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Li H, Guan T, Qin S, Xu Q, Yin L, Hu Q. Natural products in pursuing novel therapies of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and steatohepatitis. Drug Discov Today 2023; 28:103471. [PMID: 36610488 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2022.103471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2021] [Revised: 12/04/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and steatohepatitis (NASH) are hepatic manifestations of systemic metabolic dysfunction, which affect one-quarter of the adult population worldwide as estimated, and exhibit high risk in progressing to hepatic fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Current drug discovery focuses on modifying homeostasis of lipids, carbohydrates, and cholesterol, as well as inhibiting inflammation and fibrogenesis. Many natural products show promising activities on various molecular targets involving these mechanisms; however, they have not been fully exploited. Since some compounds are components of healthy food, they may be employed in chemoprevention as adjuvants to lifestyle modification, while natural products such as alkaloids and sesquiterpenoids could serve as promising starting points for structural modifications and deserve further development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haiyan Li
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, 232 East Waihuan Road, Panyu, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ting Guan
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, 232 East Waihuan Road, Panyu, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shi Qin
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, 232 East Waihuan Road, Panyu, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qihao Xu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, 232 East Waihuan Road, Panyu, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Lina Yin
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, 232 East Waihuan Road, Panyu, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Qingzhong Hu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, 232 East Waihuan Road, Panyu, Guangzhou, China.
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Effects of glaucocalyxin A on human liver cancer cells as revealed by GC/MS- and LC/MS-based metabolic profiling. Anal Bioanal Chem 2018; 410:3325-3335. [DOI: 10.1007/s00216-018-0996-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2017] [Revised: 02/17/2018] [Accepted: 03/05/2018] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Thiyagarajan V, Lee KW, Leong MK, Weng CF. Potential natural mTOR inhibitors screened by in silico approach and suppress hepatic stellate cells activation. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2017; 36:4220-4234. [DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2017.1411295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Varadharajan Thiyagarajan
- Department of Life Science and Institute of Biotechnology, National Dong Hwa University, Shoufeng, Hualien, 97401, Taiwan
| | - Kuan-Wei Lee
- Department of Life Science and Institute of Biotechnology, National Dong Hwa University, Shoufeng, Hualien, 97401, Taiwan
| | - Max K. Leong
- Department of Life Science and Institute of Biotechnology, National Dong Hwa University, Shoufeng, Hualien, 97401, Taiwan
- Department of Chemistry, National Dong Hwa University, Shoufeng, Hualien, 97401, Taiwan
| | - Ching-Feng Weng
- Department of Life Science and Institute of Biotechnology, National Dong Hwa University, Shoufeng, Hualien, 97401, Taiwan
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Sorafenib induces autophagic cell death and apoptosis in hepatic stellate cell through the JNK and Akt signaling pathways. Anticancer Drugs 2016; 27:192-203. [PMID: 26629768 DOI: 10.1097/cad.0000000000000316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Increasing hepatic stellate cell (HSC) death is an attractive approach for limiting liver fibrosis. We investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of sorafenib on HSCs. LX2 cells were incubated with sorafenib and a variety of inhibitors of apoptosis, autophagy, and necrosis. Electron microscopy was used to observe autophagosomes. Inhibitors and siRNA were used to examine the role of the Akt/mTOR/p70S6K and JNK pathways. Ultrastructural analysis revealed that rat HSCs treated with 5 μmol/l sorafenib accumulated residual digested material and empty or autophagic vacuoles. Incubating LX2 cells with lysosomal protease inhibitors increased the accumulation of LC3-II, indicating that sorafenib enhances autophagic flux in HSCs. Autophagy may precede apoptosis. Lower concentrations of sorafenib and a shorter treatment time resulted in the dominance of autophagic cell death over apoptosis. Further analysis showed that Beclin 1 is inactivated by the caspases induced by sorafenib during apoptosis. Inhibition of autophagy in LX2 cells using 3-methyladenine treatment or siRNA-mediated knockdown of Atg5 resulted in a marked increase in apoptosis. Finally, sorafenib induced programmed cell death by attenuation and activation of Akt/mTOR/p70S6K and JNK signaling. Sorafenib-induced cell death is mediated by both autophagy and apoptosis. Elucidation of the signaling pathways activated by sorafenib could potentially lead to novel antifibrosis therapies for chronic liver diseases.
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Tang L, Jin X, Hu X, Hu X, Liu Z, Yu L. Glaucocalyxin A inhibits the growth of liver cancer Focus and SMMC-7721 cells. Oncol Lett 2015; 11:1173-1178. [PMID: 26893714 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2015.4002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2015] [Accepted: 10/21/2015] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Liver cancer is one of the most common types of cancer, and hepatoma demonstrates a poor long-term prognosis. The present study reports that glaucocalyxin A (GLA), a natural product isolated from Rabdosia umbrosa, inhibits the growth of the liver cancer Focus and SMMC-7721 cell lines in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The present study revealed that GLA arrested the liver cancer cells at the G2/M stage of the cell cycle and led to decreased expression of caspase 3 and the cleavage of poly(adenosine diphosphate-ribose) polymerase. Overall, the present study demonstrated that GLA inhibits the growth of liver cancer cells by G2/M stage cell-cycle arrest and cell apoptosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisha Tang
- School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Shanghai 200433, P.R. China
| | - Xiaofeng Jin
- School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Shanghai 200433, P.R. China
| | - Xiaohui Hu
- School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Shanghai 200433, P.R. China
| | - Xiaoding Hu
- School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Shanghai 200433, P.R. China
| | - Zulong Liu
- School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Shanghai 200433, P.R. China
| | - Long Yu
- School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Shanghai 200433, P.R. China
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Qu Y, Zong L, Xu M, Dong Y, Lu L. Effects of 18α-glycyrrhizin on TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway in rats with carbon tetrachloride-induced liver fibrosis. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL PATHOLOGY 2015; 8:1292-1301. [PMID: 25973013 PMCID: PMC4396252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2014] [Accepted: 01/23/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Glycyrrhizin has various pharmacological effects including hepato-protection. This study aimed to investigate the potential mechanism underlying the protective effects of 18α-glycyrrhizin (18α-GL) in rats with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced liver fibrosis. METHODS Male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into control group, fibrosis group, 25 mg/kg 18α-GL group and 12.5 mg/kg 18α-GL group. Rats in experimental groups were subcutaneously injected with 40% CCl4 twice weekly for 8 weeks. Immunohistochemical examination was carried out to detect the protein expressions of collagen I, collagen III, TGF-β1, p-Smad2, p-Smad3, Smad 7 and SP-1, in the liver, and the mRNA and protein expressions of these genes were determined in the liver by real time PCR and Western blot assay, respectively. RESULTS 18α-GL ameliorated histological changes and significantly suppressed collagen deposition. 18α-GL significantly decreased the mRNA expressions of TGF-β1, Smad2, Smad3 and SP-1 in the liver. Immunohistochemical staining revealed that TGF-β1, p-Smad2, p-Smad3 and SP-1 expressions reduced following 18α-GL therapy. Western blot assay showed p-Smad2, p-Smad3, smad2 and smad3 expressions decreased after 18α-GL treatment. The mRNA and protein expression of Smad7 remained unchanged. CONCLUSION 18α-GL is able to attenuate CCl4 induced liver fibrosis in rat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Qu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shanghai First People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine Shanghai 200080, China
| | - Lei Zong
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shanghai First People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine Shanghai 200080, China
| | - Mingyi Xu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shanghai First People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine Shanghai 200080, China
| | - Yuwei Dong
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shanghai First People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine Shanghai 200080, China
| | - Lungen Lu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shanghai First People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine Shanghai 200080, China
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Liu TT, Ding TL, Ma Y, Wei W. Selective α1B- and α1D-adrenoceptor antagonists suppress noradrenaline-induced activation, proliferation and ECM secretion of rat hepatic stellate cells in vitro. Acta Pharmacol Sin 2014; 35:1385-92. [PMID: 25283507 DOI: 10.1038/aps.2014.84] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2014] [Accepted: 07/07/2014] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
AIM To explore the effects of noradrenaline (NA) on hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) in vitro and to determine the adrenoceptor (AR) subtypes and underlying mechanisms. METHODS The distribution and expressions of α1A-, α1B-, and α1D-ARs in HSC-T6 cells were analyzed using immunocytochemistry and RT-PCR. Cell proliferation was evaluated with MTT assay. The expression of HSC activation factors [transforming factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA)], extracellular matrix (ECM) secretion factors [tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) and collagen-Ι (ColΙ)] and PKC-PI3K-AKT signaling components (PKC, PI3K, and AKT) in the cells were detected by Western blotting and RT-PCR. RESULTS Both α1B- and α1D-AR were expressed in the membrane of HSC-T6 cells, whereas α1A-AR was not detected. Treatment of the cells with NA concentration-dependently increased cell proliferation (EC50=277 nmol/L), which was suppressed by the α1B-AR antagonist CEC or by the α1D-AR antagonist BMY7378. Furthermore, NA (0.001, 0.1, and 10 μmol/L) concentration-dependently increased the expression of TGF-β1, α-SMA, TIMP-1 and ColΙ, PKC and PI3K, and phosphorylation of AKT in HSC-T6 cells, which were suppressed by CEC or BMY7378, or by pertussis toxin (PT), RO-32-0432 (PKC antagonist), LY294002 (PI3K antagonist) or GSK690693 (AKT antagonist). CONCLUSION NA promotes HSC-T6 cell activation, proliferation and secretion of ECM in vitro via activation of Gα-coupled α1B-AR and α1D-AR and the PKC-PI3K-AKT signaling pathway.
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Bohanon FJ, Wang X, Ding C, Ding Y, Radhakrishnan GL, Rastellini C, Zhou J, Radhakrishnan RS. Oridonin inhibits hepatic stellate cell proliferation and fibrogenesis. J Surg Res 2014; 190:55-63. [PMID: 24742622 DOI: 10.1016/j.jss.2014.03.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2014] [Revised: 03/07/2014] [Accepted: 03/12/2014] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Liver fibrosis is a common response to liver injury and, in severe cases, leads to cirrhosis. The hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) become activated after liver injury and play a significant role in fibrogenesis. The activated HSC is characterized by increased proliferation, overexpression of α smooth muscle actin, and excessive production of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins. Oridonin, a naturally occurring diterpenoid, has been shown to induce apoptosis in liver and gastric cancer cells. However, its effects on the HSC are unknown. METHODS We tested the effects of oridonin on the activated human and rat HSC lines LX-2 and HSC-T6, and the human hepatocyte cell line C3A. Transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) was used to stimulate LX-2 cells. RESULTS Oridonin significantly inhibited LX-2 and HSC-T6 proliferation. In contrast, oridonin had no antiproliferative effect on C3A cells at our tested range. Oridonin induced apoptosis and S-phase arrest in LX-2 cells. These findings were associated with an increase in p53, p21, p16, and cleaved Poly (ADP-ribose) Polymerase (PARP), and with a decrease in Cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (Cdk4). Oridonin markedly decreased expression of α smooth muscle actin and ECM protein type I collagen and fibronectin, blocked TGF-β1-induced Smad2/3 phosphorylation and type I collagen expression. CONCLUSIONS Oridonin induces apoptosis and cell cycle arrest involving the p53-p21 pathway in HSC and appears to be nontoxic to hepatocytes. In addition, oridonin suppressed endogenous and TGF-β1-induced ECM proteins. Thus, oridonin may act as a novel agent to prevent hepatic fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fredrick J Bohanon
- Department of Surgery, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd., Galveston, TX, 77555, USA
| | - Xiaofu Wang
- Department of Surgery, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd., Galveston, TX, 77555, USA
| | - Chunyong Ding
- Chemical Biology Program, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd., Galveston, TX, 77555, USA
| | - Ye Ding
- Chemical Biology Program, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd., Galveston, TX, 77555, USA
| | - Geetha L Radhakrishnan
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd., Galveston, TX, 77555, USA
| | - Cristiana Rastellini
- Department of Surgery, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd., Galveston, TX, 77555, USA
| | - Jia Zhou
- Chemical Biology Program, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd., Galveston, TX, 77555, USA
| | - Ravi S Radhakrishnan
- Department of Surgery, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd., Galveston, TX, 77555, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd., Galveston, TX, 77555, USA
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