf2-mediated antioxidant response and the inhibition of oxidative stress. In the present review, we introduced the SMRR and Nrf2 signaling pathway, summarized the constituents with an Nrf2-inducing effect isolated from SMRR, and discussed the molecular mechanism and pharmacological functions of the SMRR extract and its constituents.

Angptl2 deficiency attenuates paraquat (PQ)-induced lung injury in mice by altering inflammation, oxidative stress and fibrosis through NF-κB pathway

Paraquat (PQ) is one of the most extensively used herbicides, possessing high toxicity for humans and animals. The lung is the main target organ by the poisoning of PQ resulting in acute lung injury. Nonetheless, molecular mechanisms underlying PQ-induced lung injury remain unclear. Here, we ask if angiopoietin-like protein 2 (Angptl2), a pro-inflammatory protein, contributes to inflammation that accelerates acute lung injury. The results indicated that abundant Angptl2 expression was observed in lung tissues of PQ-treated mice. Histological analysis revealed that PQ-induced histological changes were alleviated by Angptl2 knockout (Angptl2^-/-). Angptl2^-/- in PQ-treated mice attenuated acute lung injury progression by reducing the number of total cells, total leukocytes, neutrophils and macrophages in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and reducing inflammatory response through the inactivation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) pathway. Angptl2^-/- reduced oxidative stress in PQ-treated mice, as evidenced by the enhanced superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in serum or lung tissue samples, which was accompanied with increased expressions of nuclear respiratory factor 2 (Nrf-2), heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO-1). PQ-induced fibrosis was also improved in Angptl2^-/- mice by decreasing pulmonary transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 expressions. In vitro, we found that Angptl2 knockdown-suppressed inflammation, oxidative stress and fibrosis was restored by increasing NF-κB activation in PQ-incubated A549 cells; however, the results above were significantly reversed by inactivating NF-κB using its inhibitor, Bay 11-7085 or LY2409881. Therefore, Angptl2 could provide therapeutic effects on PQ-induced acute lung injury through inhibiting inflammation, oxidative stress and fibrosis by regulating NF-κB pathway.

Paraquat Induces Peripheral Myelin Disruption and Locomotor Defects: Crosstalk with LXR and Wnt Pathways

AIMS

Paraquat (PQT), a redox-active herbicide, is a free radical-producing molecule, causing damage particularly to the nervous system; thus, it is employed as an animal model for Parkinson's disease. However, its impact on peripheral nerve demyelination is still unknown. Our aim is to decipher the influence of PQT-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production on peripheral myelin.

RESULTS

We report that PQT provokes severe locomotor and sensory defects in mice. PQT elicited an oxidative stress in the nerve, resulting in an increase of lipid peroxidation and protein carbonylation, despite the induction of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)-dependent antioxidant defenses. We observed a dramatic disorganization of myelin sheaths in the sciatic nerves, dysregulation of myelin gene expression, and aggregation of myelin proteins, a hallmark of demyelination. PQT altered myelin gene expression via liver X receptor (LXR) signaling, a negative regulator of peripheral myelin gene expression through its dialog with the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. PQT prevented β-catenin binding on myelin gene promoters, resulting in the inhibition of Wnt/β-catenin-dependent myelin gene expression. Wnt pathway activation by LiCl dampened the deleterious effects of PQT. LiCl blocked PQT-induced oxidative stress and reduced Schwann cell death. LiCl+PQT-treated mice had normal sensorimotor behaviors and a usual nerve structure.

INNOVATION

We reveal that PQT damages the sciatic nerve by generating an oxidative stress, dysregulating LXR and Wnt/β-catenin pathways. The activation of Wnt signaling by LiCl reduced the deleterious effects of PQT on the nerve.

CONCLUSION

We demonstrate that PQT instigates peripheral nerve demyelinating neuropathies by enhancing ROS production and deregulating LXR and Wnt pathways. Stimulating Wnt pathway could be a therapeutic strategy for neuropathy treatment. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 27, 168-183.

Synergistic protection of Schizandrin B and Glycyrrhizic acid against bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis by inhibiting TGF-β1/Smad2 pathways and overexpression of NOX4

Pulmonary fibrosis, a progressive and lethal lung disease, is a major therapeutic challenge for which new therapeutic strategies are warranted. Schisandrin B (Sch B) and Glycyrrhizic acid (GA) are the principal active ingredients of Schisandra chinensis and Glycyrrhiza glabra respectively, which have been reported to protect against lung injures. The present study was aimed at exploring the combinatorial therapeutic effects on bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis. Lung fibrotic injuries were induced in mice by a single intratracheal instillation of 5mg/kg bleomycin (BLM). Then, these mice were administered with Sch B (100mg/kg) or/and GA (75mg/kg) for 28days. BLM-triggered structure distortion, collagen overproduction, excessive inflammatory infiltration, pro-inflammatory cytokine release, and oxidative stress damages in lung tissues were attenuated to a higher degree by combinatorial treatment than by treatment of the individual agents. The expression of TGF-β1 and the phosphorylation of its downstream target, Smad2 were enhanced by BLM, but weakened by Sch B or/and GA. Furthermore, the significant overexpression of NADPH oxidase 4 (NOX4) was observed in BLM-induced pulmonary fibrosis, which was inhibited by Sch B or/and GA. Our study reveals that the synergistic protection by Sch B and GA against BLM-induced pulmonary fibrosis is correlated to its anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative and anti-fibrotic properties, involving inhibition of TGF-β1/Smad2 signaling pathways and overexpression of NOX4.

Targeting the NF-E2-Related Factor 2 Pathway: a Novel Strategy for Traumatic Brain Injury

As an essential component of cellular defense against a variety of endogenous and exogenous stresses, nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) has received increased attention in the past decades. Multiple studies indicate that Nrf2 acts not only as an important protective factor in injury models but also as a downstream target of therapeutic agents. Activation of Nrf2 has increasingly been linked to many human diseases, especially in central nervous system (CNS) injury such as traumatic brain injury (TBI). Several researches have deciphered that activation of Nrf2 exerts antioxidative stress, antiapoptosis, and antiinflammation influence in TBI via different molecules and pathways including heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), NADPH:quinine oxidoreductase-1 (NQO-1), nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB), and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase 2 (NOX2). Hence, Nrf2 shows great promise as a molecular target in TBI. In the present article, we provide an updated review of the current state of our knowledge about relationship between Nrf2 and TBI, highlighting the specific roles of Nrf2 in TBI.

Salvianolic acid B reduced the formation of epidural fibrosis in an experimental rat model

Background

Salvianolic acid B (Sal B) was newly reported to be able to attenuate fibrosis in the animal model. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of the intragastric application of Sal B on the prevention of epidural fibrosis (EF).

Methods

Forty healthy adult male Wistar rats were divided into four treatment groups (n = 10 per group): (1) 10 mg/kg Sal B, (2) 30 mg/kg Sal B, (3) 50 mg/kg Sal B and (4) Saline (vehicle treatment, control group). All animals underwent a laminectomy at the lumbar 1–2 (L 1–2) level. After intragastric treatment, all rats were sacrificed at post-operative week 8. The extent of the epidural scar, the regeneration of the vasculature and the expression levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were analysed.

Results

The animals’ recovery was uneventful during the experimental period. The extent of the epidural scar, the regeneration of the vasculature and the expression levels of VEGF suggested better outcomes in the Sal B-treated groups. Sal B exerted the ability to prevent the formation of an epidural scar and vascularization at the laminectomy sites. The effects of Sal B were dose-dependent, with the 50 mg/kg Sal B group showing the best outcomes compared with the other groups.

Conclusions

Post-operative intragastric application of Sal B can prevent the formation of epidural scarring. Sal B exerted these effects in a dose-dependent manner, and 50 mg/kg dose was shown to be the best effect in the present study. The results of this study reveal that Sal B could be a potential therapy for EF and valuable for further research.

Salvianolic Acid B (Sal B) Protects Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells from Oxidative Stress-Induced Cell Death by Activating Glutaredoxin 1 (Grx1)

Protein glutathionylation, defined as the formation of protein mixed disulfides (PSSG) between cysteine residues and glutathione (GSH), can lead to cell death. Glutaredoxin 1 (Grx1) is a thiol repair enzyme which catalyzes the reduction of PSSG. Therefore, Grx1 exerts strong anti-apoptotic effects by improving the redox state, especially in times of oxidative stress. However, there is currently no compound that is identified as a Grx1 activator. In this study, we identified and characterized Salvianolic acid B (Sal B), a natural compound, as a Grx1 inducer, which potently protected retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells from oxidative injury. Our results showed that treatment with Sal B protected primary human RPE cells from H₂O₂-induced cell damage. Interestingly, we found Sal B pretreatment upregulated Grx1 expression in RPE cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), the key transcription factor that regulates the expression of Grx1, was activated in Sal B treated RPE cells. Further investigation showed that knockdown of Grx1 by small interfering RNA (siRNA) significantly reduced the protective effects of Sal B. We conclude that Sal B protects RPE cells against H₂O₂-induced cell injury through Grx1 induction by activating Nrf2 pathway, thus preventing lethal accumulation of PSSG and reversing oxidative damage.