Down-regulated cylindromatosis enhances NF-κB activation and aggravates inflammation in HBV-ACLF patients

Up-regulated lncRNA CYLD as a ceRNA of miR-2383 facilitates bovine viral diarrhea virus replication by promoting CYLD expression to counteract RIG-I-mediated type-I IFN production

Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) is one of the most important pathogens of cattle, causing numerous economic losses to the cattle industry. To date, many potential mechanisms of BVDV evading or subverting innate immunity are still unknown. In this study, an lnc-CYLD/miR-2383/CYLD axis involved in BVDV-host interactions was screened from RNA-seq-based co-expression networks analysis of long noncoding RNAs, microRNAs and mRNAs in BVDV-infected bovine cells, and underlying mechanisms of lnc-CYLD/miR-2383/CYLD axis regulating BVDV replication were explored. Results showed that BVDV-induced up-regulation of the lnc-CYLD competed for binding to the miR-2383, and then promoted CYLD expression, thereby inhibiting RIG-I-mediated type-I interferon (IFN) production, which was subsequently confirmed by treatment with lnc-CYLD overexpression and miR-2383 inhibitor. However, miR-2383 transfection and small interfering RNA-mediated lnc-CYLD knockdown inhibited CYLD expression and enhanced RIG-I-mediated type-I IFN production, inhibiting BVDV replication. In addition, interaction relationship between lnc-CYLD and miR-2383, and colocalization relationship of lnc-CYLD, miR-2383 and CYLD were confirmed by dual-luciferase assay and in situ hybridization assay. Conclusively, up-regulation of the lnc-CYLD as a competing endogenous RNA binds to the miR-2383 to reduce inhibitory effect of the miR-2383 on the CYLD expression, playing an important role in counteracting type-I IFN-dependent antiviral immunity to facilitate BVDV replication.

Autophagy in sarcopenia: Possible mechanisms and novel therapies

With global population aging, age-related diseases, especially sarcopenia, have attracted much attention in recent years. Characterized by low muscle strength, low muscle quantity or quality and low physical performance, sarcopenia is one of the major factors associated with an increased risk of falls and disability. Much effort has been made to understand the cellular biological and physiological mechanisms underlying sarcopenia. Autophagy is an important cellular self-protection mechanism that relies on lysosomes to degrade misfolded proteins and damaged organelles. Research designed to obtain new insight into human diseases from the autophagic aspect has been carried out and has made new progress, which encourages relevant studies on the relationship between autophagy and sarcopenia. Autophagy plays a protective role in sarcopenia by modulating the regenerative capability of satellite cells, relieving oxidative stress and suppressing the inflammatory response. This review aims to reveal the specific interaction between sarcopenia and autophagy and explore possible therapies in hopes of encouraging more specific research in need and unlocking novel promising therapies to ameliorate sarcopenia.

JAK/STAT signaling in diabetic kidney disease

Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is the most important microvascular complication of diabetes and the leading cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) worldwide. The Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of the transcription (JAK/STAT) signaling pathway, which is out of balance in the context of DKD, acts through a range of metabolism-related cytokines and hormones. JAK/STAT is the primary signaling node in the progression of DKD. The latest research on JAK/STAT signaling helps determine the role of this pathway in the factors associated with DKD progression. These factors include the renin-angiotensin system (RAS), fibrosis, immunity, inflammation, aging, autophagy, and EMT. This review epitomizes the progress in understanding the complicated explanation of the etiologies of DKD and the role of the JAK/STAT pathway in the progression of DKD and discusses whether it can be a potential target for treating DKD. It further summarizes the JAK/STAT inhibitors, natural products, and other drugs that are promising for treating DKD and discusses how these inhibitors can alleviate DKD to explore possible potential drugs that will contribute to formulating effective treatment strategies for DKD in the near future.

Ginsenoside Rh2 promotes hepatic stellate cell ferroptosis and inactivation via regulation of IRF1-inhibited SLC7A11

BACKGROUND

Sustained liver fibrosis may lead to cirrhosis. Activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are crucial for liver fibrosis development. Ferroptosis, a newly iron-dependent regulated cell death, has been demonstrated to be involved in HSC inactivation.

PURPOSE

Ginsenoside Rh2 (GRh2), a natural bioactive product derived from ginseng, has been shown to promote HSC inactivation. However, the effect of GRh2 on HSC ferroptosis remains unclear.

METHODS

We explored the effects of GRh2 on liver fibrosis in vivo and in vitro. RNA-sequence analysis was performed in HSCs after GRh2 treatment. The crosstalk between ferroptotic HSCs and macrophages was also explored.

RESULTS

GRh2 alleviated liver fibrosis in vivo. In vitro, GRh2 reduced HSC proliferation and activation via ferroptosis, with increased intracellular iron, reactive oxygen species, malondialdehyde and glutathione depletion. The expression of SLC7A11, a negative regulator of ferroptosis, was obviously reduced by GRh2. Interestingly, interferon regulatory factor 1 (IRF1), a transcription factor, was predicted to bind the promoter region of SCL7A11. The interaction between IRF1 and SCL7A11 was further confirmed by the results of chromatin immunoprecipitation and luciferase reporter assays. Furthermore, loss of IRF1 led to an increase in SCL7A11, which contributed to the suppression of HSC ferroptosis and the enhancement of HSC activation in GRh2-treated HSCs. Further studies revealed that GRh2-induced HSC ferroptosis contributed to the inhibition of macrophage recruitment via regulation of inflammation-related genes. Moreover, GRh2 caused a reduction in liver inflammation in vivo.

CONCLUSION

Collectively, GRh2 up-regulates IRF1 expression, resulting in the suppression of SLC7A11, which contributes to HSC ferroptosis and inactivation. GRh2 ameliorates liver fibrosis through enhancing HSC ferroptosis and inhibiting liver inflammation. GRh2 may be a promising drug for treating liver fibrosis.

Network pharmacology-based prediction of active compounds in the Wenyang Jiedu Huayu formula acting on acute-on-chronic liver failure with experimental support in vitro and in vivo

Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) is characterized by undermined liver function, massive necrosis/apoptosis of hepatocytes, and hepatic inflammatory cell recruitment, leading to multiorgan failure. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been widely applied in clinical and experimental studies of ACLF. In this study, 23 compounds with 6,386 drug targets were obtained from Wenyang Jiedu Huayu (WYJDHY), and 8,096 genes were identified as ACLF disease targets, among which 3,132 were overlapping co-targets. Expression profile analysis identified 105 DEGs among the co-targets, which were associated with biological activities such as lymphocyte activation, immune response regulation, and pathways such as Th17 cell differentiation and NF-κB signaling. After PPI analysis and network construction, atractylenolide I (AT-1) has been identified as the hub active ingredient of the WYJDHY formula. LPS stimulation inhibited rat hepatocytes’ BRL 3A cell viability, promoted cell apoptosis, increased the levels of ALT, AST, IL-6, and VCAM-1 within the culture medium, and activated NF-κB signaling, whereas AT-1 treatment significantly attenuated LPS-induced toxicity on BRL 3A cells. Furthermore, the NF-κB signaling inhibitor PDTC exerted effects on LPS-stimulated BRL 3A cells similar to those of AT-1, and the combination of PDTC and AT-1 further attenuated LPS-induced toxicity on BRL 3A cells. In vivo, AT-1 alone or with PDTC improved the symptoms and local inflammation in ACLF model rats. In conclusion, 23 active ingredients of six herbs in the WYJDHY formula were retrieved, and 105 co-targets were differentially expressed in ACLF. AT-1 exerts protective effects on LPS-stimulated hepatocytes and ACLF rats, possibly by inhibiting the NF-κB pathway.