Herbal formula, Scutellariae radix and Rhei rhizoma attenuate dimethylnitrosamine-induced liver fibrosis in a rat model

Proteomic analysis of DEN and CCl4-induced hepatocellular carcinoma mouse model

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) seriously threatens human health, mostly developed from liver fibrosis or cirrhosis. Since diethylnitrosamine (DEN) and carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced HCC mouse model almost recapitulates the characteristic of HCC with fibrosis and inflammation, it is taken as an essential tool to investigate the pathogenesis of HCC. However, a comprehensive understanding of the protein expression profile of this model is little. In this study, we performed proteomic analysis of this model to elucidate its proteomic characteristics. Compared with normal liver tissues, 432 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were identified in tumor tissues, among which 365 were up-regulated and 67 were down-regulated. Through Gene Ontology (GO) analysis, Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA), protein-protein interaction networks (PPI) analysis and Gene-set enrichment analysis (GSEA) analysis of DEPs, we identified two distinguishing features of DEN and CCl4-induced HCC mouse model in protein expression, the upregulation of actin cytoskeleton and branched-chain amino acids metabolic reprogramming. In addition, matching DEPs from the mouse model to homologous proteins in the human HCC cohort revealed that the DEN and CCl4-induced HCC mouse model was relatively similar to the subtype of HCC with poor prognosis. Finally, combining clinical information from the HCC cohort, we screened seven proteins with prognostic significance, SMAD2, PTPN1, PCNA, MTHFD1L, MBOAT7, FABP5, and AGRN. Overall, we provided proteomic data of the DEN and CCl4-induced HCC mouse model and highlighted the important proteins and pathways in it, contributing to the rational application of this model in HCC research.

Tandem mass tag-based quantitative proteomics analyses of the spermatogenesis-ameliorating effect of Youjing granule on rats

RATIONALE

Male infertility is a common reproductive system disease manifested as aberrant spermatogenesis and identified as "kidney deficiency and dampness" in Chinese traditional medicine. Youjing granule (YG) is a Chinese material medica based on tonifying kidneys and removing dampness. It has proven to be able to regulate semen quality in clinical application, but the underlying mechanism has not been clarified.

METHODS

Using serum containing YG to treat primarily cultured spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs), the apoptotic rate and mitosis phase ratio of SSCs were measured. The liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry with tandem mass tags method was applied for analyzing the serum of rats treated with YG/distilled water, and proteomic analyses were performed to clarify the mechanisms of YG.

RESULTS

Totally, 111 proteins in YG-treated serum samples were differentially expressed compared with control groups, and 43 of them were identified as potential target proteins, which were further annotated based on their enrichment in Gene Ontology terms and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathways. Proteomic analyses showed that the mechanisms of YG may involve regulation of glycolysis, gluconeogenesis and nucleotide-binding and oligomerization domain-like receptor signaling pathway. In addition, RhoA and Lamp2 were found to be possible responders of YG through reviewing the literature.

CONCLUSIONS

The results demonstrate that our serum proteomics platform is clinically useful in understanding the mechanisms of YG.

Tangeretin alleviates Tunicamycin-induced endoplasmic reticulum stress and associated complications in skeletal muscle cells

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and associated oxidative stress are involved in the genesis and progression of skeletal muscle diseases such as myositis and atrophy or muscle wasting. Targeting the ER stress and associated downstream pathways can aid in the development of better treatment strategies for these diseases with limited therapeutic approaches. There is a growing interest in identifying natural products against ER stress due to the lower toxicity and cost effectiveness. In the present study, we investigated the protective effect of Tangeretin, a citrus methoxyflavone found in citrus peels against Tunicamycin (pharmacological ER stress inducer)-induced ER stress and associated complications in rat skeletal muscle L6 cell lines. Treatment with Tunicamycin for a period of 24 h resulted in the upregulation of ER stress marker proteins, ER resident oxidoreductases and cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). Co-treatment with Tangeretin was effective in alleviating Tunicamycin-induced ER stress and associated redox-related complications by significantly downregulating the unfolded protein response (UPR), ER resident oxidoreductase proteins, cellular ROS and improving the antioxidant enzyme activity. Tunicamycin also induced upregulation of phosphorylated p38 MAP Kinase and loss of mitochondrial membrane potential. Tangeretin significantly reduced the levels of phosphorylated p38 MAP Kinase and improved the mitochondrial membrane potential. From the results, it is evident that Tangeretin can be explored further as a potential candidate for skeletal muscle diseases involving protein misfolding and ER stress.

Antioxidant properties of red raspberry extract alleviate hepatic fibrosis via inducing apoptosis and transdifferentiation of activated hepatic stellate cells

Hepatic fibrosis is a wound-healing process caused by prolonged liver damage and often occurs due to hepatic stellate cell activation in response to reactive oxygen species (ROS). Red raspberry has been found to attenuate oxidative stress, mainly because it is rich in bioactive components. In the current study, we investigated the inhibitory effects and associated molecular mechanisms of red raspberry extract (RBE) upon activated hepatic stellate cell (aHSC) in cellular and rat models. Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were increased in the dimethylnitrosamine (DMN)-applied samples, whereas treatment of RBE significantly suppressed the activities of these enzymes. In addition, a histopathological analysis demonstrated that RBE could substantially diminish the hepatic collagen content and alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) expression induced by DMN. Administration of 250 μg/mL RBE could also arrest the growth and enhance the apoptosis of activated HSC-T6 cells, which was accompanied with elevated levels of activated caspases and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) cleavage. Particularly, RBE application remarkably abolished oxidative damage within the cells and reduced the carbonylation of proteins, which was attributed to the upregulation of catalase, nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1). Moreover, the knockdown of Nrf2 together with the RBE treatment synergistically abrogated the expression of α-SMA and promoted the level of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-γ), suggesting that RBE could mitigate the transdifferentiation of HSC in a Nrf2-independent manner. These findings implied that the application of RBE could effectively remove oxidative stress and relieve the activation of HSC via modulating the caspase/PARP, Nrf2/HO-1 and PPAR-γ pathways, which may allow the development of novel therapeutic strategies against chemical-caused liver fibrogenesis.

The Potential Application of Chinese Medicine in Liver Diseases: A New Opportunity

Liver diseases have been a common challenge for people all over the world, which threatens the quality of life and safety of hundreds of millions of patients. China is a major country with liver diseases. Metabolic associated fatty liver disease, hepatitis B virus and alcoholic liver disease are the three most common liver diseases in our country, and the number of patients with liver cancer is increasing. Therefore, finding effective drugs to treat liver disease has become an urgent task. Chinese medicine (CM) has the advantages of low cost, high safety, and various biological activities, which is an important factor for the prevention and treatment of liver diseases. This review systematically summarizes the potential of CM in the treatment of liver diseases, showing that CM can alleviate liver diseases by regulating lipid metabolism, bile acid metabolism, immune function, and gut microbiota, as well as exerting anti-liver injury, anti-oxidation, and anti-hepatitis virus effects. Among them, Keap1/Nrf2, TGF-β/SMADS, p38 MAPK, NF-κB/IκBα, NF-κB-NLRP3, PI3K/Akt, TLR4-MyD88-NF-κB and IL-6/STAT3 signaling pathways are mainly involved. In conclusion, CM is very likely to be a potential candidate for liver disease treatment based on modern phytochemistry, pharmacology, and genomeproteomics, which needs more clinical trials to further clarify its importance in the treatment of liver diseases.

A novel model of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis with fibrosis and carcinogenesis in connexin 32 dominant-negative transgenic rats

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a recognized risk factor for liver fibrosis and malignancies, and is associated with features of metabolic syndrome, such as obesity and insulin resistance (IR). We previously demonstrated that the disturbance of connexin 32 (Cx32), a gap junctional protein of hepatocytes, exacerbated NASH in Cx32 dominant-negative transgenic (Cx32ΔTg) rats fed methionine choline-deficient diet (MCDD). MCDD is well-established means of inducing NASH in rodents; however, the Cx32ΔTg-MCDD NASH model does not reproduce obesity and IR. In this study, we aimed to establish an improved NASH model. Eight-week-old male Cx32ΔTg and wild-type (Wt) rats received a high-fat diet (HFD) with dimethylnitrosamine (DMN) for 12 weeks. The HFD with DMN led to gains in body, liver, and visceral fat weights in both genotypes. IR was significantly greater in Cx32ΔTg than in Wt rats. Elevation of serum hepatic enzymes (AST, ALT), inflammatory cytokine expressions (Tnfα, Il-6, Tgf-β1, Il-1β, Timp2, and Col1a1), steatohepatitis, and fibrosis were significantly greater in Cx32ΔTg as compared with Wt rats. Regarding carcinogenesis, the number and area of glutathione S-transferase placental form (GST-P)-positive preneoplastic hepatic foci were significantly increased in Cx32ΔTg versus Wt rats. Moreover, activation of NF-κB and JNK contributed to the progression of NASH in Cx32ΔTg rats. These results suggest that Cx32 dysfunction promoted the progression of NASH, metabolic syndrome, and carcinogenesis. Therefore, the novel Cx32ΔTg-HFD-DMN NASH model may be a rapid and useful tool for evaluating the progression of NASH.

Hepatoprotective Potency of Chrysophanol 8-O-Glucoside from Rheum palmatum L. against Hepatic Fibrosis via Regulation of the STAT3 Signaling Pathway

Rhubarb is a well-known herb worldwide and includes approximately 60 species of the Rheum genus. One of the representative plants is Rheum palmatum, which is prescribed as official rhubarb due to its pharmacological potential in the Korean and Chinese pharmacopoeia. In our bioactive screening, we found out that the EtOH extract of R. palmatum inhibited hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation by transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1). Chemical investigation of the EtOH extract led to the isolation of chrysophanol 8-O-glucoside, which was determined by structural analysis using NMR spectroscopic techniques and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESIMS). To elucidate the effects of chrysophanol 8-O-glucoside on HSC activation, activated LX-2 cells were treated for 48 h with chrysophanol 8-O-glucoside, and α-SMA and collagen, HSC activation markers, were measured by comparative quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) and western blotting analysis. Chrysophanol 8-O-glucoside significantly inhibited the protein and mRNA expression of α-SMA and collagen compared with that in TGF-β1-treated LX-2 cells. Next, the expression of phosphorylated SMAD2 (p-SMAD2) and p-STAT3 was measured and the translocation of p-STAT3 to the nucleus was analyzed by western blotting analysis. The expression of p-SMAD2 and p-STAT3 showed that chrysophanol 8-O-glucoside strongly downregulated STAT3 phosphorylation by inhibiting the nuclear translocation of p-STAT3, which is an important mechanism in HSC activation. Moreover, chrysophanol 8-O-glucoside suppressed the expression of p-p38, not that of p-JNK or p-Erk, which can activate STAT3 phosphorylation and inhibit MMP2 expression, the downstream target of STAT3 signaling. These findings provided experimental evidence concerning the hepatoprotective effects of chrysophanol 8-O-glucoside against liver damage and revealed the molecular basis underlying its anti-fibrotic effects through the blocking of HSC activation.

Novel imaging-based approaches for predicting the hepatic venous pressure gradient in a porcine model of liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension

AIMS

Hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) is critical for staging and prognosis prediction of portal hypertension (PH). However, HVPG measurement has limitations (e.g., invasiveness). This study examined the value of non-invasive, imaging-based approaches including magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) and intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) for the prediction of HVPG in a porcine model of liver cirrhosis and PH.

MAIN METHODS

Male Bama miniature pigs were used to establish a porcine model of liver cirrhosis and PH induced by embolization. They were randomly assigned to an experimental group (n = 12) and control group (n = 3). HVPG was examined before and after transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS). MRE and IVIM-DWI were performed to obtain quantitative parameters including liver stiffness (LS) in MRE, tissue diffusivity (D), pseudo-diffusion coefficient (D*), and perfusion fraction (f) in IVIM-DWI. The correlation between HVPG and the parameters was assessed.

KEY FINDINGS

LS values were significantly greater in the experimental group, while f values were significantly decreased at 4, 8, and 12 weeks after embolization compared to the control group. Furthermore, HVPG was significantly lower immediately after versus before TIPS. In parallel, LS and f values showed significant alterations after TIPS, and these changes were consistent with a reduction in HVPG. Spearman analysis revealed a significant correlation between the parameters (LS and f) and HVPG. The equation was eventually generated for prediction of HVPG.

SIGNIFICANCE

The findings show a good correlation between HVPG and the quantitative parameters; thus, imaging-based techniques have potential as non-invasive methods for predicting HVPG.

Toona sinensis modulates autophagy and cytokines in lipopolysaccharide-induced RAW 264.7 macrophages

Toona sinensis (TS) is a medicinal herb possessing anti-apoptotic, anti-oxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties and is used to treat diabetes, cancer, and inflammatory diseases. In traditional Chinese medicine theory, TS clears dampness and heat, strengthens the stomach function, and regulates vital energy flow. TS is also used as an astringent and a pesticide. In this study, we aimed to evaluate how TS influences autophagy and cytokines during the inflammatory process in RAW 264.7 macrophages. The treatment groups were pre-supplemented with TS leaf extract; rapamycin was used to enhance autophagy and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was used to induce inflammation. The expression of autophagy-related proteins was analyzed by western blotting. The survival rate of, and chemokine expression and oxidative stress in the cells were also assessed. TS leaf extract inhibited mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) phosphorylation at site S2448 in the macrophages. At relatively higher concentrations (50 and 75 μg/mL), TS elevated the expression of light chain 3 II (LC3-II), which further modulated autophagy. Pre-supplementation with TS leaf extract elevated the total glutathione (GSH) level and GSH/oxidized GSH (GSSG) ratio, but it decreased the GSSG, total nitric oxide, nitrate, nitrite, malondialdehyde, and superoxide anion levels. TS reversed the effects of LPS-induced cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-10. TS did not induce significant toxicity at the studied concentrations. In conclusion, TS leaf extract may modulate autophagy during inflammation. Furthermore, it may prevent cell damage via anti-inflammation and anti-oxidation. Thus, this study supports the ethnomedical use of TS in the prevention of inflammation-related diseases.

Elevated system exposures of baicalin after combinatory oral administration of rhein and baicalin: Mainly related to breast cancer resistance protein (ABCG2), not UDP-glucuronosyltransferases

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

A traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) prescription follows the principle of compatibility (peiwu) to achieve the fundamental purpose: to increase efficacy and reduce toxicity. Rhei rhizoma, commonly known as Chinese rhubarb, is the most frequently used herb with Radix Scutellariaee. This classic fixed compatibility is considered for heat-clearing, qi regulation and detoxifying to gain better efficacy and reduce cytotoxicity with respect to unilateral medicine. With this in mind, we propose it is highly promising to find ingredients in rhubarb to increase the bioavailability of baicalin.

AIM OF STUDY

In the present study, effect of rhien on pharmacokinetic profile of baicalin in rat plasma was investigated, and the underlying mechanisms were partly dissected through intestinal absorption, metabolism and biliary excretion with in vivo, in vitro and in situ assays.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Pharmacokinetic analysis in rats was first performed to provide a general overview of the in vivo exposure of baicalin and rhein after co-administration, while the biliary excretion study provided insight to the effect of rhein on the transport of baicalin from hepatocytes to bile. In vitro incubation and inhibition studies in human/rat liver microsome and human/rat intestinal S9 fraction were conducted to elucidate the role of uridine diphosphate-glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs) on the hepatic and intestinal metabolism of baicalein (the aglycone of baicalin), and to determine whether rhein can affect the UGT-mediated glucuronidation of baicalein. In situ intestinal perfusion study was designed to investigate the effect of rhein on intestinal absorption of baicalin, and breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP) inhibitor was co-perfused as positive control to demonstrate the role of the efflux transporter, while BCRP-MDCK II cell(Madin-Daby canine kidney cell) model was used as an in vitro approach to further confirm the conclusion.

RESULTS

The AUC and C_max of baicalin were increased to 189.93% and 305.73%, respectively, and the clearance of baicalin was significantly decreased from 4.17 ± 2.40 to 1.65 ± 0.79 L/h/kg following oral co-administration of rhein. The AUC of baicalin was markedly increased and the biliary clearance was significantly decreased when baicalin and rhein were co-administered intravenously. The effect of rhein on the glucuronidation of baicalein in various subcellular fractions was examined, and it was found that rhein did not affect the UGT-mediated glucuronidation of baicalein. Results of in situ intestinal perfusion revealed that co-perfusion with Ko143 (a potent BCRP inhibitor) or rhein significantly reduced the cumulative excretion amount of baicalin, from 9.27 ± 2.79 to 2.80 ± 0.97 or 4.84 ± 0.60 nM, respectively. Additionally, the efflux ratio P_app(BL-AP)/P_app(AP-BL) of baicalin in BCRP-MDCK II was decreased significantly in the presence of rhein or Ko143, which meant rhein could inhibit the BCRP-mediated efflux transport of baicalin.

CONCLUSIONS

These results indicated that rhein can increase the bioavailability of baicalin by inhibiting BCRP-mediated efflux transport of baicalin in enterocytes and hepatocytes rather than by affecting the activity of UGT enzyme.

Characterization of the Roles of Vimentin in Regulating the Proliferation and Migration of HSCs during Hepatic Fibrogenesis

The activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) manifested as proliferation and migration is the pivotal event involved in liver fibrogenesis. The vimentin network, an intermediate filament (IF) system, is one of the critical cascades by which the cell morphology, growth, and motility are modulated. However, the vimentin-mediated cytoskeletal cross talk, as well as the signaling transduction, which further coordinates the cellular responses during hepatic fibrogenesis, is poorly understood. In the current study, both messenger RNA (mRNA) and the vimentin protein were significantly increased in a time-dependent manner in the dimethylnitrosamine (DMN)-exposed liver. In particular, vimentin was highly expressed in the activated HSCs. Again, the overexpressed vimentin was observed in the plasma samples derived from patients with hepatic fibrosis/cirrhosis, suggesting that vimentin may be a key factor in regulating the progression of liver fibrosis. Meanwhile, vimentin knockdown suppressed the migratory propensity, provoked morphological changes, and disturbed the focal adhesions in the HSCs due to the breakdown of associated cytoskeletal proteins. Western blotting showed that vimentin deletion inhibited proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and arrested the Rho GTPase family, thereby impairing the HSCs’ growth as well as motility. The phosphorylated extracellular-signal regulated kinase (ERK) and AKT signals were also notably reduced in response to the silence of vimentin. Inhibitors of selected signaling pathways suppressed the migration and differentiation of activated HSCs by regulating specific serine phosphorylated sites on vimentin. Taken together, these findings revealed a novel mechanism of vimentin through which various signaling pathways controlled the proliferation, differentiation, and movement of the HSCs via the ERK/AKT and Rho cascades.

Chinese Herbal Medicine for Wilson's Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Wilson's disease (WD) is a rare autosomal recessive inherited disorder of chronic copper toxicosis. Currently, Chinese herbal medicines (CHM) is widely used for WD. Here, we conducted an updated systematic review to investigate the efficacy and safety of CHM for WD and its possible mechanisms. Randomized-controlled clinical trials (RCTs), which compared CHM with Western conventional medicine or placebo for WD, were searched in six databases from inception to July 2017. The methodological quality was assessed using 7-item criteria from the Cochrane's collaboration tool. All the data were analyzed using Rev-Man 5.3 software. Eighteen studies involving 1,220 patients were identified for the final analyses. A score of study quality ranged from 2/7 to 4/7 points. Meta-analyses showed that CHM could significantly increase 24-h urinary copper excretion and improve liver function and the total clinical efficacy rate for WD compared with control (p < 0.05). Additionally, CHM was well tolerated in patients with WD. The underlying mechanisms of CHM for WD are associated with reversing the ATP7B mutants, exerting anti-oxidation, anti-inflammation, and anti-hepatic fibrosis effects. In conclusion, despite the apparent positive results, the present evidence supports, to a limited extent because of the methodological flaws and CHM heterogeneity, that CHM paratherapy can be used for patients with WD but could not be recommended as monotherapy in WD. Further rigorous RCTs focusing on individual CHM formula for WD are warranted.

Functional microRNA binding site variants

Germline single nucleotide polymorphisms are one of the most common genetic variations. Polymorphisms that cause nonsynonymous mutations in gene coding regions are known to cause serious deleterious downstream effects. However, even polymorphisms in noncoding regions can have profound functional consequences by disrupting essential regulatory sites. Specifically, polymorphisms that alter microRNA binding sites can disrupt the regulation of hallmark biological pathways implicated in tumorigenesis and tumor progression. Many of these microRNA-associated polymorphisms (miR-SNPs) have recently been shown to be important biomarkers of cancer risk, prognosis, and treatment outcomes. This review will summarize the functional impact of key miR-SNPs and define a subset of miR-SNPs that may be clinically useful prognostic or predictive biomarkers.

Field-grown soybean transcriptome shows diurnal patterns in photosynthesis-related processes

Many plant physiological processes have diurnal patterns regulated by diurnal environmental changes and circadian rhythms, but the transcriptional underpinnings of many of these cycles have not been studied in major crop species under field conditions. Here, we monitored the transcriptome of field-grown soybean (Glycine max) during daylight hours in the middle of the growing season with RNA-seq. The analysis revealed 21% of soybean genes were differentially expressed over the course of the day. Expression of some circadian-related genes in field-grown soybean differed from previously reported expression patterns measured in controlled environments. Many genes in functional groups contributing to and/or depending on photosynthesis showed differential expression, with patterns particularly evident in the chlorophyll synthesis pathway. Gene regulatory network inference also revealed seven diurnally sensitive gene nodes involved with circadian rhythm, transcription regulation, cellular processes, and water transport. This study provides a diurnal overview of the transcriptome for an economically important field-grown crop and a basis for identifying pathways that could eventually be tailored to optimize diurnal regulation of carbon gain.

Molecular mechanism and research progress on pharmacology of traditional Chinese medicine in liver injury

CONTEXT

Liver disease is a common threat to human health, caused by a variety of factors that damage the liver. Recent studies have shown that active ingredients (for example: flavonoids, saponins, acids, phenols, and alkaloids) from Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) can have hepatoprotective benefits, which represents an attractive source of drug discovery for treating liver injury.

OBJECTIVE

We reviewed recent contributions on the chemically induced liver injury, immunological liver damage, alcoholic liver injury, and drug-induced liver injury, in order to summarize the research progress in molecular mechanism and pharmacology of TCM, and provides a comprehensive overview of new TCM treatment strategies for liver disease.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Relevant literature was obtained from scientific databases such as Pubmed, Web of Science. and CNKI databases on ethnobotany and ethnomedicines (from January 1980 to the end of May 2018). The experimental studies involving the antihepatic injury role of the active agents from TCM and the underlying mechanisms were identified. The search terms included 'liver injury' or 'hepatic injury', and 'traditional Chinese medicine', or 'herb'.

RESULTS

A number of studies revealed that the active ingredients of TCM exhibit potential therapeutic benefits against liver injury, while the underlying mechanisms appear to contribute to the regulation of inflammation, oxidant stress, and pro-apoptosis signaling pathways.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS

The insights provided in this review will help further exploration of botanical drugs in the development of liver injury therapy via study on the effective components of TCM.

Therapeutic effect of the natural compounds baicalein and baicalin on autoimmune diseases

A series of natural compounds have been implicated to be useful in regulating the pathogenesis of various autoimmune diseases. The present study demonstrated that the Scutellariae radix compounds baicalein and baicalin may serve as drugs for the treatment of autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease. Following the administration of baicalein and baicalin in vivo, T cell‑mediated autoimmune diseases in the mouse model were profoundly ameliorated: In the collagen‑induced arthritis model (CIA), the severity of the disease was reduced by baicalein and, consistently, baicalein was demonstrated to suppress T cell proliferation in CIA mice. In the dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)‑induced colitis model, the disease was attenuated by baicalin, and baicalin promoted colon epithelial cell (CEC) proliferation in vitro. The present study further revealed that the mRNA expression of signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)3 and STAT4 in the tyrosine‑protein kinase JAK‑STAT signaling pathway in T cells was downregulated by baicalein, contributing to its regulation of T cell proliferation. However, in the DSS model, the STAT4 transcription in CECs, which are the target cells of activated T cells in the gut, was downregulated by baicalin, suggesting that baicalein and baicalin mediated similar STAT expression in different cell types in autoimmune diseases. In conclusion, the similarly structured compounds baicalein and baicalin selectively exhibited therapeutic effects on autoimmune diseases by regulating cell proliferation and STAT gene expression, albeit in different cell types.

Chinese herbal medicine therapy and the risk of mortality for chronic hepatitis B patients with concurrent liver cirrhosis: a nationwide population-based cohort study

Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) is increasingly recognized as a public health problem in Taiwan. After affected patients are diagnosed with contaminant liver cirrhosis (LC), adverse clinical outcomes, especially death, are common. This study aimed to investigate the effect of Chinese herbal medicine (CHM), an essential branch of Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), on the mortality risk among CHB patients with contaminant LC. This longitudinal cohort study used the Taiwanese National Health Insurance Research Database to identify 1522 patients 20–70 years of age with newly diagnosed CHB with LC during 1998–2007. Among them, 508 (33.37%) had received CHM products after the onset of CHB (CHM users), and the remaining 1014 patients (66.63%) were designated as a control group (non-CHM users). All enrollees were followed until the end of 2012 to determine deaths during the study period. We applied the Cox proportional hazards regression model to compute the hazard ratio for the association of CHM use and the subsequent risk of death. During the follow-up period, 156 CHM users and 493 non-CHM users died. After controlling for potential confounders, CHM users were found to have a significantly reduced risk of death compared with non-CHM users by 56%, and the effect was predominantly observed among those treated with CHM for > 180 days. CHM therapy lowered the risk of death among CHB patients with contaminant LC, which supported CHM might provide further treatment options for those with chronic liver diseases.

Emodin Alleviates Liver Fibrosis of Mice by Reducing Infiltration of Gr1hi Monocytes

Emodin, as a major active component of Rheum palmatum L. and Polygonum cuspidatum, has been reported to have antifibrotic effect. However, the mechanism of emodin on antifibrotic effect for liver fibrosis was still obscure. In the present study, we aimed to investigate whether emodin can alleviate carbon tetrachloride- (CCl₄-) induced liver fibrosis through reducing infiltration of Gr1^hi monocytes. Liver fibrosis was induced by intraperitoneal CCl₄ injection in mice. Mice in the emodin group received emodin treatment by gavage. Pretreatment with emodin significantly protected mice from liver inflammation and fibrosis revealed by the decreased elevation of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), as well as reduced hepatic necrosis and fibrosis by analysis of hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining, Masson staining, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), and collagen-I immunohistochemistry staining. Further, compared to CCl₄ group, mice in the emodin group showed significantly less intrahepatic infiltration of Gr1^hi monocytes. Moreover, emodin significantly inhibited hepatic expression of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), granulin (GRN), monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1), and chemokine ligand 7 (CCL7), which was in line with the decreased numbers of intrahepatic Gr1^hi monocytes. In conclusion, emodin can alleviate the degree of liver fibrosis by reducing infiltration of Gr1^hi monocytes. These results suggest that emodin is a promising candidate to prevent and treat liver fibrosis.

Systematic revelation of the protective effect and mechanism of Cordycep sinensis on diethylnitrosamine-induced rat hepatocellular carcinoma with proteomics

Cordyceps sinensis (C. sinensis) has been reported to treat liver diseases. Here, we investigated the inhibitory effect of C. sinensis on hepatocarcinoma in a diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-induced rat model with functional proteome tools.In the DEN-exposed group, levels of serum alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase were increased while C. sinensis application remarkably inhibited the activities of these enzymes. Histopathological analysis also indicated that C. sinensis could substantially restore hypertrophic hepatocytes caused by DEN, suggesting that C. sinensis is effective in preventing DEN-induced hepatocarcinogenesis.We therefore comprehensively delineated the global protein alterations using a proteome platform. The most meaningful changes were found among proteins involved in oxidative stress and detoxification. Meanwhile, C. sinensis application could attenuate the carbonylation level of several enzymes as well as chaperone proteins. Network analysis implied that C. sinensis could obviously alleviate hepatocarcinoma via modulating redox imbalance, protein ubiquitination and tumor growth-associated transcription factors.Our findings provide new insight into the potential effects of C. sinensis in preventing carcinogenesis and might help in developing novel therapeutic strategies against chemical-induced hepatocarcinoma.

Huangqi Decoction Alleviates Alpha-Naphthylisothiocyanate Induced Intrahepatic Cholestasis by Reversing Disordered Bile Acid and Glutathione Homeostasis in Mice

Intrahepatic cholestasis is a serious symptom of liver disorders with limited therapies. In this study, we investigated the efficacy of Huangqi decoction (HQD), a two-herb classic traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), in the treatment of alpha-naphthylisothiocyanate (ANIT)-induced intrahepatic cholestasis in mice. HQD treatment ameliorated impaired hepatic function and tissue damage. A metabolomics study revealed that the endogenous metabolites significantly affected by HQD were related to bile acid (BA) biosynthesis and glutathione metabolism pathways. HQD treatment decreased the intrahepatic accumulation of cytotoxic BAs, normalized serum BA levels, and increased biliary and urinary BA excretion. Additionally, HQD restored the hepatic glutathione content and suppressed reactive oxygen species (ROS) in cholestatic mice. Protein and gene analysis revealed that HQD increased the expression of the hepatic metabolizing enzymes cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2B10 and UDP glucuronosyltransferase family 1 member A1 (UGT1A1), as well as multidrug resistance-associated protein 2 (Mrp2), Mrp3, and Mrp4, which play crucial roles in BA homeostasis. Further, HQD increased the protein expression of glutamate-cysteine ligase, which is involved in the synthesis of glutathione. Importantly, HQD increased the nuclear expression of nuclear factor-E2-related factor-2 (Nrf2). In conclusion, HQD protects against intrahepatic cholestasis by reversing the disordered homeostasis of BAs and glutathione.

Herbal Formula, Baogan Yihao (BGYH), Prevented Dimethylnitrosamine(DMN)-Induced Liver Injury in Rats

Preclinical Research Baogan Yihao (BGYH) is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine for the treatment of chronic liver diseases. In this study, the effects of BGYH on dimethylnitrosamine (DMN)-induced liver fibrosis were investigated using a rat model. BGYH alleviate liver damage, as indicated by decreased levels of AST, ALT, γ-GT, and AKP. BGYH also prevented collagen deposition and reduced pathological tissue injury in liver tissue. In fibrosis, high levels of α-SMA and TGF-β in liver tissue were markedly attenuated by BGYH. The inhibitory effect of BGYH on HSC-T6 proliferation demonstrated that BGYH exhibited significant hepatoprotective and antifibrogenic effects on DMN-induced liver injury. These findings suggest that BGYH may have therapeutic potential in the prevention and therapy of liver fibrosis. Drug Dev Res 78 : 155-163, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

A Biomedical Investigation of the Hepatoprotective Effect of Radix salviae miltiorrhizae and Network Pharmacology-Based Prediction of the Active Compounds and Molecular Targets

Radix salviae miltiorrhizae (Danshen in Chinese), a classic traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) herb, has been used for centuries to treat liver diseases. In this study, the preventive and curative potential of Danshen aqueous extract on acute/chronic alcoholic liver disease (ALD) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) was studied. The in vivo results indicated that Danshen could alleviate hepatic inflammation, fatty degeneration, and haptic fibrogenesis in ALD and NAFLD models. In the aspect of mechanism of action, the significant reduction in MDA levels in both ALD and NAFLD models implies the decreased levels of oxidative stress by Danshen. However, Danshen treatment could not activate the internal enzymatic antioxidant system in ALD and NAFLD models. To further explore the hepatoprotective mechanism of Danshen, an in silico-based network pharmacology approach was employed in the present study. The pharmacological network analysis result revealed that six potential active ingredients such as tanshinone iia, salvianolic acid b, and Danshensu may contribute to the hepatoprotective effects of Danshen on ALD and NAFLD. The action mechanism may relate with regulating the intracellular molecular targets such as PPARα, CYP1A2, and MMP2 for regulation of lipid metabolism, antioxidant and anti-fibrogenesis by these potential active ingredients. Our studies suggest that the combination of network pharmacology strategy with in vivo experimental study may provide a forceful tool for exploring the mechanism of action of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) herb and developing novel bioactive ingredients.

Tetramethylpyrazine attenuates sinusoidal angiogenesis via inhibition of hedgehog signaling in liver fibrosis

Accumulating evidence indicates that hedgehog signaling plays a pivotal role in pathological angiogenesis and is involved in wound-healing responses in a number of adult tissues, including the liver. We previously demonstrated that hedgehog signaling promoted proliferation and inhibited apoptosis in hepatic stellate cells. This study was aimed to evaluate the effect of tetramethylpyrazine (TMP) on hedgehog signaling and to further examine the molecular mechanisms of TMP-induced antiangiogenesic effects in liver fibrosis. We found that TMP ameliorated the expression of proangiogenic markers vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A), vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGF-R2), platelet-derived growth factor BB (PDGF-BB), platelet-derived growth factor-β receptor (PDGF-βR) and hypoxia inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α), concomitant with reduced abundance of endothelial markers platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (PECAM-1/CD31), CD34 and von willebrand factor in vivo and in vitro. Interestingly, TMP attenuated the abundance of sonic hedgehog, smoothened (Smo) and glioblastoma but increased the expression of hedgehog-interacting protein in liver sinusoidal endothelial cells, which was underlying mechanism for the antiangiogenesic activity of TMP. Downregulation of Smo activity, using selective Smo inhibitor cyclopamine, lead to a synergistic effect with TMP, whereas Smo overexpression plasmid impaired the induction of antiangiogenesic effects of TMP. Overall, these results provide novel implications to reveal the molecular mechanism of TMP-inhibited liver sinusoidal angiogenesis, by which points to the possibility of using TMP-based antiangiogenic drugs for the treatment of liver fibrosis. © 2017 IUBMB Life, 69(2):115-127, 2017.

Herbal formula Xian-Fang-Huo-Ming-Yin regulates differentiation of lymphocytes and production of pro-inflammatory cytokines in collagen-induced arthritis mice

Background

Xian-Fang-Huo-Ming-Yin (XFHM), a traditional herbal formula, has been used to treat sores and carbuncles for hundreds of years in Asia. Nowadays, its clinical effects in treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have been validated. In this study, we want to study its possible molecular mechanisms of regulating the differentiation of lymphocytes and production of pro-inflammatory cytokines in collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) mice for RA treatment.

Methods

A high performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization/mass spectrometer (HPLC-ESI/MSⁿ) system was used to analyze the constituents of XFHM granules. An arthritics mouse model was induced by collagen and leflunomide (LEF) was used as a positive control medicine. Pathological changes at the metatarsophalangeal joint were studied through Safranin O and immunohistochemical staining. The differentiation of T, B and NK cells was examined by flow cytometry and pro-inflammatory cytokines were assayed using an Inflammation Antibody Array assay. The expression of key molecules of the nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) and Janus kinase/signal transducers and activators of transcription (JAK/STAT) signaling pathways in spleen were studied by western-blot analysis.

Results

In our study. 21 different dominant chemical constituents were identified in XFHM. Treatment with XFHM suppressed the pathological changes in arthrosis of CIA. Additionally, XFHM down-regulated the proliferation and differentiation of CD3⁺ T cells and CD3⁻CD19⁺ B cells significantly. However, XFHM had no significant effect on CD3⁻NK1.1⁺ NK cells. Further study showed that the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines had been suppressed by inhibiting the activation of NF-κB and JAK/STAT signaling.

Conclusions

XFHM can regulate and maintain the immunologic balance of lymphocytic immunity and inhibit the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, thus suppressing the pathological changes of RA. Therefore, XFHM may be used as an application of traditional medicine against RA in modern complementary and alternative therapeutics.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12906-016-1526-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Txn1, Ctsd and Cdk4 are key proteins of combination therapy with taurine, epigallocatechin gallate and genistein against liver fibrosis in rats

The anti-fibrotic mechanism of combination therapy with taurine, epigallocatechin gallate and genistein was studied from the perspective of serum proteomics in our previous work. In order to further investigate and systematically analyse other possible therapeutic mechanism of combination therapy against liver fibrosis, isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantification (iTRAQ) proteomic analysis was applied to study the protein profile changes in liver tissue of carbon tetrachloride-induced liver fibrosis rats after combination therapy. A total of 115 differentially expressed proteins containing 84 up-regulated and 31 down-regulated proteins in response to combination therapy were identified. Three differentially expressed proteins (Txn1, Ctsd and Cdk4) involved in antioxidant defense system and the activation and proliferation of hepatic stellate cell were selected for further validation by western blot and real-time PCR analysis. Our study highlight the importance of differentially expressed proteins Txn1, Ctsd and Cdk4 against liver fibrosis, which may provide a more precise and comprehensive perspective for clarifying the roles of combination therapy as a potential agent for treatment of liver fibrosis.

Skin aging caused by intrinsic or extrinsic processes characterized with functional proteomics

The skin provides protection against environmental stress. However, intrinsic and extrinsic aging causes significant alteration to skin structure and components, which subsequently impairs molecular characteristics and biochemical processes. Here, we have conducted an immunohistological investigation and established the proteome profiles on nude mice skin to verify the specific responses during aging caused by different factors. Our results showed that UVB-elicited aging results in upregulation of proliferating cell nuclear antigen and strong oxidative damage in DNA, whereas chronological aging abolished epidermal cell growth and increased the expression of caspase-14, as well as protein carbonylation. Network analysis indicated that the programmed skin aging activated the ubiquitin system and triggered obvious downregulation of 14-3-3 sigma, which might accelerate the loss of cell growth capacity. On the other hand, UVB stimulation enhanced inflammation and the risk of skin carcinogenesis. Collectively, functional proteomics could provide large-scale investigation of the potent proteins and molecules that play important roles in skin subjected to both intrinsic and extrinsic aging.

Noninvasive mapping of the redox status of dimethylnitrosamine-induced hepatic fibrosis using in vivo dynamic nuclear polarization-magnetic resonance imaging

Hepatic fibrosis is a chronic disorder caused by viral infection and/or metabolic, genetic and cholestatic disorders. A noninvasive procedure that enables the detection of liver fibrosis based on redox status would be useful for disease identification and monitoring, and the development of treatments. However, an appropriate technique has not been reported. This study describes a novel method for assessing the redox status of the liver using in vivo dynamic nuclear polarization-magnetic resonance imaging (DNP-MRI) with the nitroxyl radical carbamoyl-PROXYL as a molecular imaging probe, which was tested in dimethylnitrosamine-treated mice as a model of liver fibrosis. Based on the pharmacokinetics of carbamoyl-PROXYL in control livers, reduction rate mapping was performed in fibrotic livers. Reduction rate maps demonstrated a clear difference between the redox status of control and fibrotic livers according to the expression of antioxidants. These findings indicate that in vivo DNP-MRI with a nitroxyl radical probe enables noninvasive detection of changes in liver redox status.

Ethyl Acetate Fraction of Amomum xanthioides Exerts Antihepatofibrotic Actions via the Regulation of Fibrogenic Cytokines in a Dimethylnitrosamine-Induced Rat Model

Amomum xanthioides has been traditionally used to treat diverse digestive system disorders in the Asian countries. We investigated antihepatofibrotic effects of ethyl acetate fraction of Amomum xanthioides (EFAX). Liver fibrosis is induced by dimethylnitrosamine (DMN) injection (intraperitoneally, 10 mg/kg of DMN for 4 weeks to Sprague-Dawley rats). EFAX (25 or 50 mg/kg), silymarin (50 mg/kg), or distilled water was orally administered every day. The DMN injection drastically altered body and organ mass, serum biochemistry, and platelet count, while EFAX treatment significantly attenuated this alteration. Severe liver fibrosis is determined by trichrome staining and measurement of hydroxyproline contents. EFAX treatment significantly attenuated these symptoms as well as the increase in oxidative by-products of lipid and protein metabolism in liver tissues. DMN induced a dramatic activation of hepatic stellate cells and increases in the levels of protein and gene expression of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β), platelet derived growth factor-beta (PDGF-β), and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF). Immunohistochemical analyses revealed increases in the levels of protein and gene expression of α-smooth muscle actin. These alterations were significantly normalized by EFAX treatment. Our findings demonstrate the potent antihepatofibrotic properties of EFAX via modulation of fibrogenic cytokines, especially TGF-β in the liver fibrosis rat model.

The Effects of Taoren-Honghua Herb Pair on Pathological Microvessel and Angiogenesis-Associated Signaling Pathway in Mice Model of CCl4-Induced Chronic Liver Disease

Chronic liver disease is one of the most common diseases that threaten human health. Effective treatment is still lacking in western medicine. Semen Persicae (Taoren) and Flos Carthami (Honghua) are known to relieve acute hepatic injury and inflammation, improve microcirculation, and reduce tissue fiber. The aim of our study is to investigate the potential mechanisms of Taoren-Honghua Herb Pair (THHP) in murine model of chronic liver disease caused by Carbon Tetrachloride (CCl4). Mice were randomly divided into seven groups: (1) blank, (2) model, (3) control (colchicine, 0.1 mg/kg), (4) THHP (5.53, 2.67, and 1.33 g/kg), and (5) Tao Hong Siwu Decoction (THSWD) (8.50 g/kg). Histological change and microvessels density were examined by microscopy. Hepatic function, serum fibrosis related factors, and hepatic vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were measured with ELISA. VEGF, kinase insert domain-containing receptor (KDR), Flt-1, and Akt mRNA expression in hepatic tissue were determined with PCR. Tissues of Akt, pAkt, KDR, and Flt-1 were measured with western blotting. Data from this study showed that THHP improved hepatic function and restrained the hepatic inflammation and fibrosis. Its role in inhibiting pathological angiogenesis and hepatic fibrogenesis may be through affecting the angiogenesis-associated VEGF and its upstream and downstream signaling pathways.

LC-UV Determination of Baicalin in Rabbit Plasma and Tissues for Application in Pharmacokinetics and Tissue Distribution Studies of Baicalin after Intravenous Administration of Liposomal and Injectable Formulations

A simple and sensitive LC-UV method to investigate the pharmacokinetics and biodistribution pattern of baicalin in rabbits was established and validated. Baicalin and the internal standard, rutin, were extracted from biosamples using acetonitrile as protein precipitation after pretreated with ammonium acetate buffer (pH 3.5; 1 M) to obtain a pure chromatographic peak and high extraction recovery. Chromatographic separation was achieved on a reverse-phase C18 column with a gradient elution at flow rate of 1.0 mL/min. UV absorption was set at 278 nm. Chromatographic response was linear over the ranges of 0.05–10.00 μg/mL in plasma and 0.05–300.00 μg/g in tissues with the limits of quantification of 50.0 ng/mL in plasma and tissues, and the limit of detection of baicalin in bio-samples of 15 ng/mL. The RSD of intra-and inter-day for the biosamples were from 4.19% to 10.84% and from 4.37% to 10.93%, respectively. The accuracy of plasma and tissue samples ranged from 81.6% to 95.2% and 80.8% to 98.4%, respectively. The extraction recoveries ranged from 81.5% to 88.3% for plasma, from 73.1% to 93.2% for tissues, respectively. Baicalin was stable in rabbit biosamples. The validated method was successfully applied to the study of the pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution of baicalin after intravenous administration of liposomal and injectable formulations to rabbits. Compared to baicalin injection, the pharmacokinetics and biodistribution behavior of baicalin was altered significantly in rabbits treated with its liposomes and drug concentration in the lungs was greatly increased.