Potential therapeutic efficacy of pachymic acid in chronic kidney disease induced in rats: role of Wnt/β-catenin/renin-angiotensin axis

Wnt/beta-catenin modulation: A promising frontier in chronic kidney disease management

BACKGROUND

Being amongst the leading factors of death and distress, chronic kidney disease (CKD) has affected around 850 million people globally. The Wnt/β-catenin axis is vital for maintaining kidney homeostasis, from nephron generation to overall management. The β-catenin growth factor is typically not expressed in the adult kidney; however, its expression is found to increase under stress and injury conditions. It is categorised as canonical and non-canonical based on β-catenin availability, which mounts promising targets for ameliorating CKD. Hence, modulation of the Wnt/β-catenin signalling for CKD management is of utmost relevance.

OBJECTIVES

The primary aim of this review is to highlight the significance of targeting Wnt/β-catenin signalling for CKD management.

METHODS

The literature review regarding the role of Wnt/β-catenin signalling and therapies modulating it in CKD was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct and Google Scholar.

RESULTS

The current review summarises the pharmacological therapies modulating the Wnt/β-catenin axis in CKD, building upon promising preclinical studies to establish a foundation for clinical studies in the future.

CONCLUSION

Wnt/β-catenin signalling is the evolution's most conserved pathway, which plays a pivotal role in CKD progression. Therapies modulating Wnt/β-catenin signalling have emerged as effective means for alleviating CKD.

Enhancement of cardiac angiogenesis in a myocardial infarction rat model using selenium alone and in combination with PTXF: the role of Akt/HIF-1α signaling pathway

Ischemic heart diseases such as myocardial infarction (MI) are a global health problem and a leading cause of mortality worldwide. Angiogenesis is an important approach for myocardial healing following ischemia. Thus, this study aimed to explore the potential cardiac angiogenic effects of selenium (Se), alone and in combination with the tumor necrosis factor-alpha inhibitor, pentoxifylline (PTXF), via Akt/HIF-1α signaling. MI was induced in rats using two subcutaneous doses of isoprenaline (ISP) at a 24-h interval (150 mg/kg). One week later, rats were orally given Se (150 µg/kg/day), PTXF (50 mg/kg/day), or Se/PTXF combination. ISP-induced myocardial damage was evident by increased HW/TL ratios, ST segment elevation, and increased serum levels of CK-MB, LDH, and troponin-I. ISP increased the cardiac levels of the lipid peroxidation marker MDA; the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α; and the pro-apoptotic protein Bax and caspase-3. In contrast, the cardiac levels of the antioxidant markers GSH and SOD and the anti-apoptotic marker Bcl-2 were reduced. Furthermore, ISP markedly increased the cardiac levels of p-Akt and HIF-1α proteins and the cardiac gene expression of ANGPT-1, VEGF, and FGF-2. Treatment with Se both alone and in combination with PTXF ameliorated the ISP-induced myocardial damage and further increased cardiac angiogenesis via Akt/HIF-1α signaling. Se/PTXF combined therapy was more beneficial than individual treatments. Our study revealed for the first time the cardiac angiogenic effects of Se both alone and in combination with PTXF in myocardial infarction, suggesting that both may be promising candidates for clinical studies.

Identification of the Main Chemical constituents and mechanism of Renshen Guben oral liquid against Renal Fibrosis

BACKGROUND

Renal fibrosis is the late stage of many chronic kidney diseases (CKD). Clinically, there is almost no effective treatment for renal fibrosis except dialysis. Renshen Guben oral liquid (RSGB) is a Chinese patent medicine approved by National Medical Products Administration (NMPA), which is suitable for clinical patients with chronic nephritis. Currently, the chemical constituents of RSGB remains unclear, and its efficacy and mechanism on renal fibrosis have not been reported.

METHODS

In our research, ultra-high performance liquid chromatography/quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS) was employed to describe the chemical profile of RSGB, unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) model in mice was established to evaluate the beneficial effect of RSGB on renal fibrosis by biochemical indexes, HE and Masson staining. RNA sequencing and "constituents-targets-pathways" multi-dimensional network was established to mine the mechanisms of RSGB. Key targets were verified by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and western bolt (WB).

RESULTS

A total of 201 constituents were identified or tentatively characterized, 15 of which were confirmed with standards. The number of triterpenes was the highest with 49, followed by phenols with 46. RSGB ameliorated the blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatinine (Scr) levels in serum, normalizing pathological structure of kidney tissue. RNA sequencing revealed that RSGB regulates 226 differential genes, which were involved in kidney development. According to the "constituents-targets-pathways" network, 26 key active constituents may mainly regulate the inflammatory immune system through 88 corresponding targets. qRT-PCR and WB results showed that RSGB inhibited the activation of the Tgfβ1/Smad2/3 pathway, Wnt4/β-Catenin pathway and NGFR/NF-κB pathway.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, our study, for the first time, characterized 201 chemical constituents in RSGB, and 26 of them were screened out to alleviates renal fibrosis mainly through Tgfβ1/Smad2/3 pathway, Wnt4/β-catenin pathway and NGFR/NF-κB pathway, which may provide a new research strategy for research on the mechanism of traditional Chinese Medicine.

Vanillin and pentoxifylline ameliorate isoproterenol-induced myocardial injury in rats via the Akt/HIF-1α/VEGF signaling pathway

Myocardial infarction (MI) is a major health problem associated with high morbidity and mortality. Recently, angiogenesis has emerged as a novel therapeutic approach against ischemic diseases including MI. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the potential angiogenic effects of vanillin (Van) both alone and in combination with pentoxifylline (PTX), and to examine the molecular mechanisms through which Van and PTX may ameliorate cardiac injury induced in rats including their effects on oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis which play a key role in MI pathogenesis. MI was induced in rats using isoproterenol (ISO) (150 mg kg^-1, SC, twice at a 24 h interval). Then, rats were treated orally with Van (150 mg kg^-1 day^-1), PTX (50 mg kg^-1 day^-1) or Van + PTX combination. ISO-induced cardiac injury was characterized by cardiac hypertrophy, ST-segment elevation and elevated serum levels of troponin-I, creatine kinase-MB and lactate dehydrogenase. Cardiac levels of the antioxidant markers GSH and SOD and the antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2 were decreased. On the other hand, cardiac levels of the oxidative stress marker malonaldehyde, the inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β, the proapoptotic protein Bax, and caspase-3 were increased. Moreover, the cardiac levels of p-Akt and HIF-1α and the mRNA expression levels of the angiogenic genes VEGF, FGF-2 and ANGPT-1 were increased. Treatment with either Van or PTX ameliorated ISO-induced changes and further upregulated Akt/HIF-1α/VEGF signaling. Furthermore, Van + PTX combination was more effective than monotherapy. These findings suggest a novel therapeutic potential of Van and PTX in ameliorating MI through enhancing cardiac angiogenesis and modulating oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis.

Klotho's impact on diabetic nephropathy and its emerging connection to diabetic retinopathy

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is the leading cause of end-stage renal disease worldwide and is a significant burden on healthcare systems. α-klotho (klotho) is a protein known for its anti-aging properties and has been shown to delay the onset of age-related diseases. Soluble klotho is produced by cleavage of the full-length transmembrane protein by a disintegrin and metalloproteases, and it exerts various physiological effects by circulating throughout the body. In type 2 diabetes and its complications DN, a significant decrease in klotho expression has been observed. This reduction in klotho levels may indicate the progression of DN and suggest that klotho may be involved in multiple pathological mechanisms that contribute to the onset and development of DN. This article examines the potential of soluble klotho as a therapeutic agent for DN, with a focus on its ability to impact multiple pathways. These pathways include anti-inflammatory and oxidative stress, anti-fibrotic, endothelial protection, prevention of vascular calcification, regulation of metabolism, maintenance of calcium and phosphate homeostasis, and regulation of cell fate through modulation of autophagy, apoptosis, and pyroptosis pathways. Diabetic retinopathy shares similar pathological mechanisms with DN, and targeting klotho may offer new insights into the prevention and treatment of both conditions. Finally, this review assesses the potential of various drugs used in clinical practice to modulate klotho levels through different mechanisms and their potential to improve DN by impacting klotho levels.

Pharmacological profiles and therapeutic applications of pachymic acid (Review)

Poria cocos is a saprophytic fungus that grows in diverse species of Pinus. Its sclerotium, called fu-ling or hoelen, has been used in various traditional Chinese medicines and health foods for thousands of years, and in several modern proprietary traditional Chinese medicinal products. It has extensive clinical indications, including sedative, diuretic, and tonic effects. Pachymic acid (PA) is the main lanostane-type triterpenoid in Poria cocos. Evidence suggests that PA has various biological properties such as cytotoxic, anti-inflammatory, antihyperglycemic, antiviral, antibacterial, sedative-hypnotic, and anti-ischemia/reperfusion activities. Although considerable advancements have been made, some fundamental and intricate issues remain unclear, such as the underlying mechanisms of PA. The present study aimed to summarize the biological properties and therapeutic potential of PA. The biosynthetic, pharmacokinetic, and metabolic pathways of PA, and its underlying mechanisms were also comprehensively summarized.