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He J, Li L, Yan X, Li Y, Wang Y, Huang J, Li C, Liu W, Qi J. Sappanone A enhances hepatocyte proliferation in lipopolysaccharide-induced acute liver injury in mice by promoting injured hepatocyte apoptosis and regulating macrophage polarization. Int Immunopharmacol 2024; 142:113055. [PMID: 39243556 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2024.113055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2024] [Revised: 08/03/2024] [Accepted: 08/29/2024] [Indexed: 09/09/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), also known as endotoxin, is the main toxic component of the cell wall of gram negative bacteria, which is released after bacterial death and widely exists in the living environment. Human exposure to endotoxin may cause sepsis. The occurrence of septic liver injury is a prominent factor contributing to mortality in patients with sepsis. The purpose of this study is to explore the role of Sappanone A (SA), a homoisoflavonoid isolated from the heartwood of Caesalpinia sappan Linn., in LPS-induced acute liver injury (ALI). METHODS An LPS-induced ALI mouse model was used to evaluate the effects of SA on septic ALI, and murine cells were treated with LPS to explore the mechanisms underlying SA-provided effects. RESULTS Treating SA substantially improved LPS-induced ALI. We also performed in silico prediction and RNA-seq analysis to elucidate SA's potential mechanisms of action. The terms generated by Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment of predicted target proteins of SA include inflammation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis; protein-protein interaction network (PPI) analysis indicated that fas binding protein 1 (Fbf1) has the strongest correlation with SA. Consistently, RNA-seq analysis displayed that SA administration regulates cell apoptosis and inflammatory responses, which was further confirmed by checking related markers in livers of mice and murine cells challenged with LPS. Of note, SA significantly decreased the expression of Fbf1 in mouse livers, and promoted apoptosis of injured hepatocytes and hepatocyte proliferation, which were substantially abolished by Fbf1 knockdown in AML12 cells. Besides, SA could increase M2 phenotype polarization but inhibit M1 macrophage polarization in LPS-induced ALI in mice. CONCLUSION SA enhances hepatocyte proliferation and liver repair in LPS-induced ALI in mcie by promoting injured hepatocyte apoptosis through Fbf1 inhibition and regulating macrophage polarization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiale He
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, Fujian, China.
| | - Lanqian Li
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, Fujian, China.
| | - Xueqing Yan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, Fujian, China.
| | - Yehaomin Li
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, Fujian, China.
| | - Yufei Wang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, Fujian, China.
| | - Jiabin Huang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, Fujian, China.
| | - Chutao Li
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, Fujian, China.
| | - Wenwen Liu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, Fujian, China.
| | - Jing Qi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, Fujian, China.
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Xing Y, Yang H, Dai C, Qiu Z, Guan Y, Zhang L. Investigating the mechanism of ferroptosis induction by sappanone A in hepatocellular carcinoma: NRF2/xCT/GPX4 axis. Eur J Pharmacol 2024; 983:176965. [PMID: 39214275 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2024.176965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2024] [Revised: 08/20/2024] [Accepted: 08/28/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a prevalent and lethal malignancy with significant global impact, necessitating the development of novel therapeutic strategies and drugs. Ferroptosis, a newly identified form of iron-dependent programmed cell death, has emerged as a promising strategy to combat HCC. Sappanone A, an isoflavone compound derived from the heartwood of Biancaea sappan (L.) Tod., is known for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. However, its anti-HCC effects and underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This study is the first time to demonstrate the anti-tumor effect of Sappanone A on HCC both in vitro and in vivo, through the assessment of cell viability and apoptosis following Sappanone A treatment. Flow cytometry and confocal microscopy revealed that Sappanone A induced ferroptosis in HCC cells by increasing Fe2+ accumulation, reactive oxygen (ROS) level, and lipid peroxidation, specifically targeting inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase-2 (IMPDH2). Additionally, Western blot analysis suggested that the anti-HCC effects of Sappanone A were mediated through the regulation of the NRF2/xCT/GPX4 axis, highlighting its potential to enhance ferroptosis in HCC cells and underscoring the critical role of IMPDH2 in HCC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yizhuo Xing
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of TCM Chemical Biology, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Hongxuan Yang
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of TCM Chemical Biology, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Chunlan Dai
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of TCM Chemical Biology, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Ziyang Qiu
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of TCM Chemical Biology, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Yingyun Guan
- Department of Pharmacy, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China.
| | - Lijun Zhang
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of TCM Chemical Biology, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China.
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Zhang Z, Zhang N, Li M, Ma X, Qiu Y. Sappanone a alleviates osteoarthritis progression by inhibiting chondrocyte ferroptosis via activating the SIRT1/Nrf2 signaling pathway. NAUNYN-SCHMIEDEBERG'S ARCHIVES OF PHARMACOLOGY 2024:10.1007/s00210-024-03179-4. [PMID: 38832987 DOI: 10.1007/s00210-024-03179-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024]
Abstract
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common degenerative joint disease that cause pain and disability in adults. Chondrocyte ferroptosis is found to be involved in OA progression. Sappanone A has been found as an anti-inflammatory and antioxidative agent in several diseases. This study aims to investigate the effects of sappanone A on OA progression and chondrocyte ferroptosis. IL-1β-induced chondrocytes and destabilization of the medial meniscus (DMM)-induced rats were respectively used as the OA model in vitro and in vivo. The effects of sappanone A on inflammation, extracellular matrix (ECM) metabolism, and ferroptosis were determined. Our results showed that in IL-1β-induced chondrocytes, sappanone A suppressed the production of NO, PGE2, TNF-α, IL-6, iNOS, and COX2. Sappanone A also inhibited the expression of MMP3, MMP13, and ADAMTS5, while increasing collagen II expression. Moreover, sappanone A alleviated cytotoxicity and decreased the levels of intracellular ROS, lipid ROS, MDA, and iron, while increasing GSH levels. Additionally, sappanone A increased the protein expression of SLC7A11 and GPX4. Administration of ferroptosis activator reversed the inhibitory effects of sappanone A on IL-1β-induced inflammation and ECM degradation. More importantly, Sappanone A activated the Nrf2 signaling by targeting SIRT1. The inhibition of sappanone A on ferroptosis was greatly eliminated due to the addition of SIRT1 inhibitor. Furthermore, intra-articular injection of sappanone A mitigated cartilage destruction and ferroptosis in DMM-induced OA rats. In conclusion, sappanone A protects against inflammation and ECM degradation in OA via decreasing chondrocyte ferroptosis by activating the SIRT1/Nrf2 signaling. These findings deepen our understanding of chondrocyte ferroptosis in OA and highlight the therapeutic potential of sappanone A for OA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi Zhang
- Department of Orthopaedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, No. 277 Yanta West Road, Xi'an, 710061, Shaanxi, China
| | - Nanzhi Zhang
- Department of Orthopaedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, No. 277 Yanta West Road, Xi'an, 710061, Shaanxi, China
| | - Meng Li
- Department of Orthopaedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, No. 277 Yanta West Road, Xi'an, 710061, Shaanxi, China
| | - Xing Ma
- Department of Orthopaedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, No. 277 Yanta West Road, Xi'an, 710061, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yusheng Qiu
- Department of Orthopaedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, No. 277 Yanta West Road, Xi'an, 710061, Shaanxi, China.
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Liu J, Li K, Li S, Yang G, Lin Z, Miao Z. Grape seed-derived procyanidin inhibits glyphosate-induced hepatocyte ferroptosis via enhancing crosstalk between Nrf2 and FGF12. PHYTOMEDICINE : INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOTHERAPY AND PHYTOPHARMACOLOGY 2024; 123:155278. [PMID: 38103315 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2023.155278] [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: 09/16/2023] [Revised: 11/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Glyphosate (GLY) exposure induces hepatocyte ferroptosis through overproduction of reactive oxygen species, regarded as an important contributor to liver damage. Grape seed-derived procyanidin (GSDP) has been reported to be an effective antioxidant, but whether and, if any, how GSDP can attenuate GLY-induced liver injury via inhibiting ferroptosis is unclear. PURPOSE The current study aimed to investigate the hepato-protective effects and possible mechanisms of GSDP. METHODS GLY-induced liver damage mice model was established to explore the hepatoprotective roles of GSPE in vivo. Subsequently, bioinformatics methodology was used to predict the key pathways and factors related to the action targets of GSPE against hepatocyte ferroptosis. Finally, we explored the roles of nuclear factor E2 related factor 2 (Nrf2) and fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) in blunting GLY-induced liver damage via suppressing ferroptosis in vitro. RESULTS GSDP exerts hepato-protective effects in vivo and in vitro through reduced oxidative stress and inhibited ferroptosis, which was related to the activation of Nrf2. Bioinformatics analysis showed an interaction between Nrf2 and FGF21. Furthermore, Nrf2 inhibition reduced FGF21 expression in the mRNA and protein levels. Fgf21 knockdown suppressed Nrf2 expression level, but recombinant FGF21 protein increased Nrf2 expression and promoted Nrf2 translocation into nucleus, suggesting a crosstalk between Nrf2 and FGF21. Intriguingly, the decreased levels of Nrf2 and FGF21 compromised the protective roles of GSDP against GLY-induced hepatocyte ferroptosis. CONCLUSION These findings suggest that GSDP attenuates GLY-caused hepatocyte ferroptosis via enhancing the interplay between Nrf2 and FGF21. Thus, GSDP may be a promising natural compound to antagonize ferroptosis-related damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingbo Liu
- College of Biological and Brewing Engineering, Taishan University, No. 525 Dongyue Street, Tai'an, Shandong 271000, China.
| | - Kun Li
- Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, No.507 Zhengmin Road, Yangpu District, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Song Li
- College of Basic Medicine, Shandong First Medical University, No. 6699 Qingdao Road, Ji'nan 250024, China
| | - Guangcheng Yang
- College of Biological and Brewing Engineering, Taishan University, No. 525 Dongyue Street, Tai'an, Shandong 271000, China
| | - Zhenxian Lin
- College of Biological and Brewing Engineering, Taishan University, No. 525 Dongyue Street, Tai'an, Shandong 271000, China
| | - Zengmin Miao
- College of Life Sciences, Shandong First Medical University, No. 619 Changcheng Road, Tai'an 271016, China.
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Tian WS, Zhao J, Kim MK, Tae HJ, Kim IS, Ahn D, Hwang HP, Mao MX, Park BY. Veronica persica ameliorates acetaminophen-induced murine hepatotoxicity via attenuating oxidative stress and inflammation. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 169:115898. [PMID: 37989029 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.115898] [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: 08/02/2023] [Revised: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Excess acetaminophen (APAP) commonly causes severe acute liver injury (ALI), characterized by oxidative stress, pro-inflammatory responses, and hepatocyte damage. Veronica persica (VP) is a traditional medicine with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. There is a paucity of information on its medicinal value, especially its potential mechanisms for alleviating ALI. This study aimed to clarify the ameliorative effects and intracellular mechanisms of VP on APAP-induced ALI via attenuating oxidative stress and inflammation. Mice were given VP for 7 days before exposure to APAP (300 mg/kg). The HPLC and radical scavenging assay found that VP contains 12 phenolic acids and 6 flavonoids, as well as show robust antioxidant capacity. In the APAP-induced ALI model, pre-treatment with VP significantly reduces APAP-induced hepatotoxicity by observing improved hepatocyte pathological injury and further confirmed by serum biochemical indicator. Also, the reduction of TUNEL-positive regions and the regulation of Bcl-2-associated X protein indicated that VP attenuates hepatocytotoxicity. Moreover, VP pre-intervention inhibits the formation of liver pro-inflammatory cytokines, the expression of inflammatory response genes, and increases in myeloperoxidase (MPO) in APAP-exposed mice. The elevated reduced glutathione (GSH) levels and decreased oxidative stress markers indicate that VP reduces APAP-promoted oxidative stress. Further study revealed that VP inhibited the phosphorylation of NF-κB/STAT3 cascade, blocked ERK and JNK phosphorylation, and activated AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). To sum up, this study demonstrated that VP exists hepatoprotective abilities on APAP-induced ALI, primarily by suppressing the phosphorylation of NF-κB/STAT3 cascade and ERK-JNK and inducing AMPK activation to alleviate oxidative stress and inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei-Shun Tian
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, Henan, People's Republic of China; College of Veterinary Medicine and Institute of Animal Transplantation, Jeonbuk National University, Iksan, Jeollabuk-do 54596, Republic of Korea
| | - Jing Zhao
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, Henan, People's Republic of China
| | - Myung-Kon Kim
- Department of Food Science and Technology, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju 54896, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun-Jin Tae
- College of Veterinary Medicine and Institute of Animal Transplantation, Jeonbuk National University, Iksan, Jeollabuk-do 54596, Republic of Korea
| | - In-Shik Kim
- College of Veterinary Medicine and Institute of Animal Transplantation, Jeonbuk National University, Iksan, Jeollabuk-do 54596, Republic of Korea
| | - Dongchoon Ahn
- College of Veterinary Medicine and Institute of Animal Transplantation, Jeonbuk National University, Iksan, Jeollabuk-do 54596, Republic of Korea
| | - Hong Pil Hwang
- Department of Surgery of Jeonbuk National University Medical School and Hospital, Jeonju 54896, Republic of Korea
| | - Ming-Xian Mao
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, Henan, People's Republic of China
| | - Byung-Yong Park
- College of Veterinary Medicine and Institute of Animal Transplantation, Jeonbuk National University, Iksan, Jeollabuk-do 54596, Republic of Korea.
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Tian J, Zhang S, Li L, Lin X, Li Y, Zhao K, Zheng F, Chen Y, Yang Y, Wu T, Pang J. Febuxostat ameliorates APAP-induced acute liver injury by activating Keap1/Nrf2 and inhibiting TLR4/NF-κB p65 pathways. Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2023; 248:1864-1876. [PMID: 38031247 PMCID: PMC10792428 DOI: 10.1177/15353702231211862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Excessive acetaminophen (APAP) application is a major cause of drug-induced liver injury (DILI). Febuxostat (Feb), a drug for reducing uric acid (UA) levels, was demonstrated to relieve hepatic inflammation and reverse organ functions. However, the effect of Feb on APAP-induced DILI and its mechanisms have not been fully explored. In this study, Feb (10 mg/kg) was given to mice by gavage 1 h after APAP (300 mg/kg, i.g.) induction. Serum and liver samples were collected 12 or 3 h after APAP challenge. Feb treatment was found to remarkably improve APAP-induced DILI, as evidenced by reduced serum ALT, AST and UA levels, pathomorphology, inflammatory, and oxidative responses. Consistently, treatment with Feb also reduced the cell injury induced by APAP in LO2 cells. Mechanistically, Feb induced GPX4 expression, activated the Keap1/Nrf2 pathway, and inhibited the TLR4/NF-κB p65 pathway. Feb also inhibited glutathione (GSH) depletion and Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) activation in the early injury phase. Notably, pretreatment with Feb for 3 days also revealed preventive effects against APAP-induced DILI in mice. Overall, our data revealed a potential health impact of Feb on APAP-mediated DILI in vivo and in vitro, suggesting that Feb might be a potential candidate for treating DILI.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Lu Li
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism & Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Xueman Lin
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism & Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Yongmei Li
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism & Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Kunlu Zhao
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism & Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Fengxin Zheng
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism & Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Yongjun Chen
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism & Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Yang Yang
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism & Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Ting Wu
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism & Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Jianxin Pang
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism & Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
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Qi J, Li L, Yan X, Hua W, Zhou Z. Sappanone A Alleviates the Severity of Carbon Tetrachloride-Induced Liver Fibrosis in Mice. Antioxidants (Basel) 2023; 12:1718. [PMID: 37760020 PMCID: PMC10526100 DOI: 10.3390/antiox12091718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Revised: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Liver fibrosis is a major challenge to global health because of its various complications, including cirrhosis and hepatocarcinoma, while no effective treatment is available for it. Sappanone A (SA) is a homoisoflavonoid extracted from the heartwood of Caesalpinia sappan Linn. with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. However, the effects of SA on hepatic fibrosis remain unknown. This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of SA on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver fibrosis in mice. To establish a liver fibrosis model, mice were treated intraperitoneally (i.p.) with CCl4 for 4 weeks. SA (25, 50, and 100 mg/kg body weight) was i.p. injected every other day during the same period. Our data indicated that SA decreased liver injury, fibrotic responses, and inflammation due to CCl4 exposure. Consistently, SA reduced oxidative stress and its-mediated hepatocyte death in fibrotic livers. Of note, SA could not directly affect the activation of hepatic stellate cells. Mechanistically, SA treatment lessened oxidative stress-triggered cell death in hepatocytes after CCl4 exposure. SA down-regulated the expression of M1 macrophage polarization markers (CD86 and iNOS) and up-regulated the expression of M2 macrophage polarization markers (CD163, IL-10, and Arg1) in livers and macrophages. Meanwhile, SA induced the activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ). However, decreased inflammatory responses and the trend of M2 macrophage polarization provided by SA were substantially abolished by SR202 (a PPARγ inhibitor) treatment in macrophages. Additionally, SA treatment promoted fibrosis regression. Taken together, our findings revealed that treatment with SA alleviated CCl4-induced fibrotic liver in mice through suppression of oxidative stress-mediated hepatocyte death and promotion of M2 macrophage polarization via PPARγ. Thus, SA might pave the way for a new hepatoprotective agent to treat liver fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Qi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, No. 1, Xuefu North Road, University Town, Fuzhou 350122, China;
| | - Lanqian Li
- Department of Pathology and Institute of Oncology, The School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, China; (L.L.); (W.H.)
| | - Xueqing Yan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, No. 1, Xuefu North Road, University Town, Fuzhou 350122, China;
| | - Wenxi Hua
- Department of Pathology and Institute of Oncology, The School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, China; (L.L.); (W.H.)
- Diagnostic Pathology Center, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, China
| | - Zixiong Zhou
- Department of Pathology and Institute of Oncology, The School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, China; (L.L.); (W.H.)
- Diagnostic Pathology Center, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, China
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Yu Y, Zhou S, Wang Y, Di S, Wang Y, Huang X, Chen Y. Leonurine alleviates acetaminophen-induced acute liver injury by regulating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in mice. Int Immunopharmacol 2023; 120:110375. [PMID: 37267857 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2023.110375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2023] [Revised: 05/13/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Leonurine (Leo) is a natural alkaloid isolated from the herb Leonurus japonicus Houtt. (Leonuri) that has been shown to inhibit oxidative stress and inflammation. However, the role and mechanism of Leo in acetaminophen (APAP)-induced acute liver injury (ALI) remain unknown. In this study, we investigated the protective effect of Leo against APAP-induced ALI and elucidated the molecular mechanism. Here, we showed that the damage to mouse primary hepatocytes (MPHs) induced by APAP was attenuated by treatment with Leo, which promoted proliferation and inhibited oxidative stress injury, and Leo significantly improved APAP-induced ALI in mice. Leo could protect against APAP-induced ALI by reducing serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT) levels, hepatic histopathological damage, liver cell necrosis, inflammation, and oxidative stress-induced damage in vivo and in vitro. Moreover, the results indicated that Leo relieved APAP-induced liver cell necrosis by reducing the expression of Bax and cleaved caspase-3 and increasing Bcl-2 expression. Leo alleviated APAP-induced oxidative stress-induced damage by activating the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) pathway, which facilitated Nrf2 nuclear translocation and upregulated oxidative stress-related protein expression in liver tissues. Moreover, the results suggested that APAP-induced inflammation in the liver was suppressed by Leo by suppressing the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) pathways. In addition, Leo facilitated the activation of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT signaling pathway in the liver tissue of ALI mice. Network pharmacology, molecular docking, and western blotting showed that PI3K was a potential target of Leo in the treatment of ALI. Molecular docking and cellular thermal shift assay (CETSA) indicated that Leo could stably bind to the PI3K protein. In conclusion, Leo attenuated ALI, and reversed liver cell necrosis, the inflammatory response and oxidative stress-induced damage by regulating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yajie Yu
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao 266003, China
| | - Shizhe Zhou
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao 266003, China
| | - Yan Wang
- Institute of Nutrition and Health, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266003, China
| | - Shuting Di
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao 266003, China
| | - Yingluo Wang
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao 266003, China
| | - Xin Huang
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao 266003, China
| | - Ying Chen
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao 266003, China.
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Zhou Z, Qi J, Wu Y, Li C, Bao W, Lin X, Zhu A. Nuciferine Effectively Protects Mice against Acetaminophen-Induced Liver Injury. Antioxidants (Basel) 2023; 12:antiox12040949. [PMID: 37107324 PMCID: PMC10136285 DOI: 10.3390/antiox12040949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Revised: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Acetaminophen (APAP) overdose still poses a major clinical challenge and is a leading cause of acute liver injury (ALI). N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is the only approved antidote to treat APAP toxicity while NAC therapy can trigger side effects including severe vomiting and even shock. Thus, new insights in developing novel therapeutic drugs may pave the way for better treatment of APAP poisoning. Previous research has reported that nuciferine (Nuci) possesses anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Therefore, the objective of this study was proposed to investigate the hepatoprotective effects of Nuci and explore its underlying mechanisms. Mice were intraperitoneally (i.p.) administered with APAP (300 mg/kg) and subsequently injected with Nuci (25, 50, and 100 mg/kg, i.p.) at 30 min after APAP overdose. Then, all mice were sacrificed at 12 h after APAP challenge for further analysis. Nuci-treated mice did not show any side effects and our results revealed that treating Nuci significantly attenuated APAP-induced ALI, as confirmed by histopathological examinations, biochemical analysis, and diminished hepatic oxidative stress and inflammation. The in silico prediction and mRNA-sequencing analysis were performed to explore the underlying mechanisms of Nuci. GO and KEGG enrichment of the predicted target proteins of Nuci includes reactive oxygen species, drug metabolism of cytochrome P450 (CYP450) enzymes, and autophagy. Furthermore, the mRNA-sequencing analyses indicated that Nuci can regulate glutathione metabolic processes and anti-inflammatory responses. Consistently, we found that Nuci increased the hepatic glutathione restoration but decreased APAP protein adducts in damaged livers. Western blot analysis further confirmed that Nuci effectively promoted hepatic autophagy in APAP-treated mice. However, Nuci could not affect the expression levels of the main CYP450 enzymes (CYP1A2, CYP2E1, and CYP3A11). These results demonstrated that Nuci may be a potential therapeutic drug for APAP-induced ALI via amelioration of the inflammatory response and oxidative stress, regulation of APAP metabolism, and activation of autophagy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zixiong Zhou
- Department of Pathology and Institute of Oncology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, China
| | - Jing Qi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, China
| | - Yajiao Wu
- Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for Gastrointestinal Cancer, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, China
| | - Chutao Li
- Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for Gastrointestinal Cancer, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, China
| | - Wenqiang Bao
- Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for Gastrointestinal Cancer, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, China
| | - Xiaohuang Lin
- Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for Gastrointestinal Cancer, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, China
| | - An Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for Gastrointestinal Cancer, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, China
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