Betaine Inhibits Hepatitis B Virus with an Advantage of Decreasing Resistance to Lamivudine and Interferon α

Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of betaine protect against sepsis-induced acute lung injury: CT and histological evidence

The aim of this research was to determine the anti-inflammatory effect of betaine on sepsis-induced acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in rats through histopathological examination, radiologic imaging, and biochemical analysis. Eight rats were included in the control group, and no procedure was performed. Feces intraperitoneal procedure (FIP) was performed on 24 rats to create a sepsis-induced ARDS model. These rats were separated into three groups as follows: FIP alone (sepsis group, n=8), FIP + saline (1 mL/kg, placebo group, n=8), and FIP + betaine (500 mg/kg, n=8). Computed tomography (CT) was performed after FIP, and the Hounsfield units (HU) value of the lungs was measured. The plasma levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6, C-reactive protein, malondialdehyde (MDA), and lactic acid (LA) were determined, and arterial oxygen pressure (PaO2) and arterial CO2 pressure (PaCO2) were measured from an arterial blood sample. Histopathology was used to evaluate lung damage. This study completed all histopathological and biochemical evaluations in 3 months. All evaluated biomarkers were decreased in the FIP + betaine group compared to FIP + saline and FIP alone (all P<0.05). Also, the parenchymal density of the rat lung on CT and histopathological scores were increased in FIP + saline and FIP alone compared to control and these findings were reversed by betaine treatment (all P<0.05). Our study demonstrated that betaine suppressed the inflammation and ameliorated acute lung injury in a rat model of sepsis.

Betaine Regulates the Production of Reactive Oxygen Species Through Wnt10b Signaling in the Liver of Zebrafish

When fish are under oxidative stress, levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) are chronically elevated, which play a crucial role in fish innate immunity. In the present study, the mechanism by which betaine regulates ROS production via Wnt10b/β-catenin signaling was investigated in zebrafish liver. Our results showed that betaine enrichment of diet at 0.1, 0.2 and 0.4 g/kg induced Wnt10b and β-catenin gene expression, but suppressed GSK-3β expression in zebrafish liver. In addition, the content of superoxide anion (O₂^·−), hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and hydroxyl radical (·OH) was decreased by all of the experimental betaine treatments. However, betaine enrichment of diet at 0.1, 0.2 and 0.4 g/kg enhanced gene expression and activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) and catalase (CAT) in zebrafish liver. In addition, Wnt10b RNA was further interfered in zebrafish, and the results of Wnt10b RNAi indicated that Wnt10b plays a key role in regulating ROS production and antioxidant enzyme activity. In conclusion, betaine can inhibit ROS production in zebrafish liver through the Wnt10b/β-catenin signaling pathway.

A Polysaccharide From Eupolyphaga sinensis Walker With Anti-HBV Activities In Vitro and In Vivo

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains a major global threat to human health worldwide. Recently, the Chinese medicines with antiviral properties and low toxicity have been a concern. In our previous study, Eupolyphaga sinensis Walker polysaccharide (ESPS) has been isolated and characterized, while its antiviral effect on HBV remained unclear. The anti-HBV activity of ESPS and its regulatory pathway were investigated in vitro and in vivo. The results showed that ESPS significantly inhibited the production of HBsAg, HBeAg, and HBV DNA in the supernatants of HepG2.2.15 in a dose-dependent manner; HBV RNA and core protein expression were also decreased by ESPS. The in vivo studies using HBV transgenic mice further revealed that ESPS (20 and 40 mg/kg/2 days) significantly reduced the levels HBsAg, HBeAg, and HBV DNA in the serum, as well as HBV DNA and HBV RNA in mice liver. In addition, ESPS activated the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) pathway; elevated levels of IFN-β, TNF-α, and IL-6 in the serum were observed, indicating that the anti-HBV effect of ESPS was achieved by potentiating innate immunity function. In conclusion, our study shows that ESPS is a potential anti-HBV ingredient and is of great value in the development of new anti-HBV drugs.

Novel Molecular Therapeutics Targeting Signaling Pathway to Control Hepatitis B Viral Infection

Numerous canonical cellular signaling pathways modulate hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication. HBV genome products are known to play a significant role in regulating these cellular pathways for the liver’s viral-related pathology and physiology and have been identified as the main factor in hepatocarcinogenesis. Signaling changes during viral replication ultimately affect cellular persistence, multiplication, migration, genome instability, and genome damage, leading to proliferation, evasion of apoptosis, block of differentiation, and immortality. Recent studies have documented that numerous signaling pathway agonists or inhibitors play an important role in reducing HBV replication in vitro and in vivo, and some have been used in phase I or phase II clinical trials. These optional agents as molecular therapeutics target cellular pathways that could limit the replication and transcription of HBV or inhibit the secretion of the small surface antigen of HBV in a signaling-independent manner. As principle-based available information, a combined strategy including antiviral therapy and immunomodulation will be needed to control HBV infection effectively. In this review, we summarize recent findings on interventions of molecular regulators in viral replication and the interactions of HBV proteins with the components of the various targeting cellular pathways, which may assist in designing novel agents to modulate signaling pathways to prevent HBV replication or carcinogenesis.

Preventive and therapeutic role of betaine in liver disease: A review on molecular mechanisms

Betaine is a kind of water-soluble quaternary amine-type alkaloid widely existing in food, such as wheat germ, beet, spinach, shrimp and wolfberry. As an important methyl donor and osmotic pressure regulator in human body, betaine plays an important role in a variety of physiological activities. In recent years, a large number of literatures have shown that betaine has good preventive and therapeutic effects on many liver diseases, including chemical or drug-induced liver injury, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, alcoholic fatty liver disease, liver fibrosis, hepatitis B and hepatitis C. Therefore, by searching the databases of Web of Science, PubMed, SciFinder and CNKI, this paper has summarized the molecular mechanisms of betaine in improving liver diseases. The results show that the improvement of liver diseases by betaine is closely related to a variety of molecular mechanisms, including inhibition of inflammatory response, improvement of insulin resistance, reduction of endoplasmic reticulum stress, alleviation of liver oxidative stress, increase of autophagy, remodeling of intestinal flora and regulation of epigenetic modification. More importantly, nuclear transcription factor kappa (NF-κB), AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α/γ (PPAR-α/γ), liver X receptor α (LXRα), protein kinase B (Akt), toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase-3 (Caspase-3) signaling pathways are considered as important molecular targets for betaine to improve liver diseases. These important findings will provide a direction and basis for further exploring the pathogenesis of various liver diseases and tapping the potential of betaine in the clinical treatment.

Virtual screenings of the bioactive constituents of tea, prickly chaff, catechu, lemon, black pepper, and synthetic compounds with the main protease (Mpro) and human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE 2) of SARS-CoV-2

Background

COVID-19 has mutation capability, and there are no specific drug therapies that are available to fight or inhibit the proteins of this virus. The present study aims to investigate the binding affinity of the bioactive and synthetic compounds with the main protease (Mpro) enzymes and angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE 2) by computational approach. PASS prediction, pharmacokinetics, and toxicological properties prediction studies were performed through the Google PASS prediction and Swiss ADME/T website. Besides, molecular docking studies were accomplished by BIOVIA Discovery Studio 2020, UCSF Chimera, and PyRx autodock vina.

Results

The docking scores were inferred and the selected compounds showed results varying from −3.2 to −9.8 (kcal/mol). Theaflavin scored the highest docking score to the 5REB, 6VW1, and 1R42 enzymes and showed the binding affinity as −6.3 kcal/mol, −9.8 kcal/mol, and −8.6 kcal/mol, respectively. Again, kaempferol showed the best binding affinity to the 7BQY (−7.1 kcal/mol) and 6Y2FB (−6.6 kcal/mol) enzymes. All the chemical constituents showed better probability in action in pass prediction analysis. Besides, no ligands (except theaflavin) have any conflict with Lipinski’s rules of five, which authorized the drug probability of these ligands.

Conclusion

Therefore, the selected compounds could be considered a potential herbal treatment source against SARS-CoV-2.

Alleviation of infectious-bursal-disease-virus-induced bursal injury by betaine is associated with DNA methylation in IL-6 and interferon regulatory factor 7 promoter

Infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) often infects young chickens and causes severe immunosuppression and inflammatory injury. Betaine is an antiviral and anti-inflammatory ingredient that may exert functions through epigenetic regulation. However, the effects of betaine on an IBDV-induced bursal injury and their underlying mechanisms have not been investigated. In this study, betaine was supplemented to the drinking water of newly hatched commercial broilers for 3 wk. Afterward, the chickens were infected with the IBDV. After 5 D of infection, the bursal lesions were examined. The mRNA expression levels of IBDV VP2 gene, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and interferons were detected. Furthermore, the 5-methylcytosine level of the CpG island in the promoter region of IL-6 and interferon regulatory factor 7 (IRF7) were determined. The IBDV induced the depletion of lymphocytes and inflammation in the bursal follicles. IBDV infection considerably elevated the mRNA levels of VP2, IL-6, types I (IFNα and IFNβ) and II (IFNγ) interferons, and IRF7. The CpG island methylation in the promoter regions of IL-6 and IRF7 were substantially decreased after IBDV infection. Betaine administration attenuated the IBDV-induced bursal lesions. Meanwhile, the IBDV-induced mRNA expression levels of IL-6, IFNβ, and IRF7 were suppressed by betaine consumption. Furthermore, the hypomethylation effects of IBDV infection to the promoter regions of IL-6 and IRF7 genes were eliminated and relieved by betaine administration. Our results indicated that the IBDV-induced expression levels of IL-6 and IRF7 genes are associated with the suppression of methylation in the promoter region. Betaine administration through drinking water may alleviate the IBDV-induced bursal injury via epigenetic regulation.

Betaine protects against heat exposure-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis in bovine mammary epithelial cells via regulation of ROS production

Heat stress is one of the wide varieties of factors which cause oxidative stress in vivo; elevated temperature can lead to oxidative stress of dairy cows that affects milk production. The aim of this study was to determine the capacity of the betaine to act as an antioxidant against oxidative stress induced by heat exposure and apoptosis in mammary epithelial cells (mammary alveolar cells, MAC-T). The MAC-T were divided into four treatment groups: control (37 °C), heat stress (HS, 42 °C), betaine (37 °C), and HS + betaine. MAC-T under heat stress (HS) showed increased ROS accumulation, malondialdehyde (MDA) content, superoxide dismutase (SOD) concentration, and catalase (CAT) activity. During heat stress, betaine decreased the mRNA expression level of HSP70 and HSP27 in MAC-T. Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and caspase-3, the markers of apoptosis, were also elevated in MAC-T under heat stress. The markers of oxidative stress Nrf-2/HO-1 genes were also elevated in MAC-T under heat stress. Pretreatment of betaine reversed the heat-induced depletion in total antioxidant status, ROS accumulation, and SOD and CAT contents in MAC-T. Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and Nrf-2/HO-1 expression of heat-exposed MAC-T were also reduced with betaine supplementation. In conclusion, betaine alleviated oxidative stress and apoptosis of MAC-T by inhibiting ROS accumulation.

Role of betaine in liver injury induced by the exposure to ionizing radiation

Oxidative stress, apoptosis, and fibrosis may play a major role in the development of radiation-induced liver damage. Betaine, a native compound widely present in beetroot, was reported to possess hepato-protective properties. The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of betaine on radiation-induced liver damage. Animals were exposed to 9 Gy applied in 3 doses of 3 Gy/wk. Betaine (400 mg/kg/d), was orally supplemented to rats after the first radiation dose, and daily during the irradiation period. Animals were sacrificed 1 day after the last dose of radiation. The results showed that irradiation has induced oxidative stress in the liver denoted by a significant elevation in malondialdehyde, protein carbonyl, and 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine with a significant reduction in catalase activity and glutathione (GSH) content. The activity of the detoxification enzyme cytochrome P450 (CYP450) increased while GSH transferase (GSH-T) decreased. The activity of the apoptotic marker caspase-3 increased concomitant with increased hyaluronic acid, hydroxyproline, laminin (LN), and collagen IV. These alterations were associated with a significant increase of gamma-glutamyl transferase, alkaline phosphatase and alanine and aspartate aminotransferase markers of liver dysfunction. Betaine treatment has significantly attenuated oxidative stress, decreased the activity of CYP450, enhanced GSH-T, reduced the activity of caspase-3, and the level of fibrotic markers concomitant with a significant improvement of liver function. In conclusion, betaine through its antioxidant activity and by enhancing liver detoxification and reducing apoptosis may alleviate the progression of liver fibrosis and exert a beneficial impact on radiation-induced liver damage.

Betaine in Inflammation: Mechanistic Aspects and Applications

Betaine is known as trimethylglycine and is widely distributed in animals, plants, and microorganisms. Betaine is known to function physiologically as an important osmoprotectant and methyl group donor. Accumulating evidence has shown that betaine has anti-inflammatory functions in numerous diseases. Mechanistically, betaine ameliorates sulfur amino acid metabolism against oxidative stress, inhibits nuclear factor-κB activity and NLRP3 inflammasome activation, regulates energy metabolism, and mitigates endoplasmic reticulum stress and apoptosis. Consequently, betaine has beneficial actions in several human diseases, such as obesity, diabetes, cancer, and Alzheimer's disease.

Luteolin-7-O-Glucoside Present in Lettuce Extracts Inhibits Hepatitis B Surface Antigen Production and Viral Replication by Human Hepatoma Cells in Vitro

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is endemic in Asia and chronic hepatitis B (CHB) is a major public health issue worldwide. Current treatment strategies for CHB are not satisfactory as they induce a low rate of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) loss. Extracts were prepared from lettuce hydroponically cultivated in solutions containing glycine or nitrate as nitrogen sources. The lettuce extracts exerted potent anti-HBV effects in HepG2 cell lines in vitro, including significant HBsAg inhibition, HBV replication and transcription inhibition, without exerting cytotoxic effects. When used in combination interferon-alpha 2b (IFNα-2b) or lamivudine (3TC), the lettuce extracts synergistically inhibited HBsAg expression and HBV replication. By using differential metabolomics analysis, Luteolin-7-O-glucoside was identified and confirmed as a functional component of the lettuce extracts and exhibited similar anti-HBV activity as the lettuce extracts in vitro. The inhibition rate on HBsAg was up to 77.4%. Moreover, both the lettuce extracts and luteolin-7-O-glucoside functioned as organic antioxidants and, significantly attenuated HBV-induced intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation. Luteolin-7-O-glucoside also normalized ROS-induced mitochondrial membrane potential damage, which suggests luteolin-7-O-glucoside inhibits HBsAg and HBV replication via a mechanism involving the mitochondria. Our findings suggest luteolin-7-O-glucoside may have potential value for clinical application in CHB and may enhance HBsAg and HBV clearance when used as a combination therapy.

Antioxidant Mechanism of Betaine without Free Radical Scavenging Ability

Betaine (BET) is a native compound widely studied as an antioxidant in agriculture and human health. However, the antioxidant mechanism of BET remains unclear. In this research, radical scavenging assays showed that BET had little free radical scavenging activity. However, the antioxidant activity of BET was confirmed by cellular antioxidant activity (CAA) and erythrocyte hemolysis assays. The results of quantitative PCR (qPCR) and enzyme activity determination kits showed that the antioxidant activity of BET was not due to the gene expression and activity of antioxidases. High-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) assessment of the effect of BET on sulfur-containing amino acid metabolism showed that BET increased the levels of nonenzymatic antioxidants,S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) and methionine (p < 0.05), via the regulation of the methionine-omocysteine cycle. Additionally, the three methyl groups of BET were found to play a key role in its antioxidant activity. The possible reason was that because of the hydrophobicity of the three methyl groups and hydrophilicity of the carboxyl of BET, a tight protective membrane was formed around cells to prevent oxidative stress inducer from inducing ROS generation and cell damage. In conclusion, the antioxidant mechanism of BET was found to enhance nonenzymatic antioxidant defenses via the methionine-homocysteine cycle and form a protective membrane around cells.